A letter sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury\u2019s describing his views over the ecclesiology of the Anglican Communion has provoked mixed reactions on both sides of the debate.<\/p>\n
In the letter to the Rt Rev John W Howe, Bishop of Central Florida, (pictured) the Most Rev Rowan Williams said that the diocese, rather than the national church or the province, is the primary ecclesial entity within the Anglican Communion.<\/p>\n
This view has angered many liberals in the United States who feel this undermines the position of The Episcopal Church. But observers are divided over the possible implications of the letter. In the meantime Lambeth Palace has issued a clarification stressing that the letter\u2019s contents are simply restating the conventional understanding of ecclesiology and that it is not to be viewed as an \u201d\u02dcex cathedra\u2019 utterance.<\/p>\n
The Rev Richard Jenkins, Director of the Affirming Catholicism group within the Church of England, said the Archbishop had articulated a \u201d\u02dcvery authentic Catholic theology of the Church which places the centre of mission at the level of the diocese\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe diocese is the local church, it\u2019s the ancient model and what the Church of England inherited and it\u2019s what he\u2019s trying to maintain, it\u2019s not anything new.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n