The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have recognised the Orders of the Free Church of England under the Overseas and Other Clergy (Ministry and Ordination) Measure 1967. The Measure gives the Archbishops authority to determine whether the Orders of any Church are ‘recognised and accepted’ by the Church of England.
The recognition of the Orders of the Free Church of England follows approximately three years of contact between the bishops of the Free Church of England, the Council for Christian Unity and the Faith and Order Commission, which recommended that the Orders of the Free Church of England be recognised. That recommendation was subsequently endorsed by the Standing Committee of the House of Bishops.
I find this a very interesting development. The Free Church is very like the REC in the US, and the two have been, as I understand, in full communion with one another since their founding, and indeed share the same line of bishops and participate in the other’s consecrations.
I wonder if one purpose of this is to provide an out for Reformed minded CoE members who will otherwise be excommunicated with the installation of women bishops? (The Free Church, as I understand it, holds to the same theology of orders as the REC, and does not ordain women, much less recognize women bishops).
Still, I think it bodes well for those within ACNA who would like to see recognition of their orders by CoE, since any theological impediment appears to be removed, and now the only concern would be that KJS and TEC won’t approve. (WHY this latter appears to matter so much to the CoE is beyond me).
Be careful, No. 1, lest the PB denounce you as being in league with mass murderers and school shooters. 😉
I was part of the short-iived Episcopal – Reformed Episcopal and Anglican Province dialogue. We met three times, twice in Washington and once in Orlando. Recognition of their orders was very important to the REC, less so to the APA. I wonder if the ordinations of the Church of England in South Africa will also be recognized.
This means, it seems, that my REC rector is now recognized by the CofE, while the rectors of the non-REC ACNA parishes around here are not. Interesting turn of events.
#2, I probably don’t have as much to worry about as the new ABoC. After all, from KJS point of view, Lambeth recognized the Free Church, the Free Church is in communion with the REC. REC uses the word “Episcopal” and therefore Lambeth Palace and all parish churches and other property in the Archdiocese belong to TEC.
I mean, she may as well give it a shot, she seems to think it will work in S Carolina, why not in England?
Well, I think this game of “Whose in communion with whom?” is an interesting one. The Episcopal Church is in Communion with the ELCA. ELCA is in Communion with the Presbyterian Church USA. And yet some ECUSA is not in Communion with the PCUSA. One with think with some many of the same letters in the acronym, we would be. 😉
“…and therefore Lambeth Palace and all parish churches and other property in the Archdiocese belong to TEC”
Your logic is hard to refute tj. With reasoning like that, I expect you will be the next Chancellor of TEC!