Archbishop Williams' Letter 'Not a Roadmap for the Future'

(The Rev.) George Conger
10/23/2007

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Oct. 14 letter to Bishop John W. Howe of Central Florida was not a statement of Anglican Communion policy but a particular response to a local situation.

In a formal statement released on Oct. 23, Archbishop Rowan Williams said the letter “was neither a new policy statement nor a roadmap for the future but a plain response to a very urgent and particular question about clergy in traditionalist dioceses in TEC who want to leave TEC for other jurisdictions, a response reiterating a basic presupposition of what the Archbishop believes to be the theology of the Church.

“The primary point was that – theologically and sacramentally speaking – a priest is related in the first place to his/her bishop directly, not through the structure of the national church; that structure serves the dioceses. The diocese is more than a ‘local branch’ of a national organisation,” the statement noted.

Archbishop Williams responded to a note from Bishop Howe concerning strife within the diocese. Nine congregations have entered into formal secession talks with Bishop Howe, in response to what they see as The Episcopal Church’s rejection of traditional Anglican doctrine and discipline.

Archbishop Williams told Bishop Howe traditionalist secessions from traditionalist dioceses were misguided. Central Florida’s place within the Communion was not at risk, he said.

“Any diocese compliant with Windsor remains clearly in communion with Canterbury and the mainstream of the Communion, whatever may be the longer term result for others in The Episcopal Church,” Archbishop Williams wrote. “Those who are rushing into separatist solutions” were “weakening that basic conviction of Catholic theology and in a sense treating the provincial structure of The Episcopal Church as if it were the most important thing.”

The Archbishop’s letter offered a theological rationale for conservatives to hold fast and not quit the church. “The organ of union with the wider church is the bishop and the diocese rather than the provincial structure as such,” according to Archbishop Williams.

“Dr. Williams is clear that, whatever the frustration with the national church, priests should think very carefully about leaving the fellowship of a diocese,” according to the statement. “The provincial structure is significant, not least for the administration of a uniform canon law and a range of practical functions. Dr. Williams is not encouraging anyone to ignore this, simply to understand the theological priorities which have been articulated in a number of ecumenical agreements, and in the light of this not to increase the level of confusion and fragmentation in the church.”

This article comes from The Living Church Foundation
http://www.livingchurch.org/

The URL for this story is:
http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3892