The Lambeth Conference happens once every 10 years and is an opportunity for all the bishops of the Anglican Communion to gather at Canterbury to worship, experience, and discuss our shared faith, practice, and heritage as Anglican Christians around the world.

Unfortunately, as with the past two Lambeth Conferences, a small minority of bishops who represent a tiny fraction of the Anglican Communion seem to get most of the press, steering the agenda to issues that are far removed from the work of sharing the Gospel and welcoming new brothers and sisters into the fellowship of believers in Christ. The full membership of some of these bishops’ dioceses are smaller than the membership list at just our Cathedral in Iqaluit! Sometimes it seems like the tail is wagging the dog.

There were heated debates about whether or not Anglicans will stand firm in the faith handed down from the apostles, a faith that requires every person to admit their need for the transformation, healing, grace, and salvation only found in Jesus Christ – all things we know are not up for debate! Yet, it was encouraging to see that the majority of bishops, representing the vast majority of worldwide Anglicans, are not shy about their commitment to the Gospel.

Suffragan Bishop Joey Royal said “for me, meeting fellow Christians from around the world has been the highlight of the Lambeth Conference”. “It’s good to get to see brothers and sisters in Christ from all around the world”, wrote Bishop Annie.

Headlines always look for controversy, but the real work of Lambeth was building relationships with other bishops and dioceses who are partners in the Gospel, all for God’s glory.