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With Lambeth just concluded, much of the news in the Anglican world is Lambeth-related. There has been extensive coverage of the conference in blogs and in the media; however I’ve attempted to distill the most important for your consideration. If you wish more, I have a lengthy list of news stories that I’d be happy to provide to you..
Message from Bishop Don
In his letter to members , Bishop Don said,
I was struck by the marked contrast between what I was hearing from Lambeth and what I experienced at the GAFCon meeting only a few weeks earlier in Jerusalem. The ambiguity and confusion created by Lambeth is in stark contrast to the clarity and joy of GAFCon. While Lambeth focused on holding together institutional unity in the absence of spiritual unity, GAFCon manifested the genuine unity of those who share the same Lord, the same Truth and the same Spirit. Those of us privileged to be in Jerusalem in June experienced daily symphonies of praise as brothers and sisters in Christ worshipped together in “one accord”.
Sadly, Lambeth again clearly demonstrated that there are those who call themselves Anglicans who have strayed far from Christian truth and have embraced another lord and a different gospel. The Archbishop of Canterbury, I believe, is struggling valiantly to do the impossible – hold together under the Anglican banner two utterly incompatible religions. Thus, the incoherence, the confusion, and the contradictions contained in the Lambeth documents. Compare the 42 page Lambeth “Reflections” document which says everything, but in the end says nothing, to the four page GAFCon statement, which offered a clear statement of faith and outlined next steps.
ANiC / AEN cross-Canada “tour” planned for fall
We are planning a series of meetings across the country – potentially in 20 or more locations – for late September and into October. Looking to Jesus is our theme as we try to make sense of rapidly unfolding developments in the Anglican world and report to members and friends on:
| • |
GAFCon, Lambeth and the Common Cause Partnership |
| • |
Developments within ANiC and AEN, including new churches and church plants, national ministries developing to serve churches, ANiC’s upcoming synod and legal matters |
These meetings will provide opportunity for you to also ask questions and offer your thoughts. A schedule of meetings should be available in early September. Please do try to attend the meeting in your area. We would love the opportunity to communicate with you in person.
Youth leadership conference
A four-day youth leadership conference will be held in Vancouver at the end of August for current and future youth leaders (16 and up) who want to improve leadership skills, learn Biblical strategies, gain confidence in teaching the Bible, and build strong Christian disciples. For more information and a registration form see the St John’s website.
When: August 25 – Thursday Aug 28, 2008
Where: St. John's Shaughnessy Church, 1490 Nanton Ave, Vancouver
Speakers: David Short, Richard James and Ken Moser
ANiC board formally endorses GAFCon & Jerusalem Declaration
The ANiC board has formally endorsed the GAFCon Statement and the Jerusalem Declaration. They further called on ANiC’s inaugural synod (in November) to endorse the Jerusalem Declaration, which is in full harmony with ANiC’s own historic and founding principles – the Montreal Statement and the Solemn Declaration of 1893 – and with the tenets of orthodoxy that underpin our Anglican identity. ANiC and AEN members are encouraged to demonstrate their solidarity by endorsing the Jerusalem Declaration by adding their names to this online petition.
Video interview with our Primate – talking about Lambeth
AnglicanTV’s Kevin Kallsen conducted an interview at Lambeth with Archbishop Greg Venables. Topics range from his university days in Canterbury to GAFCon (and how Lambeth ignored it). He says Lambeth talked about process but not the core message of Christianity; that the money TEC and ACoC are pouring into lawsuits could be much better invested in achieving the Millennium Development Goals; and that the sad reality is that “we are not going to put Humpty Dumpty together again”.
The Church Times interviewed Archbishop Greg earlier and quotes him saying, “Unless we talk about the real reasons why we are divided there’s little hope of putting it back together again.”
Interested in hearing first hand accounts of GAFCon?
