wfn.org | [ENS] Primates' Meeting communiqué

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@mail.epicom.org>]

Thursday, February 24, 2005
Primates' Meeting communiqué

The Primates' Meeting, February 2005
Communiqué

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.   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 another'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
had offered its recommendations on the future life of the Anglican
Communion
in the light of developments in Anglican life in North America.

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.   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.

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.	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.

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,  although we recognise that serious questions
about
the content of the proposal for an Anglican Covenant  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.   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.   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 Primates' Statement of October 2003.
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.   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, formu!
laries 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)

Full text with footnotes found at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_58743_ENG_HTM.htm

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