More Reaction to the ABC's Letter

Stand Firm ^ | 3/09/2006 | Matt Kennedy

[sionnsar]

I will return to my regular article tomorrow morning, but for now I want to reflect a little more on the Archbishop of Canterbury's (ABC) letter.

A number of people asked me last night why I think the letter is so important. There are a number of reasons, most of which I've already articulated in my rapid response. I want to touch on a few more this morning.

Let's say you're a reappraising ECUSA bishop or deputy to GC2006. You are in full agreement with the decisions of GC2003, but you also feel an obligation to the Anglican Communion. You believe that the Holy Spirit has guided ECUSA into the prophetic forefront of Christendom. You have been disappointed by the international reaction - especially the reaction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who you once counted as an ally and whose appointment you celebrated - to the consecration of VGR and same-sex blessings, but not altogether discouraged.

Up until last night you entertained some optimism that temporary compliance for the sake of unity could bring change to the entire communion and "justice" to those who have been shunned and ostracized for so many years.

All that has changed.

The ABC has said, directly and unmistakably, that even if ECUSA complies with the Windsor Report and her bishops are invited to attend Lambeth 2008, any hope or expectation that Lambeth 1.10 might be addressed legislatively, much less overturned, is unrealistic.

It's not going to happen.

Why? Because your host, the ABC, doesn't want it to happen.

• That means "justice" for non-celibate homosexuals won't even be a possibility for another 12 years (if at all).
  
  
• It means, almost assuredly, that even if ECUSA complies with Windsor, VGR will not be on the guest list.
  
  
• It means, as one commenter on T19 put it: "To Set Our Hope on Christ is a dead document."
  
  
• It means the ABC has foreclosed the possibility of change until well after many, perhaps most, of the current ECUSA bishops have retired.
  
  Now, remember the begrudging way the House of Bishops acceded to the Dromantine communique by placing a moratorium on all episcopal consecrations last year? The majority would not and could not agree to moratoria on the consecration of non-celibate homosexuals alone. The HOB's universal moratorium was a temporary measure passed with the hope and expectation that something would break ECUSA's way by GC2006. It was a temporary stop-gap measure intended to satisfy the moderate primates and provinces.
  
  Things have not broken ECUSA's way and now we know they will not at least until 2016.
  
  Does anyone really imagine ECUSA continuing such a moratorium or altering in such a way that it meets the Windsor requirements knowing that Communion teaching will not change for another 12 years?
  
  By pushing the time frame back 12 years, this letter virtually ensures that ECUSA will reject the Windsor Report.
  
  The stunning thing is that the ABC has to have known that.

[sionnsar]

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[RonF]

The ABC could put it on the agenda, but it would most assuredly get shot down. Remember that when it was voted up, it carried by about 8 or 9 to 1. Nothing's changed there, so why bother to try to re-address it?