Posted on 03/18/2004 6:13:48 PM PST by ahadams2
Anger as Primate takes Presidency at Eucharist
Number: 5709 Date: March 18
Anglican leaders have criticised the decision to allow the American Primate at the centre of the row over the Communion’s first openly gay bishop to celebrate the Eucharist in Canterbury Cathedral.
The Primate of Central Africa, the Most Rev Bernard Malango, who was present at the ceremony, expressed his anger at having such a ‘political’ move thrust upon him.
Attending the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Malango said that no warning had been given that Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold would be celebrating the Eucharist until seated in the Cathedral.
“It put everybody in an embarrassing situation,” he said. “To be treated like that was not good at all.” A number of people did not participate in the Eucharist because they felt unable to share communion with the American Primate, and Archbishop Malango warned that Primates from the Global South would not continue to attend if their feelings are not respected.
The Archbishop of Nigeria, the Most Rev Peter Akinola, did not go to this month’s meeting as he objected to the presence of Bishop Griswold, who presided over the consecration of Gene Robinson. Archbishop Malango said that the American Primate should not have been asked, and suggested that those who had allowed him to celebrate the Eucharist were playing “a trick” on them.
Senior evangelicals were equally strong in their condemnation of the use of “an expression of unity” as “a propaganda tool in church politics”.
Anglican Mainstream leaders, including the Bishop of Lewes, the Rt Rev Wallace Benn, sent a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of the Cathedral, arguing that it had been a ‘provocative’ decision. They also questioned the way that the Anglican Communion Office had publicised the event, and suggested it was acting as if what the American Church did last year did not matter.
They also want to know who authorised Bishop Griswold’s ministry in this country, wondering whether “this was the beginning of a softening-up process by which all those who took part in the consecration of Gene Robinson would be able to minister in the Church of England.
The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev Robert Willis, said that he was surprised that people were so upset. He said that there was no hidden agenda in allowing the American Primate to celebrate the Eucharist, and that the decision was in accordance with normal practice at the Cathedral.
It was the 19th anniversary of Bishop Griswold’s consecration, and so they thought that it would be appropriate for him to have the honour on that day, Dean Willis said.
Yup, they're really on top of the situation and truly understand how deeply upset most Anglicans are over Frank the heretic. NOT.
Giving them the "honor" when the South 40 are thinking of removing themselves from any association with ECUSA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.