During their two-hour meeting, Archbishop Hiltz described the current state of the Anglican Church of Canada, particularly after the national meeting, General Synod, this past June. He spoke about the issue of human sexuality, and explained the diocese of Ottawa’s decision to approve blessings of same-sex unions. (The diocese of Montreal, which later passed a similar motion, had not yet met).
Archbishop Williams appeared receptive to the Canadian church’s actions. “He described our approach to handling the whole matter as ‘coherent,'” said Archbishop Hiltz. “We also, in that conversation, focused on the pastoral statement of the bishops and the kind of value that has for the church.”
Nothing of note here, says the Archbishop; please move along.
Archbishop Hiltz (in the Anglican Church of Canada press release): “It’s always nice to hear someone like the Archbishop of Canterbury or from the Anglican Communion Office say you’re handling this coherently, cautiously, judiciously, and you’ve got some things I would hold up as a model for others to consider as they grapple with the issue.” “Of course that’s very encouraging and I’m looking forward to sharing those kinds of reflections at the Council of General Synod and the House of Bishops. Because we need to hear that.”
“Nice”–yes indeed–nice to hear that from Canterbury when that’s your agenda. Face it people, it’s “all over but the shouting.”
Why would one give any more credence to a press release from the Anglican Church of Canada than one would to a press release from ENS?
Perhaps KJS was the best person to lead TEC since she presumably knows about jellyfish and how to disect them. Would it be that impolite to talk about the good ABC as a jellyfish?
I could be wrong. ++Rowan could have been mis-quoted and the spin machine could be set to 11. But words matter and we are accountable for every one that comes out of our mouth.
I would like to hear a “coherant” response from the reasserter leadership who remain in TEC (are they there?) that addresses the following:
1) The loss of leadership opportunity (to uphold the teaching of the Communion on sexuality issues and firmly address the disobedience/dishonesty of the American House of Bishops) represented by this and other recent comments/actions/inactions by Canterbury.
2) The lack of significant (and effective) challenge to the machinations of the institutional leadership of the Communion (Joint Standing Committee, Lambeth Palace, ABC, etc…) which operate at cross purposes to the expressed will and discernment of the Primates.
3) The clear and present direction of TEC (and also parts of the Canadian Church) toward increasing the levels of authorization for same-sex blessings and making the practice a normative “pastoral response” within the various dioceses (if not in the whole Province).
4) The corporate responsibility in all of this of the American House of Bishops, their lack of accountability, and the assessment of many that their recent statements have been willfully dishonest when viewed against the facts of the ground in their dioceses.
Windsor Bishops? Camp Allen Bishops? Step up! Your silence since you let Bennison be the only reported/recorded “no” vote at the House of Bishops Meeting has been deafening (and speaks volumes).
Perhaps the only thing left to say is to concede that the possibility of a coherent and effective orthodox voice within TEC is no longer possible.
“Perhaps,” Brad Page? Perhaps? How long, O Lord? How long? TEC and other radicals are consistent in their agenda. The ‘orthodox’ are consistent only in being surprised, startled, disappointed, et al.
I read this differently.
“We also, in that conversation, focused on the pastoral statement of the bishops and the kind of value that has for the church.”
The referenced statement by the Canadian bishops did not allow the public exchange of vows or any public blessings of same sex relationships. It is this and Canada’s attempts to proceed as a province as a whole after theological study and communion consultation that are the likely cause for the highly diplomatic “coherent†accolade. Note the other words used by +Hiltz as coming from both the ABC and the ACO(!): “cautiously†and “judiciouslyâ€. +Rowan Williams has repeatedly said that he wants the theological conversation to continue on this subject, but he obviously prefers the Canadian model to the ECUSA model of ecclesiastical anarchy that he has described, not as “coherent,†but as “bizarre.†And again, the Canadian bishops’ pastoral statement that is being commended to the wider communion does not permit blessings:
http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=19137
If the premise is wrong, but logically supported, the conclusion will be wrong, however coherent the logical process. I would not place a great deal of hope in the word “coherent”. Remember, this is ++Hiltz reporting the conversations from his perspective. His perspective is a bit off on other topics so why trust him here?
#6 Well, I was simply being generous in my use of the word “perhaps” in order to give someone…anyone…an opportunity to offer some hope for TEC. Honestly, I don’t think there is any. How people stay in it this terminally post-Christian “church” is actually a total mystery to me.
“It’s all over but the shouting” (#1), and the loss of leadership in the Anglican Communion (#5), are telling descriptions of what is happening. I’ve always advocated waiting for the Primates to speak “officially” regarding TEC’s response to DeS… and the fat lady is just sitting there. She isn’t singing; in fact, she hasn’t even stood up. She’s just sitting there.
There’s some individual grumbling from Primates, but nothing official. +++Rowan is leading in the direction of accepting the apostacies (although he wants to try and appear “fair” and “communion-minded”), TEC is sitting back licking the feathers off its mouth, and the Primates are just sitting there.
Am I missing something?
In faith, Dave
Viva Texas
My hope is that the Primates who are taking a stand for Biblical Christianity are not just sitting there. My hope is that they are making progress in a real direction, it’s just that nobody is saying yet what it is. I’m hoping this is the silence before we see what’s next. Because this can’t be it. We’re just waiting…waiting…..
In the meantime, what should we do that’s productive? Network between ourselves? Figure out a way to get money to the ARDF? Build up whatever local church bodies we can while we wait for what will happen in the ecclesiastical skies above us? Christ would not have us stand still and twiddle our thumbs waiting for the shoe to drop. I’m speaking to myself, because I spend way too much time scanning these weblogs, waiting for something to happen. A real announcement, a real leadership, someone who’s committed to the Great Commission, and is doing something about it..the rest of us need to figure out how to do it whereever we are……