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[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3133 - ACC-12 MEDIA RELEASE NO 4 - 16 September 2002

On the Archbishop of Canterbury's Presidential Address at ACC-12

16th September 2002

"An erosion of Communion through the adoption of local options reaching
crisis proportions today"

In his final Presidential Address to the Anglican Consultative Council, Dr
George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, shared his 'greatest worry' with the
ACC members.

"I must point out my greatest worry," Archbishop Carey said. "I would be
failing in my duty if I recoiled away from it out of an assumption that
silence is the safer option.

"In short, my concern is that our Communion is being steadily undermined by
dioceses and individual bishops taking unilateral action, usually (but not
always) in matters to do with sexuality; and as a result steadily driving us
towards serious fragmentation and the real possibility of two (or, more
likely, many more) distinct Anglican bodies emerging. This erosion of
communion through the adoption of 'local options' has been going for some
thirty years but in my opinion is reaching crisis proportions today."

The Archbishop declined to discuss the issue that has led some clergy in the
Diocese of New Westminster [Canada] to rebel against their bishop and their
diocesan Synod.

"I respect the sincerity of Bishop Michael Ingham and his diocesan synod,
and I do no doubt that they believe that they are acting in the best
interests of all, as they see it," Archbishop Carey said. "But I deeply
regret that Michael and his synod, and other bishops and dioceses in similar
situations in North America seem to be making such decisions without regard
to the rest of us and against the clear statements of Lambeth '98."

Archbishop Carey said this matter also has serious ecumenical implications.
"I have had countless conversations with leaders of other Churches who have
spoken gently but sternly of our internal disorderliness on issues such as
this. It is viewed as a major stumbling block to the unity we claim we seek
with the universal Church," the Archbishop said.

But it is not just matters of sexuality that are of concern. Archbishop
Carey says the resolution he has put in for consideration by the ACC can
also be seen to entreat "the Diocese of Sydney on the issue of Lay
Presidency to submit the matter to its Province and to have regard to the
effect of any decision it makes on the wider Communion to which it belongs.
He also pointed out that his resolution was relevant to the deposition of Fr
David Moyer by the Bishop of Pennsylvania which has consequences for the
whole Anglican Communion.

Yet the greater part of this wide-ranging Presidential Address turned ACC
minds towards the vital issues confronting the witness of the Anglican
Church in the world today.

He instanced the tension between globalisation and fragmentation, the
tension between our longing for peace and the threats that undermine it, the
tension between an Inter-faith World and the clash of religions, and finally
the tension and clash between cultures.

He mentioned the increasing understanding of the importance of the
Communion, while at the same time, there is an awareness of the
"disconnectness between the independent Provinces" that cannot be the future
of the Anglican Communion.

He urged Anglicans around the Communion to remember they are called to carry
forward the work of Christ, not to waver in the commitment to mission in
action, and to honour the Communion's heritage of faith.

In his conclusion Archbishop Carey emphasised his confidence in the
strengthening of the Communion's bonds of affection and its commitment to
mission in action.

"As I re-imagine the Communion I am confident that as long as we focus on
strengthening the bonds of affection and deepen our mission to the most
vulnerable, the very poor and those without hope in Christ, we shall grow
stronger and fulfil the enormous potential of which we are capable,"
Archbishop Carey concluded.

ACC members gave their President a standing ovation.

(from the ACC News team: Dan England, Margaret Rodgers, James Rosenthal)

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