ACNS has issued Anglican Covenant Working Group – Names announced.
The text of the Ridley Cambridge Draft of the Covenant received strong support at the recent ACC meeting in Jamaica. However concern was expressed that Section 4 had not received the same degree of Provincial consideration that Sections 1-3 had. ACC-14 proposed that Provinces be given time to consider Section 4, that a small Working Group be set up to consider adjustment to Section 4 of the text in the light of Provincial responses, and to ask that Group to report to the Standing Committee before the end of the year.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Secretary General have now announced the names of the Working Group. They are:
- The Most Revd Dr John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin (Chair);
- The Most Revd Dr John Chew, Primate of South East Asia;
- Dr Eileen Scully, Anglican Church of Canada;
- The Rt Revd Dr Gregory Cameron, Bishop of St Asaph in the Church in Wales and former Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.
All have been involved in the Covenant Process to date. Staff support will be provided by Neil Vigers (Anglican Communion Office) and the Revd Canon Joanna Udal (Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs).
Meanwhile the Ridley Cambridge Draft text of the Covenant has been sent to Provinces seeking their comments on Section 4 of the Covenant. Responses are requested by 13th November this year. The Working Group will meet on 20 – 21 November in London and report to the Standing Committee meeting of 15 – 18 December.
Hmmm…a working group to consider all this and no member from the province most affected by it. My, my, my….
Let’s all hope that this coming Feast of Pentecost will continue to afford fresh insights into the Church’s need to combat discrimination on the basis of sexuality and gender. In the end, we who believe that the message of the Gospel is inclusive of women and the LGBT community, have to put our trust where it might best be lodged – with God’s guidance of those who have been given the task of finding a way of reconciliation through the mechanisms of the Church available to us. If those appointed have open minds about Section 4 of the Covenant Document… Read more »
I don’t know that I’d consider Canada that much less affected than the Episcopal Church. At the same time, Dr. Scully is the only non-bishop and the only woman. One wonders how much respect she’ll get, at least from Archbishop Chew.
Pat,
But there is a member from the Province second most affected by it, and I’m sure Dr. Scully will put forward the views of both provinces.
The Working Group will meet on 20 – 21 November.
Faster than the speed of enlightenment.
I have been working hard, from my first involvement with the CDG (January of 2008) to represent my Province with integrity, as my US Colleague from Virginia has also done, with great integrity. That means of course that it has not been an easy ride, but an honest and difficult bit of work. – E. Scully
May God bless all Anglicans who can stand up for agreeing to disagree, without policing, without new punishment procedures and penal regulations.
Hmmm…a working group to consider all this and no member from the province most affected by it. My, my, my….