LIVING INSIDE THEIR HEADS
Is it just me or does Fred Hiltz seem a bit rattled?
The leader of the Anglican Church of Canada has emerged from his Dec. 6 meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury-elect, Justin Welby, feeling “very optimistic about his leadership.”
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, noted Welby’s “extensive ministry of reconciliation” and told the Journal that, “I get is a sense that he wants to be personally pro-active to build relations.
During his meeting with Welby, Hiltz said he mentioned ongoing concern about efforts by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) to be recognized by the Church of England. Composed of Anglicans who have left the Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church in the U.S., ACNA describes itself as “an emerging Province in the global Anglican Communion.”
Hiltz said he requested that if bodies of the Church of England are to meet with representatives of ACNA, “in fairness, they should also meet with us to get a better picture.” Welby was “very appreciative” of the place of the Anglican Church of Canada in the Communion and the contributions it has been able to make, added Hiltz.
Mind if I indulge in a little totally-off-the-wall speculation? Doesn’t much matter since I’m going to do it anyway because I run this joint. Anyway, after reading Fred just now, an idea popped into my head. That picture I posted here the other day of the Pope meeting with Archbishop Robert Duncan was a signal.
To Canterbury.
Right now, the Anglican Church in North America has about as much international recognition as the Episcopalians do. Bob Duncan just preached at the enthronement of Uganda’s new Anglican primate, the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali; neither Fred nor Kate would have been allowed in the door in any official capacity.
As far as the GAFCON provinces, the most vital in the Anglican Communion, are concerned, there is only one Anglican primate in North America and his name is Robert Duncan. Whether it realizes it or not, ACNA is already part of an “Anglican Communion.” This one just doesn’t have an official name yet.
Throw that picture into the mix and ACNA may be telling incoming Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, “Your predecessor’s actions taught us that the Americans call the shots in the Anglican Communion so we know that any sort of ‘official’ recognition won’t happen any time soon if it ever happens at all.
“And we’re okay with that. We wouldn’t say no to a Lambeth invitation but if Kate vetoes it, we’d be fine with that too. Our ‘official’ Anglican friends have always been delighted to invite us to their international meetings and we suppose that they’ll continue to do so. Bob Duncan will rack up just as many frequent-flyer miles and Fred and Kate.
“As for that picture of Duncan meeting Benedict XVI, we know as well as you do that the Pope meets with non-Catholic Christian leaders all the time. And we also know that Benedict could not possibly care less who’s an ‘official’ Anglican and who isn’t.
“So isn’t it funny that our archbishop got a photo-op with His Holiness that your two ‘official’ North American primates could not possibly get? And who knows, maybe we’ll get the same kind of ongoing theological discussions going with the Roman Catholics that you’ve had and continue to have, much to your credit.
“Which would make us…basically the same as you, as far as Rome is concerned. They talk to you, they talk to us; to the braised-mahi-mahi-in-a-lemon-ginger-sauce-snappers, one Anglican is the same as another.
“What say we bottom-line it for you, Your Grace. If you don’t want to “officially” recognize us, that’s your call. But unlike you, we’re winning souls here. And the other divisions in your army call us brothers so what you think doesn’t matter all that much.”
The leader of the Anglican Church of Canada has emerged from his Dec. 6 meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury-elect, Justin Welby, feeling “very optimistic about his leadership.”
Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, noted Welby’s “extensive ministry of reconciliation” and told the Journal that, “I get is a sense that he wants to be personally pro-active to build relations.
During his meeting with Welby, Hiltz said he mentioned ongoing concern about efforts by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) to be recognized by the Church of England. Composed of Anglicans who have left the Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church in the U.S., ACNA describes itself as “an emerging Province in the global Anglican Communion.”
Hiltz said he requested that if bodies of the Church of England are to meet with representatives of ACNA, “in fairness, they should also meet with us to get a better picture.” Welby was “very appreciative” of the place of the Anglican Church of Canada in the Communion and the contributions it has been able to make, added Hiltz.
Mind if I indulge in a little totally-off-the-wall speculation? Doesn’t much matter since I’m going to do it anyway because I run this joint. Anyway, after reading Fred just now, an idea popped into my head. That picture I posted here the other day of the Pope meeting with Archbishop Robert Duncan was a signal.
To Canterbury.
Right now, the Anglican Church in North America has about as much international recognition as the Episcopalians do. Bob Duncan just preached at the enthronement of Uganda’s new Anglican primate, the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali; neither Fred nor Kate would have been allowed in the door in any official capacity.
As far as the GAFCON provinces, the most vital in the Anglican Communion, are concerned, there is only one Anglican primate in North America and his name is Robert Duncan. Whether it realizes it or not, ACNA is already part of an “Anglican Communion.” This one just doesn’t have an official name yet.
Throw that picture into the mix and ACNA may be telling incoming Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, “Your predecessor’s actions taught us that the Americans call the shots in the Anglican Communion so we know that any sort of ‘official’ recognition won’t happen any time soon if it ever happens at all.
“And we’re okay with that. We wouldn’t say no to a Lambeth invitation but if Kate vetoes it, we’d be fine with that too. Our ‘official’ Anglican friends have always been delighted to invite us to their international meetings and we suppose that they’ll continue to do so. Bob Duncan will rack up just as many frequent-flyer miles and Fred and Kate.
“As for that picture of Duncan meeting Benedict XVI, we know as well as you do that the Pope meets with non-Catholic Christian leaders all the time. And we also know that Benedict could not possibly care less who’s an ‘official’ Anglican and who isn’t.
“So isn’t it funny that our archbishop got a photo-op with His Holiness that your two ‘official’ North American primates could not possibly get? And who knows, maybe we’ll get the same kind of ongoing theological discussions going with the Roman Catholics that you’ve had and continue to have, much to your credit.
“Which would make us…basically the same as you, as far as Rome is concerned. They talk to you, they talk to us; to the braised-mahi-mahi-in-a-lemon-ginger-sauce-snappers, one Anglican is the same as another.
“What say we bottom-line it for you, Your Grace. If you don’t want to “officially” recognize us, that’s your call. But unlike you, we’re winning souls here. And the other divisions in your army call us brothers so what you think doesn’t matter all that much.”
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