Good News FromTangata Whenua

Image by Phil_NZ via Flickr

Bosco Peters in New Zealand has alerted many of us throughout the world of developments by the second Episcopal Unit (cf. diocese) in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia Today, regarding the disastrous proposal called the ‘Anglican Covenant.

The full reference is here http://bit.ly/ijPwuF.

There are comments that are concise and crystal clear and many that sum up my own initial reaction on hearing about the dreadful proposal last year.

Te Tairawhiti wishes to express the following:
■We have carefully considered the text of The Anglican Communion Covenant, and what we know of the context in which it was proposed;
■In terms of our shared Mihingare and Anglican heritage, our call to communion, and our call to ministry and mission, the Covenant offers us nothing new or more compelling than the Spiritual Covenant that we already have with each other through faith in Jesus Christ;
■We see that Section Four of The Anglican Communion Covenant propose measures of compliance and discipline – including “relational consequences” and being declared “incompatible with the Covenant” – that go against our Gospel imperative to “love one another” (John 13:34-35).
We note that our sister Amorangi, Te Hui Amorangi o Te Manawa o Te Wheke, has stated its opposition to The Anglican Communion Covenant because:
■It is a threat to the rangatiratanga of the Tangata Whenua;
■It does not reflect our understanding of being Anglican in these Islands; and
■We should instead focus on the restoration of justice for Tangata Whenua under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
We agree with Te Hui Amorangi o Te Manawa o Te Wheke, and choose here to stand in solidarity with them.
For the reasons expressed above, Te Hui Amorangi o Te Tairawhiti states that it is opposed to the adoption of The Anglican Communion Covenant.
MOVED: Rev Don Tamihere SECONDED: Rev Connie Tuheke-Ferris
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY WITH ACCLAMATION

Cold Comfort Synod

Image by bondiben via Flickr

The forthcoming synod which will be upon us very soon, will be heralded by a flurry of difficult decisions.  Conscientious Synod members will have pre-booked their rail tickets by now and hopefully thereby saved their diocese considerable sums of money as they take advantage of early booking savings.  The few who are more apt to leave matters to the last minute will be submitting their claims to the church in the same way, but obviously for a good deal more money.  The parable of the wise virgins comes to mind but not to worry, everyone gets into this particular celebration and no one will be left out in the wintry cold of London.

Well at least no one would except that 'the powers that be' have no idea about the cost of London accommodation and delegates are forced to find poor (cold) accommodation near to the venue for Synod or face a long journey to get there but be more assured of a good nights sleep and a reasonable breakfast before the days hard work ahead of them.  Again, early booking can reap some rewards, but  London is a popular place!

Oh so often this situation is bemoaned by synod members and suggestions and indeed 'nicely put complaints' are made, but to no good end.  It appears that the Church of England does not value its Synod members and does not care one jot about their accommodation.

Over and over again Synod members have cried out for a block booking of a large hotel, perhaps, or some other arrangement, but not to leave them with a meagre allowance and left to ‘get on with it’.  If you ring the staff at Church House they will privately sympathise with you and agree that the situation is 'not fai'r or indeed tolerable, but they cannot help you to secure adequate accommodation and you are left to surf the net with your pittance of an allowance gripped tightly in your hand; or more like, a promise to pay it,....eventually.

Of course this really only applies to the delegates who don’t actually live in London or who don’t have friends or colleagues in London, people in the north!  Archbishop Rowan and Mr Sentimoo will have no accommodation difficulties; they will be snuggling into deep pillows and spacious beds at night, and will be able to walk about in their accommodation.  They will not be offering to share their place (palace) to the hard pressed delegates attending their circus this February, nor will the Officers of Church House! 

I wonder why it is not a priority.

Don’t submit to the Archbishop’s ‘Covenant’!

Image via WikipediaThis week key people in the UK will be thinking about their plans to help the people in the Diocese to understand the negative aspects of the proposed ‘Anglican Covenant’.

They will have to face the might of the establishment, not least the force of the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, who are in favour of the Covenant and Mr. Sentimoo particularly is demanding support.

Let’s hope that this restrictive and damaging proposal can be successfully avoided and that moderation and reason prevail.

Statue of Richard Hooker: A founder of 'Anglicanism'. He helped to establish reason and tolerance, along with tradition, as being central to the church.  The Archbishop's covenant is a clear attempt to undermine that foundation.

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Mr C is opposed to the Anglican Covenant because it is an attempt to add yet another layer of bureaucracy to the church.  It is an attempt to centralise the world-wide Anglican Communion and to limit its ability to respond to local situations. The Archbishops support it because of the real power it gives to them and to the ‘establishment’ within the Church in their attempt to keep the church as they want it.

The church has already responded positively to the position of women in the church, and this has inevitably resulted in divisions and fractures in the Church of England and the leaders are very nervous as a result.

The path of change has already been chosen and the church leaders applauded it at the time.  The proposed Anglican ‘Covenant’ is a clear attempt by some leaders to discourage any more change. The Archbishops are attempting to stifle the church rather than allow it to grow and develop, they wish to control any future development by having power to discourage that which they may disapprove of.

It is an unnecessary piece of legislation that destroys  the gift of Anglicanism to the Christian world and includes force by discipline for those who wish to continue in the Anglican tradition of liberalism, risk and diversity.

It is wrong of them to suggest that they would not be given new powers to admonish and punish by introducing this illiberal document into the church and it reveals their desperation every time they deny this part of their document despite its clear inclusion.

It is dishonest and misappropriates the true nature of ‘Covenant’ which is God-given and final, and has been with us since Christ redeemed the world.

We have all that we require for salvation in the documents and covenants we already posses.  The current church leaders cannot usurp the truth of salvation through Christ, and they cannot brow beat the church into ‘good behaviour’.

In opening the door of change, from its very inception, the Church of England has walked along its chosen path devoutly and with courage.  It cannot now wish that it were elsewhere and pretend to be in Rome!

Mr. C.

Related articles

• General Synod: Anglican Covenant debate (thinkinganglicans.org.uk)
• The Anglican Covenant (archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com)