The General Synod of the Church of England passed this motion:
This Synod, aware of the distress caused by recent divisions within the Anglican churches of the United States of America and Canada, recognise and affirm the desire of those who have formed the Anglican Church in North America to remain within the Anglican family; acknowledge that this aspiration, in respect both of relations with the Church of England and membership of the Anglican Communion, raises issues which the relevant authorities of each need to explore further; and invite the Archbishops to report further to the Synod in 2011.
Now, that is not a formal recognition of ACNA as a second Anglican Province in North America, a status still held by The Episcopal Church (TEC). But, it can be read to say that ACNA and TEC are moral equivalents as fragments of a divided church. ACNA is not dismissed out of hand - despite a TEC propaganda effort toward that end.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of South Carolina, which remains part of TEC, today revealed that TEC is spending more donated money to undermine the existing Diocesan leadership there. That is up, with supporting evidentiary links, at the Diocese of South Carolina site.
This is a sad state of affairs, as Anglicanism lacks a unified Christian voice or even an organizational response to profound disagreements. TEC's use of lawsuit intimidation as a first response to church disputes is beyond any sane reading of New Testament teaching on conflict resolution. Really sad stuff.
5 comments:
I can't keep up with it all anymore! Seems like it would be easier to just be a Baptist.
Jill - yeah, I know the feeling!
There are treasures in the Anglican spiritual tradition - is there someway to separate them out from all the impurities in which they are buried?
Jill -
Easier, yes. But not nearly as entertaining!
There is much worth fighting for in the Anglican tradition, and Christians have always been called upon to stand for their beliefs, not run from confrontation.
Tim,
I'm glad you called attention to this latest scandal within TEC. And the outrageous action now being undertaken against the brave, orthodox bishop of SC, and the diocesan standing committee, is just that: scandalous, outrageous, disgusting, etc. Personally, I don't find it to be sad or depressing so much as infuriating.
But it's hardly surprising. Alas, it's standard operating procedure for the infamous, lawsuit-happy Presiding Bishop and her nefarious Chancellor.
There needs to be presentment charges brought up against the PB, if anyone and I mean ANYONE in the HOB has any shred of integrity.
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