The Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, gave an address to a clergy gathering on the 8th of May 2007 on the Anglican Communion.
You can down load it as a PDF file by clicking here.

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION
A statement by the St John’s Wynberg, Parish Council

(Note: Christ Church Kenilworth is one of 6 churches in the Parish of St John’s Wynberg)

The Parish Council of St Parish Wynberg views the developments in the Anglican Communion with grave concern and asks for special prayer for our church and our leaders at this time.

The step taken by the Episcopal Church of the United States (ECUSA) in consenting to the election of a bishop living in a committed same-sex relationship and, together with the Anglican Church in Canada, permitting Rites of Blessing for same-sex unions, both of which are not acceptable to the majority of the Communion, has torn the fabric of the Anglican Communion apart. When both ECUSA and the Canadian Church refused to accede to both the Windsor Reports and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s request for a moratorium on these practices, they deliberately broke fellowship with the Anglican Communion. The fact that the Archbishops can no longer share in Holy Communion with one another is evidence of the brokenness of the Anglican Communion.

It needs to be recognised that issues of human sexuality are but the anvil on which far deeper issues of biblical authority, faithful fellowship, issues of power, and, not least, holding fast to recognised beliefs and doctrines of the historic faith, are being hammered out. We believe that what is at stake is the orthodox Christian faith which the Parish of St John’s Wynberg has affirmed and upheld since its inception. Love and compassionate care for all God’s people is at the heart of that faith. There is no place for homophobia, nor according to those with whom we disagree, anything other than respect.

As the Parish of St John’s we have over recent years had a closer relationship with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) and in particular with the Diocese of Cape Town, with whom we are linked by a formal Declaration of Association. Indeed we affirmed the Declaration of Association last year on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its signing at a special service presided over by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane.

The reality is that we are witnessing the division of the Anglican Church as we have known it. Schism is a serious matter and is contrary to Jesus’s prayer for the Church in John 17. It should be undertaken only as a last resort with due recognition of our own sinfulness and limited understanding, and after prayerful and careful discernment of the mind of the Lord in this matter.

We are concerned about the future stance of the ACSA and the Diocese on these matters. We will use our voice to influence decisions that are made on these and related matters as we can. We want you, the members of the Parish, to know that we remain firmly committed to upholding the orthodox Christian faith upon which this Parish was founded.

Please keep in your special prayers the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams; our Archbishop, Njongonkulu Ndungane; our Bishop, Garth Counsel, as well as us, your Clergy and Lay Leaders in this Parish.

The Parish Council of St John the Evangelist, Wynberg
27th February 2007

Duncan McLea wrote the following in his email letter “Duncan’s Diary” on the 28th of February…

“Many have been watching developments at the meeting of Anglican Primates (Archbishops and Presiding Bishops who head the Anglican Provinces around the world) in Tanzania this month. I have put the official Communique that was issued after the meeting as well some articles and comments that have followed on our website.

I have no doubt we are witnessing a the division of the Anglican Church as we have known it. For some this may be no big deal. God is bigger than Anglican Church! I agree, but God has chosen to work through his Church, and the Anglican Church is part of it and has been used over many centuries to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost.

Some may feel – Well division is long over. Get on with it. It is not that easy. Schism like divorce is a last resort when all attempts at holding together have failed. And when that step is taken it does not end relationship, it just changes the status of the relationship. A divorced couple still have to relate, especially if they have had children.

For us facing this divorce in the Anglican Communion the test of our Christian love and character will be in the way we treat and accord respect to those with whom we disagree. I pray for grace upon grace for all Anglicans as we go through this testing and painful period of transition. May we not be lacking in courage, integrity, love and the grace to honour and respect those with whom we disagree.

Last night the Parish Council issued a statement (see above) in this regard.

To read the Communique from the Primates meeting in Tanzania released on 19th of February click here.

Anglican Mainstream Statement
on the Outcome of the Primates’ Meeting at Dar es Salaam in February 2007

We thank God for this unanimous Communique.

