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ACNS 3948	     |		ACO	     |		24 FEBRUARY 2005

The Anglican Communion Primates' Meeting Communique, February 2005

1. As Primates of the Anglican Communion and Moderators of the United
Churches, we gathered at the Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre,
Newry, in Northern Ireland, between 20th and 25th February, 2005, at the
invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Thirty-five
of us were present at this meeting (i). We are extremely grateful for the
warmth of the welcome to Dromantine that we have received from members of
the Roman Catholic Society of African Missions who run the Retreat Centre,
and from the Church of Ireland, and especially the Primate of All Ireland,
the Most Revd Robin Eames and Lady Eames, who have been our hosts.

2. Our meeting was held within the context of common prayer and worship,
including Evensong at St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, when we were formally
welcomed to the Church of Ireland. On the Monday and Tuesday mornings, we
spent time in Bible Study, prayer and silent retreat, led by the Archbishop
of Canterbury on the Lenten theme of the Three Temptations of Christ. He
reminded us that it was our duty as Christian leaders to begin by listening
to God, before going on to listen to one another. We thank God that our
meeting has been characterised by generosity of spirit, and a readiness to
respect one anotherâ??s integrity, with Christian charity and abundant
goodwill.

3. The meeting opened with reports from the Provinces most affected by the
recent tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean and the works of relief
undertaken by Anglican churches. We offered prayers for the victims, and
for the ongoing work of reconstruction and relief being undertaken across
the entire rim of the Indian Ocean, particularly in the Province of South
East Asia, East Africa, the Indian Ocean, and South India and in the Church
of Ceylon.

4. The most pressing business facing the Primates' Meeting was
consideration of the Windsor Report 2004, in which the Lambeth Commission
on Communion (ii) had offered its recommendations on the future life of the
Anglican Communion in the light of developments in Anglican life in North
America (iii).

5. We reflected for many hours on the recommendations of the Windsor
Report; listening first to Archbishop Robin Eames, who introduced the work
of the Lambeth Commission, which he had chaired, and then to Primus Bruce
Cameron of the Scottish Episcopal Church, who took up the work that
Archbishop Peter Kwong had begun with the Reception Reference Group (iv).
We considered a careful analysis of the 322 responses which this group had
received from around the Anglican Communion, and which offered a high
measure of general support for the recommendations of the Windsor Report,
despite some expressions of concern in relation to matters of detail (v).

6. We then proceeded to our own reflections on these responses. There are a
number of things which are quite clear. Many primates have been deeply
alarmed that the standard of Christian teaching on matters of human
sexuality expressed in the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10, which should
command respect as the position overwhelmingly adopted by the bishops of
the Anglican Communion, has been seriously undermined by the recent
developments in North America. At the same time, it is acknowledged that
these developments within the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican
Church of Canada have proceeded entirely in accordance with their
constitutional processes and requirements (vi). We also wish to make it
quite clear that in our discussion and assessment of the moral
appropriateness of specific human behaviours, we continue unreservedly to
be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people. The
victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be
ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to us. We assure
homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by him,
and deserving of the best we can give of pastoral care and friendship (vii).

7. We welcome the general thrust of the Windsor Report as offering a way
forward for the mutual life of our Communion, and commend the following
conclusions for dealing with the differences of opinion which have opened
up amongst us.

8. We believe that the Windsor Report offers in its Sections A & B an
authentic description of the life of the Anglican Communion, and the
principles by which its life is governed and sustained. While we believe
that many elements of this account offer a picture of what is ideal, rather
than what is currently actually experienced, we accept the description
offered in Sections A & B of the Windsor Report as the way in which we
would like to see the life of the Anglican Communion developed, as we
respond in faithful discipleship to Christ. These sections speak of the
central place Anglicans accord to the authority of scripture, and of
"autonomy-in-communion" as the balanced exercise of the inter-dependence
between the thirty-eight Provinces and their legitimate provincial
autonomy. We therefore request all provinces to consider whether they are
willing to be committed to the inter-dependent life of the Anglican
Communion understood in the terms set out in these sections of!
 the report.

