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Friday, July 11, 2008
Behold, the Lord's
hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it
cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1
- A message
from Bishop David Anderson
- El Camino
Real: Bishop issues guidelines for blessing homosexual relationships
Church of England
split warning after women bishops vote
Vatican 'regrets' female bishops
Lambeth Conference
'reflections' process announced
_________________________
A message from Bishop David Anderson
Beloved in Christ,
As we comment from week to week on matters affecting the Anglicans in North
America, and in a broader sense, globally, we need to be aware that we are
not in a single-issue battle. Issues of theology, and especially
Christology, put us in conflict with a good portion of the
pseudo-intellectual Western elites, who for all intents and purposes seem to
have lost their faith.
Issues of morality and culture, which are normally derivative of an intact
faith system, have put us in conflict with major cultural and sociological
trends that exalt the individual's rights at the expense of the family, the
community, or the church's ability to set boundaries on behavior. It seems
that today’s culture has made the individual consumer god. If you have the
money, you have a right to do it or buy it or have it done to you. The
Christian Church, carrying with it the moral and ethical life of the Old
Testament, also carries a new commandment to love one another even as Jesus
has loved us. The Christian Church then has and does set moral and ethical
boundaries on behavior, and this now puts us in conflict in many civil and
secular settings. Our boundaries derive from Holy Scripture, whereas for
the secular world, the boundaries (or lack thereof) depend on the situation,
derive from the exaltation of the individual, and finally become, "I am
entitled to everything I say I am entitled to," and "No one is going to tell
me what I can and cannot do." This often revolves around two principal foci,
money or sex, things people seem intensely interested in.
A third area that concerns us as orthodox Anglicans is the invasion of Islam
into supposedly solid Christian areas, and the rapidity with which
Christians seem to be rolling over and not adequately responding. I used to
wonder how Islam conquered North Africa so easily, suppressing such a vital
Christian area and pushing the Christian faith into a small corner of the
community. Watching the idiocy of many governmental leaders in the Western
world today, ready to give away so much to accommodate the demands of Muslim
immigrants into their land, and seeing the Christians, with only a few
exceptions, fail to rise to the challenge, I think I understand a little
better what happened in North Africa. One difference there was that Islam
conquered cities and territories by the sword… but who needs a sword if they
can accomplish the same result by making demands and through thuggery and
intimidation? I am thinking especially of articles about English vicars
being beaten and harassed at their churches by Muslim youths.
Now to comment on some of the issues falling into these three categories
mentioned above: The Episcopal Church’s Diocese of El Camino Real, in
California, has issued official guidelines for blessing homosexual
relationships. The State of California's Supreme Court has ruled that
homosexual marriage must be permitted under the same conditions as
traditional man-woman marriage, based on equal treatment under the law.
There is a popular grassroots referendum that is being prepared to change
the California Constitution and effectively overturn the Supreme Court's
ruling, but that referendum is several months away. Meanwhile, the Episcopal
Church is hurrying at breakneck speed to accommodate the homosexual marriage
ruling by tacking on a blessing service for the wedding couple. These
Episcopal Dioceses will be able to technically say they don't do gay
weddings, because a civil authority does the vows and pronouncement part,
then the church blends right in with the "spiritual" part. Episcopal bishops
who are gay advocates will go to Lambeth swearing that they don't do gay
weddings--for those others who find themselves at Lambeth, understand the
duplicity that you are hearing.
In the UK, the issue of women bishops has been rammed down the throats of
the Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals who don't believe that women Biblically
can hold the episcopal order. After fervent (and we believe sincere) pleas
by Canterbury, York and Durham, to mention only three, not to rush into
this, and certainly not without provision for those who dissent and will
need an alternative, the "our way or the highway" majority gave due notice
of where the Church of England is headed.
Will this result in mass departures to Rome? Will this result in a GAFCON
fellowship or even ecclesial body in England? Might a new Province even
be established overlaying England? History is indeed being made.
But over and above all this turmoil, God in His wisdom rules, and His
purposes will be carried out. Our job is to be much in prayer, seeking his
will for our individual and corporate lives. May we carry out faithfully the
tasks He gives us to do.
Blessings and Peace in Christ Jesus,
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President & CEO of the American Anglican Council
_________________________
El Camino Real: Bishop issues guidelines for blessing homosexual
relationships
Source:
Diocese of El Camino Real
June 5, 2008
...After reflecting with our Standing Committee, other California bishops,
the chair of the Massachusetts task force on same-gender marriage and Bishop
Tom Shaw, also of Massachusetts, here are the guidelines – for now. You may
have a same-gender civil marriage and blessing in your church provided an
Episcopal priest does not officiate at the marriage itself or sign the
marriage license and the Book of Common Prayer is not used. For example, you
may have a civil ceremony conducted by someone other than an Episcopal
clergyperson, followed by a blessing of that union (which could surely
include a Eucharist) by an Episcopal priest. Various liturgies have been
used around the diocese for blessings; a practice which was approved by the
2004 El Camino Real diocesan convention. These guidelines are not a
tremendous change from our previous guidelines, but rather an addition that
helps us live into a new reality. As the national church proceeds toward
full sacramental inclusion, so shall our diocese. As with all couples, your
discernment and discretion is integral to the process of determining the
suitability of blessing the marriage. My consent, per the instruction of the
2004 resolution, is still required.
