A GAME OF CHICKEN

from Midwest Conservative Journal by The Editor

The Global South weighs in on the Dublin Primates’ Meeting:

There have been various interests and concerns expressed about the absence of some Global South Primates at the forthcoming Dublin Primates’ Meeting.

Where these Primates are concerned, arriving at such decision was not a sudden or knee-jerk reaction. Both before, and more so after, The Episcopal Church has once again proceeded, against widespread appeals and warnings across the Anglican Communion, not least from the Archbishop of Canterbury himself, to consecrate an openly lesbian Mary Glasspool as bishop. The concerned group of Global South Primates had communicated very clearly with the Archbishop of Canterbury, especially those who were present at the All African Bishops’ Conference (Entebbe, Uganda Aug 2010), in a private conversation with him. They have indicated that it would be extremely difficult – and in fact, quite pointless – for them to be present at the planned Primates’ Meeting 2011.

If the Americans refuse to adhere to agreed-upon Anglican standards without any cost to them, what is the point of having meetings like this at all?

Unless and until there is unequivocal commitment to honour the agreed basis of Lambeth Resolution 1.10 and implement the decisions of previous Primates’ Meetings (2005, 2007, 2009) expressed in the respective Communiqués, especially that of Dar es Salem 2007, it will only lead to further erosion of the credibility of the Primates’ Meeting and accentuate our failure to honour the work already done by them.

You know what, Dr. Williams? We are really getting tired of this implicit notion you seem to have that the West is there to teach but we’re only there to learn.

What is most disturbing and difficult is that given the intractable miry situation the Communion is already in and being further driven into, there was hardly any timely and intentional prior consultation and collegial engagement of all concerned (or at least as many as reasonably possible) in preparing for the Meeting to ensure certain degree of significant and principally legitimate outcome to hold and move the Communion together. In light of the critical importance of the Meeting, the preparations are gravely inadequate.

Some of us would love to attend a meeting that actually made a decision about something.

As it stands, the Meeting is almost pre-determined to end up as just another gathering that again cannot bring about effective ecclesial actions, despite the precious time, energy and monetary resources that Primates and Provinces have invested in attending the Meeting. This, most Provinces could scarcely afford. With the disappointingly lack of serious transparent planning and leadership beforehand to prepare the Primates for a genuine meeting of minds and hearts to face the very real and obvious issues before us, it will be strenuous to expect any significant, meaningful, credible and constructive outcome of the Dublin Meeting.

But at the end of the day…

This stance is in fact an expression of Global South Primates’ commitment to continue to be constructively and responsibly engaged in the apostolic life and witness of the global Anglican Communion.

They’re whining about this letter at Naughton’s place (actually treating…gasp…Africans as…as…equals?! Well I never!) so there’s some merit in it. But that last sentence tells me that this is just another traditionalist Anglican line in the sand no different than the countless lines they’ve drawn before.

I don’t think the Global South primates know or can face the fact that Rowan Williams is not on their side. Hence his continual evasions and delays ever since 2003.

And so, naively, they constantly expect Dr. Williams to somehow fix all this, unwilling or unable to grasp that His Grace doesn’t want to fix all this. Ever. Because fixing all this would require disciplining the Americans and Canadians, something my gracious lord of Canterbury will not make himself do.

The Global South is right about one thing. This meeting is going to be a complete waste of everyone’s time. Doesn’t have to be; traditionalists could go to Dublin, demand that Mrs. Schori and Mr Hiltz be expelled from the meeting and immediately walk out if Dr. Williams suggests talking things over some more.

But they won’t. The Canterbury connection is too important too them. Until that connection is recognized for what it has become, the problems of the Anglican Communion are not going to be solved.

Ever.