Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

This Just In ["ACC is a fraud"]
Midwest Conservative Journal ^ | 6/19/2005 | Christopher Johnson

Posted on 06/20/2005 12:33:43 PM PDT by sionnsar

The Anglican Consultative Council's Nottingham meeting is a sham and a fraud:

The Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA), in complete defiance of the Primates of the Anglican Communion, has sent their delegates to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting currently underway in Nottingham, England. In their 2005 Communique issued from Dromantine, the Primates called on the American delegation to withdraw voluntarily from the ACC. Subsequently, the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church announced that the delegation – the Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam, the Rev. Robert Sessum and Ms. Josephine Hicks – would not attend in an “official” capacity but would be present as “observers.” It is important to note that this is contrary to the Primates’ expressed expectation and was not sanctioned by the Council as a whole.

A number of ACC members have expressed discomfort at the presence of ECUSA “observers” who have been present for all sessions, meals, social gatherings and even rode on the van transporting the ACC to Sunday’s worship service. Despite his so-called withdrawal, ECUSA’s ACC delegate Robert Sessum has participated in Finance Committee meetings and has been observed engaging in several private conversations with ACC staff and leadership. Both Ms. Hicks and Bishop Roskam are obviously “working the room” during breaks and social gatherings.

One ACC member expressed strong frustration saying that the Americans “have displayed arrogance in assuming that their status within the Council is undiminished.”

“They were included in the welcome and the official roll call. It was as if Dromantine simply hadn’t happened, and I find it very difficult to imagine frank discussions about their presence or even the actions of their provinces while they are in the room.”

Another ACC member was outraged by the unlimited access enjoyed by the US and said the delegation had been “party to the entire program in contradiction to the Dromantine Communique.”

“The Primates requested that US representatives withdraw and attend only when they make their case at the appropriate time. Their presence in the sessions is totally confusing to other ACC delegates from around the world. Can no one stop the ECUSA juggernaut?”

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Canon Kenneth Kearon, Secretary General of the ACC, and ACC Chairman Bishop John Paterson appear unwilling to enforce the Primates’ expectations, and John Rees, legal adviser to the ACC pointedly emphasized the “broad powers of the chair”. A member displeased with the situation pointed to Kearon’s apparent support of ECUSA’s position. “He made this happen – allowing them to be present is his decision.”

The Episcopal Church is sending a second force that will make a 90-minute presentation on Tuesday, June 21, 2005. Although the Anglican Primates called for ECUSA to explain their actions, early reports indicate that Episcopal presenters will focus primarily on the experience of homosexuals with a primary goal of persuading the ACC that God is doing a new thing in North America. So far lobbying efforts of the US and Canada are already well underway, paving the way for Tuesday’s presentations. The integrity of the ACC meeting could well be in jeopardy.

The meeting's integrity "could well be in jeopardy?"  If this report is accurate, I'd say that its integrity is already dead.  Which, of course, brings up the question of what conservatives will do about the fact that not only the US and Canada but the Anglican Communion leadership seems to be treating Anglican statements as so much toilet paper. 

Will anyone lodge a protest?  Will any provinces demand that the conditions of the Dromantine statement be fulfilled to the letter and that the Canadian and American members, who were supposed to stay away, be barred from any further interaction with sitting ACC members during the remainder of this meeting?  And will any provinces pull their members from this meeting if this doesn't happen?

Or are public condemnations and open letters the strongest actions conservative Anglicans are willing to take?


TOPICS: Mainline Protestant
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 06/20/2005 12:33:43 PM PDT by sionnsar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

Well, all I can say is North Carolina had better not concede the NCAA championship to Illinois!


2 posted on 06/20/2005 1:45:16 PM PDT by Buck W. (Yesterday's Intelligentsia are today's Irrelevantsia.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

Can we get the Cliff notes version of this story? I'm lost.


3 posted on 06/20/2005 1:58:51 PM PDT by Space Wrangler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ahadams2; Agrarian; coffeecup; Paridel; keilimon; Hermann the Cherusker; wagglebee; ...
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (typically 3-7 pings/day).
This list is pinged by sionnsar and newheart.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

4 posted on 06/20/2005 2:04:09 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || Iran Azadi || (Airbus A380)^: The BIG PIG)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Buck W.

Well, Florida State is a member.


5 posted on 06/20/2005 2:06:06 PM PDT by dfwgator (Flush Newsweek!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Space Wrangler
1. ECUSA elected a divorced, openly-practicing gay bishop.
2. Archbishops (Primates) of the worldwide Anglican Communion asked ECUSA to stay home next ACC meeting.
3. ECUSA says, "We're sending 'observers' to 'explain.'"
6 posted on 06/20/2005 2:08:01 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || Iran Azadi || (Airbus A380)^: The BIG PIG)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

The ACC is clearly some sort of representative group of Anglicans, but what sort? What is it they're supposed to be doing? And, how representative is it? Does it include representatives of the entire Anglican communion, or only of part? And, how high-level is it?


7 posted on 06/20/2005 2:18:31 PM PDT by walden
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: walden
You should find answers here.
8 posted on 06/20/2005 2:45:58 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || Iran Azadi || (Airbus A380)^: The BIG PIG)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: sionnsar

Thanks, I think. :( You provided the answers, but I find that information disturbing, because the non-actions of the ACC in light of ECUSA behavior gives me little hope for the future of our church.


9 posted on 06/20/2005 3:42:44 PM PDT by walden
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: walden

I know. It's disturbing, but there's still hope.


10 posted on 06/20/2005 5:11:33 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || Iran Azadi || (Airbus A380)^: The BIG PIG)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson