The Global South primatial bishops of the Anglican Communion recently issued the Kigali Communique (emphases added):
9. We deeply regret that, at its most recent General Convention, The Episcopal Church gave no clear embrace of the minimal recommendations of the Windsor Report. We observe that a number of the resolutions adopted by the Convention were actually contrary to the Windsor Report. We are further dismayed to note that their newly elected Presiding Bishop also holds to a position on human sexuality ? not to mention other controversial views ? in direct contradiction of Lambeth 1.10 and the historic teaching of the Church. The actions and decisions of the General Convention raise profound questions on the nature of Anglican identity across the entire Communion.
10. We are, however, greatly encouraged by the continued faithfulness of the Network Dioceses and all of the other congregations and communities of faithful Anglicans in North America. In addition, we commend the members of the Anglican Network in Canada for their commitment to historic, biblical faith and practice. We value their courage and consistent witness. We are also pleased by the emergence of a wider circle of ?Windsor Dioceses? and urge all of them to walk more closely together and deliberately work towards the unity that Christ enjoins. We are aware that a growing number of congregations are receiving oversight from dioceses in the Global South and in recent days we have received requests to provide Alternative Primatial Oversight for a number of dioceses. This is an unprecedented situation in our Communion that has not been helped by the slow response from the Panel of Reference. After a great deal of prayer and deliberation, and in order to support these faithful Anglican dioceses and parishes, we have come to agreement on the following actions:
a. We have asked the Global South Steering Committee to meet with the leadership of the dioceses requesting Alternative Primatial Oversight, in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Network and the ?Windsor Dioceses?, to investigate their appeal in greater detail and to develop a proposal identifying the ways by which the requested Primatial oversight can be adequately provided.
b. At the next meeting of the Primates in February 2007 some of us will not be able to recognize Katharine Jefferts Schori as a Primate at the table with us. Others will be in impaired communion with her as a representative of The Episcopal Church. Since she cannot represent those dioceses and congregations who are abiding by the teaching of the Communion we propose that another bishop, chosen by these dioceses, be present at the meeting so that we might listen to their voices during our deliberations.
c. We are convinced that the time has now come to take initial steps towards the formation of what will be recognized as a separate ecclesiastical structure of the Anglican Communion in the USA. We have asked the Global South Steering Committee to develop such a proposal in consultation with the appropriate instruments of unity of the Communion. We understand the serious implications of this determination. We believe that we would be failing in our apostolic witness if we do not make this provision for those who hold firmly to a commitment to historic Anglican faith.
Of course, from the perspective of those of us who have left the Episcopal Church, ECUSA has been dying for some time. For some time it has been obviouos that ECUSA is de facto a schismed church. GC03 definitely demonstrated that, and GC06 put the period on the assertion. Now any illusion that all can be made well, that ECUSA can be healed of her schism has been safely put to rest. There are two religions within ECUSA, one of which is not even Christian, and the other is struggling to faithfully maintain the Christian Gospel. But the hope that some have put in the de jure fact of ECUSA’s connections to Canterbury have been formally shot down. Communion with Canterbury will not save ECUSA from the ramifications and consequences of her very real and old schism. She is a divided communion, and nothing will stop the consequences of that.
Not because the Holy Spirit could not heal the schism, but because no one wants the schism healed. Those at odds with the rest of the Anglican Communion (the “revisionists”) will not repent the teachings and practices that have put them at odds. That shrinking minority of ones faithful to the Gospel have no power to bring any institutional change. And when the power brokers don’t want change and the minority can’t bring it about, then nothing will change. The Holy Spirit doesn’t force repentance, and God is not afraid to allow schism to have its way.
Like all things Anglican this process will be talked . . . to . . . death. So this slow motion train wreck will be messy and depleting of good resources, time and mission. Churches will have to decide between the Gospel and earthly treasure (church property). Some will have to even decide whether or not any segment of what’s left of ECUSA could ever again be considered to be the Church. As individuals and as parishes, many are leaving for Rome, Orthodoxy, or conservative evangelical congregations. It will be a Pyrrhic victory for all sides that remain.
What is sad is that many many voices saw this coming long ago and warned of it. And so many failed to give heed, preferring their illusions of comfort and supposed security to the hard work of losing the earthly to gain the heavenly. Now they will be forced to this long put off decision. May God grant them wisdom to choose wisely.
And may the Lord have mercy upon his faithful among the Anglicans.
