Here is the text of the paragraphs of the latest Global South communique that deal with “Windsor issues”. Note that this is only a portion of the whole text, which deals with a range of other topics. ACNS copy here.
7. We recognize that because of the ongoing conflict in the Communion many people have lost hope that we will come to any resolution in the foreseeable future. We are grateful therefore, that one sign of promise is the widespread support for the development of an Anglican Covenant. We are delighted to affirm the extraordinary progress made by the Global South task group on developing an Anglican Covenant. For the past year they have labored on this important task and we look forward to submitting the result of their labor to the rest of the Communion. We are pleased that the Archbishop of Canterbury has recognized the exemplary scholarship and leadership of Archbishop Drexel Gomez in asking him to chair the Covenant Design Group and look forward with anticipation to the crucial next steps of this historic venture. We believe that an Anglican Covenant will demonstrate to the world that it is possible to be a truly global communion where differences are not affirmed at the expense of faith and truth but within the framework of a common confession of faith and mutual accountability.
8. We have come together as Anglicans and we celebrate the gift of Anglican identity that is ours today because of the sacrifice made by those who have gone before us. We grieve that, because of the doctrinal conflict in parts of our Communion, there is now a growing number of congregations and dioceses in the USA and Canada who believe that their Anglican identity is at risk and are appealing to us so that they might remain faithful members of the Communion. As leaders of that Communion we will work together to recognize the Anglican identity of all who receive, hold and maintain the Scriptures as the Word of God written and who seek to live in godly fellowship within our historic ordering.
9. We deeply regret that, at its most recent General Convention, The Episcopal Church gave no clear embrace of the minimal recommendations of the Windsor Report. We observe that a number of the resolutions adopted by the Convention were actually contrary to the Windsor Report. We are further dismayed to note that their newly elected Presiding Bishop also holds to a position on human sexuality – not to mention other controversial views – in direct contradiction of Lambeth 1.10 and the historic teaching of the Church. The actions and decisions of the General Convention raise profound questions on the nature of Anglican identity across the entire Communion.
10. We are, however, greatly encouraged by the continued faithfulness of the Network Dioceses and all of the other congregations and communities of faithful Anglicans in North America. In addition, we commend the members of the Anglican Network in Canada for their commitment to historic, biblical faith and practice. We value their courage and consistent witness. We are also pleased by the emergence of a wider circle of ‘Windsor Dioceses’ and urge all of them to walk more closely together and deliberately work towards the unity that Christ enjoins. We are aware that a growing number of congregations are receiving oversight from dioceses in the Global South and in recent days we have received requests to provide Alternative Primatial Oversight for a number of dioceses. This is an unprecedented situation in our Communion that has not been helped by the slow response from the Panel of Reference. After a great deal of prayer and deliberation, and in order to support these faithful Anglican dioceses and parishes, we have come to agreement on the following actions:
a. We have asked the Global South Steering Committee to meet with the leadership of the dioceses requesting Alternative Primatial Oversight, in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Network and the ‘Windsor Dioceses’, to investigate their appeal in greater detail and to develop a proposal identifying the ways by which the requested Primatial oversight can be adequately provided.
b. At the next meeting of the Primates in February 2007 some of us will not be able to recognize Katharine Jefferts Schori as a Primate at the table with us. Others will be in impaired communion with her as a representative of The Episcopal Church. Since she cannot represent those dioceses and congregations who are abiding by the teaching of the Communion we propose that another bishop, chosen by these dioceses, be present at the meeting so that we might listen to their voices during our deliberations.
c. We are convinced that the time has now come to take initial steps towards the formation of what will be recognized as a separate ecclesiastical structure of the Anglican Communion in the USA. We have asked the Global South Steering Committee to develop such a proposal in consultation with the appropriate instruments of unity of the Communion. We understand the serious implications of this determination. We believe that we would be failing in our apostolic witness if we do not make this provision for those who hold firmly to a commitment to historic Anglican faith.
‘our apostolic withess’ ?
Pompous gits! They’re gonna huff and thy’re gonna puff (well maybe not that!) and blow (oops) the House down !
Plese give us a break from all this BS
Interesting. Which resolutions passed by GC are they claiming are contrary to the Windsor Report? The ones in which TEC affirmed its support for the human rights of gay and lesbian people?
Jon
As I remember the criticism, TEC was criticized for not sufficiently consulting with the rest of the Church before acting. But, the so called Global South believes it is appropriate to decide who can speak on behalf of the TEC? Indeed, the Global South believes they and not Cantebury has the authority and right to determine what an Anglican covenant will be. This should be as profoundly troubling for the whole of the Anglican Communion as it is for TEC.
