The 14th Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) by a tight vote on May 8 rejected a move to add a fourth moratorium on issues related to divisions over human sexuality that would have asked for a “cessation of litigation” among member churches of the Anglican Communion involved in disputes over property.
The ACC, however, said it “affirms” the recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group (WCG), which included not just moratoria on the blessing of same-sex unions, the ordination of persons living in same-sex unions, and cross-provincial interventions, but also “relational consequences” for those who breach them. The original text of the resolution had used the word “notes,” instead of “affirms.”
The word “notes” had been used to reflect the “range of views” expressed by delegates in discernment groups, said Anthony Fitchett, chair of the resolutions committee and a lay delegate. Opponents said, however, that using a “more neutral” word was not useful, since the ACC “needs to give an indication of how it feels” about the WCG recommendations.
“relational consequencesâ€
… indeed. Despite all the talk of “confusion” in the ACC proceedings yesterday, a certain clarity has emerged regarding who holds the power and how skillful they are in putting it to use. We see the geography of their wills. When these moments occur in our beloved AC they merely serve to sharpen our unhappy divisions. Despite all the new forms of dialogue that have been put forward in recent years, and all the restructurings of the Instruments of Unity, there is a recurring sense that the see of Canterbury is no longer the epicenter of the AC and sign of its future. Jerusalem and its bonds of affection directed in a more southerly direction is where the ancient-future points. Stephen Noll and others with extensive North-South experience have, I think, got that right.
The contrasting missional integrities of Archbishops Mauneer and Orombi may now fuse more readily into one very bright beam of light that will guide the AC for generations to come. This is what Andrew Walls, Thomas Oden, and others have suggested as a distinct possibility from their long views of history.
Now if GAFCON primates and Mauneer, et al. do, indeed, move closer together as a result of the apparent debacle of the Covenant, then perhaps their friends in North America (ACNA and CP-ACI) will do the same… for the sake of the Gospel. Oh Lord, hear our prayer.