The Communion - Part 1

The Primates and choir in prayer on the first day of the meeting. (Bishop Curry is mid-way through the second row on the left). Photo Credit: Canterbury Cathedral

This Week, I've been thinking a lot about the future of the Anglican Communion. Doubtlessly this is because of the remarkable moment at which our global fellowship finds itself this week in particular. As some of you will already be aware, the thirty-eight primates (bishops leading national or multi-national provinces / groups of dioceses) of the Anglican Communion are meeting in Canterbury, England this week. Before them is a situation of extraordinary tension that has threatened for more than a decade to tear the entire Anglican Communion apart.

Driven largely by massive disagreements about homosexuality, theological doctrine, and church governance, several conservative provinces (primarily driven by the provinces of Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and a few others) have threatened to break communion with the Episcopal Church USA, Anglican Church of Canada and other liberal provinces. Around the globe, a sense of anxiety hangs in the air for Anglicans and Episcopalians, as this meeting may bring about the formal breaking of ties that threatens to tear asunder the centuries-old network of sister churches.

 Photo Credit:
Canterbury Cathedral

Amidst this stark and unquestionably tense situation comes the new Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, the newest of the thirty-eight bishops. Entering his first Primate's Meeting (which generally occurs every three to five years), Curry will find himself largely at the center of the discussion and with a heavy task on his shoulders. Representing the largest of the progressive provinces, he will have perhaps a truly unenviable task before him.

A number of bishops who have assembled into a body called the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON) have stated in no uncertain terms that they believe the pro-LGBT stance of the Episcopal Church USA and the Church of Canada amount to little short of a heresy. Likewise, many in the Episcopal Church have said that the anti-LGBT zeal of the conservatives is similarly anathema to their understanding of a loving God. Bishop Curry may well find himself trying to convince his fellow primates that they can profess a common faith and religious tradition - Christianity and Anglicanism - without always sharing common beliefs on issues about which many Anglican Christians disagree extremely strongly. Quite rightly he and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Whelby (who will act as chairman of the Primate's Meeting) asked for our prayers going into this historic and highly pressurized gathering.

As this meeting continues, I ask each of you to pray with me collectively or alone in the words of this responsoral prayer, which the worldwide Anglican Communion Office has recommended for Anglicans all across the globe:

"Gracious Father, your Son came as Emmanuel:
 Be with the Primates now and always. 

Your Son had no place to lay his head;
Bless their homes and households while they are in Canterbury. 
Your Son called disciples; disputed with authorities; was always with the poor.
Give us grace to see his face in one another. 
Your Son was lifted up to draw all people to himself;
May the Primates, through being together, be the more ready to share your life with your world. 
Your Son gave his life as a ransom for many:
Strengthen us to take up our cross and follow him.
Your Son was raised in the power of your Spirit;
Inspire us to walk in his risen life. 
Your Son breathed the Spirit on his disciples
Breathe on us all your Spirit of forgiveness and healing.
Your Son commissioned the disciples to go into all the world:
Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. "

Almighty God,

whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, 
and entered not into glory before he was crucified: 
Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, 
may find it none other than the way of life and peace; 
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, for ever and ever. 
Amen.