CONFERENCE AT LAMBETH

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 9

CONFERENCE AT LAMBETH

317 Bishops Attending (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. The greatest Lambeth Conference ever held, with 317 Anglican bishops, from all over the world attending, will open in London after a service at Canterbury Cathedral today. Five committees will discuss the main topics on the agenda:— The authority and message of the Bible Church unity and the Church Universal Progress in the Anglican Communion. The reconciling of conflicts between and within nations. The family in modern society, including over-population and family limitation. The Anglican Communion is the collective name given to the ancient Church of England which was Roman Catholic until the break with Rome 400 years ago, and its associated churches all over the world.

The Anglican Communion developed with the British Commonwealth but now covers a mucn wider field, for in addition to the churches founded in Africa, Asia and the West Indies there are those in the United States and Japan. One report before the conference suggests that the Protestant Episcopal Church in ’he United States, with its greater financial resources, may become a senior partner in the Anglican Communion.

The conference will be told how the Episcopal Church is increasing its work in the mission field, the main brunt of which has so often been borne by Britain. Nearly all the bishops of the Episcopal Church of America have come to London.