by Greg Jones
The most important thing to have happened these past few weeks is that 650+ bishops gathered with their spouses for intense conversation about Scripture and mission and life in Christ. The bonds formed are the sinew of fellowship and unity in common discipleship of the Lord.
The most challenging thing - for those who did not expect something more 'earth shatteringly legislative' - is the renewal of calls for moratoria on the consecration of non-celibate gay persons to the episcopate, same-sex unions, and boundary crossing/poaching/intervening by prelates against the wishes/permission of a local bishop who is in communion with Canterbury.
In a sense we have moved no further on those questions.
We have already seen that a number of U.S. bishops will not abide the moratoria that apply to them, and the GAFCON churches will continue their incursions as well.
The fact that no process for 'doing anything about it' has been created yet - nor by this Lambeth - is important. If there is to be a process for 'doing something about' those who do not observe these moratoria - it is presumably the Covenant process - and that is many years from completion.
So this leaves us with what looks like a protracted interim period when a call for moratoria has been affirmed by the majority of Anglican bishops - but will likely be ignored by many - and during which time 'nobody will be able to do much about it.'
I think the fact that the Episcopal Church has at its last General Convention and in recent statements officially chosen to observe a de facto moratoria on the consecration of partnered gay bishops, and has no official or authorized rites of blessing (though many bishops permit them as part of non-specific pastoral care directives for the love of all faithful persons regardless of orientation) at some level this brings us closer to the moratoria then those who are actively planting an alternative Anglican ecclesiological community in North America at full-steam ahead.
In other words, I think the Episcopal Church is excercising restraint significantly in many ways - and is by no means uniform in its status vis a vis these moratoria. We should keep that up.
We should keep that up - allowing the decisions of the last General Convention to stand for years to come. In the mean time, we should be building heartily on the relationships formed by our bishops at Lambeth this time around - so that all the orders of ministry in the Episcopal Church may feel the bonds of communion with non-U.S. dioceses and churches. Moreover, in that time, we should allow ourselves to be touched by overseas Anglicans - and to let them to know who we are and how we are followers of Christ as well. We should keep up the maximum exercise of restraint as we have been - following the P.B.'s own lead and the actions of the 2006 General Convention. We should also be moving rapidly forward in mission - following the five marks of mission and also using the M.D.G.s as helpful guides to making a transforming difference in the world.
In the next five to ten years, I believe that we will be able to stand with the majority of other Anglican churches around the world in this way - and that the long-term health of that communion will grow. Moreover, over that period, I believe a sufficiently brief and faithful Covenant will be promulgated - that neither centralizes the Anglican Communion, while perhaps also doing something new and good.
Now is the time for moderation and patience and humility from the Episcopal Church - as well as redoubled efforts at true Gospel Based Discipleship so that we make disciples and make a difference in the world. I believe this way forward will bring the maximum good to our own Church, and to the wider communion.
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7 comments:
I wonder, if as an interim measure, the Episcopal Church might consider what pastoral care for gay and lesbian folks (like myself) apart from blessings would look like. The statement from canada about a year or so ago comes to mind.
Rev. Boy, How about this suggestion from Tobias Haller --
4.0. The church teaches that the nuptial ministers are the couple themselves, whose vows are blessed, not constituted, by the church. One of the earliest western marriage liturgies, in the sixth century Gallic tradition, consisted of a blessing of the couple in their home. I therefore suggest that:
4.1. Until a wider consensus is achieved on the rightness of blessing same-sex relationships in an ecclesiastical setting, The Episcopal Church not proceed with the development of a liturgical rite, or its authorization.
4.2. Recognizing that priests are ordained to pronounce God’s blessing, and that no further authorization is needed for a priest to bless than there is to preach; and that the liturgy “The Celebration of a Home” in the Book of Occasional Services is authorized for use in this church, without further permission from the Bishop being necessary; and that this liturgy provides for the blessing of the residents of the household; that it be recognized that the use of such liturgy is within the ambit of pastoral care.
4.3. The the church include in its studies and discussion the issue of the role of the church in those civil jurisdictions in which same-sex relationships are licensed, and the larger issue of the interaction between civil and ecclesiastical law in this area.
Brother Greg, I appreciate the optimism that a covenant will be reached that we can embrace. I am not sanguine. I fear Rowan's commitment to a "church" instead of a "communion" will play out in the Covenant process, and something new and barely recognizable will result.
Brother Marshall,
I gather that most on the left-of-center side of things also fear that -- but I am hoping that those fears will not be realized.
I also share with Rowan a vision of the church - rooted in the Gospel and the Catholic Church vision of Michael Ramsey. I guess I'm Anglo-Catholic that way - ecclesiologically. However, I don't believe this means that 'church' and 'communion' are antithetical as your comment might suggest.
Tobias' suggestion would seem to fall outside the parameters outlined by the Archbishop of Canterbury at his final presser at Lambeth 2008. Rowan Williams made clear his opinion that any liurgical form was beyond the "pastoral care" provision.
Tobias' suggestion would seem to fall outside the parameters outlined by the Archbishop of Canterbury at his final presser at Lambeth 2008. Rowan Williams made clear his opinion that any liturgical form was beyond the "pastoral care" provision.
Tobias' suggestion would seem to fall outside the parameters outlined by the Archbishop of Canterbury at his final presser at Lambeth 2008. Rowan Williams made clear his opinion that any liturgical form was beyond the "pastoral care" provision.
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