Reform does not issue many Press Releases in a year - normally only four or five.
PRESS RELEASE FROM REFORM
‘OUTRAGEOUS BISHOPS’ STATEMENT ON CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS MUST NOW PROVOKE ACTION’ SAYS REFORM
The Pastoral Statement issued by the House of Bishops on the implications for the church of the Civil Partnership Act (25th July) is an outrage, Reform members heard at their National Conference, meeting this week (31st October – 2nd November 2005). The language of outrage had been used by Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria in condemning the ‘Pastoral Statement’ and his views were endorsed in a conference resolution.
Members heard that during the Parliamentary debates on the Civil Partnerships Bill, it had become clear that the Government believed that the provisions of the Bill were designed for sexually active homosexual couples. It was outrageous therefore that the Bishops had not said that such partnerships would be incompatible with Holy Orders as had the Roman Catholic church. It was also outrageous that the Bishops had advised clergy not to seek assurances about their relationship from couples seeking baptism, confirmation or admission to communion. To overlook actions that the Bible describes as sinful, would render such services (where participants explicitly acknowledge and repent of their sins) meaningless. Such advice dishonoured God and no Bible-believing clergyman could possibly follow it.
The advice on Civil Partnerships brought to a head a series of developments within the Church of England which demonstrated that the current crisis over human sexuality was every bit as serious here as in the churches of the USA and Canada. The conference voted to endorse resolutions which were designed not simply to support, but also to promote ‘principled irregular action’ where diocesan bishops pursue or allow unbiblical doctrinal innovations, particularly in the area of sexuality. One of these resolutions commits the Reform network to re-shape its regional organisation to enable it better to promote ‘irregular action’. A further series of resolutions also commits Reform to setting up an additional method for encouraging and selecting new ordinands for ordained ministry.
The main speaker at the conference was Bishop Martin Morrison from the Church
of England in South Africa who highlighted the seriousness of the crisis facing
the Church of England and the growing threat to Christian ways of thinking more
generally
Other resolutions from this year’s conference express full support for
the Co-mission Initiative churches in their attempts to secure ordained ministry
in the Anglican tradition; promise support for the Diocese of Recife in Brazil
which has been victimised for opposing Gene Robinson’s consecration; request
clarification of what alternative routes to ordination exist for those ordinands
who are in impaired communion with their bishops; and emphasize the need to
make alternative provision for those who cannot in conscience accept women bishops.
The full texts of the conference resolutions are attached.
For Further Information
Contact:
David Banting (chairman): 01708 342080
Rod Thomas (press officer): 01752 402771(office) or 07906 331110 (mobile)
RESOLUTIONS FROM 2005 REFORM CONFERENCE
Encouragement of Principled Irregular Action
1. This conference acknowledges that the crisis facing the Anglican Communion is to be found in the Church of England as acutely as in ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada.(see para. 1 & 4 of ‘Reform in Every Diocese’)
2. This conference instructs the Council of Reform to encourage, help, and further partnership and action at the local level in accordance with the ‘Reform in Every Diocese’ paper.
The Formation of a Panel of Reference
1. The Council of Reform remains resolved to promote and support, wherever possible, the existing structures for selection and training of ordinands and others within the Church of England.
2. This conference see the Panel of Reference as set out in the paper as a positive step in encouraging new ordinands for the Church of God and instructs the Council to further the proposals.
3. This conference invites the Council to finalise the Selection Criteria for Ministry in the light of the conference discussion. 4. This conference asks the members of the Panel of Reference to be appointed in the light of the categories of people mentioned above.
Alternative Episcopal Oversight
In response to the ‘Panel of Reference’ and ‘Reform in Every Diocese’ paper this conference invites the Council to consider establishing an effective route to recognizably Anglican Ordination for ordinands who are in an impaired relationship with their Diocesan Bishop.
