Two clear messages have gone out from Dublin.
First, the authorities in Dublin Diocese were happy to showcase TEC despite its promotion of same-sex marriage. They have hammered in a wedge that may split our Church in two.
Second, the Primates’ meeting may have finally demolished the proposed Anglican Covenant, section 4.1.1 of which describes a Communion of national Churches “in which each recognises in the others the bonds of a common loyalty to Christ expressed through a common faith and order, a shared inheritance in worship, life and mission, and a readiness to live in an interdependent life”.
TEC’s breaches of that common faith and order are one thing; the failure of the Primates’ meeting to address them is quite another….
1. The preceding sentence reads: “The marriage of two female clergy in Massachusetts on 1st January 2011 showed that TEC is going to act independently, regardless of the consequences.”
2. This is reinforced by the TEC Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music recent statement of theological guidelines for same sex marriage/blessing liturgies.
The article rightly points out that the ABC and AC will do absolutely nothing to stop TEC from continuing on its set path.