Updated again Wednesday evening
Jim Naughton has some advice to readers and also to journalists. He also reports that Archbishops Akinola and Orombi “both happen to be in the country this week”.
George Conger reports in the Living Church on who exactly will be accompanying the Archbishop of Canterbury, and what other meetings are scheduled this week. Joint ACC, Primates Committee to Meet Sept. 24.
Episcopal News Service recaps the Nigerian letter to the archbishop and other Nigerian developments in Bishops urge postponing Lambeth Conference, call for special Primates’ Meeting.
Updates Wednesday morning
Stephen Bates reports in the Guardian Williams in showdown with US church over gay bishops:
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will demand concessions from the bishops of the US Episcopal Church tomorrow at a crisis meeting aimed at staving off the most damaging split in the church’s modern history, over the issue of homosexuality.
They will be asked to give guarantees that they will not allow the election of any more openly gay bishops or authorise public blessing services for same-sex couples and will create a structure for separate episcopal oversight for conservative congregations who disagree with the church’s liberal leadership…
Jane Lampman Christian Science Monitor Tension as Episcopal bishops meet
Christopher Quinn Atlanta Journal-Constitution Episcopalian church beginning to divide
Michael Conlon Reuters U.S. Episcopal church faces another showdown on gays
Bruce Nolan New Orleans Times-Picayune N.O. backdrop for meeting to save the Anglican communion and a later version on the front page of today’s paper: N.O. becomes the accidental backdrop for a high-stakes meeting to save the world’s Anglican communion. This contains an interview with Bishop Jenkins, conveniently excerpted here.
The Canadian Anglican Journal has a report by Solange de Santis with a different focus: Episcopal meeting brings helping hands to New Orleans
Wednesday evening
Church of England Newspaper has a report by George Conger Three Questions for the USA
Episcopal Cafe also has a press release by Archbishop Morgan that is very encouraging in his support of inclusivity and questions the covenant as written. http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/anglican_communion/archbishop_of_wales_cannot_sup.html I am American so I can’t really speak to this, but I hope others here can. It seems to me that the ABC is garnering a lot of support from the ABs of York, Ireland, Wales and Scotland of late to NOT succumb to the pressures of the GS. Could the United Kingdom be circling the wagons sort to speak. Signifying clearly together what constitutes “Anglicanism” and the way forward for the AC on… Read more »
I’m confused. Doesthis mean that when the ACC & Primates committees meet on 24 September the ABC will not be with them? Is he usually part of their meetings? Why or why not?
Columba Gilliss
Dywedodd yn dda Barry Morgan !
Well said Barry Morgan !
There is no place in these islands for such a ‘Covenant’, which goes against the historic & current grain of Celtic spirituality, and ways doing theology and being Church.
“create a structure for separate episcopal oversight for conservative congregations who disagree with the churchs liberal leadership” Without creating a structure for separate episcopal oversight for *progressive* (i.e., democratic-majority) congregations who disagree w/ their bishop’s *conservative* leadership? Double standard! (and non-starter) Stephen Bates, if you’re here: I have to say, this article is not up to your usual standards. For example: “There have been demands that the Americans should be thrown out of the communion although the mechanism for that does not exist unless they repent.” Don’t you mean “…thrown out of the communion unless they repent (although the mechanism… Read more »
Yes, the ABC wlll be with the ACC and Joint Standing Committee. They will all be in New Orleans this week.
C.B. wrote “It seems to me that the ABC is garnering a lot of support from the ABs of York, Ireland, Wales and Scotland of late to NOT succumb to the pressures of the GS.” The Church of Ireland is, in actual fact, BOUND by its own Constitution to remain in communion with the Church of England. It’s Declaration prefacing the Constitution, adopted in 1870 at the time of disestablisment, states – http://www.ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=about&id=42 – “The Church of Ireland WILL MAINTAIN COMMUNION with the sister Church of England, and with all other Christian Churches agreeing in the principles of this Declaration;… Read more »
The Solange de Santis article is by far the most interesting and inspiring. It gives me hope that some day in the not too distant future we may return to focusing on prayer and pastoral care and help for the devastated…and support of musicians too.
MJ: Thank you for your link and the context you provide. The Church of Ireland declaration is about as concrete a covenant as the Anglican Communion can sustain. Its focus on the balance of the essential nature of Holy Scripture, of the importance of apostolic tradition, and of respectful collegiality provide ample framework for a healthy life lived together in unity, not in uniformity.
Ruidh,
Were you responding to my previous question? I know the ABC will be with the other this week but it appears that after the HoB ends its meeting, the ACC & Primates committees will meet again — presumably by themselves to respond to the actions of our bishops — on next Monday. Will the ABC have left town. Am I correct to read the articles thus?
Columba Gilliss
Fr Shawn wrote: “The Church of Ireland declaration is about as concrete a covenant as the Anglican Communion can sustain.” Yes, and the CofI take it seriously. They frequently refer to it in responses to the wider Communion, e.g.: CofI Response to the Inter-Anglican Theological Doctrinal Commission on ‘The Anglican Communion’ (2002) “[W]e think it worthy of note that, in 1870, the Church of Ireland produced the Preamble and Declaration which attempted to think the relationship between the Church of Ireland and the Church of England within the context of disestablishment. In that document the view develops of an autonomous… Read more »
JCF: I was travelling to New Orleans all yesterday so have only now seen your strictures. I don’t know what has appeared on-line but my paper copy of my story has:
“There have been demands that the Americans should be thrown out of the communion – although the mechanism for that does not exist – unless they repent…” which is what I wrote.
And there is an apostrophe after Bishop Robinson….
I don’t know what illiterate transcribed the story, but it was not me. I try not to make grammatical errors and the Guardian tries not to print them…