The Episcopal Cafe blogged recently about a letter that Ruth Gledhill received from Lambeth Palace hinting that Bishop Gene Robinson may be invited to the big decennial Lambeth Conference next year after all, perhaps in “some other status” than as Bishop of New Hamphire.
The weird thing is that I saw the very same, or nearly identical letter with my own eyes last night at a team meeting at Holy Moly, because one of our Senior Wardens received it in response to a letter that he wrote as a member of Integrity. He had I had chuckled over the phrase “Archbishop Rowan noted carefully,” because of course the ABC is a very careful fellow, communication-wise. The text below appears to be identical – so Ruth Gledhill’s scoop is really not that scoopy.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has asked me to thank you for your letter of 22 May 2007 regarding his invitation to bishops of the Anglican Communion to next year’s Lambeth Conference. The Archbishop is taking a period of study leave this summer and he has therefore asked me to respond to your letter on his behalf.
Prior to his departure, Archbishop Rowan noted carefully the level of disappointment expressed by correspondents, following his decision not to extend an invitation to Bishop Gene Robinson to attend the Lambeth Conference along with the other bishops. He stressed in his letter to the bishops that he did not take this decision lightly, but that he regarded it as appropriate in the light of the recommendations set out in the Windsor Report.
The only thing I’d add is… the stationery is very impressive, with big unfriendly letters saying “LAMBETH PALACE” next to the ABC’s coat of arms.
[tags]Episcopal, Anglican, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth, Bishop V. Gene Robinson[/tags]