The Rt. Rev. J. Michael Garrison, Bishop of Western New York, is preparing for the Spring House of Bishops retreat to be held March 7-12 at Camp Allen in the Diocese of Texas.

Plans include discussions about the Millennium Development Goals, Theological Education, the upcoming Lambeth Conference, and the Anglican Covenant. Another significant component of the gathering will focus on the ministry of reconciliation. A business session will take place on March 12.

Bishop Garrison is looking forward to spending time in conversation with his brother and sister bishops. 

"I know that one of the major topics of discussion at this House of Bishops will be preparations for the Lambeth Conference taking place this July," comments Bishop Garrison. "I understand that this Lambeth Conference will provide ample time for us to come together for conversation around life in our various ministry settings and how we can better work with one another for the sake of the gospel and God's Kingdom.

"I am dismayed that Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire has not been invited. From my perspective this flies in the face of our willingness to listen to the experience of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. For the same reason, I join the Archbishop of Canterbury in his disappointment that some of the African and a Southern Cone bishops have chosen not to attend this conference. The perspective of these bishops also needs to be heard." 

The Lambeth Conference, a gathering of Anglican and Episcopal bishops from around the globe that takes place once every ten years, will take place July 16 through August 4, 2008, at the University of Kent in Cambridge, England.

Five archbishops have announced that they will boycott the gathering. They are Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria, Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya, Henry Orombi of Uganda, and Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone. These five, of a total of 38 Anglican Primates, have said they will not attend because the Archbishop of Canterbury has invited the Episcopal Church's bishops.