wfn.org | Anglican Consultative Council 1999 Wrap Up

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ACNS 1903 · 24 September 1999 · Dundee
ACC-11/35
URBANISATION CHALLENGES CHURCHES TO RETHINK ITS BIG CITIES MINISTRY
Resolutions abound as ACC-11 comes to a close
The ACC, in its final day of deliberations, heard multiple presentations
that offered the international assembly a chance to focus on the challenges
that face churches in the big cities of the world. Profiles of Mexico,
Uganda, Hong Kong and USA were used to illustrate how the church can be an
instrument of witness in communities that are clamouring for assistance and
direction in coping with crime, unemployment and inadequate housing.
In his plenary address, the Most Revd Glauco Soares de Lima, Primate of
Brazil, called on the church "to subvert its paternalistic ways" in order to
help people engage "in reflection and dialogue". The Brazilian Archbishop
stressed the need for the church to become "a transforming community". He
told the ACC that the church must not succumb to thinking they "have all the
answers". The Revd Sam Koshiishi of Japan spoke of how the small Anglican
Church was seeking to provide services to the wider community in places like
Tokyo.
Members of the Church of England Urban Bishops Panel, the Rt Revd Laurie
Green, the Rt Revd Roger Sainsbury, and secretary, the Revd Dr Andrew Davey,
told the ACC not to misjudge the global challenges facing the Church "on the
threshold of the new millennium". The Lambeth Conference Section Two report
was referred to, as it states that "the real challenge to Christian mission
in the 21st century will be that of urban mission".
One panel member stated, "We cannot think about urbanisation today without
also thinking about Globalisation. Globalisation is the process by which new
technologies and powerful economies combine to make the world a smaller
place. A global village. New forms of global culture and economic systems
are emerging that transcend all national boundaries and trading blocs."
The presentation ended with discussion on a resolution asking for the
formation of an Anglican Urban Network to resource the Churches of the
Anglican Communion and asked for support to establish a "Faith in an Urban
World" Commission, in consultation with ecumenical bodies. A revised
resolution was adopted encouraging the work and asked the group to "continue
to work toward being recognised in due course as an official network". It
asked that a further report be made to ACC-12 on the "scope and viability"
of a commission.
This hearing came just one day after the ACC visited a development for
community services at St Matthews Episcopal Church, Possilpark, Glasgow,
where they joined in the opening ceremonies for a new environmental project
in this "multiple deprivation" area of the city. (See press release 33).
RESOLUTIONS
The ACC-11 meeting came to close on Friday, but not before passing many
resolutions on topics ranging from East Timor to International Debt.
Some of the 31 resolutions passed by ACC-11 include:
LANDMINES AND ARMS
This ACC
1 Endorses Lambeth Conference Resolution I.13 concerning Landmines.
2 Calls upon Anglicans throughout the Communion to work with other
Christians in their provinces to establish more effective control on the
production, sale and distribution of arms and weapons.
3 Commits itself to bringing, with its ecumenical partners, these concerns
before the United Nations.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
This ACC-11, at the request of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network,
1 urges all provinces to demonstrate their commitment to Lambeth Resolution
1.11 on nuclear weapons
2 urges all provinces to study and critically assess NATO's first strike
policy.
ANGLICAN COMMUNION PRIORITIES, STRATEGIES AND BUDGETS
ACC-11
a thanks the Anglican Communion Priorities Working Group for their paper;
b agrees that there are two priorities for the Anglican Communion, namely
mission and ecumenism (as they are defined and elaborated in the Anglican
Communion Priorities Working Group paper);
c recognises that
i communications,
ii enabling the Communion to meet at various levels,
iii a strong and effective secretariat
iv are all essential for achieving the two Anglican Communion priorities;
d affirms that priorities in future may be proposed by
i The Archbishop of Canterbury
ii The Primates
iii The Anglican Consultative Council
iv The Lambeth Conference
v The ACC Standing Committee
vi The Primates Standing Committee
vii Commissions and Networks
viii The Anglican Communion Secretariat
e affirms further that the priorities must be decided by the ACC or the
Joint Standing Committee.
EAST TIMOR
This ACC expresses
1 deep concern over the East Timor tragedy following the referendum on
independence in the territory;
2 appreciation of the work of the UN in moving forward possibilities of
peace and justice for the East Timorese and their progress towards
independence;
3 support for the ministry and human rights work of the Indonesian Communion
of Churches (PGI) and assures the PGI and its member churches of our
continuing prayers; and,
calls on
1 Anglicans throughout the world to pray for the restoration of peace and
justice and a cessation of guerrilla activity in East Timor;
2 Anglicans to press their political leaders to urge the Indonesian
government and army to assist in bringing an immediate end to human rights
abuses against the people of East Timor;
3 the world community to give every possible assistance for the
rehabilitation and development of East Timor and its people; and
4 on Anglicans to pray for the safety of the members of the UN peacekeeping
forces and all those ministering to the religious needs of the troops,
especially Anglican chaplains.