A number of Canadians privileged to participate in GAFCon in Jerusalem in June have been busy presenting their perceptions of that historic event to various Anglican churches and groups. If you’d like a presentation by a GAFCon participant but don’t know who to ask, call Jude in the ANiC office for suggestions of someone in your area – 1-866-351-2642 (ext 4015).
Reports from two GAFCon participants, Dr Terry Chang and Manya Egerton, are on the St John’s website.
Auditor engaged
The ANiC board has engaged the accounting firm of Wormald & Company of Mississauga, Ont. to perform the audit for the fiscal year ending 30 June 2008 and the year ending 30 June 2009.
Pacific Coast Common Cause meeting
A supper and meeting for Vancouver-area members of Common Cause – including Essentials and Network members and churches – will focus on developments in the Anglican world such as GAFCon and Lambeth. Bishop Sandy Greene (Anglican Mission in America), Bishop Robert Redmile (Christian Episcopal Church), Archbishop Bob Parlotz (Primate of United Anglican Church) and Bishop Richard Boyce (Anglican Province of America) will all be there.
Time: September 5 at 6 pm
Place: Seaview Pentecostal Assembly, 14633 16th Avenue, White Rock
RSVP: Churches are asked to let Rev Ken Bell know how many of their members will be attending
News shorts – Canada
In the Canadian media and blogs
Musings from the Muse – July 29 08 – Lambeth Comment on the Way Ahead™
Blogger says ANiC Archdeacon Charlie Masters move from Executive Director of AEC to ANiC was a “turning point” for him
Reuters – August 6 08 – Some Canada ... Anglicans may reject same-sex moratorium - Quotes Bishop Don
Globe & Mail – July 31 08 – Anglicans likely to sidestep decision on gays
Globe & Mail – August 01 08 – Anglican bishops avoid open rift in homosexuality talks
Globe & Mail – August 03 08 – Anglican leader urges ban on gay bishops
Globe & Mail – August 04 08 – Anglicans delay decision on gay unions
CanadianChristianity.com – August 07 08 – Lambeth fails to heal Anglican rift - Quotes Bishop Don extensively
Guelph Mercury – August 09 08 – Reflections on the end of the Anglican era
Author Matt Bondy gets it! He says, “Anglicans, with all Christians, should be chiefly concerned with projecting biblical faith into the community – not with projecting the community's values into the faith.”
Also note the many Lambeth articles on the Anglican Journal website.
News shorts – USA and North America
More than 1,000 Anglicans to meet in Ohio
As evidence of the growing unity among Common Cause Partners in North America, 1000-2000 people – from 50 congregations and eight different Anglican jurisdictions – are expected at an “Anglican Awakening” event in Akron, Ohio October 21-22. Bishop Don has been invited to speak at this gathering. It is one of a series of events in various parts of North America.
A summary of Episcopal Church (TEC) initiated lawsuits in the USA
A Lawyer who blogs under the name, “the Anglican Curmudgeon”, has prepared a summary of lawsuits in the US showing that almost all have been initiated by TEC – contrary to misinformation apparently spread at Lambeth.
In the US media
Christian Science Monitor – July 15 08 – Beyond Episcopal theological split, a property fight
News shorts – International
Outcome of Lambeth
The Living Church says Archbishop Williams listed three accomplishments from the 20-day Lambeth Conference:
1. Bishops proved they could speak to each other respectfully and prayerfully.
2. They expressed a strong commitment to remain unified.
3. The Millennium Development Goals demonstration in London on July 24 proved that even “in its current rather wobbly state,” the Anglican Communion was capable of accomplishing significant action and witness.”
