We are now entering some choppy waters in the life of our church and our communion and we really have no idea where we will end up. We have clearly got issues within the Church of England over the consecration of women and the wider communion has to navigate through Lambeth and GAFCON.

The aims of the Lambeth Conference are that all delegates will:

• be restored and refreshed spiritually · gain deeper knowledge of each other · become more aware of the spiritual and physical resources God has given them to meet missionary challenges in different parts of the world · develop greater understanding and appreciation of life together in the Anglican Communion · address conflict · discover a new level of trust in common service to God · gain greater understanding of the contribution Anglicanism can make to the worldwide church and the world.

These will be fulfilled by delegates spending time together: in spiritual reflection, learning, sharing experiences and discerning their particular role in God’s mission for the world.

The goals of the GAFCON conference in Jerusalem are to:

• Provide an opportunity for fellowship as well as to continue to experience and proclaim the transforming love of Christ · Develop a renewed understanding of our identity as Anglican Christians · Prepare for an Anglican future in which the Gospel is uncompromised and Christ-centred mission a top priority.

These goals contrast with the 5 Marks of Mission that have been developed by the Anglican Communion

• To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

To teach, baptise and nurture new believers · To respond to human need by loving service · To seek to transform unjust structures of society · To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

From my perspective the 5 Marks demonstrate a desire to look outwards whereas the GAFCON goals are inward looking. The latter are about preservation rather than growth.

However, there is something refreshing about being part of an organisation that is prepared to look at itself and pause for thought. We should all be prepared to do this from time to time. But we must do it in a spirit of inclusion not exclusion.

I make no apologies for proclaiming the benefits of being part of the Open Synod Group. Our organisation lives to give space to those who want to work hard to achieve a strong communion. We can only do this by talking TO each other – not AT each other.

The definition of Communion is “the act of sharing, or holding in common”. It is impossible to be in communion if you are not prepared to share.

If we go too far down the divisive route that has been chosen by some parts of the communion we will not get close to the promised land.

Never-never-land might be a better name.

Tim Hind Chair OSG