The primates (national archbishops) of the Anglican Communion ended their Feb. 1 to 5 meeting with no consensus on how to deal with a coalition of Anglicans who have left their churches in North America because of differences over such issues as sexuality and want to be recognized as a separate province. They agreed, however, that the Archbishop of Canterbury should initiate a "professionally mediated conversation which engages all parties at the earliest opportunity."
In a communiqué released at the end of their meeting in Alexandria, Egypt, the primates said they received a report from the Windsor Continuation Group, which identified "some of the difficulties in recognizing the coalition among the provinces of the Communion."
It added: "Significant concerns were raised in the conversation about the possibility of parallel jurisdictions."
The Windsor Continuation Group, created by the Archbishop of Canterbury, has been recommending the way forward for the Communion, which has been deeply divided over the place of gays and lesbians in the church.
The Common Cause Partnership, a coalition of seven different groups, mostly composed of parishes, bishops, and clergy who have severed ties with The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, had been hoping to get some support from the primates for a separate province.
"We earnestly desire reconciliation with these dear brothers and sisters for whom we understand membership of the Anglican Communion is profoundly important,' the communiqué said. "We recognize that these processes cannot be rushed but neither should they be postponed."
In its report to the primates, the Windsor Continuation Group said the mediated conversation aims "to find a provisional holding arrangement which will enable dialogue to take place and which will be revisited on the conclusion of the Covenant Process, or the achievement of the long term reconciliation in the commission."
They said such conversation must be on a basis of some principles: "There must be an ordered approach to the new proposal within, or part of a natural development of, current rules. It is not for individual groups to claim the terms on which they will relate to the Communion..."
The primates' communiqué, titled Gracious Restraint, addressed global concerns such as the search for peace and stability in Gaza, Zimbabwe and the Sudan, the deepening financial crisis and global warming.
But the primates acknowledged that one of the "chief matters" that continued to preoccupy them was the "continuing deep differences and disrupted relationships in the Anglican Communion" over the issues of the election of bishops in same-gender unions, the rites of blessing for same-sex unions and on cross-border interventions.
They did note, however, that among them "there has been honest exchange and mutual challenge at a new and deeper level."
They said: "We acknowledge the difficult nature of these tensions, which evoke deep feelings and responses, but we were grateful that, by God's grace, we were able to discuss and debate these issues in a spirit of open and respectful dialogue."
Past meetings, notably in Dromantine and Dar es Salaam had been full of rancour, with some primates refusing to attend the eucharist or take Holy Communion alongside colleagues they disagreed with.
The primates reiterated their call for "gracious restraint" on all fronts. "If a way forward is to be found and mutual trust to be re-established, it is imperative that further aggravation and acts which cause offense, misunderstanding or hostility cease," the primates said.
At the start of their meeting, the primates said they were "reminded powerfully of the sense of alienation and pain felt in many parts of the Communion, as many are tested by difficult theological tensions."
The primates had heard presentations from the Anglican provinces of Canada, the United States, Uganda, Myanmar and South Africa about what effect the current tension in the Communion had on their church's mission and priorities.
"We were able to talk honestly and openly about our experiences and tensions...," the primates said. "...Nevertheless there was a discernable mood of graciousness among us in our engagements: a mood which assisted and sustained our conversations."
Their "honest engagement," the primates said, "revealed the complexity of the situation" in the Communion. "Matters are not as clear cut as some portray. The soul of our Communion has been stretched and threatened by the continuation of our damaged and fractured relationships, even though we believe that God continues to call us into a Communion founded not on our will, but on the action of God in Christ Jesus."
They noted that the Windsor Continuation Group asked whether the Communion "suffers from an 'ecclesial deficit.' In other words, do we have the necessary theological, structural and cultural foundations to sustain the life of the Communion?'"
Addressing concerns expressed about their increasing role in the life of the Communion, the primates said they were "conscious that the attitudes and deliberations of the primates have sometimes inadvertently given rise to disappointment and even disillusion."
They acknowledged that they "still struggle to get the balance right in our deliberations and ask for the prayers of our people in seeking the assistance of the Holy Spirit to support and direct us in discharging our responsibilities before God."
The Anglican Church of Canada was among the provinces that expressed concern about the expanding role of primates, noting that their meetings are being given an authority that they had not previously held.
The communiqué also said that the primates:
* Adopted statements expressing concern about the ongoing crises in Zimbabwe, Sudan and the Middle East. "We were moved while we listened to some of our members speaking first hand of the situation in Zimbabwe, of the oppressive partnership of the former bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga, and of the violence and persecutions exercised against the Anglicans in Zimbabwe," they said.
* Called on all churches "to do all that they can to ensure commitments by governments to the Millennium Development Goals are not abandoned in the face of the current (financial) crisis;" they affirmed that amidst the worsening global financial situation, "the church's concerns must be broader and deeper than economics and politics."
* Received a report on the progress around the development of an Anglican Covenant, and said it welcomed the Covenant Design Group's intention to produce a document "which has a relational basis and tone.
* Commended the proposed creation of an Anglican Relief and Development Alliance, which aims to strengthen the co-ordination and effectiveness of Anglican relief and development work worldwide;
* Listened to a presentation on global warming and climate change and noted that "there is a significant and growing body of statistics which demonstrates that this is a real problem and one in which humanity has a crucial responsibility;"
* Were "conscious of the historical, cultural, ecumenical and inter-faith contexts" of their meeting, and that it was being held "in a country which is majority Muslim, but in which there is a strong Christian heritage and presence."
While in Alexandria, the primates met with the State Governor, Gen. Adel Labib; Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch of Alexandria, and head of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
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(Source: AJ)