IMPACT

In November 2018, the Foundation brought together an international and ecumenical gathering of Biblical scholars and theologians to prepare resources for the Lambeth Conference.

St Augustine Seminar

St Augustine’s Foundation recognises its unique relationship with Canterbury and the importance of the Cathedral and the city within the Anglican Communion. One of the ways the Foundation seeks to support what happens around Canterbury and the Cathedral is to sponsor the St Augustine’s Seminar enabling the theological preparations for the last three Lambeth Conferences. 

In preparation for what was to have been the 2020 Lambeth Conference [LC2020] the Seminar was used to make the preparations for the Bible Studies. While it is still uncertain when the Conference will take place the work of the Seminar will be widely used, in a variety of ways, across the Communion. 

The first meeting of the St Augustine Seminar in November 2018 brought together about 40 theologians from around the Anglican Communion together with members of the LC2020 Design Group, members of the Liturgy Group for the Conference and Anglican Communion Office staff. The group meeting at Lambeth Palace for three days was convened by Professor Jennifer Strawbridge at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. After plenary introductions, the participants spent most of the time in five working groups, each looking in detail at one chapter of 1 Peter. 

By the end of the time together the Seminar was able to make recommendations as to chapter divisions, possible titles and major themes to inform planning and preparation for the Lambeth Conference. Professor Strawbridge presented these recommendations to the conference Design Group at their January meeting and the following emphases have been agreed for the daily bible expositions and bible studies.

A group of 10 scholars reconvened at the Anglican Communion Office in May 2019 under the direction of Professor Jennifer Strawbridge who had circulated a draft of the Commentary on 1 Peter in advance of the meeting.  The group reviewed the Commentary, began to draft the Bible Studies for use by the bishops and spouses at the Conference, and considered the content for the Biblical Expositions at the start of each day.

To gain further input from around the Communion a series of questions was agreed drawing out the themes of 1 Peter.  The scholars from the original seminar are being asked to use these questions in their own communities to capture vox pops (short talking heads videos) which will be used in a variety of ways before and during the Conference.  

During the May meeting each of the chapter convenors provided a short introduction to their chapter which was captured on video.  These resources will be added to the Lambeth Conference website in early 2020 to build awareness of biblical themes in preparation for the Conference.  This is intended to provide wider access to the material for those who may not read the Commentary.