A plan to protect the unity of the worldwide Anglican Communion was given an amber light, rather than a green light, by the Church in Wales today (April 18).
Members of its Governing Body voted to affirm their commitment to the Communion and the Covenant process, but asked questions of the Anglican Consultative Council which meets in October. They feared the recent rejection of the Covenant by the Church of England jeopardised its future and clarifications about that were now needed before a decision could be made.
The Bishop of St Asaph, Dr Gregory Cameron, who proposed a motion which was amended in the light of the Church of England decision, said, “We have given the Covenant an amber light rather than a green light but in doing so we are being honest about where the Church is today. However, I think we need to reaffirm our strong commitment to each other through the saving power of Christ revealed in the Gospels. That is what I believe the Covenant ultimately calls us to do and I hope one day the Church in Wales will be able to vote for it.”
Living in Glasgow says AMBER means STOP. I'm not sure what AMBER means in Wales.
Despite advice from Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Office Kenneth Kearon to carry on with consideration of the Anglican Covenant, the member churches of the Anglican Communion are concerned and confused about the status of the document now that the 'mother' church, the Church of England, has voted it down. I doubt proponents of the covenant envisioned defeat of the covenant in England, so there is no Plan B.
Kearon lists the churches that have adopted, acceded to, or subscribed to the covenant, but he neglects to mention that The Episcopal Church in the Philippines voted it down, along with the Church of England.
H/T to Peter Owen at Thinking Anglicans.
Thanks to Simon Sarmiento in the comments for the link to Living in Glasgow.
