Archbishop of Canterbury makes historic first visit to Diocese of Texas

(SINCE BECOMING A OF C, DR CAREY HAS BEEN TO THE USA MANY TIMES. YET HE HAS OMLY BEEN ON ONE VERY BRIEF VISIT TO SOME OF THE OTHER 37 PROVINCES OF THE ANGLICAN FAMILY. WHY DOES HE LOVE THE ECUSA SO MUCH? --PT)

ACNS 3076 - ENS - 24 July 2002
by Thomas Blanton

"Bless the Diocese of Texas," said Archbishop of Canterbury, George L Carey, commissioning a crowd of more than 2,000 Episcopalians during a celebratory Eucharist at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, on July 19. "Make it strong. May it reach out in loving sacrifice and service to so many needy people."

The Eucharist marked the conclusion of Carey's three-day visit to the Diocese of Texas, the first time an Archbishop of Canterbury has ever toured the diocese.

Although Dr Carey came by invitation, he noted that the visit itself was not a private one and realised that his presence could inspire the individuals with whom he interacted during his stay. "Very often we focus on the local, but we do not have an international perspective," the Archbishop said. "If I can bring that in, if I can encourage [Episcopalians] in their own ministry to be much more confident in their faith and much more outward looking in their attitude and mission, if I can achieve that - excellent."

Dr George Carey's visit began on July 17, where he appeared at Christ Church Cathedral for a breakfast meeting with Houston business leaders, followed by a brief dialogue with ecumenical leaders from the Houston area. He then preached the sermon at a noon Eucharist at the cathedral.

Sonia Bernard, a member of the cathedral and a nurse at St Luke's Episcopal Hospital, was one of the attendees of the noon Eucharist. She felt that this was the only time she would have the chance to see Dr Carey in person." But she added that he "reminded us to find that faith and love amidst all the adversity."

Thomas Puckett, another member of the cathedral who commented on the Archbishop's sermon, said that he was always impressed with how alike Episcopalians and Anglicans are. He is extremely slick, in the best possible way. He knows just what to say to his audience."

The next day Dr Carey and his party journeyed to Camp Allen, the diocesan camp center outside of Houston. In addition to visiting the campsites and other facilities, the Archbishop met with both diocesan clergy and later with lay leaders, addressing both issues facing the church and the concerns and questions of his audiences.

"I was interested to see what he had to say, particularly as our global church is in a bit of confusion," said Rusty Meyers, a small group leader and bishop's committee member at St Barnabas' in Austin. "I got the impression that we, in this diocese, are pretty much in line with his way of thinking, and that he's encouraging us to keep doing what we're doing."

The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
Minister of Christ Church, Biddulph Moor,
England & Vice-President and Emissary-at-Large
of The Prayer Book Society of America