The Windsor Report

Last year the Archbishop of Canterbury appointed a commission to make recommendations on how the Anglican Communion can deal with issues of significant conflict. While the precipitating issues were related to the consecration of a homosexual bishop and the blessing of same-sex unions, the commission was not established to speak on the merits of such actions. Rather they were looking at how we can remain in communion when we disagree.

Their report was released on October 18. While I have skimmed the entire report, I have only read carefully the final sections with the substantive recommendations. The entire report can be found at http://windsor2004.anglicancommunion.org/.

The report goes into great detail about how the Anglican Communion has been structured and makes some significant recommendations for making explicit relationships that have been more informal. I look forward to reading it in more detail.

As for the juicy bits, the sections that will be talked about in the public media in the next few days, here is a summary:

There have been three issues of concern. 1) The consecration of a gay bishop. 2) The blessing of same-sex unions. 3) Bishops violating diocesan boundaries and ministering to parishes in other dioceses (i.e. Bishops from Africa visiting conservative parishes in the U.S.)

Here is what the report recommends: (I have added the emphasis)

1) On the consecration of a gay bishop.

134 . . .We recommend that:

¨ the Episcopal Church (USA) be invited to express its regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached in the events surrounding the election and consecration of a bishop for the See of New Hampshire, and for the consequences which followed, and that such an expression of regret would represent the desire of the Episcopal Church (USA) to remain within the Communion.

¨ pending such expression of regret, those who took part as consecrators of Gene Robinson should be invited to consider in all conscience whether they should withdraw themselves from representative functions in the Anglican Communion. We urge this in order to create the space necessary to enable the healing of the Communion. We advise that in the formation of their consciences, those involved consider the common good of the Anglican Communion, and seek advice through their primate and the Archbishop of Canterbury. We urge all members of the Communion to accord appropriate respect to such conscientious decisions.

¨ the Episcopal Church (USA) be invited to effect a moratorium on the election and consent to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate who is living in a same gender union until some new consensus in the Anglican Communion emerges.

135. Finally, we recommend that the Instruments of Unity, through the Joint Standing Committee, find practical ways in which the ‘listening’ process commended by the Lambeth Conference in 1998 may be taken forward, so that greater common understanding might be obtained on the underlying issue of same gender relationships. We particularly request a contribution from the Episcopal Church (USA) which explains, from within the sources of authority that we as Anglicans have received in scripture, the apostolic tradition and reasoned
reflection, how a person living in a same gender union may be considered eligible to lead the flock of Christ.


2) The blessing of same-sex unions.

144. While we recognise that the Episcopal Church (USA) has by action of Convention made provision for the development of public Rites of Blessing of same sex unions, the decision to authorise rests with diocesan bishops. Because of the serious repercussions in the Communion, we call for a moratorium on all such public Rites, and recommend that bishops who have authorised such rites in the United States and Canada be invited to express regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached by such authorisation. Pending such expression of regret, we recommend that such bishops be invited to consider in all conscience whether they should withdraw themselves from representative functions in the Anglican Communion. We recommend that provinces take responsibility for endeavouring to ensure commitment on the part of their bishops to the common life of the Communion on this matter.

145. We urge all provinces that are engaged in processes of discernment regarding the blessing of same sex unions to engage the Communion in continuing study of biblical and theological rationale for and against such unions. . . .

3) Bishops violating diocesan boundaries and ministering to parishes in other dioceses

155. We call upon those bishops who believe it is their conscientious duty to intervene in provinces, dioceses and parishes other than their own:
¨ to express regret for the consequences of their actions
¨ to affirm their desire to remain in the Communion, and
¨ to effect a moratorium on any further interventions.


HERE"S WHAT I THINK:

1. Overall I think it is a good report. It is very conciliatory and asks something from both sides.
2. Pro-gay Episcopalians are asked to not consecrate any more gay bishops and to stop publicly blessing same-sex unions until greater consensus is reached in the worldwide Communion.
3. The report, however, does not punish the Episcopal church. We are not told to leave the Anglican Communion. The report "invites" bishops to "express regret" rather than demand they apologize. They are asked to consider withdrawing from participating with bishops from other provinces until they express regret; they are not barred from such participation. In other words, the Episcopal church is not forced to "repent" from its pro-gay actions.
4. The report asks, in several places, that greater conversation take place so that anti-gay factions of the Church can better understand their pro-gay brothers and sisters.
5. Conservative bishops from other countries are asked to stop serving in US congregations without the invitation of the local bishop.

The question is: Will it work? It will be hard for the Episcopal Church USA to stop blessing same-sex unions. (What about non-public blessings?) This will be a bitter pill for the advocates for gay rights that have labored to bring the church to where it is today. On the other hand, it will be hard for the conservatives who have been wanting to form a separate branch of the Anglican Communion in the USA to feel satisfied with the report's recommendations. In the end, we are still very divided.

I don't know where we will go from here. I have faith that the Holy Spirit is in the mix and somehow we will stay together through this craziness.

blessings,
brian