Archbishop of Canterbury takes aim at “excommunicating” Episcopal Church
Archbishop takes aim at “excommunicating” Episcopal Church
In his Pentecost letter to the Anglican Communion today, Friday, May 28, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, set down his boldest challenge against the Episcopal Church of the United States and several other provinces. He recommended that they can:
- No longer participate in the formal ecumenical dialogues in which the Anglican Communion is engaged with the Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church
- No longer have full membership nor any decision making powers on the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order, a body that examines issues of doctrine and authority for the Anglican Communion.
In effect, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the titular head of the world-wide Anglican Communion is telling the Episcopal Church of the United States to step down from full participation in the affairs of the communion.
Coming at the season of Pentecost when Christians pray for a renewing of the Holy Spirit which is the Spirit of communion and of fellowship, Archbishop Williams’ letter makes clear that it is in reaction to the Episcopal Church’s recent appointment of a female bishop in an open same-sex relationship with her lesbian partner.
The Archbishop’s web site states that “As far back as 2004, the Anglican Communion leadership agreed to three moratoria: 1) No authorisation of blessings services for same-sex unions; 2) No consecrations of bishops living in same-sex relationships; 3) No cross-border interventions (no bishop authorising any ministry within the diocese of another bishop without explicit permission). These have been affirmed repeatedly in subsequent years at the highest levels of the Communion.”
“By proposing these actions the Archbishop is working to safeguard the common life of the Communion. His proposals come after several churches broke the Communion’s agreed moratoria (their promises to the Communion).”
Click here for Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan William’s Pentecost letter
Click here for the explanation of the letter at the Archbishop’s web site
Related posts:
- Former Archbishop of Canterbury says Anglican Communion “unlikely to recover”
- Anglican Curmudgeon points finger at Archbishop of Canterbury
- Largest congregation in SC diocese abandons affiliation with Episcopal Church
- Episcopalians to consecrate partnered lesbian as bishop
- Frank Limehouse, former rector of Parish Church of St. Helena, speaks out against changes in Episcopal Church
