ROWAN WILLIAMS PUTS ANGLICAN COMMUNION AT RISK

Virtuosity ^ | 3 December 2003 | David Virtue

[ahadams2]

ROWAN WILLIAMS PUTS ANGLICAN COMMUNION AT RISK

An interview with the Rev. Canon Bill Atwood general secretary of EKKLESIA, an organization that networks biblically orthodox leaders around the world.

The following interview took place in Orlando, Florida at the third meeting of the U.S. Anglican Congress, which included leaders, bishops, priests and laity from the Continuum, Anglican and the ECUSA.

By David W. Virtue

VIRTUOSITY: Dr. Atwood you travel the world talking with the primates of the Global South about the ongoing crisis in the Episcopal Church. You have been in meetings with Primates all over the globe. What are you hearing?

ATWOOD: The decision to consecrate Gene Robinson is proving to be one of the most disastrous mistakes in modern church history. Every day new dimensions of the disaster unfold.

VIRTUOSITY: Can you be specific?

ATWOOD: Immediately after the consecration, the leaders of 50 million of the world's Anglicans declared themselves in impaired communion; then in the days that followed one after another of the Primates put out individual statements not just declaring impaired communion but formally breaking with ECUSA. Some have gone so far as to say they would refuse financial aid from the ECUSA for fear they would give legitimacy to the apostate Episcopal Church.

VIRTUOSITY: How are the Global South primates talking about this?

ATWOOD: First of all they understand it is a salvation issue. And what that means is that the Bible is clear that there are behaviors that lead people away from the redeeming love of Christ. For the evangelical leaders of the Global South that is unconscionable. The church's role is to bring people to faith not seduce them into Hell.

VIRTUOSITY: How do you think this is impacting Archbishop Rowan Williams?

ATWOOD: I don't see evidence that he realizes how desperately serious the situation is. The communion is hanging in the balance. It is hanging by a thread. The Global South leaders cannot and will not assimilate the same-sex agenda into their churches. If he [Williams] continues to speak moderately he'll lose the allegiance of Global South provinces. It's not just ECUSA that is at risk; it's the whole communion.

VIRTUOSITY: Are you driven by any impulse about what you would like to say to Dr. Williams?

ATWOOD: Sometimes I want to pick up the phone and try to explain to him in straightforward language that the Global South leaders just cannot buy it, incorporate it or overlook this spiritual situation.

VIRTUOSITY: How could someone risk losing the communion when a clear word from him would calm the storm?

ATWOOD: I can only think he's viewing the situation with Western eyes, and I would beg him to see it from the perspective of the African and Asian Primates. Not only them, but also the Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and even the Muslims. It is a huge crisis.

VIRTUOSITY: Was the resignation of Frank Griswold from ARCIC (Anglican Roman Catholic talks) symbolic of the problem, and is he personally symptomatic of the wider fracture the Communion faces over this subject?

ATWOOD: I would be surprised if Griswold went quietly into that good night of resignation, because he is making a career out of minimizing the damage he has caused. But the Global South leadership simply will not stand for someone who has repudiated their fundamental teaching representing them theologically. That is what he was doing on the committee meeting with the Roman Catholics.

VIRTUOSITY: Is Griswold finished among the Primates?

ATWOOD: Stick a fork in him.

VIRTUOSITY: The "Steps to Discipline" that Virtuosity ran a couple weeks ago indicated a final dateline of Easter 2004 when Griswold must repent. Does this mean the Eames Commission is irrelevant which promised to return a verdict by October 2004?

ATWOOD: First of all the timetable which was taken to the Lambeth meeting was overturned by circumstances when the Primates all appeared to have reached an agreed statement. There was a willingness to let the commission do its work. Now when Griswold went ahead as the chief consecrator, many provinces stepped up their individual timetables, and as I said before, more than 30 million have broken communion with the ECUSA already.

VIRTUOSITY: Is the Eames Commission relevant?

ATWOOD: The commission could be important for the future if the Anglican Communion can survive this crisis. The big question is whether or not discipline will be exercised against ECUSA's rebellion. If not I can't see the communion hanging together.

VIRTUOSITY: Where does this leave the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) and the work of Canon John Peterson?

