Thinking Anglicans

ACC-16 Walking Together: A Clarification

Updated Monday morning

The following statement has been issued by the outgoing members of the ACC standing committee.

Walking Together: A Clarification May 6, 2016

Since the enriching, empowering and constructive meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC16) in Lusaka, 8 – 19 April 2016, a number of statements have appeared with respect to ACC16’s engagement with the outcome of the January 2016 Primates’ Gathering and Meeting.

As outgoing members of the Anglican Consultative Council and of the Standing Committee, we are writing to clarify our understanding of what transpired at ACC16 with respect to the earlier Primates’ gathering.

ACC16 approved a resolution ‘Walking Together’, as follows:

The Anglican Consultative Council

1. receives the formal report of the Archbishop of Canterbury to ACC16 on the Primates’ Gathering and Meeting of January 2016; and

2. affirms the commitment of the Primates of the Anglican Communion to walk together; and

3. commits to continue to seek appropriate ways for the Provinces of the Anglican Communion to walk together with each other and with the Primates the other Instruments of Communion.

In receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury’s formal report of the Primates’ Gathering and Meeting, ACC16 neither endorsed nor affirmed the consequences contained in the Primates’ Communique. There was no plenary discussion or decision with respect to the Primates’ Communiqué. From our perspective there did not seem to be a common mind on the issue, other than the clear commitment to avoid further confrontation and division. ACC16 did welcome the call for the Instruments of Communion and the Provinces to continue to walk together as they discern the way forward. No consequences were imposed by the ACC and neither was the ACC asked to do so.

During the meeting there were many opportunities, both formal and informal, to explore the ACC16 theme of ‘Intentional discipleship in a world of differences’. This was done faithfully and respectfully.

As outgoing members of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Standing Committee, we remain passionate about the ACC’s distinct and independent role as one of the Instruments of Communion. The ACC provides a crucially important space for the sharing of our stories in God’s mission as laity, priests, deacons and bishops from the many and diverse contexts of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion. At ACC16 we truly witnessed the stated commitment to walking together in our life as the Body of Christ.

Helen Biggin, The Church in Wales
Prof Dr Joanildo Burity, Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil
The Rt Revd Ian T. Douglas, The Episcopal Church
The Rt Revd Dr Sarah Macneil, The Anglican Church of Australia
Canon Elizabeth Paver, The Church of England, Outgoing Vice-Chair
The Rt Revd James Tengatenga, The Church of the Province of Central Africa, Outgoing
Chair

Update
The ACNS has issued this statement: Secretary General rejects criticism over Walking Together resolution.

The secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has rejected criticism from six former members of the Anglican Consultative Council’s standing committee of statements made during and after ACC-16. The comments centre on Resolution 16.24 – “Walking Together” – which deals with how the ACC responded to the Primates’ Gathering and Meeting in January.

The critics issued their own statement which they said was to clarify their understanding of that response. In it they say that in receiving a report on the gathering by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the ACC “neither endorsed nor affirmed the consequences contained in the Primates’ communiqué”.

But Archbishop Idowu-Fearon said he took a different view…

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Cynthia
Cynthia
7 years ago

Thank you so much for that much needed clarification.

Susannah Clark
Susannah Clark
7 years ago

Thanks be to God for this honesty and openness.

This then requires Justin to review his statement – “By receiving my report, which incorporated the Primates’ Communique, the ACC accepted these consequences entirely” – to avoid further hubris.

How could he have got this so terribly wrong?

Jeremy Pemberton
Jeremy Pemberton
7 years ago

Ouch!

I do hope that the ABC’s spin will be seen for what it is.

cseitz
cseitz
7 years ago

“From our perspective there did not seem to be a common mind on the issue, *other than the clear commitment to avoid further confrontation and division. ACC16 did welcome the call for the Instruments of Communion and the Provinces to continue to walk together as they discern the way forward.*”

Is this really a victory lap for those wanting change and a victory of the ACC over another Instrument/s?

Sounds more like status quo ante. This settles nothing in any straightforward way. The challenge remains. No surprise there.

JCF
JCF
7 years ago

“In receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury’s formal report of the Primates’ Gathering and Meeting, ACC16 neither endorsed nor affirmed the consequences contained in the Primates’ Communique. There was no plenary discussion or decision with respect to the Primates’ Communiqué. From our perspective there did not seem to be a common mind on the issue, other than the clear commitment to avoid further confrontation and division.”

BOOM! ABC Welby, please seat thyself/silence thyself.

Jeremy
Jeremy
7 years ago

Looks as though the ACC is losing patience with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

I’ve had enough too.

