Friday, November 10, 2006

+Haverland on Conservative Anglicanism

Well if this ain't an example of what I was talking about in "No News is ... No New," compounded by the fact that I haven't been monitoring things as closely as I should have.

The metropolitan of the Anglican Catholic Church, the Most Revd Mark Haverland, made a speech on August 22 to the Fellowship of Concerned Churchmen. Only thanks to my tardy check today of the Christian Challenge web site did I only discover this now.

C'mon folks! If you don't blow your own horn, you can be sure no one else will.

But let me not distract the reader from the substance of Archbishop Haverland's excellent address, in which he tackles the question of what conservative Anglicanism has to contribute to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Interestingly, he begins by arguing against the use, not only of the term conservative, but also of orthodox. Instead, he proposes that the word traditional is the most appropriate, even if it is still perhaps too broad and comprehensive.

Here's the full address in PDF.

5 comments:

ACC Member said...

Archbishop Haverland is a true scholar and a good pastor in every sense of the word. I agree that the word "traditional" is a better desrcription. Another word I like is "Classical Anglicans" or "Classic Book of Common Prayer". In ads in the press for our church I often use the phrase "Classic Book of Common Prayer". The general public doesn't know the difference between the 1928 book or the 1979 book, etc. The term "classic" brings about the point of the Elizabethan English and the heritage of the BCP perfectly, I think. I also, by the way, in the ads say "Traditional Anglican Faith and Order".

Ken said...

I read it a few weeks ago, there other speeches too by others from the same conference. It is a shame that the ACC's own website is so poor one would never know anything about it.

To the substance of the what +Haverland wrote. Yes, it was a very good speech and shows that he has a vision to move beyond the "continuing" label (and even "anglican"). That is exactly what is needed if one wants a church to have some vitality for the future.

From what I've read of his in the past, +Haverland appears to have a keen mind. You might be able to access some of his other sermons and writings at his Cathederal's website.

Anonymous said...

It’s a good address. It’s ultimately disappointing to me, though, because I’m not sure there is any interest on the receivers’ parts in what we feel we have to give to the Church Catholic. First of all, neither Orthodoxy nor Rome considers us part of the Church Catholic in the first place; but, even if they did, I think the numbers sink us. How many traditional Anglicans (and the terminology argument is clever and persuasive on +Haverland’s part) would sign up to the proposed definition given? If it’s really just the Affirmation, I suppose all of the Continuum could; but, this obviously isn’t good enough, since the Continuing Churches are barely in communion with each other, and, in any case, what are we talking about? 30,000 or 50,000 communicants? That is versus one billion and 300 million. It’s statistical noise.

Sorry to be pessimistic. Unfortunately, I’m coming to believe that when ECUSA failed in the ‘70s, it failed for all of us, and it was closely followed by Canterbury.

Abu Daoud said...

I agree with Phil.

I mean, here in the Middle East neither in my country, nor in any of the surrounding four countries is there a single traditional Church. But on the other hand the Anglican province here, which is indeed in communion with Canterbury, does not have women in any Orders at all.

So the question is, why should I even consider the Anglican continuum?

Albion Land said...

Abu Daoud,

I'm not sure just what it is about what Phil said that you agree with, but I assume it is two things: the numbers game and the question of WO.

The numbers game can be played by different rules. Firstly, to the facts. I think the total number of continuers is closer to a figure of 250,000-300,000, if combining ACC, APA, APCK and TAC. Still, a drop in the bucket compared with the numbers Phil mentions, but irrelevant to one's faith and practice. (And I would recommend all to read what Cardinal Ratzinger wrote on the subject of numbers).

As for WO, you are right: The Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East, to which you refer, does not ordain women. I know from personal experience, however, that the reason for this is because of the negative affect that would have on its mission in what is overwhelmingly a Muslim region, not because of any theological scruples. Moreover, this province is in communion with the C of E, the TEC and other "mainstream" Anglican provinces that do have women clergy and which are also bordering on, or beyond, heresy in matters pertaining to fundamental doctrine. Yet in the five years I was affiliated with that province, I never once saw or heard an formal, public debate on these issues. My view is that if you do not reject and repudiate the practices of others, then you tacitly accept them.

Finally, your ultimate question is a most valid one: why even consider the continuum. I am not sure to what church you actually belong, but the answer to your question begins there. Is it a faithful exemplar of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church in terms of its faith and practice? If not, then you need to look beyond it. Then, if you have not, I would suggest you read the Affirmation of St Louis. Do you understand it all; to you believe all that it says? If there are difficulties with the former, you should seek clarification. Then, having obtained that clarification, you can better answer the second question.

Then, and only then, could you consider a move to the continuum an appropriate one. But sensible? You rightly point out that there are no continuing churches in your country and the ones around it. Nor is there one here in Cyprus. But there is nothing to prevent you from planting one. And until such time as you had a priest, provisions can be made for you to have access to the sacraments in the Roman church.

If you want to talk more about this, contact me offline.

Pax