March 2010 Newsletter (abridged)
Rod Thomas, Chairman of Reform, writes:
A Critical Time
There is a good deal of uneasiness in the church, not least within the House of Bishops, about the prospect of introducing legislation which could alienate so many parishes. The Archbishop of Canterbury voiced this in his address to the February General Synod, when he effectively said that nobody should so pursue their claim to have their rights recognised that they undermine the rights of others in a way that produces injustice. “We need,” he said, “to look for a resolution that allows some measure of continuing dignity and indeed liberty to all – in something like their own terms.”
We must continue to make our case. The letter we sent to the House of Bishops and the General Synod as a whole, signed by 50 incumbents, was a start. To view the letter click here. It generated a substantial amount of publicity and we will now be seeking further signatures in order to demonstrate the scale of the problem before the House of Bishops meets in May.
ACNA
General Synod ‘recognised and affirmed’ the desire of ACNA churches to continue as Anglicans. ACNA churches are those who have separated from TEC (The Episcopal Church of the USA) both over the consecration of actively gay clergy and also over questions about TEC’s commitment to the uniqueness of Christ. It would be good if churches in this country were able to start forming links with ACNA churches beginning perhaps by inviting clergy over here as guest preachers. If you would like to play a part in this, please contact the Reform office.