Episcopal Church USA faces pressure on Anglican gay split
-15/06/06
The Episcopal Chur
Episcopal Church USA faces pressure on Anglican gay split
-15/06/06
The Episcopal Church USA, meeting in general convention at Columbus Ohio, is facing scrutiny from the worldwide Anglican Communion ñ and Lambeth ñ as it seeks to navigate a way through the arguments about homosexuality which have caused some churches in the developing world to ëbreak fellowshipí with it.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, sent a warmly-worded message to the 75th General Convention of ECUSA on Tuesday (13 June 2004), which was delivered in person by Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York.
Dr Williams sympathetically notes that the crucial meeting ìtakes place in a climate of intense and perhaps rather oppressive attention worldwideî and wishes that God will ìgrant you discernment as you meet and listen to each other in patience and love.î
Nevertheless, the greeting contained some fairly evident warnings, too. Referring to the Anglican bishopsí Windsor Report, which called for a change of heart from ECUSA following the controversial ordination of an openly gay man, Gene Robinson, as Bishop of New Hampshire, Dr Williams says: ìI hope that the theological vision there set out in the Report of the ground and character of our communion in Christ will be clearly before you.î
While recognizing that Windsor is not necessarily the end of the story, he goes on: ìWe cannot survive as a Communion of churches without some common convictions about what it is to live and to make decisions as the Body of Christ.î
Observers say that it is significant that Dr John Sentamu has gone as the Church of Englandís chief representative at the ECUSA Convention. Englandís first black archbishop, Dr Sentamu is of a conservative but personable theological temperament and is viewed sympathetically by many in the ëGlobal Southí ñ who vehemently oppose the inclusion of lesbian and gay people in the church.
Dr Sentamu has spoken out against prejudice and homophobia, while upholding the ìtraditional viewî of the Church and calling for ìspiritual listeningî on all sides. He is seen as an honest, wily and persuasive broker.
Meanwhile the evangelical Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, has been more bullish in telling the General Convention bluntly that it must hold to a moratorium on the appointment of any more gay bishops, and show genuine remorse for the ìhurt and dismayî its actions have caused and their theological inadequacy.
Several speakers, including Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, have cited the 14 June statement from Bishop Wright which suggests that if the resolutions on the table are passed without amendment, the Episcopal Church will effectively have decided not to comply with the Windsor Report.
Many delegates are less than happy about pressure being exercised by Dr Wright and others, and especially the intervention of former Archbishop of Canterbury George (Lord) Carey in a recent seminary speech in the USA.
Lord Carey, invited recently by Virginia Theological School to speak about the state of the Anglican Communion, clearly pinned the blame for the worldwide Churchís travails on ECUSA and the appointment of Bishop Gene Robinson, suggesting inter alia that things had worsened since his tenure at Lambeth.
According to The Guardianís Stephen Bates, who has been following what he calls the Anglican war on sexuality closely, Dr Careyís remarks were leaked to a journalist who is the son of a leading evangelical cleric and a close friend of the former archbishopís journalist son Andrew ñ himself a vigorous critic of ëliberalsí.
In April 2006, Lord Carey, Dr Rowan Williamsí predecessor, caused controversy by likening the ordination in New Hampshire to heresy ñ because Bishop Robinson is gay, and lives in a long-term relationship. He also made insensitive remarks about his past alcohol problems.
135 Anglican bishops and clergy from Australia and other parts of the world issued an open letter asking the ex-Archbishop to desist from making interventions which, they said, undermined Dr Williams.
Lord Carey has been highly dismissive of these critics, calling them ill-informed, mischievous and un-Christian. When UK newspapers said that his latest contribution amounted to an attack on the record of his successor, Dr Carey posted a rebuttal on his official website ñ saying that he had been quoted out of context and was not a ìcampaignerî.
