13. The Rev Neil Macken asked -

(a) What does the Lambeth Conference Bursary in Line Item 10 (page 233 Standing Committee Report) refer to?

(b) Is there any other provision made in the Appropriations Ordinance for enabling the Archbishop and the Regional Bishops to attend the Lambeth Conference in 1998?

(c) If there is no provision made, how will any costs be paid?

(d) If Lambeth Conference costs are to be paid out of some other fund, will the Synod or the Standing Committee have any involvement in approving those costs?

(e) Do the estimated costs include payment for any expenses not directly incurred by the Bishops who will attend?

(f) If some provision has already been made, what are the details of that provision, i.e. fares, accommodation, conference costs etc?

To which the President replied -

Some introduction to the answer is necessary. For the last 130 years, every 10 years the Archbishop of Canterbury has called a conference of bishops of the Anglican Communion, known as the Lambeth Conference. There are 31 Provinces of the Anglican Communion (of which the Anglican Church of Australia is one), and another 23 associated churches.

Lambeth Conferences provide bishops with the invaluable opportunity to study together, to share with each other and to pray together. A conference is held at the same time for the spouses of bishops. As I indicated in my Synod Address, Lambeth has provided me with the opportunity to confer with other Bishops in the Anglican Communion and put an evangelical point of view.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited all diocesan and assistant bishops, and their wives, to the 1998 Conference. After consultation with the Standing Committee I have approved of four of our Assistant Bishops, and their wives joining Pam and me in attending the Conference.

Now to answer the specific questions.

(a) The Special Grant of $54,000 approved by our Synod last year is the Sydney share of a $250,000 target contribution by the Anglican Church of Australia to help bishops from less developed countries, and their spouses, attend the Lambeth Conference in August 1998.

(b) No.

(c)-(f) The costs of the Archbishop and Assistant Bishops are not and have not been a charge on the Synod for many years. They are met from the Endowment of the See. Some details of this fund are given on page 8 of the 7th Handbook and page 11 of the Standing Committee's report, and the audited accounts for 1996 were tabled in the Standing Committee and in this Synod session. The costs of attendance at the Lambeth Conference in 1998, of the Archbishop, 4 Assistant Bishops and wives are estimated at up to $100,000. While it is anticipated that actual costs for airfare tickets will be less, the initial estimates were based on the following published standard costs for 1 person.

In terms of the trusts, the Standing Committee has "determined" the ongoing payments for the stipends, expenses and support of the Archbishop and Assistant Bishops, and those packages have been approved by the Archbishop.

For the 1998 Lambeth Conference expenses, in February 1996 the Standing Committee advised the Property Trust to make a provision of $100,000 and that provision has been made.