Posted on 05/12/2006 5:38:14 PM PDT by sionnsar
The betting line on J. Neil Alexander for ECUSA's next Presiding Bishop will probably be revised shortly because the Bishop of Atlanta's chances just improved dramatically. Responding to a Living Church question about the Windsor Report, Alexander had this to say:
First of all, it will be the duty of the Presiding Bishop to carry forth the response of the General Convention to the Windsor Report to our church, the Anglican Communion, and where appropriate, to our ecumenical partners. The Presiding Bishop’s personal positions are less important that his or her ability to articulate the positions established by our church.
Personally I resonate quite strongly with the spirit of the Windsor Report, but there are many details that need to be sorted out. Many of its recommendations were cast under extreme time pressure and should be understood as a place to begin the conversation, not indications that the conversations are over. I think that responding to the Windsor Report uncritically would be just as tragic as responding negatively. It is a fine piece of work by folks I respect. We don’t honor the gift they have given us by a simple up or down vote on the Windsor Report. We honor their work by serious engagement with it and at points that engagement may mean respectful disagreement together with the proposal of thoughtful alternatives.
Our church’s ties to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion are of critical importance with respect to our mission and ministry in the Name of Jesus. I believe the historical frameworks of the Communion serve us well by coordinating partnerships in mission between member provinces of the Communion. Doing gospel mission together across the national, economic, political, and cultural boundaries that divide us is the hallmark of Anglicanism when we are at our best. If we allow the missionary fabric of our worldwide Anglican relationships to be replaced by juridical and canonical structures we will have compromised our greatest strength for accomplishing the mission of Jesus.
Episcopalians can't say "Kiss off" much better than that.
UPDATE: The revised line.
Henry Parsley - EVEN
Charles Jenkins - 3-1
J. Neil Alexander - 4-1
Francisco Duque-Gomez - 5-1
Katharine Jefferts Schori - 10-1
Stacy Sauls - 12-1
Edwin Gulick - 20-1
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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.