Please know that I have decided upon the new guidelines in light of the
current climate in our diocese and the national church as a whole, and
looking ahead to the upcoming Lambeth Conference. They will be too liberal
for some and not permissive enough for others...
The rest of the
guidelines may be found at the link above.
_________________________
Church of England split warning after women bishops vote
Source: The
Telegraph
By Martin Beckford
July 8, 2008
The Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt, the Bishop of Winchester, said the step
taken amid emotional scenes at the General Synod in York last night could
lead to defections from the church.
He warned that those who believe that bishops must be male could change
allegiance from the Church of England to the new movement for orthodox
Anglicans which was announced at a summit in Jerusalem last month.
His comments came after a six-hour debate ended with the 468 members of
Synod agreeing to press ahead with the introduction of women bishops, with
just an unwritten statutory code of practice to cater for Anglo-Catholic and
conservative evangelical opponents of the historic move.
Bishop Scott-Joynt claimed the final vote - taken after a series of
amendments to create safeguards such as "men-only" dioceses and "super
bishops" to cater for traditionalist parishes were rejected – was
"mean-spirited and short-sighted".
He said: "The manifest majority was profoundly short-sighted. At every point
it could have offered reassurances, and it did not do that.
"We've got people talking about defection - they were clearly talking about
the Global Anglican Future Conference. We've got a lot of soul-searching to
do.".
Before the final vote was taken - which will lead to a drafting group
working on legislation to be presented before Synod in February - the Bishop
of Durham called on the church to postpone making a decision on the divisive
issue, but this too was overruled. ...
The debate ended with the Rt Rev Stephen Venner, the Suffragan Bishop of
Dover, breaking down in tears and being comforted by colleagues.
He said: "I have to say that for the first time in my life I am ashamed.
"We have talked for hours about wanting to give an honourable place for
those who want to disagree and we have turned down almost every realistic
opportunity for those who are opposed to flourish."
He said the church was just "talking the talk" of being inclusive and added:
"Is this the Church of England at its best? I have to say I doubt it."
The entire article may be found at the link above.
_________________________
Vatican
'regrets' female bishops
Source: CNN
July 8, 2008
The Vatican said Tuesday it regrets the decision by the Church of England's
governing body to allow the ordination of women as bishops.
The move by the Anglican Church's General Synod "is a rift to the apostolic
tradition" of ordaining only men as bishops, the Vatican said in a
statement, and is another obstacle to reconciliation between Anglicans and
Roman Catholics.
"This decision will have consequences on the dialogue which had brought good
fruits," the Vatican statement said. ...
The rest of the article may be found at the link above.
_________________________
Lambeth Conference 'reflections' process announced
Source:
Episcopal News Service
By Matthew Davies
July 3, 2008
The process for the Lambeth Conference bishops to communicate what they wish
to share with the wider church at the conclusion of their July 16-August 3
gathering in Canterbury, England, has been announced by the Rev. Canon
Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion and secretary of
the Lambeth Conference.
In a letter to the more than 650 bishops expected to attend the Lambeth
Conference, Kearon outlined the form of discussion that will lead to the
development of a "Reflections Document," expected to be made public on the
last day of the conference.
In his letter, Kearon says, "Among the desired outcomes anticipated by this
diverse group from across the Communion was not so much debates, position
papers, votes and resolutions but participation on an equal footing,
listening as well as speaking and the emergence of wisdom and a common
mind."
The main conference days are split into four sections: group Bible study,
expanded meetings called "Indaba" groups, self-selecting groups and optional
"fringe" events.
The reflections document will arise out of the Indaba groups' insights.
The Most Rev. Thabo Makgoba, primate of the Anglican Church of Southern
Africa, proposed to the Lambeth Design Group and Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams the concept of Indaba. It "was readily adopted by Williams
and will form the way the bishops will work together during their time in
Canterbury," says a news release from the Anglican Communion Office (ACO).
The release quotes from Kearon's letter.
Indaba is a Zulu word meaning purposeful discussion "and is both a process
and method of engagement, and offers a way of listening to one another
concerning challenges that face the Anglican Communion," the release says.
Each Indaba group will nominate one member whom they believe to be most
capable of carrying their views and the fruit of their discussion into the
"Reflections" process, the release says. Their "Listener" will join a
Listening Group under the chairmanship of Archbishop Roger Herft of Perth,
in Western Australia.
"Working with the summaries of the fruit of Indaba arising from each group,
it will be their duty to generate a common text which reflects authentically
the Indaba," says Kearon in his letter.
The Listening Group is expected to meet in four sessions when all bishops
can comment on the developing text. "It is envisaged that in this way every
bishop attending the conference will be given the opportunity to 'shape the
reflections' from what emerges," the ACO release says. Those sessions will
be closed to the public.
Kearon says in his letter that the Lambeth Design Group hopes "that this
process will permit the development of a Reflections Document which will
meet the objectives set out for it, and be available on the last day of the
conference to be received as an authentic account of the engagement of the
bishops together in the service of Christ."
The Lambeth Conference program includes themes including gender violence,
human sexuality issues, environmental concerns, the Anglican Covenant and
mission and evangelization. ...
The rest of the article may be found at the link above.
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