Interpreting the Anglican Crisis in North America

Over the last few years it's been interesting to view how the Anglican crisis in North America has been portrayed by orthodox Anglicans and Episcopalians in North America. The ACNA often uses the exodus experience of Israel as its reference point for the current situation. Israel went to Egypt to seek refuge during a famine, Egypt was gracious to Israel, but then turned harsh. Israel fled Egypt under the hand of God.

For decades or longer pecusa has been a mixed society of orthodox and heterodox Christians. It was once a bastion of orthodoxy, but in more recent days pecusa has become highly inhospitable to orthodox believers. Somewhere along the line pecusa ceased to exhibit the marks of the church and so the entitiies of the ACNA were created as ways out of an organization that was once a church. The exodus began in the 19th century with the Reformed Episcopal Church and continued in the late 20th century with the continuing churches. In the year 2000, the AMIA was born and it was followed by CANA and other jurisdictions under the auspices of foreign primates. The exodus from pecusa continues to this day and in addition to planting new congregations the ACNA unites congregations from her different entities.

A second reading of the situation is by the ACI and others who are committed to remain in pecusa. They see the situation through the exilic prophets. In their view pecusa has turned her back on God just as Israel and Judah did. The current crisis is God's judgement on pecusa, but at some point pecusa may repent and return to the Lord. Whether that happens or not, according to this view, orthodox believers in pecusa should not separate from their errant church. These folks believe that while the marks of the church are not evident universally throughout pecusa, the official documents of pecusa, including the prayer book, as well as sufficient orthodox numbers militate against the view that pecusa has ceased to be a church.

In reading Walter Brueggemann's commentary on Jeremiah I discovered what might be another way to look at the current situation. In his section on chapter 38, WB says

"We are very close to the end of the long rule of the Davidic line. No wonder there is tension, hostility, distrust, and panic among the leaders." [2:145]

As pecusa continues to diminish in size and influence we see the tension, hostility, distrust, and panic among her leaders. The litigation is the most glarring illustration of this. Is pecusa in the death throes that might indicate that we are very close to the end of any significant role for pecusa in the work of God in North America and worldwide? The financial assets of pecusa indicate otherwise, but we certainly do not see any growth in pecusa that would argue for a bright future.

WB: "The crisis in the narrative concerns the way in which the holy purpose of God works against the present, perceived well-being of Jerusalem." [2:146]

The kicker is that Jerusalem was already in bad shape. Just as pecusa tries to pretend that All is Well, Judah attempted to believe that all was well. Yet, God was at work through Babylon to bring forth His purposes. While the ACNA is not Babylon, could it be that God is working out His purposes through this means?

WB: "The population of Jerusalem has two policy options: It can surrender to Babylon or resist. Surrender, so the prophet asserts, will permit life. Resistance will mean death." [2:147]

This is where my interpretation gets interesting. pecusa decided a while ago to surrender to Babylon (meaning secular culture). pecusa has adopted political correctness, inclusivity, and tolerance, rather than Biblical norms. Instead of resisting Babylon, pecusa resists the efforts of those who would lead pecusa back to obedience to God. pecusa believes that to resist Babylon will mean death, but the opposite is true! pecusa has adopted the ways of Babylon and has been dying ever since. The resistance that pecusa maintains is against the orthodox who would bring life back to pecusa.

Now, before any pecusa sharpie says it I will - WB is supportive of much that pecusa has promulgated over the last decade or so. Even so, I believe that my use of his commentary suggests another reading of the current Anglican crisis in North America.