News from Tanzania: Primates Already Arriving, Meeting in Dar Es Salaam

Dar Es Salaam—It is Monday morning in Dar Es Salaam, and it will be in the mid-80s (degrees Fahrenheit) today, with nearly 80 percent humidity and probably some rain. This is a welcome break from two days of brutal heat and humidity, which resembles the American Southeast in August. It appears that in the coming days it will progressively heat up again temperature-wise, perhaps in parallel with the primates’ meetings themselves.

The Anglican primates have been arriving in groups, some earlier than others, to attend several meetings scheduled prior to the general Primates’ Meeting. It is anticipated that several primates will not arrive, although that is unclear until the meetings actually start. We have been told that the primate of Wales will not attend due to a long planned sabbatical, and the primate of North India will also be absent.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is arriving somewhat late and will miss some or all of the joint meeting of the primates and Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC). With Dr. Williams arriving late, Wales not attending, and a few others understood not to be coming; it may be that the joint meeting consists mainly of the Standing Committee of the ACC and Primate Bernard Malango (Province of Central Africa).

It has been suggested by some that the reason for the poor showing has to do with a lack of timely planning on the part of the organizers. The minutes of the last meeting are said to have not been given to the members in attendance until yesterday, and there is a difference of memory as to what the minutes should actually reflect.

The usual contingent from the news media is present in Dar Es Salaam, including Stephen Bates from London’s Guardian newspaper, the Rev. Canon Chris Sugden for Anglican Mainstream, the Rev. Canon David Anderson for the American Anglican Council’s Encompass publication, and Bishop Martyn Minns and wife Angela Minns for Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) News. Prayer intercessors from the United States led by Rose-Marie Edwards are covering the meetings in prayer, along with other groups off-site. Bishop Bob Duncan (Pittsburgh) is on location, and other familiar faces from both sides of the main issues are expected to arrive momentarily.

Meetings of the Global South primates began Saturday, Feb. 10 in the Beachcomber Resort next door to the White Sands Resort facilities (see photo at left), and those gatherings have been followed by a meeting of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA). The main meetings of the global Anglican primates will shift over to the White Sands Resort on Tuesday, Feb. 12 (tomorrow).

AAC Report. Click on the headline above to go to AAC website. AAC Photos: The site of the 2007 Primates' Meeting: the White Sands Resort, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; The Beachcomber Resort in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, where Global South primates are meeting prior to the general Primates' Meeting.