[Virginia Theological Seminary] Fifteen Latin American, Caribbean, and East African scholars met at Virginia Theological Seminary for four days in June to discuss a topic of persistent tension and promise -"Church Governance and Growth in a Variety of Cultures." Co-sponsored by the Anglican Consultative Council, the conference recognized at the outset that "bishops and dioceses work in radically different contexts . . . always in creative dialogue and tension with whatever culture they call their own."

Conference members explored, among other topics, the impact on church growth from sanctions against polygamy, and the impact on polygamous practices in various cultures from Christian teaching on marriage. Conference members also dealt with the tension between episcopal leadership and synodical government. It was noted that in the Anglican Communion "bishops sometimes exercise power at the expense of councils." The conference urged Anglican churches not to despair over such tensions but instead to consider them creatively "as one more means of grace."

The conference made three proposals to churches in the Anglican Communion. First: "Reflect on both the pitfalls and opportunities arising as the historic episcopate is locally adapted." They warned against the use of the office of bishop to secure the officeholder's family against poverty or his ethnic group or social class against threats to its well being.

In the second proposal, the conference urged that synods should revise constitutions and canons where necessary "with an eye to ensuring robust synodical governance," to allow the gifts of all to be used, "and so allow the church to grow."

Finally, the conference recommended to the Anglican Consultative Council that Provinces pursue the possibility of selecting bishops by means other than competitive elections, and review locally adapted training for new bishops in the "administration of both financial and human resources."