It is just as impossible for the Episcopal Church to “walk away” from “communion” as it is for a believer to “walk away” from the all-embracing love of Christ, according to the Rev. Michael Battle, associate dean of academic affairs and vice president of Virginia Theological Seminary.

Fr. Battle, who will be among the delegation from the Episcopal Church making a theological explanation to the Anglican Consultative Council next month, was the keynote speaker at “Facing Windsor and Beyond,” a forum on the Windsor Report. The April 30 event was held at Church of the Ascension in Dallas and sponsored by the Via Media chapter in that diocese.

According to information posted on its website, chapter members are united in their desire to remain loyal to the Episcopal Church and its “traditional openness to wide-ranging theological interpretations.” Concerned by the bellicose interpretation of the Windsor Report many of its members believe predominates in the Diocese of Dallas, the organization sought other views by sponsoring the half-day forum.

To be useful, Fr. Battle said, the Windsor Report must be considered in its entirety, not simply by choosing particular paragraphs that reflect personal views. He described being “in communion” as having a concern for all persons, not just those who share a particular viewpoint, culture or lifestyle. “Increased diversity of cultures creates more communion,” he explained. “If you’re happy to stay in your own method or way of church, you won’t understand the benefits of communion.”

He led the participants through the major sections of the Windsor Report, noting in particular the grounds for the comments made by other provinces in the Anglican Communion and the various types of consequences of the actions taken by the Episcopal Church. Participants at the forum were keenly interested in what Fr. Battle had to say about the final paragraph in the report which states in part:

There remains a very real danger that we will not choose to walk together. Should the call to halt and find ways of continuing in our present communion not be heeded, then we shall have to begin to learn to walk apart.

Some members believe the passage is being used in a threatening way by some who dissent from the actions of the 74th General Convention.

Fr. Battle said he was also troubled by the passage, “because like St. Peter came to understand, I believe there is no place left to go if we walk away from Jesus,” he said. “Ultimately, communion is a gift. It is not something we can achieve or earn or can buy. Communion is God’s gift seen specially revealed in Jesus.”

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· Presiding Bishop to Attend ARCIC Launch

· Another Surprise Invitation from Rome to P.B.

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