...BY EASTER OR ELSE!
(Sunday) For a number of reasons this whole Anglican story continues to fascinate me. First of all, I like Anglicans -- the liturgy and the historical vitality -- especially as it has be expressed by the likes of John Stott, J.I. Packer, etc. Secondly, the struggles in the Episcopal Church USA are not too removed from the rest of North American Christianity (high church, low church, evangelical, moderates, Catholics -- it doesn't matter). What they are facing, we will all be facing in the very near future. So we need to learn from the situation. Then, thirdly I find the rise of the church in the Global South to be exciting and challenging.

Well, now it appears that the Anglicans in the Global South are about to give the Episcopal Church USA an ultimatum. Repent by Easter 2004 or you'll be reduced to observer status in the Worldwide Anglican Communion -- no voice, no vote. See the David Virtue article

I don't really understand how this would work. Although the Global South makes up 90% of the Anglicans in the world it is still the Archbishop of Canterbury who decides who is and who isn't in communion with him. And that has been the traditional criteria for what constitutes the Anglican Communion.

The current Archbishop of Canterbury is personally in favor of the ordination of homosexuals but has set his personal preferences aside for the sake of unity. He is trying to not swing too far one way or the other. But when you're standing in the middle of the road the chances are that you'll get run over by trucks from one lane of traffic or the other. And the question right now is, will the African and Asian bishops will have enough momentum to knock him off center (or at least cause him to spin around a few times)? Stand tuned. The plot is sure to thicken -- even more.

Fortunately, the future of the kingdom of God doesn't hinge of the orthodoxy of the Episcopal Church USA. It would be wonderful if God could continue to use them but if they disqualify themselves the kingdom of God will move forward without them -- like a mighty river cutting new channels.