Posted on 06/05/2006 5:49:48 PM PDT by sionnsar
[Nothing new here, no sir! Only a comparison of old stuff. I'm still trying to refrain from further posted opinions until after General Convention, but I hadn't seen a concise side-by-side on these and needed it for an adult class. Hope it helps others.]
The Windsor Report is the unanimous report of an international Anglican Communion Commission appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The report includes a number of “requests,” which a fair reader would recognize are polite requirements if ECUSA is to have its fellowship with the Anglican Communion restored.
“Dromantine” is shorthand for the Primates’ Meeting Communiqué, February 2005. The Archbishop of Canterbury and almost all the other Primates issued their affirmation of the recommendations of Windsor.
“ECUSA” will stand for the Report of the Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. The resolutions put forward by the Commission are widely accepted as the maximum to be expected from General Convention. More than this will be remarkable.
You decide how likely we are to comply with the unanimous requests of Windsor. I will only say that the Special Commission achieved a moment of clarity in the final sentence below. Would that they had seen how logically applicable to the confirmation of Gene Robinson are their own words: "the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached by such authorization." These things are connected.
All the following are direct quotes; no comments are added. I did add italics and some extra punctuation (in brackets) at one point where a loophole suddenly loomed up before my eyes.
REGARDING THE CONSECRATION OF THE BISHOP OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
WINDSOR, Para.134—We recommend that…the Episcopal Church (USA) be invited to express its regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached in the events surrounding the election and consecration of a bishop for the See of New Hampshire, and for the consequences which followed…. *
DROMANTINE [Nothing specific on expression of regrets by ECUSA]
ECUSA (p. 24)—Resolution A160 Expression of Regret: …expressing “our own deep regret for the pain that others have experienced with respect to our actions at the General Convention of 2003 and we offer our sincerest apology and repentance for having breached the bonds of affection in the Anglican Communion by any failure to consult adequately with our Anglican partners before taking these actions.”
ECUSA (p. 24)—Resolution A161 Election of Bishops: …regrets the extent to which we have, by action and inaction, contributed to strains on communion and caused deep offense to many faithful Anglican Christians as we consented to the consecration of a bishop living openly in a same-gender union.
REGARDING THE CONSECRATION OF FUTURE BISHOPS LIVING IN SAME-SEX UNIONS
WINDSOR, Para.134—We recommend that…the Episcopal Church (USA) be invited to effect a moratorium on the election and consent to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate who is living in a same gender union until some new consensus in the Anglican Communion emerges.
DROMANTINE, Para. 18. …we ask our fellow primates to use their best influence to persuade their brothers and sisters to exercise a moratorium on … the consecration of any bishop living in a sexual relationship outside Christian marriage.
ECUSA (p. 24)—Resolution A161 Election of Bishops: …we urge nominating committees, electing conventions, Standing Committees, and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise very considerable caution in the nomination, election, consent to, and consecration of bishops whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.
REGARDING RITES FOR THE BLESSING OF SAME-SEX UNIONS
WINDSOR, Para.144—…we call for a moratorium on all such public Rites, and recommend that bishops who have authorised such rites in the United States and Canada be invited to express regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached by such authorisation.
DROMANTINE, Para. 18. …we ask our fellow primates to use their best influence to persuade their brothers and sisters to exercise a moratorium on public Rites of Blessing for Same-sex unions….
ECUSA (p. 25) Resolution A162—Public Rites of Blessing for Same-Sex Unions:
-…affirm the need to maintain a breadth of private responses to situations of individual pastoral care for gay and lesbian Christians in this Church;
-…concur with the Windsor Report in its exhortation to bishops … by not proceeding to authorize public Rites of Blessing for same-sex unions, until some [!?!-my emphasis] broader consensus in the Anglican Communion emerges;
-…advise those bishops who have authorized public diocesan rites that, “because of the serious repercussions in the Communion,” they heed the invitation “to express regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached by such authorization”
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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