A Report from the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Auckland

Canon Phil Ashey reports from what he sees as an “intensively stage managed and choreographed” meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council.

Canon Ashey is Chief Operating and Development Officer of the American Anglican Council.

Here’s his conclusion:

“In terms of what schemes seem to be emerging, I would respectfully suggest the following as a “pincer” movement that ACC/ACO is going to place upon confessing Anglicans:

1.  Through Continuing Indaba dialogue and stories, bolstered by the work of the BILC resources, Biblical interpretation of human sexuality and its limits will be rendered value-neutral with no limits on Biblical interpretation within the Communion. Lambeth 1.10 will be declared in effect non-binding;

2.  Then, through the new Code of Conduct and the Safe Church resolution, any objection to sexual expressions that are not Biblical will be deemed “harassment,” chilling any speech and bringing consequences to those who, in Anglican communion meetings, dare to raise the subject.”

Read his full report to see why – Read more

‘Cloak and dagger’ Archbishop of Canterbury selection

“The committee choosing the next leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans is facing growing discontent from within the Church amid clams that the long-running process has become a ‘cloak and dagger’ procedure.…

The first that the world’s 77 million Anglicans are expected to know of the identity of their new leader will be when the name is announced from Downing Street.”

– Opinion piece in today’s (UK) Telegraph.

Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Wabukala

Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, Chairman of the FCA Primates Council, has released this Pastoral Letter:

“The Primates’ Council has just concluded its October 2012 meeting in Dar es Salaam where we witnessed the blessing of God in a number of key areas:

•  In the increase of our numbers
•  Through the achievements of our April meeting
•  By the testimonies of those who are joining with us
•  In the new funding provided for our communication efforts
•  Through our decision to meet again in a Global assembly
•  By the recognition that we are not alone in this spiritual battle …”

– Read it all here.

FAQs on South Carolina and TEC

The Diocese of South Carolina has posted an FAQ to get you up to speed on what’s happening – with a timeline of events.

Global South to South Carolina: We’re praying for you

Letter from the Global South Primates Steering Committee to Bishop Mark Lawrence

“We thank God for your stand for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! We are proud that you are willing to suffer for the faith once delivered to the saints.”

Dear Bishop Mark Lawrence,

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Several of the Global South Primates met recently as we gathered in Singapore for the Installation of Rt. Rev. Rennis Ponniah as the new Bishop of Singapore.

We were saddened, but not surprised, by the news of your inhibition and possible deposition by the TEC. We all want to assure you and the Diocese of South Carolina of our continuing prayers and support. We thank God for your stand for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! We are proud that you are willing to suffer for the faith once delivered to the saints.

Please be assured that we are with you, and that our Lord is also proud of you and our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of South Carolina.

May the Lord bless you!
Yours in Christ,
+ Mouneer Egypt

The Most Revd Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis
Primate of Jerusalem & the Middle East
Bishop of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa
Chairman, Global South Primates Steering Committee

+ Ian Mauritius
The Most Revd Ian Ernest
Primate of the Indian Ocean
Bishop of Mauritius
Hon. General Secretary, Global South Primates Steering Committee

Read more

‘Episcopal Church abandons Bishop and Diocese’

Comment from the Diocese of South Carolina –

“These actions … are not just an attack upon Bishop Lawrence. They also represent an assault on  this Diocese and its congregations. Two of the three actions that the Episcopal Church claims prove his abandonment are in fact actions of the Diocesan Convention.”

Full text: Read more

‘New level of repression signalled by charges against Bishop Lawrence’

“The certification of abandonment by ECUSA’s new Disciplinary Board for Bishops, communicated to Bishop Mark Lawrence by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on October 15, 2012 raises some very troubling questions. It also evidences a new degree of repression operative in ECUSA…”

– A S Haley, Anglican lawyer writing as The Anglican Curmudgeon, takes a close look at the latest moves against South Carolina.

TEC moves against Bishop and Diocese of South Carolina

“On Monday, October 15, 2012, Bishop Mark J. Lawrence, the 14th Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina was notified by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, that on September 18, 2012 the Disciplinary Board for Bishops had certified his abandonment of The Episcopal Church.

