Serious Council

This may actually be the first comment I have made on this blog concerning the issue of same sex unions and the ensuing Windsor Report, which has addressed the hope in restoring the “bonds of affection” within the Anglican Communion.

As I have made clear time and time again in various forms throughout my website, I believe in a middle road (via media) approach to many theological issues, it is the mark of being Anglican. I therefore despise theological arrogance for the sin it is.

Today the Primates released “The Anglican Communion Primates' Meeting Communique February 2005.” In it was the recommendation below:

“14. Within the ambit of the issues discussed in the Windsor Report and in order to recognize the integrity of all parties, we request that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference. During that same period we request that both churches respond through their relevant constitutional bodies to the questions specifically addressed to them in the Windsor Report as they consider their place within the Anglican Communion. (cf. paragraph 8)”

[follow this link for the full communiqué: http://www.anglican.ca/news/news.php?newsItem=2005-02-24_acns.news]

Of course it is sad that the situation has come to this. The way I found about this piece of news was through a subscription I have to a monthly e-newsletter for lay people where the comment made to the above statement was; “…. Once again, a parental spanking is being administered. “You’ve been bad and you will be punished. You can’t come to our meetings. Go over there and sit in the corner and think about your behaviour for a while.” ” It only digressed from here.

I am deeply troubled by this cynical and sarcastic view, a view shared by many so-called “liberals.” It displays an arrogance that undermines the attempts of many differing and opposing views within Anglicanism toward reconciliation and a restoration of the bonds of affection.

As an Anglican, and of course a priest, I recognize that through our Anglican Church of Canada’s actions, in part, through blessings in New Westminster, and as a whole, through a particular motion affirming the “sanctity of same sex unions” at General Synod 2004, we have strayed from what the Anglican Communion had agreed upon when we addressed this issue at the 1998 Lambeth Conference. This view, where we are sent to the corner or getting the politically incorrect spanking, displays the above editor's misunderstanding of why we trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our leaders at such meetings as Lambeth. Was not this the same form of consultation and statements made at such councils as Nicaea, Chalcedon & more recently Chicago/Lambeth 1888?

The upshot is we do deserve to get sent to the corner and be penitent; as the BCP states, “we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, we have followed to much the devises and desires of our own hearts….” We have followed an understanding of what we believe is a justice issue, an issue of the heart, without fully examining the ramifications to our theological & scriptural understanding. We have jumped headlong into an increasingly comfortable modern belief that homosexuality and homosexual relationships are right and proper for some; and in fact some even have suggested, at the floor of General Synod, an “option” for possible heterosexuals... as one youth member alluded.

But, what we must not forget though is the reality that there has been ignorance, fear and an unjust treatment of most gay members of the body of Christ. This week we read of the woman at the well… sexual sin did not stop our Lord from loving her, including her and ultimately making her an evangelist. There is thus no greater sin within a gay person than there is within a strait person, both are sinful. The current debate is therefore what is a blessing sanctifying, what is marriage and the what is the "intended" sexual union between two persons?

Whatever we are to understand as guided by the Holy Spirit, and it is no simple matter as scripture honestly is quite silent on homosexuality yet specific concerning marriage, we must acknowledge that a set of rules and statements had been made recently at Lambeth concerning marriage and sexual relationships. We were thus bound to wait and discern, why the rush? Has prayerful consideration ever been quick? The Christological issue of the homousious nature of Jesus’ divinity and humanity took over 325 years to establish, a few decades more on this issue of sexuality and public recognition is mere seconds in the scheme of things. On such an important social issue, and of course doctrinal issue, (for it is clearly an issue of doctrine: the Church is Christ’s "bride"), this issue needs not a cavalier and arrogant attitude but prayerful and thoughtful reflection: more time.

My opinion, for what it is worth, is that we should accept the recommendation and take this time “in the corner” thinking about Lambeth ’98 and if we have become modern Arius’ disregarding the advise of our councils.