A Day of Contrasts

[Canterbury, England] In a short time, Kathy and I will board a bus for London with almost all of the 690 bishops who are attending the Lambeth Conference. The bishops are all in cassocks and our spouses are dressed for a day in the City of Keep the Promise London.

We begin the day with the "Walk of Witness" joining with thousands of other Christians and non-Christian from throughout Britain, to draw attention to the Millinium Development Goals (MDGs) and the work still before us to help meet those goals by the year 2015. I am proud to represent our diocese in this walk and also to be able to tell others from around the world of our witness to these goals within the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.

The "Walk of Witness" is a way for us to say to the people of the Anglican Communion we are with you in all your needs and we are with you with our prayers. Prayer is central to this Walk of Witness and it is central to all that we are doing during this conference.

The past few days have been long days of prayer, Bible Study, Indaba Groups, small group work, lectures and hearings on various topics that are engaging the Anglican World at this time. Tomorrow we will pick up on that schedule which both brings us together and helps form and strengthen the Bonds of Affection.

[Below right: A reception hosted by Archbishop Rowan Williams and Mrs. Jane Williams in the garden of the Old Palace, Canterbury. ACNS/Sweeny]

Today is a day of contrasts because when we finish the Walk we will be at Lambeth Palace where we will have lunch and visit the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. At 3:00 PM we will be taken to Buckingham Palace and at the invitation of the Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, will have tea on the lawn. We will be walking and working for the poor and also be with those in the seat of world power.

The contrast I believe will be an opportunity for us to remember that we are called by our ordination vows to care alike for "the rich and the poor, the old and the young, the strong and weak" and that all of God's people are important. That is part of the charge given to all those ordained. Those here in England, those in Africa, those in the Central Gulf Coast and those from all parts of the world are loved by God.

Our Diocese will be in my prayers today during the march and during our prayer time.
Please continue to keep all the bishops in your prayers as we gather, that we may do God's work and will, under the direction and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God's blessing and PAX,
Bishop Duncan
July 24, 2008

To Listen to One Another

[PHOTO RIGHT: L-R Bishop Barry L. Beisner, Bishop of the Diocese of Northern California, Bishop Duncan, and Bishop Klusmeyer, Bishop of the Diocese of West Virginia]

[BELOW LEFT: Kathy Duncan with with friends from her Bible Study; L-R: Daw, (Kathy), Elizabeth and Mary, all from Burma

Dear People of God,
More than 690 Anglican Bishops and full Communion partners from throughout the world gathered this past week for a retreat at Canterbury Cathedral. We were bused early in the morning to this historic center of Anglicanism, where we corporately spent the day in prayer and reflection. Thursday and Friday were full days lasting until 6:00PM, when we returned to the University of Kent for the evening. What a joy it was to walk the precincts of that most holy place, knowing that from the time of St. Augustine of Canterbury that place has been a place of prayer and study for the people of God, both saints and sinners.


It is a place of beautiful worship and majestic art. It is the place of martyrdom and shrine for St. Thomas Becket who was murdered in the cathedral. It is a place where prayer, both corporate and private, are offered throughout each day and have been for hundreds of years. Stone placed upon stone to make a statement of the glory of God and a place offered to God. Stones warn away by the feet of pilgrims who had walked there before us centuries ago. It is a place where we kept the silence of Holy Quiet and listened to that inner voice in the place of struggle and peace.


[PHOTO: Canterbury Cathedral]

The third day, we gathered in a large tent called "The Big Top" and completed our retreat time with Archbishop Rowan Williams offering his fifth and final meditation on leadership - personal, shared and corporate. [PHOTO: gathering under "The Big Top"]


The five meditations were offered to the bishops as a way of moving us forward into this Lambeth Conference time and our work together. Each of the meditations built upon the previous meditation, which formed a basis from where we began in prayer and study. I believe that this time was very important for us to frame our being together and offering it up to God for the hard work we have to do that lies ahead of us.

On Saturday evening, the Archbishop offered an address, giving us an outline and context in which to appreciate our work together. We are facilitated by some of the best Biblical, theological and historical scholars in the Anglican World. That will be a wonderful addition for our working groups.

[PHOTO RIGHT: Kathy's friends from the Church of South India]

This part of the Conference has been our gathering. We asked to be formed together in prayer, to listen to the Holy Spirit; to be united in Christ, to do the ongoing work that God calls us to do; and to listen to one another, to hear what God is doing throughout the world, in and through the Church and God's people. We are blessed to be here and for this time of prayer, study, learning, building relationships and sharing the faith. I am most grateful.

In Christ's PAX,
Bishop Duncan
July 22, 2008

The Hospitality Initiative

[PHOTO LEFT: Bishop Duncan, Kathy, and Fr.Ray,
outside the rectory of St. Columba's Church,
Liverpool]

[Liverpool, England] As I sit in the quiet of a local retreat center to write this message, Kathy and I are preparing to leave the Diocese of Liverpool in England, and journey with twelve other bishops and their spouses from around the Anglican Communion to Canterbury, England, for the Lambeth Conference. Our time in Liverpool has been full. We have visited Churches, schools, and God's people, both laity and clergy.


I have been and I am impressed with the ministries that have brought the love and power of God's presence to people living in di[Photo]fficult circumstances and situations. This is an Urban Diocese. It is the Church in the City. It is the Gospel proclaimed, the sacraments shared and the faith lived out on the streets and down the roads where people live, work and play. I am impressed and I am moved by the commitment of those who serve and are engaged in ministry. The Hospitality Initiative has given us time to get to know the people here and how they live out their faith and witness to Christ. As it often happens, I am humbled to see those who have few resources sharing what they have to help others become whom God calls them to be. The Hospitality Initiative has brought togetherbishops in small groups to begin to share our faith with one another and learn from one another. For this holy time and opportunity I am most grateful. For honest and open conversation I am most
pleased. [PHOTO ABOVE RIGHT: Parade! Sunday Children's Service at St. Luke's Church, Farmwell, Liverpool]



As you read this message our travel by coach and our journey to Canterbury will have been made and we will be engaged in the spiritual work and the study in small groups for which the Conference calls us all to be a part. I hope that many of you will be taking part in the daily Bible Study program on the Gospel of St. John. The Archbishop of Canterbury, +Rowan Williams, has asked (invited) the clergy and laity throughout the Anglican Communion to join the bishops in this process of study, learning and prayer. Although separated by many miles and time zones, we can be united in studying and learning what God is calling us to hear and to engage in at this moment in history. That material and web link follows below.
[PHOTO ABOVE LEFT: The Liverpool Anglican Cathedral Tower, the largest completed cathedral in the world]


Archbishop Desmond Tutu prayed: "Deliver me from the cowardice that dare not face new truths, from the laziness that is contented with half truths, from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, Good Lord, deliver me!" [IMAGE RIGHT: Poster outside of
International Slavery Museum
on the Albert Docks, Liverpool]


As we begin to engage our work and worship, I ask for your continued prayers. Our Diocese, congregations, agencies, clergy and lay leaders will be in my intentional intercession during the course of each of the three weeks. This time at Canterbury is a faith journey, and as we move forward may God bless us to do his work and his will.



In His love and peace, I am,

Truly Yours,
Bishop Duncan
July 14, 2008