ACC embraces Windsor Continuation report

Updated with final text and Anglican Communion Office press briefing:

The Anglican Consultative Council has embraced the Report of the Windsor Continuation Group. An effort to include a moratorium that would have forbidden the Episcopal Church from going to court to maintain control of its property was defeated 33-32, but the moratoria on same-sex blessings and consecration of partnered gay bishops have been approved.

(Mark Harris comments.)

In other news, Bishop James Tengatenga of the Diocese of Southern Malawi in the internally divided Province of Central Africa was elected to succeed Bishop John Paterson of Auckland, New Zealand, as chair of the council. Tengatenga was a member of the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates Meeting and is regarded as a moderate.

Colin Coward reports that the ACC substituted the word "affirms" for the word "notes" in section b. Marites Sison has a breakdown on the voting.

Votes have also been cast to choose the next chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, but results have not been announced.

The ACC

a. thanks the Archbishop of Canterbury for his report on the work and recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group,
b. affirms the recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group,
c. affirms the request of the Windsor Report (2002), adopted at the Primates’ Meetings (2005, 2007 and 2009), and supported at the Lambeth Conference (2008) for the implementation of the agreed moratoria on the Consecration of Bishops living in a same gender union, authorisation of public Rites of Blessing for Same Sex unions and continued interventions in other Provinces;
d. acknowledges the efforts that have been made to hold the moratoria, gives thanks for the gracious restraint that has been observed in these areas and recognises the deep cost of such restraint;
e. asks that urgent conversations are facilitated with those Provinces where the application of the moratoria gives rise for concern;
f. encourages the Archbishop of Canterbury to work with the Joint Standing Committee and the Secretary General to carry forward the implementation of the Windsor Continuation Group recommendations as appropriate,
g. asks Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order to undertake a study of the roles and responsibilities in the Communion of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meeting; the ecclesiological rationale of each, and the relationships between them, in line with the Windsor Continuation Group report, and to report back to ACC-15;
h. calls the Communion to pray for repentance, conversion and renewal; leading to deeper communion.

Read the Episcopal News Service coverage.

Posted by Jim Naughton on May 8, 2009 11:59 AM | |
Comments (9)

More bigotry.

Posted by Bill Carroll [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 8, 2009 3:49 PM

More than just bigotry, Bill. The embrace of bigotry as the defining characeristic of what it means to be a member of the Anglican Communion.

Posted by Jim Naughton [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 8, 2009 3:52 PM

Agreed. What is Rowan thinking? If he were to stand up to them, what could they do? Why doesn't he want to stand up to them?

Posted by Bill Carroll [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 8, 2009 11:27 PM

The name of the body is the Anglican Consultative Council. Sure, we (TEC) can take their counsel under advisement. But they can no more dictate to TEC, than can the ABC, Lambeth, or the Primates. Accept this resolution (with polite thanks!) at GC, and then quickly send it to the cylindrical file. ;-/

JC Fisher

Posted by tgflux [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 8, 2009 11:38 PM

Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order

While there are perfectly good things that could come out of a commission with this name. In the present Anglican climate, this could well become like the CDF, aka the Holy Office of the Inquisition.

If that's what they're after, I nominate Cardinal Ratzinger to chair it. He has the necessary experience. Oh wait, he got another job.

Posted by Bill Carroll [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 9, 2009 7:20 AM

I have to ask, if in the end we look like a mini-Roman Catholic body with a more Reformed theology, what reason would there be to remain Anglican?

The tone of this Communion towards persons like myself requires a gospel response, and I don't see that coming from any of our leadership. This tone puts our lives in danger and is dehumanizing.

Posted by Christopher Evans [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 9, 2009 10:03 AM

Perhaps it is time for a renewal of the statement about foreign prelates not exercising authority outside their proper jurisdictions?

Those of us who feel we are being faithful in following the gospel, ought not submit ourselves to an atrocious heteronomy based on notions of peace where there is no peace.

Posted by tobias haller [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 9, 2009 4:59 PM

I think Christopher's recent piece on Benedictine discernment points us in the right direction for what a genuinely Anglican Covenant would look like. In any event, what he proposes is far closer to the Gospel.

Posted by Bill Carroll [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 9, 2009 11:26 PM

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