ENS has a report Bulletin: ACC affirms Windsor Continuation Group recommendations.
The representatives of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) affirmed May 8 the Windsor Continuation Group’s final report, which includes moratoria on same-gender blessings, cross-border interventions and the ordination of gay and lesbian people to the episcopate.
The resolution noted the “deep cost” of observing those moratoria and calls the Anglican Communion to “pray for repentance, conversion and renewal; leading to deeper communion.”
The members narrowly rejected (33-32) an attempt to add a fourth moratoria that would have banned litigation over the taking of property by those who leave a diocese or province.
The text of the resolution follows.
The ACC:
1. thanks the Archbishop of Canterbury for his report on the work and recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group;
2. affirms the recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group;
3. affirms the request of the Windsor Report (2004), adopted at the Primates’ Meetings (2005, 2007, 2009), and supported at the Lambeth Conference (2008) for the implementation of the agreed moratoria on the consecration of bishops living in a same-gender union, authorization of public rites of blessing same-sex unions and continued interventions in other provinces;
4. acknowledges the efforts that have been made to hold to the moratoria, gives thanks for the gracious restraint that has been observed in these areas and recognizes the deep cost of such restraint;
5. asks that urgent conversations are facilitated with those provinces where the application of the moratoria gives rise for concern;
6. encourages the Archbishop of Canterbury to work with the Joint Standing Committee and the Secretary General to carry forward the implementation of the Windsor Continuation Group report recommendations as appropriate;
7. asks the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order to undertake a study of the role and responsibilities in the Communion of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meeting; the ecclesiological rationale of each, and the relationships between them, in line with the Windsor Continuation Group report, and to report back to ACC-15;
8. calls the Communion to pray for repentance, conversion and renewal; leading to deeper communion.In other business, Bishop James Tengatenga of the Diocese of Southern Malawi, in the Church of the Province of Central Africa, was elected to succeed Auckland Bishop John Paterson as chair of the ACC meeting. Tengatenga will serve in that role until the conclusion of the 2015 ACC meeting.
Colin Coward notes that Amendment to add 4th moratoria against litigation lost by one vote.
The Living Church also notes Proposed Moratorium on Litigation Omitted from Draft Resolution.
The text of the original Primates Communiqué on this topic read as follows:
On property disputes
The Primates urge the representatives of The Episcopal Church and of those congregations in property disputes with it to suspend all actions in law arising in this situation. We also urge both parties to give assurances that no steps will be taken to alienate property from The Episcopal Church without its consent or to deny the use of that property to those congregations.
The resolution on property makes no sense. How can TEC allow the breakways to use TEC property at the same time the breakways are ‘not’ alienating property? That’s not very clear – but I see the last sentence of the resolution as being self contradictory. I am very glad this did not pass, but am dismayed at the one vote margin. What are these people THINKING of? Even though it did not pass, the thin margin will allow those attempting to steal TEC property to try and use it as part of their argument. What if the Pope suddenly announced… Read more »
a “narrow” vote at ACC 14 rejected the proposed imposition of a ‘4th Moratorium’. Naturally, as there is an issue of propriety involved here. TEC is merely protecting it’s property rights. Justice must be seen to be done – especially in the Church!
The idea is that if they can get TEC to stop all lawsuits, then they can either get them dismissed for failing to prosecute or will get to run out the statute of limitations or make a claim for estoppel. It’s really legal posturing.