Canterbury

by Nan Cobbey
Lambeth Conference Communications

Lambeth Conference has never been a low-cost undertaking. This time, however, at an estimated per person cost of about £2,150 (US$4,000), organizers recognized that serious fundraising help would be necessary or many bishops would be unable to attend.

"Arrangements were different for each country," said Michael Nunn, Lambeth Conference treasurer. "We encouraged people to be self-sufficient, but for some, we said 'We will pay your fees; you cover the travel'."

To keep that promise, conference planners had to raise about £1.25 million. Organizers estimated that more than a third of the world's 600 Anglican dioceses would probably need some financial help. Different provinces took different steps to contribute.

In the Church of England, each diocese was asked to raise "the ballpark figure of £5,000." "To my knowledge," said Nunn, "every diocese has actually complied."

Michael Nunn praised his church for being "the most generous" but was quick to point to the commitment of other parts of the communion. "It's been very encouraging... Sabah Diocese, for instance, in the Province of South East Asia. They've contributed to the fund, and we know what has happened to the economy of South East Asia."

"Japan has contributed very generously, given the size of that church. Australia and Canada contributed a significant amount," said Nunn. "In our diocese we tithe," said Bishop Ping Chung Yong of the Diocese of Sabah. "We take that very seriously. Part of our tithe fund we sent for Lambeth Conference."

Nunn said he thought of the Lambeth fund as "a pool, to which those who are able can contribute and from which those who are in need can draw."

There were provinces that, though not wealthy, found it a matter of pride to accept no subsidies to send their bishops to Canterbury. Nigeria, with every one of its 59 bishops attending, "is paying for their entire cost," said Nunn.

When David Long asked Nigeria's Archbishop Joseph Adetiloye how many bishops would need financial help he said 'None.'

"I said 'My conviction is that we have been spoon fed by the CMS. The Christian Missionary Society has sent Missionaries and teachers to us for over 150 years. If, after 150 years, we are still being spoon fed, we will never grow into maturity."

UK Pensioner's leap from church tower

The conference's host diocese, the Diocese of Canterbury, found a number of creative projects to raise its share of the Lambeth 'pool'. With three bishops, the 267-parish diocese pledged to raise £15,000.

Following the parable of the talents, Bishop Richard Allan Llewellin gave each parish £10 and asked them to "invest" it.

The parish of Boxley, Grove Green St. John raised £134.86 by investing in tubes of "Smarties" (M&Ms) which the vicar then gave away to children. "Return the tubes filled with money" he told them. They did.

The parish of Chilham raised £202.24 and became a popular tourist stop by opening the church porch for morning coffee, lunches and afternoon teas.

But it was Betty Kirkwood from the parish of Willesborough who best illustrated the diocese's commitment to the conference. At age 75, and with a recent hip replacement, Mrs. Kirkwood and two younger friends raised £631 by abseiling down the 180-foot water tower at the Army's Shorncliffe camp near Folkestone.

"She's a pensioner who's got a lot of oomph," says the Rev. Mike McEnery, her parish priest at St. Mary's, Willesborough.

"There was a request for money for third world bishops and she felt the best way of doing that was to abseil."

In the end, says diocesan treasurer David Kemp, the Diocese of Canterbury contributed £5,000 from its own budget and received from its parishes' projects £19,000 as well as the return of the bishop's original "investment" of £2,670.