Boycotting bishops nothing new
Since its beginning, it seems that every Lambeth Conference has had its boycotters and non-attendees. A report from Ecumenical News International says, "When the first Lambeth Conference opened in 1867, only 76 of the Anglican Communion's 144 bishops accepted an invitation by the Archbishop of Canterbury to attend because of disagreement among them about the way the church was shaping-up in British colonies."
The impetus for the 1867 meeting came from the Anglican Church in Canada, concerned about the activities of the British-born bishop of Natal in South Africa, John Colenso. He was tolerating polygamy among African converts to Christianity, and questioning traditional doctrines about the Eucharist and eternal punishment.
HT to Ekklesia.
What is new is blogging bishops.
