Though it concluded nearly three weeks ago, the South to South Encounter in Egypt continues to make headlines, most recently with a response by the Global South primates to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon Jr., Bishop of South Carolina, one of two bishops from the Episcopal Church who attended, offers his insights on the conference.
TLC: Who presided during the meetings? Were they all plenary, or did you have small groups as well?
Bishop Salmon: We had plenary sessions where papers were delivered on what it means to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic. Then we broke up into small groups to answer questions about what was said during the plenary. At the end we reported back, and from those reports our communiqué from the conference was issued.
TLC: What organization were you representing: the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion Network, the Diocese of South Carolina, or something else?
Bishop Salmon: We were invited guests from the Network. Bishop [Robert] Duncan of Pittsburgh was the other invited Network representative. I must say that it was an honor.
TLC: What should deputies to the 2006 General Convention know about the South to South Encounter?
Bishop Salmon: I think one important thing to keep in mind is that it’s no longer possible to live and not affect others by the way that we live. This is part of globalization. The Church is part of a globalized world and is being affected by it profoundly.
TLC: During the conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury said the Episcopal Church had still not complied with all that the Windsor Report asked of it. Was that opinion widely shared among the other participants of the conference?
Bishop Salmon: I would say that opinion was shared almost unanimously.
TLC: Was this the first time that you have met the Archbishop of Canterbury? Did you have a chance to speak with him privately in Egypt?
Bishop Salmon: No. The day after he legally became the Archbishop of Canterbury, I had dinner with him and a group of other bishops in Wales. I’ve met with him as part of a group of bishops at St. Alban’s in England. I’ve also talked to him on the telephone a couple of times. I had a chance to speak to him at the conference, but not privately.
TLC: Based on what you heard and saw in Egypt, do you think there is a consensus among the other provinces in the Anglican Communion to wait and see what General Convention will do?
Bishop Salmon: I would say that slightly more than half of the provinces, representing a much higher percentage than half of the baptized membership, are opposed to what the Episcopal Church has done and want it either to repent or to face discipline. But there are a number of other provinces that are sympathetic.
TLC: The final statement from the Encounter made no mention of discipline. What should we make of that? Was the subject of discipline discussed?
Bishop Salmon: I think the encounter was trying to hold up for the rest of the communion what a faithful understanding of being an Anglican might look like. I’m not speaking for anyone else you understand, but I think the final communiqué from our conference might be a good start on what it means to a faithful member of an Anglican Communion that is part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic faith.
TLC: Do you think that the Episcopal Church has complied with the Windsor Report? How about the House of Bishops? Has the Diocese of South Carolina done what the Windsor Report asks of it in your estimation?
Bishop Salmon: I would say that the Episcopal Church has made some decisions that comply with the Windsor Report, but it appears that many in the Church are going on with business as usual. By that I mean with same-sex blessings and the like. As a whole I do not think the Episcopal Church has complied.
The official position of the Diocese of South Carolina is that we endorse the Windsor Report and we intend to comply with it. In terms of border crossings, I have not done that. In terms of the issues before us, we have a reconciliation commission and so we are working on dialogue. Not only that I’m still working with a group of about 20 bishops. We are going to meet again this December in Chicago. That is all I will say about that for now.
TLC: The Diocese of South Carolina enjoyed an increase in both active baptized membership and average Sunday attendance for the third year in a row. At a time when nearly every other diocese declined in at least one of those two categories, what are you doing differently?
Bishop Salmon: What we’re trying to do is make the main thing the main thing. That is the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to preach a transforming gospel that transforms lives. That doesn’t mean we always succeed at that, but we try to keep trying.
TLC: The diocese is in the early stages of electing your successor. How are things going?
Bishop Salmon: The election is set for September 2006. They’ve issued a search document, but I haven’t had anything to do with it and I think that is appropriate.
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