From the Dean
Dear Friends in Christ,
I spent a portion of the day preceding Ash Wednesday catching up on the news from the Anglican Primates’ meeting in Tanzania. The primates (the leaders of our global communion) distributed a communiqué at the conclusion of their talks that contains several suggestions/demands that many in our church will surely find provocative. Some of the primates found the Episcopal Church’s recent response to their concerns regarding the ordination of gay/lesbian bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions to be deficient. They call on our bishops to unequivocally renounce both practices until there is greater consensus in the Anglican Communion on the topics, and they have set a deadline of September 30, 2007 to receive our assurances. They ask that bishops not intervene in the affairs of other dioceses while these matters are being weighed and they also recommend that all civil lawsuits regarding church property be shelved.
Previous responses to similar demands were tempered by a broad commitment to the spiritual aspirations of gay and lesbian Christians and a desire to maintain the integrity of the communion. Many doubt that action in the near future will deviate wildly from actions taken in the recent past. This being the case, it appears the question has now been called; will we be a church that welcomes faithful gay and lesbian Christians, honors the role of women in leadership, strives for justice and peace, and respects the dignity of every human being (including immigrants, low-wage workers, those torn by war, the hungry and homeless, and those living with AIDS, among others), or will we be something less than that?
The Most Reverend Peter Akinola, the Archbishop of Nigeria and a leader of the primates opposed to the position of the Episcopal Church, likens homosexuals to animals. What does it mean to be "in communion" with a leader who holds such views? Further, what does it mean when Archbishop Akinola and his followers refuse to worship with those who, persuaded by the gospel, stand by a contrary position? The beauty and strength of Anglican spirituality has always been found in our willingness to kneel next to the person with whom we disagree and say common prayers. We hope that this sacred sensibility will prevail in the days ahead. If that is not possible, then we pray that God will again do what God does best - announce the new creation.
The Very Reverend Scott Eric Richardson, Dean
Saint Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego
Anglican Primates' Meeting
Special Saturday Forum
Dean Richardson has announced that a special "processing session" on the important Tanzania meeting of the Anglican primates will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2007 from 9:00 am till Noon. Watch for further announcements.
In the meantime, here are several links to the primates' official communiqué - a report of their conclusions and to the Anglican Covenant Draft also proposed at the meeting. You will want to read these two items. These links will also take you to several statements and articles in reaction to the primates meeting.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/
See link to ACNS 4257.22 Feb for text of communiqué and covenant draft. Other links include additional information on the meeting.
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/index_new.htm
See Top Stories > More Stories and link on "Primates' Meeting."
http://episcopalchurch.typepad.com/episcope/
See archives on left side and a list of many Anglican blogs on the right. Titusonenine and Stand Firm In Faith are the two most read conservative blogs. Father Jake Stops the World and Preludium are the most read progressive blogs. Several of the others are of interest, however.
http://www.edsd.org
This is our diocesan web site and will soon include a statement from our own bishop.
