This global gathering of Anglicans is proving impossible to characterize--at least for now.
Some 1100 Anglicans from around the world are meeting this week at the Renaissance hotel in West Jerusalem in hopes of steering the Anglican Communion back to the center of Christian Orthodoxy.
But this conference, now entering its fifth day, is in many respects becoming more difficult to understand and thus easier to misinterpret.
If I were writing purely a critique of the mainstream media coverage, my central criticism would be that US and UK media outlets keep driving the political side of the story (Will there or won't there be a schism?). But they are by and large missing the faith side of the story.
It's easy to do. The folks attending the worship events of GAFCON are telling me that these are high water marks in their own spiritual development. Most worship events are well attended and the plenary sessions are standing room only.
I am told the worship service on Wednesday evening at Ophel Gardens, along the southern steps of the Temple, was a stunning display of contemporary Christian worship in an ancient context. Most media skipped that event (myself included) due to scheduling conflicts.
But the media are not the only ones who are misunderstanding GAFCON. Among conservatives, no surprise, I am coming across three different kinds of Anglicans here who often don't understand each other very well. Let me describe them this way:
* The separationists. These individuals wish to create a new Anglican Communion that is global, not centered in Canterbury.
* The reformers. These folks are not yet ready to give up on the existing Anglican Communion and have a movement strategy for redeeming and restoring the Communion.
* The new paradigm. This is the trickiest one to understand. Under a new paradigm, Anglicanism becomes a global network, locally distinctive, church or community-based, and centered on the biblical mission of evangelism and discipleship.
One new reality of GAFCON is that the discussions here across the Anglican food chain from the Primates to the small groups of lay and parish clergy have moved beyond "The American Problem," which is The Episcopal Church, its bitterly hostile actions against conservatives, and the advent of homosexual clergy and same-sex unions. Bishop Bob Duncan, the American conservative leader from Pittsburgh, isn't even here.
Last night, scholar Lamin Sanneh, Palestinian Christian Salim Munayer, and Messianic pastor Evan Thomas pointed GAFCON Anglicans toward a future that was global, reconciling, and biblical. Years from now, we might find that the only English element left in 21st century Anglicanism is the English language itself.
In my mind, the questions of the hour before the committee drafting a GAFCON statement are these:
What will the drafting committee emphasize? Will they lay the groundwork for a new communion? Will they map out a process of Anglican Communion reform? Or, will they envision a new kind of Anglicanism that is post-colonial, not nationalistic, but conciliar, global, and networked?
Tomorrow, GAFCON small groups are due to evaluate the statement in draft form.
Posted by Tim Morgan on June 26, 2008 4:57AM
Comments
I take it you won't be joining the Facebook group: I want to be banned too! then? Pity.
Posted by: Bene D at June 26, 2008
Having been in on the previous incarnations of GAFCON and knowing several of the key players personally, I see it as a continuous reaction Although claiming Biblical warrant, it is not able to defend it. They will not see other issues with the same "scriptural glasses". Ultimately much of this is misogynistic at its core. We know how Christians (and some non-Christians) over the centuries have used scripture to justify differing points of view. The polygamy of the African Christians has been left to them as "their issue." What a shame the same cannot be done with the LGBT community. Anglicanism should be a model of learning to agree to disagree in love. In essentials: unity, in non-essentials: diversity and in all things charity.
Posted by: Fr. Rob Bagwell at June 26, 2008
Excellent analysis, Tim. I've noticed the ground swell supporting a 'new paradigm' making it a very real possibility. God is at work in the midst of all this. That's encouraging. We always need the 'reformers', too (ecclesia semper reformanda est). It's the hard line separatists that really discourage me. Yesterday the clergy of our diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada spent a day with our Primate (pastoral archbishop) Fred Hiltz, and were encouraged about the future of our beloved church as a faithful expression of the Body of Christ. His wisdom, pastoral heart and sensitivity to the working of the Holy Spirit among us in so many ways blessed us all. I'm beginning to think that GAFCON may have some positive results, but its effect will be weakened by those bishops who are planning to boycott Lambeth - a bad decision all around.
Posted by: Rev. Steve Bailey at June 26, 2008
Mr. Morgan wrote above, "The American Problem, which is The Episcopal Church, its bitterly hostile actions against conservatives, and the advent of homosexual clergy and same-sex unions."