Why is Canterbury trying to satisfy provinces that did not attend?

Jerry Hannon
Jerry Hannon
7 years ago

This makes think even less of Archbishop Welby. Sad.

Perry Butler
Perry Butler
7 years ago

” it is difficult for the Anglican Church”…..then she goes on about the Anglican Communion. The question was about the Church of England. In some quarters they seem to talk about an ” Anglican Church” when I would speak of the Church of England. It seems increasingly common among evangelicals and indeed among candidates for Ordination.I hope it won’t spread.

Fr John E. Harris-White
Fr John E. Harris-White
7 years ago

Thank you to those good souls who have told us the clear truth about the ACC meeting in Lusaka. Clearly a Christian gathering which sought not their own ego’s but God’s will for our Communion.

Thank God for the ACC, they deserve our support and prayers, as the true body that guides our communion.

Welby needs to listen to them, and remember he is a priest, not a communicator of twisted ‘facts’.

Here in Scotland we thank God for David our Primus, and our newly elected representative to ACC, Alistair Dennie.

Fr John

fr rob
fr rob
7 years ago

‘This then requires Justin to review his statement – “By receiving my report, which incorporated the Primates’ Communique, the ACC accepted these consequences entirely” – to avoid further hubris.’

Don’t hold your breath, Susannah. A communique from Lambeth is probably being prepared even now, helpfully outlining the niceties of the difference between ‘acceptance’ on the one hand and ‘endorsement and affirmation’ on the other.

Come to think of it, the Church could maybe use its position on LGBT matters as an example of acceptance without endorsement or affirmation? No, wait, we haven’t even reached acceptance yet.

Cynthia
Cynthia
7 years ago

” This settles nothing in any straightforward way.”

It settles something, Christopher, most of the communion wants to walk together in Christ rather than get confrontational over difference. And the ACC is reminding us that they are independent and a much, much broader representation of the Anglican Communion.

I don’t think “victory laps” are appropriate. I would say this is a step closer to the Promised Land.

Father Ron Smith
7 years ago

I’m not surprised by cseitz’s response to the ACC16 Members’ Declaration. What, however, he must begin to understand is that the people signing the declaration have recognised the need to walk together, without necessarily agreeing to any ban put on TEC by the recent gathering of the Primates.

Christopher Seitz
Christopher Seitz
7 years ago

No, sounds mostly like three outgoing folk wanting to have a final word that is more to their liking, but still anodyne. Makes a kind of anglican sense to me…Sunday blessings.

Kate
Kate
7 years ago

Rod
There’s no contradiction. The story you linked merely says many delegates were supportive of the Primates’ communique. I am sure some were. The important thing though is that support was not formally expressed in a resolution.

Jeremy
Jeremy
7 years ago

The tell is that the ACNS response does not discuss what “receive” meant.

Again I think the “receive” portion of the resolution reflects an unfortunate willingness by the Archbishop of Canterbury to engage in parliamentary doublespeak.

Jim Naughton
Jim Naughton
7 years ago

The business about support in table conversation is interesting. There were ten tables. Among the outgoing Standing Committee members, the US-based Episcopalians and the Canadians (who have a news story out through Anglican Journal saying there were no sanctions against the Episcopal Church) nine of those ten tables were covered. If people were making “overwhelmingly supportive” comments about the sanctions, they must have been whispering them in Bishop Idowu-Fearon’s ear.

Father Ron Smith
7 years ago

re Jeremy’s remark here; have we not all become too used to the fact of ‘double entendre’ in the public statements made at Head Office? Just one more from the ACNS web-site should not surprise.

What may be more important, though – in this case – is that no negative action occurred against our friends in TEC at ACC16. Thanks be to God! TEC is still very much a part of our Anglican DNA.

Father Ron Smith
7 years ago

re Jeremy’s remark here; have we not all become too used to the fact of ‘double entendre’ in the public statements made at Head Office? Just one more from the ACNS web-site should not surprise.

What may be more important, though – in this case – is that no negative action occurred against our friends in TEC at ACC16. Thanks be to God! TEC is still very much a part of our Anglican DNA.

Cynthia
Cynthia
7 years ago

The ACNS article is insufferable spin. The six former members of the Standing Committee, including the chair and vice-chair, are called “critics” rather than extremely active participants. The GS doesn’t exactly spell out what he disagrees with, presumably the meaning of “received.” +Josiah is a very interesting person who exudes the Light of Christ in some areas. I would not like to see him get caught up in Justin’s spin. Justin and Josiah need to deal with the fact that the Communion is not defined by the primates. The ACC is a much better, much more diverse, representation of God’s… Read more »

John B. Chilton
7 years ago

I commend to you ENS’s reporting of the standing committee statement and the SG’s retort. They also reached Welby who declined to respond.

