All of these are from last week’s paper edition.
It would be foolish to let such a gift fall apart, say bishops
What happened? No one quite knows by Pat Ashworth
Spouses tell their stories by Margaret Sentamu
Lambeth bishops in their own words by Simon Sarmiento
The Readers Digest Church Times version of Reflections from the Lambeth Conference 2008 (PDF)
Leader The story of Lambeth ’08
IT IS TROUBLING that, five days after the close of the Lambeth Conference, many people are asking: what did the bishops do? We suspect that some bishops fall into this group, and not just those who stayed away. Part of the reason for the uncertainty is that the bishops did many things. We hope that our digest of the long Reflections document will help readers to pick out the most important of these.
They did talk about sexuality. They did talk about the threat of schism and the means of heading it off. The two-and-a-half weeks in Canterbury were not an avoidance exercise; for it was known beforehand that the Conference by itself had no authority to resolve the crisis over homosexuality, even had the GAFCON bishops been present. For this reason, the Archbishop of Canterbury and his team devised a programme that emphasised conversation rather than resolution.
We have no quibble with the Lambeth Conference conceived as a means of enlarging bishops’ vision and enabling them to serve their dioceses better. We should not mind, even, if in 2018 the Archbishop (it might be Dr Williams: he would be only 68) clears the programme completely of meetings and turns the whole thing into a bishops’ holiday — just so long as the Conference has no executive function…
Do read all of this.
This group of articles has to be one of the more telling reflections on Lambeth 08. It is good to see someone stating the truth: that the perceived problems of the Anglican Communion cannot be addressed by resolutions, which are a blunt instrument, nor by loosely structured conversations, especially if these come nearly at the end of a 2-week gathering. It is also interesting to reflect that the cowboy bishops hammering away on polity seem to have less than a secure grasp on the concept of synodical governance. There is one other observation that I think worth stating that hasn’t… Read more »
Two take-aways from the CT Leader: “Thus the weight given to the group’s resurrection of moratoriums as the solution to gay consecrations, same-sex blessings, and territorial incursions seems disproportionate. The Episcopal Church in the United States will be uneasy with the request, especially as it is open-ended. When would such a moratorium end? When half the Communion embraces a more tolerant attitude? When Muslims in North Africa stop taunting Christians with belonging to a “gay Church”?” Exactamente. The moratoria to be imposed upon Naughty North America, as conceived by Rowan (basically), have no better chance of ever ENDING, than does… Read more »
What is so encouraging about the CT leader is to be reminded of the sort of important forewards of yore in Crockford’s Clerical Directory (prior to Gary Bennet’s suicide). Intelligent and challenging critique. Graham Kings and +Durham and Fulcrum may well have the ABC in their pocket – and have had since he followed their advice re Jeffrey John, but they do live rather in a fantasy world. Though admirable in trying to sort the mess out. Graham was excited about ‘history in the making’. Yet it looks like a lot of what he thought Lambeth achieved (ie following the… Read more »
Pat Ashworth: “The Rt Revd Marc Andrus, Bishop of California, where the state has legalised same-sex partnerships”
No, “same-sex partnerships” are what the UK has.
California, by decision of its Supreme Court, has opened civil ***MARRIAGE*** to same-sex couples—on the same basis, using the same forms as opposite-sex couples.
This reality—one civil marriage law, for all couples—is now a part of the CONTEXTUALIZATION of the Gospel in California (and Massachusetts. And New York. And…???). Understanding this reality, in the term “marriage”, isn’t nitpicking (IMO). It’s vital.
Maria assumpta est !
Enjoy !
Yes, and now we need a true MARRIAGE of minds …
… and hearts !
Well said JCF
‘Bishops in their own words’ Many examples here seem to indicate that it’s not particularly ‘The Americans’ that are demanding cultural sensitivity; the whole pitiful aspect of anyone stating that where they are from, they are ‘a little king’ with the implication that their apparently untouchable culture should remain a guiding principle shows to me that much of what passes for the call to ‘orthodoxy’ is almost the mercenary wielding of the Bible in order to shore up failing social hierarchies; Uganda for example is an example of a country struggling with the idea of democracy, and of which, bizarrely,… Read more »
Thing is, that these circular arguments continue, and will continue , because there is no agreement and there is no possibility of any agreement
1.”The Bishop of Massachusetts, the Rt Revd Thomas Shaw SSJE, has said that he will continue to ordain gay clergy, a ministry he described as “pastorally important”. 2.”The Primate of Canada, the Most Revd Fred Hiltz, has acknowledged that a retrospective moratorium on the blessing of same-sex relationships in the diocese of New Westminster would be very hard for its Bishop, the Rt Revd Michael Ingham. 3. “Bishop Donald Harvey of the Anglican Network in Canada, now part of the Southern Cone, has termed cross-border intervention as “an administrative matter” not on a par with the other two moratoriums. He… Read more »
The Church Times leader neglects to state that the Pastoral Forum will be set up and become operative before any Covenant, and this is the first of decisions that come from the Conference and connected bodies. This has to be declared of no legitimacy.
“Archbishop Greg Venables tells us he was not able to partake in the Lord’s Table — the sacrament we often call ‘Communion’ — during his entire time at Lambeth.” How, then, is he said to be “in Communion” with the Archbishop of Canterbury, or anyone else in the AC? This attitude towards the Holy Communion – that it is somehow spoiled by the presence (or even the presiding) of those one believes to be unrepentant sinners – astounds me, and seems not to reflect Anglicanism at its best. I am not a fan of Presiding Bishop Venables, but I hope… Read more »
“When Muslims in North Africa stop taunting Christians with belonging to a “gay Church”?”” I want to have someone cite such an actual taunt from a Muslim in an African country as reported by an independent source, i.e., NOT an African Anglican, NOT English or American fellow-travelers, NOT the Moonie-owned Washington Times, UPI, nor Fox News – but AP, Reuters, Human Rights Watch, NY Times, BBC, – you know – NOT an interested party. The GafConrers and the Minns and others keep saying that African Muslims taunt and abuse Christian Africans because of +Gene or gay blessings or marriages. Find… Read more »
“Muslims in North Africa stop taunting Christians with belonging to a “gay Church”” Not to mention, that verbal “taunting” isn’t really the issue to begin with (I mean, Muslims could “taunt” Christians ala “You believe in 3 gods!” Not true, of course, but that’s a common accusation). No, THE ISSUE is VIOLENCE: ironic, because that’s something about which LGBTs, being similarly victimized, could be their best, most empathetic allies. If the (largely African) victims of anti-Christian violence want to CHALLENGE North Americans, then challenge us to help them—everyone!—FIND AN END TO VIOLENCE. Focus on the cause of “taunting” is to… Read more »
BillyD, it never ceases to amaze–and amuse–me to see such a collection of Donatists, Gnostics, and Montanists running around calling themselves “orthodox.”
“Muslims in North Africa stop taunting Christians with belonging to a “gay Church””
“Blessed are you when folk shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven!”