Wim Houtman is Religion Editor of the Dutch evangelical daily newspaper,Nederlands Dagblad
CANTERBURY - So the Lambeth Conference is over, with no clear decisions or binding resolutions, only a Final Reflections Statement that leaves much to be desired in terms of clarity and readability. And yet, a scenario of sorts has emerged over the last few days of the Conference as to where things could move in the coming months.
It might be material for a crash course in 'How To Prevent a Church Schism', or 'How To Manage a Church Schism Without Actually Calling It That'.
Within two months the Anglican Communion will get a 'Pastoral Forum', a commission that can deal with situations of conflict and tension, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, anounced on Sunday in his final presidential address to the 670 bishops gathered in Kent.
The commission will serve as a safe haven for congregations who can no longer recognize the ministry of liberal bishops. But the group's task will be broader than that. It will also be a kind of 'flying brigade', which can "offer pastoral advice and guidelines'' in cases of conflict or divisive action.
Anglicans have been divided to the bone over the ordination of practising homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex relationships. But Williams mentioned other examples too: it might be a Church that wants to introduce a new Baptismal formula, or to delete reference to the Nicene Creed from its foundation, or about lay presidency at the eucharist or non-Christian texts in liturgies.
For early next year, Williams intends to convene a Primates' Meeting of the leaders of the thirty-eight Church provinces, to pave a way out of the current crisis. Those who shunned Lambeth out of protest will be invited again there.
No Communion
"I am sad, but not surprised," reflects the British-Argentinian Archbishop Greg Venables on the Conference. "We talked a lot, but the real issue was not discussed. By that I don't mean homosexuality. That is a tough issue, but I am ready to learn more. I mean the question: why are we divided? Why are we no Communion? It is because many in America and Canada hold a different definition of Christianity - with God being a force for good, Jesus a fine example, the Bible a witness to experience, the Christian faith just the best of more options.''
Even so he suggests he could live with the concrete suggestions that were put on the table last week to preserve unity. Beforehand, the way the Conference had been set up - a lot of talking in small groups - looked as if it was meant to avoid painful decisions. But it grew more concrete than that because a task force that Rowan Williams had formed, launched its suggestions during Lambeth:
- a moratorium on the blessing of same-sex relationships and gay ordination;
- a moratorium on orthodox bishops taking over orthodox congregations in other provinces;
- a 'Pastoral Forum' to provide a safe haven for such congregations;
- already preparations are underway for an 'Anglican Covenant', in which member Churches declare their desire to belong together and their commitment in times of difference not to go separate ways;
- Resolution I.10 of the previous Lambeth Conference in 1998, which declared "homosexual praxis as contrary to Scripture" has remained the mind of the Communion.
And so out of the fog a way ahead appears. The stumbling stone, homosexuality, is being tackled. Those who cannot hold out in their own dioceses, can flock to the Pastoral Forum. And the Covenant may be able to establish unity across a broad centre of the Anglican Communion.
Distrust
It won't be easy. Distrust and weariness abound on every side. A large section of the conservatives set up their own 'movement' in Jerusalem in June. They are unlikely to be easily persuaded back on board. But suppose that this Anglican Covenant will prove confessional enough for the extreme liberals to refuse to sign up to it. Then a broad centre will remain that it binds together. Not all the orthodox will come along. But there are many that for the sake of unity will be willing to go the extra mile.
The Pastoral Forum, too, will be met with apprehension. Conservative congregations from the US and Canada have asked for a provision for years. Until now, the waiting was for their respective official Church bodies leaders to consent. Now it looks as if it is going to happen whether they like it or not. The conservatives - who have sought refuge in Africa or South America in the meantime - will not be persuaded straightaway. Graham Kings of the evangelical group Fulcrum in England calls the Pastoral Forum a "good shepherd sheep fold": "When you try to get sheep in there, they won't automatically find the entrance, but when they recognize the voice of the good shepherd, they will.'' In other words: Williams needs to appoint people the conservatives are able to trust to that Forum - especially its episcopal chair.
And how does Archbishop Venables respond? He is one of those conservative bishops who have taken over congregations in the US, Canada and Brazil, among them the church in Vancouver where the famous theologian James Packer is an honorary canon.
Yes, Venables considers all of it put together - moratoria on liberal gay policies, Pastoral Forum, Covenant - an "intelligent and practical idea to get out of an impossible situation''. He intends to talk to his 'new' congregations to see how they feel about this Pastoral Forum.
But, he says, all of this is still only the process side. "This Covenant must also lay a solid theological and doctrinal foundation. Maybe, just maybe that will allow some sort of real unity to grow. Because I am now encoutering the limits, because there are limits in the Church: 'we believe in God'. I am not even sure all Anglicans are able to sign up to that short sentence."
Meanwhile, Archbishop Rowan is no Pope, so he cannot impose a Pastoral Forum and a Covenant on his own. There is the Primates' Meeting early next year, and then a meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, a representative body, in Jamaica in May, So, to be continued, at least until next Spring.
