Posted on 03/01/2006 5:09:34 PM PST by sionnsar
Lambeth Palace has applauded the Episcopal Church of the Sudan’s (ECS) decision not to break with the Episcopal Church in protest to the actions of the 74th General Convention on human sexuality. At a recent meeting of the Provincial Synod, the Sudanese Church condemned recent innovations to Church teaching, but decided to continue in prayerful dialogue and Eucharistic fellowship.
The Sudanese General Synod’s statement was “a helpful response to the issues facing the Communion today,” the Rev. Jonathan Jennings, Lambeth Palace press officer, told The Living Church.
Long unable to meet due to the nation’s civil war, the Jan. 23-29 session of synod was the first full gathering of the Sudanese Church since the election of Bishop V. Gene Robinson in 2003. Last July the Sudanese House of Bishops issued a pastoral statement on human sexuality critical of the Episcopal Church, but the Rev. Enock Tombe, provincial secretary of the ECS, told TLC the question of relations with the Episcopal Church could only be decided by synod.
Synod said it strongly opposed the Episcopal Church’s consecration of a “practicing homosexual as bishop” and in permitting “the blessing of same-sex relationships.” The Sudanese Church said it would not countenance “homosexual practice,” believing it to be “contrary to biblical teaching,” and said human sexuality is “rightly ordered only when expressed within the life-long commitment of marriage between one man and one woman.”
In a statement released after the vote, the Sudanese bishops said they saw the normalization of homosexuality by the Episcopal Church as a rejection of scripture as the “inspired, living, and authoritative word of God.” However, they acceded to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s plea to hold together despite the deep divisions caused by the 74th General Convention. Archbishop Williams began an eight-day visit to the Sudan on Feb. 26.
The bishops pledged to remain in dialogue and continue to pray for the Episcopal Church in hope that it would reconsider its actions for the “sake of their salvation” and for the “unity of the Church.”
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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