Gomez, left, and Daniel
Billy Hall, Contributor
FOR THE second time within living memory the worldwide fellowship of Anglican Churches is facing an issue that threatens to split the unity with diversity that makes it unique among churches. Can Anglican Church unity survive this one?
Many observers thought the issue of the ordination of women would have split its hull on the sea of Faith, but somehow, despite continuing strong winds and choppy seas, the weather-beaten Anglican vessel sails on, intact. However, a new storm has suddenly arisen - a hurricane - and this one seems even worse, for it is endangering the very bottom of the ecclesiastical ship, threatening to split, if not splinter it.
The new hurricane winds are still blowing, as reaction continues, days after the historic event of only a few days ago. The buzz of concern is the voting that approved the Rev. Canon Gene V. Robinson, an avowed, unrepentant homosexual, to be fit for consecration to the high and holy office of Bishop in the New Hampshire Episcopal Church of the USA. The procedures followed were orthodox, but the decision was not. There are many elsewhere who question whether the Holy Spirit was allowed to have a say, speaking through the Bible.
ABOMINATION
In the Bible, homosexuality or same sex relations is consistently presented as an abomination and never as an orientation. Scriptural language is always strong and denunciatory, as well as plain. Whether in the Judaic Scriptures of the Old Testament, particularly the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, or the Christian New Testament, homosexuality is condemned as not only sin, but also perverse sin.
The Apostle Paul is explicit about the unnatural character of the sin, declaring that it originates from "dishonourable passions". He speaks of homosexual relations among women as involving those who exchange "natural relations for unnatural" and adds concerning the men, that they do the same, giving up their "natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameful acts with men" (Romans 1: 26-27).Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul thundered authoritatively that homosexuals "will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (I Cor. 6: 9-10).
Furthermore, the Apostle says that a Bishop must be a model Christian. Consequently, particular criteria are stipulated regarding his right for holding office. His high moral qualifications are listed in detail (Acts 20: 17-28;I Tim 3:2; and Titus 1: 5-7).
SCRIPTURE
Bishop-elect Robinson says that in his view "gay sex does not violate Scripture" and that he looks forward to sharing faith with his "fellow homosexual brothers and lesbian sisters".
He said he "values the diversity within the Episcopal Church", and that he hoped his critics "would do so too, and not leave the Church".
But already, says an Associated Press (AP) report, "Conservative opponents of the first openly gay Episcopal Bishop have protested by boycotting legislative sessions, turning in their convention credentials and dropping to their knees in prayer as one of their leaders denounced his election".
In Jamaica, Anglican Bishop of Mandeville, Rt. Rev. Harold Daniel, in response to the issue, told the Gleaner: "The Anglican Church has weathered many heavy storms". "Therefore", he added, " I hope it can survive this crisis too". He explained the peculiar character of the Anglican Communion, which he said, "encourages consensus and collegiate decision-making, in the tradition of the Jerusalem Council of Acts chapter 15, rather than in any single person or particular group taking unilateral action".
Lord Bishop Alfred Reid, who is off the island at this time, says Bishop Daniel, stands on the principled position of abiding with the decision of the worldwide consensus reached at the London Lambeth Conference of 1998. At that Conference, the firm decision was made that the Anglican Church "rejects homosexual practice as incompatible with Scrip-ture".
The vote on the homosexual issue at the 1998 Lambeth Conference was 526 against, and 70 for, with 45 bishops abstaining.
Anglicanism, in contrast to Roman Catholicism, is not Papal. In 1534 the English King Henry VIII broke relations with Papal Rome, thereby originating the Anglican Church. Therefore, there is no single Bishop in the Anglican Church that can speak with Papal or ex cathedra authority.
Worldwide, Archbishops head each of the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion or Fellowship of churches. In the Caribbean, the Rt. Rev Drexel Gomez of the Bahamas is the Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies, of which Jamaica and the Cayman Islands constitute a single diocese, headed by Archbishop Alfred Reid.
All 38 Provincial Bishops rule independently and share power equally. However, they confer annually, and every 10 years they meet, along with all other bishops in their dioceses, at Lambeth in England.
NO LEGAL BASIS
Their unity has no legal basis, and decisions made are not binding. The Book of Common Prayer ties their worship, allowing nevertheless scope for creativity and so cultural adaptation, for liturgical expression.
