From the Times
A conservative province in the Anglican church faces “punishment” this week for offering a safe haven to conservatives.
Senior bishops and laity meeting in London are to consider suspending the Anglican church in South America for taking rebel US dioceses under its wing.
The move will bring the Anglican Communion closer to a formal split. Early next month, rebel conservatives are expected to finalise plans for a new Anglican province in the US, to sit as a parallel jurisdiction alongside the existing Episcopal Church.
Unless this new province is recognised as part of the Anglican family by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams and the other 38 primates, it will in effect become a new Anglican church.
In a further indication that the liberals are winning the Anglican wars, The Episcopal Church of the US, which was suspended at a previous meeting, is expected to be welcomed back into the fold after sticking by its pledge not to consecrate any more gay bishops.
The Latin American Province of the Southern Cone headed by English-born bishop, the Most Rev Gregory Venables, has aroused the fury of liberal primates after a fourth US diocese voted to leave The Episcopal Church and realign with it.
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The penalty being considered against the Southern Cone, which has 22,000 members in Argentina and surrounding nations, includes the removal of voting rights at the forthcoming meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, the central governing body of the Anglican Communion, in Jamaica next May.
When the council last met in Nottingham in 2005, the lay and ordained members from Canada and the US were allowed to attend as observers but were barred from voting. This was because a diocese in Canada had authorised a rite for same-sex blessings and The Episcopal Church had gone ahead with the consecration of the openly gay Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams and Bishop Jefferts Schori are among those who will be debating action against the Southern Cone at this week’s meeting of the joint standing committee of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council, chaired by the Right Rev John Paterson of New Zealand.
Significantly, the two conservative Archbishops on the committee, the Most Rev Henry Orombi of Uganda and the Most Rev Mouneer Anis of Egypt and the Middle East, have decided not to attend.
A little more here including this interesting statement:
Meanwhile, it seems highly probable that TEC and Canada are to be rewarded for their restraint by being given a full seat back at the table again in May.
Well, it looks like things will be getting a lot more interesting over the next little while.
Well it didn’t make any difference to Canada and TEC so I don’t think it will make much difference to Venables. The situation gets more and more ridiculous as time goes on. What happens after the TEC General Convention 2009 and the ACoC General Synod in 2010 when everything falls apart – do TEC and Canada get banned again. It is like musical chairs.
This would, as the article says, ensure a formal split in the communion IMHO. As things stand, a seperate province would give some breathing room. This, if it comes off, would likely fracture the communion and the church of England too. Does the joint standing comittee have this authority?
AcoC / TEC restraint? Heh.
Does the joint standing committee have this authority?
Good question. You can bet that KJS will be pushing hard to make this happen.
Especially after all the restraint.
David – the Journal is reporting that 7 people have been let go from the staff of General Synod. Did you know that they have 75 full time staff and we are cleaning our own Church and staffing the office voluntarily. Enough already!
Pauline,
Yes, I noticed that article in the Journal, Here for those who would like to read it.
I didn’t know that there were 75 paid staff. You do make an interesting point: when God is involved, people tend to give freely from their time and energy. When he isn’t you have to pay; and before anyone objects – I am not saying ANiC shouldn’t have paid staff!
Sounds to me like TEC and ACoC are scared, and are trying everything possible to prevent the creation of a legitimate Province in North America. And so what if TEC and ACoC convince other Primates to not accept the reality of our existance. As TEC and ACoC decline and eventually die, the rest of the Global Anglican Communion will come to realize who truly is the Anglican Church in North America.
David – it just seems a little over the top when we are in such a strait financially – I love working for my Priest voluntarily – but then I have a pension!
I find it telling that discipline is being considered against ++Venables and the Southern Cone (and by virtue of it, those who have aligned with the province), when NO truly meaningful action has been taken against TEC or the ACofC, nor any action which has been enforced. After all, ++KJS is on the committee! Truly a sad reality.
Should the discipline finally be unleashed in a meaningful way, and it be against those who have responded to schism in a Biblical manner, rather than upon those who have perpetrated schismatic heresy, it would be rather revealing of the true state of affairs in the communion, and no less than an offense against the Head of the Church himself. Over time we will see the GAFCON movement grow, and ultimately sever ties with Canterbury, and unholy TEC money.
By the way, what restraint is being rewarded? It must be that only a few more Canadian diocese have approved SSB motions, rather than the entire ACofC! Is anyone one else getting sick of all the smoke and mirrors? I’m moving to Nigeria.
We should probably wait to hear more from another source…..
I think that this reveals that the disease that has taken over the ACoC and TEC has in a similar way taken root in the powers that be within the Communion at large. This will likely push the communion to what would have been inevitable anyway. At some point every province, diocese, parish and individual will have to decide which side they are on. Are they with Christ, or against Him. It will be on these lines that the realignment will happen. ABP Venables will not stand alone. I am sure that the other provinces and Primates who have offered alternative oversite to orphans in North America will come to his deffence. More importantly, he is kept in the hands of the living GOD whom he serves, and there is no more comforting thought.
your fellow unworthy servant in Christ,
Rev Brian DeVisser
Pastor Kanata Lakes Fellowship
“When the council last met in Nottingham in 2005, the lay and ordained members from Canada and the US were allowed to attend as observers but were barred from voting.”
Actually, as I recall they barged in without an invitation, held “information” seminars, talked up a storm, and generally did everything they could to disseminate their propaganda. I suggest Venables & Co take a page out of their book and do likewise. I have no illusions that the ACC will be converted overnight, but some there might be interested to hear more about the illicit depositions and legal intimidation tactics of TEC and its “Mini-Me”, the ACoC.
Hello Ellie (13)
Why should we degrade ourselves to the level of heathens? Jesus knows those who are of His flock, and that is what truly matters.
Besides, as the North American Province grows (it already is a reality) it will become impossible to ignore. Than the Primates will have a tough decision. Succumb to the secular temptations of TEC and ACoC, and die with them. Or, be in full Communion with those who truly follow the Word of God, and grow with them.
Try the BCP DOL for today – Wed in the week before Advent. Both morning and evening readings.