Lambeth: Reflections document
This rambling statement from the conference is generally seen to cover a wide swath of topics without saying anything substantial. In the Church Times, Bill Bowder tells us that:
“The Reflections show that Bishops are against sin and for goodness and have spent the last three weeks telling each other so, both in general and often in remarkably particular cases… There’s lots of combined Episcopal wisdom about ecumenism, worship, the bible, mission and evangelism and a host of recommendations, like a “Lambeth Directory” soon, and a “green Lambeth” next time… The news is that… there was “widespread support” for the idea of having a three-fold moratorium: no more Episcopal ordinations of partnered homosexual people, no more publicly authorised blessing of same sex unions and… no more cross-border incursions with bishops nipping into other provinces to look after disaffected flocks. But the bad news is that The Anglican Covenant, which most people hope at the conference will draw back dioceses into “the conversation of the Communion” is still seen as fine so long as it doesn’t have any teeth…”
Sarah Hey of StandFirmInFaith, and a committed Episcopalian, calls the Reflections document “…some of the most vacuous, vague, misty-eyed, inherently-contradictory twaddle that I believe that I have ever had the privilege of skimming. Words fail me to describe the void, the barrenness, the inanity, the complete absence of matter that exists, boundaried by the edges of that white space and black ink... It is, friends, the icon of the Anglican Communion as it stands here and now…”
On the value of the conference, Sarah writes: “The Lambeth Conference… need never have happened at all for the Archbishop of Canterbury -- the only instrument of Communion that has power -- to do with those recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group whatever he decides to do. We are left also with a clear rhetorical defeat for the progressives of TEC -- but a clear non-action "victory" for them as well.”
On the consequences of the conference, she says: “…I do not think that we can overestimate what this conference will do -- the consequences of its non-actions thus far -- on the Anglican Communion as a whole. Many, many individuals who have been holding on for this final chance -- this historic once-a-decade meeting of the Anglican Communion -- will leave the church, in many provinces, not just TEC and Canada, most of them probably leaving Anglicanism entirely. There will be now much much more division within the borders of the Anglican Communion. The division and chaos within TEC and Canada will increase…”
“The end result of the Lambeth Conference is that it leaves the revisionists with zero consequences as of yet from the international communion… My sense is that the conservative bishops on all sides who have been through this Lambeth Conference have been greatly united in misery… if GAFCON proceeds calmly, wisely, and methodically -- something that it is not always known for – and with more unity among other [Global South] Primates, that it will gather more Primates who have endured the bizarre summer camp of Lambeth.”
Lambeth: The Windsor Continuation Group issues observations
Windsor Continuation Group, appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year, is expected to meet by the end of October to hammer out the specifics of the Pastoral Forum, including those who will be on it. Then the Windsor Continuation Group (WCG) proposals will be taken to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting in Jamaica in May 2009.
The Windsor Continuation Group called for:
| • |
moratoria on same sex blessings, the ordination of bishops living in same-sex relationships, and interventions by Primates of other jurisdictions
- a Pastoral Forum to “support minorities" |
| • |
The Lambeth conference was “…merely being asked to ‘engage’ with the proposals, according to Bishop Victoria Matthews in an Anglican Journal interview – implying Lambeth had no authority and little influence on the process. |
Lambeth: The Covenant
In a Lambeth press conference, Archbishop Drexel Gomez said there were three sections to the Covenant;
1. “The theology of being in communion… of the Windsor Report…the common faith.
2. “The mission given to us by God
3. “The consequences and commitments that flow out of working together
“I think we have done a good job at articulating a common understanding of Anglicanism. Anglicanism is Reformed Catholicism…” he said.
“Our overall aim is to hold the Anglican Communion together not to provide something new but to provide a mechanism to bring us back to the center and renew our commitment to journey forward together… [with] autonomy in communion…
“Our design group has not addressed consequences. We wanted to deal with the framework to make sure we had the framework to establish our common boundaries before we began discussing consequences. That will be the section we work on more carefully next.”
