The upcoming Syno
d of the Diocese of the Northeast, Anglican Church in America (ACA) will feature a well-known speaker. It has been announced on their website: "It is our pleasure to announce that Bishop Walter Grundorf will be the guest speaker at our upcoming diocesan synod. Bishop Grundorf is the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Province in America. The APA was formed in 1995 during the formative years of the Anglican Continuum. Bishop Grundorf and the APA had, in fact, been part of the Anglican Church in America for several years after its founding."
d of the Diocese of the Northeast, Anglican Church in America (ACA) will feature a well-known speaker. It has been announced on their website: "It is our pleasure to announce that Bishop Walter Grundorf will be the guest speaker at our upcoming diocesan synod. Bishop Grundorf is the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Province in America. The APA was formed in 1995 during the formative years of the Anglican Continuum. Bishop Grundorf and the APA had, in fact, been part of the Anglican Church in America for several years after its founding."The last paragraph is written as a sort of disclaimer: "Bishop Marsh in placing the invitation in context said 'This does not affect our current discussions about the Apostolic Constitution and the Ordinariates nor have any of our episcopate or parishes joined the APA. It is an opportunity for us to reach out to a fellow continuing Anglican church body in the hopes of finding unity among those of us who have the same faith and practices. Please join us in welcoming Bishop Walter Grundorf as our guest speaker at this, our Nineteenth diocesan synod.' "
That ACA diocese may feature any speaker they wish, and I can think of no reason to offer criticism. However, it seems unlikely that much ground for unity can be achieved between them and the APA, which has stated its position on Anglicanorum Coetibus as, basically, thanks but no thanks. The APA is not interested in heading to Rome. If the Diocese of the Northeast, ACA plan to maintain "the same faith and practices" it is good news indeed. If they plan to head toward "the Apostolic Constitution and the Ordinariates" however, then they will continue in a direction obviously divergent from that of Presiding Bishop Grundorf and the APA.
The hopeful sign in all of this is that an ACA Diocese, along with their Bishop Ordinary, seem to be interested in looking for unity with Continuing Anglicans. We hope, therefore, that they will consider reconciliation with the three jurisdictions in concordat, especially reconciliation with the jurisdiction from which the ACA departed, their natural home, namely the Anglican Catholic Church Original Province. Somehow, it would seem more like reconciliation in the deepest sense of the word.
Could the accordion be closing?
ReplyDeleteThe APA was once part of the ACA who was once part of the ACC. If the APA and at least some of the ACA come together into meaningful unity, it would seem logical to at the very least investigate unity with the ACC. Combine this with the current state of unity among the ACC/UECNA & APCK, and we certainly would have cause to celebrate.
I am encouraged by this.One step a time the Continuum seems to be coming together.
ReplyDeleteGod may yet bring good from the amazing Hepworthian folly which is tearing the ACA to shreds. This may in time become the catalyst which brings the fragments of the continuing Anglican Church together. I applaud Bp Marsh's invitation to Bp Grundorf, praying that it will be a profitable encounter for all involved.
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Where men seek the Mitre for their own gratification, there can be no unity.
ReplyDeleteI agree - I hope it all goes well.
ReplyDeleteMy question on this is, why is it just the ACA who is inviting Bishop Grundorf to their Synod. If we truly want unity in the Continuum, we need to put out the feelers and see what comes of it. There's going to be those left in the ACA who don't go to Rome. If we could hold out the olive branch to both them and the APA, perhaps we can work towards intercommunion between all of our churches. That would be a great first step towards the unity we all seek.
ReplyDeleteThe major problem, as I see it, is that there are people within each of the provinces who are arrogant, unforgiving, and lack the trust in the Holy Spirit to bring about the unity. If it keeps up, even with our small steps, it will be another generation before we get back on our feet. By then, the ACNA will have stepped in and taken our opportunity away from us.
Actually, Fr. Steve, it is only one diocese in the ACA, not the whole enchilada.
ReplyDeleteI too hope we can one day unify the continuum, but to my understanding, the reason there isn't more unity between the ACC/UEC/APCK and the APA is much more complex than simply a 'lack of trust,' as one commenter noted. There are some serious theological questions to be discussed before progress can be made. The main ones, to my understanding, are (1) the APA's involvement with the Reformed Episcopal Church (which at its formation denied the doctrine of Apostolic Succession, regardless of what is in vogue there today; given the strained relationship between the two, however, this could 'solve itself' in time), (2) the APA's reputation, real or imagined, for taking in post-1979 Episcopal clergy without conditional reordination, and (3) the APA's involvement with Anglican Communion Provinces which are openly in Communion with those which ordain women, namely Nigeria (see the ACC's Athens Statement on Unity). Again this last point could also solve itself if Nigeria begins to purport to ordain women 'deacons' which it has stated it plans to do, and given that it has essentially thrown its lot in with ACNA (from which the APA has wisely pulled back from).
ReplyDeleteAlso (continuing from the last) I have been told that the APA's adhesion to the "Declaration of St. Louis" is not as unambiguous or unqualified as those of the other jurisdictions mentioned in this thread.
ReplyDeleteThose better informed concerning these matters should by all means correct me if I am mistaken in this regard.
i would note that the Dic of NE (ACA) and the APA have a parish they share oversight for in Mass.
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