Keeping the Anglican lid on
Lambeth is proving to be a difficult reporting task for the journalists gathered here. There's a big blue tent at the centre of the action, seating up to a thousand people, where plenary sessions are held. The press are not permitted entry. Yesterday, I asked security if I could take a look inside the tend at the end of a session, and I was told that this would be impossible. The tend is entirely surrounded by temporary security gates, with guards at the main entrances. A mobile CCTV police van is nearby, and uniformed police are patrolling the campus. It is rumoured that security have been given a photograph of Bishop Gene Robinson just in case he tries to enter the tent during a plenary or worship session.
I suggested to some of my press colleagues yesterday that it was easier to get information about what was happening behind the scenes of the Northern Ireland peace negotiations. There were sympathetic sighs all round.
Ruth Gledhill of The Times write this on her blog: "All journalists here have been learning a fair bit about exclusion at this conference. At The Times, myself and a number of senior editorial staff received numerous emails from Results UK, the group behind the main speakers at the HIV/TB self-select group at the conference, asking us to attend. They were desperate for us to report it. But we could not because we were not allowed in. One bishop told me that about eight bishops did manage to find the obscure venue to which the extremely high-powered guest speakers were invited. So I guess these bishops will manage to spread this important message back home in their eight dioceses. It would have been nice to be able to help though to write about some of the good work the conference is going. More than 650 bishops here and a world waiting to hear them... shame they don't want the secular and Church press here to tell that story."
Comment number 1.
At 31st Jul 2008, petermorrow wrote:"Yesterday, I asked security if I could take a look inside the tend at the end of a session, and I was told that this would be impossible. The tent is entirely surrounded by temporary security gates, with guards at the main entrances. A mobile CCTV police van is nearby, and uniformed police are patrolling the campus."
Well some doors are still open:
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
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Comment number 2.
At 31st Jul 2008, dave_the_blogger wrote:I wonder will they be discussing inside the tent on how to encourage more people to attend church.
And Will, that title of your previous post 'Indaba-daba-doo' makes me wonder if you've been on the communion wine? :-)
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Comment number 3.
At 1st Aug 2008, smasher-lagru wrote:William, just keep your eyes pealed for camels urinating.
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Comment number 4.
At 3rd Aug 2008, gveale wrote:Smasher- Lagru
You are obviously a devout and obedient Catholic. I've enjoyed reading Peter Kreeft. I don't know if you are familiar with his work.
In any case, he gives the best presentation of the Gospel that I think I've read. And this is meant to be the material issue that keeps RC's and Evangelicals separate.
If you haven't read his short essays, couls you take a peek some time, and let me know what you think? The essays are very short and I'd be much obliged.
Graham Veale
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