I think it's important for us to emphasize not only that but the degree to which we take the reality of the Cross extremely seriously, to the extent that we see it not as a 2,000-years-ago event but a just-happened-yesterday event, and therefore are compelled to think deeply about the implied theology of our actions, especially within a Trinitarian and christological framework. Archbishop Williams's recent speech at the Vatican is an excellent example of this especially Anglican and very Patristic/Apostolic take on the challenges of the modern world.

michael.lockaby

Interesting that 815 has its act together - but I worry about the idea of being "on message" - it does not really allow for diverse opinions - but I suppose it is natural for the leadership to do -and for those who are on staff to assent to.

I particularly appreciate Bishop Daniel's vigorous defense of the Presiding Bishop. It has become apparent that the chief tactic of dissent is to slander Bishop Katharine. Is it that she is a woman? I wouldn't be surprised. All of us need to speak up when we hear such disgusting talk.

I am delighted by this new assertive tone. It is polite, but sufficiently pointed. And as a communications guy, I have no problem with message discipline.

Hear, here. I say too it's high time to push back. The Episcopal Church has been taking a bold stand for human rights and equality for sixty years now, perhaps at some cost to herself, at least in numbers. And yet, the Church is beseiged by furious critics within and predatory enemies without who shout "No" to the progressive changes. If fighting for civil rights, equality for women, and acceptance for gays was the right thing to do, then it's the Episcopal Church that is in the right and not her opponents. I say it was unquestionably the right thing to do, it is now the right thing to do, and it will be in the future the same. This is a dark hour for our Church. Those of us who are proud of her (count me in that number) should come to her defense. Living in Alabama as I do, I can tell all of you that it can be very difficult to stand up for the right when the world around you is in fury. I can also tell you that time will pass and the moral side will be vindicated. Blessed Jonathan Daniel taught us that.
Ron Caldwell

Is TEC in communion with the whole of the Anglican Communion?

john Sandeman

What Jim Naughton said.

Susan Russell

Obadiah Slope/John Sandman, TEC has not broken communion with anyone, neither have the provinces of Canada, Mexico, Brazil, America Central or EP Cuba & Bermuda. We are all in communion with one another, as well as anyone else in the Anglican Communion wishing to be in communion with us.

It is only the grumpy self-elected old men in certain uppity provinces that have done any breaking off of relations.

Dah•veed

On the ACNA web site it says something to the effect that the ACNA is a "province-in-formation" of the Anglican Communion.

Does that mean the ACNA is junior member of the Anglican Communion (sort of like the 2nd-tier status which the TEC would be accorded under ABC Rowan's proposed two-tier structure) ?

Or is "province-in-formation" merely a meaningless phrase to describe ACNA's indeterminate status in the Anglican Communion ?

(Editor's note: Thanks for posting, please leave us your full name next time.)

"[P]rovince-in-formation" means self-promoting wannabes. The Orthodite keep playing contradicting games, mostly to delude their folks in the pews. Few of the folks in ACNA were ever Anglicans, at least in the sense of being part of the Anglican Communion.

But the whole succeed from TEC/Canada and join the province in the Southern Cone rigamarole was to remain in communion with Canterbury. But of course +Cantuar did not send their bishops invitations to the Lambeth Conference. To what sort of being in Communion does that speak?

Then GAFCON started their Communion without Canterbury campaign and GAFCON is pretty much the only folks in communion with ACNA.

But many folks filling the ranks of ACNA were not part of the Anglican Communion, some for many years, others many decades, and some never. The Reformed Episcopal Church left TEC in the late 1800s. Many other parishes rounded up into ACNA dioceses left TEC as far back as the 70s & 80s. And there are folks in the Northern Virginia parishes of the AMiA part of ACNA who joined AMiA fresh out of protestant congregations. Folks who became members of Episcopal parishes without receiving any Anglican formation or episcopal confirmation.

David Allen is right to say that ACNA is not part of the Anglican communion. He is also correct to say "GAFCON is pretty much the only folks in communion with ACNA". But that means that ACNA is in full communion with the largest provinces of the Anglican Communion, such as Nigeria and Uganda. It is quite possible that ACNA is in full communion withhalf or more of the worlds Anglicans (by nmembership rather than numbers of provinces).
Its an inconvenient truth.

Inconvenient for who, exactly? Six years and millions of dollars into their campaign to destory the Episcopal Church, ACNA has pried away somewhere between 3 and 4 percent of our membership. Nor more Diocese of Sydney propaganda please.

Wild guess. The USA Today ad is part of this push back. Viewed in that light maybe it's the right ad for that purpose.

As others have said, another sort of ad campaign is necessary for evangelism.

Jim,
I think we should be able to discuss the issues without dismissing each other by diocese. Would you regard TEC as being in communion with the Diocese of Sydney? If yes, then surely we have to talk, no matter how tiresome we regard each other.
John sandeman

John Sandeman

John, for years you commented on blogs unde a pseudonymn, not disclosing you name or your position with the Diocese of Sydney. I object to that. You still don't always sign your name. People need to know you are part of Peter Jensen's house chorus to know how to evaluate your statements. They certainly know that about me. Come down on to a level playing field. The weather is fine.

Jim,
I started posting on the old beliefnet forums where the custom was to have a nom de blog. Later, Father Jake was Father Jake although like me his name was never hard to find.
I have been a gadfly columnist for the diocesan Southern Cross, but in a strange parallel with your good self more recently I have launched an independent christian newspaper which you can read at eternity.biz
Like your new role, it is just me and a business partner.
It circulates 100,000 copies.
So the playing field is perhaps even more level for you and I than you realised. With global warming the weather has been rather more fine here in Sydney than one might wish.

and of course I have chopped my name off my earlier post..
along with the comment that
unlike Jim I have never risen to the heights of being a spokesperson, official or unofficial, of a (Sydney) Diocese. Label me as part of a chorus if you will, but 'house chorus' makes me more of an insider than I have ever been.
John Sandeman