IRD revises forecast for the Communion
The Institute for Religion & Democracy has lowered its expectations:
This strife within the third largest family of Christian churches worldwide will not conclude in decisive schism. Instead, liberal and conservative Anglicans will continue to realize a de-facto separation over time.
This represents a substantial change from its long standing prediction that end was near:
The Anglican Communion has foundered and is ready to sink beneath the waves....
...
“Humanely speaking there is little hope for even a peaceful separation,” Bishop Venables noted. A split had already taken place, he said, adding that the best course was to work out the terms of the “divorce.”
Rather than divorce, the image that now comes to mind is separate bedrooms. Except there was never a marriage to begin with. The provinces of the communion are autonomous and self governing; to think otherwise is to utterly misapprehend the ethos of Anglicanism.
The IRD "is a watchdog of the religious and evangelical left, disputing their claims to represent millions of church members when espousing a liberal or far-left political agenda."
Susan Russell comments here - rumors of our death are greatly exaggerated.
Posted by Ann Fontaine![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 26, 2011 10:46 PM
Separate bedrooms do not symbolize lack of love, just means you can't sleep with the snoring.
Posted by William Lambert![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 26, 2011 11:30 PM
How surprising. (Or not.) The doomsday message expressed by IRD and their like-minded brethren has not come to pass. Their attitude which in practice meant, "If we can't have the Communion Our Way, we'll destroy it so nobody gets it" has not been widely adopted.
Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit, while often silent and hidden from view, has not ceased Her work. Parishes and Dioceses have seen that the fields of the Lord are still ripe and harvest waiting. Caring for God's creation and God's creatures in response to the Gospel remains the focus for all of us, not just those who adopt a purity code.
I guess the thing the IRD boys failed to understand is that the Spirit lives, and informs us in our daily life and work. She has been busy, drawing us to "live into the tension" of Communion without losing anything of ourselves or our devotion to God. Thanks be!
Cheryl A. Mack
Posted by ncmama![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 27, 2011 12:16 PM
Por Favor--This group of anti-LGBTI ¨conservatives¨ aren´t stupid--they finally extended the BILL for this caper and they would be operating in the RED--it´s all about balance, not emotional or spiritual balance. Next customer please.
Posted by Leonardo Ricardo![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 27, 2011 12:51 PM
William: 'Separate bedrooms...means you can't sleep with the snoring'.
An unfortunate metaphor, but 'sleep' just about sums up the state of the Anglican Communion.
Posted by David Shepherd![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 28, 2011 3:56 AM