The Anglicans' uncharacteristic civil war

10/20/2003

THE NORMAL Anglican approach to disagreements, however bitter, is to declare at the end of any controversy that "all have won and all shall have prizes." The emergency meeting of Anglican primates this week in London over the election of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire has proven to be a stunning exception to the general rule.

By Thursday evening it was clear that the controversy had ended its first phase with definite winners and losers, though what exactly has been won and lost remains - in good Anglican fashion - somewhat ambiguous.

Among the temporary winners is the archbishop of Canterbury himself, who managed in a two-day marathon meeting to postpone a permanent rupture in the Anglican Communion.

The primates from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, who hinted darkly at schism before the meeting, decided to sit tight for the moment, waiting on the unfolding events in the United States and Canada.

In a carefully worded statement, the primates reaffirmed their 1998 position on homosexuality and confessed that they "deeply regret" the decision of the Episcopal Church to consecrate an openly gay man as bishop. They equally regret the decision of the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada to authorize a rite for the blessing of same-sex unions.

The actions "do not express the mind of the Communion as a whole," and represent a kind of theological unilateralism that has not gone down well in the Third World. The primates further warned that, if the Episcopal Church persists in its plans to consecrate Gene Robinson as bishop on Nov. 2, it will place the unity of the communion in jeopardy, since a majority of Anglican provinces will not recognize him as a bishop and might even sever their ties with the more liberal provinces that do.

In spite of the clear warning from the primates, presiding Bishop Griswold indicated that he intends to be present at the consecration of Bishop-elect Robinson, a decision underscored by an uncompromising statement issued by the Diocese of New Hampshire. If so, the archbishop of Canterbury may soon find himself among the permanent losers, the titular head of a much diminished Anglican Communion, embracing the shrinking churches in North America, Europe, and Australia, while the rapidly growing Anglican churches of the Southern Hemisphere elect to go their own independent way.

The conservatives in the Episcopal Church were given most of what they hoped for. The primates reaffirmed their earlier position on homosexuality, underscored the priority of Scripture as an authority, rebuked the Episcopal Church for creating a grave crisis in the life of the Anglican Communion, and provided for pastoral care for conservative priests and parishes in liberal dioceses. The primates did not eject the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion, as some conservatives had hoped, but it is doubtful they had the authority to do so.

The liberals came away with much less - an admission that the Bible allows diverse interpretations, an admonition to respect the autonomy of the various provinces, and an agreement to appoint a commission to study some of the divisive matters further during the next 12 months (assuming a schism does not happen in the meantime).

Liberals must decide quickly whether to make a principled stand over gay ordination or scramble to salvage what is left of Anglican unity. Although the primates issued a warning rather than an ultimatum, the effect is the same. If the Episcopal Church holds to its present course, it may very well shatter the Anglican Communion and leave the primacy of Canterbury in tatters.

The unequivocal losers in this controversy are gay Christians, especially gay clergy in Anglican churches, who suddenly feel uneasy about their welcome and uncertain about their future.

Bishop-elect Robinson undoubtedly will be under intense pressure to step aside in the interest of unity. He has shown so far no willingness to do so. But his consecration on Nov. 2 might prove to be a bittersweet victory for gay Anglicans, if it becomes the occasion for a major schism in the worldwide church they love.

In short, the impending schism in the Anglican Communion is not inevitable, whatever the dire predictions. It still can be avoided, but at a nonnegotiable price the primates from the Southern Hemisphere have set.

The question facing the Episcopal Church is whether it is willing to pay.

David C. Steinmetz of Duke Divinity School in Durham, N.C., is the Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of the History of Christianity.