In a flurry of huffing and puffing following the distribution of invitations to the 2008 Lambeth conference in May, some bishops, particularly those in the so called Global South have declared they will not be accepting their invitations if some of their allies weren’t invited. I’ve watched this childishness going on and wondered when it would dawn on the stuffed shirts that if they remain outside the Anglican Communion tent they claim ownership to that they loose their voice in their efforts to push others out of the tent.

One of the strengths of the Anglican church that drew me into it was that diverse views could and did reside under the same tent. I could be part of a community in which my views may differ from fellow members of the community yet still remain a part of it. In the last several years, the cohesiveness at the Communion level has been challenged, some bishops within the communion have chose to threaten to leave if others they disagree with are not tossed out. All over the issue of recognizing our gay brothers and sisters as equals at all levels of the church.

Yesterday, the National Post reported that the Bishop of York, John Sentamu, came out saying that those who chose to boycott the conference were effectively expelling themselves from the communion. The communion centers itself around the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the church. For any bishop to boycott the invitation of the Archbishop, is to effectively boycott the communion thus removing themself from the tent.

Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that the Bishop of York has an anglicized view of the communion and the ties that bind. Sentamu hails from Uganda. A former judge who fled the regime of Idi Amin. Apparently a man who understands the difference between leadership and dictatorship.