Timelines: The Living Church reports that an Anglican Covenant may be many years away. The next meeting of the Covenant Design Group is in September in Singapore where a third draft is to be produced. Provinces are to respond by next March. Then the Covenant Design Group will meet again in April to produce a further draft to send to the Anglican Consultative Council in May. Then back to the provinces for approval. TEC, for example, has said it could require two General Conventions to approve the covenant.
| Who |
What |
When |
| Windsor Continuation Group |
Specifics of Pastoral Forum |
by Oct 08 (hopefully) |
| Covenant Design Group |
Meets to prepare third draft |
Sept 08 (Singapore) |
| Provinces |
Provinces to respond to third draft |
by March 09 |
| Covenant Design Group |
Meets again to produce the next draft |
April 09 |
| Anglican Consultative Council |
Meets to consider the Covenant
Approved Covenant to Provinces |
May 09
by Aug 09 (hopefully) |
| Provinces |
Acceptance of Covenant by Provinces |
by 2013 (at best) |
For commentary on the Covenant, see StandFirm’s The Covenant…No rules, just relationship
Assessing Lambeth
Dr Mouneer Anis, Primate of the Middle East, offers a positive assessment of the Windsor Continuation Group’s proposals and of Lambeth, but is less than impressed with the lobbying and shocked at the lack of agreement even on the essentials of the faith.
“…The revisionists among us push upon us the view that current secular culture and not the Bible should shape our mission and morals. In this, we are not divided by mere trivialities, or issues periphery of faith, but on essentials. I am shocked to say that we are finding it very hard to come together on even the essentials of the faith we once received from the Apostles.
“Everywhere we go here [at Lambeth], we meet gay & lesbian activists, receive their news letters or read about their many events. Many seem to be supported by North American churches. They are intent to push their agenda on us. No other lobbying groups seem to enjoy similar access, or to be able to have their literature prominently displayed all over the campus and at the entrance to every residence. They are determined that their way is the only right way and that everyone else should follow. They are not at all open to listening to us or the historic church teaching. Yet, ii is surprising that they push all these sexuality issues so intensively into the conference and then blame us for talking about them too much! In the attitude of some from the North American churches I am reminded of the arrogance of the American administration that made a mess in Iraq because it refused to listen to millions of voices from the wider world…
“Some say that same sex unions that are faithful relationships are alright. But I feel we cannot be truly faithful to each other unless we are faithful to God and his purpose made clear in the creation of man and woman for each other.
“The scientific literature (which as a medical doctor I have taken trouble to review) does not support the conclusion that the experience of same sex desires is in fact fixed or determined by genetics or otherwise "hard wired" into people.”
George Conger reports that most bishops he questioned at Lambeth lauded Dr Williams’ personally but did not agree with his decision to focus Lambeth on process rather than substance. He writes, “The mood of the conference in its closing hours is grim. No winners have stepped forward as American and Canadian liberals are angered that social justice issues are being subordinated to satisfy Dr Williams’ short-term political goals, while conservatives see the refusal to confront the divisions over doctrine and discipline as a licence to the left from Dr Williams to carry on as before… The greatest complaint however is that the conference has been designed to prevent any sort of decision.” Hear also this interview with George Conger. See also his series of articles on Lambeth on his blog.
An Episcopal Church website provides a summary of both “conservative” and “liberal” reactions to Lambeth, which “ranged across the spectrum of opinion”. The Times also offers some views.
The Global South website offers this summary of comments. And New Zealand cleric Dr Bryden Black concludes, it is a ”’catastrophic failure of leadership’ … to permit, let alone to foster, the continuation of such an incoherent form of Communion as is now the result of Lambeth 2008.”
Like others, Bishop Michael Scott-Joynt (Winchester) is worried that the effect of this Lambeth was to undercut the clear resolution of Lambeth 1998 spelling out the Communion’s position on matters of human sexuality. He says, “There was little if any sense that the Conference was bound by Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference; and over and over again participants were encouraged to think especially of their “context” – with the tacit but clear impression that “context” could indeed, as some insist, powerfully influence Christian teaching; and that a world-wide family of Churches could continue with radically different teaching on the content of the Holy Life in different parts of the world…”
In his weekly email message, Bishop David Anderson (American Anglican Council), questions the legitimacy of the perceived outcomes of Lambeth:
“…the Indaba Reflections Document…was not intended…to be the primary outcome of the conference, but simply a narrative to track what people and groups were expressing… However, the Archbishop of Canterbury took the document and re-characterized it according to his agenda for the future, with the implied endorsement of the entire Lambeth Conference – although it was only a small group's compilation of "reflections." If they didn't know what they were producing, Dr. Williams certainly knew what he wanted, and it did serve his purpose.”
