At the invitation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Anglican Communion gathered Monday at Canterbury Cathedral in London for a week-long discussion of issues threatening to rip the denomination apart.
Although a variety of topics were slated for discussion, it is the seemingly irreconcilable fissure over human sexuality, marriage and—ultimately—scriptural fidelity, that is drawing speculation about a denominational split.
Thirty-eight archbishops representing all Anglican provinces worldwide gathered for the private meeting.
Among attendees are the archbishops of the U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, which have affirmed same-sex marriage, expunging from their canons any reference to marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Anglican provinces in Africa—where homosexuality is illegal in some nations—remain steadfast in their biblical definition of marriage, as does the Church of England.
But Welby, as the “first among equals” in Anglican leadership, is hard-pressed to breach the growing divide and gave no indication of how he would reconcile a church on the brink of schism.
Media coverage of the gathering is limited to a press conference at the close of the meeting on Friday.
“We are going to be dealing with some very, very difficult issues—difficult issues within the life of the Anglican Communion but also hugely difficult issues that are affecting the whole church of Christ and, in fact, our whole world,” Welby said in September when he called the meeting.
Michael B. Curry, archbishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, issued a press release asking all Episcopalians to pray “that God will be fully present with us and that we may follow our Lord Jesus in the ways of His love and in so doing be part of God’s blessing to the world.”
Anglican leadership called for reconciliation despite profound differences on divisive issues.
“A 21st-century Anglican family must have space for deep disagreement, and even mutual criticism, so long as we are faithful to the revelation of Jesus Christ, together,” Welby said in a press release.
If the Church of England chooses to bless same-sex marriages, “it will no longer be a Christian denomination because I think the moment you bless something the Word calls ‘sin’ you are sending people to destruction,” said Sam Allberry, associate pastor of St. Mary’s Maidenhead, in Berkshire
No directives are expected from the Canterbury meeting, but the discussion could lay the groundwork for the next Lambeth Conference, the full denominational meeting that takes place about every 10 years.
aaron@ugchristianews.com
