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CajunRick
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 12:46 am |
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Jerusalem, Jun 30, 2008 / 07:17 pm (CNA).- The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a group of traditionalist Anglicans, released its final statement in Jerusalem on Sunday relegating the Archbishop of Canterbury to the sidelines of the Anglican identity debate. The statement, titled the “Jerusalem Declaration,” calls for the creation of a new council of Anglican primates but also insists the conference is not breaking away from the Anglican Communion.
The Declaration claims that most of the world’s practicing Anglicans have entered a “post-colonial” reality where the Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest cleric in the Anglican Church, is recognized for his historical role but is not seen as the only arbiter of what it means to be an Anglican. Archbishop Rowan Williams refuses to comment on the developments.
The announcement increases pressure upon Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who already faces a controversy over women bishops that is to be discussed at the General Synod of the Anglican Church, which meets on Friday, according to the Telegraph.
The Very Rev. Colin Slee, the Dean of Southwark, responded to the GAFCON declaration, saying “This is contrary to the entire tradition on which the Church of England was founded.”
GAFCON’s Jerusalem Declaration characterizes its movement as “a fellowship of confessing Anglicans.” The declaration was produced by the 1,148 delegates who met in Jerusalem between June 22 and June 29. The delegates reportedly represent more than 35 million Anglicans worldwide.
The declaration accuses some provinces of the Anglican Communion of accepting and promoting a “different gospel” through their beliefs that all religions are equal and that Jesus is but one way to God. It also objects to the promotion of sexual immorality and the consecration of a bishop living in a homosexual relationship, who although not named, is most likely Bishop Gene Robinson.
The authors of the Jerusalem Declaration also accuse the Anglican Communion’s disciplinary instruments of “manifest failure” in the face of “overt heterodoxy.”
Describing GAFCON’s position within the Anglican Church, the Jerusalem Declaration says, “Our fellowship is not breaking away from the Anglican Communion. We, together with many other faithful Anglicans throughout the world, believe the doctrinal foundation of Anglicanism, which defines our core identity as Anglicans, is expressed in these words: The doctrine of the Church is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular, such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal.”
According to GAFCON, the planned primates’ council initially will be formed by six Anglican primates from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, the Southern Cone, Uganda and West Africa. The GAFCON delegation from Tanzania is also in agreement with the Jerusalem Declaration, but will reportedly require the approval of their House of Bishops before their archbishop can join the council.
The primates’ council will recognize and authenticate “confessing Anglican jurisdictions, clergy and congregations” and “encourage all Anglicans to promote the gospel and defend the faith,” a GAFCON press release reports. The Jerusalem Declaration reportedly acknowledges the desirability of territorial jurisdictions for Anglican provinces and dioceses “except in areas where churches and leaders have denied the orthodox faith or are preventing its spread.”
Concerning Anglicans in North America, the declaration says the “time is now ripe for the formation of a province in North America for the federation currently known as Common Cause Partnership to be recognized by the Primates' Council.”
The above article is reposted with permission from Catholic News Agency.
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Rick Luquette
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David W. Emery
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 01:08 am |
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So the GAFCon partisans have decided on reorganization rather than outright secession. In other words, because they have the numbers, they believe they have the power to reform the Anglican communion from within and force the “reformers” out. And the first thing we see is an expansion and institutionalization of their current practice of offering an “alternate governance” or “choice of bishops” to Anglican/Episcopalian parishes in North America, encouraging them to opt out of the local governance.
But isn’t this effectively a schism anyway? For they are expressly refusing to acknowledge the Archbishop of Canterbury as the leader of all Anglicans. This is the same as Henry VIII declaring himself head of the Catholic Church in England. So whether they declare themselves to be breaking away from the established Anglican Church or not, in point of fact they have done do. How do others see this?
David
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CajunRick
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 01:29 am |
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David W. Emery wrote: How do others see this?
Admittedly I have no experience outside the Catholic Church, but my initial reaction to the story was the same as yours.
I would suspect that the GAFCON group will attempt to usurp authority in the Anglican communion, and ultimately expel those who disagree with them. However it happens and however long it takes, whether they are successful or not, I suspect we will ultimately see two different groups emerging from the rubble of the Anglican Communion. I also suspect a significant number of current members will join other communities, Catholic, Orthodox and other.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
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japhy
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 01:34 am |
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David W. Emery wrote: How do others see this?
