(Church of Uganda) The House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda, in its regularly scheduled meeting on 23rd June 2009, made several resolutions concerning the state of the Anglican Communion and the future of global Anglicanism.
The Bishops reaffirmed their commitment to the Anglican Communion and to the GAFCON movement as a force of renewal within the Communion, and pledged to continue to be a voice of orthodox faith, which is the biblical and historic faith of Anglicanism.
The Bishops were deeply concerned that the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) refused to seat the Church of Uganda’s duly appointed clergy delegate, Rev. Phil Ashey, and deprived the Church of Uganda from the representation to which it is entitled. The Bishops said, “The Church of Uganda’s prerogative to choose who should represent us was abused by the ACC by refusing to seat our delegate. We consider this to be a profound violation of our rights by the Joint Standing Committee and the ACC.”
The House of Bishops also reaffirmed its commitment to not receive funds from the Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Anglican Church of Canada, revisionist TEC and Canadian dioceses and parishes, and funding organs associated with them. The Bishops also chastised and called to account those Bishops among them who have violated this collective and long-standing decision.
Finally, concerning the formation of the Anglican Church in North America, the House of Bishops resolved that it warmly supports the creation of the new Province in North America, the Anglican Church in North America, recognizes Bishop Bob Duncan as its new Archbishop, and declares that it is in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America.
Likewise, the Bishops resolved to release, effective immediately, the Bishops, clergy and churches in America under its ecclesiastical oversight and to transfer them to the Anglican Church in North America. The House of Bishops further resolved to continue its partnership and friendship with them in mission and ministry, extends its hand of fellowship, and wishes them well.
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said, “This really is the moment we have been waiting for. We have been longing to be able to repatriate our clergy and congregations to a Biblical and viable ecclesiastical structure in North America, and that day has now come. To God be the glory.”
I hope the Church of Uganda will also pave the way for all the Primates by renouncing the Continuing Indaba Project by which the ungodly sexual agendites plan to smear the earth with prohomosex and proabortion propaganda.
I hope and pray that this is just the beginning. I believe that it IS the beginning of the end for TEC.
I think it would be much better if Uganda and the GS Provinces actually did what Met. Jonah of OCA has done and that is to come right out and declare that they are not in communion with TEc and then declare that they are in communion with ACNA. That would have been a far better thing IMHO…
#3, hasn’t Uganda already said that?
3. TLDillon wrote:
[Blockquote]I think it would be much better if Uganda and the GS Provinces actually did what Met. Jonah of OCA has done and that is to come right out and declare that they are not in communion with TEc and then declare that they are in communion with ACNA.[/blockquote]
Did His Holiness actually say that? The OCA never has been “in communion with TEC.” So “not” being “in communion with the TEC” is hardly news? But declaring that the OCA is “in communion with ACNA” would be really big news — sort of like the Bishop of Rome announcing that he was in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Here Ken Peck is the article on Met. Jonah of OCA
http://acnaassembly.org/index2.php/acna/page/106
Talks leading to full communion, and full communion are two different things entirely. TEC was engaged in talks leading to full communion with both the Orthodox and the Romans back in the 60s and 70s.
TEC threw a monkey wrench into those talks by beginning to ordain women priests — something which His Holiness mentioned in his address as still a obstacle with ACNA, along with other serious obstacles which the talks with ACNA face.
But what he did not say was that there is full communion between OCA and ACNA.
For a more realistic assessment of his address:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09176/979788-84.stm
As one just released by the Church of the Province of Uganda into the Church of the Province of ACNA, I am indebted to the good grace and Christian care of ++Henry and his bishops. And now to be in the care of +John is an equally comforting place of grace.
Few memories will be etched deep in my soul more than the worship of June 24 and ++Robert’s investiture. Indeed the entire Provincial Assembly seemed an act of worship. In the words of a hymn which we sang at the opening Eucharist, “Hell’s foundations quiver…â€
God is doing a mighty work. Praise and glory to Him alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fr Darin Lovelace+
St Davids Anglican
Durant, Iowa
Realistically, I think that what Metropolitan Jonah was referring to is full ecumenical relations with us, rather than full communion. There is a difference.
