Trinity Episcopal Church in Oak Bluffs will host the Rev. Ian Douglas who will speak on his recent experience at the Lambeth Conference in England, on Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.

Every 10 years, bishops from across the worldwide Anglican Communion meet at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Lambeth Conference. The most recent Lambeth Conference occurred in Canterbury, England, from July 16 to August 3, 2008, with over 670 bishops in attendance.

In these tense times in the Anglican Communion, with debates over human sexuality and the nature of authority in Anglicanism, many predicted that this summer’s conference would be a debacle of arguments and protests. Instead a revolutionary new program for the conference helped the bishops to have a deeply prayerful and constructive conversation across the many differences and solidarities that exist in the Anglican Communion today.

Reverend Douglas is Angus Dun Professor of Mission and World Christianity at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is uniquely qualified to speak on the Lambeth Conference as he has served for the last five years as one of eight members of the Lambeth Design Group, which developed and managed the 2008 Lambeth Conference. Reverend Douglas is a widely respected author and speaker on Christian mission and the contemporary Anglican Communion. He serves on a variety of national and international councils and commissions including The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Consultative Council.

The public is invited to attend this free, informative evening of discussion and presentation to learn more about the 2008 Lambeth Conference and what it means for the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

Trinity Episcopal Church is located in Oak Bluffs, near the Flying Horses and next door to the police station. For more information, please call David Wilson at 508-693-4563.