Bishop-elect Dr. Justin S. Holcomb was asked to serve as a resource consultant for a Lambeth Phase 3 meeting held Feb. 28-March 3, 2023, in London.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby designed the 15th Lambeth Conference to consist of three parts. Phase 1 was a listening phase held in a series of online meetings for bishops and their spouses to prepare for the actual conference, which was Phase 2. In Phase 3, a steering committee is now working to bring the initiatives born from the 2022 Lambeth Conference into the life and ministry of the Anglican Communion.

“Phase 3 of the Lambeth Conference is all about keeping bishops connected as we continue to explore what it means to be ‘God’s Church for God’s World’ following last summer’s extraordinary gathering of 1200 bishops and spouses,” said the Rt. Rev. Jo Bailey Wells, who was recently appointed as bishop for episcopal ministry for the Anglican Communion and also served as guest speaker for the 2022 diocesan Clergy Conference.

Holcomb was honored to receive Wells’ invitation. “My goal was to contribute to the group as we prayed about and reflected on the theme of the Lambeth Conference – ‘God’s Church for God’s World’ – and developed opportunities for bishops to take part and join in Phase 3 of the Lambeth Conference,” he said. In his role as a resource consultant, he was invited to join a small working group that explored many theological and ecclesiological issues related to mission, reception, authority and communion.

Going forward, Holcomb will continue to serve as a consultant for the Lambeth Conference Phase 3 steering group, he said. He will be especially involved with regard to the “safe church” Call.

“It was a joy to welcome Bishop-elect Justin Holcomb as a consultant to the group, not least because he represents a whole new generation of bishops who weren’t involved in Phases 1 and 2 yet who are hungry to engage in cross-provincial fellowship as we follow up in online study groups, taking forward the Lambeth Calls,” Wells explained.

Many of the discussions in the phase three meeting centered around the call-and-response model. “The idea of call-and-response is a creative and compelling way to view the possibilities of the Lambeth Calls in the Communion,” Holcomb said. “Call-and-response can create a sense of community and participation and is a powerful tool for creating energy, engagement and connection.”

But sometimes the “call” is literal. While on the trip, he received a phone call informing him that the required majority of consents in the canonical consent process had been received. “It was a special moment to celebrate that great news with bishops and lay leaders from around the Communion and members of staff from the Anglican Communion Office,” Holcomb said.

“It was a joy to celebrate with him as the news of the consent to his election came through,” Wells said.

The Phase 3 Steering Group is chaired by the Most Rev. Julio Murray, bishop of the Diocese of Panama, archbishop and primate of the Anglican Church in the Central America Region. He will write to each bishop in the Anglican Communion after Easter to share the ongoing plans for phase three.

“The Phase 3 initiative will support new bishops because it fosters collegiality and partnership as we do two key things,” Holcomb said. “First, we pray and study God’s Word together with colleagues not only in The Episcopal Church but also from around the whole Communion. Second, we are called to discern how to respond faithfully to the challenges of proclaiming the gospel in various contexts.”

“I send warm wishes to all in Central Florida, especially for a smooth transition in episcopal leadership, and trust you will continue to engage with such vision and generosity in global Communion matters going forward,” Wells said.

Holcomb looks forward to bringing these plans to life in the Diocese of Central Florida and continuing to build the strong relationships this diocese has around the Anglican Communion.

Photo Credit: Gavin Drake / Anglican Communion Office

Top Row (L-R): Janet  Miles, head of communications, Lambeth Conference; the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Spencer, adviser on theological education and Lambeth Conference implementation; Bishop-elect Dr. Justin S. Holcomb, The Episcopal Church; the Most Rev. Kay Goldsworthy, The Anglican Church of Australia; the Rt. Rev. Jorge Pina-Cabral, The Lusitanian Church; the Rt. Rev. Tim Thornton, Lambeth Conference adviser; Kari Loureiro, Episcopal ministry support officer to the Anglican Communion. Bottom Row (L-R): The Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Swarup, The Church of North India; Caroline Bauerschmidt, The Episcopal Church; the Rt. Rev. Julio Murray, Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America; the Rt. Rev. Dr. Jo Bailey Wells, bishop for Episcopal ministry in the Anglican Communion; the Rt. Rev. Danald Jute, Church of the Province of South East Asia; the Rt. Rev. Dr. Vincentia Kgabe, The Anglican Church of Southern Africa.