Q: How important a moment is this for the Episcopal Church?
A: This is an important moment because it's an opportunity for us to gather with representatives from around the Anglican Communion and to have conversation together. It's an opportunity for us to meet each other, to hear something about other people's experience, and for them to learn about ours.
Q: Is the Episcopal Church's role in the Anglican Communion in jeopardy?
A: I think the whole Communion is in a process of development. We affirm the relationships that we have across the Communion, and those relationships are healthy. The mission partnerships that are going on are incredibly healthy. We're struggling with the place of authority within the Communion, and that's a developmental piece, and it's an important one.
Q: How much pressure is the Episcopal Church under from the rest of the Anglican Communion?
A: The Episcopal Church, and it's beyond the U.S., it's not just the United States part of this church -- some people are feeling a great deal of pressure from other parts of the Communion. Other people say that this is an opportunity for us to be clearer about who we are. We are eager to continue in our partnerships and our relationships around the Communion, and I don't think that's going to change abundantly. We are eager to continue and grow our relationships around the Communion, and I think most people believe those relationships will not change significantly.
Q: What message will the Archbishop of Canterbury be bringing to the U.S. bishops? What do you hope he will say?
A: I can't tell you for sure what he's going to say. He's going to lead us in Bible study one of the days he is with us. He's been invited to come and listen to the bishops here. We will listen to him. We will have conversation together.
Q: What is your reaction to the consecration of some Americans as bishops of churches in Africa?
A: Well, the consecration of those bishops would be more helpful if they were going to work in those countries. It's exceedingly unhelpful to have them consecrated to work here in the United States.
