News coming from across the pond sounds pretty glum.
In his opening address to the Church of England's General Synod, Archbishop Rowan Williams warned of the "piece by piece dissolution of the (Anglican) communion and the emergence of structures in which relation to the Church of England and the See of Canterbury are likely not to figure very significantly." It is for this reason that the Archbishop is pushing for the adoption of the so-called Anglican Covenant, a document that is three parts reiteration of those "things" that make us Christian and our dreams of unity... and one part hammer to anyone who dares to do something that might ruffle the feathers of another church in the communion.
Looking again at the "piece by piece" part, I am unmoved. The facts, as I see them, are that the Archbishop of Canterbury has been trying to hold together a communion that has already crumbled. When the primates of some African churches boycott Lambeth and won't attend meetings if a certain "she" bishop from a certain church that is in a certain wealthy industrial country is invited then communion really has ended. And the Archbishop holds some responsibility for that.
In his opening address to the Church of England's General Synod, Archbishop Rowan Williams warned of the "piece by piece dissolution of the (Anglican) communion and the emergence of structures in which relation to the Church of England and the See of Canterbury are likely not to figure very significantly." It is for this reason that the Archbishop is pushing for the adoption of the so-called Anglican Covenant, a document that is three parts reiteration of those "things" that make us Christian and our dreams of unity... and one part hammer to anyone who dares to do something that might ruffle the feathers of another church in the communion.
Looking again at the "piece by piece" part, I am unmoved. The facts, as I see them, are that the Archbishop of Canterbury has been trying to hold together a communion that has already crumbled. When the primates of some African churches boycott Lambeth and won't attend meetings if a certain "she" bishop from a certain church that is in a certain wealthy industrial country is invited then communion really has ended. And the Archbishop holds some responsibility for that.
He has chosen repeatedly to scold the Episcopal Church for ordaining and consecrating gay men and lesbians as bishops while remaining timid on issues of genocide against LGBT people in Africa. He specifically disinvited NH Bishop Gene Robinson to Lambeth in 2008... while putting on a show of words about having an indaba or deep listening process in the communion. How can you have a listening process when the accused party isn't even allowed to listen... let alone speak? And when the Archbishop's lackeys told our Presiding Bishop that she must carry her mitre, not wear it, because it might cause "confusion" among the CoE congregations, it was a slap heard across the pond... quite loudly and clearly. We Episcopalians were the Cinderellas to be banned from the ball.
Send in the CSI unit: I think we might find the Archbishop's fingerprints are on the hammer and chisel that have aided in the dissolution of the communion.
He expresses a concern that the break up of the communion will result in lessening the importance of the Church of England and the See of Canterbury. In what way? Because another structure involving Africa, and some other Southern Cone countries, with the support of the conservative anti-woman homophobes in this country might RIVAL Canterbury? Is this a reason to now insist on having everyone sign a punishing and punitive document? Methinks, the man is more concerned that he won't be as critical to the life of the Communion. And here I thought supporters of the covenant, who dared to call us "Little Englanders", were saying that it was a good thing to move away from having a "Mother Church" in England?! Again I say, the ABC's reluctance to stand up to the bullies of the south who are wanting out of this relationship anyway has contributed to weakening his own position.
Rather than focusing so intently upon the "pieces" that seem to be dissolving, it is time to look at the peace which passes all understanding. Even if other structures form, there is still that story in the Book of Acts where Gamaliel warns against persecuting the apostles:
Send in the CSI unit: I think we might find the Archbishop's fingerprints are on the hammer and chisel that have aided in the dissolution of the communion.
He expresses a concern that the break up of the communion will result in lessening the importance of the Church of England and the See of Canterbury. In what way? Because another structure involving Africa, and some other Southern Cone countries, with the support of the conservative anti-woman homophobes in this country might RIVAL Canterbury? Is this a reason to now insist on having everyone sign a punishing and punitive document? Methinks, the man is more concerned that he won't be as critical to the life of the Communion. And here I thought supporters of the covenant, who dared to call us "Little Englanders", were saying that it was a good thing to move away from having a "Mother Church" in England?! Again I say, the ABC's reluctance to stand up to the bullies of the south who are wanting out of this relationship anyway has contributed to weakening his own position.
Rather than focusing so intently upon the "pieces" that seem to be dissolving, it is time to look at the peace which passes all understanding. Even if other structures form, there is still that story in the Book of Acts where Gamaliel warns against persecuting the apostles:
For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!’--Acts 5: 36-39
If a rival structure is meant to be, then it is meant to be. But it does not mean the death of the Church of England, the Anglican Church of Canada or The Episcopal Church USA. The only covenant required to keep the current communion of 38 nations safe is the one in which God promised God's unfailing love for us... no matter what our human frailties and disputes. That divine truth seems to be lost in the uproar and the name-calling that has engulfed this debate. And the fact that it seems to be missing makes me think that this proposed Covenant will go down in the history books as another sorry row between believers where one side won't be satisfied until the other side is called a heretic.
No matter the outcome at General Synod, God will be working God's purpose out. That is what I believe. The God that I love and have been in relationship with will continue to see freedom even when others want to put me in a gulag.
My child, if your heart is wise,
my heart too will be glad.
My soul will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always continue in the fear of the Lord.
Surely there is a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
--Proverbs 23: 15-18
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