I do understand why Rowan wants us to carry on talking. Cynically, it is because he doesn’t want to go down as the AofC under which the Communion finally split. Charitably, it is because he really wishes to preserve a broad, international Communion on principled grounds. I would simply question whether these principles are ‘unity at all costs’ irrespective of genuine differences which simply can’t be glossed over. Let me put it this way. I am unreservedly and totally in the ‘reappraiser’ or ‘progressive’ camp. I have no intention of either changing my view or ceasing to work for the… Read more »
Well, split or no split, I think it is adamant that the false claims about “liberals” being atheists and what not, and the anti-moderns “bible-believing” be refuted.
And the agendas and corruption of many, if not most, late 20th century “translations” exposed.
Simon Dawson
19 years ago
Merseymike says “I think more and more people are starting to recognise this and realise that a split is, indeed, not only inevitable, but also desirable”. Inevitable maybe, but not desirable, and it will be at great cost. Some of the congregation of my own church in central London support asylum seekers from Africa, and recently we have been trying to help a number of Ugandans who have suffered abuse and even torture in Uganda as a result of being gay. The asylum seekers we have met have a deep faith, nurtured in the Anglican tradition in their own country.… Read more »
I too think there is a hope for remaining together, but it depends at this point mostly upon the patience of the Global South — who appear at this point to want only one thing. If we can somehow live with the status quo ante: a communion without a supreme legislature that can “lay down a law” — and live with disagreeement, accepting that +Gene may never function outside his own Diocese and Province as a bishop. I have laid this out in an Immodest Proposal which I think describes how we might continue to function as long as people… Read more »
Merseymike
19 years ago
Simon ; simply not true – why can’t the split Anglican grouping continue to support those people in Africa – with the American resources which they are currently shunning.
There is simply no logic in suggesting that a split will mean we cannot assist people in Africa. The far MORE sympathetic outside Christian organisation will be able to give that support – an Anglican Communion without Akinola and Co.
I respect & admire the persons posting here & their opinions, but to return to the question of what ++Rowan said (according to Reuters, anyway — I admit to being curious about what the various participants thought they heard him say), IF we were really talking to each other, then I would say that the wholly admirable hopes of Simon Dawson & Tobias BSG would be worth pursuing; but what I question is whether any real dialogue has gone on for quite some time. William Countryman has written, ‘The long period of dialogue in ECUSA leading up to the ratification… Read more »
Nadine Kwong
19 years ago
“It may be easy to follow Merseymikes’s call and wash our hands of Africa and its troubles. But to do so would be to abandon such gay Africans to the tender mercies of Akinola and his followers, and to deprive them of any chance of support from a sympathetic outside Christian organisation.” Simon, I don’t hear in Merseymike’s call for a split in the Communion any call for “wash[ing] our hands of Africa and its troubles.” I, for one, would not support that. But I do think it will actually *enhance* outreach to gay Africans — and other progressive Africans… Read more »
But as Christians we have a responsibility to stand up for Justice, and be – if only a wee bit – prophetic at times.
This seems to be one such.
Mark Beaton
19 years ago
But Goran – haven’t the Lutherans of Tanzania also been taking an interest in the Church of Sweden recently? With you, I am glad they have this fraternal, ecumenical concern for Scandinavian Christians.
I do understand why Rowan wants us to carry on talking. Cynically, it is because he doesn’t want to go down as the AofC under which the Communion finally split. Charitably, it is because he really wishes to preserve a broad, international Communion on principled grounds. I would simply question whether these principles are ‘unity at all costs’ irrespective of genuine differences which simply can’t be glossed over. Let me put it this way. I am unreservedly and totally in the ‘reappraiser’ or ‘progressive’ camp. I have no intention of either changing my view or ceasing to work for the… Read more »
To what Mike said – Amen. I’m sick unto death of arguing with “reasserters,” and I’m sure they’re heartily sick of me…
We can have a (somewhat) amicable divorce now, or an even *more* acrimonious one later. I vote for now.
Well, split or no split, I think it is adamant that the false claims about “liberals” being atheists and what not, and the anti-moderns “bible-believing” be refuted.
And the agendas and corruption of many, if not most, late 20th century “translations” exposed.
Merseymike says “I think more and more people are starting to recognise this and realise that a split is, indeed, not only inevitable, but also desirable”. Inevitable maybe, but not desirable, and it will be at great cost. Some of the congregation of my own church in central London support asylum seekers from Africa, and recently we have been trying to help a number of Ugandans who have suffered abuse and even torture in Uganda as a result of being gay. The asylum seekers we have met have a deep faith, nurtured in the Anglican tradition in their own country.… Read more »
I too think there is a hope for remaining together, but it depends at this point mostly upon the patience of the Global South — who appear at this point to want only one thing. If we can somehow live with the status quo ante: a communion without a supreme legislature that can “lay down a law” — and live with disagreeement, accepting that +Gene may never function outside his own Diocese and Province as a bishop. I have laid this out in an Immodest Proposal which I think describes how we might continue to function as long as people… Read more »
Simon ; simply not true – why can’t the split Anglican grouping continue to support those people in Africa – with the American resources which they are currently shunning.
There is simply no logic in suggesting that a split will mean we cannot assist people in Africa. The far MORE sympathetic outside Christian organisation will be able to give that support – an Anglican Communion without Akinola and Co.
I respect & admire the persons posting here & their opinions, but to return to the question of what ++Rowan said (according to Reuters, anyway — I admit to being curious about what the various participants thought they heard him say), IF we were really talking to each other, then I would say that the wholly admirable hopes of Simon Dawson & Tobias BSG would be worth pursuing; but what I question is whether any real dialogue has gone on for quite some time. William Countryman has written, ‘The long period of dialogue in ECUSA leading up to the ratification… Read more »
“It may be easy to follow Merseymikes’s call and wash our hands of Africa and its troubles. But to do so would be to abandon such gay Africans to the tender mercies of Akinola and his followers, and to deprive them of any chance of support from a sympathetic outside Christian organisation.” Simon, I don’t hear in Merseymike’s call for a split in the Communion any call for “wash[ing] our hands of Africa and its troubles.” I, for one, would not support that. But I do think it will actually *enhance* outreach to gay Africans — and other progressive Africans… Read more »
But as Christians we have a responsibility to stand up for Justice, and be – if only a wee bit – prophetic at times.
This seems to be one such.
But Goran – haven’t the Lutherans of Tanzania also been taking an interest in the Church of Sweden recently? With you, I am glad they have this fraternal, ecumenical concern for Scandinavian Christians.
Kenya, not Tanzania.