Excerpts from some worthwhile reading, reportedly written by General Convention deputies from the Diocese of Southeast Florida (hat tip: An Inch at a Time):
[quote]
Myth: General Convention Deputies are delegates representing the diocese.
Fact: General Convention Deputies are deputies not delegates. They represent a diocese, but are deputized to make educated voting decisions not based on a constituency in their diocese, but based on their prayerful consideration of each question and issue and the dictates of their conscience. ***
Myth: The 38 Primates are the authority of the Anglican Communion.
Fact: The Primates are one instrument of unity in the Anglican Communion. While they have some moral authority, they have no formal legislative or executive authority or power over any part of the communion beyond their own individual provinces. The other instruments of unity are The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Consultative Council. None of these entities has formal "authority" or power over the provinces. Each province is fully autonomous and fully self-governing.
Myth: The Episcopal Church can be kicked out of the Anglican Communion (AC) by the primates.
Fact:
There is no formal provision for any of the instruments of unity to
exclude member churches from their body. The Episcopal Church and the
Church of Canada were asked to voluntarily withdraw from some
deliberative bodies of the Communion to allow time and space for
healing. The Archbishop of Canterbury determines who is invited to the
Lambeth Conference which takes place every ten years. Only the
Archbishop of Canterbury can declare a church out of communion with the
Anglican Communion.
Myth: Actions from the 2006 General Convention can get The Episcopal Church kicked out of the AC.
Fact: While some within the Anglican Communion argue that decisions
made by General Convention might result in the Episcopal Church
removing itself from the Anglican Communion, only an overt declaration
to that effect by both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops
or a clear statement by the Archbishop of Canterbury so stating could
have that result.
Myth: General Convention 2006 can undo General Convention 2003’s approval of the election of V. Gene Robinson to the episcopacy.
Fact: General Convention 2006 cannot undo General Convention 2003’s
approval of the election of V. Gene Robinson to the episcopacy. Gene
Robinson was duly elected by the Diocese of New Hampshire, his election
duly certified by General Convention and he was consecrated by more
than three bishops of the Episcopal Church who are themselves in good
standing and in the apostolic line.
Myth: The Episcopal Church is the only member of the Anglican
Communion that supports gays and lesbians as full participants of the
church.
Fact: Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, New Zealand (to name four
others), also support gays and lesbians as full participants of the
church. NOTE: Caution is required when characterizing the position of
Great Britain. While a person who identifies him or herself as gay or
lesbian can exercise priestly ministry, they must confirm that they are
living in celibacy. The Church of England officially does not permit
those living openly gay lifestyles to exercise their ministry.
Moreover, Jeffrey John, who had affirmed that he was living a celibate
life, and whose name had been forwarded to be bishop of Reading,
withdrew his name under pressure from the Archbishop of Canterbury. It
should also be noted that English civil law now recognizes same sex
unions.
Myth: The Global South is a united front in its disdain of The Episcopal Church.
Fact: There are provinces in the “Global South” that do not show disdain to The Episcopal Church. ***
Myth: Human sexuality is at the core of the Windsor Report.
Fact: The core issues raised by the Windsor Report relate to
authority and the importance of the provinces’ being in communion. The
issues underlying the Windsor Report involve interpretation of
Scripture (is there only one correct interpretation or are there
multiple acceptable interpretations?) and issues of whether there is
any person or body in the Anglican Communion that can define the
"requirements" for remaining in the Anglican Communion. Issues of
Scriptural interpretation and authority, as well as our relationships
of authority within the Anglican Communion are also major issues in
this conversation. Human Sexuality has simply raised the issue of how
we live together in communion.
Myth: To be part of the AC, a province (church) must agree on core communion moral values.
Fact: To be part of the AC a church must be in communion with the ABC.
Myth: The Episcopal Church is liberal/radical on matters of human sexuality.
Fact: The Episcopal Church is respectful, prayerful, compassionate and responsible on matters of human sexuality.
Myth: The Episcopal Church is lax on core moral values.
Fact: The moral values of The Episcopal Church are defined by the 5
Baptismal Vows. There is nothing lax about them. The argument about
sexuality represents a clash of competing claims of morality and
justice and how the Baptismal Vows ought to be applied.
Myth: The Anglican Communion is an historic structure of central authority.
Fact: The Anglican Communion (as we know it today) came into being
after WWII. It does not have a central authority such as the Pope, and
relies on our choosing to be in communion with one another, sharing a
common ecclesiology, heritage, theological principles, and creedal
beliefs. While we share a Book of Common Prayer tradition (though
Provinces have books designed for their own unique contexts), the
language and style or worship will vary from province to province, thus
reflecting our lack of centralized authority and provincial
responsibility in reflecting the local experience of Christianity.
[end quote]
Leave a Reply