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As the Anglican World Turns
by George Naff Gray
"As the World Turns" was my grandmother's favorite television soap opera. It was story after story of moral compromise and the resulting tragedies that occurred in people's lives. I am coming to the conclusion that Anglicans are living in a tragic soap opera called: "As the Anglican World Turns."
In the latest episode, the Archbishop of Canterbury was invited to The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana to listen to their understanding of Lambeth 1.10, the Anglican Communion's teaching on marriage between one man and one woman. In the center of the meeting room was the proverbial elephant in the room, the one bishop whose manner of life that does not conform to the Lambeth 1.10 teaching and whose election electrified world-wide controversy. At a press conference the Archbishop of Canterbury said, "We are inevitably in the business of compromise."
On September 25th The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops articulated their compromise in "A Response to Questions and Concerns Raised by our Anglican Communion Partners" in hopes of "mending the tear in the fabric" of the Anglican Communion. They seemed to say:
(1) Yes, "exercising restraint" does mean no consecrations of active homosexual bishops. But ask anyone watching "As the Anglican World Turns" closely in America and they will tell you that restraint for this soap opera series is for maybe "a season."
2. "We pledge as a body not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions." That came as a big relief to gay and lesbian watchers for they know private rites will continue unabated. Unfortunately, the bisexual and transgender folks must wait to see if multiple marriages will be blessed - privately - of course!
3. "We commend our Presiding Bishop's plan for episcopal visitors." Every watcher knew that the Episcopal bishops would say their plan was better than the Communion's because it will lead to greater conflict and such violence leads naturally to higher ratings.
4. Nothing will stop our lawyers from suing Anglicans because court room drama is demanded by television audiences.
September was just another installment of "As the Anglican World Turns." More tragedies are sure to follow because God's Word is to never be compromised.
---The Rev. Dr. George Naff Gray, Jr., O.C.P., is Rector of St. Christopher's Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina
