Here is the Essentials Federation statement relating to General Synod. Hopefully there’ll be some more stuff posted here next week, though right now I think it’s time to take stock and pray. May His heart be our heart.
Canadian Anglicans have been left trying to grasp all the implications of passing a motion declaring the blessing of same-sex relationships as “not in conflict” with Anglican doctrine – while, at the same time, rejecting the “local options” motion. Within that tension, we now await the response of the rest of our Communion and will be looking to the Communion for guidance in the work of answering the many questions this Synod has raised but not clearly answered.
The Federation gratefully acknowledges the bishops who gave leadership in these crucial debates – as well as the delegates who bravely championed orthodox views.
Please see our website for more information about Federation: www.anglicanfederation.ca
I really don’t see what there is to “grasp” after GS. Sure, Synod didn’t pass everything, but they did enough damage to make reversing the situation very improbable. With what is turned over to CoGS to report in 2010, only makes things more probable to total decimation of the Orthodoxy of the ACC. I cannot see how the Communion can accept the outcome of GS2007 without saying “goodbye” to the ACC along with TEC. I find it very difficult to imagine seeing many of the “Orthodox” Anglicans staying and if there is no alignment with Global South or Southern Cone, I would think that what will be left will be a skeleton of Orthodox Christians falling further into the Abyss of a wayward Church.
I notice that The Diocese of Sydney has now stated they will not attend Lambeth 2008 along with Rwanda and many others…..Perhaps the only ones that will end up going will be those invited from TEC and ACC and a few from the British Isles and Europe.
This ACC of today is not my idea of one that I care to hang around much longer. H E L P !!!!
For this non-Anglican observer, isn’t the negative resolution rather silly? My father observed that of course heterosexual marriage isn’t credal, nor is the rejection of gay marriage/blessings. Why? Because it isn’t in any of the creeds. Not in the creeds= not credal. Of course, not all core doctrine is credal. And this would be one instance.
In my view, the conservative members should have made it unanimous on the credal resolution, emphasizing how it doesn’t mean a thing. As it is, the liberals gain a propaganda victory.
Gerry,
My sentiments exactly. I was raised in ACC in the Diocese of Algoma. I was baptized there as an infant, and then confirmed in the same parish at 11 years old. It was the ACC that shaped me into the Christian I am today. It was all the love of Christ in both the church group and my immediate family members that gave me my faith. Even when I wavered in my early adulthood, I couldn’t stay away for long. I knew enough enough of Christ to come right back into His arms.
I agree wholeheartedly with your statements above regarding where the church is going. I am currently living in California. I attended TEC for a short period, but when they elected and consecrated Katherine Jefferts Schori as their presiding bishop this past fall, that was too much for me. KJS doesn’t believe Jesus is the only way to salvation. She stated in a public interview that she believes that the other faiths like Islam, Buddhism, etc. all their “own paths” to salvation. That was such a heretic statement that it was clear that I could no longer sit in the pews of any TEC parish. I was already gravely concerned about the debate regarding same sex unions. I don’t for a second believe such a thing is biblical and approved by God, when through His inspired Word, in the Bible, He clearly states that He finds such behavior “disgusting”. There are many areas of the Bible that are being blasphemed by those promoting this heretical behavior, but I won’t go into all those here. All I can say is that they are seriously trying to twist the truth into some sort of distorted evil and are attempting to brainwash the members of the church with this nonsense. I have not forgotten that Jesus said it was a “narrow gate” into the Kingdom. Nor have I forgotten that we have been warned to watch for such activity as we are already witnessing in the TEC, and now ACC. Such activity was prophecied to be the work of the antichrist (also known as the little horn).
I have chosen to fully respect the Word of God as my guidance for my life choices. As a result I have left TEC and gone over to REC (Reformed Episcopal Church). It’s been wonderful. The old prayer book is so beautiful to use. There are no teachings about heretical behavior being not sinful. We are encouraged to respect the authority of the scriptures as God’s Word to us. I urge you to make your move. REC is in Canada. I’m not sure where all the parishes are. However, if they don’t have one near you, I’m sure there is another church nearby which is still biblical. I urge you to go to whichever is available to you and check it out. Once I did that, I felt such a peace come over me. I feel I am no longer at odds with my Lord.
May He bless you and guide you!
Marg
Good advice Peter. Our Priest is away at the moment and we shall talk to our Essentials guys when they get back. There seems to be no future for the Orthodox in the ACC but it might take awhile to figure everything out – where we should go etc. I’ll give it another 3 years but listen carefully to the leading of the Holy Spirit (as long as He doesn’t contradict scripture!)
Pauline:
I agree with your comments, however, am not so sure on your timeline thought. According to the Medical Field, I have perhaps four year left to live (according to them) and while I feel that God is the one; and the only one; who will determine the time for me to leave this earth, God also requires us to be able to enter through the narrow gates.
If I continue to stay in the Anglican Church of Canada, I am going against God’s directions, that is why I am presently a member of Essentials Canada….
We just cannot afford to hang on to the sinking ship (unless we want to go down with it) and to hang on thinking about all those lost souls within it needing us to help them find the way is the only possible excuse I can see to remain BUT, they have had as much time as you and I have had to figure it out, most are the same as the Old Testament followers of the ELI system and prefer the comfort of what they feel is the known (but it is the worst way to go). We should attempt to do our best to be more like the Sons of Zadok and remain loyal to the true Church, that of Jesus Christ, not that of wayward Bishops, Priests and Laity that want to be as wayward as the People of Israel were when they worshipped the wrong gods and idols.