I had the privilege of attending the Third Afro Anglican Conference in Toronto, Canada. The first one was held in 1985 in Barbados. The second conference was convened in South Africa in 1995. Neither one of these gatherings were known by me so when I heard about the Toronto event I knew I wanted to participate. I found my experience spiritually and intellectually stimulating.

The 275 Bishops, clergy, and lay persona came from the Caribbean, United Kingdom, South Africa, Liberia, Kenya, Tanzania, Canada and the United States. ECUSA’s presiding Bishop, Frank Griswald addressed the conference a few days before I arrived. The conference theme,”Celebrating the Gifts of Afro Anglicanism” was reflected in the daily Bible study, panels, workshops, Liturgies, youth presentations and “tea talks.” Workshops addressed spirituality, global and social issues. The range of topics covered AIDS, Sexuality, Female Circumcision, Diseases that kill us, and aging gracefully.

Monday morning’s Bible study prepared us for the day’s theme, The Black Family. We grappled with the questions, What family values do the scriptures express? What cultural values do they express?  The panel of clergy and lay persons spoke on the strengths of the Black Family. Their perseverance through difficult times, unity despite distances, resilience, orality, creativity, communal cooperation, respect for elders and cultural traditions. The questions of “Does embracing the Anglican Church mean you deny your African or African American values?   brought up history and the colonial legacy still present in the Afro Anglican world. The British prohibited local customs like drumming, traditional names, and local attire for baptism and confirmation. That discussion lead to another one on “How does the church lead the family into wholeness?”

That question turned over in my mind when one of the Haitian delegates, Rev. Oge Beauvoir, shared how family values have eroded in Haiti’s current social and political crisis.   

A verse from Psalm 133 came to mind “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren and sisters to dwell together in unity.” Unity was expressed in Toronto. Even when a controversial opinion was expressed the attendees were polite and respectful. I recalled the Senator Anne Cools announcing that she was Anglican and had voted against Canada’s bill on same sex unions which passed a week before the Afro Anglican conference. There was some audible grumbling but no one confronted her on her position. I also noted that none of the Nigerian bishops or clergy was in attendance.

The lesson for me is that a family can stay together in unity even if there are differences of opinion.

The closing Eucharist at St. James Cathedral was lively with sights and sounds of youth groups performing as praise dancers and drummers. We sang hymns from Africa, the Caribbean, and the African American tradition. I was sorry to see the conference end and hoped that it would not be another ten years for the next one. My “Gabriel “ moment came when one of the speakers reminded us to move beyond prayer to action and work harder on the areas the church is sometimes silent; racism, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and poverty. I felt encouraged the Afro Anglican world will work on the challenges of aging church members and declining youth members, and mentoring of people of color, and making worship culturally relevant and inclusive. God has no hands but our hands.

Sheila C. Sims
Co-Chair, Peace, Justice, and Hunger Commission
President, UBE
Member of St. Paul Episcopal Church, Oakland