Yesterday, Bishop Pierre Whalon of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe told the ECUSA convention that commitments made by the Episcopal Church USA have global consequences ìbecause we are a global church – the only global church in the Anglican Communion – and our decisions canít be American first. This General Convention has to convince the Archbishop of Canterbury that the Episcopal Church wants to be part of the process that he set up.î
Meanwhile, Bishop Gene Robinson, the alleged cause celebre in the row, said that the light of Christ in gay and lesbian people of the church is being recognized and that the Churchís job is to discern the will of God ìas humbly as we can.î
ìOur homosexual agenda is Jesus Christ … Are we not in this debate because we have seen the fruits of the Spirit evidenced in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ who happen to be gay?î he said. ìThis debate is not, principally, about saving the Anglican Communion – we cannot make decisions about what the Communion will or will not do.î
Today the convention reflects on a series of hearings about Windsor and related issues, before moving on to discusses the legislative path of its proposed.
A growing minority within the Anglican Communion believe that ìgay partnerships are congruous with the deepest biblical truths about faithfulness and stabilityî, in the words of the recent Bishop of Oxford, Dr Richard Harries.
Changing Attitude has recently announced the formation of a group in Kenya, alongside one in Nigeria.
[Also on Ekklesia: Lord Carey says ordaining a gay bishop verges on heresy; Anglicans need more jaw and less war, by David Wood; Lord Carey says blasphemy laws should go; Muslim anger at Carey’s comments about Islam; Carey condemns disinvestment plan; Former C of E head says tide is turning against the church; Gay bishop likened to black civil rights campaigners; Anglican bishops apologise for misinformation about Gene Robinson; Gay bishop rejects attack by Tatchell; Bishop never said Jesus was gay; Church would be more ‘godly’ if it embraced gays says bishop; Tutu calls on Anglicans to accept gay bishop; Diocese of New Hampshire responds to Windsor Report; Windsor Report does not call for apology; Bishop Robinson denies report about Lambeth Conference attendance; Bible supports gay partnerships, says leading Anglican bishop; Archbishop of Canterbury twice agreed to appoint gay Bishop; Anglican covenant seeks to address disputes on sex and the Bible]
Episcopal Church USA faces pressure on Anglican gay split
-15/06/06
The Episcopal Church USA, meeting in general convention at Columbus Ohio, is facing scrutiny from the worldwide Anglican Communion ñ and Lambeth ñ as it seeks to navigate a way through the arguments about homosexuality which have caused some churches in the developing world to ëbreak fellowshipí with it.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, sent a warmly-worded message to the 75th General Convention of ECUSA on Tuesday (13 June 2004), which was delivered in person by Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York.
Dr Williams sympathetically notes that the crucial meeting ìtakes place in a climate of intense and perhaps rather oppressive attention worldwideî and wishes that God will ìgrant you discernment as you meet and listen to each other in patience and love.î
Nevertheless, the greeting contained some fairly evident warnings, too. Referring to the Anglican bishopsí Windsor Report, which called for a change of heart from ECUSA following the controversial ordination of an openly gay man, Gene Robinson, as Bishop of New Hampshire, Dr Williams says: ìI hope that the theological vision there set out in the Report of the ground and character of our communion in Christ will be clearly before you.î
While recognizing that Windsor is not necessarily the end of the story, he goes on: ìWe cannot survive as a Communion of churches without some common convictions about what it is to live and to make decisions as the Body of Christ.î
Observers say that it is significant that Dr John Sentamu has gone as the Church of Englandís chief representative at the ECUSA Convention. Englandís first black archbishop, Dr Sentamu is of a conservative but personable theological temperament and is viewed sympathetically by many in the ëGlobal Southí ñ who vehemently oppose the inclusion of lesbian and gay people in the church.
Dr Sentamu has spoken out against prejudice and homophobia, while upholding the ìtraditional viewî of the Church and calling for ìspiritual listeningî on all sides. He is seen as an honest, wily and persuasive broker.
Meanwhile the evangelical Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, has been more bullish in telling the General Convention bluntly that it must hold to a moratorium on the appointment of any more gay bishops, and show genuine remorse for the ìhurt and dismayî its actions have caused and their theological inadequacy.
