The Lead

The mainstream media's initial responses to the GAFCON statement reveal a variety of interpretation. The British papers think the challenge to the Archbishop of Canterbury's authority is extremely significant. They also seem to believe that GAFCON participants have said something new about their relationship with the Episcopal Church. That isn't the case. Primates who have attempted to poach Episcopal Churches will continue to do so, but the list hasn't grown. Dioceses that were itchy to leave may do so, but it is unlikely that others will join the queue.

Unfortunately, Americans looking for a church that uses the Scriptures to justify their prejudices already have a wide variety of choices. It's not as though these guys are filling a market niche.

The Telegraph, BBC, Reuters, the Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald are all in the mix.

Headline of the day goes to the BBC: "Conservative Anglicans form group." Dull as dishwater, but accurate.

One looks in vain in these articles for a liberal voice to balance the evangelical cheerleading. One wonders why "orthodox" and anti-gay function as synonyms in the press. There is nothing orthodox about Peter Akinola's frequently expressed bigotry against homosexuals.

A point for consideration by leaders in the Episcopal Church: The decision to exclude gays and lesbians from the episcopate has not brought peace to the Communion.

Paul Handley of the Church Times focuses our attention on the "Jerusalem Declaration." He's also got a useful interview with Archbishop Peter Jensen.

Speaking of whom, thank goodness for this speech by Michael Kirby, a judge of the High Court of Australia. After a week's worth of listening to Jensen, it makes one feel much better about Australians.

More MSM: Christian Science Monitor, Jerusalem Post, New York Times, Guardian (dated Monday), Aljazeera, New Vision (Uganda) (which is telling its readers the group has "broken ties with the authority of Canterbury")

Comments (3)

One wonders why "orthodox" and anti-gay function as synonyms in the press.

Jim, this is a truism that is in desperate need of correction. Thank you for pointing this out.

Posted by MelAhlborn | June 29, 2008 11:33 AM

Jim Naughton wrote:

The decision to exclude gays and lesbians from the episcopate has not brought peace to the Communion.

Since when have gays and lesbians been excluded from the episcopate? Last I heard, Gene Robinson was still bishop of New Hampshire.

If nothing changes in the Episcopal Church, nothing will change in response to it.

Posted by Randy Muller | June 29, 2008 8:53 PM

Dear Jim, et al:

Blessings and Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord and King, Jesus Christ! Know that you are in my prayers. May God richly bless you and others who comment and browse here.

I would say that GAFCON does signal something new about the relationship between some members of the Anglican Communion and TEC: The GAFCON primates have stated that they intend to form a new Anglican province in North America. Presumably, this Province would have its own primate. Up to now, the Southern Cone Primates who have taken on American parishes have stated that this is a temporary measure. Now they are saying that the Lambeth/Dromantine/Dar-es-Salaam formulae are no longer on the table. TEC has decided to walk the way it has decided to walk, there is no possibility of a change in course for the Episcopal denomination, and the Southern Anglican Primates now consider much of the U.S. to be a mission field for evangelization.

It is interesting that you and others use the term, "Poaching," when you refer to the practice of African provinces accepting oversight of U.S. parishes. Poaching is the crime of hunting for wildlife owned by someone else. Are we Episcopalians to think of ourselves as game animals who are rightfully owned by our diocesan bishops?

God gave us free will. Should we not be able to worship where we please? You would not use poaching to describe a Roman Catholic bishop accepting an Episcopalian into his church.

The real crime, it seems to me, is a violation of what some believe to be the exclusive TEC franchise to offer membership in the Anglican Communion to Americans. The real sgnificance of the GAFCON statement is that the days of TEC having that exclusive franchise are now officially over. The Episcopal Church leadership can protest to the ABC; they can protest at Lambeth; but here is my prediction: The ABC and the larger Anglican Communion may lament with TEC, but they will do precisely nothing.

We shall see what becomes of this. May God grant prosperity and growth to parishes in either province who love him, and who seek to serve him and glorify his name.

Yours In Christ,

Rick Harris

Posted by Rick Harris, O.P. | June 30, 2008 12:01 PM

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