Australians "receive" rather than "welcome' Covenant

Mark Brolly, writing for Anglican Media Melbourne tells us:

Australian Anglicans have committed themselves to three years of debate before a decision is taken on whether to embrace an international covenant designed to preserve the unity of their church.

The General Synod, meeting at Melbourne Grammar School, adopted a resolution asking the synods of all 23 Australian dioceses to consider whether the Anglican Church of Australia should adopt the Anglican Communion Covenant and to report to the Standing Committee of the General Synod by December 2012. The resolution asked the Standing Committee to report to the next meeting of the Church's national parliament in 2013.

And:

The Synod adopted an amendment, proposed by Fr John Davis of Melbourne, that it "receives" rather than "welcomes" the final text of the Covenant "as an expression of our aspirations for the life of the Anglican Communion".
Posted by Jim Naughton on September 20, 2010 11:16 AM | |
Comments (3)

Receive or welcome: what is the difference??

Eric Sinkula

Posted by E Sinkula [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 20, 2010 12:12 PM

Eric, I think this difference is just as stated. As a member church of the Anglican Communion, Australia is willing to look at the Covenant, and to consider it; but there isn't enough support for it as is for it to actually be "welcomed."

Here in the Episcopal Church we've been asked to read and study it once again, and to give feedback. We will do so; but I don't think most of the feedback will be positive, and I don't think any of the feedback will be positive without some critique, if it's positive at all.

Marshall Scott

Posted by Execute [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 20, 2010 1:00 PM

"Receive or welcome: what is the difference??"

To "receive" is to acknowledge that something has been delivered to one. It is neutral as to the thoughts or emotions that accompany the receipt of what was delivered.

To "welcome" is receive something or someone gladly, happily, joyously, with openness to that which is received.

All welcomings are receivings; not all receivings are welcomings. There's quite a substantial and substantive distinction made by selecting the neutral "receive" over the open and warm "welcome."

Posted by David Cornell [TypeKey Profile Page] | September 20, 2010 1:00 PM

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