"Two-fold" Anglican Ch. Envisioned, 1 in Favor of Homosexuality and 1 Christian: Abp. of Cant.

LifeSiteNews ^ | 7/29/09 | Hilary White

[wagglebee]

CANTERBURY, UK, July 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Suggesting a "two-track" model for the Anglican Church, Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said in a statement released Monday that the crisis over the acceptance of homosexuality in the Global Communion could be resolved by acknowledging "two styles of being Anglican." Williams was responding to the decision earlier this month by the US Episcopal Church to continue to ordain active homosexual clergy and bishops and "bless" same-sex partnerings.

In one "track," said the archbishop, the mainstream of Anglicanism would continue to hold to Christian beliefs of sex and marriage, and the other could continue to support homosexuality as a legitimate "lifestyle choice." This model, he said, could form "two ways of witnessing to the Anglican heritage."

In a statement that has been blasted as a barefaced attempt to "paper over" the growing schism in his Church, Williams said that although there is no "consensus" in the Anglican Communion on homosexuality, for those "whose vision of the Communion is different, there is no threat of being cast into outer darkness."

Nevertheless, Williams wrote, active homosexuals "should not be ordained priests, and especially not bishops." A person living in "such a union" is in the same situation as a "heterosexual person living in a sexual relationship outside the marriage bond" whose "chosen lifestyle is not one that the Church's teaching sanctions."

"So long as the Church Catholic, or even the Communion as a whole does not bless same-sex unions, a person living in such a union cannot without serious incongruity have a representative function in a Church whose public teaching is at odds with their lifestyle."

Williams, the titular head of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, said, however, that there is "at least the possibility" of a "twofold ecclesial reality in view in the middle distance." One would function as a fully "covenanted" body of the Anglican Communion and the other would exist in "less formal ways" and "with fewer formal expectations" but associated "in various kinds of mutual partnership" with the mainstream church.

While Williams praised ECUSA's "eagerness" to maintain its ties to the Anglican Communion, he said that "a realistic assessment" of ECUSA's decisions "does not suggest that it will repair the broken bridges into the life of other Anglican provinces."

Other observers have been more blunt, saying that ECUSA's recent decisions are the final straw for orthodox Anglican Christians.

The Rt. Rev. Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham in the Church of England, wrote to the Times of London saying that ECUSA's vote makes a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion. "In the slow-moving train crash of international Anglicanism, a decision taken in California has finally brought a large coach off the rails altogether," he wrote.

"Both the bishops and deputies (lay and clergy) of TEC knew exactly what they were doing," Wright continued. "They were telling the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other 'instruments of communion' that they were ignoring their plea for a moratorium on consecrating practicing homosexuals as bishops."

Read recent LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

US Episcopalian Bishops Vote to Affirm Ordination of Homosexual Clergy "to Any Ordained Ministry"
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09071508.html

New Conservative Anglican Intiative Receives Unofficial Support of Queen Elizabeth
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09070706.html

[trad_anglican]

the Americans have certainly had a hand in it to with Robinson.

Correct. And Pike. And Spong. And Righter. And the list goes on.

[wagglebee]

The Episcopalians also welcomed Matthew Fox with open arms after then-Cardinal Ratzinger forbade him from continuing to publish and teach his heretical beliefs.

[bobjam]

This trial ballon was floated by Archbishop Williams a long time ago. Originally, the plan was to have a formal Anglican Communion with a Covenant (thus providing doctrinal uniformity), and then to have “associated partners” that don’t agree to the Covenant but have a lot of Anglican heritage. These “partners” would be free to do largely as they wish because they won’t be bound by the Covenant. ECUSA would be a “partner”. Other groups such as the Methodists could also be partners as well. The conservatives were receptive to this but the liberals said heck no. The idea has since lain dormant.

Now it appears to be coming back. Instead of establishing a Covenant and then have those who don’t like it become “associate partners”, Williams looks like he’s trying to have the bonds on everyone loosened with those desiring a Covenant coming back together on their own volition. That appears to be what’s happening with the GAFCON declaration being the Covenant.

Will the Church of England sign up, or relegate itself to an “associate partner” in the Anglican Communion?

[chesley]

OK. Is the Archbisshop of Caterbury Christian, or not.

[bronxville]

“Christian Doctrine is offensive to Muslims per this Archbishop:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1035420/Why-Christian-doctrine-offensive-Muslims-Archbishop.html

[Campion]

Paul: "What fellowship hath light with darkness?"

Rowan: "Well, you could have a two-track system, where the light track adhered to certain doctrinal standards, and the darkness track had a different vision of the Communion, without necessarily being cast into outer darkness, whereas ..."

[Albion Wilde]

I’m not sure if this will work, all I see are white men who don’t look like they’re homosexuals.

But...but... it's on their intellectual level! Here, maybe this will help:

[wagglebee]

LOL!

[wagglebee]

That’s a start, but they need to be wearing little ribbons on their lapels because diseases are overcome through “awareness” and instead of overturning the moneychangers’ tables Jesus should have gone to “diversity training.”

[Albion Wilde]

instead of overturning the moneychangers’ tables Jesus should have gone to “diversity training.”

That silly Savior of mankind! Why didn't He think of that?

[Lauren BaRecall]

The conservatives were receptive to this but the liberals said heck no.

Because libs always fight tooth and nail to become the definition of the mainstream.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to wagglebee for the ping. AND, LOL, read #26!

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail Huber or sionnsar if you want on or off this low-volume ping list.
This list is pinged by Huber and sionnsar.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
Humor: The Anglican Blue

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[AnAmericanMother]

Well . . . . some people say he's a Druid.

This is of course unfair. He was hobnobbing with the Welsh Eisteddfod, which is just a bunch of silly people dressing up in make-believe "Druidic" attire and pretending to be ancient Welsh bards. The whole thing was made up in the late 18th century by a fellow calling himself Iolo Morgannwg - his real name was Ed Williams, which just doesn't have the authentic Druidic ring to it . . .

[chesley]

Good grief!

OK, I sometimes do similar things, but laymen do things all the time that clergymen should avoid. Not because it’s anymore wrong for them, taken by itself. It’s because they are in a leadership and role-model position.

But nevr mind. I wasn’t really asking was he Christian. It was a rhetorical question. I already knew they answer, or at least my opinion. I leave final judgments to God.

[AnAmericanMother]

Sometimes you get answers you don't expect!

I agree that there are things that laymen can do that clergy shouldn't. This is probably one of them!

(We have had the occasional priest doing Cowboy Action shooting. But the ones that I have seen are careful to stay in their priestly role -- in other words what a Catholic Priest would have worn in the 19th century West. Plus a gunbelt, a rifle, and two single action pistols of course.)

[stan_sipple]

Another inspired compromise! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_compromise (sarc)

[Gman]

As I have posted elsewhere:

Two styles of Anglicanism:

One which helps to seek forgiveness of sin and restoration

and

one which helps to seek condoning of sin and continuation

GG+

[ken5050]

How about a “two-track” Anglican Communion...one believes in Christ and the other doesn’t?

[wagglebee]

It’s all very sad and I’m sure that many of the Vatican II loving Catholics would love to force us into the same mess.

I fully understand how much people value the “fellowship” aspect of their parish; however, this IS NOT the primary purpose of the Church and it NEVER has been.

Our Lord was very clear when He said, “Go and sin no more.”

[sionnsar]

You have that right!