walls

I see that the Church of Nigeria has amended its constitution. As of the amendments, instead of being, by rule, in fellowship with Cantebury and all who are similarly in fellowship, Nigeria will decide on a specific basis. The basis is specified in the amendment:

"The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) hereinafter called "The Church of Nigeria" or "This Church" shall be in full communion with all Anglican Churh diocese and Provinces that hold and maintain the Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church as the Lord has commanded in His holy word and as the same are received as taught in the Book of Common Prayer and the ordinal of 1662 and in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion."

Hmmm... why the ordinal of 1662? Could it be because it does not include females? What does that do to a generally conservative provences like Sudan? Do Nigerians actually think the ordinal which is clearly a document that the Lambeth bishops have considered of polity and which they have said may be, "modified for local conditions" in the quadrilateral can be considered doctrinal?

Another, I think valid, question is how this works in the context of Dr. Akinola'snola's attempts to see Lambeth Conference resolutions as canon law?

Consider:
Some of the bishops who attend the conferences presumably do not meet the standards, or there would be no need for them.

One of the items passed by a conference, albeit some years ago, is the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. That document calls for being in communion with communities that may well not hold to the prayerbook, 39 articles, or the ordinal!

Does Nigeria intend to disavow the agreements between Cantebury and the European Lutherans? I suppose that is precisely the intent as no one could be that out of touch that the ecumenical conversations of the last 5 decades had not been at least noted! Now we see an ever more isolated and exclusive church proclaiming itself, "Anglican," "Catholic," and "orthodox." So exclusive evangelicalism is universal?

The Nigerians in a single stroke intended to assault the churches in Canada, America and England slap away the ecumenical work of decades. While a notable conservative, Benedict 16, makes efforts to affirm ecumenical dialog, and Taize mourns for its leader, Nigeria builds walls.



FWIW
jimB