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/05/09/group-of-acc-members-secretary-general-dispute-meaning-of-resolution/

Cynthia
Cynthia
7 years ago

“They also reached [out to] Welby who declined to respond.” What could he possibly say? ENS did a very good job of summing it all up. Why would Justin spin this? It is seemingly very close to being false witness. How could he get it so wrong and why would he upset the apple cart when ACC-16 was so genial? If he had left well enough alone, he would have come out smelling like a rose. At some point, one could look at the persecution of LGBTQI clergy in CoE and conclude that Justin is simply more aligned theologically to… Read more »

Susannah Clark
Susannah Clark
7 years ago

It’s not insignificant that the person who’s been roped in to defend Justin’s claim is also the person who called for the re-launch of the Anglican Covenant. This all seems to be about control and imposing one group’s conscientious belief on another group (which in England is probably half the Church and growing). Let – individuals – exercise – their – own – conscience – and – faith. Individual couples, individual priests, individual PCCs, individual local churches. After all, conscience was an issue in the ordination of women. Are LGBT people (and those who affirm them) deserving of anything less?… Read more »

cseitz
cseitz
7 years ago

Whether one favors it or one doesn’t, there is no point in repeating inaccuracies. This is intended to be a site for thinking Anglicans. “The Anglican Covenant – well – it’s already been rejected.” It did not pass, though it was hardly a massive defeat, in the CofE. It has been accepted in numerous provinces. Others simply have not taken the matter up. I believe the appeal of +Josiah was that the covenant be acted upon in all the Provinces. That does not seem unreasonable, given that for those who want it set aside, one way to have that happen… Read more »

Susannah Clark
Susannah Clark
7 years ago

“Whether one favors {sic} it or one doesn’t…” Christopher, England doesn’t. The Anglican Communion is diverse, and the idea that an Anglican Covenant, imposing uniformity on Provinces against their will, and ignoring conscience and local contexts, could be acceptable… is an unreality. We can all find our unity in Jesus Christ. We don’t all have to be the same. Indeed each one of us is unique. Instead of this (rather masculine-seeming) domineering culture, which proposes the domination of one group’s conscientious belief by another group’s… it is perfectly possible for people to hold diverse views, and yet still love one… Read more »

Kate
Kate
7 years ago

Susannah, if you go down that route I predict that Anglicanism will splinter into dozens of pieces and vanish within a generation because you will remove the cohesion. Anglicanism is hard to define but it is a set of shared values even if there is no agreement at present on what those values are. If you remove that sense of shared values by promoting unrestricted diversity, then the danger is there is nothing left. Of course Anglicanism is not monolithic and supports more diversity than GAFCON recognise but that diversity, I suggest, has to be argued from the foundations of… Read more »

Jeremy
Jeremy
7 years ago

“one way to have that happen is for it properly to be defeated through the Anglican Communion”

Don’t be silly. There is no Anglican Communion as an overarching body with any authority. That’s why the so-called Anglican Covenant (which is neither) had to go to the provinces.

Where it died an ignominious death.

Cynthia
Cynthia
7 years ago

Reviving any “Anglican Covenant” is a really bad idea and can only lead to more division.

Suppose 20 provinces vote yes and 18 vote no? Are the 18 going to submit to it? No, of course not. If their General Conventions or General Synods don’t adopt it, the province is not going to abide by it. That would create real splintering.

How would that work? The 20 provinces that passed it would do what? Have their own meetings? What happens to the ACC budget if some provinces are out and some are in?

Don’t go down that road! OMG!

Susannah Clark
Susannah Clark
7 years ago

Kate, the cohesion is love, not uniformity. We could have a million different diversities, but still share the same love. “If you remove that sense of shared values by promoting unrestricted diversity, then the danger is there is nothing left.” There is always nothing left except for love. Love is the great shared value. We can be diverse. We can disagree. But can we love? That is the challenge, because that is the great command. And the answer is, yes, we can love one another, if we don’t try to dominate each other, or demand uniformity. We can love one… Read more »

cseitz
cseitz
7 years ago

“…an Anglican Covenant, imposing uniformity on Provinces against their will, and ignoring conscience and local contexts, could be acceptable… is an unreality.”

This is obviously a exaggerated construal.

But of course a province is not being constrained, which chooses to adopt the covenant, which is why 9 have done so.

Many have not taken it up for a vote or deliberation. +Josiah appears to want to encourage them to do so.

Surely they are free to decline to adopt. With or without testosterone….

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