The Anglican Communion gathered Monday at Canterbury Cathedral in London for a week-long discussion of issues threatening to rip the denomination apart.
The heads of 38 separate churches met for the first time in more than a decade in what the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, sees as a “last roll of the dice” to save the Anglican Communion.
Updates on this Gathering indicate that the Archbishop of Canterbury was accused for treating African archbishops “like children” in an attempt to avoid a full public walkout during make-or-break talks on the future of the worldwide Anglican church.
Up to 15 of the 38 prelates taking part in the talks are also understood to have withdrawn from joint prayer services in Canterbury Cathedral in a sign of the depth of the divisions over issues such as homosexuality.
The faith has been in turmoil for 12 years since its US branch, The Episcopal Church (Tec), ordained its first openly-gay bishop, Gene Robinson, causing traditionalists especially in the southern hemisphere to break from more liberal wings and the creation of a separate American church. The Anglican Church in Canada has endorsed blessings for same-sex unions and Tec altered its marriage definition.
Speaking to the telegraph, one said that the traditionalists had been so effectively segregated that some had even resorted to holding snatched meetings in each other’s rooms in their accommodation at night.
“They have been treated like children,” the source added.
“The whole process has been rigged from the start.”
He branded the talks a “weasel” process which could not ultimately prevent a permanent schism in Anglicanism.
Another added: “There has been a combination of deference and manipulation.
“They have not been allowed to speak to each other
Yesterday, the church of Uganda received a letter from The Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, indicating that it was, therefore, necessary for him to withdraw from the meeting over a number of issues the Archbishop of Canterbury and his facilitators could not substantively addressed.
“On the second day of the gathering, I moved a resolution that asked the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada to voluntarily withdraw from the meeting and other Anglican Communion activities until they repented of their decisions that have torn the fabric of the Anglican Communion at its deepest level. They would not agree to this request nor did it appear that the Archbishop of Canterbury and his facilitators would ensure that this matter be substantively addressed in a timely manner.” he wrote
After two long days of discussions, Archbishop Stanley NtagaliI was concerned that the process set up for this meeting would not permit him and others to address the unfinished business from the 2007 Primates Meeting in Dar es Salaam.
“In accordance with the resolution of our Provincial Assembly, it was, therefore, necessary for me to withdraw from the meeting, which I did at the end of the second day. It seemed that I was being manipulated into participating in a long meeting with the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada without the necessary discipline being upheld. My conscience is at peace.
I have left the meeting in Canterbury, but I want to make it clear that we are not leaving the Anglican Communion. Together with our fellow GAFCON Provinces and others in the Global South, we are the Anglican Communion; the future is bright. The door is open for all those who seek communion on the basis of a common confession of our historic, Biblical faith for which the Ugandan Martyrs, Archbishop James Hannington, Archbishop Janani Luwum and many others around the world have died. We are part of a global movement of Anglicans who follow the God who “so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)”
He will be sharing more about the meeting on arrival to Uganda.
editor@ugchristiannews.com
