Ruth Gledhill of the Times Online (UK) writes about the meeting of the Archbishop of Canterbury with the GAFCON primates of Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Southern Cone and says "nothing happened" at the "summit".
Ultimately, it comes down to a question of identity.
Who, or what, is The Communion?
And I'm not sure that Jesus himself could answer that one.
Mark Harris at Preludium has done a splendid job of keeping us informed on the new Anglican "province" of North America. The Archbishop of Canterbury threw cold water on the idea that the new "province" would soon become the 39th province of the Anglican Communion by noting that there is a process to be followed which would "take years".
After reading the GAFCON statement, Mark says:
But still the hope remained that the GAFCON Primates meeting in London would recognize the ACNA as a Province on their own. Not so, it appears.
....
The careful reader will note that (i) GAFCON recognizes ACNA as a "province in formation." There is no recognition of The Anglican Church of North America, no mention of its having a provisional Archbishop or Archbishop in waiting or whatever. There is no recognition of a Province by GAFCON Primates themselves. Rather the GAFCON Primates statement essentially is an argument for such a Province. The closing paragraph is still clear about the GAFCON Primates condemnation of TEC and the Anglican Church of Canada. But, they could have nonetheless recognized the Church - the Anglican Church of North America - and they did not. So the end of December 5 brings no proclamation that a new Church or a new Province has been recognized. It is an "initiative."
Oh well. Not soon, after all.
If you're interested in following the story, Mark is an excellent source.
Mimi,
ReplyDeleteI'm appalled by the homophobia that, ultimately, drives the schismatics as they form their new mini-almost-province in a Communion that the greater world long ago consigned to irrevelence.
I'd love to say I'll pray for the Duncanistas, but that would be a big lie.
I'll hold my faith as I say F'em.
As we know, in G-d, all things are possible. I'm not Her.
Never could spell- "irrelevence"
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John D, next time tell us what you REALLY think.
ReplyDeleteI don't take off points for spelling.
I second the advice to read Preludium, and John D's sentiments as well. I guess this is the classic moment of shaking the dust off our feet and moving on. They don't want to be with us...and I'm tired of trying to work it out with them.
ReplyDeleteThe folks in the new Anglican "province" are gone so far as I'm concerned. As for GAFCON, I can't make out what they're about. They will do what they will do.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that with the developing Recession (has anyone heard the word "Depression", yet?) there will be far less unaccountable right-wing US cash pouring into these guys' coffers to grease the skids of Secession. Obama's election has probably put a damper on things as well.
ReplyDelete[I include the US Secessh "home" team in the "these guys" category.}
Robert Reich used "depression". He said that the unemployment rate could go as high as 8% or 9%. Many people I know are frightened about their jobs, waiting for the ax to fall on them with all the news of layoffs.
ReplyDeleteOf course, often it is also true that nothing happened even when Ruth reports that something will happen. So when she says nothing happened, I take it to mean, "Really; nothing happened."
ReplyDeleteTobias, thanks for sorting it out for us. I hesitate to link to Ruth since her last report that something would happen that did not happen, but in this instance, she may redeem herself. Of course, I could be wrong.
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