Network refutes “10 Reasons” for Not Joining
An organization called Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh has created a copyrighted piece titled “Ten Reasons for Not Joining the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes.” The following refutes point-by-point false and unsubstantiated assertions made about the Anglican Communion Network.
1. PEP falsely asserts, “Network governance reduces the role of laity in decision-making and is not democratic.”
From beginning to end, ACN has followed an open democratic process with a balance of orders (bishops, clergy and priests) and equal voice for all.
The Organizing Convocation formally launching ACN was planned by a Steering Committee with representatives both ordained and lay from 12 of the dioceses whose bishops signed the original Memorandum of Agreement. Also present were resource participants such as lay leaders and clergy from missions organizations.
At the ACN organizational meeting in January 2004, representatives included bishops of these dioceses, 2 clergy and 2 laity. All decisions at the Convocation were made in plenary session with simple majority vote. There was neither separation by orders nor “veto” power for anyone — a MORE democratic process than General Convention and most diocesan conventions.
The Organizing Convocation also elected a 12-member Steering Committee comprised of individuals (male, female, clergy and laity) from ACN dioceses across the country charged with carrying the Network mission forward between meetings of the Council.
ACN’s Structural Charter calls for a Network unicameral Council consisting of the diocesan bishops, two clergy and two lay representatives of each participating diocese and of two representatives (order unspecified) from each convocation with one vote each. Additionally, up to five at-large representatives may be chosen by the Global Mission Partners from among their missionary societies serving the Network and the Anglican Communion.
Parish association with ACN requires a vestry vote. Lay leadership at the parish level is essential.
2. PEP falsely asserts, “It does not promise obedience to the canons of the Episcopal Church, USA.”
The Structural Charter declares in Article I that ACN “shall operate in good faith within the Constitution of The Episcopal Church.” Canons are an extension of the Constitution of ECUSA just as civil laws in America are an extension of the US Constitution.
3. PEP asserts, “It encourages those who do not accept women’s ordination and gives them a guaranteed voice in Network decision-making.”
ACN is committed to honoring women clergy, those in favor of the ordination of women and those opposed to the ordination of women, and to insuring to all of our constituents “a place at the table.” “The affiliates of the Network hold differing positions regarding the ordination of women and pledge that we shall recognize and honor the positions and practices on this issue of others in the Network.” (ACN Structural Charter). We refuse to disenfranchise those of our number whose views reflect a large portion of the Anglican Communion and the wider Church.
4. PEP falsely asserts, “It requires people to accept a belief statement beyond the Creeds.”
The Organizing Convocation “received” a Theological Charter which is clearly based upon Scripture and the Creeds.
Congregations associating with ACN are asked to “affirm” this charter. Affirmation does not imply that said Charter supersedes the Creeds any more than the 39 Articles or ECUSA’s catechism supersedes the Creeds.
Many Anglican bodies have produced important doctrinal statements that have an important role in our common life. One such document is the booklet “Issues in Human Sexuality,” produced by the Church of England bishops, which is seen as representing their current common stand on this vexing question.
ACN is committed to “the propagation of the unchanging Gospel of Jesus Christ” and is opposed to innovations that are contrary to Scripture.
5. PEP falsely asserts, “It makes church teachings about marriage as important as teachings about God, the Creeds, and Sacraments, and imposes a particular interpretation of marriage.”
ACN has been clear that sexuality is the presenting problem in the current Church crisis but the deeper issues include the authority of Scripture, the doctrine of marriage, authority of the Church and the Gospel itself.
It was the Anglican Primates, gathered in common council, who not once but twice in 2003 made clear that they viewed same sex practice by church leaders as something which is NOT a thing indifferent, but a teaching which, if embraced, would “tear the fabric of our communion at its deepest level.”
ACN certainly upholds the sacred nature of marriage defined by Scripture as union between one man and one woman. ACN also upholds Scriptural and church teaching on sexuality as limited to a man and woman within the bonds of marriage.
ACN upholds Scriptural and Church teachings about God, the Creeds and Sacraments. Marriage is sacramental.
