Global South Anglican

In a wide-ranging interview, the Canadian Anglican theologian J.I. Packer talked with David W. Virtue about the state of the Anglican Communion at the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) Winter Conference in Dallas, Texas.

As Anglican Christians, both within and outside TEC, what are we to make of the disciplinary process against Pittsburgh’s Bishop, Robert Duncan, now initiated by the Presiding Bishop?  In brief, I would urge TEC and other Anglican bishops to pray for and take action so that this process pauses indefinitely.  They should do this for the sake of genuinely seeking discernment and resolution as to the ordering of our common life as Anglicans.  There is nothing that legally demands that the process be carried through at this point and in the manner now laid out.  There is every Christian reason to work for some other outcome.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams today launched the official programme for Lambeth Conference 2008 Equipping Bishops for Mission at Lambeth Palace. Joining Dr Williams on the panel were Archbishop Ellison Pogo (Archbishop of Melanesia and Chairman of the Design Group) and Archbishop Ian Ernest (Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean). Mrs Jane Williams outlined the plans for the Spouses’ Conference which is being held alongside the bishops’ conference. Jane Williams was joined by Margaret Sentamu. 30 bishops from 17 provinces around the Anglican Communion also joined the press conference.

During the service, the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, issued a statement of apology to the Hindu religious community for centuries-old acts of religious discrimination by Christians, including attempts to convert them…

In June 2008 archbishops and bishops from both the Evangelical and Anglo-catholic wings of the church, who lead 30 million of the world’s 55 million active Anglicans will make pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  They are travelling to the places of Christ’s ministry and where the gift of the Holy Spirit was first poured out, to strengthen them for what they believe will be difficult days ahead.

The vision, according to Archbishop Nzimbi of Kenya is to inform and inspire invited leaders “to seek transformation in our own lives and help impact communities and societies through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”. 

More at Anglican Mainstream

The Church of England’s response can be read here.

The Church of Scotland’s response can be read here

The Church of Ireland’s proposes their own version of the draft covenant. Read here

Anglican Church of Aoterea and New Zealand’s response can be read here

(The Anglican Covenant Draft can be read here)

Details on San Joaquin’s inhibition can be read here and here.

And now, Pittsburg is on the cards too. Read here and here.

Fort Worth too. Read here.

Ed’s observation: TEC should consider whether she is closing whatever channels still left for reconciliation by taking such punitive actions and going against the advice of the Primates at Dar Es Salaam.  The rest of the Communion will not sit idly by.

A response by Michael Poon to Andrew Goddard

In making this public support, I ask fellow presbyters across the Communion to join in to reaffirm the responsibilities we received at our ordination and rekindle the gift the Holy Spirit has endowed us, that we may find refreshed vision to labour for the sake of the Communion at this finest hour in our Communion’s history. We can be confident in this undertaking because our Lord Jesus Christ has sanctified us with his Word and has called us to communion with the triune God. This offers us the secure basis upon which we can engage in “serious discussion” and “common discernment” together. God’s Word sanctifies human speech, and makes truth-speaking possible. We thus believe, and so we boldly speak; and in so doing share in the divine calling to effect the sanctification of the Communion and of the wider world that God has redeemed in Christ.

The 8th National Conference of the TSPM/CCC has just concluded in Beijing and the names of the new leaders have been announced.

A great deal of the language that is around in the Communion at present seems to presuppose that any change from our current deadlock is impossible, that division is unavoidable and that any such division represents so radical a difference in fundamental faith that no recognition and future co-operation can be imagined. I cannot accept these assumptions, and I do not believe that as Christians we should see them as beyond challenge, least of all as we think and pray our way through Advent.

Anglican Mainstream earlier letter of response to Canterbury’s Advent letter is - click here

Ed: Andrew Goddard’s analysis deserves a careful read and response in this theological forum.