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In the invitation to the meeting, Archbishop Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria and Chairman of CAPA, wrote his fellow Primates, “We need to come to terms with what step to take to make CAPA not only self-reliant, but to guarantee its sustainability.”

From what I've heard (from an African bishop, no less) is that African say things in a very nuanced and subtle way. This is a very strong statement.

First, "self-reliant" is code for "put ourselves in a position where we don't have to rely on money from Western (i.e., American) Anglican sources."

Second, in the context of "self-reliance," "sustainability" means that the CAPA provinces will separate from the Communion, if need be, in order to remain faithful churches in the body of Christ.

It's very interesting that the COE Newspaper should then go on to connect this statement with the following:

Speaking to the press in the United States on Apr 2, ... Archbishop Akinola argued that the liberal factions that had captured the leadership and bureaucratic machinery of several Western Churches must “either repent and come back to the fold, or give up on the Anglican family.”

The English, who are more used to American obtuseness, have kindly reinforced the nuanced statement in the form of a sledgehammer that even Frank Griswold can understand. It's a challenge to the Eames Commission to enact real discipline on apostate Western Churches -- or the Communion will be dead.

I think the fact that the COE Newspaper provided that connection is not an accident.

Does this scare you?

Click pic to hug FR