3/15/2009

Duncan and Minns in Nigeria planning, no doubt.

Moderator Robert Duncan, deposed bishop of Pittsburgh and Archbishop in waiting of the Anglican Church in North America, and Bishop Minns of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, are in Nigeria and in attendance at the Church of Nigeria Standing Committee.

The Archbishop said, "We are glad to welcome back home our CANA bishop, Martyn Minns. With us at this meeting is Bishop Bob Duncan of Pittsburgh. Bob leads the Common Cause Partnership that will soon metamorphose against all odds into a new Anglican Province in North America."

Later in his address the Archbishop remarked on matters related to the Anglican Communion:

"The Anglican Communion.

Early last month at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primates of the Anglican Communion had their meeting in an atmosphere of ‘peace and mutual respect’ for five days in Alexandria, Egypt. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the meeting was that the ‘status quo ante’ was maintained. That is to say that we remain as we have been since 2003 when the unilateral revisionist actions of TEC and Canada tore the fabric of our common life, in a state of impaired or broken sacramental communion. We have not been able to deal with the fundamental problems of our brokenness nor see through decisions taken at previous meetings of the Primates.

It seems to me the Communion is playing a game of ‘just keep talking’ until perhaps someone will blink or become weary and give up the struggle. Confident that we are on the LORD’s side contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, we can rest assured that “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” On this vexatious issue, the Church of Nigeria will neither blink nor be weary.

On my return from Egypt, I issued a letter to the faithful titled ‘a wake up call’. I also sent an open letter to our chairman, Dr Rowan. In both, I made it clear that America is not thinking of backing off from its new religion. And the rest of us desiring to keep the unity and structures of the Communion by all means including losing our faith and churches risk the danger of becoming a church that has the appearance of being alive but in reality are no more than what Prof John Mbiti once described as the ‘living-dead.’

The Primates and leadership of the Global South also met and decided to call the ‘fourth trumpet’ in the first quarter of 2010, perhaps in the UK. The last one was held in Ein Sukhnan, near the red sea, Egypt.
Each of our Provinces will be represented by the Primate, a bishop, a senior priest, lay leaders comprising of a man, a woman and a youth.

GAFCON continues to wax stronger. Membership of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans is growing in many parts of the world beyond our own imagination. Here at home, some of our senior lay leaders (Fellowship of Christian Patriots, FCP) organised a two-day celebration of the ideals of GAFCON with special lectures and service of praise and thanksgiving to God. We are deeply grateful to the Christian Patriots. I urge all our members to obtain copies of the lecture. The GAFCON Primate’s Council will meet in the UK after Easter. I ask for your prayers."

Bits and pieces fall into place: Duncan and Minns are in Nigeria. No doubt the work toward getting GAFCON Primates to buy on to the new Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). GAFCON Primates meet after Easter in the UK. The organizing meeting of the ACNA takes place in June and we can be sure ACNA would like to have someone acknowledge them as a province by then.

It sounds like the Archbishop thinks ACNA is about to fly.

It is not a time to expect any distancing from the Archbishop of Nigeria on such matters as his remarks on anti-gay legislation in Nigeria.

6 comments:

  1. "Our chairman, Dr Rowan"?

    I'll leave analysis of Akinola's literary style to others.

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  2. It is time to end this charade. The only person that can do that ++Rowan Williams. Keep in mind he will be here at about the same time. In my mind, connecting the dots would go something like: TEC is arm-twisted into "allowing" this alternative primatial oversight. The Global South recognize the ACNA and Canada is left to flounder (sort of two choices: take it or leave it). We are "courted" by the Archbishop under the guise of "at least you [TEC] will have no more border crossings and be left alone coupled with some kind of loose control/funding promise".
    It is my fondest hope that we (TEC) are courting the Archbishop of Canterbury with our own plan to eliminate Nigeria and anyone else that fails to recognize ALL people as children of God entitled to fully participate in the church and that anyone who fails to recognize this can no longer be considered Anglican.

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  3. These boys have gotten way more than there 15 minutes of fame. Indeed, in any other walk of life, in any other profession, other than the church, they would be considered malcontents and n'er do wells. I think we should just ignore them. They have walked away. Let's let them, shall we?

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Hi Mark—I start to read this post and wonder if I can close my eyes and read the ever melodramatic sentiments verbatiam. The “tear the fabric of the communion,” “in a state of impaired communion” & etc., blah, blah, blah. Same ole, same ole melodrama. This man has nothing else to say at this point. They have no idea where they have been or where they are going with this.

    As to “had their meeting in an atmosphere of ‘peace and mutual respect” could this possibly be attributed to him not stirring up the sludge. Probably better than the ‘status quo’ for us since his usual status quo is stirring up hatred. I wonder if he suffered any withdrawal symptoms from “not been able to deal with the fundamental problems of our brokenness nor see through decisions taken at previous meetings of the Primates.” in his usual self-aggrandizing, mindless, twaddle speech.

    As to this:
    “It seems to me the Communion is playing a game of ‘just keep talking’ until perhaps someone will blink or become weary and give up the struggle. Confident that we are on the LORD’s side contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,….”

    He is the one who just keeps talking, and talking, and talking and NEVER listens. I wonder if there has ever been a documented case of someone talking themselves to death. So, while they may “not blink or grow weary” I see other possible pitfalls here. And if all it takes is our confidence that we are on the lord’s side contending for the faith once delivered to the saints then I think we have reached an impass. I too am confident that I am on the lord’s side.

    As to this, well, it was most definitely a “laugh, scream or wind your watch” moment:
    “And the rest of us desiring to keep the unity and structures of the Communion by all means including losing our faith and churches…”
    Whose churches? Playing to Minns and Duncan no doubt who still delusionally believe they own the churches they are squatting on. And I am sorry to hear that their faith is so shallow that they are in danger of losing it in spite of knowing that they know they are “on the lord’s side.”
    Goodness, are they not in “danger of becoming a church that has the appearance of being alive but in reality are no more than what Prof John Mbite once described as the ‘living dead.’”
    Since they excell at blowing their own horn, I don’t think I’ll comment on the fourth trumpet paragraph.
    And as to this:
    “Membership of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans is growing in many parts of the world beyond our own imagination.”
    With their tiny imaginations, I don’t think we need to be overly worried about this.

    Now, for some really beautiful sharing. The Presiding Bishop preached at one of our services today. So beautiful. So caring. So inspiring. So humble. And, everyone I spoke with after the service had nothing but praise for her. I told her she had to stay forever but, needs must and she had to return to Kanuga. We were so privileged to have her for even that brief time.
    And also on another note, I understand +Gene Robinson was at our cathedral this morning for both services. It would have been an honor and a privilege to hear him too.

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  6. Gerry,
    anyone ever share with you that just because everyone does it does not create a logical argument in favor of that position. We ask that you do not go away mad, just go away.

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