From the Journal
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has thanked his Burundian counterpart, Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi, for the Anglican Church of Burundi’s stance against cross-border interventions, notwithstanding its opposition to more liberal views on homosexuality in some churches in Canada.
“I am very grateful for the position that the Anglican Church of Burundi has taken,” said Archbishop Hiltz who met with Archbishop Ntahoturi during the course of his solidarity visit hosted by the diocese of Bujumbura Feb. 12 to 15. “We value our relationship with Burundi and it’s part of the reason why there are young people in our delegation; we would like a building and renewal of relationship.”
Archbishop Hiltz was responding to opening remarks made by Archbishop Ntahoturi, who underscored that his province “doesn’t want the crossing of borders.” (Some primates in Africa and South America have exercised episcopal oversight over conservative parishes in North America that are opposed to the blessing of same-sex unions and the election of a gay bishop.)
“We walk in different contexts but we value our communion as human beings,” said Archbishop Ntahoturi, who added that he would like to “open more doors” of partnership between the Burundian and Canadian churches.
Archbishop Hiltz reiterated the Anglican Church of Canada’s position that it has “not yet come to a conclusion” on whether same-sex unions can be blessed by the church. “We are working hard to live in the tension that we’re experiencing. But what’s created more difficulty is that there have been cross-border interventions in eight of 30 dioceses,” he said.
Just a thought…perhaps I am wrong, but if there are now bishops in place in North America providing episcopal ministry…are these still cross border interventions?
Also, I find it hard to imagine Athanasius telling those who maintained the catholic faith to submit to Arian bishops.
Bought and paid for.
California priest [#2],
Astute observation.
Let’s try to be charitable. The liberals often accuse orthodox primates of being “bought” by rich American conservatives, when they’re simply professing the faith they’ve been given. We can question people’s actions without making assumptions about their motives. It’s hardly proof of being sold-out for Abp Ntahoturi to say (with the Windsor Report) that border crossings are not a good thing.
“…who added that he would like to ‘open more doors’ of partnership between the Burundian and Canadian churches.”
Let’s stop the silly talk of violations of tradition when Michael Ingham is marrying men to men.
Who actually does want crossing of borders? I wonder if this is a case of the ACoC overinterpreting a polite remark and a portraying a generally stated position as evidence of support for what is still a fringe position.
It seems more to me another grasp for legitimacy from a discredited organisation.
As for whether money is involved in this statement of ‘support’, I don’t really think we have enough to go on, so I’d rather assume the best for now.
What I’d rather concentrate on is the dishonesty in this statement:
We haven’t “come to a conclusion” – and we’re not going to for as long as possible, the best way to let those that want to, do their own thing – better known as “living into the tension”. The tension, by the way that the ACoC has caused by action and inaction, not that it is”experiencing”, as if it was something that just happened in a neutral kind of way. Then of course, the interventions were caused by those interfering outsiders, just when we were working so hard to “live into” the tension we ourselves had caused. They came here, just to wreck things, or perhaps get their hands on some of our real estate. Basically, the effect is the cause, that’s the ACoC’s story and they’re sticking to it!
I’d like to see the full context of Archbishop Ntahoturi’s remarks. Greg Venables has said more than once that he would rather not have to act outside his own province, but at the moment it’s necessary. I suspect a degree of spin here.
I suspect a whole washing cycle!
Here’s the conclusion in print from May 24/2008