Anglican Mainstream: "key points"

The latest post at Anglican Mainstream adds a few points based on the press conference

http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/?p=1289

The Communique is out and can be read on the Stand Firm Website here

Communique key points

The Archbishop of Canterbury said at the press conference that ‘the meat of our recommendations is para 17′. This reads “At the heart of our tensions is the belief that The Episcopal Church has departed from the standard of teaching on human sexuality accepted by the Communion in the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 by consenting to the episcopal election of a candidate living in a committed same-sex relationship, and by permitting Rites of Blessing for same-sex unions. The episcopal ministry of a person living in a same-sex relationship is not acceptable to the majority of the Communion.”

The report of the sub-group has effectively been over-ridden. Para 23 reads “Further, some of us believe that Resolution B033 of the 75th General Convention does not in fact give the assurances requested in the Windsor Report.” And Para 24 says, “The response of The Episcopal Church to the requests made at Dromantine has not persuaded this meeting that we are yet in a position to recognise that The Episcopal Church has mended its broken relationships.”

Deadlines

The Primates request through the presiding bishop that the house of Bishops of TEC:

1. make an unequivocal common covenant that the Bishops will not authorise any rite of blessing for same-sex unions in their dioceses or through general Convention, and,
2. confirm that the passing of resolution B033 of the seventy-fifth general convention - see Windsor 143 and 144 - means that a candidate for Episcopal orders living in a same-sex union shall not receive the necessary consent - see Windsor 134. Unless some new consensus on these matters emerges across the communion. - see Windsor para 134.

The Deadline for the answer is September 30th 2007. If the reassurances cannot in good conscience be given then “the relationship between TEC and the Anglican Communion as a whole remains damaged at best, and this has consequences for the full participation of the church in the life of the communion.”

On AMia and CANA
“Although there are particular difficulties associated with AMiA and CANA, the Pastoral Council should negotiate with them and the Primates currently ministering to them to find a place for them within these provisions. We believe that with goodwill this may be possible.”

Property
The Primates urge TEC and those congregations in property disputes with it to suspend all actions in law arising in this situation. Bishop Martin Minns of CANA has said “I am pleased that the Anglican Communion leadership has recognised the serious break in the Episcopal Church and that CANA and AMiA are valid expressions of Anglican life and need to be part of the solution. The Primates are saying that all legal action should stop. I hope so. The Presiding Bishop initiated the legal actions and she has signed on to a document that says she will.”

The Communique is unanimous.