|
The wider Anglican church has been rocked
by the controversies over same-sex blessings and the consecration
of a gay bishop.
The disagreements have become serious enough that
they threaten to split the international Anglican communion.
Rowan Williams, the Archbisop of Canterbury,
commissioned a report to consider the issues. Dubbed the "Windsor
Report," it was released in October 2004. This Report has generated considerable discusssion,
and forms the core documents guiding actions taken throughout the worldwide communion to
grapple with this controversy.
We have been taking a number of steps to deal with this problem:
1
Members of our congregation have been and will continue to pray for this issue.
For us, the issue of Anglican unity is not a theoretical one. Our members were born in
more than 30 different countries; being part of a worldwide communion is fundamental to who we
are.
2
Last year, we worked with people from other local Anglican churches to summarize the Report and
lead discussion groups. In those discussions, we have focused on the question:
· Does this Report propose a workable solution out of this impasse?
Click here to go the Windsor Report Presentation
The consensus from those discussions was that, despite some shortcomings, the Windsor Report
appears to offer the most viable route to a solution out of the conflict the world-wide Anglican Communion
is experiencing. It seemed to many that it was of particular value in two ways.
First, it proposed a route to a solution, rather than focusing on the various positions within the
conflict. The positions are entrenched and those holding them are not likely to change their views any time soon.
That leaves us with a set of crucial questions: What will we do, given the fact that we disagree? Will we choose to split
apart because of that disagreement, or will we choose to stay together despite this difference?
Second, it described the decision-making "system" within the Anglican Communion as an accident waiting to happen.
Given that there is no agreed way on how decisions are made or enacted, it was inevitable that the Communion should
reach a crisis over some disagreement or other; it it had not been same-sex issues, it would have been something else.
In essence, the Windsor Report proposes a way to pause within this conflict and construct a viable decisionmaking process.
Once that is done, the Communion would be free to make a decision on this--or any other--issue without inevitably reaching
a crisis.
3
Our synod delegates have begun meeting with the synod delegates from the
other two largest churches in our diocese. We have crafted a series of motions for the
Fall 2006 Diocesan Synod, which we believe may express the moderate middle ground. These are currently available in the
Diocesan Circular.
Although we are only one church in one diocese, we believe that, by working with others, we can play a role
at the grass roots level in ensuring the Anglican communion does not split apart.
4
We have been holding a series of discussions within our congregation on
these issues.
The first one, held in 2004, was a Bible study which examined the text most cited by those involved in this
controversy. Our goal was to step aside from the controversy and see for ourselves what these texts actually said.
The second was held in 2005 to review the Windsor Report presentation mentioned above.
The third, Can We Talk?, was held in May of this year.
The fourth,Can We Talk Again? - The Anglican Family
Problem, was held on October 15th.
5
The leadership of our congregation has raised this issue at all diocesan forums and
discussions.
Our diocese is hosting the Canadian National Synod in 2007. This is probably the most important
National Synod in a generation, and will very probably determine whether or not the Anglican Church of Canada
remains part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
6
Our People's Warden, Bruce Duggan, has acted one of our point people on this issue, gathering
information on the latests developments. He can be reached at by e-mail at
Windsor Report.
|
