wfn.org | ACNS Daily Bulletin June 24, 2010

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

> The Standing Committee Daily Bulletin

Posted On : July 26, 2010 5:16 PM | Posted By : Webmaster

ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2010/7/26/ACNS4717

> Related Categories: ACC  ACC - SCAC  ACO

> Day 2 of 4: Saturday 24 June, 2010

> In brief

?ACC-15 to be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland.

?Committee decides separation would inhibit dialogue.

?UN Anglican Observer: "Our Anglican witness is becoming visible."

?ACC "proper body" to consider Primates' request for eight Standing
Committee members

Saturday's agenda included reports from Chair Bp James Tengatenga and
Secretary General Revd Canon Kenneth Kearon; the UN Anglican
representatives' reports; reports on finance and administration;
business matters; the ACC, the Primates' Meeting and the Standing
Committee; and the Lambeth Conference Company.

A proposal from Dato' Stanley Isaacs that The Episcopal Church be
separated from the Communion led to a discussion in which Committee
members acknowledged the anxieties felt in parts of the Communion
about sexuality issues. Nevertheless, the overwhelming opinion was
that separation would inhibit dialogue on this and other issues among
Communion Provinces, dioceses and individuals and would therefore be
unhelpful. The proposal was not passed, and the group agreed to defer
further discussion until progress on Continuing Indaba project had
been considered.

> Chair report

Bp James spoke briefly about his recent sabbatical in the USA that had
allowed him to attend several gatherings including a meeting of
Diocese of Dallas at which the Covenant was discussed. He also
expressed his excitement about certain Anglican Communion initiatives
including the proposed Anglican Relief, Development and Advocacy Alliance.

> Secretary General's report

Revd Canon Kenneth Kearon's report highlighted three Communion
initiatives: the Evangelism and Church Growth Initiative, the Anglican
Relief, Development and Advocacy Alliance; and the Healthcare
Network's pilot micro health insurance project in Tanzania. He also
celebrated the ecumenical work of the Communion and the annual
Canterbury Bishops and Seminarians courses. Canon Kearon also
commented on his time at the Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod
and noted the way six sessions had been given over to Indaba-style
conversations to consider responses to same-sex issues. The resulting
document was, he said, well received and welcomed by all perspectives
as representing accurately the mind of the Church at this time.

He concluded by noting that the credibility of the Primates' Meeting
and the ACC was being openly questioned by some and this criticism was
increasingly focused on the Standing Committee itself. Chair Bp James
Tengatenga stressed it was important for everyone to remember that ACC
members were elected and sent by their own Provinces and Synods and
represented a very wide spectrum of views across the world. Vice Chair
Canon Elizabeth Paver said the Committee needed to respond to
criticisms "positively and robustly", welcomed the appointment of the
ACO's new Director for Communications and said that improved
communication and openness would promote trust and better
understanding of the work of the Instruments.

Archbishop Rowan Williams questioned whether the ACC's committee
structure was appropriate for this new century. He said questions
needed asking about whether revised Instrument structures were
required to better foster the relationship-building parts of the
Communion's life, "so when it comes to looking at the complex
questions of the Communion we have a better foundation upon which to build."

Later in the meeting, the Committee asked a small group of Standing
Committee members to prepare a proposal for ACC-15 on undertaking a
strategic review and planning process relating to ACC membership and
meetings and Standing Committee structure and operation.

> Report from Anglican representatives at UN

Hellen Wangusa, the Communion's and Archbishop of Canterbury's
representative at the UN in New York, explained to the Committee the
remit, aims, challenges and successes of Communion staff in New York
and Geneva. She said that work in both centres was significantly
contributing to UN business. Also, Anglicans from around the world had
attended UN meetings to share their experience and knowledge of local
issues and had themselves benefitted from learning more about UN
structures. She concluded by saying she believed that "our [the
Anglican Communion's] witness is becoming visible at the UN."

> Finance and Administration

ACC consultant Robert Fordham and ACO Director for Finance and
Administration Andrew Franklin introduced the Report and Financial
Statements for the year ended 31 December 2009. The Committee
subsequently agreed to adopt the report.

Chair of the Inter-Anglican Finance and Administration Committee Canon
Elizabeth Paver presented that committee's report to the Standing
Committee. The organisation's auditors were re-appointed as required
by English law.

> New Constitution

Canon John Rees guided the Standing Committee through the history and
content of the new Constitution of the Anglican Consultative Council.

> Anglican Communion Fund

Mr John Stuart (ACC), Bp Tengatenga (ACC) and Canon Elizabeth Paver
(Standing Committee) were all appointed trustees to the Anglican
Communion Fund. Regarding the appointment of two trustees from the
Primates' Standing Committee, the members present took note of the
request, agreed to take it forward and advise the Secretary General of
its decision.

> ACC-15

Canon Kearon then reported that during his visit to New Zealand
earlier this year he had met with an informal group about the planning
of ACC-15. Bishop John Paterson has been selected to Chair an official
planning group and the venue has been selected as Holy Trinity
Cathedral in Auckland. The group also identified the strong mission
theme of ACC-14 as something they would like to continue.

> Primates on the Standing Committee

After extensive discussion on the Primates' Meeting 2009 request to
increase its Standing Committee membership from five to eight, the
Standing Committee:

1.noted the request from the Primates' Meeting 2009 to increase from 5
to 8 the number of Primates on the Standing Committee

2.affirmed that the proper body to make a decision about this request
is the ACC

3.without expressing a view for or against the request asked the Legal
Adviser to draft constitutional changes to implement the following
structure for the Standing Committee for consideration at the next
Standing Committee meeting and eventually by ACC-15: The President,
the Chairperson, the Vice-chairperson, 8 Primates, 8 other
Trustee-members (non-Primates)

4.requested the Finance and Administration Committee to advise on the
financial implications of this proposal.

> The Lambeth Conference Company

The Secretary General, as current Chair of the Lambeth Conference
Company presented his report to the Committee. The Committee welcomed
the nomination of the Vice Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church
University Professor Michael Wright CBE as the new Chair of the LCC.