The spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, Dr Rowan Williams has given a sharp warning to the Anglican Communion on the final day of the Church of England’s General Synod in Church House, Westminster Nov. 16th.
The Archbishop of Canterbury told how splits over the ordination of gay priests are deeply shaking the foundations of the 76 million-member worldwide Communion.Continued disputes within the Church over the past few years have seen a progressive deterioration of trust between Anglicans in Europe, the USA, Canada and Africa.
The Church’s General Synod, which has been held in London from Nov. 14-16, 2005 had seen the Queen open with a resounding speech where she told how the Christian faith has had a unique and enduring effect in the world despite the ever-changing society.
“The Christian Church can speak uniquely to that need, for at the heart of our faith stands the conviction that all people, irrespective of race, background or circumstances, can find lasting significance and purpose in the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” she said.
However, today the Archbishop of Canterbury addressed the troubling problems that have risen clearly into the public eye over the past year. He told attendees at the Synod, “We have to beware of 'poisoning the wells' by doing our business with suspicion and hostility or lack of mutual respect.
“We have to remind ourselves that the Church's central focus is not on its own housekeeping, necessary as that is, but on its communication of a revealed truth and hope to the world.”
The debate about sexuality within the Church was complicated by high levels of mutual ignorance, he said. This must be tackled by communication, he told the meeting in central London.
He continued saying that if every Synod member made contact with someone in another Anglican province who was not likely to share their view, they might be able to move away from the "demeaning caricatures" that persisted on both sides.The Church of England, which is the largest individual member of the Anglican Communion, groups together 38 separate churches, and is lead by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
