Windsor Report offers recommendations, calls for reconciliation

[realFedUp]

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_52962_ENG_HTM.htm

Windsor Report offers recommendations, calls for reconciliation

by Matthew Davies and Jan Nunley
Monday, October 18, 2004

Stating that it is "not a judgment" but "part of a pilgrimage towards healing and reconciliation," the report of the Lambeth Commission on Communion -- known as the Windsor Report <http://www.anglicancommunion.org/windsor2004/index.cfm> -- was released at a news conference held October 18, 2004, at St. Paul's Cathedral, London.
The chief recommendations of the Windsor Report include:

An enhanced role for the Archbishop of Canterbury
A Council of Advice for the Archbishop of Canterbury
An Anglican Covenant
Recommendations on elections to the episcopate
Recommendations arising from the consecration of the Bishop of New Hampshire
Recommendations on Rites of Blessing of Same Sex Unions
Recommendations on alternative pastoral oversight
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_52961_ENG_HTM.htm >

The report asks for all parties to the controversy to apologize for ways in which their actions have harmed others. The document specifically calls on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to put into effect a moratorium on the ordination of sexually active gay clergy as bishops and on same-sex blessings, while asking that conservative bishops likewise cease to cross jurisdictional boundaries to offer episcopal oversight to dissenting congregations.

In a statement <http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_52922_ENG_HTM.htm> on the report, released shortly after the news conference, the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold called for a careful and patient reading of the full report. "In these next days the Report will doubtless be read from many points of view and given any number of interpretations," he said. "It is extremely important that it be read carefully as a whole and viewed in its entirety rather than being read selectively to buttress any particular perspectives."

While affirming "the presence and positive contribution of gay and lesbian persons to every aspect of the life of our church and in all orders of ministry," he apologized on behalf of the Episcopal Church for the effects of its decision on other provinces. "As Presiding Bishop I know I speak for members of our church in saying how highly we value our Communion and the bonds of affection we share," Griswold stated. "Therefore, we regret how difficult and painful actions of our church have been in many provinces of our Communion, and the negative repercussions that have been felt by brother and sister Anglicans."

continued

[pelagius]

1. Episcopalian Kick!

Gay-bashing Christians tend to steal the media spotlight, but DUers might want to note that the Episcopal Church (USA) is taking a beating for ordaining gay Christians to its highest clerical offices.

It ain't all Fred Phelps ("God Hates Fags") out there, folks.

[regnaD kciN]

2. While it might not be clear from initial reports...

...this is a huge defeat for conservative groups within Anglicanism.

Why? Because they viewed this commission as the best chance they had to "lay down the law" and finally crack down on or purge liberals in the U.S. Initial reports/leaks from the commission suggested that the traditionalists would get their wish: they indicated the report would recommend banning any U.S. bishop who voted to approve +Robinson's election from policy-making positions in the worldwide organization, plus instituting a "loyalty oath" for such positions requiring that the signer uphold anti-gay positions. It was further predicted that the commission would require the U.S. church to "repent," or else be expelled from the Anglican Communion by 2008, and tacitly approve the efforts by certain conservative African and Asian bishops to start up a new, alternate "Anglican Mission in America" -- essentially a new Anglican denomination hewing to near-fundamentalist positions.

Instead, the traditionalists discovered that the Windsor Report was much like a Bush environmental proposal -- it said all the right things (for them), but then reduced them to irrelevancy by making them voluntary rather than mandatory. Instead of banning pro-gay U.S. bishops from Anglican gatherings, it merely recommended that the three bishops actually participating in the +Robinson consecration service consider possibly absenting themselves from such meetings. Instead of a loyalty oath, it suggested a long-term process of dialog to come up with a shared agreement of essential doctrine. There was no call for the U.S. church to "repent," merely "apologize" for not fully taking into account the international ramifications of their decision (basically, a "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings for doing what I think is right" apology)...and demanded a counter-apology from the conservative Africans and Asians for interfering with the U.S. church!

In other words, while it's not a total win for the inclusive side, it's far less than the conservatives were wanting (and, more importantly, expecting), at the point where they were figuring to make their "last, best" stand against liberalism.

As a result, officials of the Episcopal Church are being conciliatory, while the traditionalist groups are screaming about the resolution being "toothless," and allowing the liberals to get away with murder.

:party:

[realFedUp]

3. I'll look forward to Griswald and Bruno's comments on it

Bishop Bruno (Los Angeles) is facing the
breakaway of three conservative E churches
in the diocese.