Where is the Anglican Communion going?

Last updated on: February 19, 2016 at 11:38 am by Gerald McDermott

Where is the Anglican Communion going? 2016-02-19T11:38:53-04:00 Gerald McDermott

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Barbara Gauthier is perhaps the best orthodox guide these days to happenings in the Anglican communion. I recommend her blog, which you can sign up for by going here: [email protected]

Here are selections from today’s post, which provide a keen overview of what is going on today.

What we are seeing I think is the beginning of the formation of a global Anglican Communion for the first time. The one that is fracturing only existed on paper for the most part, held together by a common spiritual ancestry, “bonds of affection” and (most importantly) a common history of colonialism — the Brits in Africa and South Asia; the Yanks in East Asia and the Americas. Those cherished bonds counted for little in practical terms — rather like having the Queen’s portrait in the post offices of Canada or Australia. . . .

Things changed dramatically in 1998. The Lambeth Conference had been designed as a collegial gathering of Agnlican bishops from around the world, to have tea together, get to know one another and occasionally make a few non-binding decisions as a gentlemen’s agreement. In 1998 all that changed. The African bishops took over the discussions, culminating in Resolution I.10 on human sexuality, which was considered binding on all provinces, having been approved by all bishops in the Anglican Communion. The Lambeth conference was beginning to take on the authority of a global Anglican synod and the liberal provinces were not amused. . . .

By 2007 the Primates agreed unanimously on a way forward that would include discipline of errant provinces. ++Rowan Williams was tasked with seeing that the discipline was enforced. He attended the next scheduled Episcopal House of Bishops meeting where the moratoria were to be discussed and promptly undermined the process by telling the bishops that they would not be bound by the decision that their primate had signed. . . .

What we saw at the first GAFCON gathering was the beginning of a truly global Anglican Communion based on the conciliar model of the early Church. The Jerusalem Declaration was written by the bishops, clergy and laity there. . . .

With the dust having settled from the January meeting, there has been ample time for reflection on what comes next. ++Mouneer Anis (Jerusalem and the Middle East) believes that TEC will use the three years to reflect on what it has done and perhaps have a change of heart. ++Nicholas Okoh (Nigeria) is not convinced that TEC will even once look back in the rear view mirror (and PB Michael Curry has since confirmed ++Okoh’s initial intuition). . . .

Martin Davie provides some solid practical advice for the Global South in re-laying the foundations of a faithful, Scripture-centered Communion. The noted Anglican theologian lays out in systematic order what he thinks are “the key issues facing orthodox Anglicans as we move on to the next stage of the life of the Anglican Communion.”

1) We need to be clear about our goal.
2) We need to use our existing structures.
3) We need to make sure that the ‘Good news of the Kingdom’ is truthfully proclaimed.
4) We must not simply be defensive in the face of opposition.
5) In the face of internal [revisionist] subversion we must be truthful, we must be consistent, we must be missional, we must practice discipline and we must practice love.
6) The Anglican Church in North America should be invited to join the Anglican Communion
7) The Lambeth Conference in 2020 should have ability to make clear decisions and should be invited to approve a supplementary Anglican statement on sexuality building on Lambeth 1.10.
8) We need to work ecumenically.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 12, 2016

The monoculture of the university

Next Post

March 1, 2016 Did Jesus wear tassels?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2023 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 July 2020 June 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz