Apparently, it’s time to be politely firm with TEC. Just so; that should do the trick.
Read it all here:
Maybe Bishop Tom Wright put it best: “… the slow-moving train crash of international Anglicanism…” has happened, at least it has, to one of its prominent cars.
You will have heard that The Episcopal Church (TEC), AT ITS General Convention, has repudiated the moratorium asked of it on same sex blessings, and allowed in principle the ordaining to all orders of ministry, people in same-sex relationships. Despite its stated desire to remain part of the Anglican Communion, TEC’s actions betray its intent. In the words of the Windsor Report, they are effectively setting out to “walk apart”. In flagrant contradiction of the four Instruments of Unity, the revisionist theology of the American church has led it to what must be regarded by the rest of the Communion as schism.
There are questions that will take a while to answer:
How will Canterbury and the other Instruments respond? It is surely time for polite firmness. That should mean TEC’s demotion to observer status, at best, within the Communion. You cannot protest your desire to be part of the family, while at the same time deliberately setting yourself on a course which, if universalized, will break the family up!
What are the implications of TEC’s walking apart, for the Anglican Church of Canada, especially as General Synod looms in Halifax less than a year from now?
No doubt there are some in the Canadian Church who will be encouraged by the American action, to push for the same outcome at General Synod. Revisionists in the Canadian church may feel that after the TEC decision they are on a roll (as distinct from a train-wreck). My hope, however, is that the outcry from the international Communion may cause many of our more moderate and Communion-centered laity, clergy, and bishops to pause. No longer can it be denied, as though it ever could, that our actions in the North American churches have the capacity to split us off from the Anglican Communion we love, and indeed to create great fissures within that Communion.
I am encouraged that a good many of my liberal friends within the Anglican Church of Canada, are pulling back from pursuing the Marriage Canon at General Synod 2010. There is a sense in their ranks of the catastrophic effects that would have here in Canada and in the wider Communion. But it will not be sufficient for the liberals to give the Marriage Canon revision a bit more time. Moderate liberals will need to weigh very carefully, whether they truly want, by the way they vote, to force the Canadian church to “walk apart”, following their TEC counterparts. Passing the same-sex blessing option will be quite sufficient for the Anglican Church of Canada to express its unwillingness to function as part of a “communion” of churches.
The deterioration and free-fall into apostasy will not be curtailed as long as the church leadership fails to either remove apostates within the House of Bishops or at a minimum call them to account. Truth and/or faith within the ACoC and the TEC has become reduced to “whatever I want to accept” regardless of the Word. It is not in any way a surprise to see society sliding down the slippery slope when the Church refuses to provide any witness to our Lord and Saviour.
I fail to see how anyone can possibly be concerned with so-called unity when you have so-called bishops and clergy that deny the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. The ACoC and the TEC have already “walked apart” and until there is a clear sign of repentance there is no possible way to consider unity or continued fellowship.
Good grief. “Stop, or I’ll say stop again!”
I see a new thing possible
I see the new ACA (formerly essentials) gaining ground
I see the Anglican Communion along with the ABC using the big stick finally.
I see the ACoC collapsing into a unification with ANiC and the ACNA.
I see ACNA leading the world into a new revival solidifying the Anglican Communion as never before.
I see all Anglican Archbishop’s moving together of the same accord.
I see this unity spreading over first to their church and then to a renewing of Christendom.
I see it’s time to get out of bed.
Even so Come Lord Jesus
Nice one #3.
Well, if we’re going to dream, let’s dream big.
Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
Father, bless these words of blessing
from the heart of #3.
Amen, come Lord Jesus.