Late in the evening of February 19th, the impatiently awaited communiqué was published. The Anglican primates had managed to avoid the risk of split or schism, but the communiqué took a surprising hard line against The Episcopal Church.
In effect, The Episcopal Church is given until September 30th, 2007 to:
"1. make an unequivocal common covenant that the bishops will not authorise any Rite of Blessing for same-sex unions in their dioceses ... and
2. confirm that ... a candidate for episcopal orders living in a same-sex union shall not receive the necessary consent,
unless some new consensus on these matters emerges across the Communion"
Should these "reassurances" not be forthcoming, "the relationship between The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a whole remains damaged at best, and this has consequences for the full participation of the Church in the life of the Communion."
And it would seem that this document was also signed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori (see photo with Rowan Williams) and by Nigerian hard-liner Archbishop Peter Akinola. In explanation of their decision, the primates stated: "At the heart of our tensions is the belief that The Episcopal Church has departed from the standard of teaching on human sexuality accepted by the Communion in the Lambeth Resolution 1.10" (which set a biblical standard on the issue).
In effect, The Episcopal Church is given until September 30th, 2007 to:
"1. make an unequivocal common covenant that the bishops will not authorise any Rite of Blessing for same-sex unions in their dioceses ... and
2. confirm that ... a candidate for episcopal orders living in a same-sex union shall not receive the necessary consent,
unless some new consensus on these matters emerges across the Communion"
Should these "reassurances" not be forthcoming, "the relationship between The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a whole remains damaged at best, and this has consequences for the full participation of the Church in the life of the Communion."
And it would seem that this document was also signed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori (see photo with Rowan Williams) and by Nigerian hard-liner Archbishop Peter Akinola. In explanation of their decision, the primates stated: "At the heart of our tensions is the belief that The Episcopal Church has departed from the standard of teaching on human sexuality accepted by the Communion in the Lambeth Resolution 1.10" (which set a biblical standard on the issue).
So, to put it succinctly, either toe the line or you'll be booted out.
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