To change the teaching about marriage is to change the teaching about God’s purposes in Creation, thus changing received teaching about God, the Creeds and the sacraments.
6. PEP falsely asserts, “It tries to replace the Episcopal Church, USA, by dealing directly with the Archbishop of Canterbury and with other provinces.”
The Preamble of the Constitution of The Episcopal Church states:
“The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, otherwise known as The Episcopal Church (which name is hereby recognized as also designating the Church), is a constituent member of the Anglican Communion, a Fellowship within the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, of those duly constituted Dioceses, Provinces, and regional Churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, upholding and propagating the historic Faith and Order as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer.”
The Preface to the original 1789 Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church and each ensuing revision contains the following statement:
“In which it will also appear that this Church is far from intending to depart from the Church of England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline, or worship; or further than local circumstances require …”
By its actions at General Convention 2003, ECUSA broke its own Constitution, created deep divisions of crisis proportions and shattered the unity of the Anglican Communion. In the ensuing months, 21 provinces have declared either impaired or broken communion with ECUSA and 14 Primates have recognized ACN.
ACN upholds these provisions of the Constitution of ECUSA.
ACN was first proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Primates Statement of October 2003, signed by the Presiding Bishop of ECUSA, calls for “adequate provision for episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates.”
ACN respects the authority of the Primates and attempts to live into the provisions of this unanimous statement.
7. PEP falsely asserts, “It encourages parishes to have nothing to do with their diocesan bishop and to cut themselves off from the rest of their diocese.”
ACN makes no such statement. ACN parishes are in widely varying relationships with their diocesan bishops, and eleven diocesan bishops have associated with ACN.
The House of Bishops issued “Caring for All Churches” or Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight Plan and some ACN congregations have chosen to request DEPO.
8. PEP falsely asserts, “The Network advocates a form of episcopal oversight in conflict with ECUSA constitution and canons.”
The Primates Statement of October 2003, signed by the Presiding Bishop of ECUSA, calls for “adequate provision for episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates.”
ACN respects the authority of the Primates and attempts to live into the provisions of this unanimous statement.
Following the report of the Lambeth Commission, should the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Primates call upon ECUSA to make provisions which require changes in ECUSA’s Constitution and Canons, the ACN hopes those changes will be made.
9. PEP falsely asserts, “It requires signers to ‘submit’ to the authority of foreign primates, something no participating province (regional or national church) currently does.”
ACN has no such requirement. ACN simply does not “require” submission to foreign primates.
ACN upholds submission to God in Christ and celebrates being a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
10. PEP falsely asserts, “It requires submission to the Bible rather than to God. The Bible contains all things necessary for salvation and can guide us (with tradition and reason) in discerning God’s will, but God is in charge, not the Bible.”
This is a false dichotomy.
Christianity has consistently upheld that submission to God includes submission to Scripture.
Christianity upholds Scripture as being the authoritative Word of God. The Bible and historic Christianity adhere to the Scriptures as being “God-breathed.”
ACN opposes revisionism, which elevates human experience above the clear teaching of Scripture, as well as innovations that are clearly contradictory to the Word of God.
Via Media of the Diocese of Dallas used the same 10 reasons and added 2 more. Note that the first one comes close to the same theme oft quoted about the Chapman memo regarding a “replacement province.”
Via Media of Dallas falsely asserts, “The stated aim of the Network is to win recognition as the ‘authentic’ Church, replacing ECUSA.”
The stated purpose of ACN is found in its Structural Charter:
ARTICLE II
Purpose. The purpose of this charter is to establish said Network, whose associated Dioceses and Convocations will constitute a true and legitimate expression of the world-wide Anglican Communion.
Twenty-one Provinces of the Anglican Communion have declared either impaired or broken communion with ECUSA because of unconstitutional actions taken by ECUSA.
Operating under the Constitution of ECUSA, ACN interprets ECUSA’s General Convention as abandoning the communion through schismatic unilateral actions.
ACN has called ECUSA leadership to repentance and continues to faithfully uphold the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church as expressed in its Constitution.
Posted at 12:00 am 5.27.2004 | Permalink