The minutes of the previous meeting, on 15-18 December 2009, of the Anglican Consultative Council – Standing Committee have now been published, see
Minutes of Standing Committee meeting December 2009 (PDF file)
Update an html copy is available over here.
As Episcopal Café comments in Breaking: TEC still in the AC
…though these are minutes from a meeting seven months ago, it is indeed new information about the vote to keep the Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion.
The entire document is worth reading, but paragraph 4, Recent Developments in the Anglican Communion, dealing with this point, is reproduced in full below the fold.
Another paragraph of interest is this:
17. Any Other Business
The Archbishop of Canterbury mentioned two things:
a) The Church of England had issued guidelines on clergy in civil partnership. He wondered if the moratoria included those clergy involved in civil partnership. Some were in celibate same sex partnerships.
In response to the above it was noted that the moratoria referred to consecration of bishops, and authorisation of formal blessing of same sex unions. The meaning of civil partnership was unclear as it could include siblings or friends simply living in the one house.
b) Pastoral Visitors
The Archbishop reported on the work of Pastoral Visitors. They had attended the first meeting of Anglican Communion in North America and Anglican Coalition in Canada. The intention was to facilitate conversations which were different from Continuing Indaba. Could we broker civilised conversations?
The Standing Committee expressed gratitude to the Archbishop of Canterbury for his work in this area.
4. Recent Developments in the Anglican Communion
Discussion began with a review of developments in the Communion over the past few months, in particular, the election of a person in a same gender relationship as suffragan bishop of Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church (the election has not yet been confirmed), and the authorisation by the Bishops of Massachusetts and Ohio of rites of same sex blessings, contrary to both the Windsor Report and the more recent Windsor Continuation Group Report.
Honest opinions were expressed on all sides, and eventually it was decided to adjourn the discussion until later in the Agenda.
The second session, this time with the Archbishop of Canterbury present, resumed the earlier conversation. At the end of that session three resolutions were presented.
These were voted on the following morning:
a) First resolution:
That in view of the recent actions of the 76th General Convention, particularly Resolutions DO25 and CO56, representatives of TEC should be invited to withdraw from all Anglican Councils until ACC-15. This [time] would give both TEC and the AC a temporary safe distance for discernment in regard to the issues that currently threaten the unity of the Anglican Communion.
2 votes for, and 8 votes against, no abstention recorded
b) Second resolution:
The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion meeting in London from 15th-18th December 2009, noting that the Episcopal Church had at its 76th General Convention in July 2009 resolved to reopen a process for the blessing of same gender relationships and to recognise the right of gay and lesbian persons to any ordained ministry in the church:
i) Expresses its deep disappointment and regret over such decisions, having regard to the declared position of the Anglican Communion over those matters through various Lambeth Resolutions; the recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Report and the resolutions of the Primates’ Meeting held in Dromantine in February 2005 and at Dar-es-salaam in February 2007;
ii) Disassociates the Anglican Communion from those decisions of The Episcopal Church as well as with any actions that may be taken by churches in The Episcopal Church in North America pursuant to those decisions.
2 votes for, 7 votes against and 2 abstentions
c) Third resolution:
The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion resolved that, in the light of:
i) The recent Episcopal nomination in the Diocese of Los Angeles of a partnered lesbian candidate
ii) The decisions in a number of US and Canadian dioceses to proceed with formal ceremonies of same-sex blessings
iii) Continuing cross-jurisdictional activity within the Communion
The Standing Committee strongly reaffirm Resolution 14.09 of ACC-14 supporting the three moratoria proposed by the Windsor Report and the associated request for ‘Gracious Restraint’ in respect of actions that endanger the unity of the Anglican Communion by going against the declared view of the Instruments of Communion.
8 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 abstention recorded.
The Secretary General was asked to place the resolution in the Anglican Communion website.
‘The meaning of civil partnership was unclear as it could include siblings or friends simply living in the one house.’
This is untrue of CP in the UK. It is legal recognition of a same sex relationship of love, and confers legal status upon the happy couple, including next of kin status.
Why would married couples be celibate for heaven’s sakes !
Civil partnerships are subject to the table of kindred and affinity – siblings are specifically excluded from entering into such a legal arrangement.
How interesting that Rowan Williams should ask!
The double standards never end.
“the table of kindred and affinity” – is this the same one I found at the back of an 18th c copy of the English BCP? It bans some rather unlikely couplings, if I remember, including forbiding marriages between grandparents and grandchildren. It’s a long list.
‘Honest opinions were expressed on all sides’
There is hope for us all yet.
In the Church of England the Synod has recognised Civil Partnerships, and many priests have registered their civil partnership, and this has been recognised, and accepted by the Church Commissioners
Fr John (Scotland).
Fr John’s comment begs the question, what is Rowan asking? (“The Archbishop of Canterbury mentioned … The Church of England had issued guidelines on clergy in civil partnership. He wondered if the moratoria included those clergy involved in civil partnership. Some were in celibate same sex partnerships. In response to the above it was noted that the moratoria referred to consecration of bishops, and authorisation of formal blessing of same sex unions. The meaning of civil partnership was unclear as it could include siblings or friends simply living in the one house.”)
To use a North American expression “Give me a break”. I have never heard such hypocritical doublespeak in my entire life.
If TEC and the ACC has simply phrased it all as “Civil Partnerships” the whole question of would never have come up?
One has to ask if we can hear anything with integrity coming out of the Church of England and its obviously addle brained Primate.
‘Honest opinions were expressed on all sides’
Well, it could be worse; at least they didn’t engage in ‘a free and frank exchange of views’…
And why shouldn’t the TEC be in the communion, as the Anglican Communion is in full communion with the Old Catholics Churches of the union of Utrecht, and the Church of Sweden who bless and marry gays.
It wouldn’t make sense to throw TEC and AC of C and remain in communion with the others.
Though RIW …some provinces of the Anglican Communion are not in full communion with the Old Catholics ( just how far does the Bonn Agreement extend..it would be interesting to know?) and most provinces are not in the Poorvoo Communion.And in what sense are some provinces ( Nigeria, Uganda ??) still in full communion with the Abp of C? As +Michael Ramsey said post the ordination of women ( in my hearing) ” Its a mess, its a mess, its a mess ” possibly a few more messes!!! ……
“Why would married couples be celibate for heaven’s sakes!” Posted by: Pantycelyn on Friday What Pantycelyn may be missing here is the fact that some of us who are married to an opposite gender partner – who married because of filial attachment and not for the express purpose of generating children or for a heterosexual marital relationship – are living what may be considered to be a technically celibate life-style. I have no further comment to make on this particular situation except to say that it may be more common than is generally known or talked about – but may… Read more »
“”Why would married couples be celibate for heaven’s sakes!”
I believe that studies show quite a large proportion of marriages are sexless.