This action by The Episcopal Church triggered two pre-existing corporate resolutions of the Diocese, which simultaneously disaffiliated the Diocese from The Episcopal Church and called a Special Convention. That Convention will be held … on Saturday, November 17, 2012. …

The Diocese has not received a signed copy of the certification and also remains uninformed of the identity of those making these charges.”

– It only took a month to let the good Bishop know.
Details from the Diocese of South Carolina including relevant documents.

Related, from last week:
Report: Glasgow Presbytery to ‘recover all property and assets’ from St George’s Tron.

Archbishop Wabukala condemns attack on Nairobi Sunday School

“Following the explosive attack at Anglican Church of Kenya St. Polycarp Parish on Juja Road in Nairobi yesterday, Archbishop Dr. Eliud Wabukala joined other religious leaders in condemning the explosive attack. …

‘This is a cruel provocation, but I appeal to Christians not to feed violence with violence, either in word or deed, because we are called to overcome evil with good’…”

– from The Anglican Communion News Service.

Crown Nominations Commission — nothing to report

“This week’s meeting of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) has been accompanied by much speculation about possible candidates and the likely timing of an announcement of the name of who will succeed Dr Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury  … There will be no comment on any speculation about candidates or about the CNC’s deliberations.”

– from the Anglican Communion News Service.

Archbishop of Canterbury interview: I don’t think I cracked it

The Telegraph in the UK has an exit interview with Archbishop Rowan Williams –

“Teetering piles of books crowd the floor of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s study. He apologises for the clutter; he is having a clear-out. Dr Rowan Williams has more than three months to go before he leaves office, yet already the preparations are under way. As we sit by the fireplace lined with icons for what he intends to be the last major interview of his episcopacy, he is happy to sift through the highs and lows of a decade at Lambeth Palace…”

– Read here.

Beware of Anglicans bearing gifts

The American Anglican Council’s Phil Ashey reflects on statements by the Anglican Communion Office’s Secretary General on the relationship of TEC to the Anglican Communion.

Canon Ashey writes:

“This is like an arsonist’s victim saying ‘What is surprising and heartening is that we are in conversation with the arsonist, and that even though our house has burned down the conversation has been a great learning experience for all of us.’

Secretary Kearon’s statement is important because it gives insight into the mind of those who are shaping the agenda for the upcoming Anglican Consultative Council meeting (ACC-15) in Auckland, New Zealand in October.”

– Read it all here.

When to jump ship?

“Anyone in a mainline denomination infected by liberalism, or some other divergence from the evangelical faith, will have faced the question of when to stay or when to go? How bad does the denomination have to get before you decide to abandon ship? Recently, this question came closer to home as an evangelical Anglican pastor in Australia, when a bishop in another diocese knowingly appointed a clergyman in an open same-sex relationship to charge of a parish. …”

– Over at The Briefing, Sandy Grant mulls the question – with help from John Charles Ryle.

Communiqué of the Global South Primates, Bangkok, 20 July 2012

“We, the Primates and representatives of 17 Global South Provinces, met in Bangkok, Thailand, from 18-20 July 2012, in conjunction with the Global South Conference on the Decade of Mission and Networking. …

6.  We note with great sadness the passing of Resolution A049 at the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church which authorized a liturgy for blessing same-sex unions. This action confirms our disappointment that The Episcopal Church has no regard for the concerns and convictions of the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide.

7.  We stand in solidarity with our brethren in the Communion Partners who have dissented from this action. …”

– from the Communiqué from the meeting.

South Carolina speaks out on TEC General Convention

The Bishop of South Carolina, Mark Lawrence, has requested that a letter be read aloud to all congregations in his diocese today, following landmark votes at the TEC General Convention during the week –

“Given these changes in the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church the question that is before us is: ‘What does being faithful to Jesus Christ look like for this diocese at this time? How are we called to live and be and act?  In this present context, how do we make Biblical Anglicans for a Global Age?’”

Read the text of his letter below – Read more

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