Support for the Diocese of Recife
This Conference commits itself to assisting Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti and his clergy in the ministry of the Diocese of Recife in the Southern Cone, by raising funds for clergy housing, salaries and seminary books,to replace funds that have been lost as a result of their principled stand against both the consecration of Gene Robinson and the Province of Brazil’s support for that consecration.
Women BishopsThis conference (while valuing women’s ministry) regards the proposal to introduce women bishops as inconsistent with Holy Scripture, but if the proposal goes ahead, believes that the provision for those who dissent must include the appointment of a significant number of dissenting bishops, chosen without regard to churchmanship by a new and permanent procedure, and presiding over fully independent dioceses covering the whole country.
Support for Co-Mission Initiative Churches
This conference expresses its full support or those involved in seeking to provide ordained ministry in accordance with the Anglican tradition in Co-Mission Initiative churches.
Civil Partnerships And The House Of Bishops’ Pastoral Statement
This conference agrees
a) with the response by Archbishop Peter Akinola, the Archbishop, Metropolitan
and Primate of All Nigeria, to the statement on Civil Partnerships issued by
the House of Bishops of the Church of England and his claim that "for the
Church of England to promote such a departure from historic teaching is outrageous";
[1] and
b) with the new confessional criterion for full communion in the Anglican Communion
decided by the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria on 14 September 2005,
when it deleted from its constitution all references to "communion with
the See of Canterbury" and added the following words:
"This Church shall be in full communion with all Anglican Churches, Dioceses
and Provinces that hold and maintain the Historic faith, Doctrine, Sacraments
and discipline of the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church as our Lord has
commanded in His holy word and as the same are received as taught in the Book
of Common Prayer and the ordinal of 1662 and in the Thirty-nine Articles of
Religion." [2] and
c) with the commitment of the Third Anglican Global South to South Encounter
of 25-30 October 2005 in Egypt with 103 delegates from 20 provinces in the Global
South and representing two-thirds of the Anglican Communion and expressed as
follows:
“to uphold the supreme authority of the Word of God and the doctrinal formularies
that have undergirded the Anglican Communion for over four and a half centuries.
Communion requires alignment with the will of God first and foremost, which
establishes our commonality with one another. Such expressions of the will of
God which Anglicans should hold in common are: one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Holy Scripture; apostolic teaching and practice; the historic Creeds of the
Christian Church; the Articles of Religion and the doctrinal tenets as contained
in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Holding truth and grace together by the power
of the Holy Spirit, we go forward as those entrusted “with the faith once
delivered” (Jude 3).”
It also urges
a) the Council to take appropriate action that is in accordance with the Archbishop's
response and the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria's decision; and
b) Reform clergy and laity to distance themselves from any members of the House
of Bishops who will not, in the words of the Archbishop, "renounce their
statement and declare their unqualified commitment to the historic faith, teaching
and practice of the Church".[1]
FOOTNOTES
[1] A Statement on the Church of England response to Civil Partnerships by the
Primate of All Nigeria.
I read with utter dismay the pastoral statement recently issued by the Church
of England House of Bishops with regard to the Civil Partnership Act scheduled
to come into force on 5 December 2005.
While I was pleased to note the reaffirmation of the Church's historic teaching
on both marriage and sexual intercourse, I was sorely distressed that these
words are not matched by corresponding actions.
The language of the Civil Partnerships Act makes it plain that what is being
proposed is same-sex marriage in everything but name. This is even acknowledged
in the statement. I find it incomprehensible therefore that the House of Bishops
would not find open participation in such 'marriages' to be repugnant to Holy
Scriptures and incompatible with Holy Orders.
The proposal that the bishops will extract a promise from clergy who register that there will be no sexual intimacy in these relationships is the height of hypocrisy. It is totally unworkable and it invites deception and ridicule. How on earth can this be honoured? For the Church of England to promote such a departure from historic teaching is outrageous.
I also note with alarm that the statement encourages the church to ask nothing of lay people who become registered same-sex partners before they are admitted to baptism, confirmation and communion. This not only dishonours the laity and the sacraments of the Church - it also makes it obvious that the bishops of the Church of England are proposing a deliberate change in the discipline of the church.
