THE FINAL SHOWDOWN!
ANGLICAN PRIMATES MEET THIS WEEK IN TANZANIA TO RESOLVE MAJOR CRISIS IN THE AMERICAN CHURCH
This is the "mother" of all meetings where the anglican communion will be reshaped.
AMERICAN CHURCH IN CRISIS
The Global South Primates are pushing for a new Anglican jurisdiction in the US to represent anglicans who've left the existing episcopal church. They will also insist that the episcopal church in the US be disciplined. The reason for this furore? A practising gay man, Gene Robinson, was consecrated bishop in the American Church 4 years ago. Providing services of blessing for same sex partners living together was the other straw which broke the camel's back.
An important resolution, highlighting the incompatibility between homosexual behaviour and the Bible, was passed at a meeting of all the anglican bishops in 1998; it was totally ignored by the american church toward the build up of Gene Robinson's consecration in 2003. Subsequent warnings and the suspension of the episcopal church's delegates within the major bodies of the Anglican Church were not taken seriously. The exodus of orthodox anglicans and parishes did not seem to perturb the episcopal church hierachy. Their inability to meet the requirements of a previous meeting of the primates at Dromantine, Ireland 2 years ago was predictable; most of their bishops are hard core liberals. Electing a liberal primate, fully supportive of the gay agenda only provoked the majority of the primates even further.
ONE POSSIBLE SCENARIO IN TANZANIA
The newly elected primate of the american church, Jennifer Schori, was invited to explain the actions of the american church before the primates in Tanzania. Many primates will only receive her as someone under discipline. They will not share the Eucharist with her; most of their provinces have declared a state of impaired communion between themselves and the american church (the Global South Primates did not share the Eucharist with the previous american primate either).
My predictions: The Episcopal church will be disciplined; their membership will be suspended in the worldwide anglican communion. The scale of the suspension will depend on Schori's representations and the reaction of the global south primates to the ideas and leadership of Rowan Williams. Bishops who do not accept the resolution outlining the anglican communion's understanding of homosexuality and the Windsor Report (a report put together by a special committee which asked for the suspension of gay bishops and services of blessing for gay couples) will NOT be invited to the Lambeth Conference.
A POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR BIBLE BELIEVING ANGLICANS IN THE STATES
Work on a parallel structure will also hopefully begin in earnest; this is going to be a gargantuan task because bible believing parishes and congregations that left the american episcopal church don't want a monolithic structure similar to the one they left. Many of these congregations and parishes are spread out through a variety of networks, regions and groups; they enjoy the oversight of overseas bishops and primates; getting them under one roof will be like herding cats!
Lord Have Mercy On Us All
This is the "mother" of all meetings where the anglican communion will be reshaped.
AMERICAN CHURCH IN CRISIS
The Global South Primates are pushing for a new Anglican jurisdiction in the US to represent anglicans who've left the existing episcopal church. They will also insist that the episcopal church in the US be disciplined. The reason for this furore? A practising gay man, Gene Robinson, was consecrated bishop in the American Church 4 years ago. Providing services of blessing for same sex partners living together was the other straw which broke the camel's back.
An important resolution, highlighting the incompatibility between homosexual behaviour and the Bible, was passed at a meeting of all the anglican bishops in 1998; it was totally ignored by the american church toward the build up of Gene Robinson's consecration in 2003. Subsequent warnings and the suspension of the episcopal church's delegates within the major bodies of the Anglican Church were not taken seriously. The exodus of orthodox anglicans and parishes did not seem to perturb the episcopal church hierachy. Their inability to meet the requirements of a previous meeting of the primates at Dromantine, Ireland 2 years ago was predictable; most of their bishops are hard core liberals. Electing a liberal primate, fully supportive of the gay agenda only provoked the majority of the primates even further.
ONE POSSIBLE SCENARIO IN TANZANIA
The newly elected primate of the american church, Jennifer Schori, was invited to explain the actions of the american church before the primates in Tanzania. Many primates will only receive her as someone under discipline. They will not share the Eucharist with her; most of their provinces have declared a state of impaired communion between themselves and the american church (the Global South Primates did not share the Eucharist with the previous american primate either).
My predictions: The Episcopal church will be disciplined; their membership will be suspended in the worldwide anglican communion. The scale of the suspension will depend on Schori's representations and the reaction of the global south primates to the ideas and leadership of Rowan Williams. Bishops who do not accept the resolution outlining the anglican communion's understanding of homosexuality and the Windsor Report (a report put together by a special committee which asked for the suspension of gay bishops and services of blessing for gay couples) will NOT be invited to the Lambeth Conference.
A POSSIBLE FUTURE FOR BIBLE BELIEVING ANGLICANS IN THE STATES
Work on a parallel structure will also hopefully begin in earnest; this is going to be a gargantuan task because bible believing parishes and congregations that left the american episcopal church don't want a monolithic structure similar to the one they left. Many of these congregations and parishes are spread out through a variety of networks, regions and groups; they enjoy the oversight of overseas bishops and primates; getting them under one roof will be like herding cats!
Lord Have Mercy On Us All
2 comments:
Thanks for the info. Did not know this was happening.
It just had to happen, given man's propensity to go astray. But I see it as a positive development, an honouring of God's holiness.
Pray for the anglican communion. We expect a final communique this Monday or Tuesday..
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