Although the Reflections document is merely a report of our discussions (Lambeth has no legislative authority), many of its comments related to human sexuality are bound to gain attention in the coming months. The American Church realizes that our policy of inclusion is not shared by the majority. The document reflects that fact. Even though I had hoped that the Communion could accept the American Church’s actions, I was disappointed that this was not the case. Bishop Gene Robinson’s exclusion was personally difficult for me, and I supported him the best I could by attending an off- campus Eucharist with him. Most (but not all) of the 38 constituent provinces still feel that there is need for a covenant agreement which would contain some kind of discipline for those provinces that proceed with the consecration of openly gay or lesbian bishops, or who offer blessings of same gender unions. Both the meaning of these passages, and the disciplinary implications are still unclear, but I don’t think it would be an overstatement to say that many of us in the American Church feel caught between our love for the Communion and our conviction that in the church there can be no outsiders. The result, as someone half jokingly remarked, is that “the Anglican Communion welcomes everyone, except a few, and the Americans, who welcome everyone.” So this tension will continue.
For my part, I intend to do three things. The first is to nurture the friendships I made with my colleagues from around the world. I am sure my prayer-group members (which included one very vocal critic of the American Church) and I will be friends for life, for we pledged to pray daily for each another. Second, our mission partnerships need to be strengthened. I hope to build on our relationship with Western Mexico and Dar es Salaam, and both will be present at our Convention in October. Third, the clergy and I will be discussing the pastoral implications of the Reflections document at our clericus meetings this fall and how we as one Diocese can best respond to it.
The result, as someone half jokingly remarked, is that “the Anglican Communion welcomes everyone, except a few, and the Americans, who welcome everyone.â€
… everyone that is except the majority of Anglicans who do not follow the “new thing”. Now that is inclusive.
What is it about these revisionist that they have to look at everything from a “right” stand point? The American Church ran off track about 80 years ago and has been in free fall. The problems of today go back to the acceptance/approval of artificial contraception. No one has a “right” to be ordained, no one has a “right” to be consecrated. This whole divion is not abut “rights”, it is about the authority of the Bible, the Divinity of Jesus Christ, and the existance of the Trinity. Get over this “rights” bit. There are none. I had someone argue with me a few days ago about the Equal Rights Amendment. THERE ISN’T any such thing. Political activists have been trying to get it passed for 83 years, or since 1923. Obviously the American people don’t want it. So why does anyone have a “right” to be ordained, or a “right” to overturn 2000 years of church teaching?