The problems posed by the American church are not going to remain in North America. This means that the rest of the Anglican world must be active in teaching the biblical faith as endorsed by Lambeth 1998. Many, including bishops in England, have questioned whether Lambeth will be able to deal adequately with these urgent issues.
Some have said to me: isn’t it better to be there than stay away? I respect those who hold that view but it is not as simple as that. Several African provinces have indicated that they will not be attending, because to do so would be to acquiesce with the North American actions. They are not ending the Anglican communion, or even dividing it. They are simply dealing with the reality that the nature of the communion has now been altered and reflecting that Lambeth is not as crucial to the future as it once was.
They see that since the American actions were taken in direct defiance of the previous Lambeth Conference, the Americans have irreparably damaged the standing of the conference itself. They asked without success for it to be postponed. As in family life, it is sometimes better to delay a meeting to allow time for greater clarity. They do not think that this conference is what is needed now. To attend would be to overlook the importance of the issues at stake.
After much thought, I agreed with this approach. Yet people, the media included, should not jump to wrong conclusions. We are not alone in this. Some of the largest Anglican communities in the world have taken the same decision. This is not a discourtesy to the Archbishop of Canterbury. I have assured him of our prayers as we continue in the Anglican communion and I am sure he understands our situation.
I get as frustrated as anyone with listening processes and talking that go on ad nauseum. But the other extreme is just as bad — being at the same event as someone with whom you disagree strongly does not entail acquiescence. The best option for conservatives is to continue to assert their majority in the Anglican Communion. In a few years, they’ll have a covenant, and if they’re right about TEC, it’ll self-select out of that covenant. That will put conservatives in a much better position than if they take their marbles and go home.
What does one do if the process itself is broken? Is making the best of it the right/christian solution?
Always the covenent. For the communion conservatives it has become the Holy Grail. I suspect like everything else (Windser etc) it will be one more thing to be ignored or never enforced.
#1
Amen.
But what does it profit anyone to go? The ABC has already said that this issue will not be on the floor for discussion. So what can be hoped to be accomplished, except a giant, feel-good, pat ourselves on the back Lambeth tea party?