TLDillon, post 3:
Uganda and some of the GS Provinces actually did declare that they are out of communion with the Episcopal Church USA a few years ago.
That is why they are recognizing the Anglican Church in North America at this time.
Well that is great Betty See, but it doesn’t seem to have any effect on TEc and Canterbury. One would think that with those statements from the GS a few years back and the way TEc is behaving now and has been, they would be out of the AC but that is not the case. So my question again, as I have asked it before, why would ACNA look for Canterbury recognition when Canterbury is clearly a part of the problem and seem to have their own apostte road they are traveling on?
why would ACNA look for Canterbury recognition when Canterbury is clearly a part of the problem and seem to have their own apostte road they are traveling on?
Because they want to be full members of the Anglican Communion. This is where CANA and other groups misrepresented the facts to the people wanting to leave TEC. It was important to many that they be a part of the Anglican Communion. They are not and this has upset some of those who left assuming that what they were told was true. For the time being, TEC is the only member of the Anglican Communion in the US. Look for example at +Lawrence’s letter. He says “Put simply, we remain inside the structures of the Communion to help shape the emerging Anglicanism of the 21st Century so long as we are able”
#12 Brian from T19
I am not sure I agree with a number of points in your post.
22 out of 38 Provinces of the Anglican Communion do not recognise TEC as in Communion for the time being.
ACNA churches remain members of the Anglican Communion in fact by virtue of their dual membership of the big provinces of the Communion: Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Southern Cone, Kenya etc.
Further some estimates reckon that up to 80% of the Anglican Communion now recognises ACNA as an Anglican presence in North America in its own right. In addition to the Gafcon Provinces you have seen in the last week other Provinces who were going along with some of the Communion Instruments declare their support: SE Asia, West Africa, Jerusalem and the Middle East, Myanmar.
So frankly TEC is pretty isolated now in the Communion. Even ACoC have begun to see that they are on a hiding to nothing in backing TEC’s approach.
I wouldn’t bank on Rowan Williams either. He has put his office on the line in trying to give TEC every opportunity, but he is damaged goods now. It remains to be seen if he will continue to risk losing all authority for his office by setting his face against the tide like King Canute.
Rather than sticking its tongue out at everybody, Brian, TEC might like to consider whether their obstructive persecuting and damaging way which has injured only themselves is really the best way to get back in Communion with the rest of us, and I wouldn’t bank on the Church of England going off with TEC and burning their bridges with the rest of the Communion who we love to go out into the cold with TEC and your attrocious Presiding Bishop.
But it is your call – guess we will see next month.
The proof will be in the pudding following your General convention, Brian. Your Church will be known by its words and deeds, and if they fall short of what the Communion expects, I wouldn’t count on more provinces not declaring themselves out of communion with you.
Speaking personally, and only personally, full membership in the AC was never a primary reason for my leaving TEC. I appreciate the Anglican heritage I have received. I believe it is a way of integrity to approach and live the Gospel. But I do not love Anglicanism in a greater sense than I love the Lord Jesus Christ. Should the AC come in its official structures to actualize a mission other than the main thing of making Jesus Christ known with compassion, it would be the duty of every Anglican (official or otherwise) to flee – not walk but run away, flee Egypt as it were.
God did not hand the Instruments of Unity down to us – He handed the Gospel to us. That is what we must preserve at all costs, and to His glory.
Fr Darin Lovelace+
St Davids Anglican Church
Durant Iowa
#14 – and just what might it be that you perceive the rest of the communion expecting this time around? i was a deputy in 2006 and will be again in 2009, and neither then nor now are the other deputies and i going to submit to the full capitulation that the conservative province demand.
#16, youngadult, I hope that you will do what you believe is right at GC. If enough deputies agree with you, then we shall have full clarity rather than the uncomfortable ambiguity of recent years. ECUSA can go its own way. If it won’t, as you say, submit itself to the judgment of the Communion, then it should no longer wish to be part of it.
#17 – hey katherine,
i do plan to do what i think is right. and just to clarify, i didn’t say that i/tec won’t “submit … to the judgment of the communion,” but rather that we won’t “submit to the full capitulation that the conservative provinces demand.” i am pretty sure that the communion as a whole hasn’t convened to demand total capitulation, though some conservatives have.