See this press release from the Anglican Communion Office: Draft programme for Anglican Consultative Council meeting published.
[ACNS] Anglican Bishops, priests and laity from across the world will gather in Lusaka next month for the 16th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC-16). Members will discuss a range of issues around the theme “Intentional discipleship in a world of difference” – how Christians can be faithful to the Gospel in all aspects of their lives in the different cultures and situations that Anglicans find themselves in.
The Anglican Communion Office is now inviting applications for media accreditation for journalists who wish to attend ACC-16.
The ACC facilitates the co-operative work of the 38 autonomous but interdependent national and regional Churches and the six extra-provincial churches and dioceses that are in Communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Through the ACC, churches of the Anglican Communion exchange information and co-ordinate common action. The ACC also advises on the organisation and structures of the Anglican Communion, and seeks to develop common policies on world mission and ecumenical matters.
There is more information here and the actual draft of the programme is available as a PDF here.
The meeting will be held in Lusaka, Zambia from 8 to 19 April, 2016.
“[A]utonomous but interdependent national and regional Churches.”
“Interdependent”? In what way?
Saying something is so does not make it so.
The archbishops of Uganda and Kenya have announced that they won’t be going or have representation. They are angry that TEC won’t voluntarily stay on the naughty step. Meanwhile Dr. Tengatenga, chair of the ACC, says that it’s TEC’s “right and responsibility” to be there. He said that the primates don’t have authority to exclude another province.
The GS don’t turn up – the ACC is finished….. It’s pathetic that TEC even wants to be in the club – what matters most: principles or clubs?
S Cooper – I don’t think, at least from the people I talk to, that TEC really cares very much. It’s certainly not losing any sleep over membership. But charity and past connections are valuable, so perhaps a passive stance of attending and “being available” is a good thing. My own church, Trinity Seattle, is having a nice upswing of membership, pledges, and young people. Several new young members serve now as acolytes, and two are on the vestry. These are people attracted by a progressive social stance and a well done traditional liturgy and music. So if it not… Read more »
I often see the phrase ‘godly unity’. Is there an official AC definition of the meaning of this phrase?
“The GS don’t turn up – the ACC is finished…..”
S. Cooper, just because you say it, doesn’t make it true. I expect the members of ACC will carry on with their business without the representatives from from Kenya and Uganda, if they choose not to attend.
If you don’t come to the Table, you got nothin’, And that cuts both ways. Otherwise the ministry of reconciliation means zip.
“It’s pathetic that TEC even wants to be in the club – what matters most: principles or clubs?”
Why on earth would TEC not go? So far ACC has shown them no discourtesy. TEC I think wish to remain part of the communion too – and rightly IMO.
The fact that TEC is even interested in ‘turning up’ to the ACC Meeting is proof of their commitment to the Anglican Communion n partnerships. The dissenting Provinces, however, seem to show little respect for, or inclination to remain privy to, the Communion Fellowship. As the ACC is the more rperesentative group of the membership of the Anglican Communion Churches – with representastives from the Faithful Laity, as well as the 3 orders of Ministry, it would seem to be the most credible ‘Instrument of Unity’ in the world-wde Communion. Perhaps it is time that the core membership of the… Read more »
Please see the reality, people: 1) even Rowan Williams asked dean John to step back from being a bishop; 2) even Rowan Williams didn’t invite gene Robinson to Lambeth 08; 3) now, Justin Welby, even though there is no covenant, suspends TEC for 3 years (minimum). What does this tell us? Simple: numbers and demographics matter & relations with Rome matter…… Nothing will change – especially as whatever is done to TeC (see above), TEC still comes back for club membership ….. Why is there no confidence to be a liberal global church? The GS doesn’t turn up to the… Read more »
Yes, S. Cooper, I see your drift. However, TEC is still seen to be keen to be a part of the original Anglican Communion. It is only the absentees from ACC16 who will indicate their reluctance to continue on Eucharistic Fellowship – which is what ‘Communion’ is really all about. We must struggle together – those of us who want to remain a part of the Anglican Communion – as long as possible, despite differences. Those who opt out do not want to be part of us. Then they must be allowed to go, we cannot hold them back against… Read more »
I understand, Ron – but things don’t work that way; not under Rowan or under Justin. They prioritise not losing the biggest provinces – all that’s on offer for TEC and provinces like yours is to go along with that by compromising integrity. How much longer for? I agreed smaller could be wonderful. A smaller liberal Anglican global communion which doesn’t throw inconvenient clergy under the bus but celebrates them would be lovely.
