Given the pain the Communion has experienced, a repeated call for active listening process, though Windsor-compliant, is foolhardy as it will tear dioceses and Provinces apart (thus Church of England Synod’s refusal to table the issue), let alone Lambeth Conference. I don’t disagree with the need. But time needs to be given for the tear to heal and it is pastoral and leadership madness to deal with this divisive issues after all the pain it has caused and will cause if it remains in the forefront of how the Communion relate together. TEC HOB’s requests for this underlines their determination to ”˜converse to convert’ and remain actively in the communion processes to convince the rest of then world that their actions are right and ”˜prophetic.’ It is a bizarre reaction to the crisis they have caused.
The fabric remain as torn as it did in 2003. Unless some HOB bishops has the leadership guts to lead TEC out of her current direction, fudging the issues will only continue the pain and division in the Communion. It is best that those who are determine to pursue the 2003 action indicate clearly their desire to ”˜walk apart’ so that the rest of the Communion can move on with her life and core business. Perhaps the Covenant can do the work to mend the net and for TEC to return via that channel. This will truly ”˜save the Communion’, a phrase that has been bandid around but it is obvious that most seem concern to ”˜save TEC’ and help her keep her status as an official member of the Communion.
Of course the fabric remains torn – the HoB gave absolutely nothing new here. Even some of their own recognize it.