Posted on 02/14/2007 9:46:41 PM PST by sionnsar
Apparently, Rowan Williams is considering the idea of delaying the Lambeth Conference:
Dr Williams, meanwhile, has his own “nuclear option”, insiders said. In a recent document, The Road to Lambeth, the Global South Primates said that they will not attend the Lambeth Conference if the US Church’s gay bishop Gene Robinson and those who consecrated him are not disciplined and if they are invited to Lambeth.
The Lambeth Conference traditionally happens every ten years. But although the University of Kent has been booked, it is understood that Dr Williams is prepared to postpone the Lambeth Conference and hold a “covenantal assembly” instead.
Bishops, clergy and laity from around the communion would be invited to attend, to discuss whether they can continue to live together under the banner of the Anglican Covenant document to be revealed on Friday.
This idea has "desperation" written all over it. If the Global South will not attend a Lambeth Conference with the unrepentant Episcopal left, what makes my gracious lord of Canterbury think that they will attend his "covenental assembly" if the Americans are there?
Once again, it must be emphasized that Dr. Williams is no longer in control of events. The Global South is. In the Anglican world, the shift away from Canterbury has begun, it cannot be stopped and the sooner Anglicans realize this, the better.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Actually, it seems to me that the ABC has another "nuclear option". Every document I've seen says that membership in the Anglican Communion, at least in part, is dependent on being in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. What then happens if he sends out a letter to all the Primates and to 815 that simply states, "I am no longer in communion with the Episcopal Church of the United States of America."?
More seriously, he does have that option and I suspect that if he exercised it against TEC and ACC (Anglican Church of Canada), he'd see his problems elsewhere (particularly in CofE) disappear rather quickly.
I suspect that would also increase the pressure from within at least some of the Continuing churches to rejoin the wwAC. (I am certain that would occur in my province.)
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