Lambeth Conference begins two-day covenant discussion

Episcopal News Service story on the Covenant Discussions -

Drexel Gomez (pictured in the massive hat) who was chair of the draft committee is quoted below-

"The idea for an Anglican covenant comes from the 2004 Windsor Report (paragraphs 113-120) and has been supported by all the communion's instruments of unity, except the Lambeth Conference, which has not met since 1998. Gomez said that a covenant would expect the provinces to "recognize the common good as expressed in the communion" and "do nothing to break up the common good." "So in a sense, the loyalty to the communion facilitates a holding back of autonomy," he said. "We had to find a way of respecting and maintaining the autonomy of each church, but at the same time providing a breadth and a scope for communion. That is how we inter-relate, respecting and maintaining our autonomy," he said, "but also respecting our communion and seeking to act in such a way that will hold the two together, that we will not act in such a way that would destroy the communion or the unity that is a gift from God."

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_99664_ENG_HTM.htm

If you want to read the current version of the Draft Covenant its here -

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/commission/covenant/st_andrews/draft_text.cfm