And on the first day ...

... +Katharine sent a letter to her brother primates:

[Episcopal News Service] Emphasizing her commitment to reconciliation and shared mission across the Anglican Communion, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori -- in one of the first actions on the initial day of her nine-year term -- sent on November 1 the following letter to four fellow Primates: The Most Rev. Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria; The Most Rev. Drexel Gomez, Primate of the West Indies; The Most Rev. Benjamin Nzimbi, Primate of Kenya; The Most Rev. Justice Akrofi, Primate of West Africa

To my esteemed brothers in Christ:

While I have not yet had the privilege and honor to meet all of you, I very much look forward to working with you in the coming years as we endeavor to lead the Body of Christ in this portion called the Anglican Communion. I deeply value the possibilities we have in the Anglican Communion for addressing the mission God has given us to reconcile the world he has created. In the spirit of Lambeth 1998, the Episcopal Church has identified the Millennium Development Goals as the framework for our missional work in the coming years. I would hope we might see the common interest we all have for seeing those Goals met, as they provide a concrete image of the Reign of God in our own day, where the hungry are fed, the thirsty watered, and the prisoners of disease and oppression set free.

I understand that you will be in the United States in mid-November for a gathering at Falls Church, Virginia. Considering the difficulty and expense of such a journey, I hope that during your visit you might be willing to pay a call on me, so that we might begin to build toward such a missional relationship. If that is a possibility, I hope you will contact this office as soon as possible. I would be more than happy to alter my schedule to accommodate you.

I look forward to hearing from you, and meeting you. May God bless your ministries and your travels. I remain

Your servant in Christ,
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate

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PS -- The Falls Church meeting was reported by The Living Church on October 26th as follows: The primates of four provinces in the Anglican Communion have offered to meet in November with the bishops, chancellors and standing committee presidents from the eight Episcopal dioceses that petitioned Archbishop Rowan Williams last July for alternative primatial oversight.