Inclusive Church is grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for his reaffirmation of the breadth and diversity of the Anglican tradition.
His recognition of this fundamental principle and mark of Anglicanism – the catholic, reformed and liberal strands of the Communion – offer a sound basis for our journey forward together.
But we have profound concerns about the process of agreeing any Covenant. The quick response of some of the more conservative parts of the Communion indicates that they see a Covenant more as an instrument of division than an instrument of unity.
The terms and wording of any document will need to “renew our positive appreciation of the possibilities of our heritage†in the Archbishop’s words. A Covenant must therefore give value to the strands in our tradition, not excluding reason from our theological method but finding a new way of expressing the Anglican approach to the faith in today’s world.
If we are to approach the process of agreeing a Covenant with honesty and integrity we must as Provinces and local churches be willing to be open about our own present situations. Many provinces have practices which other parts of the Communion may not support. For example, the blessing of same-gender relationships happens regularly in this Province even if not officially acknowledged. There are ongoing issues around the world over the tacit acceptance of lay presidency and polygamy.
The possibility of a two-tier Communion should not therefore be seized upon as a way to exclude those who support the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the church. The Church of England is in various ways very similar to the Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Anglican Church of Canada and many of us would hope to strengthen our links in the future. It is likely that any wording designed to exclude TEC and the Anglican Church of Canada would also exclude the Church of England.
We are also uncertain whether a Covenant would affect the unilateral activities the Windsor report hoped to end – for example the election by the Province of Nigeria of Revd Martin Minns as bishop for a missionary initiative in North America.
We have serious concerns about the way a Covenant might be applied locally in the future. Proposals before the Church of England’s General Synod for the ordination of women as bishops are specifically designed to avoid parallel jurisdictions. How can we reconcile that with the proposal to have “constituent†and “associate†members of the Communion? Is there not potential for division even at Deanery level?
Ultimately we believe that we are already brought together by the covenant of Baptism. An Anglican Covenant, to reaffirm the bonds of unity for our Communion, will have to reflect the essential inclusiveness of the Baptismal Covenant.
Revd Dr. Giles Fraser, President, InclusiveChurch
Revd Giles Goddard, Chair, InclusiveChurch 07762 373 674
office@inclusivechurch.net
www.inclusivechurch.net
Jim is naive like so many others. Williams had to know his comments would spur our schismatics into action. It is hard to believe all this was not done in concert. For too long the neutrality and fairness of Wiliams have been assumed. Nonesense. The logic of his position (as well as his actions) set him on this course from the beginning. He would ahve to side with our disesnters. And did. What is the surprise here? Jim and other have been politically naive.
Wise words that chap, especially the `think before you leap’ approach.
Odd; `inclusive’ means including the potential of having fellowship with these right-wing conservative types. Hard for those folks who believe in division to reciprocate…
Bravo. If the covenenat of baptism doesn’t do, what will? Of course the difficulty is that nobody so far has been so bold as to say they exclusivley own baptism, or? The implicit message so often from the right in the realignment campaign seems actually to presume just that, hence all the high anxiety about being touched/contaminated by the de facto lists of untouchables. The clear way ahead theologically seems clear, but neglected, even by the keen minds of Canterbury: Reaffirm baptism as the core of Anglican covenant, and trust all else to Jesus over time as we journey, do… Read more »
Did the ABofC actually mention a threesome of “catholic, reformed and liberal strands” in the Communion ? I just found reformed, catholic and cultural-and-intellectual “concerns”… Now to me “cultural and intellectual concern” means understanding and communicating Christianity in the surrounding culture – *not* turning Christianity into something more palatable (aka “less offensive”) to the surrounding culture.
Liberalism seems to be little more that the outcome of allowing social and cultural conditioning to dictate what Christians should believe, and how they should conduct themselves !
Given that the real baptism that matters is the baptism of the Spirit (note how 1 Peter 3:21 says that the water symbolises the actual baptism), and that the mark of the Spirit in our lives is putting to death the sinful nature and obeying God’s laws (amongst other things, of course – see Romans 8) then I would argue that those who deliberately keep on sinning (Hebrews 10:26) have in fact not been baptised by the Spirit at all. Or, if they have, then they have rejected his work in their lives and have trampled the Son of God… Read more »
James: I have a finite number of stones in my back garden. When you have attained an instantaneous and permanent perfection yourself, you’ll be welcome to come and collect a few to throw at other people. By what process do you state that `the Bible *says*’ (my emphasis) anything? My Bible also contains the words `judge not, that you be not judged yourself’. By what process do you omit this, which I would deem relevant, in your comment? Perhaps you should get it straight. We all fall short of the glory of God, you & me included, and baptism with… Read more »
Looks like baptism doesn’t take ! Those who proclaim ‘God & Christ’ language most vociferously seem to be the most badly behaved. Especially those who know ‘what is true’ for others; and ‘how the rest of us ought to behave’. Hardening of the oughteries is a life (& sense of humour) threatening condition. Much better, surely, to rejoice in the hardening –however temporary– of other members, which can bring relief and joy! How did the earthy, lively messsage of Jesus ,turn into a cult of joyless ‘perfectionism’, wearing down the individual’s sense of self & aliveness; & natural human connectedness… Read more »
Dave, I think of myself as a liberal, remembering that the root of this term is “freedom.” I am convinced that I am saved by “the Lord, the God of Israel” who, as Zechariah sang, “has come to his people and set them free.” As I live into the covenant of my baptism, I strive, with God’s help, to live out this freedom by keeping myself and my actions free from anger, hatred, fear and oppression in my whole life (including my political life) and by bringing this freedom to others. If it looks to an observer that my life… Read more »