The Windsor Report

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The Windsor Report

• St. Pauls Episcopal Church
• January 26,2005

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We will discuss

• Why the report was written
• What the report says
• What it doesnt say
• Where things currently stand, if we can figure it
  out

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Why the report was written

• The Lambeth Commission was established in October
  2003
• By the ABC, at the request of the Anglican
  Primates
• Headed by The Most Rev. Dr. Robin Eames
• it requested consideration of the ways in which
  communion and understanding could be enhanced
  where serious differences threatened the life of
  a diverse and world wide church.

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Why the report was written page 2

• In response to the Election of V. Gene Robinson
  by the diocese of New Hampshire and the GCs
  ratification of that election
• The acknowledgement by the American Church that
  liturgies were being used to celebrate same sex
  blessings
• The actions of the Diocese of New Westminster to
  allow the blessing of same sex unions

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The Mandate (page 8 of the report)

• Examine and report on the legal and theological
  implications of the actions of the American and
  Canadian churches
• Practical recommendations for maintaining the
  highest degree of communion
• Identify circumstances under which the ABC should
  exercise extraordinary oversight
• Take due account of work already done by other
  bodies

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What the report says Grounds of our unity

• The gospel itself
• Ten Principles
• Local Initiative, mutuality, responsible
  stewardship, interdependence, cross-fertilization,
  integrity, transparency, solidarity, meeting
  together, acting ecumenically

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What the report saysRecent mutual discernment

• The ordination of women
• Exhaustive record of the intense, open and honest
  dialogue that went on in the world wide Anglican
  communion and the tools used to inform the
  actions of the affirmative churches

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What the report saysHow the current issue is
different

• None of the tools of communion were called forth
• None of the previous work done within the
  communion was referred to
• None of the honest pleas from around the
  communion were heeded

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Fundamental Principles

• The grounds of communion
• Bonds of affection, growing from our relationship
  with God and our shared identity
• Mutual relationships
• It subsists in visible unity, common confession
  of the apostolic faith, common belief in
  scripture and the creeds, common baptism and
  shared eucharist, and a mutually recognised
  common ministry. (25)

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The bonds of communion

• The authority of scripture
• Scripture and interpretation
• The Episcopate
• Discernment in communion and reception
• Diversity (acknowledging adiaphora)

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The Instruments of Unity

• The Archbishop of Canterbury
• The Lambeth Conference
• The Anglican Consultative Council (lay peoples
  voice)
• The Primates Meeting

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Recommendations

• An enhanced role for the Archbishop of Canterbury
• -central focus of both unity and mission
• -articulate the mind of the communion
• -speak directly to any provincial situation on
  behalf of the communion

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Recommendations cont

• A Council of Advice
• composed of suitable persons, who would possess
  a knowledge of the life of the Communion, and of
  the theological, ecclesiological and canonical
  considerations which might apply to any given
  situation
• This would provide support for the ABC when hard
  decisions needed to be made.

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Recommendations cont

• An Anglican Covenant
• The Covenant would deal with the acknowledgement
  of common identity the relationships of
  communion the commitments of communion the
  exercise of of autonomy in communion and the
  management of communion affairs

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Recommendations cont

• Revise the way episcopal elections are evaluated
• ECUSA express regret for the pain its actions
  have caused
• Ask bishops not to authorize Rites for same sex
  blessings until some new consensus is reached
• Alternative pastoral oversight with the approval
  of the diocesan bishop
• Rejects bishops acting beyond jurisdiction
  without invitation

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What the report doesnt say

• It does not call for repentance (i.e. Robinson
  stepping down or ECUSA somehow undoing the
  election)
• It does not take a position on the issues of
  human sexuality, only on the processes of the
  decisions discussed above.

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One last thing to consider

• This report is to the ABC alone. What he will do
  with it and which of its recommendations he will
  implement is yet to be determined.

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Group Discussion Questions

• What does the bonds of our mutual affection
  mean to you?
• Has the Windsor report helped you clarify your
  thinking on these issues?
• Through all of this, what do you see are the
  strengths of Anglicanism?
• Its weaknesses?

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Next Week

• Where we are currently
• What the House of Bishops had to say about it
• What Bishop Wimberly had to say about it
• More time for discussion amongst yourselves

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Wednesday Adult Programs during Lent

• Holy Living, Holy Dying
• The Gospel according to Matthew