Posted on 06/08/2006 6:05:36 PM PDT by sionnsar
What about, "After General Convention?"
The Anglican Communion has given ECUSA till its General Convention to respond to the Windsor Report. That time is upon us. Thus, the AAC's theme for General Convention is "Choose You This Day." I will be there, working with the AAC, supporting their efforts to call ECUSA to a clear, unambiguous response to the Communion.
What would a clear response look like? One clear response would be outright rejection. But, what would full acceptance look like. Martyn Minns recently wrote that full acceptance would include 1. Repentance (admitting that what General Convention 2003 did was wrong and we're not going to do it anymore), 2. Reaffirmation (of the biblical view best expressed in Lambeth 1.10), and 3. Rollback (and dig deep to the foundation of our Christian faith as revealed in the Word and inspired by the Holy Spirit.)
A clear response seems to be unlikely. The leadership of the Episcopal Church has positioned the Convention to fudge the answer; saying yes, while meaning no. That will place the real outcome of this General Convention with regard to ECUSA's future place in the Anglican Communion in the hands of the Primates and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
My column mate, Matt Kennedy+, has done a good job of postulating five different possible outcomes as a result of the General Convention's response and resulting action or inaction by the Anglican Communion. I agree with the possible scenario's that Matt has outlined, though there are limitless permutations. None of them are sweet. We seem to be on the threshhold of messy reformation perhaps taking hundreds of years, or messy disintegration along various possible fault lines.
YOU, therefore, faithful reader, will also find in the aftermath of General Convention that "Choose you this day" has fallen squarely upon you (and each of us) "up close and personal." It may come down to considering the following factors, recognizing that, again, permutations of these factors are also many: 1. Are you in a faithful congregation in a faithful diocese safely leading an Anglican reformation, or 2. Are you (and your spouse if you are married) able, at the risk of your spiritual and mental health (and possibly your soul), to personally be reformers or missionaries in a faithless congregation in a faithless diocese (I include "moderate" congregations and dioceses that might stay fully with ECUSA in this category.). And, 3. If you have children, you need to weigh the dangers of raising children in any association with ECUSA. I pray that God will give each of us the wisdom, courage, and discernment to do His will.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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