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ACC meeting hears from American, Canadian churches

Representatives from around the world processed through the streets of Nottingham, England to mark the start of the meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council. The group met June 20-28. Photo by Anglican Communion News Service

Episcopal News Service Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold joined six presenters at the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting in Nottingham, England June 21, explaining that while the Episcopal Church includes diverse views on sexuality, common mission continues. Meeting June 20-29, the ACC is the principal consultative council of the Anglican Communion and one of its four “instruments of unity.” “Although certain actions by the Episcopal Church have deeply distressed a number of you, we have not come to argue,” Griswold said.  “I want to be clear that the Episcopal Church has not reached a common mind. However, it is our desire to be faithful to scripture. It is my hope that in the tradition of classical Anglicanism we will be united in Christ’s love and called to serve the world in Christ’s name.” The presentation came at the invitation of the ACC and in response specifically to the Windsor Report’s request to outline “how a person living in a same gender union may be considered eligible to lead the flock of Christ.” Joining Griswold in addressing the ACC were Bishop Neil Alexander of Atlanta; Bishop Charles

Jenkins of Louisiana; Bishop Suffragan Catherine Roskam of New York; the Rev. Michael Battle, academic vice president of Virginia Theological Seminary; the Rev. Susan Russell, president of Integrity and an assisting priest at All Saints’ Church in Pasadena, Calif.; and Jane Tully, founder of CFLAG (Clergy Families of Lesbians and Gays) and a parishioner of St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City.

Welcoming the listening process as recommended by the 1998 Lambeth Commission resolution 1.10, Roskam recognized that humility is required from those who speak in Western contexts. She said, “It is our desire to hear and learn the theological differences of Anglicans around the world. Perhaps mutual humility is an essential virtue throughout the Anglican Communion.”

Roskam acknowledged that the presenters’ comments may seem surprising or unsettling to some people, but “there is no intention to grieve or hurt you in any way,” she said.  “We want to serve our God [and] we pray that whatever differences there are that they may not be overtaken [by] the divisiveness from this world.”

Two bishops from the Episcopal Church, Charles Jenkins of Louisiana and Neil Alexander of Atlanta, voted differently to the consent to the election of Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. They spoke about how it is possible to hold divergent points of view about sexuality and theological interpretation, yet remain in Communion.

Jenkins, who serves the Presiding Bishop in his council of advice, explained that although he did not give his consent to Robinson’s election and remains convinced that sexuality should be between a man and a woman, “my presence is an act of obedience to Jesus who calls his flock to unity.” Griswold and Jenkins are in obvious disagreement, Jenkins said, “but I believe in every fiber of my being that Frank Griswold would guard my interest if I could not and I would guard his if he could not. Such relationships of trust are not uncommon in the Episcopal Church.”

Canadians explain same-sex blessings

The blessing of same-gender unions in the Anglican Church of Canada was the focus of its presentation to the ACC. “We’re here to let you know we value our place in the Anglican Communion,” said Bishop Suffragan Sue Moxley of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.  “We’re here listening,” she said. “We’re learning, and outside the meeting floor, we’re talking to people individually to hear what you have to say to us.”

In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster authorized the blessings of same-gender unions.  The Rev. Dr. Stephen Andrews, president and vice chancellor at Thornloe University, provided a biblical and theological groundwork for the actions of the Anglican Church in Canada. He noted, “This issue should not be church dividing.”

 Maria Jane Highway addressed the diversity of the Canadian people. “Being an aboriginal person, being part of this presentation, is what makes Canada so unique,” she said. Highway placed the issue of same-gender blessings into the perspective of her people. “Alcohol, drugs, suicide are very important,” she added. “These issues are more important to our elders than what is being talked about right now.”

The Canadians presented a packet to ACC members consisting of materials supporting the information in their presentation, including the 36-page “Report of the Primate’s Theological Commission on the Blessing of Same-Sex Unions.”

To learn more

Stories about the ACC meeting are posted by the Episcopal News Service at www.episcopalchurch.org/ens and by the Anglican Communion News Service at www.anglicancommunion.org.

ENS also has video reports by several key players at the meeting, including Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold. Those may be accessed at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_62543_ENG_HTM.htm.