9. We welcome the proposals in Section C for the future development of the
Instruments of Unity (viii), although we recognise that serious questions
about the content of the proposal for an Anglican Covenant (ix) and the
practicalities of its implementation mean that this is a longer term
process. We were glad to be reminded of the extensive precedents for
covenants that many Anglican churches have established with ecumenical
partners, and that even within our Communion the Chicago/Lambeth
Quadrilateral has already been effectively operating as a form of covenant
that secures our basic commitment to scripture, the Nicene Creed, the two
Sacraments of the Gospel and the Historic Episcopate. We therefore commend
this proposal as a project that should be given further consideration in
the Provinces of the Communion between now and the Lambeth Conference 2008.
In addition, we ask the Archbishop of Canterbury to explore ways of
implementing this.

10. We also have further questions concerning the development of the role
of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and of a Council of Advice (x). While we
welcome the ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury as that of one who can
speak to us as primus inter pares about the realities we face as a
Communion, we are cautious of any development which would seem to imply the
creation of an international jurisdiction which could override our proper
provincial autonomy. We ask the Archbishop of Canterbury to explore ways of
consulting further on these matters.

11. We accept the principle articulated in Section D of the Windsor Report
concerning the universal nature of the ministry of a bishop within Anglican
polity (xi). Although formidable practical problems would attend any formal
process of wider consultation in the election and confirmation of bishops,
we request that Provinces should themselves find an appropriate place for
the proper consideration of the principle of inter-dependence in any
process of election or confirmation.

12. We as a body continue to address the situations which have arisen in
North America with the utmost seriousness. Whilst there remains a very real
question about whether the North American churches are willing to accept
the same teaching on matters of sexual morality as is generally accepted
elsewhere in the Communion, the underlying reality of our communion in God
the Holy Trinity is obscured, and the effectiveness of our common mission
severely hindered.

13. We are persuaded however that in order for the recommendations of the
Windsor Report to be properly addressed, time needs to be given to the
Episcopal Church (USA) and to the Anglican Church of Canada for
consideration of these recommendations according to their constitutional
processes.

14. Within the ambit of the issues discussed in the Windsor Report and in
order to recognise the integrity of all parties, we request that the
Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada voluntarily
withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for the
period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference. During that same period
we request that both churches respond through their relevant constitutional
bodies to the questions specifically addressed to them in the Windsor
Report as they consider their place within the Anglican Communion. (cf.
paragraph 8)

15. In order to protect the integrity and legitimate needs of groups in
serious theological dispute with their diocesan bishop, or dioceses in
dispute with their Provinces, we recommend that the Archbishop of
Canterbury appoint, as a matter of urgency, a panel of reference to
supervise the adequacy of pastoral provisions made by any churches for such
members in line with the recommendation in the Primatesâ?? Statement of
October 2003 (xii). Equally, during this period we commit ourselves neither
to encourage nor to initiate cross-boundary interventions.

16. Notwithstanding the request of paragraph 14 of this communiqué, we
encourage the Anglican Consultative Council to organise a hearing at its
meeting in Nottingham, England, in June 2005 at which representatives of
the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada, invited for
that specific purpose, may have an opportunity to set out the thinking
behind the recent actions of their Provinces, in accordance with paragraph
141 of the Windsor Report.

17. In reaffirming the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10 as the
present position of the Anglican Communion, we pledge ourselves afresh to
that resolution in its entirety, and request the Anglican Consultative
Council in June 2005 to take positive steps to initiate the listening and
study process which has been the subject of resolutions not only at the
Lambeth Conference in 1998, but in earlier Conferences as well.

18. In the meantime, we ask our fellow primates to use their best influence
to persuade their brothers and sisters to exercise a moratorium on public
Rites of Blessing for Same-sex unions and on the consecration of any bishop
living in a sexual relationship outside Christian marriage.