ISRAEL-PALESTINE PEACE PROCESS
In the light of recent positive developments towards reaching a just and
lasting peace settlement in the Middle East, this ACC
1 Heartily endorses Lambeth Conference Resolution V.20 on the Holy Land
2 Asks the Secretary General to write to the Israeli Government and the
Palestinian Authority urging them to continue their efforts to strengthen
the peace process so that all involved may enjoy equal rights and live
together in dignity and harmony as children of God.
3 Asks member churches to continue praying for and encouraging the peace
process
CUBA
This ACC-11 reaffirms Resolution V.9 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference (and its
predecessor resolution in the Lambeth Conference 1988) calling for the
cessation of the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
NETWORK OF ANGLICANS IN MISSION AND EVANGELISM (NAME)
This ACC-11
welcomes and appreciates the desire of groups within the Communion to assist
the Communion in its mission and evangelism responsibilities.
hopes that, in time, it will be possible to welcome the Network of Anglicans
in Mission and Evangelism (NAME) as a Network working with the
Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Mission and Evangelism.
requests that NAME comply with the ACC-10 guidelines for networks.
resolves that for this to happen, the following steps must be completed to
the satisfaction of the ACC Standing Committee:
a A positive review of the proposal by the Provinces and major mission
agencies, to be facilitated by the Anglican Communion Office (ACO).
b Formation of a secretariat, or staff, and programme committee by NAME that
inspires confidence in the network's intentions.
c Clarification of the membership of NAME, particularly the question of
whether the network is open to people or organisations other than individual
bishops and institutions/agencies.
d The working out of a mutually acceptable reporting and financial
accountability to the Anglican Consultative Council, by NAME liaising with
the Secretary General.
e The establishment of a mutually acceptable working relationship with the
Mission Commission, which takes account of the Mission Commission's mandate
while enabling NAME to operate effectively and efficiently.
f Compliance with other recommendations of MISSIO set out in Appendix B of
its report to ACC-11.
g Asks the Standing Committee, once all requirements have been met regarding
NAME as a network member, to bring a recommendation to ACC-12.
ANGLICAN INDIGENOUS NETWORK
This ACC
1 Receives the report of the Anglican Indigenous Network.
2 Notes that the Anglican Indigenous Network is looking at ways of
encouraging greater participation by indigenous minority peoples living in
their own lands in the Network's activities.
3 Affirms that the Anglican Indigenous Network has an important role to play
in assisting the Church to find its way forward to ensure that the potential
contribution of indigenous people to all aspects of the life of the Church
is constantly enhanced.
4 Requests that the Secretary General of the ACC consult with the Anglican
Indigenous Network on the suitability and appropriateness of the current
arrangements for the participation of the indigenous peoples in the affairs
of the ACC and report, as appropriate, to the Joint Standing Committee.
5 Asks the Standing Committee of the ACC to consider how assistance,
including, but not exclusively, financial, be provided to the Anglican
Indigenous Network to advance its activities.
ANGLICAN CONGRESS: PROPOSAL FROM ACC DISCUSSION 18 SEPT
This ACC
1 Receives the report on the proposed Anglican Congress;
2 Welcomes the positive suggestion of the Archbishop of Canterbury during
the ACC discussion that an Anglican Congress should be held in association
with the next Lambeth Conference;
3 Notes
a the discussions which date back to ACC-9,
b various expressions of support for such a Congress,
c the comment in The Virginia Report which acknowledges "the creative
opportunity an Anglican Congress might, from time to time, offer the
Communion for the renewal of its life, witness and mission," and
the estimated cost structures and advice of the Inter Anglican Finance
Committee;
4 Recommends
a That there should be an Anglican Congress in association with the next
Lambeth Conference;
b That such an event should be held in the first decade of the 21st Century
at a place to be determined by the
Archbishop of Canterbury in consultation with the Joint Standing Committee;
c That for the Congress the Archbishop of Canterbury invites the diocesan
bishop, and on behalf of the Primates and the ACC invites 4 other persons of
whom 3 should be lay, at least one person a woman and one under the age of
28; and
5 Requests the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Secretary General and the Joint
Standing Committee to put in hand such planning and financial provision as
would make this Congress a reality.
