Bishops: For-39, Against-0, Abstentions-1
Clergy: For-145, Against-32, Abstentions-11
Laity: For-147, Against-25, Abstentions-8
The lopsided vote in General Synod in favor of the Anglican Daft Covenant is just so absolutely depressing. That such a flawed document was overwhelmingly approved after only a brief debate is astonishing to me. Although I have heard (not first hand!) that several bishops at GS had serious reservations about the document, all walked in lockstep, but for the one abstention.
The covenant will now go the the dioceses for approval and then back to Synod for final approval.
Given the GAFCON Primates' "Oxford Statement", insultingly issued on the same day as the Synod vote, it's pretty clear that schism is a done deal, and that these people are laying claim to the mantle of a newly-invented fundamentalist "Anglicanism". Which is just fine. The angry elements will be gone and the core Anglican provinces will not be using the Covenant as a weapon of exclusion against the North American provinces. Be safe to sign on now. As Horace Greeley (or whoever - opinion varies) said of the seceding Confederate states, "Let the wayward sisters depart in peace". But frisk their muffs carefully on the way out for stray pieces of silver.
ReplyDeleteLapin, I'll get around to GAFCON's statement eventually - maybe. The schism is a fait accompli and has been for some time.
ReplyDeleteWhat Rowan seems intent upon at the moment is holding what's left of the Church of England together. I doubt that there's anything he can do to bring the GAFCON folks back into the fold, however, I'm not sure he fully grasps the reality of their intent to set up a parallel Anglican structure.
I am under the impression that it might have more than a little trouble getting past the laity without being defeated. OCICBW.
ReplyDeleteSusan, look how the laity voted in Synod. I'm not hopeful that the Daft Covenant will be defeated in the dioceses, but I hope you're more right than I.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear, it's not good.
ReplyDeleteCathy, others see more hope that the covenant will be rejected by the dioceses than I. I'm a tad gloomy today.
ReplyDeleteThose are decisive results. It may be that the bishops (even the ones with reservations) decided to vote it through for consideration because if it was voted down RW would be left with no credibility, given the amount he has invested in it, and they figure it may as well go through to the second stage, as it were. But what would I know?
ReplyDeleteYes, Cathy, that may be a large part of it.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, what do I know? I could be quite wrong in my gloomy projections.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't know. My impression has always been that no one much wants it apart from the conservatives, but, like I say, no one wants to slap RW too obviously in the face, so that would indeed point to defeat, but further down the line, once everyone has made it look as if they've really thought about it. I hope so.
ReplyDeleteThey've nailed Him to the cross again. Kinder to just kill comprehensive Christianity as a worldwide communion and be done with it.
ReplyDeleteThe ABC won this round, but his is a Pyrrhic victory. Rowan's pathetic address to Synod will cost him greatly.
ReplyDeleteA Pyrrhic victory is a victory with devastating cost to the victor; it carries the implication that another such victory will ultimately cause defeat.
The definition is added not because I think you don't understand Pyrrhic, but for emphasis.