Today’s Church Times carries a news report, by me, on the recent meeting of the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation.
See ‘Respectful’ hearing for gay-rites debate.
“RITES relating to marriage” was the subject under study by 56 Anglican liturgists at the biennial meeting of the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation (IALC) earlier this month in Canterbury. Continuing work that was begun two years ago in New Zealand, a report on this topic will be completed by December.
Participants came from 19 Anglican provinces, including Brazil, Hong Kong, Nigeria, and the Southern Cone. Topics included theology, cultural contexts, and the shape and elements of ritual. Papers were delivered by the Bishop of Central Tanganyika, the Rt Revd Mdimi Mhogolo, and by the Revd Dr Simon Jones, of Merton College, Oxford…
…In addition to the regular sessions, there was a separate presentation by members of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) of the Episcopal Church in the United States on their development of a theological rationale and liturgical principles for same-sex blessings. Those who attended were asked to give feedback by considering specific questions in small working groups.
The chair of the IALC, Dr Eileen Scully, from Canada, said on Thursday of last week that the purpose of the IALC meeting was to work on rites related to heterosexual couples only. In countries where civil-marriage laws were changing, however, to allow either civil unions or same-sex marriage, Churches faced challenges. They needed to reflect on the parallels with traditional marriage…
Anglican Communion Office backfiles of material on IALC here.
Odd that the report only quotes North Americans
John, I agree; but Simon is so consistently a responsible reporter, and in a news piece that may not be a great matter. Now, when the feedback received in the consultation is shared with the Episcopal Church (and as a Deputy to our next General Convention I will be watching closely), I certainly expect that we will hear responses from all quarters. Whether we agree or not, and whether or not we find the arguments compelling, we need to be responsible in listening to them.
The report does not quote only North Americans.
Yes, different accounts of the reception of TEC’s SCLM as well as its liturgical agenda are available in the public domain.
Fair enough Jim.
The report only contains follow up comments from after the meeting from North Americans. Still odd.
Note this paragraph “The chair of the IALC, Dr Eileen Scully, from Canada, said on Thursday of last week that the purpose of the IALC meeting was to work on rites related to heterosexual couples only. In countries where civil-marriage laws were changing, however, to allow either civil unions or same-sex marriage, Churches faced challenges. They needed to reflect on the parallels with traditional marriage.” Interesting way of describing things. The civil situation in the entire country (Canada) is that a marriage is a marriage whether between two people of the same sex or two people of the opposite sex.… Read more »
Agreed, Rod. I think that that’s exactly what TEC’s SCLM is working on. Is their proposed liturgy available yet? I understood it would be out in August (i.e. this month).
The very fact that – despite Chair-person Scully’s caution that the meeting was designed to discuss only the issue of hetero-sexual marriage rites – the Liturgical Consultation still allowed a proper response to be made to the presentation of TEC’s own Committee – on the issue of Same-sex blessings – is very encouraging.
Simon’s assessment of what actually went on at the meeting, with discussion groups tackling the issue and reporting back, seems to me most encouraging. At least, the Windsor Report’s recommendation – for a ‘Listening Process’ – is actually working.
Maybe there’s hope for the Anglican Church yet!
John, the report contains an explanation of why the presentation was made from the chair of the group, and the person who requested to make the presentation. They happen to be North Americans. You are attempting to impute a bias here where none is present, and I find that objectionable. If there were rave reviews about TEC’s work from its usual allies and no comment from its usual foes, you would have a point. But Simon is just trying to explain what happen, not solicit reactions.
I would say that the report is incomplete rather than biased. I am unhappy at the tendency of many Anglican sites to only report their mates. To read what people at that meeting with different view said you need to go to other sites. It would be good to read an account that reports a wider range of opinion. Thinking Anglicans has linked to the ABC religion and Ethics site with an extract from Muriel Porter’s new Book. That site also carries a story by Peter Jensen. I find that sort of comprehension more interesting.
John
You may be interested to know that I quizzed three separate people who attended the meeting about the reported remarks to which you refer. Each of them said to me that they had heard no such remarks.
Scot,
The liturgy is not yet available because the Commission has not completed its work. The Anglican liturgical consultation gave us an opportunity to get feedback on work in progress. We’re scheduled to report to the 2012 General Convention, and I don’t yet have a date when the final draft will be released.
Ruth Meyers
Chair, Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music
Simon,
that is a helpful addition to what you reported. When we get two different reports that have varying accounts of what occurred in a meeting, it is details like this that help us work out which is the more credible report. I hope you noted that I have resisted the invitation to leap to an accusation of bias. (Yes I think you more fully report one side than the other but Thinking Anglicans is clear about where it stands). I am more like Oliver Twist – I wanted more. Thankyou for the extra dollup in the bowl.
Ruth,
Thanks for taking time to answer my query.
Cheers,
Scot
The Church of Ireland once a bastion of pure Protestantism has just witnessed the coming out of a Dean, who is in a civil partnership. In 1994, the then Archbishop of Armagh stated, we have no practising homosexuals in the Church of Ireland.
a “bastion of pure protestantism”…I wonder what that means? Were Abp George Simms ( who taught at my old theological college,Lincoln) or Henry McAdoo ,”pure protestants” I always thought the C of I ( despite an evangelical element esp on the North) had something of a Caroline / pre Tractarian older high church tradition)feel to it, with a well educated clergy.Rather more attractive than some expressions of Anglicanism elsewhere…..
Note I said Protestant and not evangelical. The Caroline divines were solid Protestants even if in some respects they had a higher ecclesiastical outlook.they were certainly not 17th century Anglo-catholics.
Who thought they were Robert?