Faces in the Crowd

One of the great things about being here at Lambeth, in addition to all the other things we project upon it, it's a great gathering of the clan. Seeing and greeting old friends and making new ones is one of the main reasons for making this pilgrimage. Yesterday, I spotted several of my personal all time favorites:

Dr. Jenny Te Paa, the great Maori lay theologian, shared a wonderful story of her childhood growing up with a Maori Mother and Brit Father. Her Brit Father loved all the pomp and would have stood for all thirty minutes of the eight processions while her Maori Mother was more laid back and would have sat through them. She wasn't quite sure what to do so we alternated.

The Reverend Dr. Harold Lewis, son of Long Island and Rector of Calvary Church, Shady Grove, PA, is here collecting information for a new book he is writing from his perspective on the Lambeth Conference. This is Harold's third Lambeth - all the sizzle but not the steak.

Canon Benjamin Musoke-Lubega, the indefatigable Africa Grants Officer for Trinity Church, who has probably done more to preserve unity within the Communion than anyone will ever acknowledge.

The Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkins recently name chaplain to the Royal Household, who worked with us as a member of the Planning Committee for Afro-Anglicans III. Rose is Chaplain to the Spouses Conference.

The Reverend Canon Kenneth Kearon, Secretary-General of the ACC, wearing a GTS doctoral hood for the opening service. I whispered to him that it was my fantasy that General was his favorite seminary and that's why he was wearing our hood not that this was the first hood he could put his hands on when he was packing. I shan't reveal his answer.

The Reverend Canon John Petersen, Canon for International Concerns of the Washington National Cathedral and former Secretary-General of the ACC, was looking like the happiest man in all of Kent since he had no responsibilities for the Conference other than showing up.

Team Diocese of Los Angeles - by far the largest diocesan team - 4 bishops, 3 spouses, 2 staff but no partridge in a pear tree. Take heart - good people of Long Island. Ka-ching, Ka-ching!

The Right Reverend Paul Lambert, Suffragan of Dallas, who gives new meaning to being a baby bishop. Sunday being his seventh day as a bishop. He flew off to Lambeth on the morning after his consecration.

Senora Lillian Ottley, wife of Bishop James Ottley, who for the second consecutive Lambeth celebrated her July 20th birthday in the midst of the Conference.

Happy Birthday to Lillian, a most gracious member of our diocesan team.