As "a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum". 
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Steven Barrett
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 04:08 am |
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This is looking more and more like a genteel coup if I ever saw one. They're just bypassing a bishop who's authority is virtually zilch. He's done and the only thing that keeps him Lambeth is inaction by his remaining clerics, parliament or the crown.
He's finished. So is the "english" component of worldwide Anglicanism except for those die-hard anglophiles you can often hobnobbing in American TEC parishes.
Time to pull the shades, draw the curtains and make sure the last light's turned off and Lambeth's last open door is locked on the way out.
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brian
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:08 pm |
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Well before I was Catholic I had been attending an Anglican Church. It was under an African Bishop. So this seems like nothing new to me. I actually hope that more American anglican parishes would consider doing this to fight for something closer to orthodoxy. The movement was called Anglican Mission in America (AMiA). It is a mission of African and Asian Bishops establishing American Churches I believe. It may be sort of a loophole or a schism without a schism, but I hope whatever is done the most amount possible of conservative Anglicans will be strong and convert others to their cause.
Though my true dream is that they realize that there is no good and substantial reason to keep them from coming home to us.
I know the Catholic church does not want to divide and conquer the Anglicans as far as ecumenical dialogue is concerned. So sometimes it seems like we are not interested in helping them as it would seem like interfering in their personal affairs. But how can you dialogue with a church when the theology varies so significantly. I would hope that if this splinter becomes more evident without becoming completely "schism" that maybe we will be able to dialogue more separately with Anglican groups who consider reunion. I mean there are some Anglican Rite Catholic parishes. This seems like an exception to the rule? I wonder if it is because the parishes seceded from the Anglican Church before becoming Catholic?
Brian
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CajunRick
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 05:27 pm |
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brian wrote: I mean there are some Anglican Rite Catholic parishes. This seems like an exception to the rule? I wonder if it is because the parishes seceded from the Anglican Church before becoming Catholic?
We call them "Anglican Use" and they are part of the Latin Rite. They are not "Anglican churches" that seceded and joined the Catholic Church, but individual Anglicans who chose to become Catholic as a group. Eventually their pastors were accepted as Catholic priests under the Pastoral Provision, and the Catholic bishops who helped them allowed them to build a new church.
In other words, they don't attend the same church that they used to attend, and it is probably still being used for Anglican liturgy. Instead, they are members of a new, Catholic parish that is allowed to use a special, Anglican-style liturgy.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 07:02 pm |
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David, you asked how others see this. To me it looks like just another Protestant church split. It's very similar to a split that happened in the Presbyterian Church years ago with one new denomination (PCUSA) taking the "liberal" track and the other one taking the "conservative" track.
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brian
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 03:51 pm |
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CajunRick wrote:
brian wrote: I mean there are some Anglican Rite Catholic parishes. This seems like an exception to the rule? I wonder if it is because the parishes seceded from the Anglican Church before becoming Catholic?
We call them "Anglican Use" and they are part of the Latin Rite. They are not "Anglican churches" that seceded and joined the Catholic Church, but individual Anglicans who chose to become Catholic as a group. Eventually their pastors were accepted as Catholic priests under the Pastoral Provision, and the Catholic bishops who helped them allowed them to build a new church.
In other words, they don't attend the same church that they used to attend, and it is probably still being used for Anglican liturgy. Instead, they are members of a new, Catholic parish that is allowed to use a special, Anglican-style liturgy.
But if an entire (or nearly entire) congregation splits and keeps their pastor how is this different from seceding from the Anglican Church and joining the Catholic Church as an existing congregation? The only difference you seem to mention is that they do not get to keep and use the same building. While buildings are important, I think it is the people who make up the church more so than anything.
But it appears the answer to my question as to how this happened when our official stance as Catholics is not to divide and conquer, is that they broke from the Anglican Church before inquiring as to becoming Catholic and this is why the Catholic Church was accommodating; where as we are not willing to negotiate with individual Anglican groups while they are still formally connected to Anglicanism as a whole.
My concern was that if Anglicans do not completely break up yet remain so drastically divided on doctrine it will be difficult to know how to ecumenically dialogue with them for the Church. I suppose at that point we can pray for them and hope that those who feel increasingly alienated from their liberal theology will consider coming to us of their own free will.
