Resolving the Crisis in Anglican Communion, Lambeth Commission 2nd Meeting now Underway

The Homosexual crisis has been a great threat to churches worldwide. There is no difference with the Anglican Church, a major influential denomination in the world. Triggered by the gay clergy schism within the Anglican Communion, the worldwide Anglican Communion is now in the crisis of a clear splitting between the conservatives and liberals. A deep consideration of homosexuality issues in a theological context is also in high demand for discussion.

In the light of these events, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams announced in October 2003 the formation of a Commission - the Lambeth Commission - to examine Anglican Communion life. The second meeting of the Commission started on 13 June in Kanuga, USA, and will end on 18 June.

The Lambeth Commission is chaired by Most Revd Robert Eames, Archbishop of Armagh, and will report by October 2004 to the Primates on the legal and theological implications flowing from the decisions of the Episcopal Church (USA) to appoint a priest in a committed same sex relationship as one of its bishops, and of the Diocese of New Westminster to authorise services for use in connection with same sex unions.

The Commission will also address specifically the canonical understanding of communion and find out a way to maintain the highest degree of communion that may be possible in the circumstances resulting from different decisions, both within and between the churches of the Anglican Communion.

Earlier in June, it was observed that furious conservatives were pushed to the boiling point when the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada approved a motion affirming the "integrity and sanctity" of same-sex union. The Anglican Church of Canada therefore decided to delay a vote on gay blessings in an attempted to avoid a clash with the worldwide Church. Nevertheless, the hidden worry about the communion has not ceased.

The Commission is seeking and gathering input to its work from all members of the Communion. All contributions will be forwarded to the Commission.

Archbishop Drexel Gomez, one of the 18 Primates of the Global South, has submitted a paper entitled “Called to Witness and Fellowship” to the Lambeth Commission. Previously, Archbishop Gomez has written a letter to the Chairman of the Lambeth Commission, calling for a definite separation from the Episcopal Church (USA) if it does not repent in three months. The letter also criticised the Archbishop for the restraint shown in the gay clergy issue.

Once again in this paper, it further clarified the viewpoint of the Primates of the Global South. It stated that “the rupture or ‘realignment’ of the Anglican Communion has occurred already. It is not an agenda or proposal to be implemented but a fait accomplishment that is now to be recognised.”

This is because “Anglican communion or mutual belonging depends on a shared commitment to right believing (biblical and apostolic doctrine), a shared commitment to right behavior (biblical and apostolic practice and church order), and a shared commitment to discipline when there are open and deliberate departures from right believing or right behaviour.” However, “the recent actions by the Episcopal Church of the USA and the Anglican Church of Canada attack the church’s witness to the Gospel and God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. They confuse and divide the church at its most essential points.”

The Primates “called on those responsible for the instruments of unity of the Anglican Communion, such as the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates Meeting to respond biblically and apostolically to these actions through the full exercise of appropriate discipline.” They “commend those who remain in the Anglican family and continue to pass on the apostolic faith in different contexts and cultures.”

The paper is enclosed with another document named "The Current Crisis in the Anglican Communion - what are the Ecclesiological Issues involved?" prepared by a group of eminent theologians in the Communion.

To seek for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the crucial Lambeth Commission meeting at the Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina, the American Anglican Council (AAC) Prayer Team and prayer partners throughout the Anglican Communion called for a Day of Prayer and Fasting on 15th June. Scripture guidance for every hour was available on the website during the 24-hour fasting period that began at 12:01 a.m. and concluded at 11:59 p.m.