Posted on 03/14/2005 2:27:16 PM PST by sionnsar
Pittsburgh Group Raises Questions about Recommendations of Anglican Primates
Pittsburgh, Pa. - March 11, 2005 - After presentations and discussion related to the recent meeting of Anglican primates and its aftermath, members of Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh (PEP) Monday overwhelmingly endorsed a call for the Episcopal Church to send its delegation to participate fully in the June meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).
The Anglican primates had requested in a communiqué that the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada not send delegates to the ACC meeting, but that they present to the ACC a theological justification of their recent actions concerning homosexual persons.
"The primates' communiqué at first seemed the product of a delicate compromise to buy time for resolving differences, but, on reflection, the document provides cause for concern," said PEP president Lionel Deimel. "U.S. and Canadian church representatives to the ACC are being asked to explain their actions, yet they are being inhibited for an extended period from participating in any ongoing dialogue that could lead to reconciliation." Deimel pointed out that the ACC is responsible for the agenda of the decennial Lambeth Conference, which next convenes in 2008. "The recommended removal of the six delegates to the ACC will likely skew that agenda."
Deimel also noted that the actions and statements of leaders of the Network of Anglican Communion Diocese and Parishes (NACDAP) and their allies among the primates have called into question their commitment to healing the rift in the Anglican Communion. Despite agreeing to a communiqué that includes the agreement "neither to encourage nor to initiate cross-boundary interventions," Southern Cone Archbishop Gregory Venables, without permission, visited the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster immediately upon leaving the primates meeting. When NACDAP moderator Bishop Robert Duncan was asked by Deimel at a public meeting whether he would honor the communiqué pledge regarding episcopal incursions, Duncan refused, saying that he "would do whatever is necessary" to support orthodox parishes.
"The primates voted two churches off someone else's island," suggested PEP vice president Joan Gundersen, referring to the influence the group is trying to assert over the ACC, an older and independent so-called Instrument of Unity of the Anglican Communion. "In fact, the ACC is the only Instrument of Unity to have duties and structure approved by all the autonomous churches of the Communion." PEP is not the first to suggest that the primates, under pressure from its conservative bloc, is overreaching. The two Irish delegates to the ACC raised that question within days of the release of the communiqué, arguing that the ACC is responsible for its own affairs.
"Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh wants to preserve the Anglican Communion," said Charles Robideau, PEP board member and editor of the group's newsletter PEPtalk, "but, as much as we value the Communion, our primary loyalty is to the Gospel itself and to the vision of the Gospel that is the essence of our Episcopal Church."
"Contrary to the suggestion of the primates' communiqué," Deimel explained, "complete uniformity of belief has never been a prerequisite for the provinces to represent the Gospel to the world. We seek unity, but we cannot endorse the transformation of the Anglican Instruments of Unity into Instruments of Uniformity. The ACC has been asked to oversee the development of a conversation throughout the communion on sexuality; we need to let this independent body decide for itself how best to proceed."
Lionel Deimel is President of Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. maybe we should just play them in hockey...
Dear sionnsar,
Who ultimately gets to make the call?
Is this something where the Presiding Bishop has the final authority to decide the question?
Or is there some voting body that can bind the ECUSA to send, or fail to send, full delegations?
Do you think this group represents the power in the ECUSA, or are they wishfully thinking?
It's hard for me to imagine that the Global South Primates would react well to the ECUSA sending a full delegation to the ACC.
What do you think?
sitetest
I'm afraid I have no idea who makes the decision. They can always "send a delegation," but I rather suspect Griswold or somebody else (at 815) has to supply, for example, an official list of delegates in order for them to be received as legitimate delegates when they arrive. Having no list is problematic, and I cannot imagine the offices at Lambeth trying to deal with lists arriving from every single diocese around the world. (I'm basing this guess on personal experience with an international committee where we operate by such rules; if you aren't on the list, you're an observer.)
If a list is required and none is sent, then those who go are just wasting time & money. Unless they're planning on demonstrating outside.
I'd have to go back to see exactly how the matter was worded, but I believe the communique asked ECUSA to not send a delegation, but instead to provide explanation for their actions. As I recall, the Primates' meeting doesn't have the power to actually deny ECUSA's attendance at the ACC.
So my guess is that it's Griswold's call, directly or indirectly, whether a delegation goes. Groups like the PEP (and they're not the first to talk about going regardless) will be pressuring him hard to send them; Williams will be pressuring him hard not to send them.
It won't sit well with the Global South if they go. Worse if they don't come with the requested explanation.
"So my guess is that it's Griswold's call, directly or indirectly, whether a delegation goes."
Griswold - The uninvited guest who crashes the party, overloads his plate with the best cold cuts, belches loudly, and wipes his mouth on the tablecloth. Every good host's nightmare.
(London, UK) - English filmmakers, commissioned by Exclusive Church UK have finally announced the release date of Frank, a documentary which chronicles the life and ministry of Frank Griswold, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States.
Exclusive Church is a liberal Church of England organisation that promotes an open, inclusive church accepting all those who deny basic creedal beliefs.
The 16 hour documentary is set to hit theatres in London, New York and Paris this June and elsewhere in July.
ACNS, Files
I only just discovered RAFwN this weekend. It would be even funnier if it wasn't so true. I've had "It's All About Me" (I Gotta Be Me) running across my brain ever since.
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