Prayer for Primates

(Here is a copy of Letter I sent to the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion - a title which I do not like and do not think is appropriate for it sounds as though he is the chief executive officer of a corporation rather than the head of an office in London. I do support heartily his call to prayer and this is why I have rendered his collect into a form acceptable to those who a. use the classic language of prayer, and b. do not believe we should dare to begin prayers by telling God what he should know!)

Dear Canon Peterson,

Thank you for putting out a call for prayer for the important Primates Meeting to occur in mid October.

As a good number of those who are praying for the Archbishop of Canterbury and the 37 other Primates use the classic language of prayer when they address our heavenly Father, I have taken the liberty of rendering your prayer into that language. I know that not a few of the African Primates learned their Anglican Faith from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and when they pray in English that style is also their style.

Here is your notice & prayer with my rendering attached.


ACNS 3567 | ACO | 3 SEPTEMBER 2003

Call to Prayer: The Primates Meeting 2003 London

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Revd Canon John L. Peterson, encourages churches of our Communion to use this prayer in the days coming up to the October 15/16 Primates Meeting:

"Heavenly Father, you have called us in the Body of your Son Jesus Christ to continue his work of reconciliation and reveal you to humankind. Forgive us the sins which tear us apart; give us the courage to overcome our fears and to seek that unity which is your gift and your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

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"O God our heavenly Father, who hast called us, as members of the Body of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to continue his work of reconciliation and evangelisation amongst men: Forgive us the sins which tear us apart; and give us the courage to overcome our fears and to seek that unity which is thy gift and thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

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The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon.)