I’m sure you’ve sourced the news from elsewhere, still:
A worldwide Anglican schism now seems inevitable after Episcopal bishops in the United States today backed the consecration of gay bishops.
Episcopal bishops approved a resolution passed earlier this week by the laity and clergy that allows “partnered gays” full access to ordination.
The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed “regret” over a decision by Anglicans in the US that represents a blow to his hopes for Church unity.
They took the step towards schism in spite of a plea by Dr Rowan Williams, who addressed the General Convention in Anaheim, California, last week.
The new resolution effectively overturns the moratoria on same-sex blessings and gay consecrations agreed by the last General Convention of The Episcopal Church in 2006.
It means that it is only a matter of time before another partnered gay bishop is elected, following in the footsteps of gay-rights pioneer Gene Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire.
Dr Williams has found his time as Archbishop dominated by having to deal with the fallout from the consecration of the openly gay Bishop Robinson in 2003. Only last month conservative Episcopalians set up a new province, the Anglican Church in North America, which is seeking recognition from Dr Williams and the General Synod of the Church of England.
Anglican leaders requested the moratorium five years ago in an attempt to prevent schism. The Episcopal Church General Convention three years ago urged “restraint” over the election of bishops whose “manner of life” would cause offence to the wider Anglican Communion.
But Dr Williams’s hopes of maintaining unity seemed increasingly futile as the Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, warned the Church of England that it should not recognise the new province, arguing that “schism is not a Christian act”.
About a quarter of General Synod members, including four diocesan and two suffragan bishops, back a private member’s motion calling on the Church of England to declare itself “in communion” with the American conservatives.
Earlier Bishop Jefferts Schori “threw a hand grenade” into proceedings, as USA Today’s Faith and Reason blog put it, when she said that the tendency to focus on individual salvation in the debate over sexual ethics was “heresy” and “idolatry”.
The Anglican church in the United States is now facing calls for its representatives to be kicked off the bodies that run the Anglican Communion.
Bishop of Sherborne Dr Graham Kings said: “The Episcopal Church has clearly signalled, against the specific plea of the Archbishop of Canterbury on this very issue, its choice of autonomy over interdependence in the Anglican Communion. Questions will now have to be asked about the full continued participation of Episcopal Church representatives in Anglican Communion meetings.”
Dr Kings’s comments are particularly significant because, as a founder of the open or moderate evangelical forum Fulcrum, he has been one of the strongest advocates in the Church for maintaining bonds between evangelicals and liberals.
The decision will strengthen support for the breakaway conservative rebels from the evangelical provinces of Africa and Asia.
It also strengthens the hand of the newly formed Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans in the UK, making schism within the Church of England more likely.
It will be interesting to see if the ACoC follows this lead next year in their General Synod.
I think it was Sarah Hey on Stand Firm who stated that “we are in a time of medieval chaos” – I concur. The timing of the Lord is perfect as usual – ACNA established as a Province and the ruin of the Episcopal “Church” following so close behind. A terrible tragedy but a profound relief – Schori saying that confessional Christianity is heresy was the apex of Luficer claiming his prize.
It seems to me that some horrible game of chicken is being played. ABC says please don’t. TEC does it anyway, and Schori says everyone has to accept it. If ABC does nothing he effectively hands over his authority to Schori and TEC. If ABC does anything TEC will be violently upset (and I use the term “violently” deliberately).
A power struggle is about to be unleashed, and their will be far more losers than winners. Best thing for us to do is remain Faithful to God. In the long run (and admittedly it is sometimes a very long run) His side always wins.
A struggle assumes that there will be two opposing participants, but in reality I suggest that there will be only one. I think that the ABC will do his usual thing (which is nothing) and limit his reponse to expressions of sadness and regret. We should not look to Canterbury for the exclusion of TEC, but it will certainly happen anyway. The implementation of the GenCon decisions will encourage more and more Provinces to recognize the ACNA, thereby slowly isolating TEC and all who follow her. Unfortunately for Rowan, his appeasement stategy has failed miserably for all to see and what little credibility he had left has vanished as well. Perhaps he may conclude that it is time to turn the reigns of Canterbury over to someone else. One can only hope. In any case God is in charge and I’m glad He is.
Is God trying to cleanse his Church and this developing split is a step to call the Anglican Church back to the traditional Gospel as expounded by our forefathers. I feel very secure in being one of Schori’s Western heretics and not one of the enlightened Episcopalians.
I agree with the fore-going responses.
I think it is about time for folk to put their money where their mouth is. And that includes me – as even if the ACoC waits until next year – we have such contaminated leadership. Lucifer doesn’t have to do a thing – except belly laugh.
#2 AMPisAnglican: The power struggle you describe is just part of an old story. Psalm 2 describes it from heaven’s perspective and gives us the name of the victor, as you have predicted.
From #4 John
“Is God trying to cleanse his Church” I know what you are trying to say John but in fact with God there is no “trying”. No doubt from desiderata “the universe is unfolding as it should”. All Leadership is put in place by God for His purposes methinks. This includes Ms. schori et al. Yes scripture speaks very clearly of the perfecting of His Church the coming of the Bridegroom the Wedding etc. etc. However we should also be evermindful of what I consider to be one of the most chilling, frightening passages, I paraphrase; “if the time were not shortened no one would survive even the very elect would fail but for the elect’s sake the time will be shortened. I know there are time considerations much of which I don’t understand but it says what it says.
O Lamb of God – have mercy on us.
for #5 Margo
Yes indeed sister do what you will with your money, but remember that without love and I’m talkin bout the bad & the ugly as well as the good your offerings become seriously devalued.
#5 Margo
I took your “put your money where your mouth is” statement to imply that you now have a decision to make. I agree with you. Some, like myself, have already left TEC and the ACoC and are now free to pursue God’s Great Commandment and Great Commission unimpeded by the false teaching, heresey and apostacy which so obviously has infected those once great Anglican institutions. Others have chosen to remain within these institutions in order to provide a visible witnesses for Christ and His Gospel. These brothers and sisters will now have to prayerfully discern whether God’s will for them is to continue their internal witness or to now move forward in mission as part of the newly constituted Anglican Church in North America. As one who has faced that decision, I can attest that it is a very difficult and painful one to make. But God’s hand is quite evident in recent events, and it seems to me that there now is really only one decision to make. May God bless all as they struggle to discern His will for their lives.
#7 Stuck in Toronto
I was lucky to get my daughter out of Toronto before she married someone from that city, However, I agree that God is in charge and I believe that he is in the process of shaking his Church’s foundation to bring it back to His Gospel.
#9 Winter Traveler
Yes indeed – a ‘formal’ decision to finish the process.
My two raison d’etres for officially staying (although neither my body nor my money lands in ACoC space on Sundays) – one of which is very valid – seem to pale in the ‘limelight’ of increasing heresy. As noted on Anglican Mainstream, TEC made the light of their decision as clear as the noonday sun.
For #10
I certainly pray that your conclusion is correct. However, the current situation would indicate the church is losing, if it has not already lost or abandoned, any claim to be Christian. The leadership is either apostate or refuses to stand up against apostasy. The work of Satan within the ACoC is clearly visible.
If priests were doing their job they would follow the leadership of others that have become part of the Anglican Network.