Lambeth: The Anglican Church of Canada’s reaction
The Anglican Journal and the Globe and Mail report that Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC), is frustrated that he could not present the ACoC’s position on same-sex blessings to the Lambeth Conference. The Diocese of New Westminster is on the hot seat coming out of Lambeth, since the Windsor Continuation Group’s proposals call for same-sex blessings to stop. The Diocese’s website quotes Bishop Michael Ingham saying the Windsor Continuation Group demonstrated “rigidity and a lack of wisdom.”
Lambeth odds and sods
Michael Poon (Singapore) critically assesses the Archbishop of Canterbury’s second presidential address, saying, “For Canterbury does speak (unconsciously) from a centre: the centre of a domineering Western framework that has proved ineffective and burdensome to the rest of the Communion… The present crisis is not merely a clash of two opposing theological positions: liberal and conservative. The emerging voices from the South are stifled, misunderstood, and misrepresented by all sides in the West in the current debates.”
Archbishop Orombi (Uganda) clarified his earlier letter to the Times by saying that he was not calling for the Archbishop of Canterbury to resign. He also stated, for the record, that he was approached by the Times to write the statement on why the Church of Uganda Bishops were not at Lambeth. It is worth reading his interview with AnglicanTV.
"It seems to me that the maturing of the global nature of the Anglican Communion, beyond its colonial beginnings, would involve separating the role of the spiritual leader of the Communion from that of the Primate of All England… However, I do think it's time to realise that the Anglican Communion is no longer an extension of the Church of England.… [S]hould the Primate of All England necessarily or automatically be the spiritual leader of a world-wide, global Communion? That's the question I am asking…
"It seems to me that the functions proposed for the Pastoral Forum are exactly what the Primates of the Communion have been charged to do. The 1988 Lambeth Conference urged the Primates' Meeting to "exercise an enhanced responsibility in offering guidance on doctrinal, moral and pastoral matters" and the 1998 Lambeth Conference reaffirmed this. Are not Primates, duly elected from the various Provinces, in a better position than a "Commission" or "Forum"? We do not need the proliferation of more groups, committees, commissions, etc. to resolve this crisis. What we need is the enforcement/implementation of matters that have already been widely agreed."
GAFCON issued a post-Lambeth press release saying only that the Primates' Council would study the outcome of the Lambeth Conference and make a response following their meeting later in August.
A reported 135 of the bishops at Lambeth were from the Episcopal Church. And how many bishops were at Lambeth? The Living Church reports that, in fact there were fewer than 617; the commonly quoted figures of 670 or 650 were arrived at only by including the ecumenical visitors. How many bishops did not come to Lambeth? 280 according to the Living Church.
On the lighter side, if you need a (wry) smile check out the list of words David, our faithful blogger, says should now be forever banned. And, if you are addicted to Anglican blogs, you’ll enjoy this musical tribute.
Well worth reading
The Rev Dr Robert Sanders has written an article – from TEC’s perspective, but equally applicable in Canada – on false teaching in the church, Lambeth and the way forward. He eloquently discusses the subtly idolatry of placing the Church before Jesus Christ.
Also see “The Ugly Vicar’s” Reflections on the Lambeth Reflections.
The Economist provides a very brief summary of Lambeth from a purely secular point of view.
