Evidently, the idea of a several-year process of developing an Anglican Communion covenant and membership structure, though applauded yesterday by Anglican conservatives inside and outside of the Episcopal Church, is far too slow a process for those same conservatives. Thus, also yesterday …
- The Church of Nigeria has elected a US “bishop” for a “missionary” initiative within the US and Canada (under CANA, previously known as the Convocation of Anglican Nigerians in America, but now called Convocation of Anglican Churches in North America).
- Several conservative dioceses (or their bishops) have appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury for “Alternative Primatial Oversight” (amusingly called “ALPO”), i.e., to be overseen by a primate other than the Episcopal Presiding Bishop. Not that the PB actually has any control over the dioceses, but it’s the thought that counts.
This gets a lot more into church politics than most folks are likely interested in, but, frankly — fine. My thought is, let’s acknowledge the schism and severed relationships and move on with, well, doing what Jesus had in mind (I don’t recall him, frankly, talking a lot about ecclesiastical organization, except for some not-very-complementary comments about whited sepulchres and the like).
So, anyone who want to leave — do so. But do so openly and honestly, and leave your keys by the door (or be ready to argue out in court who owns what). Playing games like this is unbecoming and, frankly, un-Christian.
For more reading on the subject (rather than try and backfit the links), I recommend the Daily Episcopalian, Fr. Jake, Preludium, the Episcopal
News Service, and a whole bunch of news links.