19. These strategies are intended to restore the full trust of our bonds of
affection across the Communion.

20. In the second half of our meeting we addressed some issues of practical
ministry which have been on our agenda now for the last couple of years. We
received a report of the present situation in relation to the ministry of
African churches in particular amongst people living with HIV/AIDS; the
dying, the bereaved, and orphaned children. We noted that this serious
challenge is faced by all of our churches. We now accept, however, that our
concerns must be broadened to include those suffering from TB and malaria.
We know that this year 3 million people will die of AIDS, 2 million of TB,
and 1 million of malaria. We have also been called to support the General
Secretary of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and world leaders in
developing effective strategies for achieving the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) by 2015 (xiii). In addition to the commitment to combat
HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, these MDGs include reducing absolute poverty by
half and reducing hunger by half by 20!
15. In the longer term we must eradicate both. Other MDGs include lowering
child mortality and improving maternal health, universal primary education,
access to clear drinking water, and the building of sustainable development
partnerships between rich and poor. Accordingly we call upon the people of
God in all the Provinces of our Communion to encourage leaders of
government to pursue these goals with vigour, and to pray for the
strengthening of their resolve to achieve the MDGs by 2015.

21. Two whole sessions of our meeting were devoted to the important work of
the discernment of theological truth and the development and improvement of
theological education through the sharing of resources across the
Communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury has identified this as a priority
concern during the period of his leadership. The work of TEAC (Theological
Education for the Anglican Communion) which was established at our meeting
in Kanuga in 2001 was reviewed, including the four separate Target Groups
which are now engaged with the development of specific education and
training programmes for bishops; for priests and transitional deacons; for
vocational deacons, catechists and licensed lay readers; and for the laity.
In all this particular attention is being paid to the distinctively
Anglican component in theological education. This mandate is of concern
because some theological education across the Communion needs to take more
account of Anglican history, formularies or spirituality. The discernment
and definition of the "Anglican Way" is being intentionally pursued by a
dedicated Target Group. It is planned to hold a Consultation for
theological educators later this year in Canterbury, and it is anticipated
that this work will be a significant item of consideration at the Lambeth
Conference in 2008.

22. Our common commitment to the pursuit of projects such as these,
together with our recent very positive experience of close practical
co-operation in response to the tsunami disaster, convince us of the
enormous importance of our shared work together as Provinces of the
Anglican Communion. Indeed, in the course of our meeting, we have become
even more mindful of the indissoluble link between Christian unity and
Christian mission, as this is expressed in Jesus' own prayer that his
disciples should be one that the world may believe (John 17.21).
Accordingly, we pray for the continuing blessing of God's unity and peace
as we recommit ourselves to the mission of the Anglican Communion, which we
share with the whole people of God, in the transformation of our troubled
world.

"Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12.2)
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave
us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5.18)

i) Absent from the meeting were the primate of Burundi, following a family
bereavement, of Hong Kong, following health problems, and the Moderator of
United Church of North India, because of unavoidable business.

ii) This Commission was established by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the
request of the Primates at their meeting in Lambeth Palace in October 2003.

iii) Namely, the authorisation of a Public Rite of Blessing for Same-sex
Unions within a diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada in May 2003, and
the Consecration of a Bishop in a committed same-sex relationship in the
Episcopal Church (USA) in November later that year.

iv) This group had been established by the Primates' Standing Committee on
publication of the Windsor Report in October 2004 to receive and review
responses and reactions to the Windsor Report from within the Anglican
Communion and from our ecumenical partners.

v) The presentations by Archbishop Robin and Primus Bruce, together with
the submissions to the Reception Reference Group may be found at
www.aco.org/windsor2004/presentation.cfm [for the Eames presentation] and
www.aco.org/commission/reception/report.cfm [for the Cameron presentation]
and associated documents.

vi) In the statement of October 2003, we wrote "The Presiding Bishop of the
Episcopal Church (USA) has explained to us the constitutional framework
within which the election and confirmation of a new bishop in the Episcopal
Church (USA) takes place. As Primates, it is not for us to pass judgement
on the constitutional processes of another province. We recognise the
sensitive balance between provincial autonomy and the expression of
critical opinion by others on the internal actions of a province."

vii) See the Windsor Report, paragraph 146.

viii) The Windsor Report, paragraphs 105 - 107.

ix) The Windsor Report, paragraphs 113 - 120.

x) The Windsor Report, paragraphs 108 - 112.

xi) The Windsor Report, paragraphs 124 - 132.

xii) " we call on the provinces concerned to make adequate provision for
episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities within their own area of
pastoral care in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf
of the Primates."

xiii) These Millennium Development Goals may be found at
www.developmentgoals.org

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