The number of Anglicans worldwide differs, dependent on sources, and on how the counting is done. For example, in Britain, where there are on the parish church records 27 million baptised as infants, the actual number of communicant members is perhaps no more than three million.
This significant reduction makes the worldwide figure more in the region of 57 million, which is considerably less than the figures of 70 million and even 80 million often quoted.
America's version of the Anglican Church is the Episcopal Church of the US, with approximately 2.3 million members. The single country with the greatest number of Anglicans today is Nigeria, with 17 million members. In fact, Nigeria has more Anglicans than may be found in the USA, Canada and the UK combined.
FRAMEWORK
The framework of Anglican unity lies in a willingness to share a few essentials, specifically, as identified at the 1888 Lambeth Conference:
The Bible as the ultimate standard of Faith
The Apostles and Nicene Creeds as Statements of Faith
The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as the principal channels of grace
The Episcopalian system of rule for the defence of the Faith and OrderTo those four may be added willingness to be guided in controversial polity by the voting on issues at the Lambeth Conference, held every ten years.
It is this 'unofficial' fourth or polity aspect that is now the sensitive issue. The US members, or more specifically the New Hampshire Anglicans have breached the loose, time-honoured fellowship agreement.
The African Anglicans are particularly incensed, for within weeks, first in England, then in the USA, white European brethren are giving the impression they are no longer interested in being restrained by the honour principle that has prevailed to keep the unity of the Church.
Bishop Harold Daniel wonders whether this is a new trend arising from having a single super power. He raises questions about the propriety of such action in the world's politics, much more in the church's policies. He raises, therefore, questions of whether this is a trend representing and reflecting the spirit of the age. And so he asks, Did not the USA and Britain just by-pass the United Nations and get involved in a war in the Middle East?
African Anglicans have been reacting strongly to the U.S. gay Bishop development. Marc Lacey, writing in the New York Times, says the African Bishops are predicting that if the decision is not overturned, they foresee global schism in the Anglican Communion.
SCHISM THREAT
The schism threat is intimidating, based on how strongly the Africans feel on the issue. For example, Lacey reports the Bishop of east Nairobi, as saying that homosexuality is in every way unacceptable. "It's wrong. It's against the Bible. How can we go against the Bible? Two men being joined is contrary to nature and contrary to the Bible "The New York Times writer also quotes a Malaysian Bishop as saying, "Practising homosexuality is culturally and legally not acceptable here". The powerful African Bishop of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Peter Akinola has been outspoken about the English appointment of Canon Jeffrey John, and has called for severing of relations between his church and those dioceses that sanction homosexuality.
One side effect, of course, will be financial, but Bishop Akinola is prepared to pay the price of sacrifice. He is reported to have recently circulated a Pastoral Letter, explaining the hardships to be faced, and encouraging a state of readiness to extend help to other African dioceses, which would be seriously hurt financially, for they are still much dependent on Western aid.
Within North America, should splits occur, one terrible spin-off effect could be legal battles about property. Ameri-cans are notoriously litigious and this aspect could exacerbate the issue beyond whatever is imagined now. If there is a split, will disillusioned and disenchanted Anglicans quietly merge into the many other churches, or will they spread fissiparously, splitting and splitting and splintering?
Or, will many Anglicans join the Roman Catholic Church? Perhaps in normal times, but with so many Catholic priests being exposed for homosexual misconduct, that option seems hardly likely at this time.
OPTION
Standing back from it all, what will the world think of the church? Will the church lose its moral authority? Can other sections of the church afford to stand back and say "It's all about them, not us"? Or, will all churches be affected, as more and more people leave in disappointment and even disgust? One option is for more and more individuals to retreat into their homes and themselves, worshipping but not going to any church? There are Bible students who believe this is the prophesied option, for at the return of Christ the question is posed, "Will He find faith on the earth?"
This view sees a church digitised, as individual people are visited by Christ, who knocks at their door, asking lovingly to be 'let in' (Rev. 3:17).The mind boggles with the new possibilities, yet, the option must not be ruled out too quickly that the Anglican Church will survive this tempestuous hurricane that threatens to split the ecclesiastical ship at rock bottom.
Billy Hall is a journalist and evangelist of over 40 years experience.
