THE Community of St Anselm (CoSA), a flagship initiative of Archbishop Welby, is “in a period of discernment” about its future, a Palace spokesperson has said.
The Community of St Anselm was launched in 2015, and sought to encourage Christians between the ages of 20 and 35 to experience a “radical Jesus-centred community” of prayer and repair (News, 25 September 2015). Each yr since then, a bunch of community members have lived in Lambeth Palace, collaborating in prayer and worship, and serving in the broader community. A bigger group of non-resident members have been a part of the Community while working of their day by day jobs.
A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace said this week that the CoSA had been “in a period of discernment” since last September, before Archbishop Welby announced his resignation. The Community had been considering “questions comparable to where we will likely be based, how we’re structured, how people grow to be members of the Community, and way more.
“So, while we should not taking up recent applicants at this point, it isn’t to do with the emptiness. CoSA continues as a Community of Prayer with over 200 members world wide, praying and serving throughout the Anglican Communion and across the Global Church.”
A gaggle of current and former members of the CoSA expressed their “profound gratitude” to Archbishop Welby in an announcement this week.
“The impact of the Community of St Anselm on its members is profound and enduring,” it said. “Many of us discovered a clearer sense of purpose, grew in spiritual maturity, and were deeply shaped by values of humility, service, and self-giving. In our work, families, and communities, we seek to live out these values, inspired by the inspiration laid during our time with the Community.”
It went on to say that Archbishop Welby’s “willingness to take personal responsibility for institutional failings . . . reflect the courage, and integrity, which are desperately needed for the Church to grow to be a spot of true justice and compassion”.