Many of the problems we are facing stem from mischaracterization of other people with whom we disagree - or crass spin to attempt to win. For example, the meaning of, "bitterly hostile actions." As a priest in the Church I know well my vows made to God at my ordination. It isn’t "bitterly hostile actions" for the Church to retain what belongs to it, particularly when clergy in violation of their ordination vows attempt to leave with property that is not theirs in the first place. As the Bishop of London charged his priest that performed a same-sex wedding in a Church of England parish - "[the parish] is not a personal fiefdom." Of course those who want to leave and take the property with them will say that it is their right. It is perception of right or wrong, legal or illegal, orthodox or not.
The theological battles over human sexuality will continue within Anglicanism of whatever stripe, as they will within all of Christianity for a long time to come. It does the cause of Christ no good when attempts are made to maintain an "orthodoxy" by groups that adhere to one set of the Church's rules while rejecting "orthodoxy" pertaining to another set of the same Church's rules. The perception of most non-Christians might be that all this looks like a whole lot of hypocrisy.
Posted by: Fr. Bob Griffith at June 27, 2008
Can these creaky bones flex? Let judgement begin in the house of God.
Posted by: John K at June 27, 2008
I certainly hope that GAFCON adopts really extreme positions so that the C of E, Episcopal Church (USA), and the Anglican Church of Canada can define themselves against these people. The real story about GAFCON is how people who cannot prevail within their national denominations are trying to highjack the Anglican Communion. I don't know who is worse, the power-hungry African Bishops or the conservatives who think they are using the African Bishops as a front for their own power struggle. I just want the Episcopal Church to quit sending money to Canterbury (and Africa) until the harassment ends.
Posted by: Jay at June 28, 2008
I think GAFCon draws yet another line in the sand. This time, they need to be serious. Forget this impaired Communion bit - Cut off TEC and ACoC. The need to abide by the Lambeth resolution of 1998 that affirms the Churches historical teaching of human sexuality. I see no need for the Episcopal Church, or Anglicanism in general to continue to even play with the idea of normalizing a deplorable and unbiblical lifestyle. Often the liberals like to mask their attempt to normalize the evils of homosexuality with the diversity card or "radical hospitality". Let us remember, Jesus did welcome sinners and the ostracized of humanity. He also did not claim that they were OK the way they were. Jesus called his followers to be transformed. Perhaps the issue is that the liberals see no need for holiness of life, repentance and reform. As for me, I would like to see more personalities like the African bishops so that there can be a decisive moment, not simply a line in the sand.
Posted by: Fr. Robert M. Lewis at July 1, 2008
"normalizing a deplorable and unbiblical lifestyle"
What about Resolution 26 of the 1988 Lambeth Conference that allowed what's now called the Global South or now GAFCON to baptize practicing polygamists into the Body of Christ and still keep their extra "wives".
It's no old wives tale. Go to the archive of Lambeth 1988 and read it.
Posted by: Anglican at July 7, 2008
Schism is the thing that we must pray that we avoid---but in ECUSA--we see ourselves jeapordizing integrity and breaking covenant. The Chicago-Lambeth was a watermark that kept us creedal---and some in ECUSA today have come to the conslusion that this and other historic documents have no claim on modern understanding. If that is so--then we are becoming something other than Christian. I will not make communion in a parish that does not recite the creed and does not use the approved consecratioon rormulae. Anglicans and ECUSA stand apart from mainstream protestantism (or we should) because we have traditionally rescued the sacramental system from extremist protestant and Roman Catholic interpretations---and we have had the approval of the Eastern Orthodox in the past! We need to get back on course theologically! I am a member of the GLTB community and I attend the most conservative parish in our city---because I can be assured of fidelity to the covenant of Baptism, our Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the solidity of tradition that people have come to expect of Episcopal Churches. The sexual issues will always be with us---and we cannot let them divide us. I must recieve communion next to one who might disagree with me on matters of human sexuality--but in Jesus-- we are both sinners, and we both need redemtion and theosis, and we need each other and no more painful pundits and hate speach from either side. I believe that The Holy Spirit is at work in GAFCON and in Lambeth. Let us pray that these efforts might lend to healing the body of Christ in ECUSA---because the Christian world is looking to us.
Posted by: Janine Bryant at July 8, 2008
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