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Anglicanism has long been a communion containing within itself a diversity of theological opinions and various worship styles, which have often been characterized as "parties." In recent years diversity has been stretched to the breaking point, such that many groups of "Anglicans" have felt unable to continue to participate in the Communion. Cultural diversity has also emerged as Anglicanism has moved beyond being an "English" church and has taken root in various parts of the globe. This essay explores what might still be held to be "changeless," what needs to change, and what is actually changing in the way Anglicanism...

So California Episcopal Bishop William Swing is on his way home from the last House of Bishops meeting when he runs into South Carolina Bishop Edward Salmon.  Seems Swing and Salmon are like this[clasps index fingers] and they got to talking:In the Houston Airport after the last House of Bishops meeting, I had a brief chat with my long-time and dear friend Ed Salmon, the Bishop of South Carolina. Both of us earnestly hope that a day of candor will come in the House. Ed and I are on opposite sides of the gay-lesbian issues, but we agree that the...

a discussion starter We are constantly searching for words to speak of those who (a) seek in general or specific terms to preserve basic Christian worship, doctrine and discipline, and those who, in contrast, (b) seek in general or specific terms to bring received worship, doctrine and discipline into line with recent and modern ways of thinking, relating and behaving. This morning I heard the Public Radio Religion correspondent use the terms, "orthodox" and "progressive". These are obviously not perfect but they will serve for this exercise of thought. The point being made on radio was that the "orthodox" are...

It is common to hear those involved with The Network (= The Anglican Communion Network) in the Episcopal Church calling the promoters of the new sexual agenda by the name of “revisionists” - as they refer to themselves as “orthodox”. The presumption is that those who are innovating in sexual doctrine and practice, and claiming God’s blessing for this, are actually revising and changing the church’s received teaching concerning holy matrimony, fornication and the like. So far so good….but, let us dare to ask, is it not also the case that many of those who accuse others of revisionism are...

From the journal First Things, we have this article by Rev. Richard John Neuhaus that gives some insights into the mind of Benedict XVI. This article appeared in January 1999, but is still relevant today. I found these paragraphs most interesting:From his childhood to the present, the Church is exemplified, above all, in her liturgy. This, his memoir suggests, is what has gone most seriously wrong since the Second Vatican Council. As a young boy, "It was a riveting adventure to move by degrees into the mysterious world of the liturgy which was being enacted before us and for us...

Attention Rowan Williams.  Does Benedict XVI have to draw you a picture?The new Pope has established links with a faction of discontented Anglican traditionalists seeking to form their own church affiliated to the Vatican. Benedict XVI, whose inaugural mass as Bishop of Rome today is expected to be attended by half a million people, has held meetings with representatives of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), according to Archbishop John Hepworth, the group’s primate. The TAC represents more than 400,000 Anglicans around the world who have either left their church or are protesting against its liberal policies. It is estimated that...

Griswoldian scholars know that trying to interpret Frank Griswold's meaning is always a dicey proposition.  But judging from his reaction to the letter some Episcopal bishops sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury requesting an emergency meeting, I think Frank is slowly coming to the realization that he's got a major problem on his hands:Meanwhile, this morning I learned that you had submitted a request to the Archbishop of Canterbury set out along similar lines and asking for a meeting with him. The circulation of the letter to me and the Archbishop of Canterbury has been reported by The Living Church. It seems...

Evensong for the Anglican Communion                                                              Michael W Hopkins2 Corinthians 3:12—4:2                                                The Church of St. Luke & St. Simon CyreneJohn 8:31-32; 14:25-28; 16:12-15                                                                     Rochester, New York                                                                                                                                     April 23, 2005 1Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2) Church, it is time to move on              It is a commonly known...

THE new Pope has established links with a faction of discontented Anglican traditionalists seeking to form their own church affiliated to the Vatican. Benedict XVI, whose inaugural mass as Bishop of Rome today is expected to be attended by half a million people, has held meetings with representatives of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), according to Archbishop John Hepworth, the group’s primate. The TAC represents more than 400,000 Anglicans around the world who have either left their church or are protesting against its liberal policies. It is estimated that 400-500 Church of England parishes may support the group in the...

The Anglican Communion got a wake up call this week when the supreme governing body of the Roman Catholic Church elected a conservative to head its one billion members worldwide. Bavarian-born Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 78, has been called, among other names, "God's Rotweiller", "the enforcer", "authoritarian", "unyielding" and more, was elected on the fourth ballot after the liberals threw in the towel and realized they hadn't a prayer of getting one of their own in to lead the church. The man who sat at the right hand of Pope John Paul II for more than 20 years as his doctrinal...

