The communion’s strength has always been its capacity to fudge difference in the interest of cohesion; to place human relationship before rigidity.
This does not mean Anglicanism is out of the woods on human sexuality issues. The risk of schism remains.
But what it succeeded in doing at Lambeth was to secure more – and very necessary – time. It also allowed those present to gain a deeper understanding of where others are coming from on same-sex issues.
The scale of the differences between liberal and conservative elements within the communion is demonstrated by the fact that approximately a quarter of the communion’s bishops were absent from the conference – in protest at the handling of these same-sex issues by Dr Williams and others.
The only time it bought was for 815 to continue business as usual (more inhibitions; more lawsuits; “unofficial” official SSbs) without the fear of reprisals or recognition from Canterbury of their ‘enemies within’.
Peace
Jim Elliott <><
Exactly.
“The scale of the differences between liberal and conservative elements within the communion is demonstrated by the fact that approximately a quarter of the communion’s bishops were absent from the conference…” representing about 58 Million Christians world wide, or about 75% of the Anglicans in the world.
Presumably, since they were not present, they did not “gain a deeper understanding of where others are coming from on same-sex issues.” They have allowed their understanding to be formed by analysis of Holy Scripture instead of decadent Western cultural norms.
I think that it won’t be long before GAFCON Anglicans are known ecumenically as the Christian Anglicans and the rest of them are just the heretics and those struggling with fleeing the heresy. I already think this.
“But what it succeeded in doing at Lambeth was to secure more – and very necessary – time.”
An excellant definition of the word “stall”.
The only time it bought was for 815 to continue business as usual (more inhibitions; more lawsuits; “unofficial†official SSbs) without the fear of reprisals or recognition from Canterbury of their ‘enemies within’.
Jim, under the rules of the moratoria against border incursions how could there be any reprisals unless 815 invited them?