A March 18 statement from Lambeth Palace has expressed the Archbishop of Canterbury’s concern about the confirmation of the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool as a bishop suffragan for the Diocese of Los Angeles.
The statement notes that the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion affirmed the call by the Anglican Consultative Council and Archbishop Rowan Williams for continued restraint regarding partnered gay and lesbian bishops; public blessings of same-sex couples; and cross-jurisdiction border crossings.
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Ian Douglas, bishop-elect of the Diocese of Connecticut, attended the December meeting of the standing committee, which was formerly known as the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council.
Episcopal News Service quoted portions of the statement, and the Rev. Canon Kendall Harmon posted the full 80-word text on his weblog.
This is the full statement from Lambeth Palace:
It is regrettable that the appeals from Anglican Communion bodies for continuing gracious restraint have not been heeded. Following the Los Angeles election in December the archbishop made clear that the outcome of the consent process would have important implications for the communion. The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion reiterated these concerns in its December resolution which called for the existing moratoria to be upheld. Further consultation will now take place about the implications and consequences of this decision.
3 Comments
All we seem to get from Lambeth is consultation and more consultation; this is a far cry from action. How many more black eyes does Rowan Williams have to receive at the hands of The Episcopal Church before he will recognize that they have set their own course which is anything but biblically true and faithful to the Scriptures? Please note that I have referred to the gentleman by his name; he will earn his title in my eyes when I start to see some degree of leadership in stopping this continuing subversion of the faith emanating from TEC in North America.
Fred Scott
Once again TEC will say anything to sound responsive to others concerns and then do what TEC damn well pleases to do with no concern for others than themselves.
To date, all we have heard from Lambeth is "consultation" ad nauseam, but, surely, no action whatsoever! So, we who believe that Christ is "the way" and that the holy scriptures contain all that is needed for salvation are being left in the morass of uncertainty by Rowan Williams. Where the Anglican Church in North America stands on key issues of morality and biblical authority is manifestly evident. Where The Episcopal Church stands on such matters is dependent upon how the Presiding Bishop sees things as such may vary from time to time according to current social mores, somewhat like the state of the Chancellor's toe. I will refer to Rowan as the Archbishop of Canterbury when he earns the respect associated formerly with that title.
Fred Scott