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CajunRick
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 04:36 pm |
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brian wrote: My concern was that if Anglicans do not completely break up yet remain so drastically divided on doctrine it will be difficult to know how to ecumenically dialogue with them for the Church. I suppose at that point we can pray for them and hope that those who feel increasingly alienated from their liberal theology will consider coming to us of their own free will.
Then maybe I misunderstood your question.
In general, the Catholic Church has been willing to open a dialog with any group, for purposes of absorption, reunification, clarification, ministry, or practically any other worthwhile purpose.
For example, discussions were held with the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada more than a decade ago. I was told back then (by an Anglican bishop) that reunification was near, but unfortunately it has never happened. The hangup back then (as I understood it) was that they wanted to elect their own bishops without Vatican oversight, and I'm sure the Holy Father could not go along with that. There would be nothing to prevent them from electing someone like Gene Robinson, for example.
Recently, a group from the Assyrian Church of the East was accepted into the Chaldean Catholic Church. We had messages about that on our forum.
Discussions have been held with the Orthodox, Lutherans, Baptists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, and many other groups, to seek a common understanding on certain points of doctrine. While not directly aimed at reunification, every meeting that reduces animosity and fosters a better understanding is a step in that direction.
As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the absorption of an Anglican parish is not "reunification" per se, but rather a group of individual Anglicans/Episcopalians who have decided to become Catholic together. Their priest becomes a Catholic layman, not a Catholic priest (although he might pursue ordination under the Pastoral Provision), and they are brought into an existing parish.
It's no different than when Rev. Alex Jones, a Pentecostal minister, decided to become Catholic and brought his family and 62 members of his congregation with him. Since he is now a Catholic deacon, I'm sure his preaching has a much more Pentacostal flavor than you would find in a typical Catholic parish. Some of the members of his old congregation probably even shout out an occasional "Amen"!
"Reunification", on the other hand, would involve an entire congregation with a pastor who would then be accepted as a Catholic priest, who could continue to shepherd his flock. At this time, only an Orthodox or Oriental parish, or a parish of the Polish National Catholic Church, could fall under that category because theirs are the only sacraments (besides baptism) recognized by Catholics. Special recognition could be granted if the reunification involved a large national church (say the Anglican Catholics of Canada), but to the best of my knowledge, that has not happened anywhere at this time.
Given the nature of the Anglican Communion, it's really a federation of national Anglican churches rather than a single, consolidated union. For example, even if Anglicans in Canada would decide to reunify with the Catholic Church, it most likely would not apply to Episcopalians in the United States. Like other Protestant communities, doctrine and practices vary from country to country and even parish to parish.
As Catholics, we have no desire to "divide and conquer" the Anglicans or anyone else. But as the universal Catholic Church, we are willing to accept anyone who will accept Catholic teachings, whether as an individual or as a group.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
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JasPax
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 07:13 pm |
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CajunRick wrote: As Catholics, we have no desire to "divide and conquer" the Anglicans or anyone else. But as the universal Catholic Church, we are willing to accept anyone who will accept Catholic teachings, whether as an individual or as a group.
Hello:
I seem to recall that a while back, mabe six momths ago, there was a news item that the Worldwide Tradional Anglican Communion had approached Rome with a proposal for reunification. I believe that the group in the U.S. that calls themselves Anglican Church in America (ACA) is part of the Tradional Anglican Communion.
Has anyone heard anything lately about this?
God's Blessings,
Last edited on Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 07:15 pm by JasPax
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"He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." John 6:56
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jacki
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Posted: Sat Jul 5th, 2008 09:17 pm |
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how do I see it?
as a recruitment oppotunity !
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wmschrader
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Posted: Sat Jul 5th, 2008 11:28 pm |
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"Secret talks by Anglicans with the Vatican"
The latest from the Telegraph newspaper in the U.K.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2254269/Anglican-bishops-in-secret-Vatican-summit.html
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Steven Barrett
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Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 02:26 am |
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Bill, Excellent post. I saw something like this earlier from the same paper but it looks like you got the longer version.
