Saturday, May 29, 2010

One effect of the ABC's letter

In his significant Pentecost letter, Archbishop Rowan Williams signals change in the Communion in the one area he can himself effect change: bodies to which he appoints people. The change being commensurate with his explanation that in ecumenical relationships via Anglican commissions and in work on Communion faith and order, it is no longer appropriate for the Communion to be represented by people who belong to churches which continue to defy the 'Windsor moratoria' (ordinations of partnered gay and lesbian people, same sex blessings, border crossings). Mark Harris of Preludium - thank you - has offered this analysis of who would be effected on the Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order:

"Here is a list of those on the Anglican Communion Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order. Those highlighted in red would be reduced to consultant status (whatever that means) under the moratoria rule the Archbishop speaks of in his letter.


"The Most Revd Bernard Ntahoturi, Primate of Burundi and Chair of Commission
The Rt Revd Dr Georges Titre Ande, Congo
The Ven. Professor Dapo Asaju, Nigeria
The Revd Canon Professor Paul Avis, England
The Rt Revd Philip D Baji, Tanzania
The Revd Canon Dr John Gibaut, World Council of Churches
The Rt Revd Howard Gregory, West Indies
The Revd Dr Katherine Grieb, Episcopal Church (USA)
The Revd Canon Clement Janda, Sudan
The Revd Sarah Rowland Jones, Southern Africa
The Revd Dr Edison Muhindo Kalengyo, Uganda
The Rt Revd Victoria Matthews, Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
The Revd Canon Dr Charlotte Methuen, England
The Revd Dr Simon Oliver, Wales/England
The Rt Revd Professor Stephen Pickard, Australia
Dr Andrew Pierce, Ireland
The Revd Canon Dr Michael Nai Chiu Poon, South East Asia
The Revd Dr Jeremiah Guen Seok Yang, Korea
The Rt Revd Tito Zavala, Bishop of Chile, Southern Cone
The Revd Joanna Udal, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs The Revd Canon Dr Alyson Barnett-Cowan, Director for Unity, Faith and Order
Mr Neil Vigers, of the Anglican Communion Office.

I am not sure of the status of SE Asia and Tanzania. I am sure this will be further corrected."

I would have thought it was a moot point whether Nigeria, Southern Cone and Uganda are continuing to 'border cross' if they leave episcopal work within North America to the many bishops of ACNA actually resident in ACNA. Especially if the Communion continues to deny representative status to those bishops. However I am unclear whether African and Southern Cone bishops are flying into the States these days for confirmations and ordinations.

ADDED: now note further comment in comments below from Mark Harris re infractional status of provinces re incursions.

3 comments:

Mark Harris said...

Hi Peter...

I understand that Bishop Lyons (sp?) of Bolivia has some american congregations "under" his charge. A number of ACNA folk apparently have continued their relationship with the Province of the Souther Cone. AMiA has been determined by Rwanda to still be under their authority. I don't know what the current situation is with CANA.

It remains to be seen if there is any grandfathering in of past infractions of the moratoria. Who knows.

But in any event the "consequences" of not being on the Faith and Order Commission as a full member but only as a consultant is not what I expected to drop. The boot that will drop is when the Primates meet and recommend that the ABC not invite the Primates of various Provinces.

BTW, your last several pieces have been very useful. Thanks.

well, well, well... my magic word is thesisc... as in my thesis has made me sea sick? Surely this is not a sign?

Mark Harris said...

Oh, and ...I still think the ABC should have led with the prayer... That there be a new Pentecost for the Anglican Communion.

There's a bridge, not of our own making.

Peter Carrell said...

Thanks Mark for helpful follow up and for iterating the point (also made on your own blog posting) about the letter beginning with prayer ...

I agree that there is an interesting journey ahead re the Primates' Meeting because there are enough signals in the letter to indicate that this meeting scheduled for January 2011 will be, shall I say, more carefully prepared for than ever before.