Unlike Tuesday, all the Primates have turned up for Evensong today:
Read more at Anglican Ink:
Gathered inside the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral the archbishops and moderators of the Anglican Communion, accompanied by translators, and a few aides, have weathered three days of intense conversation about the shape and future of the church. As of the lunch break on the third day, no one has left and no one has been ejected. The conservatives primates are still at the negotiating table and neither the Episcopal Church nor the Anglican Church in North America’s primates have been shown the door…….
An unscientific headcount would shift the ratio to 30 conservatives, 6 liberals and 8 uncommitted — Archbishop Welby’s support for the GAFCON/Global South position having shortened the odds for the conservatives. One primate in the undecided column a the start of the meeting emailed his bishops on Tuesday night saying that he was on the side now battling against the Americans and Canadians. (What does that tell us — that there is a shift of positions within the meeting as the undecideds choose sides — and that there is a battle underway).
The disquiet that arose at the close of the second day came in part from the conservatives disappointed that Archbishop Welby had withdrawn his support — substituting management culture for ecclesial leadership. Some got off the fence as a result of the archbishop’s intervention — others were angered by what they saw as his lack of resolve.
One insider told AI that the longer the meeting lasted, the stronger would be the final communique in favor of the conservative position. The conservatives did not see the need to leave after the first two days because they momentum of the meeting appeared to them to be in their favor. If they walked out, it was because Archbishop Welby had flatly denied their request to discipline the Americans and Canadians. The Americans and Canadians had not left the meeting because the conservatives had not yet achieved their goal.
The question facing the primates on Wednesday would be whether Archbishop Welby would get out of the way or lead.
What comes to mind in any potential “discipline” against TEC and the ACoC, is another example of “discipline” in 2010 when Rowan Williams asked Katharine Jefferts-Schori to step down from the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and to absent herself from the next Primates’ Meeting. Once the placating effects of the ritual humiliation were complete, all was forgotten and forgiven, nothing changed and Jefferts-Schori was attending all meetings as if nothing had happened.
I do hope that no one is deceived by a similar empty gesture from Welby.
More from Peter Ould:
If Monday’s Evensong was the Spirit led Perfect Storm of Scripture and Tuesday’s was the despondent depths, tonight’s was the subdued but significant. With barely a minute to go there were the same number of Primates as yesterday and then suddenly Foley Beach joined them and sat down. The number of Primates in the Quire then doubled as in the remaining leaders processed in full choir robes, liberals and conservatives alike.
Clearly unity has been achieved for the moment and the Cathedral listened to Amos 3 teach us of punishment for sin and the saving of a remnant, and 1 Corinthians 2 speak of the power of proclaiming Christ crucified.
From conversation and prayer afterwards I discerned that the conservative Primates have neither caved in nor achieved their goals. I’m sure many will be frustrated by this, but we are not in the room and we do not know the dynamics at play.
Continue to pray for God to be glorified. There are two more days to go and tonight’s full house is clear evidence that our LORD is in the business of miracles. Pray also for the Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife (who is here supporting him) – the emotional and spiritual strain must be enormous.
Thanks for keeping us abreast of the unfolding situation.
I note the references made to “liberals” vs. “conservatives” and such references are totally inaccurate. The correct terminology is “apostasy” vs.”orthodoxy”. One can indeed by liberal or conservative in worship style but there is only ONE proper standard of theology and belief and that is orthodoxy. Using the terms of liberal or conservative plays into the hand of the apostates. With the reports to date I see no positive action by the ABC demanding that the apostates repent and turn to the Gospel. Unless that happens the Primates meeting can only be described either as a farce or a renewed attempt to have the orthodox primates accept the apostates. Considering the fact that Rowan Williams consulted with Michael Ingham and another apostate about a year ago would cause anyone to believe that he is not willing to make a stand for the Gospel or simply does not want to offend the civil government.
When is the schism happening ?…have they signed the papers?..do we still have to support them financially?
Judging by the two comments you have left here, you seem to have fallen into the trap of assuming that what motivates liberals – money, sex, prestige and power – also motivates conservatives. It doesn’t.