Things are getting interesting.

I'd never considered this before. If the Church of England has two archbishops, both of whom are titled Primates, then perhaps Nigeria's nine archbishops can all be considered Primates as well, each entitled to a vote at the meeting of Primates.

Under the constitution of the Church of Nigeria, who has the authority to give Nigerian archbishops the title of "Primate"?? I'll try to find the answer, but I'd expect the Constitution to be silent on the question.

It's not just Nigeria, though, Romans828. For example, Australia has several Archbishops in addition to the primate.

If primate means something like "of the first rank" - there can't be all that many for it to keep its meaning.

OK, I've just read through the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria as they are available online.

No where can I find a specific provision that would allow for more than one Primate, the word "Primate" is used in the singular throughout both documents, generally as part of the continually recurring phrase "Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate", and the documents provide for the "election" of Primate by church council.

I gather the question would turn on what sort of emergency powers the "Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate" of the Church of Nigeria has by custom. I could not find anywhere in the Constitution and Canons a restriction on the "Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate" to give titles.

I doubt that Archbishop Akinola will claim that an additional archbishop of the Church of Nigeria is a "Primate." However, there is still left open the question of how much representation each Province of the Anglican Communion should have, since there is no written constitution. I wonder if such matters will be addressed in the proposed "Covenant" of the AC.

We're glad to get your report, David, and glad to know that you and Canon Gary are okay!

"Both conservatives and liberals alike are determined that the foibles of the TEC are not primary issues facing the Anglican Communion, (even global warning was listed as one of several important issues which the Primates may be called upon to make some comment), liberal Southern Africa Archbishop Ndungane has stated that sexuality is a second tier issue, and the CAPA primates have said that world impoverishment and AIDS are more deserving of their attention than American sexuality, nonetheless the first days' agenda announced by the Most Rev. Phillip Aspinall, Primate of Australia signaled that the response to the Windsor Report was a priority among the primates."

This is both amazing and deeply troubling. I understand that there's a lot going on in the world outside of the Industrialized West. I know that the Industrialized West has a tendency to view its own issues as being more important than the pressing problems of the rest of the world. I can well understand ++ Ndungane's view that the Industrialized West's neurotic fascination with sex is a “second tier issue” compared to the physical survival needs of the Southern Hemisphere. But there is nothing new about poverty and disease—they have been with humanity for ages and will continue to be with us until our Lord returns: “For you have the poor with you always“ (Mt 26:11). That's not to say that poverty and disease are unimportant, but simply to place them in perspective: we need to do what we can to alleviate the causes of poverty and to heal the sick and infirm—we do this out of Christian love. But the reality is that there is nothing that a Conference of Anglican Primates can say or do that will make more than an imperceptible dent in the problems of world poverty and disease—besides slap each other on the back and feel good about having issued some proclamations. Most of this work is already ongoing, does not need decisions by an Anglican Council of Primates, and is now and will in the foreseeable future be done by non-Anglican and, in fact, non-religious NGO's—which brings us to what should be the central issue of the Council: the Gospel.

There are two crucial aspects of the Gospel which the Council needs to understand and decide. The first aspect is the relationship between social goals (alleviating poverty and disease) and the Gospel. In particular, is the spiritual need for the Gospel met along with physical needs? How is this done when Western Anglicanism's primary goal is raising funds—often for secular NGO's? The second aspect is in fact far more important than any other topic before the Council—it is what has throughout the centuries been the most discussed topic at Councils of the Church: the nature of the Gospel being taught in the Communion. Councils of the Church have historically made dealing with heresy their highest priority because of the disastrous consequences of not dealing with it swiftly and harshly. We need look no further than the Episcopal Church USA, the Anglican Church of Canada, et al to see the abominable result of the Communion's tolerance of heresy and failure to take action during the past 35-40 years of Anglican history. Orthodox Anglicans are asking the Primates to take action now, at this late date—before the cancer spreads and overwhelms the Body. Orthodox Anglicans have been looking for the Global South Primates—in particular, CAPA—to lead the Communion out of the current moral morass.

