Posted on 02/16/2007 12:43:00 PM PST by Huber
As I write this, the day's business in Tanzania is well forward. The primates have received and considered the advisory committee's report, and the afternoon session with the American bishops has probably begun. A critical time. Rather than speculate, or comment on commenters, I'll just pass you on to three excellent posts. Via Drell, Theo Girl demolishes, crushes to sand, ++KJS's public theology, and shows why this is not merely an armchair exercise in opinion. And via snowed in Amy Welborn, another look at How We Got Here at First Things. I hope the author is not being a little too rosy in his expectations about the results of the Tanzania meeting. I'd add that "liberal" Christianity in TEC has morphed into something grotesque. Originally, there was a reasonable (if exaggerated) criticism of both the evangelical and catholic streams that they focused too entirely on the individual's inner life and didn't engage the Great Issues of the Time (whatever those issues may be). The "liberal" wanted to see a reasoned and Cristian engagement with politics. Under a lot of pressures and influences, it has changed into a permanently "radicalized (in the most tediously possible late 1960s sense)," trend -driven advocacy campaign. And last, Kendall Harmon's more formal analysis of TEC's vagrancy, here and at Stand Firm. That ought to keep you occupied.
I'll add that of course ++KJS should be there, and should be allowed to make her case, for several reasons. TEC is still a part of the Anglican Communion and she is its elected leader. Every time she opens her mouth, clarity comes forth: she is the conservative Anglican's best friend. Last, the assembled primates should do what they must do, to her face.
And last of all today, the word schism. What do we mean by that word here, in this context? For some time, TEC has been the rich and ill-behaved uncle whose money bags purchased tolerance at family parties. Until recently, many of Uncle TEC's oddities occurred out of sight. But with the growth of connectivity, farces like Trinity Church's Clown Eucharist were there for everyone to see. The family can't ignore Uncle TEC's behavior any more, no matter how rich he is. Will pruning a portion of TEC mean schism? Fracturing into several more or less geographic entities is schism, but I don't see the need for that, but there are some centrifugal forces at work.
What TEC fears, I think, is implosion if cut loose. Take a look at this particular parish trend chart, or this one, or this one, or this one. Pay particular attention to the average attendance, and draw your own conclusions.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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