Bishop Botengan sent copies to all parishes with a cover letter asking that the letter be read. Our rector, who is not especially liberal as far as I can tell, announced that it was available, posted one copy on the bulletin board, and went on with his sermon. Apparently it was read in some parishes, but I doubt that it aroused much interest.
Bishop Botengan had spoken to the cathedral congregation regarding Lambeth, and was very enthusiastic about it. In his cover letter he writes "With people coming from all corners of the globe, there was a rich diversity in culture, race, ethniocity, general education, sexual orientation, language and access to resources. This diversity found expression along North and South lines, in national identities and expression of individual Bishops who spoke in a range of theological perspectives and traditions."
Of the infamous resolution he writes "The most controversial issue which threatened to divide the Church was the issue of Homosexuality. It was debated for almost three weeks but the final resolution rejected homosexual practice as incompatkble with Scriptures and advised against legitimizing or blessing same sex unions and the ordination of those involved in the same gender (?)." In fact, when he spoke to us, what seemed to strike him most about the resolution was how wonderfully inclusive it was: Even "queers" he enthused (Filipino English is not sensitive to American connotation - he meant nothing disparaging by the term) are full members of our Church, isn't it wonderful! There was certainly nothing triumphalist in his tone - I guess he took it for granted that homosexual practices would be rejected, but thought the inclusion bit to be a big step forward. He also got to shake hands with the Queen which I think deep down was the highlight of his trip as far as he was concerned.
--by a correspondent in the Philippines who prefers to remain anonymous
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