Beloved in Christ,
Repercussions from the Episcopal Church (TEC) General Convention in Anaheim, California continue to reverberate around the USA and the world. Any analysis of TEC's actions requires a "new think" dictionary so that one can understand what they say versus what they mean. When they say "generous pastoral care" or "generous pastoral response" for example, it doesn't necessarily mean generosity which is extended to everyone (unless we include "generous legal persecution" as an element of said generosity).
When reading material from the dominant revisionist side of TEC, constantly ask yourself what they mean by these new words and word structures that they are coining-they are almost never what the plain English meaning would suggest. Regarding the passage of D025 which affirmed the church's intent to permit gay bishops, the TEC official news organ reported the next morning that the previous moratorium represented by B033 from 2006 was overturned. This accidental revelation of the truth by their own media was viewed with alarm by the political spinmeisters working with President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson and Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori, and the article was quickly followed the next day by assurances that although the words in D025 said that all orders of ministry would be open to all people inclusive of gay, lesbian, etc., it didn't overturn B033 which said that the church wouldn't ordain such to the episcopate. On which day was TEC telling the truth? Then the legislation was passed which authorized marriage/same-sex union rites to be done on a local diocesan level as part of a "generous pastoral response." All of this happens while the top leadership marginalizes the few orthodox bishops, clergy and laity left in TEC and stresses that TEC wants to be a part of the global Anglican Communion, but on their own terms.
Realizing that they had slapped Dr. Rowan Williams in the face with their actions after he had journeyed from London to Anaheim and made a special appeal not to make things more difficult, TEC leaders wrote to Dr. Williams explaining what they did and what they didn't actually do. A lie told often enough seems to gain a scintilla of truth in the ear that hears it repeatedly. TEC means to push ahead with its current heresies, false doctrines and aberrant practices, and find new ones to add, and yet demand that they be fully a part of the Anglican Communion. There is also a near-frantic concern among TEC leaders that the Anglican Communion in North America (ACNA) not be given any recognition by the Communion, as that will set up an equivalency that they can't live with.
One of the notable things about the General Convention was that there didn't seem to be nearly as many people there as in previous conventions. The exhibit hall had many empty stalls where no one had placed a booth. No one seemed to be walking the exhibit hall visiting the booths except other exhibitors and a few deputies and volunteers trying to gain relief from the meetings. The absence of the four dioceses that have left TEC and joined ACNA, and the people who might otherwise have been there to advocate for conservative causes was apparent. TEC members attributed the decline in participation to the economy. The American Anglican Council (AAC) did have a booth, and we monitored the committee meetings and prepared a daily briefing given at lunch each day. The AAC also had a daily orthodox Eucharist at the Doubletree Hotel, where its headquarters were set up. Orthodox bishops and priests still in TEC took turns as celebrant, preacher and Gospeller. Other orthodox exhibitors found their way over for Eucharist on many occasions, and this gave the faithful an opportunity to check in with each other and stay up to date on what was happening.
It must have seemed exhilarating to the revisionists to have little opposition and to realize that they now had the votes to pass just about anything they wanted. It does, however, signal a grave season for the orthodox Episcopal bishops and their people who are caught in a system that means to replace them with liberal heterodox bishops and priests at the first opportunity. Though some may have been promised security if they are loyal, that train may not go where they were told, and they need to have an alternative plan in hand. It is time for the Communion Partners and the ACNA to work together, and to work with the larger Anglican Communion in a more united way.
While we know that the issues which the Anglican Communion faces aren't ours alone, we are reminded of this with a request from a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) who reads our material. He asks if the orthodox Anglicans would pray for the upcoming (Aug 17-23) ELCA convention and the people in the parishes as they deal with the outcome of decisions made there. The ELCA is following in the path of The Episcopal Church and, it seems, will experience the same hurts and struggles that Anglicans have known over the last 6 years.
Two documents on sexuality issues will be considered at the 2009 ELCA assembly. One is a proposed social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust." Social statements are theological and teaching documents that form the basis for policy in the ELCA. The other, a "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies," asks the assembly to consider a process to change ministry policies to make it possible for Lutherans who are in "publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gendered relationships" to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers. Both documents were mandated by previous church-wide assemblies. Sounds like things the Episcopalians have already had to endure.
According to the committee report, 37 synods sent memorials calling for the church-wide assembly to adopt the proposed social statement, and five called for its rejection. The report listed 34 synods that sent memorials favoring adoption of the ministry recommendation, and 12 called for rejection of the recommendation. Some synods suggested amendments to one or both documents.
Let's remember to pray for our Lutheran Christian brothers and sisters as they go through the same refiner's fire that we are in, and pray that the orthodox will emerge faithful and strong.
Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council
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