The primates of the Anglican Communion issued this communique at the close of their meeting in Northern Ireland. See also the TItusOneNine blog for a roundup of related news reports and opinion.
Here are some excerpts in the communique that caught my eye. Bracketed numbers refer to paragraphs in the communique. Links to other documents are mine.
"We thank God that our meeting has been characterised by generosity of spirit,
and a readiness to respect one another’s integrity, with Christian charity and
abundant goodwill." [1]"Many primates have been deeply alarmed that the standard of Christian teaching
on matters of human sexuality expressed in the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10,
which should command respect as the position overwhelmingly adopted by the
bishops of the Anglican Communion, has been seriously undermined by the recent
developments in North America." [6]"At the same time, it is acknowledged that these developments within the
Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada have proceeded entirely
in accordance with their constitutional processes and requirements." [6]"We assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by
him, and deserving of the best we can give of pastoral care and friendship." [6]"[W]e accept the description offered in Sections A & B of the Windsor Report [Ed.: see also this Summary Guide] as
the way in which we would like to see the life of the Anglican Communion
developed, as we respond in faithful discipleship to Christ. … We
therefore request all provinces to consider whether they are willing to be
committed to the inter-dependent life of the Anglican Communion understood in
the terms set out in these sections of the report." [8]"[T]he Chicago/Lambeth Quadrilateral has already been effectively operating as a
form of covenant that secures our basic commitment to scripture, the Nicene
Creed, the two Sacraments of the Gospel and the Historic Episcopate." [9]"While we welcome the ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury as that of one who
can speak to us as primus inter pares about the realities we face as a
Communion, we are cautious of any development which would seem to imply the
creation of an international jurisdiction which could override our proper
provincial autonomy." [10]"Although formidable practical problems would attend any formal process of wider
consultation in the election and confirmation of bishops, we request that
Provinces should themselves find an appropriate place for the proper
consideration of the principle of inter-dependence in any process of election or
confirmation." [11]"[W]e request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada
voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for
the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference [in 2008]. During that same period we
request that both churches respond through their relevant constitutional bodies
to the questions specifically addressed to them in the Windsor Report as they
consider their place within the Anglican Communion." [14]"In reaffirming the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10 as the present
position of the Anglican Communion, we pledge ourselves afresh to that
resolution in its entirety …." [17]"In the meantime, we ask our fellow primates to use their best influence to persuade their
brothers and sisters to exercise a moratorium on public Rites of Blessing for
Same-sex unions and on the consecration of any bishop living in a sexual
relationship outside Christian marriage." [18]
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