This week, at their meeting in Alexandria, the primates have been debating the Covenant, a new document that is at the heart of the solution and sets out a Bible-based orthodoxy that the provinces will be invited to sign up to. Some provinces may well refuse to do so. These include Canada, where one diocese, New Westminster, has already authorised same-sex blessings, and another, Toronto, is expected to follow suit within a year.
The Episcopal Church of the US might also have difficulty giving full support to a document that does not do full justice to the ministry of clerics such as Bishop Robinson, now an establishment figure who is friendly with President Obama ”” he prayed the invocation at the start of the inauguration celebrations last month.
The result will be not schism but a two-tier communion, with all provinces in communion with the “mother church” in England and its primate, Dr Rowan Williams, primus inter pares or first among equals, but some having a lesser status and not being in full communion with each other.
At the same time the new “church” formed by conservative evangelicals in the US, led by the deposed Bishop of Pittsburgh, Bob Duncan, which is seeking recognition as a new province, is likely to be granted some extra-provincial status allowing the thousands of Anglicans it represents to remain within the Communion. This would lead to two parallel Anglican provinces operating in the US, one free to pursue its mission of inclusivity including the consecration of bishops of different sexualities, the other mandated to preach its own gospel of what it believes to be “orthodoxy”.
The saddest words spoken lately: “This would lead to two parallel Anglican provinces operating in the US, one free to pursue its mission of inclusivity including the consecration of bishops of different sexualities, the other mandated to preach its own gospel of what it believes to be “orthodoxyâ€. One Lord, one faith, one baptism of the only begotten Son of God as the Savior of the world, and the only way to the Father has been deemed “what it believes to be “orthodoxy”.
The word orthodox means nothing anymore to the world. How about Christian as a name? Those who believe the Christ, as the Second Person of the Triune God, is God, and there are no others. Or possibly one of the earliest names for believers, The Way.
Overly optimistic for precisely BJMA’s reason. St Paul had quite a lot to say about “other gospels” and Jesus as a way, a truth and a Life – per the PB, is certainly another gospel. Just NOT the Gospel.
I have been hoping and praying for parallel jurisdictions since 2000. Why not have two recognized Anglican entities enthusiastically ministering in the USA rather than the current situation?
Let me help Ms Gledhill:
[blockquote] At the same time the new “church†formed by conservative evangelicals in the US, led by the deposed Bishop of Pittsburgh, Bob Duncan…[/blockquote]
should read:
[blockquote]At the same time the new church formed by conservative evangelicals in the US, led by the “deposed” Bishop of Pittsburgh, Bob Duncan…[/blockquote]
That’s better.
Sad article written by someone who does not ‘get it’ in any sense of the term nor understands ‘Christianity’ in the true sense of the term.
Sad.
RE:”This would lead to two parallel Anglican provinces operating in the US, one free to pursue its [b]mission of inclusivity[/b] including the consecration of bishops of different sexualities, the other mandated to preach ]b]its own gospel[/b] of what it believes to be [b]“orthodoxyâ€.[/b]
WordsReveal/WordsConceal…Okay…mission of inclusivity, good…
its own gospel, not so good…orthodoxy in quotes.
I have the inescapable sense that Ruth Gledhill is dreaming. I don’t think there will ever be two recognized and competing Anglican entities in North America or anywhere else which are not in full communion with each other.
I don’t think ECUSA will ever settle for lesser status in the Anglican Communion.
#3… quick thought to Senior Priest. You write:
That would be great. But surely you must have read the news lately. 815 is filing lawsuits right and left against anyone who tries to leave.
So its not just an issue of having two tiers, each of which are recongnized by Canterbury, both of which are free to go do their own thing.
I mean, yeah, that would be great. But 815 isn’t interested in granting the other side freedom to do their own thing. It’s lawsuits all the way.
Sorry but I am not very optimistic about this. I do not see the ACNA agreeing to this. I do not think they care about being in communion with ABC. Their very existence argues against being in communion with those with whom they disagree.
[b]Bishop Robinson … prayed the invocation at the start of the inauguration celebrations last month.[/b]
I’d call it a political statement rather than a prayer.
Eugene: As a matter of fact, we are in communion with Canterbury because our bishops are members of the House of Bishops in the Province of the Southern Cone and several other jurisdictions. I do not see that changing until the new province is up and fully functioning. It may be that an “extraprovincial” arrangement with Canterbury will be created…..much the same as the situation in which several African provinces were involved before they were granted provincial status.
And Randy, if TEC doesn’t like being second-rate, they have the option of leaving. They might as well, anyway, since they’re already what I will term a province of their own……a “province in waiting,” if you will, since they have at least nine overseas provinces and missionary churches of their own.
One of the problems with the “two fully recognized, parallel provinces” idea is that it doesn’t resolve any of the problems at the Communion level. Some provinces will still be in broken or impaired communion with other provinces. Some Primates will still refuse to share eucharistic fellowship with other Primates. Some bishops will still refuse to attend Lambeth if other bishops are present. It’s a solution that doesn’t solve anything.
Ross it does, but that depends on the solution you are seeking.
If ms. Gendhall is right – this is a terrible outcome for TEC. If the ACNA is viewed as Anglican and in Communion by the AC and especially the +++ABC- and if many provinces are in communion with the ACNA but not with TEC – then TEC has a real competitor. TEC is on lifesupport (actually endowment support) already. At GC2006 they likely pass SSB and end the moratorium on active homosexual ordination and bishops. This will alienate many more fence sitters who will now have a real choice. TEC may in fact “bleed out” before GC2012.
“This would lead to two parallel Anglican provinces operating in the US, one free to pursue its mission of inclusivity including the consecration of bishops of different sexualities, the other mandated to preach its own gospel of what it believes to be “orthodoxyâ€.”
Let’s look at this a little closer. “bishops of different sexualities” Gee Ruth, do you mean male and female here? I don’t think so.
“the other mandated to preach its own gospel”
I believe what you mean to say is “The Gospel.
libraryjim said that she doesn’t ‘get it’. At first glance that appears to be the case but I also think she has an agenda and is careful about the words she uses. If only she would let robroy and me help her with proofing her copy.