Brother S. Cooper, I don’t think Archbishop Justin has managed to “suspend” the Episcopal Church. That the Primates (or at least some of the Primates) demanded such does not mean that’s what was accomplished. More to the point, since the ACC hasn’t “suspended” the member church, the Episcopal Church, it’s unclear what “suspend” might even mean.
In the meantime, yes, we want to keep talking, and as best we can to keep walking together. We believe it’s what Jesus would have wanted – which is, after all, the primary principle to be held.
If TEC voluntarily left the Anglican Communion do you honestly believe any other church would walk out in support of them or to stand by them? I don’t.
Thank you for your replies, Marshall & Kate.
I don’t see the point in more years of playing Canterbury games when it’s obvious many more years of indabas etc are all that’s on offer; my preference is for tec to lead a new global communion (don’t care if it’s small or big – just as long it has integrity). Appreciate your reply, Marshall
I still have to agree with S Cooper. I really am afraid, from the rather weak arguments for staying, that it’s just a matter of convenience, of not being willing to face what it will mean to leave the AC and start a new mission.
If TEC led a new global communion, All Saints is ready and waiting to join, here in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
We are a mixed expat congregation, male and female, gay and straight, old and young, married and single. We can not be part of the very homophobic Province of South East Asia which, despite only having one church in Thailand, holds the Anglican Communion franchise for this region.
They consecrated bishops for ACNA so I don’t see how they could object.
If TEC left AC then they would no longer be bound by their undertaking not to open congregations in England. But for a realignment along Cooper’s excellent suggestion the CofE would have to disestablish properly so that parishes could opt for which bishop and hence which communion to belong to.
At present a new global church would have all the reach of the baseball world series.
If you are impatient you will get TEC plus small splinter churches in a couple of countries. Patience across years, maybe decades – difficult though waiting will be – and the vast body of first world Anglicanism will allow same sex marriage.
Perhaps TEC and splinter churches is not a bad idea, given how much evil centralization in the chuches has led to.
Perhaps right now is a good opportunity to reflect on what it cost God to build up the Body of Christ in the Church. Effort to break it down on any illusions of the capability of human beings (or group of Christians) to make it ‘on their own’, is only a road to schismatic self-sufficiency – which is the opposite of what Jesus called for from his disciples.”They will know you’re my disciples by your love” – not your tendency to judge the moral sufficiency of others. Voluntarily moving away from one another is no good way to achieve ‘perfection’… Read more »
Yet Jesus did tell his disciples to shake the dust from their feet. He did send away those who couldn’t follow His way. Does moving apart mean there is no love? Is staying together tearing at each other “for the kids” actually love? Are we sure, so sure as to risk lives and souls that this is what the Body of Christ is or was ever meant to be? I am unwilling to risk one life on an illusion of THE ONE TRUE CHURCH (pat. pend., all rights reserved). Worse, it’s an illusion of both love and unity – it’s… Read more »
Mark, we are not talking about a Magisterial Church here. Anglicanism has never been quite like that. However, it does have a brand of Christianity that can – if it works properly – still show the outside world that Christians in different parts of the world can still live and work together – despite difference of race, culture, gender, sexual-orientation or political affiliation.
This is, I believe the genius of traditional bed-rock Anglicanism, both catholic and reformed, that can still claim the world for Christ.