Epicopalians hold to stretched thread of unity
-24/06/06
Following a complex debate pr
Epicopalians hold to stretched thread of unity
-24/06/06
Following a complex debate process and much behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, the Episcopal Church USA ended its General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, on 21 June 2006, having adopted a compromise stance on sexuality and episcopal ministry which Archbishop of Canterbury has acknowledged as a ìseriousî response to the wider Anglican Communionís concerns ñ but which has been denounced by both wings of an often bitter argument.
After a previous move by clergy and lay delegates which voted down a motion urging dioceses to refrain from electing lesbian and gay candidates for episcopacy, a variant resolution promoted by outgoing Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold was finally adopted. It called on the church ìto exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on the communion.î
The majority formula does not go far enough for hard-line conservative-minded Anglicans in ECUSA and beyond, while liberally-minded Bishop John Chane of Washington DC is among those who have already said he will continue to consecrated suitable, duly elected gay clergy to bishoprics as appropriate.
In any event, the resolution does not bind bishops or Standing Commissions and does not mention nominating committees and electing conventions which are also effectively autonomous.
Dr Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the worldís 77 million Anglicans, has called for further reflection in the light of the decision, and hopes that an accommodation of the different parties can still follow.
Among those seeking to hold to unity-in-disagreement, while acknowledging the predominant view on sexuality, much is pinned on the proposed ëcovenantal processí towards the 2008 Lambeth Conference of global Anglican bishop.
This will focus on greater mutual accountability in decision-making, while resisting the adoption of a central authority structure which Anglicans ñ a fellowship of provinces bound by common worship, the historic creeds and denominational formularies ñ have historically resisted.
But many voices on all sides are still predicting a wider split within the church. And all recognize that two years is a long time in Anglican politics, given the recent history of the dispute about both gay and women bishops.
The final resolution was passed after Bishop Griswold addressed a joint meeting of the General Convention, declaring: “We must now act with generosity and imagination so that our actions are a clearer reflection of the willingness of the majority of us to relinquish something in order to serve a larger purpose.”
Dr Rowan Williamsí statement in response, issued by Lambeth Palace, said: ìI am grateful to the Bishops and Deputies of the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (USA) for the exceptional seriousness with which they have responded to the request of the Primates of the Anglican Communion that they should address the recommendations of the Windsor Report relating to the tensions arising from the decisions associated with the 74th General Convention in 2003.î
He went on: ìThere is much to appreciate in the hard and devoted work done by General Convention, and before that, by the Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, in crafting the resolutions. This and the actions taken today show how strong is their concern to seek reconciliation and conversation with the rest of the Communion.î
But the Archbishop also warned: ìIt is not yet clear how far the resolutions passed this week and today represent the adoption by the Episcopal Church of all the proposals set out in the Windsor Report. The wider Communion will therefore need to reflect carefully on the significance of what has been decided before we respond more fully.î
Concluded Dr Williams: ìI intend to offer fuller comments on the situation in the next few days. The members of Convention and the whole of the Episcopal Church remain very much in our prayers.î
Meanwhile, Jim Noughton, communications director of Washington Diocese, observed wryly on his Daily Episcopalian weblog: ìI donít foresee [Archbishop] Peter Akinola [of Nigeria] coming over to give us a great big hug any time soon. But this resolution just may be enough to keep us in conversation with a sufficiently large segment of the Anglican Communion to make membership in the Communion seem worthwhile.î
[Also on Ekklesia: Ecumenism not hit by woman presiding bishop, say observers 23/06/06; US Episcopal Church turns down ban on gay bishops 21/06/06; Joy greets the first-ever Anglican woman leader 19/06/06; Don’t practice divisive religion, UN man tells Episcopalians 18/06/06; Worrying new Anglican dispute about David Beckham 19/06/06 Inclusive Church reports on key US Episcopal gathering 16/06/06; Episcopal Church USA faces pressure on Anglican gay split; Lord Carey says ordaining a gay bishop verges on heresy; Conservative Episcopalians break away ahead of Eames report; African bishops say Windsor Report is offensive; Windsor Report does not call for apology; Episcopal bishop rejects Nigerian criticism on gays; Episcopal leader calls for aid focus on Palestine-Israel; Church in Haiti keeps hope alive amid violence and poverty; US Anglicans seek to end Cuban isolation]
Epicopalians hold to stretched thread of unity
-24/06/06
Following a complex debate process and much behind-the-scenes manoeuvring, the Episcopal Church USA ended its General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, on 21 June 2006, having adopted a compromise stance on sexuality and episcopal ministry which Archbishop of Canterbury has acknowledged as a ìseriousî response to the wider Anglican Communionís concerns ñ but which has been denounced by both wings of an often bitter argument.
