A former Primate of the Province of the Southern Cone, Bishop Maurice Sinclair, has written an article, available at Global South Anglican, Why support an Anglican Province of North America in process of formation?
He starts out:
The question of the formation and recognition of a new Anglican Province in North America is currently being debated in the Anglican Communion. There is the urgent need on the one hand to regularise the situation of Anglicans who cannot in conscience assent to the innovations in doctrine and ethics being introduced into the life of TEC. On the other hand there is a natural reluctance to create a rival body alongside what has been a historic part of the Anglican Church. Institutions tend to avoid decisive measures, and minimise risk. However, reasons are given here for giving official support to the first steps in the formation of the new Province. It can be argued that failure to take these measures actually increases risk to the institutional as well as the spiritual life of the Communion…
I assume he has some valid points but comes across as the equivalent of a “talking head” wonder what the political/PR response will be. That is what this is about – more so than the religious aspect. Power – it is a wondrous thing
It can be argued that failure to take these measures actually increases risk to the institutional as well as the spiritual life of the Communion…¨¨ Maurice
Don´t you love it when they attempt to hold a gun to OUR collective heads when ¨arguing¨ about the sacred positioning of excluding LGBT Christians at all levels of Churchlife…sorry, but we´ve been there and stood UP to that hate-feargenerating nonsense.
Trusting God has great advantanges when one is oppressed, despised and abominated by those who would find their very own, customized, exclusive, segregated ¨place to stand.¨
{Yawn}
I find it fascinating that none of Bishop Sinclair’s arguments rely on whether or not the actions and beliefs of the Episcopal Church or the Anglican Church of Canada are correct either morally or theologically. All of his arguments are–at their heart–political: “We should do this because most Anglicans world-wide want it. We should do this because most Christians world-wide agree.” Is this a church or a legislative body? I have reached the point where I no longer care as much about the integrity of the Anglican Communion as I do about the integrity of Christian faith and works….and I… Read more »
Sinclair: “The question of the formation and recognition of a new Anglican Province in North America is currently being debated in the Anglican Communion.”
By whom? (Besides the Duncanites and the Venablites, and a handful of other whiners.)
The question of the formation of a new Anglo-Baptist Province in Southeast Australia is currently being debated in the Anglican Communion. Well, at least by me.
Bishop Sinclair has got his talking points backwards, mostly. Is backwards a Realignment Specialty, these days? 1.Anglican differences have been or are, pretty irreconcilable. Catholic sacrifice? Or Protestant memorial? We have burned at the stakes for that one. Ditto, others. The list of differences is long, and so is our list of how we have lived successfully through those differences as Anglicans. Why do hot button controversies about queer folks suddenly render our past successes void and irrelevant? 2.Change is not finally settled, as the bishop claims. A look at Anglican history will demonstrate that some of our hot button… Read more »
“It can be argued that failure to take these measures (the institution of an alternative North American Province) actually increases risk to the institutional as well as the spiritual life of the Communion.” – Maurice Sinclair – This is not too surprising a take from the retired Bishop of Southern Cone – published on the ‘Global South’ web-site used by GAFCON supporters. His successor’s bid to host defectors from TEC and the Anglican Church of Canada has obviously prompted Mr. Sinclair to support his striving for some sort of foot-hold in North America. And the only way this can realistically… Read more »