ATWOOD: John Peterson's partisan support of the liberal agenda is legendary. That is not the direction most of the Anglican Communion is willing to go. The big question now is how many provinces will boycott ACC meetings if ECUSA is there. More than a dozen are already planning to skip the provincial secretary's meeting early next year because ECUSA was invited.

VIRTUOSITY: There is much talk about a parallel jurisdiction. There is also talk about a replacement jurisdiction, would you please explain what these are and mean to North American Episcopalians?

ATWOOD: Even as recently as the Primate's meeting in Brazil, I think parallel jurisdiction with two Episcopal churches was possible, with one church following a liberal path and the other a more traditional one. Since the Brazil meeting however, there is a much clearer understanding of how much is wrong with the ECUSA theologically. Most Global South Primates are not willing to stay in a relationship with a liberal and offending ECUSA, instead the Evangelical perspective of the Global South demands that ECUSA either repent or get replaced with a biblically orthodox one.

VIRTUOSITY: Do you think Griswold is prepared to put his friendship on the line with Williams and back off sufficiently so as not to jeopardize Williams's future as the titular head of the Anglican Communion?

ATWOOD: No.

VIRTUOSITY: Do you think Griswold understands the depth of trouble he is in, and the position he has put the Archbishop of Canterbury in?

ATWOOD: I don't see any evidence that the institutional leaders in the Episcopal Church have any clue at all of the depth of the problem despite all the evidence that shows the house is on fire.

VIRTUOSITY: It is apparent to many of us that Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola is emerging as the central Global South bishop in this new drama opening up. He is threatening a new communion. If that happens what do you think will happen?

ATWOOD: First of all Archbishop Akinola is an amazing leader. He is steering not only 17.5 million Anglicans in Nigeria, but he chairs the Nigerian Council of Churches, which is more than 60 million strong. He is also the chairman of CAPA, (the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa) which is all of the Anglicans in Africa and is the chairman of the Global South network.

VIRTUOSITY: What makes him so powerful and 'dangerous' to Western liberals?

ATWOOD: What really makes him powerful is that he has the grace and humility to consult with other key leaders like Drexel Gomez (West Indies), Greg Venables (Southern Cone); Yong Ping Chung (Southeast Asia), plus archbishops Malango, (Central Africa), Tetemela (Tanzania) and others in Africa. He consults broadly and his ministry and influences are therefore multiplied.

VIRTUOSITY: What would a realignment look like?

ATWOOD: The Global South Communion would focus on Jesus; the one in the West and North will be theologically and morally innovative but from the view of the Global South would be tragically ineffective spiritually.

VIRTUOSITY: Would this reduce Williams to being the head of a small Anglican sect mainly Western with parts of Australia and NZ, while the vast majority of Anglicans would follow a new leader?

ATWOOD: I don't know anyone who wants that. I hear Primates talking about an Anglican future that is Christian and faithful. The question will be whether or not the Communion can hang together.

VIRTUOSITY: Should orthodox priests in revisionist ECUSA and Canadian dioceses be prepared to walk away from their properties if push comes to shove, and take their people, the truly prized possession with them elsewhere?

ATWOOD: Jesus said, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his soul. What shall we say?" The Global South leaders have said the gospel is not for sale. I pray we will be as clear.

VIRTUOSITY: To whom should these faithful orthodox Episcopal priests turn to for ecclesiastical oversight?

ATWOOD: The Primates letter in October called for adequate oversight. It may be confusing for a while to provide it, but it is something that must be done and it is going to require everyone's help - orthodox bishops, Primates, including the ones in North America. Everyone will have a part to play. Those parishes under siege should be in touch with the AAC immediately, to make their request known.

VIRTUOSITY: Was the Dallas meeting recently the turning point for ECUSA's orthodox, and is the momentum continuing for alternative Episcopal oversight.

ATWOOD: A lot of people found their voice as orthodox Anglicans in Dallas. The more they experience links with like-minded Anglicans around the world the more excitement there is. I don't think it is stoppable.

VIRTUOSITY: Thank you.

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END

[ahadams2]

ping.

[bonfire]

"Stick a fork in him"!!! I almost wet my pants!