Well, the Gloves are off!
Time for Cantuar to defend himself.
The Communiqué ends:
“* Provinces Represented:
Bangladesh**, Burundi, Central Africa, Church of South India, Congo, Indian Ocean, Jerusalem and Middle East, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Philippines**, Rwanda, Southern Africa, South East Asia, Southern Cone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, West Indies (** Not present but represented)”
Wonder what this means.
I see under (a) that they generously include the ABC in their discussions. Re their inability to be at the same table with our new PB. Tough. We chose her. They don’t get to request an alternate, any more than we get to request someone in place of ++Akinola. They did not include the ABC in their plans in (c). Do you suppose the ABC will go along with this? I don’t suppose in the mind of ++Akinola that it makes much difference at this point. I wait all a-quiver to hear what Bps. Duncan, Iker, etc will say in… Read more »
Hang on. They’ve been working on this text for the Covenant for a YEAR? Do they have access to time-travel…?
“At the next meeting of the Primates in February 2007 some of us will not be able to recognize Katharine Jefferts Schori as a Primate at the table with us. Others will be in impaired communion with her as a representative of The Episcopal Church. Since she cannot represent those dioceses and congregations who are abiding by the teaching of the Communion we propose that another bishop, chosen by these dioceses, be present at the meeting so that we might listen to their voices during our deliberations.” It is time for the Executive Council of TEC to consider declaring a… Read more »
Well, so long. The shape of the future Anglican Communion comes clearer: ‘dioceses’ in the US (which ones precisely?) will be overseen from Uganda /Nigeria; individual parishes in US, Canada, UK will follow. The rest will wait and see who’s left and start to rearrange themselves accordingly. Everyone will claim a little of Canterbury’s blessing, each on their own terms. The conservatives will split over whether to recognise women as priests (never mind bishops). Will the remainder (who will be non-conservative rather than liberal) be able to construct a positive, inclusive church? Or will a generation of depression follow before… Read more »
Is this “the other shoe?” Certainly, this is a statement of “we’ll have the Communion our way, if we have to start one ourselves.” I’m as concerned about paragraph 12 (not in the excerpt above) as much as anything: 12. We received a preliminary report from the Theological Formation and Education (TFE) Task Force. We were pleased to hear of their plans to provide opportunities for theological formation from the most basic catechism to graduate level training for new and existing Anglican leaders. We request that all Global South provinces share their existing Catechisms and other educational resources with the… Read more »
“Well, the Gloves are off! Time for Cantuar to defend himself.”– Göran Koch-Swahne
Defend himself, Göran? The dude doesn’t have the guts!
What a shame Desmond Tutu did not come to Canterbury, althpough initially considered…..
I am baffled — every time something like this comes up (last time was Maryn Minns as missionary bishop, I guess) I think, “Well, this is the step that crosses the line,” but nothing happens & then another step is taken. Yes, the Constitutions & Canons of The Episcopal Church need to be recognized by the rest of the Anglican Communion or we need to go elsewhere — this is simply getting ridiculous. Also, seeing Southern Africa on that list is certainly a major surprise — the language is completely at odds with the statements recently issued by that province… Read more »
I guess ecclesial boundaries are now utterly meaningless. Perhaps, as this gang is so committed to granting pastoral oversight to the 1% of American Episcopalians who want it, we might consider sending a “Bishop to the GLTB African Church”. Whether ++Akinoying likes it or not, there are plenty of homosexual Nigerian Christians.
Question: in b. does ‘these dioceses’ mean the same ones as ‘those dioceses’ diretly above? That would appear to mean the US ones that are appealing for APO or otherwise wishing to separate from TEC. Or, does it mean the ones that were part of the Global South meeting? Eitherway — I object to their arrogant claim of authority over us.
Columba Gilliss
Has anyone checked to see if the bishops attending this meeting were given a copy of this communique before it was published? It’s not like +Peter hasn’t pulled that kind of stunt before.