But now it appears that the hopes of orthodox Anglicans were misplaced—it seems the CAPA primates believe that “world impoverishment and AIDS” are more deserving of attention at a Council of Primates than “American sexuality.” If this is true, the Anglican Communion is toast—prioritizing a social agenda over dealing with heresy demonstrates a lack of sufficient Christian maturity to lead the Communion and there is no one else who is up to the job.

“At a press conference, Aspinall reported that earlier today he had presented to the joint meeting of the Standing Committee of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council a proposal for a worldwide study of hermeneutics. 'It was well received,' he said. An observer noted that this seemed to be upgrading the 'listening process' preparing a higher ground for diverse interpretations of the Bible in the name of hermeneutics (a theory of interpreting texts) that could allow a technical basis for the Episcopal Church's innovations in sexuality.”

Whoever proposed this needs to be disciplined—the last thing the Anglican Communion needs in the midst of a heresy crisis is a basis for justifying and propagating heresy.

“A very significant portion of the agenda time of the Primates is being devoted to following through the implications of the Windsor Report."

I pray that they are not just now “following through the implications of the Windsor Report," but are discussing the most expedient way to expel the revisionists and provide support to the orthodox faithful. The Primates may not realize it, but anything less will result in orthodox Anglicans departing in droves for other jurisdictions—probably not in communion with Canterbury.

“Cameron ... said the actions of North America had generated wide distrust citing the election of Robinson, the public authorization of same sex unions, and in order to rebuild trust a moratorium on such blessings would have to happen.”

I pray that Cameron's opinion does not reflect the Primates. A “moratorium” is not even remotely acceptable—anyone engaging in such nonsense must be excommunicated. It is time to stop Mickey Mousing around and playing “church”—it is time to start following the Canons, which *require* excommunication of heretics and shunning them.

“In response to a question about Episcopal boundary crossing, Cameron said, quoting the Windsor Report, that there should be a cessation of those interventions. 'But when the Primates got together in Dromantine the feeling was so sensitive in North America that it was not right just to cease them, and part of their intention in founding the Panel of Reference was to try to find a mechanism whereby there could be some partially objective assessment which sought to ease the situation. What the primates will want to consider is the effectiveness of the Panel of Reference.' He said the Primates would not be able to stop such interventions until such time as they were reassured that the parishes they were trying to help have a secure place.”

This problem can be swiftly solved by tossing out the heretical jurisdictions (The Episcipal Church USA, the Anglican Church of Canada, etc). But how can the Church of England be sorted out? And who wants to be in communion with Canterbury if the Church of England isn't sorted out?

“What is clear is that the subtext of this meeting is the Episcopal Church's failure to live out the demands of the Windsor Report.”

But what will the Primates actually do about it—now?

“Mrs. Schori is "determined" to stay for the full duration of the Primates meeting and will do her best to meet with those who disagree with her said a spokesman for the national church.”

What will Ms Schori do if the Primates toss her and the Episcopal Church, mope around the lobby?

“But one thing is clear, despite the possibility of a new camaraderie among first time Primates, the wild card of biblical sexual morality will be played by Archbishop Peter Akinola and supported by other CAPA archbishops, and he will force the issue out into the open one way or another in his determination to rid the Anglican Communion of unrepentant North Americans.”

Well, that sounds hopeful—I pray that this will get resolved in Tanzania and not put off yet again. The Primates need to learn a very important lesson: tolerance is a sin when it comes to heresy.

Thank you for your report, David, and God bless!

