It takes courage to stand for the right. The Scottish Episcopal Church has that courage. They have officially said no to the Covenant and yes to Communion. The news is posted on their official web site at this page.
The address by their primus is worth reading. It is a solid endorsement of the Anglican Communion, not the unwelcome hierarchical "Anglican Church" Dr. Williams and his myrmidons have been so eager to inflict on us. FWIW jimB
7 comments:
What would have happened if they'd approved? Is there anyone besides a tiny and mostly middle-class and over 50 year-old group that will be upset over this? Compared with what Rodney King went through, how much courage did they really need?
Being snubbed or knowing that there is an article or web post that doesn't like what you did hardly counts as courage.
Hi Brad,
The decision to accept the Covenant would have carried some benefits. Being in the covenant group would mean not facing the, "relational consequences" or "second tier" status the archbishop so often uses as threats. It takes guts to tell the archbishop no.
FWIW
jimB
So Rowan Williams would have done, what, exactly? Snubbed their clergy at tea? Not sent XMass cards? Refused them front row seats at the 60th Jubilee?
When the institution someone leads is so insignificant, it takes very little courage-especially if you have organizational independence and a secure pension and salary.
Telling off the Czar as head of the Orthodox church in the 16th century or a Borgia pope takes courage. Telling off Rowan Williams in the early 21st? Not so much.
You're right-it takes some courage to tell off Rowan Williams and John Sentamu. Like buying a piece of bubble gum takes some money.
Rodney King is hardly comparable to this.
Churches within the "Covenant" will if the archbishops and more significantly perhaps the church house staff, have their way, own some benefits. For one thing, they will uniquely have access to the various committees and commissions whose work shapes the voice of the communion. For another, they will have access to the process via which other churches can be removed from the communion. And a major item for churches that share the English and Irish Islands, de jure recognition of each other's orders flows from status as, "Anglican Communion Churches."
Sadly, we face the reality of the likes of ACNA, FiF, and FCA - GafCon. Marking your church as a church that is not in the herd invites schismatic predators. Sad to say, we hae them on offer, even without thinking about the "Ordinariate."
There is one other factor. In a fair number of Commonwealth and United Kingdom jurisdictions outside England, there are specific laws that while not the same as establishment do convey some significant legal protections.
Granted, giving all of those items up is not at the same level as life or limb, they do matter to people. As we went through the votes in English diocese, it was clear that some votes in the HoB were changed by that sort of thing. The weasel worded not exactly yes nor no vote in Ireland seems to have such a source.
A paradox: Do you know why academic fights are so mean? It is because the stakes are so small
FWIW
jimB
I should add that at some level, we are talking about people's career chances here. OK, sacrificing them is something we laity often expect of clerics, but think how hard it is on those folks who have spent years qualifying and going through various discernment processes.
It is not an easy choice, which may explain some bishops' and priests' votes in England. For them voting yes and counting on North America, the Pac Rim, and the ultra-orthodox to sink the idiot thing was a choice with some charms.
FWIW
jimB
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