8/23/2006

Sniffing Hounds, Dog Days, the Trail Grows Cold.

Over the past several months, in a variety of venues, I have asked the following of the Archbishop of Canterbury. (see my posting “Three Questions for the Archbishop.”

(i) Who are the members of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s “small working group” reflecting on the matters concerning the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

(ii) When will you say something yourself re Bishop Minns and CANA. (The Office has, but not you.)

(iii) Who is on the Covenant drafting group?

Well, those were for the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Now for anyone who can tell me,

(iv) Who from the US or UK went to the Consecration of the four bishops in Nigeria on August 20th (you know, the one where Bishop Minns was consecrated)? Anyone?

(v) Who among progressives has the Archbishop of Canterbury consulted since General Convention?

(vi) Since General Convention has anyone representing the Gay and Lesbian community in the US or the UK been consulted by any of the several “reflection” groups of bishops being pulled together?

I didn’t expect the Archbishop of Canterbury to actually respond to my first three questions, and do not assume that he reads my blog. But I had hoped that someone who could get an answer would get it and put it out there for the rest of us. I do hope that someone can shed some light on the six questions.

Why? Because if there are no answers to the first three, it tends to confirm the notion that decisions are being made about ‘us’ (meaning most Episcopalians) and our relation to the Anglican Communion, without us. Because if there was no one from the US or the UK (excluding family members) at Bishop Minn’s consecration that is too bad. (No one should stand without friends on such an occasion.) Because if the Archbishop or any of the bishops on the several reflection groups dares to go forward, continuing to talk about but not with members of the Gay and Lesbian community, the boat is listing over on its side.

Well: The questions still stand. Where are the answers?

3 comments:

  1. I have no answers to any of your questions. I do wonder, however about how RW understands his theology (as stated in so many books) to be lived out in Praxis.

    I look forward to his reflections in decades to come!

    However, until then, I thought this article http://www.christianpost.com/article/20060823/23960.htm was interesting and had some quotes from "His grace" (?!) that I had not seen in other arenas.

    Specifically these quotes:

    “I don’t especially want to see the Anglican Church becoming like the Orthodox Church – where in some American cities you see the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church,” he said. “I don’t want to see in the cities of America the American Anglican Church, the Nigerian Anglican Church, the Egyptian Anglican Church and the English Anglican Church on the same street.”

    Isn't this where we are going (or have already gone?)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Karen B: well, we may be "ond different sides theologically" but I thank you for your support in my asking the questions.

    I confess your reason, "to try and post a prayer post on Lent & Beyond" is more to the point than mine. I do indeed pray for the Archbishop in this difficult time, and that extends to those who work with and for him. But I have been asking the questions for more mundaine reasons.

    While it might be useful for close advisors not to be named, it would be in that case useful not to name the group. Naming a group of advisors and then not letting the larger world know who is on it smacks of secret "star chamber" action.

    Now, as we both have understood, the Archbishop of Wales and the Archbishop of Central Africa are supposedly on this committee. That gives me some heart. At least there is some spread of theological opinion on the advising group.

    Well, it would be useful to know this stuff, but life goes on.

    I thank you for connecting in on this.

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mark

    There is no reason to think that ABC is only consulting a fix group of advisors. I believe he is consulting widely. The recent posts in t19 should shed some light.

    ReplyDelete

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