By E. T. Malone, Jr.
Lambeth Conference Communications

The Millennium Resolution calls on the British public to make a new start in the year 2000, but it does not mention God because it is not a prayer, its ecumenical authors declare.

"The Millennium Resolution isn't a prayer and isn't intended to be said in church," declared Bishop Gavin Reid of Maidstone (England), chairman of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Millennium Advisory Group, in response to criticisms that its writers, the Churches Together in England Millennium Group, had created a Godless prayer.

Bishop Reid, speaking at a news conference at the Lambeth Conference, explained that the Millennium Resolution project was intended to provide the opportunity for "a shared moment of national reflection" just prior to midnight on New Year's Eve, 1999. Its backers plan to deliver a small candle and a card with the resolution and instructions to every household in Great Britain.

"It saddens me that the resolution proposal has had so much criticism. The churches in the country have never worked together so well on anything as on this," he said.

"We are not going to push words of faith down people's throats if they don't have that faith," said the Rev. Stephen Lynas, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Officer for the Millennium.

Giving the gift

"It's our party, so we're giving the gift," said Bishop Reid. "Hopefully, the cost of approximately 20 pence per kit will be paid by local parishes. We don't want to run the risk of offending by imposing religion on people. So, it's the lowest common denominator, the card and candle. But in many cases there will be prayers as well. We want to talk at the level to which people are open. We feel that the potential for this New Year's Resolution is very great."

Jesus never specifically mentioned God in his parables, Bishop Reid argued. He spoke, instead, of everyday things, and advised his listeners, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." The Church of England Millennium Advisory Group hopes that the unchurched will reflect on the meaning of the Resolution and realise its religious implications.

Bishop Reid pointed out that the resolution concludes with the words "new start." Mr. Lynas added, "We have to remind people that our reason for celebrating the Millennium is that it is the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. We want them to think about what difference the life of Jesus has made in this country. A feast is a party in honor of someone, and we want to take this national party and turn it into a feast."

Including Christianity

Continued efforts by the Church of England have led finally to inclusion of Christian motifs in the design of the Millennium Dome in London. "We've said to the designers that it would be unthinkable if the Dome had no mention of Jesus Christ, since England is a country constitutionally linked to Christianity," said Bishop Reid.

The Church of England has no part in funding erection of the mammoth, futuristic structure on the Thames, he noted. The building itself-still under construction-is being paid for by proceeds from the National Lottery. Operations will be paid for by admissions fees, and exhibits, including the "Spirit Zone" with church themes, will be funded by commercial sponsors. The Millennium Dome has been criticised in some quarters as a public folly.

"We see the Millennium Resolution project as a sort of umbrella for other millennium celebrations in England, where the whole concept is taken quite more seriously than in many countries so far," said Bishop Reid.

The Church of England's Millennium Advisory Group made a presentation on Monday (August 3) to non-English bishops as a special Market Place program of the Lambeth Conference.