It seems clear the House of Bishops is determined to chart a course for the Church of England that brings further division at a time when we are still struggling with fragmentation and disunity within the Communion. Let it be known that it is not a path that we can follow. It is also a path that is clearly at odds with the mind of the rest of the Anglican Communion.
May I remind the Bishops of the Church of England that, when faced with similar decisions on the part of the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada, discipline was imposed. While I have great affection and respect for the historic role that the Church of England has played in all of our lives, no church can ignore the teaching of the Bible with impunity and no church is beyond discipline.
I call on the House of Bishops of the Church of England to renounce their statement
and declare their unqualified commitment to the historic faith, teaching and
practice of the Church. Failure to do so will only add to our current crisis.
I am, by this statement, asking my brother Primates, their bishops and all the
faithful in our Communion to remain calm in the face of this new provocation
as we look forward to our next meeting. I also call on all those who cherish
and uphold the integrity and sanctity of the Word of God to pray for our beloved
Church.
Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola CON, DD
[2] Press Release: CHURCH OF NIGERIA REDEFINES ANGLICAN COMMUNION
With a careful rewording of her constitution, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) redefined her relationship with all other Anglican Churches.
All former references to ‘communion with the see of Canterbury’ were deleted and replaced with another provision of communion with all Anglican Churches, Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the ‘Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church’.
Emphasis was also placed on the 1662 version of the Book of Common Prayer and the historic Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.The Constitutional change also allowed the Church to create Convocations and Chaplaincies of like-minded faithful outside Nigeria. This effectively gives legal teeth to the Convocation of Anglican Nigerians in Americas (CANA) formed to give a worshiping refuge to thousands in the USA who no longer feel welcomed to worship in the Liberal churches especially with the recent theological innovations encouraging practices which the Nigerians recognize as sin.
Excerpt of the minutes read:
‘At the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion holding
in Onitsha Diocese on the Niger on the 14th day of September, 2005, the Constitution
of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 2002 was amended as follows:
Chapter 1 Section 3
Chapter 1 Section 3 was amended by deleting sub-sections 1, 2, and 3, and replaced
with new section 3, thus.
“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) hereinafter called “The
Church of Nigeria” or “This Church” shall be in full communion
with all Anglican Churches Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the
Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic,
and Apostolic Church as the Lord has commanded in His holy word and as the same
are received as taught in the Book of Common Prayer and the ordinal of 1662
and in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.”
Chapter IX Section 39 (a) – (f)
Add a new sub-section (c) and re-number the section thus
“(c) to create convocations, chaplaincies of like-minded faithful outside
Nigeria and to appoint persons within or outside Nigeria to administer them
and the Primate shall give Episcopal Oversight
Chapter 16 Section 75
add a new sub-section 8 thus
“(8) Convocation shall mean non-geographic collection of Churches and Mission”.
And re-number the rest of the sub-section.
To ensure adequate care for the existing Convocation, the Episcopal Synod which
met on Wednesday after the Holy Communion Service set up an Advisory Committee
comprising eight bishops, one Priest, and the Registrar of the Church. The Members
are:
The Most Rev. Maxwell Anikwenwa - Dean and Archbishop Province of the Niger,
The Rt. Rev. Ikechi Nwosu - Bishop of Umuahia
The Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma - Bishop of Enugu
The Rt. Rev. Segun Okubadejo - Bishop of Ibadan-North
The Rt. Rev. Benjamin Kwashi - Bishop of Jos
The Rt. Rev. Caleb Maduoma - Bishop of Ideato
The Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi - Bishop of Lagos-west
Barrister Abraham Yisa - Registrar
Ven. Sola Igbari - The Director of Global Anglican Relations
They will initiate policy, and monitor implementation of the programmes of CANA
under the supervision of the Primate of All Nigeria.
The Rev. Canon AkinTunde Popoola, Director Communication