We agree with Archbishop Orombi’s assessment that this Primates meeting has not solved the current crisis in the Anglican Communion but has clarified the steps needed for trust to be restored, healing to take place, and for our full bonds of affection to once again flourish.

We welcome, in particular,

- the clear teaching on issues of marriage and sexuality [paragraph 11], based on Holy Scripture and set out in Lambeth 1:10.

- the clear evaluation that ECUSA/TEC has departed from that clear standard of teaching [paragraph 17] and that the General Convention’s response to the Windsor Report was inadequate.

- the clear conclusion that ECUSA/TEC’s relationships with the Communion have yet to be mended [paragraph 24].

- that the need for urgency is recognised (paragraphs 31-33 and Key Recommendations) and that a clear deadline for a satisfactory response from the Episcopal Church has been set.

- the clear commitment of the Archbishops from the Global South to stand by their promise not to abandon orthodox congregations in TEC/ECUSA until there is truly a safe and Biblically faithful ecclesial entity in America.

- the appeal for TEC to suspend all actions in law with regard to property disputes.

We note that

- the Communion remains broken and divided and the Communique does not solve the current crisis but sets out the first steps which have still to be taken to achieve reconciliation.

- the Episcopal Church has been asked for reassurances. The response requested from the Episcopal Church needs to be expressed in clear and unambiguous language.

- other Churches are similarly placed (paragraph 36) as Archbishop Hutchinson has made clear.

We are concerned that

- the area of reassurance sought from the Episcopal Church should not be interpreted too narrowly. The stated beliefs of the Presiding Bishop regarding Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, radical liturgical revision that affects belief in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, other related resolutions at General Convention such as support for gay marriage and the actions of the Episcopal Church mean that the focus should not be placed too narrowly on precise words, but on the spirit and actions that those words represent.

- there are references in the Communique to ‘consensus’ and ‘majority’. Christian faith and practice are rooted in biblical teaching and the Church’s understanding, since its earliest days, of this biblical teaching. ‘Consensus’ and ‘majority’ describe modes of agreement. They cannot be definitive terms for expressing the faith once delivered to the saints, nor for expressing the mind of the Anglican Communion and its commitment to that faith.

- the process to date has been marked by delays and prevarication. Although a deadline for the Episcopal Church’s response has been set, the process for assessing that response is not stated and the consequences if it is judged to have fallen short of what is required are not clearly specified.

- in all dioceses arrangements should continue to be made for ministry to homosexual persons, including their care and support, that is scripturally based and pastorally sensitive. To this end Anglican Mainstream is sponsoring with others a two-day conference later this year to contribute to the Listening Process.

We pledge

- continued support for biblically orthodox, faithful Anglican congregations, clergy and dioceses in North America (both within and outside TEC), Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa and the British Isles, who continue to face irregular action by bishops, for example in ordaining active homosexual persons, failing to exercise proper discipline and, in some cases, harassing orthodox churches and ministry.

- to pray for all the Archbishops as they lead the Communion and exercise their calling to pastor and lead Christ’s flock, as we seek to fulfil the Great Commission to proclaim His Gospel and build His Kingdom.

- to pray particularly for Archbishop Rowan Williams in his immensely difficult tasks in leadership of a Communion whose fabric has been torn at the deepest level.

Dr Philip Giddings, Convenor
Canon Dr Chris Sugden, Executive Secretary
For Anglican Mainstream

0118-954-3892
01865-883388
23 February 2007

TEC (The Episcopal Church of the USA) put on notice

Monday, 19 February 2007 from Ruth Gledhill in London Times

There has been a surprising, late-night development from Tanzania. I had speculated that the softness so far towards TEC augured a tough line in the Covenant and Communique, but even I did not expect anything quite so hard-line.

The US Episcopal Church has been given seven months to change its ways or face being kicked out of the Anglican Communion. In an unexpectedly hard-hitting set of recommendations, Primates of the Anglican Communion demanded an unequivocal common covenant under which dioceses in The Episcopal Church agree not to authorise same-sex blessings.

