Bishops who have made a public commitment to support the Windsor Report have asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to be clear and articulate in explaining what the consequences will be if the House of Bishops fails to give the assurances sought by the primates.
Seventeen diocesan bishops and one bishop suffragan from The Episcopal Church received an extensive briefing on the primates’ communiqué from the Rev. Canon Gregory Cameron, and shared with him their hopes for the meeting in September between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the House of Bishops during a conference held Aug. 9-10 at Camp Allen near Houston.
And will there be any consideration whatsoever of consequences for bishops NOT of US church who vociferously defy the Windsor Report? Didn’t think so.
Given the ABC is on record as saying the response is for the Primates to determine collectively presumably he will not be able to provide a satisfactory answer.
The AC Windsor Bishops (and the Church!) would like the Archbishop of Canterbury to be clear and articulate in explaining what the consequences will be (if any) should the TEC’s House of Bishops fails to give the assurances sought by the primates.
His reponse will be to call a conference to discuss what the response should be. There will be committees. There will be research done and reports offered. These reports will go to the next conference.
It’s hard to know whether to laugh of cry. LM
[blockquote] During the Texas meeting the bishops decided not to issue a public statement and agreed not to discuss meeting details. [/blockquote]
This is true only in part. The question directed to the Archbishop of Canterbury i]is[/i], in effect, a public statement. It is also a ploy to put additional pressure on both +ABC and the HOB in the weeks leading up to Sept. 30.
LM –
You forgot the listening process to be implemented.
Perhaps I am naively optimistic this time, but I sincerely believe that there will be a significant measure of clarity at the September meeting. I believe that the Primates have already spoken very clearly to the U.S. HOB and I do not imagine for a minute that the ABC is going to reverse what the Primates of the Communion have said very clearly. I think he will listen to them very respectfully and tell them AGAIN, quite firmly, that in a concilliar church it is not his role to overturn the councils of the Church, and those councils and all the instruments of the Communion have spoken very clearly. The choice is no longer up to the Communion, it is up to the TEC — to remain with the Communion, or to continue to walk apart. Unfortunately, I also believe that they will continue to walk apart and that we will see a whole new round of articles and statements from TEC sources questioning the value of the Communion, pointing out that the TEC is, in its own right, a global communion, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect anything sudden or very dramatic to happen at the HOB meeting, but I do anticipate that the ABC will hold the line and it will become even more clear than it already is (hard to believe, I realize) that the TEC has chosen to walk apart from the Communion. I suppose we’ll just all have to wait and see what happens in about 45 days.
#7 are you optimistic that there will be 1) a meaningful moratorium on SSBs; 2) a meaningful moratoruim on consecration of bishops who’s ‘manner of life’ presents challenges to the broader communion; 3) provisions for a Primatial Vicar/DEPO and a clear process for naming such a bishop who will have access to the ABC and other ‘instruments of communion’ without the PB’s review or approval?
Peace,
-miserable sinner
#7 I share your optimism. +++Rowan is far too smart a man to realize that he can’t keep holding off the GS off indefinitely.
Substitute ‘large number of TEC Bishops’ for ‘TEC’ and ‘they’ and I believe Mr Taylor hs it about right. It is also hard to believe this will not be a fairly dramatic HOB meeting, but as indicated, the time is not that far away. The bishops begin to gather around the 20th and +RDW will be there at the start of the meeting from what we are to gather. 30 Sept is the Dar deadline, and it will take time–depending upon the consultation process and other things–to get a Communion judgment. Presumably, enough ‘tone’ will have been set–in addition to whatever substance emerges by 30 Sept–for those anxious to sense the direction of the adjudication to have a proper idea of the matter. Grace and peace.
I know there are many who have lost hope in the Windsor Bishops, but this sort of story strengthens my belief that this group holds the key to TEC’s future. Declining to issue public statement–oh so shrewd, especially at this rather critical time. Good stuff. Make everyone sweat not knowing what you’re up to. Nicely played, WBs.
#11 I’m with you. Kinda reminds me of a Sat Night Live skit during Desert Storm I. The press (think bloggers) are trying to get Gen Schwarzkopf (Windsor bishops) to disclose strategic & tactical command decisions and the secret pass phrases being used by front line troops.
Changing metaphors, we’d all be best to not confuse the coaches & team meetings with game day.
Peace,
-ms
It seems to me a question he cannot answer…… As I understand it he’s already said “it was up to the Primates”… He may, say what he would plan to do, but as for what will truly happen, unless hes got some contingency plan,I see him unable (maybe even unwilling) to answer such a question.
We’d all like the answer to that question…
Gloria
Dr. Seitz:
My argument remains that there is nothing “dramatic” as you put it about September 30; its just another way for everyone who lacks the guts to make difficult decisions to kick the can down the road. Prior to the Robinson consecration in 2003, the Primates warned TEC this act would tear the AC apart; TEC did it anyway. In 2004 the AC issues the Windsor Report, further clarified at Dromantine. The core of Windsor is no gay Bishops, no same sex blessings. One would think Dr. Seitz that a coherent response to these simple requests would take less than THREE YEARS. You know, what did Jesus say about letting your yes be yes and your no be no? Of course in its 2006 General Convention farce TEC rejected Windsor and then the ABC tried to act like TEC had not rejected Windsor. So then we come to Dar, to further clarify the clarification of the clarification that was not previously clarified, and the TEC HOB rejects Dar as well.
Rowan resembles Becket little as he travels to New Orleans. Who is left that will make a bold stand, a courageous stand on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the Anglican Communion? Who will speak the truth with conviction and without compromise? Or has the whole sorry lot become little more than politicians trying to broker deals?
Whatever deal is cut in New Orleans, TEC will be same church it was on October 1 that it was on September 30.
I accept that your opinion is a strong one, William. Let us thank God that the character of the present decision making ‘Dardanelles’ is narrower than at any previous point in time. Consequently, I do not share your ‘one thing after another’ protraction scenario. Here’s the good news, however: you have less than 45 days to find out! Grace and peace.
Dr. Seitz, thanks for your courteous and ironic response. I sincerely hope that New Orleans will not be your Gallipoli.
*My* Gallipoli? I believe this Dardanelles belongs to us all. Nothing ironic here. Just more confident than most that cynicism is unwarranted (whatever justification in scripture there may be for it…). Prayers for Windsor Bishops, Primates and Instruments in general. (BTW, could we have a moratorium on using ‘GS’ to mean ALL primates in the GS? — this is not directed to you, but to the bloggers, who often use ‘GS’ to mean 5 or so GS Primates).
Grace and peace.
I like 14, William#2’s comment. It sums up my thinking.