Posted on 05/27/2005 7:55:09 AM PDT by sionnsar
In selecting its roster for the upcoming Anglican Consultative Council meeting, the Anglican Church of Canada seems once again to have followed ECUSA's lead:
The Anglican Church of Canada has announced the names of four people who will respond to a request that the church make a presentation to the Anglican Consultative Council next month on actions the church has taken in the area of same-sex blessings.
As well as the four presenters, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has announced that he will attend at least part of the meeting of the Consultative Council in Nottingham, Eng., the week of June 19.
The Canadian presenters to this special hearing will be:
The Very Rev. Peter Elliott, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver and prolocutor of General Synod.
Canon Robert Falby, Chancellor and lay canon of the Diocese of Toronto and a member of General Synod;
The Rev. Dr. Stephen Andrews, President and Vice-Chancellor of Thorneloe University, member of General Synod for the Diocese of Algoma and a member of the Primate’s Theological Commission;
Ms. Maria Jane Highway, Indigenous partner to General Synod from the Diocese of Brandon and a member of the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee of General Synod.
Attending the June meeting as elected members from the Canadian Church will be:
The Right Rev. Sue Moxley, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island;
The Rev. Canon Allen Box of the Diocese of Ottawa, and Ms. Suzanne Lawson of the Diocese of Toronto, a member of the Financial Management and Development Committee.
Anglicanism's Dread Pirate Roberts comments:
Steve Andrews is very good news– the voice of AUTHENTIC Canadian Anglicanism has a chance to be heard; Dan Elliot is an utter Inghamite, media go-to guy and spokesman for the cause; presiding over Very Bad Things at the Vancouver Cathedral.
Like the Americans, the Canadian delegation will consist of a practicing homosexual(Elliott), a conservative(Andrews) and some other people who, given the nature of the Anglican Church of Canada, probably trend left. And, although he told the Diocese of New Westminster a few days ago that he probably wouldn't attend:
The primate is genuinely hopeful concerning the outcome of this meeting. Although not decided at press time, he is unlikely to go to the meeting in Nottingham, England, despite requests to do so. Instead the Canadian group may be led by the prolocutor of General Synod, who is New Westminster’s dean, the Very Rev. Peter Elliott.
The primate explained that “[The ACC] is not a place where primates hang about – primates have to step out of the process to let the laity and clergy speak and decide.”
Canadian primate Andrew Hutchison will head over. Like his American counterpart, Hutch has chosen sides:
The presence of the laity in this high-level body is the source of his hope: Hutchison feels that the clergy and laity from very conservative provinces who disagree with their primates may produce a surprising result on the blessing of same-sex unions. Also he fully expects Canada’s reinstatement to full participation afterwards.
Hutchison acknowledged that this is disappointing for the Diocese of New Westminster. Then he reminded synod that several other countries in the Anglican Communion are freely blessing same-sex unions on a large scale – notably England in fourteen dioceses – and calling them ‘pastoral exceptions’.
In an interview, the primate pointed out, “No one is ever disciplined. But when we do it, openly and publicly, [they] feel it is reprehensible. I feel it is a case of duplicity…” The years to 2010 will facilitate the same-sex issue in Hutchison’s opinion – the world will come to know about the various provinces who presently undertake blessing of same-sex unions behind closed doors and the trend in civil society of legalizing same-sex marriages will exert pressure for change.
Our primate thought our 103rd synod was “one of the best I’ve ever been to in Canada.” He observed that the same sex issue has clearly not hijacked the Diocese of New Westminster’s ministry, which he thought was one of the strongest in Canada, and promised that the same-sex issue will not hijack his primacy either.
A thought crossed my mind as I read this. I am probably way over-thinking here but are Canada and the US coordinating? Although both 815 and Church House would no doubt strenuously deny this, the similarities are striking. ECUSA decides to send their regular ACC members to the meeting but only as observers; Canada decides exactly the same thing. The ideological make-up of the two delegations are roughly similar. Frank decides that he'll be part of ECUSA's delegation. Hutch suddenly decides that he wants to be there at least part of the time.
This, of course, might all be nothing more than the Canadians liking American ideas. Or it might be a tacit admission on the part of the Anglican Church of Canada that the price for remaining part of the Anglican Communion is too high. Since the Canadian church evidently believes that Africa will demand that it adhere to a traditional theology that liberals like Mike Ingham will never accept, why not draw closer to the Americans and, since we're going to get kicked out anyway, lay the foundation for a new western liberal "Anglican" church that might eventually include liberal dioceses in Europe and elsewhere?
What about historicity, the connection to Canterbury? We still have our "apostolic succession," the spin will reply, and no hidebound reactionary organization can take that away from us. And does anyone seriously think that Dr. Williams will cut ties to both churches or won't have a North American pulpit any time and anywhere he wants one?
What about the chaos in the Anglican world that such a creation would cause? One can easily imagine liberal bishops here and there wanting to throw in with North America while many of their conservative parishes refuse to go. And one can imagine liberal parishes wanting to join the new group only to be thwarted by their conservative bishops. But if ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada are run off, I don't suppose either will care very much what happens to the Anglican Communion.
A few days ago, I had this to say about the delegation ECUSA is sending to Nottingham:
Given the fact that ECUSA is to present a theological case for making an unrepentant sinner into a bishop, this is a curious delegation. Are these the best theological minds the Episcopal Church has? Or is Frank so convinced that 2003 was an actual move of the Holy Spirit that he believes that he doesn’t have to bother with theological argument at all? Does Frank seriously think that all he has to do is let Ms. Russell say a few words and all opposition will instantly melt away?
The selection of Ms. Russell and Mrs. Tully for this duty seems needlessly provocative for a church which needs to show that it is "willing to be committed to the inter-dependent life of the Anglican Communion." So on the face of it, this looks an awful lot like a declaration of independence on Frank’s part. I think the Presiding Bishop knows that Newry was the last good deal he can expect from the Anglican Communion and that his church’s Anglican standing is just about over. So he wants to go out on his side’s own terms.
Much the same thing can be said about the Canadian delegation. Canada, like the US, may believe that its official Anglican time has just about run out.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. The apostate church arises. I am sick of gays running the agenda in the West. These are sick and perverted people who want to rape our children.
A pretty broad statement. Some of them, yes. All of them, I doubt it. But we're called to pray for them too, that they may turn from their wickedness and live.
I guess I've just had it. Gay politicians have been trying in Canada for years to bring the age of consent back to 14. It's not so much that their actions are ungodly but just disgusting. Even animals wouldn't degrade themselves in that manner. It floors me that people can do that to themselves.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.