4 October 2015 A.D. PREMIERE RADIO--Justin Welby calls special meeting of worlds Anglican leaders
Busteed, Desmond. “Justin Welby
calls special meeting of worlds Anglican leaders.” Premier Radio. 16 Sept 2015. http://www.premierchristianradio.com/News/World/Justin-Welby-calls-special-meeting-of-world-s-Anglican-leaders. Accessed 4 Oct 2015.
Justin Welby calls special meeting of
world's Anglican leaders
Wed 16 Sep
2015
By Desmond
Busteed
The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on Anglican
Primates from across the Communion to gather for a special meeting to prevent
further divides over things marriage and ordination of gay priests.
Some expect Most Revd Justin Welby to propose the
creation of a two-tier Anglican Church, with Lambeth Palace comparing the
proposal to that of a married couple "moving into separate bedrooms",
instead of full scale divorce over the issue.
An Lambeth aide is also quoted as saying the
Archbishop doesn't want his successor “spending vast amounts of time trying to
keep people in the boat and never actually rowing it anywhere”.
The Archbishop believes successful discussions may
allow him to maintain relations both with the liberal churches of North
America, which recognise and encourage gay marriage, and the African churches,
led by Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria, who are agitating for the recriminalisation
of all homosexual activity in their countries.
Both will be able to call themselves
"Anglican" but there will no longer be any pretence that this
involves a common discipline or doctrine, according to the Guardian.
Archbishop Justin has written to all 37 Primates
inviting them to attend a special meeting from the 11-16 January 2016 in
Canterbury to reflect and pray together concerning the future of the Communion.
"The difference between our societies and
cultures, as well as the speed of cultural change in much of the global north,
tempts us to divide as Christians: when the command of scripture, the prayer of
Jesus, the tradition of the church and our theological understanding urges
unity," wrote Welby, the leader of the world's 80 million Anglicans.
But he said a 21st-century Anglican family
"must have space for deep disagreement, and even mutual criticism, so long
as we are faithful to the revelation of Jesus Christ, together."
The Bishop of Buckingham, Rt Revd Alan Wilson has
described the move as the 'next step' in Archbishop Justin's desire to move
discussions forward, following his personal meetings with all 37 Primates over
the past two years.
"There's never been any provision for any
coercion in the Anglican Communion. An attempt was made to set things up so
that there could, that flopped," said Bishop Alan.
"And now I think what Archbishop Justin is
quite wisely doing is saying 'well let's get everyone together and see where
they feel this leaves them and what they want to do about It." he added.
The agenda will be set by common agreement with all
Primates encouraged to send in contributions. It is also likely to include the
issues of religiously-motivated violence, the protection of children and
vulnerable adults and the environment.
Listen to the Bishop of Buckingham, Rt Revd Alan
Wilson speaking to Premier's Des Busteed:
(See URL for 2-minute radio interview.)
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