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of "wasting time fighting" that so many laypeople speak to me about. "Why waste time with the Episcopal church? We're going to fail anyway.""Why waste time with the Anglican Communion? The Primates have not achieved internal discipline.""Why waste time with the Archbishop of Canterbury? He has not appointed the Panel of Reference.""Why waste time working in my diocese? We'll never achieve orthodoxy.""Why waste time running for vestry? It's a hopeless parish.""Why waste time teaching a Bible study? I'm outta here, with my following of two!" Indeed. What I hear from so many...

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will meet Pope Benedict XVI for the first time on Monday. Anglican insiders said it was "highly significant" that the Pope should choose to meet the honorary head of the Anglican communion in the very first hours of his official pontificate. The papal audience in the Vatican follows his attendance at tomorrow’s inaugural mass at St Peter’s, when Dr Williams will become the first serving Archbishop of Canterbury to attend a papal inauguration since the Reformation. On Sunday evening Dr Williams will preach at the Anglican church of All Saints in Rome. After...

LONDON, APRIL 21, 2005 (Zenit.org).- For the first time since the Reformation, the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury plans to attend the solemn start of a pontificate -- that of Benedict XVI this Sunday in Rome. Lambeth Palace's press office revealed that Rowan Williams plans to attend the inauguration in St. Peter's Square. It said that the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity indicated its "great delight" that he will be attending. The Anglican archbishop indicated that he will again be wearing the ring presented to his predecessor, Michael Ramsey, by Pope Paul VI and a pectoral cross presented to him...

Reacting to the election of Pope Benedict XVI, former Roman Catholic and current Episcopal priest Matthew Fox goes completely insane.  I mean, dude freaking loses it.  Matt's got some questions for the new pope.  Here a few of them: 1. You come from Bavaria, that part of Germany that most admired Hitler and first voted for him. Did you ever denounce Hitler or fascism? If so, when? If not, why not? That Nazi theme is going to come up again and again.  Like here, for example. 3. If you denounced Hitler then why do you carry on in his ways...

Bishop Smith had invited all the clergy of the Diocese Of CT to the Cathedral in Hartford to share a conversation with him about the impasse between him and the “CT Six.” These are the six parish rectors whom Bishop Smith and the Standing Committee of CT have found have “abandoned the communion of the church.” The turn out was very strong. I would say about double what we had for renewal of vows. At least 150 clergy by my count. The tone of the meeting was prayerful and sober. That the contorversy was painful and exacting a high price...

I've got to love it when dioceses helpfully do my work for me. Take the Diocese of Olympia for example, which has kindly prepared these two tables, one for 2003, and the other for 2004, showing their congregational giving (or congregational non-giving as the case may be). The upshot is pretty simple - in 2003, unpaid assessments amounted to $461,524.67 of their total hoped-for assessments of $3,502,539.28. Or to put it another way, they didn't collect $1 for every $7.58 they hoped to collect. In real dollars, things get better for 2004, (kind of). While the Diocese missed it's assessment...

Representatives of the Anglican Communion Network (ACN) gathered for their second annual Council meeting April 18 – 20, 2005 in Bedford, Texas. In addition to delivering and hearing reports on the substantial growth and progress of the ACN, participants addressed issues related to their missionary focus, including church planting, global mission, ministry to youth, and outreach to the poor. “We recognize that our future in Anglicanism contains great possibilities, and we are preparing for it in many ways,” said ACN Moderator Robert Duncan. “Our meeting was marked by a sense of passion and purpose as well as tremendous energy and...

Six Episcopal priests threatened with inhibition by their bishop attended a gathering of clergy in the Diocese of Connecticut today. Andrew Smith, Bishop of Connecticut, invited clergy to discuss what he termed an impasse with the six congregations. “While a number of the clergy clearly disagreed with our position, the atmosphere was polite and respectful,” said the Rev. Allyn Benedict, rector of Christ Church, Watertown. Bishop Smith began the meeting by presenting an outline of the history of the conflict in a timeline format as well as describing the current situation from his perspective. “Obviously Bishop Smith’s interpretation of events...

From Stand Firm Alabama, we have this post with the text of a letter from the Rev. Mark Brown of the Church of the Ascension in Montgomery, to Bishop Henry N. Parsley of the Diocese of Alabama. As Rev. Brown had stayed at the Church of the Ascension after the recent split in which a number of the vestry, parishioners, and clergy of that church left to form a new church, it is really strange that Bishop Parsley would not allow Rev. Brown to preach at the Church of the Ascension next Sunday. Indeed, the Bishop even told Rev. Brown...

Who is this Bishop Andrew Smith who tells priests in Connecticut’s Episcopal churches that they cannot oppose the election to bishop of a gay priest? How did he get into the seat of such power? What happened to one of the most appealing maxims in Christianity: Live and let live?Should Bishop Smith be unseated or defrocked?To me, until now, the Episcopal Church has been a model of Christianity because of its policy and practice of tolerance.I thought the election, as bishop, of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, of New Hampshire, was the perfect example of Episcopalian tolerance. People who disagree...