Several speakers, including Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, have cited the 14 June statement from Bishop Wright which suggests that if the resolutions on the table are passed without amendment, the Episcopal Church will effectively have decided not to comply with the Windsor Report.
Many delegates are less than happy about pressure being exercised by Dr Wright and others, and especially the intervention of former Archbishop of Canterbury George (Lord) Carey in a recent seminary speech in the USA.
Lord Carey, invited recently by Virginia Theological School to speak about the state of the Anglican Communion, clearly pinned the blame for the worldwide Churchís travails on ECUSA and the appointment of Bishop Gene Robinson, suggesting inter alia that things had worsened since his tenure at Lambeth.
According to The Guardianís Stephen Bates, who has been following what he calls the Anglican war on sexuality closely, Dr Careyís remarks were leaked to a journalist who is the son of a leading evangelical cleric and a close friend of the former archbishopís journalist son Andrew ñ himself a vigorous critic of ëliberalsí.
In April 2006, Lord Carey, Dr Rowan Williamsí predecessor, caused controversy by likening the ordination in New Hampshire to heresy ñ because Bishop Robinson is gay, and lives in a long-term relationship. He also made insensitive remarks about his past alcohol problems.
135 Anglican bishops and clergy from Australia and other parts of the world issued an open letter asking the ex-Archbishop to desist from making interventions which, they said, undermined Dr Williams.
Lord Carey has been highly dismissive of these critics, calling them ill-informed, mischievous and un-Christian. When UK newspapers said that his latest contribution amounted to an attack on the record of his successor, Dr Carey posted a rebuttal on his official website ñ saying that he had been quoted out of context and was not a ìcampaignerî.
Yesterday, Bishop Pierre Whalon of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe told the ECUSA convention that commitments made by the Episcopal Church USA have global consequences ìbecause we are a global church – the only global church in the Anglican Communion – and our decisions canít be American first. This General Convention has to convince the Archbishop of Canterbury that the Episcopal Church wants to be part of the process that he set up.î
Meanwhile, Bishop Gene Robinson, the alleged cause celebre in the row, said that the light of Christ in gay and lesbian people of the church is being recognized and that the Churchís job is to discern the will of God ìas humbly as we can.î
ìOur homosexual agenda is Jesus Christ … Are we not in this debate because we have seen the fruits of the Spirit evidenced in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ who happen to be gay?î he said. ìThis debate is not, principally, about saving the Anglican Communion – we cannot make decisions about what the Communion will or will not do.î
Today the convention reflects on a series of hearings about Windsor and related issues, before moving on to discusses the legislative path of its proposed.
A growing minority within the Anglican Communion believe that ìgay partnerships are congruous with the deepest biblical truths about faithfulness and stabilityî, in the words of the recent Bishop of Oxford, Dr Richard Harries.
Changing Attitude has recently announced the formation of a group in Kenya, alongside one in Nigeria.
[Also on Ekklesia: Lord Carey says ordaining a gay bishop verges on heresy; Anglicans need more jaw and less war, by David Wood; Lord Carey says blasphemy laws should go; Muslim anger at Carey’s comments about Islam; Carey condemns disinvestment plan; Former C of E head says tide is turning against the church; Gay bishop likened to black civil rights campaigners; Anglican bishops apologise for misinformation about Gene Robinson; Gay bishop rejects attack by Tatchell; Bishop never said Jesus was gay; Church would be more ‘godly’ if it embraced gays says bishop; Tutu calls on Anglicans to accept gay bishop; Diocese of New Hampshire responds to Windsor Report; Windsor Report does not call for apology; Bishop Robinson denies report about Lambeth Conference attendance; Bible supports gay partnerships, says leading Anglican bishop; Archbishop of Canterbury twice agreed to appoint gay Bishop; Anglican covenant seeks to address disputes on sex and the Bible]