I wouldn't hold my breath on Rome suddenly opening the doors without doing a lot of homework on how to bring these priests in without causing a diplomatic wrangle between the Holy See as a soverign state and the UK since the Ch of Eng is part of the UK's very establishment. That's the tricky part for the Vatican. The Holy See has no problems in dealing with American Episcopalians since they belong to a private denomination. Not so with official Ch of Eng clerics.
Let's be patient. I can't imagine so many Brits heading for the Orthodox branches. The cultural divide is too wide, not to mention any theological differences the conservative Anglican clerics might have with Constantinople or Moscow similar to what we Catholics already have now. Nor do I believe these clerics and their lay followers will likely head off in the evangelical direction either.
But I doubt if Rome will be rushed, no matter how sincerely and heartfeltly the Pope and Curia would like to pull a break down the Berlin Wall sort of gesture. It's just a matter of time, and time really is on Rome's side -- far more than it is on Lambeth's.
I just loved that closing in the story you linked and quoted it here because it shows the very essence of extreme liberal arrogance and what a snooty character this Abp of York must be notwithstanding his ancient title.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, used his Synod address yesterday to attack members of the "breakaway" Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans — accusing them of "ungracious" behaviour.
Lambeth Palace declined to comment.
At least he didn't call the dissidents "mentally unstable" and have them hauled off to Bedlam Hospital while the Anglican Kremlin kept its silence.
____________________
For anybody interested in reading commentary from a Catholic's socially conservative/fiscally liberal viewpoint, go to my new blog at http://www.politicsramble.com/ .
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CajunRick
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Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 03:07 am |
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Steven Barrett wrote: I wouldn't hold my breath on Rome suddenly opening the doors without doing a lot of homework on how to bring these priests in without causing a diplomatic wrangle between the Holy See as a soverign state and the UK since the Ch of Eng is part of the UK's very establishment. That's the tricky part for the Vatican. The Holy See has no problems in dealing with American Episcopalians since they belong to a private denomination. Not so with official Ch of Eng clerics.
I don't know that I would completely agree with that. It may well be that Rome would not invite a group of "Anglican Catholic" clergy and and laity into the Catholic fold en masse, but if they individually choose to leave the Anglican communion and request entry into the Church, I can see the Church extending the Pastoral Provision to cover any Anglican clergy who would seek to become Catholic priests.
The situation would be quite different from the group from the Assyrian Church of the East that recently joined the Chaldean Catholic Church in California because the Anglican orders would not be recognized under the scenario I am envisioning. An Anglican schism is not in the best interests of Christian unity (and therefore not in Rome's best interests) so there is a reason for a certain amount of haste. If a schism takes place, positions will harden and it will then become even more difficult for them to "swim the Tiber". The clergy and congregations from the American Episcopal Church who have joined the Catholic Church (under the Anglican Use liturgy) can serve as a model for allowing them to come into full communion with Rome and yet maintain their Anglican identity, which seems to be the major concession they are seeking.
That does not necessarily mean I think the Church will "hurry" or "rush" into a decision, but if the existing framework is used, there is no reason that any decisions really need to be made. After all, I'm sure Buckingham Palace does not consult with the Vatican if a Catholic priest decides to join the Anglican church.
Now if the Catholic Church would decide to create an "Anglican Rite" with an autonomous governing structure and liturgy (similar to the Eastern Churches) and throw the doors open for any Anglican clergy to become Catholic by pledging obedience to Rome, that might well cause a diplomatic flap. But that is not going to happen. The Catholic Church has been adamant in not recognizing Anglican orders, and to do so now would be a major shift in teaching if not in doctrine.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
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Steven Barrett
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Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 03:13 am |
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Thanks Rick,
After reading what you said, and I've gotta hand it to you for being able to sort out all the characters in this long drama, some of it also reminds me of that old Marx Brothers "slow burn" routine or the dialogue Groucho and Chico had in "A Night at the Opera" when they started out talking about the first partner to the clause of something in some contract only to wind up getting all the way to the ninth partner.
Things do seem a lot simpler on this side of the pond, don't they?
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For anybody interested in reading commentary from a Catholic's socially conservative/fiscally liberal viewpoint, go to my new blog at http://www.politicsramble.com/ .
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CajunRick
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Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 03:08 pm |
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Steven Barrett wrote: some of it also reminds me of that old Marx Brothers "slow burn" routine
Some of the Anglican actions recently seem to remind me of Abbot and Costello's "Who's on First?".
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
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