Global South Anglican

A statement arising from the visit of some Global South Primates to China, 21-30 October 2007

“We saw the historical relics of early Christian missions in the 7th century (Nestorian fathers) and the 16th/17th century (Jesuit missionaries like Matteo Ricci). We rejoice in those opportunities for the sharing of the Christian faith in China, but even more so in legacy of Protestant missions that began two hundred years ago with Robert Morrison’s arrival in Canton, China, on September 7, 1807. By the grace of God, the opportunities are even greater today…”

Ed: A communique will also be released soon. News was released earlier that it was posted but it was held back as some parts of it were still being revised.

Fulcrum’s articles and analysis of TEC & New Orleans can be accessed here

We welcome the comments from the Archbishop of Canterbury, contained in a recent letter to the Bishop of Central Florida, where he reminds us that “the organ of union with the wider Church is the Bishop and the Diocese rather than the Provincial structure as such,” calling this a “basic conviction of Catholic theology.”

“It should be understood that the Archbishop’s response to Bishop Howe was neither a new policy statement nor a roadmap for the future but a plain response to a very urgent and particular question about clergy in traditionalist dioceses in TEC who want to leave TEC for other jurisdictions, a response reiterating a basic presupposition of what the Archbishop believes to be the theology of the Church.

The primary point was that – theologically and sacramentally speaking – a priest is related in the first place to his/her bishop directly, not through the structure of the national church; that structure serves the dioceses. The diocese is more than a ‘local branch’ of a national organisation. Dr Williams is clear that, whatever the frustration with the national church, priests should think very carefully about leaving the fellowship of a diocese. The provincial structure is significant, not least for the administration of a uniform canon law and a range of practical functions; Dr Williams is not encouraging anyone to ignore this, simply to understand the theological priorities which have been articulated in a number of ecumenical agreements, and in the light of this not to increase the level of confusion and fragmentation in the church.”

The original letter from Ab Williams can be read here.

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia is meeting in Canberra. This evening, Tuesday 22nd October they had a discussion on the Episcopal Church.

The exchange between Bishop John Howe (Central Florida) and the Archbishop of Canterbury gives some further insight.

“Any Diocese compliant with Windsor remains clearly in communion with Canterbury and the mainstream of the Communion, whatever may be the longer-term result for others in The Episcopal Church. The organ of union with the wider Church is the Bishop and the Diocese rather than the Provincial structure as such…. I should feel a great deal happier, I must say, if those who are most eloquent for a traditionalist view in the United States showed a fuller understanding of the need to regard the Bishop and the Diocese as the primary locus of ecclesial identity rather than the abstract reality of the “National Church.” - Abp Williams

Bishop Howe’s pastoral letter here

Archbishop of Canterbury reply here.

A lengthy report but carefully done and worth the read. Read it here (PDF) or the online version at Fulcrum here

Dozens of conservative parishes will start ordaining their own clergy in an open revolt against their bishops if the Church of England continues its liberal drift, the Archbishop of Canterbury has been warned. Dr Rowan Williams was told that evangelicals would increasingly defy Church rules and their own bishops by parachuting in outsiders to carry out irregular ordinations of “orthodox” candidates. The warning came from Reform, a 1,700-strong evangelical network, which is setting up structures to allow it operate as a resistance movement within the Church.

“When the report was issued, Canon Paver noted, it was in such haste that she was shocked. “ It wasn’t in the time frame we were led to believe when we went to New Orleans. It was my understanding that it was to be a report only to the Archbishop of Canterbury and therefore it did not need to be finalized so quickly.”

An interesting report from Kendall Harmon at T19 about “A Conversation with Elizabeth Paver, member of the ACC Standing Committee”. Read here.

From a comment (#37) at T19 on two other members of JSC.

“Philippa Amable from West Africa is a longtime and very dear friend and mission partner of the Episcopal Church who just recently spent nearly a week with a group of TEC bishops in Madrid focusing on mission.  I would be surprised if anyone who knows Philippa would believe she would object to the conclusions presented here.  She certainly signed the report to the Primates earlier this year finding that TEC had already complied with two of the three requests presented to it by the Windsor Report.

Jolly Babirukamu, similarly, has been a longtime friend of TEC, a member of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network that is convened by the ACO and chaired by TEC, and was a vociferous speaker at the ACC meeting in the summer of 2005 in opposition to cutting off all of the lifelines of communion between TEC and the Provinces that disagree with TEC.  I would suspect that the reason Jolly did not respond to this is that the Anglican Peace and Justice Network is currently in the midst of its biennial meeting, in Burundi, well out of phone/blackberry connectivity. ”

Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda called the report ‘severely compromised, and the gross conflicts of interest it represents utterly undermine its credibility.’ He said the Primates did not envision the ACC inserting itself in the process while the US was ‘considering our requests. Yet, members of the [JSC] met with Presiding Bishop Schori in the course of the preparation of their House of Bishops’ statement in order to suggest certain words, which, if included in the statement, would assure endorsement by the [JSC].