BREAKING NEWS...ACNA Recognized in Spirited Debate by Church of England Synod

Archbishops of Canterbury and York must report back to Synod next year.

By David W. Virtue in London
www.virtueonline.org
2/10/2010

A spirited debate by the Church of England Synod saw the newly formed Anglican Church in North American recognized by all three houses – bishops, clergy and laity in an overwhelming vote.

The final vote was 309 in favor, 69 against and 17 recorded abstentions.

The following is the final draft of the resolution.

“That this Synod aware of the distress caused by recent divisions within the Anglican churches of the United States of America, recognize and affirm the desire of those who have formed the Anglican church in North America (ACNA) to remain within the Anglican family; acknowledge that this aspiration, in respect both of relations with the Church of England and membership of the Anglican Communion, raises issues which the relevant authorities of each need to explore further; and invite the Archbishops to report further to the Synod in 2011.”

The original motion by Lorna Ashley, “that this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America,” was defeated. She expressed satisfaction with the final amended resolution.

The original motion went through several amendments, but the final vote after nearly three hours of debate made it clear that ACNA deserved to be recognized as Anglican but delegates needed a year to think and pray over it. Both the Archbishops of Canterbury and York voted for the final amended resolution.

On any kind of reading the passage of this resolution sends a signal to The Episcopal Church that they are not the only Anglican players in North America and the actions of TEC at GC2009 accelerated what took place here today.

Many will view this as a slap in the face at Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and an affirmation of the ministry and ecclesiastical of ACNA Archbishop Robert Duncan.

One observer said this should have been a decade’s long process but it was clearly truncated and brought to a head by actions of the Episcopal Church over passage of two resolutions D025 and C056 last summer in Anaheim, California.

More to come