ABC Pins Hopes on "Indaba" Format for Primates
Some Bishops Disagree, See Separation as the Only Option
News Analysis
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
8/28/2008
In a Pastoral Letter to the bishops of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Rowan Williams hailed the recent Lambeth Conference saying that for the vast majority of bishops, God was at work, trust was rebuilt and the "Indaba" group process was a model for future primates' meetings.
He said the newer bishops were surprised by the "amount of convergence" and that nearly all present wanted the Communion to stay together. What most excited Dr. Williams were the Indaba discussion groups, which he said were so successful that he plans to use the small-group discussion tool again for meetings involving the primates and the Anglican Consultative Council.
"Many participants believed that the Indaba method, while not designed to achieve final decisions, was such a necessary aspect of understanding what the questions might be that they expressed a desire to see the method used more widely and to continue among themselves the conversations begun in Canterbury," he said. "I shall be seeking to identify the resources we shall need in order to take forward some of the proposals about our structures and methods."
Williams said The Lambeth Conference Design Group achieved its goal of rebuilding trust and relationships. Every bishop's voice was allowed to be heard allowing a final outcome to which all participants could consent and feel as though they had contributed.
"I believe that the conference succeeded in doing this to a very remarkable degree, more than most people expected," said Williams. "At the end of our time together, many people, especially some of the newer bishops, said that they had been surprised by the amount of convergence they had seen. And there can be no doubt that practically all who were present sincerely wanted the Communion to stay together."
Williams did note however a number of serious problems, any one of which could undermine the hard-won gains of the conference. He observed that nearly one-third of all bishops invited declined to attend Lambeth, some provinces may be unwilling to support the proposed Anglican Covenant, and significant differences of opinion remain over the moratoria proposed by the Windsor Continuation Group.
"A strong majority of bishops present agreed that moratoria on same-sex blessings and on cross-provincial interventions were necessary, but they were aware of the conscientious difficulties this posed for some, and there needs to be a greater clarity about the exact expectations and what can be realistically implemented."
Williams listed only two moratoria in his pastoral letter. A third moratorium, consecrating future homogenital bishops, was not mentioned. The Windsor Continuation Group did call for a cessation on the consecration of partnered homosexual persons to the episcopate.
However, New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson predicted that such consecrations will continue in the future.
Williams talked up the need for a "Pastoral Forum" as a means of addressing present and future tensions, and as a clearing house for proposals concerning the care of groups at odds with dominant views within their Provinces, "so as to avoid the confusing situation of violations of provincial boundaries and competing jurisdictions." However, Archbishop Greg Venables said they would continue in light of the Episcopal Church's theological and moral intransigence.
Williams did point out what he called the overwhelming unity concerning the need for the church to contribute towards the realization of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, "to help churches increase and improve their own capacity to deliver change for the sake of justice" and for bishops to develop "clear goals for developing environmentally responsible policies in church life." He praised the "walk of witness" in London, emphasizing the need to eradicate poverty and AIDS with specific deadlines for the world community.
Williams said there was no appetite for revising Resolution 1.10 of Lambeth 1998, "though there was also a clear commitment to continue theological and pastoral discussion of the questions involved." Many orthodox bishops still view Resolution 1:10 as the litmus test for orthodoxy in morals. As such, it remained the unspoken elephant in the sacristy; neither refuted, denied or voted on. NOT everyone, however, agreed with Williams' assessment of the Lambeth Conference.
The Bishop of Winchester, Michael Scott-Joynt called for an "orderly separation" for the Anglican Communion as the only way forward, noting the profound disagreements that exist "among us" over sexuality. "I see no future for the Anglican Communion as we know it, or for the Church of England as we know it, if either deserts this teaching." Citing the Apostle Paul, he said we should not be "tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine."
He was supported in his contention by the Bishop of South Carolina, Mark Lawrence who said he had come to Lambeth to worship one last time in the Cathedral home of Augustine and Dunstan, Anselm and Becket, Cranmer and Laud, Temple and Ramsay, but that for him, a new prince was born last month in Jerusalem - GAFCON.
The most outspoken of the Primates, regarding the Lambeth Conference, was the Archbishop of the Southern Cone, the Most. Rev. Gregory Venables. He predicted the end of the communion, saying: "This is more evidence of the unraveling of Anglicanism. Without a clearly agreed biblical foundation, all the goodwill in the world cannot stop the inevitable break-up. Unity without truth is disunity."
Ugandan Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi was less sanguine about both the Communion's future and its present leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury. He dismissed Williams as little more than a colonial relic, saying Lambeth would not resolve the brokenness of the Anglican Communion over conflicting attitudes towards human sexual behavior.
THREE schools of thought now present themselves for Anglicans.
The first is for orthodox Anglicans to stay put with the hope of reforming the Communion from within, both doctrinally and morally.
Secondly, that GAFCON be recognized as the legitimate heirs to the faith and fathers of Anglicanism and that all orthodox Anglicans around the world coalesce and recognize this movement and become a part of it.
Thirdly, that the liberals withdraw themselves from the communion temporarily until they repent, or, failing that form their own communion of like-minded revisionists.
Only time will tell which of these options proves out.
END
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