The IFI bishops attending the Lambeth Conference met on July 9, 2008 at the IFI Central Office to orient themselves about their forthcoming trip abroad and participation in the gathering of all bishops of the Anglican Communion. The Iglesia Filipina Independiente is in full communion with most of the Churches in the Anglican Communion since 1963. 

During the SCB Meeting in Mambajao, Camiguin this May 2008, the bishops elected four from among them to represent the Iglesia Filipina Independiente to the Lambeth Conference set on July 16-August 3, 2008 in the University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom.  The Obispo Maximo, the Most Revd Godofredo David headed the delegation composed of the Bishop of Laguna and former Obispo Maximo, the Most Revd Tomas Millamena, the Bishop of Biliran, Leyte and Samar and President of the Supreme Council of Bishops, the Right Revd Dr. Vic Esclamado, and the Bishop of Surigao and President of the Mindanao Bishops Conference, the Right Revd Rhee Timbang.

The Lambeth Conference is held every ten years, and every conference the IFI is invited to send its bishops.  For this year, through a bursary program of the Lambeth Conference, the IFI was afforded an opportunity to send four.

The theme for the 2008 Lambeth Conference is “Equipping Bishops to Fulfill Their Leadership Role in God’s Mission.” It aims that all bishop-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 and gain greater understanding of the contribution Anglicanism can make to the worldwide church and the world.

The bishop-delegates are expected to be divided into small groups of eight for the daily morning bible reflections on the “I am” sayings of the Gospel of John.  In the daily afternoon sessions, the bishops are expected to pursue their individual interest on discussions of various issues related with the ministry of the bishops. These discussions will lead to the drafting and approval of various Conference documents.

A wide range of activities await the bishop-delegates in the Lambeth Conference. Highlights include the three-day spiritual retreat led by no less than the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams and the High Tea Meeting with Queen Elizabeth at the grounds of Lambeth Palace on July 27, 2008.

In the orientation meeting, the IFI bishops all expressed excitement in their trip and great hope in their participation. Part of the itinerary of the IFI delegation was to attend the celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the Concordat of Full Communion between the IFI and Church of England in St. John’s Church at Notting Hill, London, base of the IFI Chaplaincy for Filipino immigrants and overseas workers in London.

The IFI delegation is expected to come up with a report on its participation, hopefully containing insights on how the IFI life, faith and work are enriched with this experience with the world-wide Church.