'We are Anglican and We are Many'

[Karen Ward]

A forum to explore the diversity of Anglicanism developing in North America (and other places with similar diversification) and how might we: - Develop an 'anabaptist/peace church ethos' re: other Anglicans (non-violent ways to meet and hold conversations around differences) - Learn from this diversity. - Love our own Anglican bodies without needing to trash 'other' Anglicans next door who uphold different practices than our own,- and Take baby steps in figuring out how to work together on the things we can (like the Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Consultative Council).

[Tim Harding]

Interesting thred. I see that it is over a year old but Karen has added a comment today on Good Friday and rightly so as this is a perpetual issue in the anglican tradition. Although I have been looking into this site for the past several weeks this is my first comment.

I am just a layperson with no theological education but I found a home in the TEC 33 years ago on Easter Sunday by the grace of God. I never intended to wander into an Episcopal church that Sunday but I guess that's where God wanted me.

Is not the foundation of Anglicanism the idea that we are organized around a book of common prayer and not a common theology?

Is it not acceptable to question the authority of scripture?

Though it is difficult to accept those who disagree with us is this not what we are called to do?

Are we not to be accepting of those who do not accept us?

I always took comfort in the observation that "Waht ever you believe there is at least one other Episcopalian that agrees with you."

[Mike Croghan]

I only just saw this thread - it's an important one. Thanks for keeping it fresh, Karen.

I, myself, am cynical (Karen, if she reads this, will be shocked - SHOCKED, I say - that I would utter those words) ;-) about both the ecumenical movement, and the alphabet soup schisms that constantly work against it. It strikes me as little more than a sporting event. "The uniters score! The PCUSA and the Moravian Church are now in full communion!" "Ohh, there's one for the dividers: 50 congregations split off from the American Baptists." And, like, everybody's waiting on pins and needs to see whether the Authorities will unite the Church faster than they can divide it. Let's find out!!!

My opinion: whateverz. Y'all be about that, Authorities, whether you're uniting or dividing at these mass institutional levels. When the dividing - or, indeed, when the uniting - causes pain and anger in the Body, it's a tragedy, but this is the story of humanity.

But the thing of it is: we are already one Church, one Body. Jesus made us that way. I honestly couldn't care less what the Authorities think about who is in full communion with whom and who is not (though I do care about the pain that results from these shifts). We are one Church, and we just need to act like it; these divisions are not important. We should be seeking out our brothers and sisters of whatever tradition/denomination/affiliation and practicing the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, and above all the New Commandment with them. To hell with "full communion", "affiliation", "schism", etc. We are one Church, and we are called to love one another as Christ has loved us - and we have work to do together.

[Tim Mathis]

I'm generally a pragmatist like you, Mike: "The Schismatics will always be with you, but you will not always have me."

That said, I'm also a middle child, so I have to embrace both sides of the story.

Which is that we're losing something deeply valuable when our structures/institutions don't reflect our theology of Communion as thoroughly as possible.

My simple solution is to take schism with a grain of salt while also recognizing the significance of it. I refuse to accept that communion ('perichoresis' - mutual indwelling like in the Trinity - is the word I've been having fun with lately) can be broken by something as simple as a theological argument or institutional shift, but I also refuse to accept that the way we organize ourselves doesn't matter.

Again, this is a battle that I'm able to hold it at an arms length as a convert, but which you might feel a bit more personally having been nurtured in the institutional womb.

[Mark Wirtz]

I know this is discussion has gone into hibernation, but I think this is an important topic in light of the 2009 General Convention. I regret that I have not been exposed to this type of discussion anywhere but here. Nobody in other networks or media outlets are talking about this as far as I've seen. I love this idea of being able work relationally and creatively with other North American Anglican (“continuing” or otherwise) groups, at least at the parish level if not at the diocesan level. Resolution D025 even affirmed the deep and creative relationships we have with other groups in Christ's church, but I think this discussion goes a little further in a good way.

This reminds me of some thoughts I had over a year ago when I realized that TEC may be demoted within the Anglican Communion depending on what happens at the 2009 General Convention beyond the splits in N. America. I think TEC’s reaction should be of natural hurt and grief of course, but also a reaction of love and embrace – to continue to love and embrace our sisters and brothers who in some way or another broke communion with us (or say we did so with them) either in N. America or worldwide. I think it’s so easy to be dismissive of the “others” and say we’re the ones doing it “right.” I’m sure this happens a lot on both sides. But this conversation gives me a lot of hope that there are those who are willing to move beyond our fights to do Christ's mission.

This is such a great conversation and I’m so happy to see this blog site as a place where we try to grapple with the reality of our divisions and potentially overcome them.

[Steve Hollinghurst]

Mark
thanks for you post, if everyone shared your spirit the church would be so much a better place. one of the reasons i remain determined to work with all branches of the church is this sense that we are family even when we don;t agree, actually something our world desperatley needs too and we ought ot be leading the way on but so often aren't.

in UK at present the opposite of this is a concerted attack on the Greenbelt festival from and Anglican conservstive evangleical group, why? well guess which TEC bishop is speaking at the festival this year... i have no probelm with them disgreeing with him, but it't the whole 'anyone who talks to him is out' approach that gets me. so keep up the agenda mark we need it.

[Edward Green]

The good news is that there are more and more of us working across tribal boundaries in positive ways.

The benefice I serve ranges from Charismatic Evangelical to Prayerbook Catholic. And it is certainly the most fun I have ever had.

[Karen Ward]

I read a great article today on about how Anglicans do polity/ecclesiology and theology using the concept of 'subsidiarity.'

I think more deep thought on how this concept applies to national churches, provinces and individual diocese is key for Anglican communio growing forward and to a hoped for 'cease fire' to the 'Anglican Wars'

'What does everyone think of THIS ARTICLE by Bishop Whalon, one of our members here!