Posted on 02/28/2005 2:44:33 PM PST by GMMAC
FOR WAYWARD SHEPHERDS, A WELL-EARNED REPROACH
National Post
Monday 28 Feb 2005 Page: A14
Section: Editorials
By Ian Hunter
Church pronouncements -- at least those from the hierarchy of the Anglican Church -- are usually phrased in a gelatinous and unctuous prose that obscures meaning.
A striking exception is last week's communique from the 35 global primates (i.e., senior bishops from around the world) after they met for a week in Northern Ireland. The sections of their communique that deal with homosexuality in the Church are remarkably free of ecclesiastical bafflegab. And that is bad news for the Anglican Church of Canada.
Essentially, the bishops have given the renegade Anglican churches in Canada and the United States an ultimatum: Shape up or get out.
The bishops view the current North American situation as "of the utmost seriousness." And they declare that there is "a very real question about whether North American churches are willing to accept the same teaching on matters of sexual morality as is generally accepted elsewhere in the Communion."
In other words, the bishops doubt whether the Canadian and U.S. churches remain part of that "one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" that all Anglicans profess to believe in each and every time they recite the Apostle's Creed.
So, what's to be done?
The primates' directive is blunt and it has four parts:
- Canadian and American bishops are no longer welcome to take part in the Church's deliberative assembly -- the Anglican Consultative Council -- until 2008 (the next meeting of the international Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops in England). A more blatant snub is difficult to imagine.
- The Canadian and American churches must respond fully to the recommendations of the Windsor Report, issued last October; this report requires, among other steps, a formal Canadian apology for the antics of the Bishop of New Westminster, B.C., Michael Ingham (the blessing of same-sex unions); and an apology from Frank Griswold, the United States Presiding Bishop, for consecrating as bishop a man who had left his wife and children to live with his homosexual lover.
So far, there have been no such apologies, only expressions of "regret" for "hurt caused to all sides." The Windsor Report also requires a moratorium on further same-sex blessings, a point that the global primates reaffirmed.
- In June, 2005, Canadian and U.S. church leaders will be summoned to a meeting in Nottingham, England, in effect to "show cause" why their severance from the worldwide Anglican Communion should not be made permanent. The primates left little doubt that unless there are big changes between now and then, an excommunication (although not by that name) is in prospect.
- Their most consequential decision may have been the direction given to the Archbishop of Canterbury -- "as a matter of urgency" -- to get on with the creation of a panel to recommend and supervise alternative episcopal oversight. This means Anglican priests who find themselves serving in a diocese such as New Westminster, under a renegade bishop, will be able to carry on under orthodox supervision.
No one expected the global primates to be quite so direct and forceful; the aftershocks will be felt for some time. Orthodox Anglicans will regard this development as an answer to their prayers; how the Canadian House of Bishops will take such a public slap in the face is harder to predict.
It has been estimated that roughly a third of Canadian bishops oppose the blessing of same-sex unions on theological grounds. Many others are closet supporters of Bishop Ingham, though some regret his timing and his preening ego. Will the bishops' common desire for "peace in our time" trump theology and doctrine? We shall have to wait and see.
Moreover, is there a limit to the patience of the dwindling band who still attend Canadian Anglican churches? Many of them have felt betrayed by their bishops -- over liturgy; over the squandering of money on politically correct causes (e.g. the residential schools imbroglio); and over other issues -- and yet they continue to go to church. Will the faithful wish to do so when they are disowned by the worldwide Anglican Church?
If the Canadian bishops want a text for their upcoming deliberations, I make bold to suggest these words of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah: "It is you -- shepherds of my people -- who have scattered my flock; it is you who have driven them away; it is you who have not attended to them."
I find this whole thing absolutely hilarious.
The PCers are hoist by their own petards, as most of those objecting to their gay agenda are "bishops of color."
A LOT more difficult for them to demonize these men.
That's a keeper.
The full gravity of the situation comes clear when you consider that this is the first ever meeting of the Anglican Primate at which there was no Holy Communion celebrated -- because the southern hemisphere primates were unwilling to agree that they are "in communion" with the US and Canadian churches. It doesn't get any more serious than that in Christianity.
Yep.
The ECUSA was asked to not particiate --- and did so, because the biblically-orthodox-Anglicans said that if they did not leave voluntarily, they would be forced out.
As Christian who happens to be Episcopalian, I am so happy because it appears that this was the wake up call that will remove control of so much of the church from heretics --- who were heretical many ways more than this.
With God all things are possible.
Lookin' good. It's about time!
I like it. One for the list.
(Sloooowly recuperating - sort of - from a narsty flu. I am actually attempting to organize my pinglist today.)
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. The body of Christ affirms what is right and tells those that fall from faith and the truth to ask forgivenss and repent of their ways. Now it is up to the apostate Canadian and American Anglican Churchs to admit their error or be excomincate from the Church. Would you want to be part of a Church going against the word of God? They better kick out the leadership in the North American Churchs.
A LOT more difficult for them to demonize these men.
I read a quote a while back at a conference where someone said basically that these backward African bishops were essentially more primitive and didnt understand the complexities of modern life...
"- Canadian and American bishops are no longer welcome to take part in the Church's deliberative assembly -- the Anglican Consultative Council -- until 2008 (the next meeting of the international Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops in England). A more blatant snub is difficult to imagine."
Oh, I don't know. I can easily imagine a more blatant snub: Throwing these misfits out of the Anglican Communion altogether.
ANd people questioned what good could come out of Africa -- well here it is -- Africa, the moral voice of Anglicanism. Good on you, my African and South American brothers.
If you want on/off the ping list see my profile page.
Good for them!
If one does not believe in basic church doctrine, leave the church!
When will Rome do he same?
I mean prepare to formally excommunicate those leaders that are not in communion?
Not really. Just look here.
Excerpt: "We are dealing with an inevitable clash of cultures, and the cultures represented by Africa, some of the far East, and the Southern Cone are as much as 200 to 300 years behind the cultures of the West in social progress, societal structure, and the development of the individual."
Excerpt: "We are dealing with an inevitable clash of cultures, and the cultures represented by Africa, some of the far East, and the Southern Cone are as much as 200 to 300 years behind the cultures of the West in social progress, societal structure, and the development of the individual."
And I thought the church was about God's word, which progressed to it's maximum, as in forever shall be. Silly me!!
Tis excerp might be said by the Catholic in MA who said, "the Bible, like the constitution, is a living document" News to all, those of us of faith!
If we could get rid of Frank, somehow, and put the leadership back into more moderate or conservative hands...Bishop Stanton of Dallas would be great.
There's an Anglican church in Vancouver that already has disavowed itself from the Cdn Anglicans, and has joined in with the Anglican diocese in Zambia, I think.
I guess they CAN demonize them, but not without, as your quote shows, getting themselves into obvious conflict with their own stated attitudes of respect for other cultures.
Which is why I think the whole thing is so funny.
Interesting the PC hierarchy. Race tops gender. Homosexuality tops race.
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