This will be the six GAFCON Bishops (in mid-December) unilaterally deciding to "form" a new province in North America. It won't be recognised by Canterbury or by the ACC which is the elected body which represents all 38 provinces in the Anglican Communion. Strange quote - first its stated that Rowan Willimas has no effect on what happens then he says the lack of Rowan's blessing will make it more difficult.
Parishes that have left their national churches over the issue of same-sex marriage and a general trend toward liberalism want to create a single "province" that would report to a conservative North American bishop who shares their values.
"I believe the next year will be critical," said Rev. Peter Frank, a spokesman for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, which voted last month to leave the U. S. Episcopal Church. "The first proposals will be formed in the very near term, in a matter of weeks, frankly."
Mr. Frank said that any opposition from Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will be moot because the spiritual head of Anglicanism has lost his moral authority.
"Frankly, [he] is not in a position to do anything. At this point, the leaders of a majority of the world's Anglicans are going to recognize us when we [separate]."
But he added it would make it more difficult if Mr. Williams did not give his blessing.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=948716
Here's the Canadian take-
But Archdeacon Paul Feheley, principal secretary to the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Canada, says creation of a new "province" is only recognized by a special council in the global Anglican body that meets every few years.
Referring to a letter the archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the global church, sent to a Manitoba diocese in February, Feheley says the head has already made clear "he recognizes one body in Canada as the member of the communion and that's the Anglican Church of Canada ... I can't see him going back on what he said in that letter."
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/465138
1 comment:
One minute we hear the ABC has already given his blessing the next we hear the ABC has lost his moral authority and, well, is irrelevant. Which is it? I'd loved to have been a fly on the wall when Duncan ran off to meeting in Lambeth, last month. I wonder if he really did have a meeting.
++Hiltz makes a point. We can have a province for every little group with a gripe. How bout a province for those who oppose exposition and benediction. Most Anglo-Catholics are well acquainted with this service. I'm sure evangelicals wouldn't want any part of this. We could have a province for those opposed to women's ordination and another province for those who don't like candles on the altar.
What I have never understood is how do evangelicals/conservatives justify women's ordination when the bible, which is clearly the word of God says: 1 Corinthians 14:34b-35: "As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says, If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."
Seems to me that means no women on the altar. Just curious. Personally, I support women's ordination.
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