Another very interesting step in the process of Anglican realignment.
COVENANT UNION OF ANGLICAN CHURCHES IN CONCORDAT
AMONG THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND
THE ANGLICAN PROVINCE OF AMERICA
Whereas the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America share a common heritage of faith and order within the Anglican tradition; be it understood that:
Article 1: The Churches, recognizing the fact that they are working together in the common cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, pledge to each other, their mutual cooperation, support, discipline and accountability.
Article 2: Wherever possible, individual congregations within proximate geographic locations will work closely and cooperatively to demonstrate their commitment to one another and their desire to witness to a consistent Biblical, Evangelical and Catholic expression of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Article 3: As evidence of our union in Christ and the Common Standards of the faith existing among the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America, a delegation of ministers and laity may be sent to attend each other’s Provincial and General Synods or Councils. As a further demonstration of our union, bishops of the Churches may attend each other’s episcopal meetings with the expectation that they will be invited to speak but not cast votes.
Article 4: The Ministers of the Churches may, subject to the respective regulations of the Churches, be eligible to exercise pastoral ministry in each Church. Archbishops and Bishops of the Churches in the concordat may also be invited to conduct episcopal duties with accountability, discipline and the episcopal blessing of the local appropriate provincial authorities.
Article 5: Communicants of the Churches may be received into the other Churches on presentation of letters of transfer, or their equivalent.
Article 6: It is also our declared intention to initiate a process that will permit us, in due course to enter into an agreement of full communion with a clear and common understanding of all of its implications.
(Thanks to TitusOneNine)
Further to my post, I am wondering what, if any other, continuuing jurisdictions were represented at the Pittsburgh meeting, and whether there are broader discussions afoot.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think it very unlikely the ACC or APCK would have been involved in a meeting for this purpose. The REC is a frankly Calvinist body, and there are similar tendencies in Nigeria. The denial of Eucharistic Sacrifice in the Concordat of intercommunion between the APA and REC is one indication that, however much Continuing Anglican Catholics may respect the motivations of these groups and their desire to "send a message" to the so-called Anglican Communion, we are on a different road to them. Nevertheless, if this helps to dissolve some of the (counterproductive and deceptive)glue holding the Canterbury Club together, that may be a good thing. There are many in there who need encouragement to make an honest break.
ReplyDeleteMK+
BTW, Albion, I have just sent you an email that I should have sent last week!