Analysis: Recognition of Third Province Likely to Take Years

Posted at George Conger's blog and via TitusOneNine:

The Living Church, November 26, 2008
An abbreviated version of this article has been published by The Living Church magazine.

The members of the Joint Standing Committee (JSC) of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) and the college of primates are meeting at St Andrew’s House and Lambeth Palace in London this week in preparation for ACC-14, the triennial meeting of the ACC’s delegates scheduled for early May 2009 in Jamaica.

Organizers of the Nov. 25-27 gathering tell The Living Church the “agenda is largely preparing for ACC-14 next year, and trying to build on the lessons learned from the [2008] Lambeth [Conference].” The JSC will review the ACC’s finances, communications and staffing needs as well as receive an update on the work of the Faith and Order Commission proposed by the Windsor Continuation Group at the 2008 Lambeth Conference, as well details of the Singapore meeting of the Anglican Covenant Design Group in September.

The JSC meeting occurs shortly after Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh announced that leaders of the Common Cause Partnership (CCP) will meet Dec. 3 in Wheaton, Ill. to endorse a draft constitution to govern the loose coalition of breakaway dioceses, congregations and Anglican jurisdictions in the United States.

While it is technically possible for a vote on a third province to come before the primates’ meeting Jan. 31 thru Feb. 5 in Alexandria, Egypt, and then be forwarded to ACC-14 in May for action this year, it is unlikely as the necessary constitutional work in forming a CCP-based North American province is not likely to be completed.

The time line for final approval could take up to two years as the diocesan conventions of the four breakaway Episcopal dioceses: San Joaquin, Pittsburgh, Quincy and Fort Worth will have to endorse the constitution over two meetings of their convention, while the Reformed Episcopal Church, the Anglican Mission in the Americas, the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, and the Kenyan and Uganda overseen churches in North America and other CCP members must ratify the constitution and amend their own governing documents so as to bring its terms into force.

International approval of the CCP document will likely be quicker, as the Gafcon (Global Anglican Future Conference) primates’ council comprising the primates of Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa and the Archbishop of Sydney are scheduled to meet after the Dec. 3 gathering in Wheaton to vote to receive the constitution. Meetings have been tentatively scheduled between the Gafcon primates and Archbishop Williams before the primates meeting in Alexandria, to seek his counsel and input into the process. However, Archbishop Williams’ approval is not a prerequisite for creating a new province for the Anglican Communion.

Membership in the ACC determines membership in the Anglican Communion. Article 3 of the Constitution of the Anglican Consultative Council vests this authority with the primates: “With the assent of two-thirds of the Primates of the Anglican Communion, the council may alter or add to the schedule” of members.

Press reports that this week’s meeting of the JSC would censure two existing provinces: America and Canada for incomplete compliance with the Windsor and Lambeth moratoria, or the Southern Cone for its support for the four breakaway dioceses, is unlikely as the JSC has no authority to take such actions. The membership schedule of the ACC is controlled by the primates, and while the JSC is free to recommend, it has no power to act in this area.

The May meeting of the ACC will likely see all of the provinces of the Anglican Communion fully represented, as the voluntary withdrawal of the US and Canadian delegations from the ACC ended with Lambeth 2008, and it is not possible to sanction the Southern Cone.

The JSC consist of the members of the primates standing committee—elected by regional blocks at the 2007 Primates’ Meeting in Dar es Salaam: Asia: Archbishop Philip Aspinall of Australia; Europe: Archbishop Barry Morgan of Wales; and the Americas: Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the Episcopal Church.

Africa’s delegate, Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda will not be attending the meeting due to a prior pastoral commitment and the continent will be represented by Archbishop Justice Akrofi of West Africa, the Church of Uganda told The Living Church. The delegate from West Asia, Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis has also been prevented from attending the meeting due to a prior commitment.

The JSC also consists of members of the ACC’s standing committee including its chairman and vice chairman: Bishop John C. Paterson of Auckland, New Zealand, and Dr. George Khoshy of South India. Elected at ACC-12 in Hong Kong to a six year term, Bishop Paterson and Dr. Khoshy will step down from office at ACC-14.

Elected at past meetings of the ACC to staggered terms of office are the regular members of the standing committee: Mrs. Philippa Amable of West Africa, Mrs. Jolly Babirukamu of Uganda, Mr. Robert Fordham of Australia, Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe of Ceylon, Canon Elizabeth Paver of the Church of England, Bishop James Tengatenga of Central Africa, and Ms. Nomfundo Walaza of Southern Africa.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams will address the JSC gathering, offering his reflections on the state of affairs within the Anglican Communion. Joining Archbishop Williams at the JSC meeting will be staff from the ACC including: the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general and the Rev. Canon Gregory Cameron, deputy secretary general

It is unlikely that either the Joint Standing Committee meeting or the May meeting of the ACC will take direct action to address the question of a third province in North America or complaints of border crossings by overseas primates in the U.S. and Canada.

Should the primates agree to the creation of a Third Province at their 2011 meeting, the matter would be brought before ACC-15 in 2012. While special meetings of the ACC and the primates meeting can be called on the initiative of their standing committees, no such meeting has ever been called, and the current political climate within the Anglican Communion does not favor expedited action.