After a previous move by clergy and lay delegates which voted down a motion urging dioceses to refrain from electing lesbian and gay candidates for episcopacy, a variant resolution promoted by outgoing Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold was finally adopted. It called on the church ìto exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on the communion.î
The majority formula does not go far enough for hard-line conservative-minded Anglicans in ECUSA and beyond, while liberally-minded Bishop John Chane of Washington DC is among those who have already said he will continue to consecrated suitable, duly elected gay clergy to bishoprics as appropriate.
In any event, the resolution does not bind bishops or Standing Commissions and does not mention nominating committees and electing conventions which are also effectively autonomous.
Dr Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the worldís 77 million Anglicans, has called for further reflection in the light of the decision, and hopes that an accommodation of the different parties can still follow.
Among those seeking to hold to unity-in-disagreement, while acknowledging the predominant view on sexuality, much is pinned on the proposed ëcovenantal processí towards the 2008 Lambeth Conference of global Anglican bishop.
This will focus on greater mutual accountability in decision-making, while resisting the adoption of a central authority structure which Anglicans ñ a fellowship of provinces bound by common worship, the historic creeds and denominational formularies ñ have historically resisted.
But many voices on all sides are still predicting a wider split within the church. And all recognize that two years is a long time in Anglican politics, given the recent history of the dispute about both gay and women bishops.
The final resolution was passed after Bishop Griswold addressed a joint meeting of the General Convention, declaring: “We must now act with generosity and imagination so that our actions are a clearer reflection of the willingness of the majority of us to relinquish something in order to serve a larger purpose.”
Dr Rowan Williamsí statement in response, issued by Lambeth Palace, said: ìI am grateful to the Bishops and Deputies of the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (USA) for the exceptional seriousness with which they have responded to the request of the Primates of the Anglican Communion that they should address the recommendations of the Windsor Report relating to the tensions arising from the decisions associated with the 74th General Convention in 2003.î
He went on: ìThere is much to appreciate in the hard and devoted work done by General Convention, and before that, by the Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, in crafting the resolutions. This and the actions taken today show how strong is their concern to seek reconciliation and conversation with the rest of the Communion.î
But the Archbishop also warned: ìIt is not yet clear how far the resolutions passed this week and today represent the adoption by the Episcopal Church of all the proposals set out in the Windsor Report. The wider Communion will therefore need to reflect carefully on the significance of what has been decided before we respond more fully.î
Concluded Dr Williams: ìI intend to offer fuller comments on the situation in the next few days. The members of Convention and the whole of the Episcopal Church remain very much in our prayers.î
Meanwhile, Jim Noughton, communications director of Washington Diocese, observed wryly on his Daily Episcopalian weblog: ìI donít foresee [Archbishop] Peter Akinola [of Nigeria] coming over to give us a great big hug any time soon. But this resolution just may be enough to keep us in conversation with a sufficiently large segment of the Anglican Communion to make membership in the Communion seem worthwhile.î
[Also on Ekklesia: Ecumenism not hit by woman presiding bishop, say observers 23/06/06; US Episcopal Church turns down ban on gay bishops 21/06/06; Joy greets the first-ever Anglican woman leader 19/06/06; Don’t practice divisive religion, UN man tells Episcopalians 18/06/06; Worrying new Anglican dispute about David Beckham 19/06/06 Inclusive Church reports on key US Episcopal gathering 16/06/06; Episcopal Church USA faces pressure on Anglican gay split; Lord Carey says ordaining a gay bishop verges on heresy; Conservative Episcopalians break away ahead of Eames report; African bishops say Windsor Report is offensive; Windsor Report does not call for apology; Episcopal bishop rejects Nigerian criticism on gays; Episcopal leader calls for aid focus on Palestine-Israel; Church in Haiti keeps hope alive amid violence and poverty; US Anglicans seek to end Cuban isolation]