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Subject: Lorna Ashworth's Church of England motion supporting the ACNA
(Anglican Church in North America) which overwhelmingly passed (for 309,
against 69, abstentions 17) Lorna Ashworth's motion on ACNA
Posted
on February 12, 2010
Text of lay Synod member Lorna Ashworth's speech proposing
her motion
ACNA Private Members Motion "That this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in
communion with the Anglican Church of North America" Good afternoon members of synod and guests I shared the other night that I once jumped out of an airplane, and that
my parachute didn't open all the way. You will have gathered by now that I
survived. It's funny how that memory began to resurface as the time for this
debate drew closer… but like with that jump… I think I will survive. I have heard that some are wondering what secret, hidden agenda there is
underlying this private members motion. I am sorry to disappoint, but there
isn't any. There isn't any hidden agenda and I hope that I can make it as clear
as possible as to why I chose to table this motion. The first reason is this; why not? Why wouldn't we take this opportunity to stand by and affirm our brothers
and sisters in Christ who are seeking to practice, faithfully, historical /
biblical Anglicanism (as has been practiced for hundreds of years), who have
not diverted from the doctrines, creeds and formularies of the world wide
Anglican Communion, who have, like others, been getting on with the mission of
the Church. It would seem obvious at this point to stop and simply ask why the debate?
What's the problem if they are just doing what Anglicans do? Let me put it to you this way. It was half a lifetime ago that I was
sitting in a presentation by a visiting speaker at the theological college I
was attending in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. I was not really paying
attention and was a bit distracted. I remember this so well because about a
year or so later I read a book called, Knowing God by J.I. Packer and realised
that the visiting speaker had been that man. I was gutted. I had missed the
opportunity to learn from his humility, godliness and wisdom in person;
something I have sought to rectify by reading his books as so many other
thousands have also done around the world. Packer has been an honorary assistant minister for over two decades in the
largest Anglican Church in Canada called St Johns Shaughnessy, Vancouver. On
February 13 2008 the congregation met and voted 475-11 with 9 abstentions to
accept the episcopal oversight of Bishop Donald Harvey. They and many other churches in Canada and in the United States have
sought alternative oversight in order to continue to be historical / biblical
Anglicans and in order to remain in communion with the rest of the world wide
Anglican communion. The provinces to which ACNA members once belonged have strayed from the
fundamental core teaching of the Anglican church. They have either rejected the
uniqueness of Christ, or they have questioned it; the same with Christ's virgin
birth, and his physical, literal death and resurrection, as providing the only
means of salvation for those outside the Kingdom of God. Scripture is not seen
as the authoritative Word of God to His people, and the biblical standard of
marriage not upheld. This unrest in the communion has not been
sprung upon us. There have been many meetings of leaders and panels and many
statements issued; one of which came on 15th Oct 2003 from Lambeth Palace after
a meeting of worldwide church leaders. Quote “actions in New Westminster and in
the Episcopal Church (USA) do not express the mind of our Communion as a whole,
and these decisions jeopardize our sacramental fellowship with each other.” Earlier in 2003 the Bishop of Yukon, Terrance Buckle offered alternative
oversight to parishes in New Westminster after the diocese with its bishop,
Michael Ingham, authorised same sex blessings and showed no signs of honouring
the request for moratoria. Bishop Buckle was threatened with disciplinary
action if he intervened. Then on Sept 19th, 2003, the Metropoliton of British
Columbia, David Crawley, speaking about Bishop Terrance Buckle said, “Many of
us are deeply grieved and embarrassed that a bishop, who has sworn an oath to
maintain order in the life of the church, is himself the author of disorder.”