“At the next meeting of the Primates in February 2007 some of us will not be able to recognize Katharine Jefferts Schori as a Primate at the table with us.” It will be easy to recognize her – she’ll be the only woman. Maybe someone can send a photo… Sorry – I know that’s not respectful and Deeply Serious, but sometimes the whole enterprise of ++Akinola and +Dunkin’ etc. and their self-aggrandizing ways strike me as Grown Men Being Deeply Silly But Not Knowing It. The Gang of 21 at Camp Allen have issued a statement which I’m sure will… Read more »
As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred: so also…
The Editor or Host of The Daily Episcopalian, Jim Naughton, describes in a comment on the Windsor-Bishops’ just released Letter to the HoB, the obfuscations and outright lies of (Anglican) bishops about ECUSA’s GC2006, as follows: ‘The bishops also write that the General Convention did not adequately respond to the requests of the Windsor Report because it did not legislate an “explicit moratoria regarding church discipline and order.” The obfuscatory phrase “regarding church discipline and order” might best be translated “on the consecration of non-celibate gay bishops.” Perhaps it is too much to ask that bishops understand the church law… Read more »
Goran It was interesting to see Australia was not mentioned. Has there been repentance or a change of position? Or are they still supporting and not declaring their hand? John I picked up the passage 10b about Schori too. This would be a dangerous precedent – to start telling another diocese who they may or may not elect. That is taking the need for control and power to the next level. My suggestion is still, invite all the parties, those who are too “superior” to those invited can not show up or display their bad manners by attacking the other… Read more »
Historic Anglicanism was a beautiful thing while it was alive.
Then it died, on 22 September 2006.
May we live in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection?
Cheryl,
Yes, Australia! Didn’t actually notice…
I was thinking more of what Paki remarks, that last time (Alexandria) there were others “represented” but not present…
and signatories who had not signed, and a statement wifted high in the first session disappearing the next…
Hold your breath!
I was trying to be polite, Kurt.
++Rowan Cantuar and H.H. Peter Akinola have reduced the Anglican Communion to a hoax and a joke. It is time for ECUSA to withdraw and focus on the real mission of the Church, which is to participate in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation and show compassion to all the marginalized people, including gays and lesbians. I once again recommend for study Philip Kennedy’s article “God’s Good News for Gays” in: GAYS AND THE FUTURE OF ANGLICANISM: Responses to the Windsor Report, ed.Andrew Linzey & Richard Kirker (2005). Did Jesus ever mention gays and show compassion toward them? Probably, the answer is… Read more »
AFAIK there was no Australians present although the Diocese of Sydney does enjoy good relationships with the Global South. Australia as an Anglican province is South “geographically” but not “globally” if you see what I mean.
“Also, seeing Southern Africa on that list is certainly a major surprise — the language is completely at odds with the statements recently issued by that province”
According to “The Living Church” (IIRC), Aelred, ++Ndungane was there at the beginning, then left (not entirely clear why—draw your own conclusions! I believe he has since said, he & the SAC are NOT breaking w/ TEC!)
Isn’t it all over, but seeing whether the ABC swallows *this*, too? :-/
I cannot see how the Archbishop of C could swallow this JCF and retain any integrity whatsoever. Here is a quote from a report on 17th November 2005 “In terms which call into question the archbishop’s continuing leadership of the 77 million-strong church – the third largest Christian denomination – 17 of Anglicanism’s 38 primates issued a highly personal letter criticising his personal ability and demanding that he should take action against “unrepented sexual immorality” in the church…A Lambeth Palace spokesman said last night: “The archbishop has made it clear since before his enthronement that neither he nor anyone else… Read more »
Obadiahslope Thanks for clarifying that, I also apologise for using the word Australia but confess to confusion as to whether to use Australia or Sydney. The Sydney diocese has a very strong personality, but they do have friends in the other dioceses, but conversely not all the dioceses would like to be tarred with the same brush as Sydney. Tricky. The stuff added by Simon on Saturday http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/001938.html is interesting. We might have been dealing with a change management issue, and some of the archconservatives are calming down as they come to understand more of the bigger picture. Mind you,… Read more »
John Henry wrote: “It is time for ECUSA to withdraw and focus on the real mission of the Church, which is to participate in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation and show compassion to all the marginalized people, including gays and lesbians.” While I understand his frustration, and while I would never suggest abandoning our basic Christian principles in favor of the sham of global “unity,” I am one Episcopalian who feels that this is a much more complicated matter in terms of the Anglican Communion, and in terms of the breadth of issues which find Provincial differences in perception and approach.… Read more »
I had heard complaints that TEC didn’t do enough consulting at GC’03, I was wondering which GC’06 resolutions supposedly contradicted the Windsor Report. While TEC didn’t clearly kowtow to the WR’s recommendations I don’t recall seeing any resolutions passed that where actually contrary to it.
Jon
Pour me one, please, Cynthia …!….
It surprises and saddens me to read that, for the writers of this report at least, this issue of homosexuality amoung christians has become bound up with desires for true independence following colonial rule.
I support them wholeheartedly in their desire for true equality. However does not the very nature of Communion suggest that we should all be dependent on oneanother, in a loving and supportive way, not a restrictive one.