Anglican Mainstream

Beloved in Christ,

 

Last week I wrote about several subjects that have had further developments. One subject of concern from Uganda has been a private member's motion in the Ugandan legislature to impose draconian punishment – death penalty or life imprisonment – for homosexual behavior and those who aid or abet it in any way. Some say it is in response to Western homosexual recruitment in the schools in Uganda, but however the problem is described, the punishments which include the death penalty and life imprisonment seem beyond the pale. The legislation was proposed by an individual and not by the government, and I said last week that I thought it likely that wise leaders would see that the legislation was not passed. I remember that great concern was raised some time ago when the legislature in Nigeria had severe punishments proposed for similar behavior, but in the end no such legislation was passed or implemented. I suggested that we pray that wisdom would prevail in Uganda and that other ways would be found to address these problems and concerns. The good news is that the most severe forms of the punishment have been withdrawn, as I thought might happen. Although some activists think that shrill voices and near hysteria coming from some quarters in the U.S. help things, the case is quite the contrary. Overt condemnation and pushing from the West can often cause people to stiffen their resolve, while quiet diplomacy by groups within the country have a way of resolving the conflict within the culture. To those who spoke reason and Christian wisdom and mercy into the situation, we thank you.

 

In The Episcopal Church (TEC) diocese of Los Angeles, two women were elected bishop by a diocesan electing convention: one of them is the partnered lesbian candidate, the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, who was elected on the seventh ballot. This election must still be confirmed by a vote of a majority of TEC Standing Committees and a majority of TEC bishops, and although the vote may be close, there is little doubt that she will gain a majority of consents. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who warned TEC before their last  General Convention, only to see them thumb their noses at his plea and vote the opposite of his request, contacted TEC last weekend shortly after the election to express his frustration with the election and his hope that the required confirmations would not be forthcoming. He may be doomed yet again to be clobbered by TEC.

 

 

 

One almost has to feel some sympathy for Rowan Williams. The Pope parks his ecclesiastical tanks on Lambeth lawn and invites Anglicans to "come home" to Rome, and Rowan doesn't even know about this invasion until a few hours prior to the announcement. Where is Dr. Williams' intelligence-gathering apparatus? Who is Dr. Williams talking to, or not listening to? The Archbishop of Canterbury has bent over backwards to mollify TEC, even to the point of sacrificing orthodox Anglicans in the US and Canada on the altar of appeasement in order to keep Jefferts Schori happy, and where has it gotten him? Even the Communion Partners, who keep looking to the Archbishop of Canterbury to do the right thing, have gotten nothing for their efforts except the left hand of fellowship. Dr. Williams has drawn more lines in the sand than even Neville Chamberlain, and he seems surprised that the more lines are drawn, the less respect he receives from TEC revisionist leaders.

Will Rowan's blustering about consequences have any effect on Canon Glasspool's consecration? I doubt it. What will he do when the consecration is a fait acompli, penalize TEC? No one thinks so. He could send Jefferts Schori and Jon Bruno a clear message by immediately recognizing the Anglican Church in North America(AC-NA). He wouldn't even have to cancel TEC's Anglican membership, just recognize and establish normal relations with AC-NA, and the attitude in Jefferts Schori's office in New York City would change. If he did it quickly, before all of the consents were sent in, he might even impact whether Mary Glasspool's election is confirmed. But I suppose this would be much too easy.

 

Some critics of the Anglican Church in North America say the desire for recognition and full communion with Dr. Williams and the Church of England is really just a power grab by the North Americans. But who has the power right now? And why do they have it? The private member's motion to recognize AC-NA at the upcoming Church of England Synod can hardly be seen as a power grab since there is no mention of depriving any other group of their recognition, and the motion was not initiated by AC-NA. Why is it so important or fair to shut out this growing Anglican body that holds and practices beliefs in harmony with the majority of the Anglican Communion? Why is TEC so afraid to live alongside the AC-NA? Are there so few souls to be saved that each doesn't have an ample supply of sinners to be won over to Christ, or in TEC's case, won to whoever is the deity of choice? (See the All Saints litany at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Harrison, Arkansas, which was covered last week.) Others have said that the AC-NA is schismatic, but TEC is actually the group which has broken from Anglican teaching and orthodoxy. Would one find fault with those on the Titanic who refused to stay on board the ship as it sank into dark waters of the Atlantic? Would one find fault with those who, to save their lives, jumped into life boats waiting to save them? AC-NA has done what any reasonable body would do when faced with spiritual or physical death on one hand and life and health on the other.

 

As I write this, I am preparing to return to Atlanta from Toronto where it is very cold and windy outside. We have been in Toronto for the Anglican Church in North America College of Bishops and Provincial Council meetings, where the atmosphere is warm and inviting. New bishops have been recognized and seated, a new diocese has presented its Constitution and Canons for acceptance and approval, and the work of the church continues to pick up speed. Meanwhile, many members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are preparing to depart and form a new orthodox Lutheran Synod. We might suggest that they become the Lutheran Church in North America, LC-NA, and we wish them well. It will soon be time for the different groups that are orthodox to establish ecumenical relations with one another.

 

Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus,

The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President and CEO, American Anglican Council