Surely I cannot be the only one who sees the irony of this statement? On 28 February 2008, days after the parish vote at St. John's, Dr. Packer
together with the other clergy at St. John's were served with a Notice of
Presumption of Abandonment of the Exercise of the Ministry under Canon 19 and
the notice is based on the following facts: 1. that he has publicly renounced the doctrine and discipline of the
Anglican Church of Canada; and More irony. Many of us fail to see how faithful Anglicans like Dr. Packer have
publicly renounced the doctrine of the church? We fail to see how being a
practicing Anglican outside the jurisdiction of the ACoC constitutes another
religious body? Could it be that Packer and others like him have become doctrinally
delinquent? On the issue of discipline… Those who would elevate the infringement of
order, made to preserve doctrine, to the same level as violations of doctrine
itself – are not elevating order but dumbing down doctrine. The question begins to surface, who is it that is causing division? Those who
remain unchanged in their doctrine and practice as Anglicans? Or a small
minority within the world wide Anglican Communion who are imposing doctrinal
innovation and not allowing space for traditionalists to remain. On 13th July,
2009 in the Washington Times, the Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori
is reported as reminding the Church of England that "schism is not a
Christian act." I would agree. The second reason I chose to table this motion is that I would like synod
to be able to express its own mind on this subject. The whole point of Private
Members Motions is to bring matters of concern to this gathering for discussion
and debate. Most lay members, like myself, have little understanding of the technical
‘ins' and ‘outs' of canon law with its uses or misuses. But as a lay person, I can see very clearly that there is a problem. Men & women, clergy and lay had been left uncertain as to where they
belonged in the Anglican family. They now however have come together, with the support of many other
Anglican provinces to form ACNA. They once again have a home. This motion is not about the formal procedures of entering into
institutional communion. I am very happy that those processes take their own
proper course. I fully understand that certain aspects of church life are matters for
bishops and archbishops. I have no intention of trespassing there. But I would
remind synod that this elected body did have a role in the process of entering
into communion with: The Church of North India, the Church of Pakistan and the Church of
Bangladesh after consulting the dioceses in 1970-71. In 1994-95, it did the
same with regard to the Lutheran Porvoo Churches. In 1974, Synod also
sanctioned communion with the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. Synod, this is our opportunity to affirm others who believe what we
believe as Anglicans. To affirm that we recognise in them the marks and life of
a faithful Anglican church. In closing: We have been debating mission shaped church and will be
discussing fresh expressions of church in our commitment to make the good news
of Jesus and His kingdom known. The Anglican Church in North America, has set itself the goal of planning
1000 churches in 5 years. They have already established 37 new congregations among
those who are un-churched in North America. Oh, that our vision would be that
great, that detailed and that practical. They have set themselves a bold
target. They might miss it… but let us not stand by as mere observers. Let us
offer what we can. Our support as synod for them. We share the same gospel of the same Lord Jesus, according to the same
tradition that has shaped us all. Thank you Synod 2) Video by Anglican TV of the ACNA Debate at the Church of England Synod a) http://www.blip.tv/file/3204661 (Part 1) b) http://www.blip.tv/file/3205029 (Part
2) 3) http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/?p=22914 Anglican Church of North America a
member of Anglican family says Church of England General Synod The General
Synod of the Church of England passed the following motion on Wednesday
February 10: That this Synod, aware
of the distress caused by recent divisions within the Anglican churches of the
United States of America and Canada a) recognise and
affirm the desire of those who have formed the Anglican Church in North America
to remain within the Anglican family b) acknowledge that
this aspiration, in respect both of relations with the Church of England and
membership of the Anglican Communion, raises issues which the relevant
authorities of each need to explore further; and c) invite the
Archbishops to report further to the Synod in 2011 Votes for 309, against
69, abstentions 17 Press conference http://www.anglicantv.org/content/coe-2010-acna-press-conference Audio of debate http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsfeb100210pm.html Lorna
Ashworth's opening speech here ACNA website here
TEC Episcopal News Service Report here Update:
A motion that this Synod a) express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the
Anglican Church in North America b) recognise and affirm the desire of those who have formed the Anglican
Church in North America to remain within the Anglican family c) acknowledge that this aspiration, in respect both of relations with the
Church of England and membership of the Anglican Communion, raises issues which
the relevant authorities of each need to explore further; and d) invite the Archbishops to report further to the Synod in 2011 which incorporated Lorna Ashworth's amendment was lost by 223 votes to 166
“through the doors” after the electronic voting system failed. The Bishops of
Winchester and Chichester spoke and voted in favour of this addition to Lorna
Ashworth's motion and the Archbishop of York voted in favour of it. Two
motions to pass to next business and to adjourn the debate were lost. 4) http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=12081 Posted
by David
Virtue on 2010/2/11 7:20:00
ACNA Recognized in Spirited Debate by Church
of England Synod |
