Although today is billed as global Anglicanism’s high-noon shootout over homosexuality, the issue likely will get sidestepped again, exasperating both conservative and liberal Canadians who belong to the world’s third-largest Christian church and are fed up with the dispute.
More than 600 Anglican bishops assembled for the decennial Lambeth Conference in the ancient English cathedral city of Canterbury are to meet in indabas – a Zulu word for “purposeful gatherings” – to talk all day about homosexuality, which has threatened the church with imminent schism over the past five years.
But they are to pass no resolutions, make no declarations.
Rather they are to be limited to “reflections” on a proposal from the church’s spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, to create a “pastoral forum” for the 77-million-member church, the mandate of which would be to keep the homosexual debate frozen in place and prohibited from going anywhere.
[blockquote] Rather they are to be limited to “reflections” on a proposal from the church’s spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, to create a “pastoral forum” for the 77-million-member church, the mandate of which would be to keep the homosexual debate frozen in place and prohibited from going anywhere.[/blockquote]
And that is the point. The ABC knows that a decision either way will split the AC. Therefore he must, at all costs, prevent any decision. However this ultimately works to the advantage of the TEC as they move forward with their agenda.
No. 1: “The ABC knows that a decision either way will split the AC. Therefore he must, at all costs, prevent any decision. However this ultimately works to the advantage of the TEC as they move forward with their agenda.”
I think I agree with the second statement but would add something to the first. Yes, no decision helps TEC.
But making a decision is not the only way to split the Communion. The AC is more likely, I think, to split because of no decision than because of a strong, clear decision (with actions, consequences, something concrete and tangible). Rowan Williams knows that not to decide is to decide, and he knows that (almost) everyone else will know it too.
For years people have been talking about waiting till Lambeth. Well, it’s here. And it’s time to make it clear what mainstream Anglicanism stands for. It shouldn’t be that difficult–even for bishops.
Lets stop threating a split. Lets get on with it!
-Vincent
#3, I think Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya just did!
I think Kendall’s fear that their absence was a mistake has been proven correct, by the way. Their absence has united those present, and Orombi’s reported personal attack on the ABC (due to be published in The Times tomorrow), and the other personal attacks from GAFCON leaders, have simply rallied what is left of the Anglican Communion (i.e. that part willing to attend Lambeth 2008) around him.
Not to decide is to decide. It’s as I said…divide and smother. ++Rowan will destroy the Communion through inaction and try to blame it on others. What a weak, pathetic man.
4, I think they did the right thing. I think that the others would have rallied around the ABC regardless. The Communion Conservatives cannot think of life outside the AC, but being left in lurch by that same AC and Communion Conservatives makes me less than sympathetic to them. Only the Global South has offered us any hope.
Don’t let them sidestep it! Get in their faces and FORCE a decision! call for a sit-in if you have to!
“Anglicans likely to sidestep decision on gays” wow, there’s a news flash for you! Bet all those GAFCON bishops are REALLY sorry now that they didn’t waste a lot of time and money going to Lambeth!
[blockquote]@3 Lets stop threating a split. Lets get on with it![/blockquote]
You guys have been going on and on about [i]that[/i] since GC2003. Well ? When’s it gonna be ? Let’s hear it.
::crickets::
Yeah, I thought so…
+Orombi taking shots from the sidelines instead of being at Lambeth and engaging in the process is a big turn-off. I’d rather become a Missouri Synod Lutheran than join up with him and his crew.
Planonian:
That’s what I want to know….when are we going to split and how we can help speed up the splitting process!!!
Maybe someone should start a mail in campaign where scissors are mailed to the primates?
-Vincent
This game of Kick the Can held under the new inadabadavida rules at the Lame-beth Conference has succeeded admirably. The Anglican Communion can gleefully be pretended to exist and not have a schism over the American and Canadian imperialistic actions by those who feel a need to have legitimatization for their innovations. Meanwhile, the ABC has prevented an actualized schism over minor issues such as sexual morality, biblical teaching, the authority of scripture, and the nature of being related in the pretended to Anglican Communion.
On the whole a very well played out in fact Monty Python skit from the late 70’s except in real life.
Now, for something completely different………………………………..
#9. Oh amen and amen and yet amen again. All this chatter at Lambeth and before has become a steady diet of oatmeal and as we choke down this glutinous mess, we are reminded, “Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today.”
Still there may be some hope. Here on t19, I am hearing more and more: WILL YOU GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND DO SOMETHING? Perhaps the American impatience with grueling incompetence will at last have an effect. Larry