Yawn...It's the usual tactics to avoid the real issues...Just see how smooth these establishment folks are and how good with the press...I've got to believe the Orthodox AB's are wisely letting the 'usual' verbage and posturing happen so that positions and posturing are well defined... Let the ball be defined and redefined before you swing the bat....The nice and 'confortable' will end soon... Will our Bishops have the courage to step up to bat ? I wish Bishop Murphy were there. But then, the AMiA dusted off their sandals long ago and now are the fastest growing protestant Church in America. Duh ! Doc

I've been reading virtueonline since 2003, and I thank you so much for your wonderful service. I left the ECUSA on the same day as the infamous election of Mr. Robinson as bishop. Maybe I'm not very patient, but I could not continue as a member. I vividly remember Bill O-Reilly interviewing a priest on the Factor direct from the 2003 convention, and asking him how the ECUSA could justify the election of Mr. Robinson in light of Scripture. The priest responded that the convention had been "moved by the Holy Spirit" and that it did not matter what it said in "a book." Yes, that's what he said. The very next Sunday I started attending a conservative evangelical church and never looked back except to follow the news here and at other sites. People, leave the ECUSA. It is wonderful to read the Bible and not have to "skip over" the parts that are hard truths.

Welcome, FormerEC.

Your comments are most welcome. (And about time!)

And for 'desiderius' ---- do take a chill pill.
The horses are just out of the gate. Negativity is understandable, but inappropriate.

Too much is going on, to snap up and react to worthless sound bytes. The meat and potatoes are going on behind closed doors and steel fences.

Our love for this church is keeping us chomping at the bit, to be sure! But I will remain optimistic that the Orthodox Faithful are not even close to being done with all of the rest.

There will be lots of clarity, and KA BOOM! moments for us to feast upon. If not, then, ultimately, we will pick up our collective offerings, each one of us, and take them elsewhere.

I pray that I will have no such need!

Respectfully,

Would somebody Pleeeeeeeese inform Archbishop Ndungane that the AIDs problem and the various sexuality problems within TEC are all the SAME problem, namely, deviation from the Biblical norm for marriage: One marriage, one man, one woman, no sex outside marriage?

They will be gutless as usual.

Thank you for your concern, ZachD, but I do not need to take a chill pill because my comments are not a result of hysterical negativity. I have consistently expected Tanzania to produce little more than a fudge - or, at best, some kind of two-track system to accommodate the splintering TEC. No doubt the meat and potatoes are going on behind closed doors, and at this stage we are being fed a few morsels. However, if history is anything to go by, the revisionists are busy picking the carcass clean while the orthodox make do with the potato peelings. (Unless, of course they're being bribed with chicken take-away dinners, but that's another story )

People have tried, but Njongo is convinced that Aids is a result of the government and nasty multi-nationals not handing out enough free anti-retrovirals and condoms. Njongo is in bed with an organisation called the Treatment Action Campaign, which, although it has some worthy aims, is headed by a homosexual and backed by people who hate Christianity.

Thanks, desiderius,

Handing out condoms and retrovirals are largely the work of a much touted "harm reduction model," which is an abysmal failure wherever it is practiced.

I understand your sense that a chill pill is not necessary. I would hate to spend the week before my computer, hearing nothing but hysterical reactions to sounbytes. Yes, you indeed have a sense of recent history to back your point of view, and I share it. For my part, I have higher hopes for this L_O_N_G_M_E_E_T_I_N_G. Time will soon tell if my optimism was in vain.

YOUR opinion, I respect, by the way.

The Ultra Liberal, TEC funded Anglican Consultative Council "has recommended a world wide study of Hermeneutics, a listening process to allow a technical basis for TEC's innovations in sexuality". Are we truly insane.
Let's study their heresey for another ten years as they really don't mean to be this revisionist.
Good Lord deliver us from these heretics. The faithful deserve a better fait.

All I hear is a bunch of 'chicken clucks' so far.

Please excuse any mispellings........

desiderius wrote:
"Unless, of course they're being bribed with chicken take-away dinners, but that's another story"

I'm not sure the chickens realize who's going to be cooked for supper--they're still clucking nicely to the foxen.