A Private Member’s Motion

January 20, 2010


Ms. Lorna Ashworth is a member of the General Synod of the Church of England who has proposed a Private Member’s motion “That this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America”. She has published a background paper filled with misinformation, and the Secretary General of the Communion has published a background note that appears to be supportive of the motion but is predictably ‘careful’. Simon Samiento has reported on Thinking Anglicans that the House of Bishops has both prepared and amendment and not seen fit to contact the Houses of Bishops of the three Anglican Churches of North America (Mexico, Canada and the US with some former missionary dioceses including Haiti among others). Unless someone mounts a campaign to put a stop to this, observers from many perspectives seem to think it will pass. However many agenda there are at play here, we must not forget that the ‘offense’ behind all this maneuvering is the full recognition and inclusion of gay and lesbian people as such in the life of the church, without hedging, playing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’, making noises about pastoral care while declining to support our brothers and sisters as children of God etc. etc. It is all hate and fear and power dressed up in reasoned clothing. The marginalization of The Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion is likely to continue under the leadership of the current Archbishop of Canterbury whether this motion passes or not. I pray that our friends in the C of E will make some noise.