Six conservative bishops have banded together in the hope of influencing the overwhelmingly liberal House of Bishops in the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC). The six have pledged to observe with “gracious restraint” the three-fold moratoria of the Windsor Report.

Although the six have been dubbed “gracious restraint bishops,” there is no official name for their association. Nor is it formally related with a similar American group, Communion Partners.

The group includes three relatively new bishops — the Rt. Revs. Stephen Andrews (Algoma), Michael Hawkins (Saskatchewan) and Fraser Lawton (Athabasca) — and three longtime bishops: William Anderson (Caledonia), Andrew Atagotaaluk (Arctic) and Larry Robertson (Yukon). At the April meeting of the House of Bishops they declared:

“We are pleased to announce the establishment of an association of bishops in the Anglican Church of Canada who are committed to a policy of ‘gracious restraint,’ embodied in observing the three-fold moratoria as enjoined by the Windsor Report. Between ourselves we agree to observe the discipline of the Windsor moratoria until such time as there is clarity in the Communion about the final status of the Anglican Covenant and our mutual obligations.”

The primates had urged the Communion to exercise “gracious restraint” when they met in Alexandria in 2009 and the principle has been a significant factor in developing the Anglican Covenant.

The three-fold moratoria include consecrating clergy to the office of bishop who are living in a same-sex relationship, authorizing public rites of blessing for same-sex couples, and interventions by bishops into ecclesiastical provinces other than their own.

The ACC has not yet consecrated any actively gay clergy to the episcopate and has not as a national body officially approved same-sex blessings. However, 10 jurisdictions out of 30 — one third of the province —allow such rites, with two more pending.

The third moratorium was broken by three retired ACC bishops — the Rt. Revs. Ronald Ferris, Malcolm Harding and Donald Harvey — when they relinquished their licenses with the ACC and became active bishops in the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC). Currently four ACC dioceses are in court over property disputes with 11 ANiC parishes. (A fifth, the Diocese of Ottawa, recently reached an out-of-court settlement with two ANiC parishes.)

The six bishops issued a statement declaring the purposes of their new association:

  1. To provide fellowship, support and accountability for those who are committed to remaining within the Anglican Church of Canada and the Anglican Communion;
  2. To encourage some of our episcopal colleagues who are themselves in dioceses deeply conflicted on matters dividing the church;
  3. To preserve and promote the conditions for constructive discussion of the nature of Communion and the place of the Covenant, particularly in light of General Synod’s express will that we study the Anglican Covenant;
  4. To respond to a call issuing from across the church for greater episcopal leadership regarding matters threatening our fellowship; and
  5. To issue a message to the wider Communion that there is an association of Canadian bishops who greatly value the efforts being made to strengthen our common life through the Covenant.

The new group represents only one fifth of the House of Bishops. Although conservative bishops have been elected since 2007, they only have replaced conservatives who have retired or moved.

The association is open to any bishop who shares these commitments, but Bishops Andrews and Robertson said they had not heard any response or interest from their episcopal colleagues. Andrews added, however, that “there are others in the House who are sympathetic to our cause.”

Andrews explained in an interview with TLC that “the purpose of the group is not so much to ‘help’ theologically conservative bishops as it is to promote conditions that would help the church deepen its understanding of the nature of communion. There certainly is a degree of fellowship, support and accountability that exists between those of us who have signed the document — it is always difficult being in the minority. But in forming this association we are primarily wanting to make a constructive contribution to our common life.”

He continued: “The primary focus of our action is the House of Bishops. But we do hope that our efforts will be an encouragement to others outside the house who value the Anglican Communion and view with concern actions which threaten the integrity of our Anglican fellowship.”

Andrews quoted British theologian John Stott, who says that orthodox Anglicans “have three options before us: to get out; to give in; or to stay in and refuse to give in.” Andrews said he has chosen the last option.

When asked why he has remained within the ACC, Bishop Robertson replied, “As a bishop I have tried to be honest in standing against what I believe to be erroneous teaching in the church. I have, along with others, made a stand in my diocese, and at provincial and national synods. However, as bishop I have also a responsibility to those God has given me to serve. I am responsible in part for their spiritual care and growth. I cannot do this by abandoning them. Although many have chosen to ignore it, the canons of the national church in this area have not changed.”

He added: “It is my understanding that we are to proclaim the Gospel to all and not just the like-minded.”

Bishop Andrews said that he found Jesus’ parable of the wheat and tares helpful. “Up until the time they bear fruit, the tares and wheat resemble each other. It is because of this ambiguity Jesus urges caution and patience. While we must not ignore false teaching or trivialize disloyalty to Christ, our job is not to purify the kingdom. Our job is to advance it by proclaiming the word and will of Jesus to those who disagree with us. Who knows? As St Augustine said, ‘Those who are tares today may be wheat tomorrow.’”

Sue Careless, in Toronto


Hat tip: Lisa Aldrich