...I think we can say to the Primates –I'd recommend that the bishops print this out, sign it, and get it in the mail to Canterbury now.
1. We do not have official rites for same sex blessings
2. Consents are made according to our Constitution and Canons
3. We know our stance on the role of gays and lesbians (and women for most provinces) offends you, but we do not ask you to take our stance for your own.
4. We deeply appreciate your willingness to engage in the listening process and to take all this time about TEC in an era of global disaster.
5. We want to work with you to address the pressing needs of poverty, global warming, HIV/AIDS, malaria (more people dying every day than died in the tsunami btw)
6. If you do not want us at Lambeth 2008 - we accept that and will use all the funds we would have spent on that meeting for the relief of suffering around the world (including all that the dioceses will spend to send our bishops and our contribution to the ACC for this, as well as encouraging Compass Rose to donate their funds to relief and development too).
This will be our communal fast.
7. If you decide that we are no longer a part of the Anglican Communion we will continue to work with churches around the world who wish to be companions on the Way with us. The bonds of our affection are rooted in Baptism and gathering at the Eucharist. We are brothers and sisters in Christ not through our own doing but because Christ has made it so...
J.
This is very clear, sane, and wonderful! I have one quibble with Rev Fontaine, though. A number of folks in recent days have made the same point that she does in Number 3 - that TEC is not asking other provinces to take up a liberal stance on women and LGBT people. My question is: For heaven's sake, why not? If the Spirit has entrusted (part of) TEC with a witness to the ministry of women and LGBT folks, why not call other provinces to share in that witness? To me (an outsider), Number 3 sounds like making nice when you don't really mean it.
ReplyDeleteNumber 7 is crucially important - in or out of the AC, in or out of TEC, there is no leaving the Body of Christ. If you are baptized, it's already too late - the church has you! :) It's just a matter of finding the place within the diverse Body where one can best serve.
Just my two cents as an interested outsider. My prayers are with y'all.
Bravo! Add to that the fact that submitting to centralized doctrinal oversight, no matter the issue, sets a dangerous precedent with which we cannot abide.
ReplyDelete-Kory A. Langhofer
Kory,
ReplyDeleteYou won't get any argument about the dangers of central oversight from lil' ol' anarchist me!
John - I agree - why not -- but we haven't that is my point.
ReplyDelete