Lambeth next steps
| Who |
What |
When |
| Windsor Continuation Group |
Specifics of Pastoral Forum |
by Oct 08 (hopefully) |
| Primates |
Covenant, Pastoral Forum and?? |
early 2009 |
| Anglican Consultative Council |
Meets to consider the Covenant & Pastoral Forum |
May 2009 |
Dr Williams’ personal views resurface
The personal views of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, have resurfaced in the form of a 2000-01 exchange of correspondence between Dr Williams and an evangelical psychiatrist. Dr Williams clearly said he had concluded that the Bible did not condemn homo-sexuality and that same-sex relationships could be “comparable to marriage”. (“I concluded that an active sexual relationship between two people of the same sex might therefore reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage, if and only if it had about it the same character of absolute covenanted faithfulness.”) Ruth Gledhill provides an analysis and interesting background here.
The TimesOnLine quotes Archbishop Greg Venables’ response: “This is more evidence of the unravelling of Anglicanism. Without a clearly agreed biblical foundation, all the goodwill in the world cannot stop the inevitable break-up. Unity without truth is disunity.” The article reports that “A leading Global South primate told The Times that most conservative bishops and archbishops in Africa and Asia had been unaware of Dr Williams’s personal theology on same-sex relations and had never read his 1989 essay “The Body’s Grace”, where he gave some indication of his views. The disclosures will add impetus to the Global Anglican Future movement and drive liberals and conservatives in the Anglican Communion even farther apart.”
See also the Archbishop of Canterbury’s response as well as a letter signed by a number of Church of England bishops (including the Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright) protesting the Times coverage of the matter.
Who owns Church of England facilities?
The Church of England (CoE) has been warned that if it pursues legal action to “steal” church buildings from congregations set to leave the CoE it could “become embroiled in costly legal action” according to a report in the Telegraph. “The Rt Rev John Broadhurst, Bishop of Fulham, claims most of the church's assets once belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. He says it would be "legalised theft" if the Church of England tried to keep buildings used by Anglo-Catholics who may defect to Rome after its governing body voted to bring in women bishops without special concessions for traditionalists.” The CoE is to vote on legislation to ordain women as bishops at next February’s synod. The most recent synod rejected any provision to accommodate those who could not accept the episcopal oversight of a female bishop.
In the international media (unrelated to Lambeth)
The Canberra Times – Aug 01 08 – It’s PJs at PJ’s as clergy seek to bed down Anglicanism (regarding the Diocese of Sydney’s strategy to evangelize Sydney)
Religious Intelligence – August 1 08 – Russian Orthodox Church denounces Church of England
GAFCon bits and pieces
Russell Powell from the Sydney Anglican Diocese (Australia) reflects on the journalists who covered GAFCon and the seeming change in their attitudes as the conference progressed.
The Rev David Holloway provides a Church of England perspective on the need for and historic context of GAFCon.
Uganda, role model for combating HIV/AIDS
India has decided to reject the UN approach of teaching “safe sex”, in favour of the proven Ugandan approach of teaching abstinence and fidelity. However, while Uganda was able to reduce its HIV-AIDS rate from 21% to 6% using a Biblically-based approach, it has recently seen the rate of infection rise again due to the importation of risky sexual practices and thinking from the west. LifeSiteNews reports that homosexual activists are campaigning to have UN funding denied to countries – like Uganda – that they deem to be “homophobic”.
Soul food
Taking a stand
Sandy, an ANiC member, suggests we register our views on the awarding of the Order of Canada to Dr Morgentaler by simply signing this online petition. There are over 17,000 signatures to date.
Just for laughs
Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc (www.reverendfun.com) – Used by permission
Prayer requests
GAFCon Primates Council – Pray for the meeting later this month. Pray for wisdom in responding to Lambeth and in planning for the future. Remember especially our own Primate, Archbishop Greg. Pray for unity within the group – although some attended Lambeth and others stayed away. May they know the God’s clear leading.
ANiC membership – Please pray for congregations and groups considering membership in ANiC that they would know the mind of Christ.
Common Cause Partnership bishops – Please pray that they would discern God’s leading and be able to chart a wise course for the Partnership. The bishops are meeting next week.
And now a word from our sponsor
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light…
The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming…
The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance…
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever…
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip…
The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Psalm 37: 1-6, 12-13, 18-19, 23-27, 30-31, 39-40 (ESV)
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