Comments on: Archbishop of Canterbury calls for greater Anglican Communion say in selection of successor

By: Rod Gillis

Rod Gillis — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 16:31:09 +0000

Thanks for the interesting comment. Regarding your point about the Archbishop of Canterbury and the monarchy, it was a request from Canadian bishops that encouraged Archbishop of Canterbury Charles Longley to convene what became the first Lambeth Conference in 1867. One of the things Longley wrestled with was calling the proposed gathering, considering the relationship of the ABC to the sovereign. There is a very good section on all this in the book, The Lambeth Conference: Theology, History, Politics, and Purpose.

On the larger point, there is already a space for one primate on the CNC with respect to choosing an Archbishop Canterbury. If the goal is to increase consultation with the wider Anglican Communion why not expand representation beyond one ‘instrument of communion’ already represented i.e. The Primates, and include one or more lay people from another of the instruments i.e. The Anglican Consultative Council. In some ways, laity have been more constructive in making Communion partnerships work than have the primates.

Otherwise, I agree with my colleague Fr. Julio Martin (below), adding a cohort of primates may indeed open a Pandora’s box.

By: Rev. Julio C. Martin + North Sydney, N.S.

Rev. Julio C. Martin + North Sydney, N.S. — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 15:43:17 +0000

A Pandora’s box to be open.

By: Jane Buttery

Jane Buttery — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 19:39:36 +0000

As a lay person and Church member most of my life, educated in Canterbury but living in now Canada, I am always interested in the connections between the wider world and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s role as head of the Anglican Church (under the monarch). Few understand this process in other countries.
We have a fine Archbishop overall in Canada who will be retiring in 1919. Archbishop Hiltz has said that he has enjoyed the meetings with Archbishop Welby and both have gained from them. I think that men and women who have been administrators in the Church have more knowledge of what is entailed in the role of an Archbishop of Canterbury than most lay people.
. A recent visit to Uganda revealed to me that the church in several African countries is vibrant and have members who live the gospel daily. I was impressed by joyous services and the strong knowledge of the Bible that individual Christians had. Prayer is important to them.
I feel that input from the wider Church would enhance understanding and co-operation between churches in the Anglican Communion. But I do see what Mr.Gillis wants our Church to avoid.
Archbishop Welby has shown us by his own actions, how important it is to make all decisions through much prayer and by listening for God’s voice. We need to value that.

By: Rod Gillis

Rod Gillis — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 18:29:25 +0000

The ACNS article caption reads:”Justin Welby calls for greater Anglican Communion say in selection of successor.” However inside the article the vision is scaled way back in that participation from the wider Communion means participation by Primates. ” …inclusion of five Anglican Primates …would result in ‘a balanced and diverse representation of the entire Anglican Communion.’ ” Really.

Clearly this advances the dream of many of the primates for a kind of Anglican curia with a quasi-college of Cardinals electing a quasi-pope. If one wants to go this route then instead of primates why not representative clergy and laity from the Anglican Consultative Council chosen by them from their membership?

Better still, let’s reduce rather than expand the so called “instruments of Communion”. Ironically, some of the Primates take on more power when they meet as a group than they have at home in their own provinces.