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Reflections on the Windsor Report and Lagos Meeting - by Bill Atwood

Bill Atwood offers some Reflections on the Windsor Report and the Lagos Meeting of African Bishops

For the first time in history, there is a gathering for all the Anglican Bishops in Africa. It is an amazing event. Such a gathering would not be possible in ECUSA. Not because there is a shortage of bishops in the West, but because there is not theological agreement with the church of history or with each other. It is remarkable, with all of the richness of the various perspectives of the various provinces in Africa, it is clear that the same faith is shared. It is also abundantly clear that this is NOT the faith of ECUSA. Every liturgy has exalted Jesus Christ as redeemer and Lord. Every speaker has referred to the Gospel of forgiveness and redemption. Every report has turned attention to Jesus Christ as Lord. It is not just that there is disagreement with the agenda of ECUSA. It is obvious that ECUSA is living in a different spiritual universe. The great gulf that exists does not have to be the focus of all the conversations. It becomes obvious as the vital presentations focus on perspectives that would simply not be found in most of ECUSA. Here at this conference it is clear that the Bible is true and Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

It is humbling to have been invited. It is also encouraging to see so many friends and gratifying to hear reports of the impact of our conferences and projects. One of the Archbishops here attended one of Ekklesia’s first conferences years ago when he was still a layman. Another Archbishop who was at that same conference as a priest said he still uses the principles he received those years ago. Many spiritual partnerships already exist, but there are real needs for more of them. It is a tragedy that too many orthodox churches have weak links or none at all with this vital two-thirds world church. If you are reading this in the West, your church could benefit from stronger ties with the Global South. Most Westerners tend to think of partnerships as a way of sending money to the two-thirds world. In fact, we need to be radically transformed by the faith that courses through the church in Africa and other parts of the Global South. We are the ones that need the help.

While most of the energy of the conference has focused on articulating a cohesive mission strategy for Africa, for building economic self-reliance, and marshaling resources to address great needs such as HIV/AIDS, and war, the conference has also addressed the crisis caused by ECUSA and the Windsor Report.

Now that the Lambeth Commission has issued its “Windsor Report,” speculation is running wild about what it means, but there is a great deal of agreement in Africa about what is needed for the future. Either the Primates meeting in Ireland in February will succeed in orchestrating some form of separation from the unrepentant ECUSA, or the Anglican Communion will fragment. On the bright side, despite the insistence of many liberals, the report demonstrates that the full commission found ECUSA guilty of three charges:

1. Breach of Anglican order.

2. Breach of Anglican teaching

3. Engaging in practice contrary to Anglican teaching and order.

ECUSA’s actions took place without any consultation or dialogue with the rest of the communion despite the ample opportunities that had been provided to the Presiding Bishop to share with his primatial colleagues within the Anglican Communion. In other words, not only did the Episcopal Church depart from centuries of Christian teaching, the General Convention did so with clear willful knowledge that they were violating the expressed will of almost all of the Anglican Communion. And the Presiding Bishop was the presiding officer in the vote and the consecration. That the entire commission, including even the representative from ECUSA would agree to this is astounding. Presiding Bishop Griswold, however, spoke defiantly that the Commission had erred in trying to “contain” the liberal agenda of the Episcopal Church. Instead, he argued that everyone should just get along with differences of opinion. While disagreement is fine over flavors of ice cream, it is hardly appropriate in dealing with an agenda that is leading people away from the redeeming love of Christ and encouraging behavior that shortens lives by decades.

On the very difficult side, the commission criticized the crossing of boundaries, putting trust in the ECUSA House of Bishops that is utterly dysfunctional (by their own admission!) to “care” for the “dissident minority” that still believe the Bible. The mechanism of this care is to trust that local bishops who regularly and routinely act irresponsibly, will act responsibly and welcome bishops of orthodox belief and practice to provide oversight for parishes that do not conform to the revisionist agenda. This strategy overlooks the sad state that there are hoards of purple-clad Americans who wear Episcopacy like cologne, having the aroma of Christianity, but lacking the substance of it in the way they minister. To trust these foxes with the hens and chicks is likely to produce more than a few chicken dinners. Sadly, this new ravaging of orthodox congregations will not be a fantasy like the “chicken dinner” fiction of Lambeth ’98. It will be real clergy de-frocked and real congregations crushed by “liberal” intolerant bishops. While people overseas cannot do much about real estate issues, faithful leaders in the Global South have made it clear in Lagos, Nigeria that they will not abandon the orthodox in the US and Canada stand alone.

The absolutely “last chance” for the Anglican Communion to be preserved as an intact and faithful Gospel community is the upcoming Primates meeting in February. As ECUSA leaders remain arrogantly unrepentant, hopefully the Primates of the Communion will step up to the responsibility. The African primates are showing their commitment to maintain the truth. If the whole group in February refuses to finally deal with the situation, it will be a tragic demonstration of the truth “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it ( Luke 9:24). Seeking to maintain the unity of the Communion by clinging to each other will yield division. Unity can only be found in coming together in agreement about the truth. This is where the Anglican African Bishops Conference is making such a great contribution. It is demonstrating the faith that has brought life for centuries. The African provinces (indeed almost all of the Global South provinces) are modeling healthy diversity on periferal matters while maintaining agreement on the essentials of the faith. It is also where the Core Covenant in the Report has merit. It provides an affirmation of Christian faith. While it may seem at first blush to be an inadequate and anemic theological statement, ECUSA cannot truthfully sign it. There already is a separation. It just needs to be recognized.

–The Rev. Dr. Bill Atwood is General Secretary of The Ekklesia Society
http://www.ekk.org

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