They also demanded that no more gay men or women in active relationships with a person of the same sex be consecrated bishop.

The recommendations are so severe in demanding proper repentance and a turning back from The Episcopal Church that even arch-conservative Peter Akinola of Nigeria was prepared to sign up. Bishop Jefferts Schori also signed it, but there will be many in The Episcopal Church who will be
angry at what they see as a sell-out of their liberal ideals.
The Primates further demanded that The Episcopal Church cease the costly litigations it has begun against traditionalist parishes seeking to leave the oversight of a liberal bishop.They pledged to set up a new Pastoral Council that will take responsibility for securing traditional oversight for those who cannot accept the ministry of their bishop or of Bishop Jefferts Schori, a liberal on other doctrinal issues besides human sexuality.

In a key passage, the communique states: 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 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 [which set a Biblical standard on the issue] by consenting to the episcopal election of a candidate living in a committed same-sex relationship, and by permitting Rites of Blessing for same-sex unions. The episcopal ministry of a person living in a same-sex relationship is not acceptable to the majority of the Communion.

The bishops of the Episcopal Church have been given until September 30 to respond. If they refuse to comply, action is certain to be taken to suspend in some way the province’s membership of the central councils of the Communion. It would be doubly embarrassing for the province given that their Primate, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, was also elected onto the Standing Committee of the Primates, a highly-prestigious seat which places her at the right hand of the Archbishop of Canterbury and at the centre of the structures of power in the Anglican Church.

The communique says: If the reassurances requested of the House of Bishops cannot in good conscience be given, 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.

Earlier yesterday, it appeared as though The Episcopal Church would escape discipline.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, told a press conference in Dar es Salaam: There are two factors we need to take seriously. The response of the episcopal church represents a willingness to engage with the Communion and the cost of doing so. How does the communion best engage with that willingness and desire to remain with the Communion?

He said a settlement had to be worked out in the US. If in good consciences the assurances cannot be given it has to affect their relationship with the organs of Communion.

Given its importance, I’ve decided to post the whole thing here, although I expect it will soon be available elsewhere as well. The meat is paragraph 17 and the Recommendations in the schedule at the end.

The following statement was posted on the Anglican Church in Nigeria’s wedbsite on Saturday 17th February explaining why some Archbishops did not share in Holy Communion.

SITTING AT THE LORD’S TABLE:
Primates explain absence at Holy Eucharist CONN/100207

A number of the Global South Primates have not shared in the Holy Eucharist today with their fellow primates. They include Abp. Peter Akinola, Abp John Chew, Abp. Benjamin Nzimbi, Abp Justice Akrofi, Abp. Henry Orombi, Abp. Gregory Venables, and Abp. Emmanuel Kolini. They represent more than 30 million faithful Anglicans. They have released this statement:
We each take the celebration of the Holy Eucharist very seriously. This deliberate action is a poignant reminder of the brokenness of the Anglican Communion. It makes clear that the torn fabric of the Church has been torn further. It is a consequence of the decision taken by our provinces to declare that our relationship with The Episcopal Church is either broken or severely impaired.

Scripture teaches that before coming to sit with one another at the Lord’s Table we must be reconciled. (Matthew 5:23-26 and 1 Corinthians 11:27-29) We have made repeated calls for repentance by The Episcopal Church and its leadership with no success. We continue to pray for a change of heart. We are unable to come to the Holy Table with the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church because to do so would be a violation of Scriptural teaching and the traditional Anglican understanding, Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways; Draw near with faith.
(Book of Common Prayer)

This is a painful decision for us and also for our host and brother, the Most Revered Donald Mtetemela. He understands our painful dilemma and accepts our decision. Pray for the Church.

Friday, February 16, 2007
White Sands Hotel, Jangwani Beach, Tanzania

http://www.anglican-nig.org/GSPrimates_in_Tanzania.htm

For more background click here to read a report from the Anglican Church News Service.