Categories: just-life
Date: 09 July 2007 13:20:03
I am sure that Dave will get round to this, and his will be a much fuller, in depth and probably correct version, but yet again it seems the Anglican Church has taken a step back from the edge of schism*.
From my understanding of this 'solution' is the formation of an offical Anglican Covenant to which all parties agree. That way provences would not be able to do things that upset the rest (or some) of the Communion, like the US Church did when they ordained Gene Robinson as a bishop and started this whole mess.
On the down side, as there is always one, it is feared that such a covenant would reduce the traditional diversity that is one of the hallmarks of the worldwide Anglican Church. One speaker to the Synod gave a warning that had such a covenant been in place before, there would have been little chance of women ever becoming ordained, and while there are those that would say that is a good thing (traditional diversity) there are others who would point out that there have been some very good female vicars. As for the election of female bishops in the CoE.... well, that could be interesting!!
It is times like these that the stability of the Roman Catholic Church looks really, really nice. Being under the control of the One Church, if someone is "naughty" they get warned and if they ignore that warning there are consequences!! I am in no way suggesting that the AC should start to consider the RC approach to papacy, the very nature of the diversity of the AC is such that it would cause horrendous problems, not to mention the fact no-one would ever be able to decide who got to be in charge (well, apart from God, obviously!!!).
Needless to say, this will all rumble on for another six months or so and then we shall have another of "Our Steps"... whether it'll be forward or back.... well... we shall just have to wait and see!!!
* - at least till next month where we'll take a couple steps closer
Of course, this does now mean that I don't get to talk about 'the funny things scientist do' with this story.... it does actually have a semi-serious health benifit if you get that far..... honest!!!