Here's a place where I can agree with the African bishops. The AOC is not chosen by anyone outside of the UK (as far as I know, I don't get a vote!). And the UK dioceses didn't even line up with the AOC's effort. Who is he representing? A small number of out voted, conservative bishops in the UK? It is better for us to not to be too hierarchical. And to be more respectful of one another, without interfering in each other's affairs. (Unless, of course, someone is involved in violations of human rights, or advocating for that). Then we can work on relationship and ministry, rather than some policy that does not fit all. I'm not sure if that's what the African bishops have in mind. But at least we can agree that the AOC shouldn't carry weight that no one has elected him to carry. I look forward to the day when we can say "she."

Says +Nigeria of +Cantuar: "...whatever he says, whether it works or not, is an order...." Fundamental misunderstanding of the role of the ABC (or any "head" of the Anglican Communion). We do not need an "Anglican pope" and, thank God, we've not had one. These so-called "confessing Anglicans" (there's an oxymoron, by the way) would create one, given the chance. I think we should be satisfied with +Canterbury as "primus inter pares" by tradition and leave it at that.

In principle, it seems to me, unless the ABC is exercising a manner of "leadership" that s/he SHOULD NOT HAVE, it should not matter to the Communion outside the C of E who s/he is.

Reid Hamilton

Consider the subhead on The Telegraph's report: "THE Archbishop of Canterbury could be stripped of his role as figurehead of the worldwide Anglican Church."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9221603/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-to-lose-worldwide-Anglican-role-under-traditionalist-plans.html

Hello, T-graph, it's Anglican Communion not Anglican Church. Communions have figureheads. Churches have popes. FOCA's complaint has been that the (1) ABC should a pope, and (2) the ABC should be a pope that does FOCA's bidding.

Long live the Anglican Communion.

So they want a head of the Anglican Communion to have more authority but they just don't want that authority to rest with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

They want to rotate the leadership but they will solve the problem of a Canadian or an American coming on board and being excessively conciliatory by making sure that Canadians and Americans (and for that matter the English, the Scots, the Welsh, and Brazilians) don't have a seat or voice in whatever structure they think up.

The only thing that one can say good about their way of thinking is that they make the Anglican Covenant seem reasonable.

+++Williams appears never to have recognized that appeasement would result in one outcome: Ever-greater demands that would ultimately undermine the moral authority of the ABC as primus inter pares.

My prediction is that if ++Sentamu wins the Canterbury Derby, GAFCON will change its tune. If ++Sentamu does not win, the tactic of downgrading the role of the ABC will continue.

Eric Bonetti

The funny thing about the "Orthodox" Anglicans, Catholics, and everybody else is that they pick and choose just like everybody else while pretending not to. So these folks will do whatever works for them with regards to the ABC, just like we do, but pretend that they are being more faithful about it than we are. I would so enjoy a whole lot more honesty.

@Peter wrote, "The funny thing about the "Orthodox" Anglicans, Catholics, and everybody else is that they pick and choose just like everybody else while pretending not to."

Yep. Invoking Micah 6:8, Archbishop Wabukala says they're just doing what the Lord requires, humble, merciful and all that.

http://gafcon.org/news/a-global-communion-for-the-twenty-first-century/
/QUOTE/

Micah 6:8 we read:
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with your God.

What does the Lord require of you? This is the greatest question facing us this week.

/UNQUOTE