Archbishop Sentamu Links Communion Ties to Lambeth Attendance
07/25/2007

The Archbishop of York has urged Anglican bishops from the Global South not to boycott next year’s Lambeth Conference, telling a British newspaper that by withdrawing they would be removing themselves from the Anglican Communion.

“Anglicanism has its roots through Canterbury,” Archbishop Sentamu said as reported by the Daily Telegraph. “If you sever that link, you are severing yourself from the Communion. There is no doubt about it.”

Archbishop Sentamu’s caution comes after leaders of the Global South Coalition of Anglican provinces, representing a majority of Anglicans in the developing world, released a statement last week following a meeting in London warning that their presence at Lambeth 2008 was in doubt. The primates also called for an emergency primates meeting after the House of Bishops’ meeting Sept. 19-25 to address The Episcopal Church’s response to recommendations contained in the primates’ communiqué.

If the Global South breaks with the Archbishop of Canterbury, “and they think they can then say they are Anglicans, that is very questionable,” he said. He urged bishops from Africa and other Anglican provinces in the Southern Hemisphere to “come to the Lambeth Conference.” the rest