Anglican Mainstream

by The Rev Ken Harding, a pastor in Athabasca, Alberta

Many have heard that recently a historic step was taken in the affairs of the worldwide Anglican Communion. National and international coverage referred to the “split” or “break up” of the Anglican Church of Canada. Personally, I think these terms convey a misleading tone. Perhaps “unravelling” and “reweaving” would be a better description of what is happening. The majestic and varied tapestry of Anglicanism has come unravelled because some have pushed the boundaries of those variations beyond permissible limits. What was unravelled is now being rewoven.

Anglicanism has prided itself on its heritage which accommodates a broad range of worship traditions, with a similarly broad range of viewpoints on nonessential theological issues, thus providing a rich variety of Christian expression all within one Anglican Communion. However, it was always understood that Anglicanism has boundaries. Over the past 50 years theological liberalism and revisionism have tested those boundaries, suggesting interpretations of Scripture which are more culturally and politically motivated than scholarly informed.

Many claim that the issue which has brought the Anglican Church to this crisis is homosexuality. That is not entirely true; homosexuality is simply the attention-grabbing issue that sells newspapers and secures political and public support. The real issue is hermeneutics, how Scripture is rightly interpreted. All the other divisive issues arise from that one underlying question.

Many media reports suggest that the group in Canada and the U.S. which is now under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Primate of the Southern Cone (lower South America) is “breaking away” from the Anglican Church. That is totally inaccurate. Actually, it is the Anglican Church of Canada that has “broken away” from the worldwide Anglican Communion and “departed” from its own founding constitution through a series of political decisions which are contrary to the repeatedly stated standards of Anglican belief and practice. The Communion, through its National Archbishops (called Primates) and its various Councils, has repeatedly stated its position. It has asked that Canada withdraw from full participation in the Communion’s governing bodies because we acted inappropriately. Canadian Anglicans who wish to remain faithful to the historic standards of belief and practice in the worldwide Anglican Communion were forced by events in Canada to appeal to the worldwide Communion for pastoral care and oversight.

The situation in several jurisdictions within the Anglican Church of Canada became an international embarrassment and grew increasingly unacceptable to the leaders of the Communion. Additionally, the continuing departures in Canada from the Communion’s standards of belief and practice contradicted whatever diplomatic assurances the Canadian bishops gave to the worldwide Communion. The problem here in Canada is a culturally driven political correctness which opposes traditional, orthodox Christianity and which will brook no opposition or dissension.

Recently, one of the 38 Primates of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Gregory Venables, a well placed, senior Archbishop in the Communion, with the approval and support of many other Primates and Bishops across the Communion, and with the knowledge and consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury, extended his Primatial authority and protection to two retired Canadian Bishops (Donald Harvey and Malcolm Harding) so that, over time and under the guidance of the Anglican Communion, a new Anglican jurisdiction can be created in Canada. This will provide a way for Canadian Anglicans who wish to remain faithful to the historic standards of belief and practice of the Anglican Communion to do so.

What will this mean for Anglicans locally? That remains to be seen. The situation is complex and delicate. It would be a mistake to jump to any conclusions. A significant and dedicated core of Anglicans in this region are determined to remain faithful to the worldwide Anglican Communion and its historic standards of belief and practice. It is hoped that they will be allowed to do that in a way that maintains the highest standards of Christian faithfulness, love and compassion.

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