God’s Church for God’s World
The theme for the Lambeth Conference 2020 has been announced as preparations for the event gather pace. It’s to be “God’s Church for God’s World: walking, listening and witnessing together”.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is preparing to invite more than 900 bishops from around the worldwide Anglican Communion to the conference which will take place in Canterbury, England, in the summer of 2020. Formal invitations will be sent out later this year. For the first time, there will be a joint programme for bishops and spouses.
Significant event in Communion history
“This is a significant event in the history of our extraordinary global family as we seek God’s direction for an Anglican Communion equipped for the 21st century,” said Archbishop Justin. “I am looking forward immensely to welcoming bishops and their spouses from around the world.
“It will be a time of addressing hurts and concerns; of deepening existing relationships and building new ones; of grappling with issues that face the Church and the world. We will listen to each other; we will seek God’s wisdom to find ways to walk together; we will build each other up as leaders.
“It’s my prayer that, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Lambeth Conference will reinvigorate the Communion with the vision and resources to bring the transforming love of Jesus Christ to every level of society across the world.”
Specialists working on programme
The Lambeth Design Group, chaired by the Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Thabo Makgoba, has begun discussing the programme for the conference. The Group, comprising leaders and specialists from around the world, meets again in April 2018 to continue its work.
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8 things you need to know
Dates
24 July – 3 August, 2020.
Venue
The University of Kent, Canterbury, England.
Programme
Includes a retreat, Bible studies, plenary sessions, teaching and seminars and a day in London.
How do I book?
After invitations are sent, guests will be asked to register online and pay a deposit to secure a place. An option to register by post will also be available. Full details later this year.
Cost
Details being finalised. More information later in 2018.
Bursaries
A fund will be set up to support those most in need of financial support. More details later in 2018.
Pre-Conference Hospitality
Many churches in the UK and Ireland will run a hospitality programme to welcome visitors days before the conference starts.
New website
A website dedicated to Lambeth Conference 2020 will go live in mid-2018.
Did you know?
The Lambeth Conference was first held in 1867. Seventy Six bishops attended.
Lambeth Conferences are usually held every 10 years. The last one was in 2008. Lambeth Conference 2020 will be the fifteenth.
Up to 1,800 bishops, spouses and officials are expected to attend.