Monday, June 22, 2009

Anglican Church in North America Birthday

Today, at the Bedford, Texas gathering of delegates representing what has been known for the past year or so as the Common Cause Partnership a new constitution has been approved, and a new ecclesial community born.  The Anglican Church in North America has also named former Episcopalian bishop Robert Duncan as its archbishop.  Though deposed from holy orders by The Episcopal Church, Duncan has been recognized by several non-U.S. Anglican provinces as a bishop in good standing anyway.  The Anglican Church in North America is not a province of the Anglican Communion, but it is being recognized by several provinces anyway.  As well, significantly high ranking non-Anglican figures were present at the meeting, notably Pastor Rick Warren, Orthodox Metropolitan Jonah, and a high ranking cleric from the Missouri Synod Lutherans.

On the one hand, while the ACNA has declared The Episcopal Church, and significant portions of the Anglican Communion (including Canterbury), as fundamentally flawed apostate churches which no longer are to be recognized as valid, they also claim to be rooted in the love of God in Christ.

To put it bluntly, the two claims are necessary in order for them to have any validity or integrity themselves.  Firstly, of course, if they are not rooted in the love of God in Christ, then they are not in anyway Christian.  Secondly, but importantly, unless it is true that The Episcopal Church and large portions of the Anglican Communion (centered as it is in Canterbury) are invalid as Churches, then the ACNA has moved too autonomously, too precipitously, and against normative Anglican methods and identity.

Time and the Holy Spirit will tell.

For now, it is up to The Episcopal Church and the wider communion to focus on the first and primary question of all -- 'Are We Rooted and Totally Focused on the Love of God in Christ?'

That's our claim to Christian identity, and ultimately, the only reason we or the Anglican Communion should exist anyway.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

This is a thoughtful and cogent post. Thanks for telling the tale. Time, as you quite aptly put it, will tell. Until then I pray that we all seek to more deeply root ourselves in the Love of God in Christ....All of us.

JohnThreeSixteen said...

While I agree that TEC has made some ill-advised moves in the past, I have absolutely no sympathy for the moves that ACNA has taken. By taking the moves that they have taken, they have made it clear that they believe the issue of sexuality to be a fundamental Christian Doctrine. This is completely contrary to Anglican theology as we have always known it. They have made it very clear that they have rejected the Biblical principle of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, one of the key issues that separated us, and continues to separate us, from the Church of Rome and the Eastern Churches (who ironically are invited to this little party). We believe that it is it is through FAITH IN CHRIST, NOT OUR WORKS that we come to our salvation. Exactly what part of this do these ACNA people not understand? If you believe that good works are necessary to be saved, go to Rome or Constantinople.

And if ACNA wants to talk about Apostasy, let's look at some of their activities.

Lies. They consistently portray Jack Spong and Kevin Thew Forrester and their ilk as representing mainstreem thought in the Episcopal Church. This is not true and they know it. They have also accused the Presiding Bishop as being part of this ilk. This is also false, and they know this as well.

Associations. Where should we begin? Let's take a look at some of them

Rick Warren: Believes that being a Christian will make you a millionare.

Richard Mellon Scaife: Everybody knows that Bob Duncan recieved billions from him for his efforts to divide TEC. Take a look at some of the other organizations that Scaife finances. you will find that some of them have goals that are not exactly very Christian.

and Last but not least...

Dr. Peter Jasper Akinola: If you are looking for somebody who embodies Apostasy, I can't think of very many better examples than this. Believing that a certain activity is immoral is certainly legitimate. But there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING Biblical about advocating the MURDER of people who engage in said activity. I am not sure where I fall on the issue of whether or not homosexuality is a sin. but i can say with pretty good conviction that they do not deserve to be killed.

Daniel Weir said...

I will be thankful if ACNA can be an instrument to unite these various groups. I would even be willing to have more than one member church of the Communion in the US, but that would require, I think, that ACHA and its allies in the Communion recognize the Episcopal Church as a valid expression of Anglicanism. Given the angry rhetoric from some ACNA leaders, this is highly unlikely. What is more likely is a split in the Communiuon, with some churches belonging to a Communion centered in Africa, and others belonging to one centered in Canterbury. The real failing here is that people on all sides have fallen prey to the temptation of believing "I have no need of you."

Unknown said...

Well, Canterbury is not apostate. Not sure where you got that idea, sir, but Bob Duncan is in regular contact with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

bb

James said...

You do need to back up this claim, I have never seen it made before:
"On the one hand, while the ACNA has declared The Episcopal Church, and significant portions of the Anglican Communion (including Canterbury), as fundamentally flawed apostate churches which no longer are to be recognized as valid"
In particular, Canterbury - and also other portions. Please provide quotes instead of opinions that this has been done.

Greg Jones said...

In his address, delivered as something of a keynote for the event, Archbishop Akinola declared that "a sizable part of the Communion is in error and not a few are apostate." This gets to the heart of The Anglican dilemma. The issues now separating liberals and conservatives within the global Anglican Communion are no longer matters on which compromise can be reached. To the contrary, the doctrinal and theological explosions connected to the issues of human sexuality and biblical authority have distilled the fundamental issues down to what is considered non-negotiable by both sides. Conservatives are unwilling to surrender biblical authority and the liberals are unwilling to surrender their determination to normalize homosexuality and other liberal causes. In reality, the division has already happened -- all that remains is the final form of the division.

Greg Jones said...

The above quotation was from Albert Mohler. Ruth Gledhill continues the same coverage of the GAFCON address of Abp Akinola:

Giving the dismal history of the whole sorry business to date, he said: 'Rejecting all entreaties, Lambeth Palace chose not to be bothered about that which troubles us; decided to stick to its own plans and to erect the walls of 2008 Lambeth Conference on the shaky and unsafe foundations of our brokenness.'

Gafcon is essentially a rescue mission, he said.

'Our beloved Anglican Communion must be rescued from the manipulation of those who have denied the gospel and its power to transform and to save; those who have departed from the scripture and the faith ‘once and for all delivered to the saints’ from those who are proclaiming a new gospel, which really is no gospel at all, {Gal 1.} In the wisdom and strength God supplies we must rescue what is left of the Church from error of the apostates.'

Greg Jones said...

Another quotation:

From Anglican Mainstream:

Statement on the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Jamaica, from the President of the Anglican Church League, Rev. Dr. Mark Thompson:

“We have once again been shown how firmly apostasy and deception is embedded in the international structures of Anglicanism. There is no hope for the future there.”

Greg Jones said...

BB, et. al, are you kidding?