INTERNATIONAL DEBT: ANGLICAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
This ACC, noting that,
a the debt under which the countries of the Third World suffer is a shared
responsibility, thus it is also necessary to share the solution;
b the transfer of technology has been a very costly process, since such
technology has been the property of powerful nations; and
c The authorised loans to countries of the Third World has, in many cases,
through abuse benefited only a few;
now
1 Resolves to strengthen our efforts and advocacy in favour of the
cancellation of the international debt of poor countries;
2 Asks each of the delegates to ACC-11 to send a letter to each of the
presidents of the countries in the Group of Seven (G7), to the president of
the World Bank and to the president of the International Monetary Fund,
urging the cancellation of the international debt of poor countries;
3 Encourages the identification of development projects in poor countries or
regions which have the potential to generate resources and provide local
employment.
REPORT OF THE ANGLICAN PEACE AND JUSTICE NETWORK
This ACC
a receives the report of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network dated April
1999;
b welcomes the breadth of issues with which it is engaged; and commends the
report to the provinces for reflection and action.
THE VIRGINIA REPORT
This Council, noting that the Virginia Report was introduced to ACC-10
(Panama 1996) and that Lambeth 1998 welcomed the report and requested the
Primates "to monitor a decade of study in each province on the report,"
1 Requests the Primates to ensure that opportunity is given at provincial
and diocesan level for careful and critical study of the report.
2 Asks that a summary of the report in simple language be made available by
the Anglican Communion Office in order to assist further study.
3 Recommends that the Virginia Report be studied by others such as those
working in theological seminaries.
4 Suggests that seminars be organised as soon as possible to train leaders
in the provinces to facilitate the study of the Virginia Report at the local
level.
DEBATE
The sessions dealing with the resolutions sparked active discussion and, at
times, discord on some of the issues. The Revd Canon Michael Burrows, a
Church of Ireland delegate, praised, in particular, the report of the
Anglican Peace and Justice Network. He said, however, he was distressed that
there was "unhelpful confusion" on some the report's proposals. A motion on
homosexuals, part of this report, was withdrawn by the proposer, the Revd
Sam Koshiishi of Japan, speaking for the network. Bishop Michael Ingham,
Anglican Church of Canada, protested the failure of the ACC to address this
issue and called their hesitance a "shameful failure of nerve" and expressed
dismay at what he called "the pressure to withdraw the motion" put upon Fr
Koshiishi.
The entire report was received by the ACC. The network states, in a
reference to homosexuality, "the network agreed to continue to consider the
justice dimensions of the debate over homosexuality, in the hope of
contributing to the dialogue called for in the Lambeth resolution".
A proposal for network status for NAME, a mission and evangelism group, will
be raised at ACC-12. A resolution asked that certain requirements were
needed for such a designation to be made. The Revd Robert Sessum, Executive
Council member from the Episcopal Church USA spoke of "serious concerns"
about the group. The Very Revd John Moses, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral,
London, England, raised the issue of whether or not recognising NAME would
actually be setting up "a parallel structure" in relation to work already
done by the ACC.
Elections were held for two vacancies on the Standing Committee. Professor
George Koshy of the Church of South India and the Most Revd Peter Akinola,
of Abuja Diocese Nigeria were elected to fill these posts. Ms Wong Fung Yi
of Hong Kong was elected to serve on the Inter Anglican Finance Committee.
The ACC also voted to offer the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church a co-opted
place for one of its members, to open wider representations for Anglicans in
Europe.
GRATEFUL THANKS
In the final session grateful thanks were offered to the Primus of the
Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Revd Richard Holloway, and his staff and
volunteers for all that they had done to make their international visitors
feel welcome. The Archbishop of Canterbury called the meeting "successful
and peaceful". Chief organiser from the host church, Ms Pat McBryde, spoke
with warmth and affection about the ACC members. She said that it was
certain that friendships and bonds made during the last two weeks "will not
readily be dissolved". Using a typical Scottish phrase, she ended her words
with "Haste Ye Back".
New ACC member, the Revd Robert Thompson, of the West Indies, had the final
word as he expressed his gratitude for the deep experience of community he
had experienced during this meeting. He said, speaking of his new sense of
the reality of the Anglican Communion, "I cannot wait to share what I have
learned and experienced here with my province."
The ACC gratefully accepted the invitation of Archbishop Peter Kwong to hold
their next meeting in Hong Kong.
A Scottish Ceilidh, hosted by the Diocese of Brechin, was the final event of
the two week meeting. Some ACC members will visit Iona, the great Celtic
pilgrimage site before returning to their respective countries.
Photos are available from the PhotoFile section of our website at
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/
NB: There are various official networks of the ACC, with the number of them
increasing over the years. The current networks include: Women, Youth, Peace
and Justice, Indigenous Peoples, Refugee and Migrants, Family and a
consultation on liturgy
A complete listing of the Resolutions of ACC-11 will be available on our
website next week.
Communications team
ACC-11
Ian Douglas, Margaret Rodgers, James Rosenthal, Manesseh Zindo