Editing Lambeth Conference (section)

{{short description|Assembly of Anglican bishops}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2008}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{AnglicanCommunion}}

The '''Lambeth Conference''' convenes as the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] summons an assembly of [[Anglican communion|Anglican]] bishops every ten years. The first took place at [[Lambeth]] in 1867.

As regional and national churches freely associate with the Anglican Communion, the Conferences serve a collaborative and consultative function, expressing "the mind of the communion" on issues of the day.<ref>''The truth shall make you free: the Lambeth Conference 1988: the reports, resolutions & pastoral letters from the bishops'' (Church House Publishing, 1988), p. 118</ref> While their resolutions carry no lawful authority, "Its statements on social issues have influenced church policy in the churches."{{sfn|Bays|2012|p=146}}

These conferences form one of the four [[Instruments of Communion]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Instruments of Communion |url=http://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/instruments-of-communion.aspx |publisher=Anglican Communion Office |access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref>