The Compass Rose of Our Global Family

A couple of weeks ago, I took this photo of the compass rose window in London’s oldest church, All Hallows by the Tower. It’s a natural location for a compass, since All Hallows is a maritime church with deep ties to the Port of London and British history. Part of that legacy is the historical planting of the Church of England all around the world, including the American colonies. This compass rose is more than maritime; it is the symbol of the Anglican Communion—the third-largest Christian denomination in the world. This “global family” now includes 42 independent churches in 159 countries, each with its own version of the Book of Common Prayer. The ceremonial head of the Anglican Communion is the Archbishop of Canterbury, who also serves as the primate of all of England. As I’m sure you know, the current “ABC” is the first woman to serve in this role. I was able to meet her briefly!

I attended two days of meetings of the Compass Rose Society, a group devoted to supporting the global unity and mission of the Anglican Communion. It was an honor to hear bishops from around the world report on their current joys and challenges. As you can imagine, the divisions within the Anglican Communion are real. (Most are centered on human sexuality and gender equality.) But through it all, the message I heard lifted up is that clarity and charity are also real. We walk alongside each other not because we understand each other, but because we want to learn. Our unity is not in thinking together, but in acting together in shared mission. Let’s face it—we are all sinners standing at the foot of the cross. And for all of us, Jesus Christ is our hope.

Through peace, reconciliation, and shared mission, our “global family” has an opportunity to show the world something quite remarkable. Here at St. Bart’s, as a microcosm of the Anglican Communion, we, too, can continue to demonstrate how we share our lives together—not in full agreement or full understanding, but with the love of Christ unifying our way. It is what makes us remarkable and brings hope to all the lives we touch.

Mother Nina+