Posted on 01/14/2016 7:44:56 PM PST by marshmallow
NEW YORK (AP) - Anglican leaders on Thursday temporarily restricted the role of the U.S. Episcopal Church in their global fellowship as a sanction over the American church's acceptance of gay marriage.
Episcopalians have been barred for three years from any policy-setting positions in the Anglican Communion while a task force is formed that will try to reconcile conflicting views over sexuality in the 85-million-member family of churches. The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States.
The announcement came near the end of a weeklong meeting in Canterbury, England, called by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, to heal rifts over same-sex relationships and keep the Anglican Communion from splitting apart. Welby, the Anglican spiritual leader, has set a news conference Friday in Canterbury to explain the leaders' decision.
There was no immediate comment from the New York-based Episcopal Church, whose leader, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, has been attending the meeting in England.
Liberal Episcopalians questioned the leaders' authority to impose any such penalty. The Global Anglican Future Conference, which represents theologically conservative Anglican leaders, had sought sanctions against the American church, and some said they would walk out of this week's meeting unless some penalty was applied. In a statement Thursday, the conference known as GAFCON said their leaders were pleased by the outcome of the meeting, but "this action must not be seen as an end, but as a beginning."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Yep, that's the ticket. Don't draw a line in the sand, and simply follow what's in the Bible. Instead, form a task force. Hold lengthy politically correct discussions. And then wonder why church attendance is way down.
Praise God! Many people have been praying. Many have said that this would never happen. A permanent ban—until repentance—would of been better, but this is much better than anyone expected.
The problem in the past has been in follow through though on conservative resolutions passed—but this is a hopeful sign.
But the claim, "The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States." is not accurate. The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is also a valid Anglican body. They should be considered as a replacement for the EC.
News from Primates 2016
14 Jan 2016
Today the Primates agreed how they would walk together in the grace and love of Christ. This agreement acknowledges the significant distance that remains but confirms their unanimous commitment to walk together.
The Primates regret that it appears that the text of this agreement has been leaked in advance of their communiqué tomorrow. In order to avoid speculation the document is being released in full. This agreement demonstrates the commitment of all the Primates to continue the life of the Communion with neither victor nor vanquished.
The Communique from the Primates will be released tomorrow.
Questions and further comments will be responded to at a press conference tomorrow at 1500. Full details are available here.
The full text of this particular agreement follows:
1. We gathered as Anglican Primates to pray and consider how we may preserve our unity in Christ given the ongoing deep differences that exist among us concerning our understanding of marriage.
2. Recent developments in The Episcopal Church with respect to a change in their Canon on marriage represent a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our Provinces on the doctrine of marriage. Possible developments in other Provinces could further exacerbate this situation.
3. All of us acknowledge that these developments have caused further deep pain throughout our Communion.
4. The traditional doctrine of the church in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds marriage as between a man and a woman in faithful, lifelong union. The majority of those gathered reaffirm this teaching.
5. In keeping with the consistent position of previous Primatesâ meetings such unilateral actions on a matter of doctrine without Catholic unity is considered by many of us as a departure from the mutual accountability and interdependence implied through being in relationship with each other in the Anglican Communion.
6. Such actions further impair our communion and create a deeper mistrust between us. This results in significant distance between us and places huge strains on the functioning of the Instruments of Communion and the ways in which we express our historic and ongoing relationships.
7. It is our unanimous desire to walk together. However given the seriousness of these matters we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.
8. We have asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a Task Group to maintain conversation among ourselves with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognising the extent of our commonality and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ.
“The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States.”
The above statement is no longer true. There are several valid Anglican bodies in the US now. Most all came into existence because The Episcopal Church no longer believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Bible. The Episcopalians have moved further into error, heresy and apostasy and I see no effort on their part to slow down or repent of their many errors.
It is significant that the Archbishop of Canterbury invited Archbishop Foley Beach of the Anglican Church in North America to this gathering.
That this discussion is even on the table is overwhelming indication that the sodomites have taken over. Remember the Boy Scouts? As soon as the allowance of the sodomy world view was even considered we knew the sodomites got to them. Everything following was just theater.
Yep.
Does the Episcopal Church continue as ever with no change in doctrine or practices?
They just don't get to claim affiliation with the C of E any more, right?
They weren't getting any subsidies from England were they?
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