Posted on 11/09/2003 7:33:06 PM PST by ahadams2
SECRET DOCUMENT REVEALS PRIMATES EXCOMMUNICATION PLANS
SPECIAL REPORT
By David W. Virtue
A secret document drawn up by Primates of the Global South reveals that continued intransigence by The Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada over matters of faith and morals, will result in their excommunication from the world-wide Anglican Communion.
Sources have told Virtuosity that even though liberal American bishops seemingly answer to no one, they will be held accountable as this plan moves forward and its proposals implemented.
One thing is clear, Dr. Rowan Williams will be forced to decide whether he wants to be the head of a North American denomination, much like the autonomous Methodist Church, or the leader of a world wide Anglican Communion. But he must do something, because to do nothing will be a defacto decision to lead a schismatic denomination instead of a communion.
The majority of Primates of the Anglican Communion, more than 25, are fully prepared to break communion with him, as the document suggests, if he himself does not break communion with ECUSA revisionists.
This does not mean the end of the Anglican Communion, said a source to Virtuosity. "It will not end because the Global South Primates, and orthodox believers, men and women true to their ordination vows, will in faithfulness and obedience, reorganize the Church without consenting bishops, and that includes Frank Griswold, and Rowan Williams. By Dr. Williams silence and acquiescence the circumstances he creates will preclude him."
The timetable stands, and only a full repentance by revisionist bishops before Easter Day will stop this surgical removal from the Anglican Communion of innovators and heretics.
The document was leaked this week to VIRTUOSITY and reveals that those who gave consent at General Convention or voted for C-051 (local option and the blessing of same-sex unions) would be reduced to observer status in the Communion (no voice, no vote). Furthermore V. Gene Robinson's ministry will have no standing in the councils of the Communion and those bishops who participated in the consecration of Gene Robinson will have their further participation in the Communion suspended.
The bishops also put into place emergency mechanisms to protect dioceses, parishes, and clergy who maintain a commitment to the historic faith and order of the Communion, including those parishes and clergy located in dioceses where the bishop is under discipline by the Communion.
The document also said that Bishop Ingham would be reduced to observer status in the Communion (no voice, no vote) and his further participation in Communion affairs would be suspended.
The sweeping document was put together following the meeting of the CAPA bishops in Africa just two weeks before the Lambeth Conference met last month in London.
The proposal revealed a two stage thrust. The first, already implemented, included calling on Robinson to withdraw from his consecration and the Standing Committee to rescind it approval.
It is also called on Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold to repudiate the House of Bishops' vote for consent to Canon Robinson's election and for Resolution C-051, both in writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury prior to November 2. And for those bishops who voted in favor of confirming Canon Robinson's election to repudiate their action in writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury prior to November 2.
It also called on the bishops who voted in favor of C-051 to repudiate that resolution in writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury prior to November 2.
"We call on current ECUSA bishops to reaffirm the traditional teaching of the church on marriage, as confirmed in previous General Conventions and House of Bishops Meetings (i.e. General Convention 1979 and House of Bishops 1977) by not condoning or permitting the public use of rites of same-sex blessings and by refusing to ordain practicing homosexuals."
"We call on these bishops to fulfill their commitment as stated in General Convention 1991 Resolution B-020 to avoid unilateral action in the area of the church's teaching on sexual behavior and to engage in formal "pan-Anglican and ecumenical consultation", even while, in the spirit of Lambeth 1998 Resolution I.10.c, we together "commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons" and "assure them that they are loved by God".
Failure to heed the call would result in the following consequences:
Those who gave consent at General Convention or voted for C-051 would be reduced to OBSERVER STATUS in the Communion (no voice, no vote).
"We will NOT RECOGNIZE the ministry of Gene Robinson as a bishop; he will have NO STANDING in the councils of the Communion. Those bishops participating in the consecration of Gene Robinson will be suspended from the Communion."
The Primates said emergency mechanisms will be implemented for relating to and protecting dioceses, parishes, and clergy who maintain a commitment to the historic faith and order of the Communion, including those parishes and clergy located in dioceses where the bishop is under discipline by the Communion.
A second stage, from November 2, 2003 to Easter, 2004 is intended to lead to sober consideration, repentance, and conformity to the expressed will of the Communion. This should be a period of Communion-wide prayer.
The Primates then said that if the call is not heeded, after Easter, 2004 the following would occur.
The ECUSA bishops who uphold a commitment to the Holy Scriptures and to the historic faith and order of the church will continue to have full participation in the affairs of the Communion, including voice and vote in the councils of the Communion.
These bishops and their dioceses will be designated to be in full communion with the See of Canterbury, and will thereby constitute the Episcopal Church, U. S. A., empowered to act under that church's own Constitution and Canons.
The Primates Meeting will designate a committee to work with the sole-designated ECUSA during this transition period, for repentance, renewal, reconciliation, and reform.
Concrete steps reflecting this realignment of the Communion will commence at Easter, 2004. These will include reassessment of resources, the way appropriate ministries are funded, and the redirection of monies.
Annual reports will be brought to the Primates Meeting by their designated committee regarding the shape and condition of the reorganized ECUSA.
"We stand behind this proposal and firmly believe before God that these decisions must be enacted for the sake of our Communion's unity and faithfulness to the Holy Scriptures and to the historic faith and order of the Church of Christ," say the bishops.
NOTE: If you are not receiving this from VIRTUOSITY, the Anglican Communion's largest biblically orthodox Episcopal/Anglican Online News Service, then you may subscribe FREE by going to: www.virtuosityonline.org. VIRTUOSITY is read by more than 80,000 readers in 41 countries. This story is copyrighted but may be forwarded electronically with reference to VIRTUOSITY and the author. No changes are permitted in the text.
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I really doubt that this is a real leak. It sounds more like strategery, putting pressure on Rowan Williams without the necessity of the Primates having to get in his face.
The real and meaningful pressure on Williams comes from the Queen anyway, and she wants to maintain the vestiges of the British Empire. So she'll probably be pressuring Williams to remain with the majority of the Primates.
That, in turn, brings us to the ECUSA constitutional issues we've also talked about here. The part in this report, about the Communion ignoring Griswold and his consenting bishops, is that set of issues by which those people lose their standing and authority within the ECUSA.
thereby constitute the ECUSA!! Wow!
I wonder if Griswold & Co. would initiate a legal battle over the name...
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