IRD Religious Liberty Director Faith J.H. McDonnell commented:
Some liberals in the Episcopal Church are undermining their own talking points by the spitefulness with which they are being delivered. If the proposed new Anglican Church of North America were so insignificant, their response would be dismissive but gracious. Instead, a mean-spirited hostility has broken out.
Ultimately, this is not a schismatic movement. While disaffected groups have split from the Episcopal Church in the past, the fact that many of these groups are now unifying is unprecedented. The stated intent is to remain within the Anglican Communion.
Having more than one Anglican province occupy a single geographic area is not completely new. The Church of England’s Diocese in Europe exists alongside both the Convocation of American Churches in Europe and the Old Catholic Church, which are both in communion with Canterbury.
Facts are confusing to ECUSA/TECans, especially when they make them. Facts are confusing to the ABC when anyone makes them.
The fact that the AC has three overlapping jurisdictions within one geographical boundary is VERY confusing to them because it is an old “fact on the ground” which cannot be done away with. And then there’s the Philippines situation with the same facts.
FACTS! ARRRGH!
I seem to recall that the “emergency” meeting was in fact scheduled some time back in August.
As one who has worked in both the Convocation and the (C of E) diocese of Europe, I find the repeated example of Europe as regards overlapping jurisdictions misleading. These two jurisdictions resulted from historical accidents such as the Allied occupational zones after World War II, not a difference in theology. During my time in both groups (mid 80’s through early 90’s), neither were in competition and now share “linked” episcopates. Even in those cities where there were parishes of both jurisdictions (Geneva, Paris, Florence, Rome), there was/is little or no animosity. Can we really say that this is the case here?
(Anastasios)
In the overlap mix, don’t forget the Spanish Reformed Church and the Lusitanian Church. And, in the United States, we have the Episcopal Church overlapping the ELCA with whom the TEC has an agreement of intercommunion.
Presently, the animosity or disagreements in the Anglican Communion (reference #3) already exist among provinces. An overlap of provinces might in fact bring hostility to an end by providing the distance needed for people to live in peace. Old ideas of geography as the provincial defining quality only make sense when the provinces defined reflect common faith and order. TEC broke the deal on that years ago.
#3, what difference does it make if hostility is involved. The fact is that there have been overlapping jurisdictions and presently are overlapping jurisdictions. So for TEC to call this unprecedented is just, IN FACT, false … and that needs to be said. There, IN FACT, is precedent for overlapping jurisdictions and TEC is well aware of it and, IN FACT, is and has participated in it, to its advantage, for the last 50 years. What’s good the goose is sauce for the gander ….
#3 I’d also be inclined to stay away from the european analogy, having served the church in Munich for several summers. Not only is it an historical accident, in recent years that ‘accidental’ character has led to the instinct to sort it out and make the two jurisdictions function more collaboratively–precisely because they are NOT like a TEC province and a new province.
What is often not noted is that the Convocation is actually the single and only ‘jurisdiction’ of the american PB, not having a jurisdiction of his own. Failing to note this may aid further historical forgetfulness about the office of the PB. In my time in Munich, the PB appointed a suffragen to oversee the Convocation — usually a retired Bishop (as there is little money). When the welshman Rowthorn was appointed, there was a desire to make a single jurisdiction of some kind, because the history in which the two regions emerged is now changed.
multiple overlapping jurisdictions? true or false?
true.