Quoting his own son, the journalist Andrew Carey, Lord Carey identified the problem in the Anglican Communion as a “deficit of authority.” He thought the objections to an increased role for the Primates and the Lambeth Conference based on the lack of representation of clergy and laity in those councils an expression of a desire for a kind of church order other than that which Anglicans have received. Lord Carey said that he had no hesitation about empowering the Primates to have an increased role.
In closing he urged holding fast and holding on and commended the work of groups such as the Communion Partners. Lord Carey had two questions to leave with the audience. To the Instruments of Communion he posed the question of discipline. Can there really be no consequences other than of the mildest sort for those churches which act unilaterally as The Episcopal Church did in 2003 against the advice of all the Instruments of Communion? To the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church Lord Carey posed the question, Can the orthodox have a future? Citing the example of Mark Lawrence’s consents the former Archbishop wondered aloud if it would not become impossible to elect conservatives to the episcopacy. Finally George Carey urged those in the audience not to give up hope but to work diligently for the raising up of a new generation of leadership.
With all due respect to Archbishop Carey, the problem is not a “deficit of authority,” the problem is a deficit of honesty and also of courage. The authority exists already to deal with the problem in the Communion, if those in authority are willing to honestly identify what the problem is, which they are not — but they are not alone in this failure. In an exchange on this blog just last week, the Rev. Dr. Radner of ACI contested my claim that the problem in the Communion is caused by the intrusion of heresy into parts of the Anglican Communion. He is clearly unwilling to use the “H” word. If you cannot honestly name what the problem is, you cannot hope to correct it.
What IS the Biblical term for the celebration, participation and promulgation of sinful sexual practice?
For the attempt to excuse, exempt and exclude one’s sin from God’s moral law?
For the denial of sin?
For the denial of the necessity and efficacy of The Cross?
For the denial of the words of Jesus Christ?
For denial and distortion of the Scriptures and teachings of the Apostles?
For adopting the practices of ancient cult worship?
For mixing worship of God with other religions?
Heresy?
Apostasy?
Unbelief?
Unregenerate?
Adulterous?
Uncircumcised hearts, eyes, ears, lips?
Rebellious?
Liars?
Haters of God, suppressors of truth, full of debate, deceit, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient…without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable…?
(Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 6:9-11)
Carey called the Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch, by implication, “serious heretics” for opposing his pet innovation — the ordination of women. I don’t think any analysis of ecclesial authority that comes from him can carry much water.
Lord Carey had his chance for dealing with this situation in embryo and he blew it. Now he’s seen the light and wants desperately to fit into history as one interested in the AC. Hmmm.
Lord Carey had Spong et alia under his watch. Nothing did.
Lambeth 1998 was deliberately undermined by Lord Carey as the ABC – see his responses to Rwanda’s Bishop Rucyahana undertaking support of the Church in Little Rock, AR; his statement in Christ Church, Greenwich, CT; his letter to Archbishop Michael Peers of Canada; and his letter of 10 September 1998 to Louie Crew.
Now … he complains. He then ignored … .
Now … the whole Anglican Communion pays.
He then relied on canons and not Scripture or Tradition.
Now … he moans.
Lord Carey is an architect of the current imbroglio … then and now.
Remember your Thucydides. Lord Carey did not. Now he moans about his consequences.
I agree, Lord Carey talks a good game, but he not not intervene when he could have. Now he is just a talking head.
The problem in the Communion and in TEC specifically is the intrusion of evil…
So, because he didn’t offer a mea culpa he couldn’t therefore offer sound advice?
[blockquote]1. In his speech Dr. Carey quoted his predecessor, Archbishop Runcie, to the effect that the communion will either develop along the path of interdependence or fall into dissolution.
2. Can there really be no consequences other than of the mildest sort for those churches which act unilaterally as The Episcopal Church did in 2003 against the advice of all the Instruments of Communion?[/blockquote]
Dcn Dale, he can certainly offer the soundest of advice based on the 100% effective retrospectroscope. Now, all he has to do is get the time machine hooked up and offer it to himself at a time when it MIGHT have achieved some good. Now, he apparently regrets that the barn door he opened has been used to run out the sheep. No mea culpa can cover the consequences … his consequences … to the Anglican Communion. And, you will recall, his actions/un-actions aree cited by Rowan for his own positions. Once the ABC, forever in the history books as the ABC who did (or did not) thusly.
Perhaps some future Anglican organization can benefit from his hindsight when it formulates itself. Otherwise, Thucydides will be ignored again.
#8. dwstroudmd,
I think the primary value of statements by a former ABC that criticize present policy and forecast dissolution is that he reinforces what folks like you and me say even when we are called “Nay Sayers”. Folks come on these threads and scold us for being overly critical and judgmental yet how can they say this about an insider who says the same thing. So, I’m glad he agrees with us peons and I will continue to speak out.
The deficit of authority is not where he thinks it is. He thinks it means better bishops. But you make those out of clergy and you make those out of *laymen*. The thing rots from the feet up not the other way around. For example, Ann Redding is a layman, and a Muslim. There are quite a number of people in the Diocese of Olympia who think she is a martyr. The ranks of clergy are like alot of things, garbage in, garbage out. No one objected to VGR as a priest shacked up with his beau (I think that would have been under the Carey administration?), but oh how they squealed when he was about to become a bishop!
Carey preaches clericalism, where the only thing that matters is what ordained people believe and bishops in particular. Believing parents and Sunday school teachers are needed. They are laymen and *make* laymen. Oh, and Ann Redding should not teach Sunday school anymore except at her Mosque.