On the 16th November the Primate attended the inaugural meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England. It began with morning prayer at Westminster Abbey and was attended by His Royal Highness, the Earl of Wessex. Also in attendance were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell.
The preacher at Westminster Abbey was His Eminence, Archbishop Angaelos, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London.
During the inauguration ceremony, His Royal Highness read a message from Her Majesty the Queen. “One stands out supreme: to bring the people of this country to the knowledge and the love of God. For many, it has been a time of anxiety, of grief, and of weariness.Yet the gospel has brought hope, as it has done throughout the ages”.
The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed his gratitude to all, for their time and commitment. He stated that “As disciples of Jesus Christ, our first and foremost task is to listen to Christ, above all in careful meditation on the scriptures and in prayer. But also in listening to each other and in seeking to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit”.
The Archbishop of York stated “We are here because of our baptism to face the challenges of the world. We are here to find a way…Synod means walking and working together on the way. The harvest is rich but the labourers aren’t few”.
After the inauguration meeting, the Primate attended lunch, served for the ecumenical guests and other dignitaries, where he had an informal and friendly opportunity to discuss various pastoral and human rights questions with his fellow Bishops and Their Graces, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Archbishop of York. He also spoke about the tense situation evolving on the borders of Armenia with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
