From the Anglican Communion Institute, Inc.

In a joint letter sent today to the Archbishop of Canterbury by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and the President of its House of Deputies, the presiding officers of General Convention acknowledged that that body cannot speak for the whole church in crucial matters affecting the life of the Anglican Communion:

Some are concerned that the adoption of Resolution D025 has effectively repealed Resolution B033. That is not the case. This General Convention has not repealed Resolution B033. It remains to be seen how Resolution B033 will be understood and interpreted in light of Resolution D025. Some within our Church may understand Resolution D025 to give Standing Committees (made up of elected clergy and laity) and Bishops with jurisdiction more latitude in consenting to Episcopal elections. Others, in light of Resolution B033, will not. (Emphasis added.)

This letter thus makes it clear that Resolution D025 releases bishops and standing committees from any commitment and assurances previously given to observe the moratorium on episcopal elections that has been endorsed by all four of the Communion’s Instruments and now implemented in the Communion by vote of the Anglican Consultative Council. Indeed, the official “Explanation” to the final text of D025, which states that it “provides clarification in light of the Windsor Report,” removes any doubt concerning this fact:

Our relationships in the Anglican Communion have been tested by the question of the ordination to the episcopate of individuals living in a same-sex partnership. Resolution D-039 of the 73rd General Convention, in 2000, acknowledged that the membership of the Episcopal Church includes persons living in same-sex relationships; established an expectation that “such relationships will be characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God”; and further denounced “promiscuity, exploitation, and abusiveness in the relationships of any of our members.” Three years later, the 74th General Convention reaffirmed this expectation. These standards thus provide guidance for access to the discernment process for ordination to the episcopate.  (Emphasis added.)
[url=“http://gc2009.org/ViewLegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=986&type=Final
” title=“http://gc2009.org/ViewLegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=986&type=Final
“]http://gc2009.org/ViewLegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=986&type=Final
[/url]

This is a categorical repudiation of the communion-wide moratorium on the election to the episcopate of anyone living in a same sex partnership. Bishops and dioceses are neither asked nor expected to observe such a moratorium. They are encouraged instead to observe “standards” recognizing same-sex partnerships as reflecting “holy love.” As conceded by today’s letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, some bishops and dioceses will respect the moratorium; others will not. And those that do respect the Communion teaching will do so only because they reject the “guidance” provided by General Convention “standards.”

This explicit recognition that some bishops and dioceses will conform to Communion teaching while others will not requires that the Communion now look to individual dioceses and parishes for communion commitments. The General Convention has decided it cannot speak with one voice in committing to the Communion’s moratoria. The Communion has no choice but to acknowledge those who are ready, willing and able to make these commitments.
View the original post

As always the ACI finds the sow’s ear in the silk purse.  TEC recognizes as one of its assets the diversity of viewpoint among members, especially with respect to non-essentials.  General Convention manages to govern while holding in tension opposing positions.  This is something the brittle homodox cannot stand at any level of thinking, of course.  Bedford Christians only think the same (well except of women;‘s ordination, but they will fracture soon enough over this).

Nor is the recognition that we hold differing views an acknowledgement that Dioceses are teh central unit of the church.  They are not, General Convention is. But it matters little whether diocese or parishes sign the Anglican Covenant, because it is a non-essential part of the faith.  No matter that the signers are still bound by the actions of the General Convention most specifically as they are found in the C&C.

I am not allowed to secede from the US because I am free not to believe what the current administration believes.  I cannot call in a foreign power to rule my little neighborhood because I do not like what the city government does.  I simply work to change it.  The ACI seems to think that freedom of thought and diversity of opinion has something to do with structures of governance and their ability to govern.  They do not.

As for the Four Instruments, they made themselves influenceless the moment they failed to strongly condemn those who broke the third moratorium.  And the fact is TEC still has not violated the first two.