Well, the news cycle has moved on already, at least in terms of the secular media. Episcopalian and Anglican outlets continue

to process and interpret last week’s news. I will leave the ongoing analysis to others for now. I have my own thoughts and have read many insightful articles and reflections online from across the spectrum of responses. But, one last note on the Primates’ meeting communiqué from the Rector’s Ramblings. I shared some thoughts at services over the weekend and several who were not there asked to have them, so I’m forwarding them on to you as this week’s Rambling. What follows is (mostly) what I shared over the weekend. It’s my response to the basic lack of correct information and an answer to the question, “Now what?” I also want to echo my invitation for anyone who wants to discuss any of this with me to do so. I’ve had a couple of very thoughtful conversations already. So, if you weren’t around this weekend, here goes:

One of the hallmarks of Anglicanism throughout the centuries since it's inception in the 16th century has been its ability to encompass a wide range of theologies, thinking, and expression of the historic Christian faith among its membership. What started as a broad and inclusive Church of England with room for both Protestant and Catholic streams of Christianity, has endured many generations of change in the world and inside the church. Today the Anglican Communion includes 85 million Christians in thirty-eight autonomous Provinces around the world, with the Episcopal Church being one of those, and historically the first and oldest province outside the Church of England. Anglicans gather for worship in dozens of languages and share their faith across countless cultures. The Anglican Communion is a voluntary association, which both gives it strength and flexibility and also presents challenges from time to time.

Without a central authority, the Provinces of the Anglican Communion receive recommendations from the Communion's four "Instruments of Communion," with the Archbishop of Canterbury being the most historic of the Instruments. Being in communion with the See of Canterbury is what makes a church an Anglican church.

Last week, the Primate's Meeting, an occasional gathering of the Archbishops from each Anglican Province (Primate is an Anglican term for the chief bishop of a province) and one of the other Instruments of Communion, communicated with the Communion about specific recommendations for placing restrictions on the Episcopal Church's participation at the highest levels of Communion leadership. These proposed (they are not enforceable in our polity) restrictions came a result of the Episcopal Church's July 2015 decision at its General Convention to allow same-gender marriages to take place within the Church. A majority of the Primates agreed that this decision has placed the Episcopal Church apart from the historic teaching of the faith, and required a response.

That response was to recommend that for a period of three years leaders of the Episcopal Church will not be allowed to represent the Anglican Communion in ecumenical dialogues between churches, nor will its leaders be allowed to vote on Communion matters of doctrine or polity within the Instruments of Communion. The Primates also indicated their desire to stay in relationship with the Episcopal Church and to actively work over the next three years to find ways to repair strained relationships and restore unity.

It must be noted that the Episcopal Church was not suspended from the Communion, and is still a Province of the Anglican Communion. The actions of the Primates could be seen as keeping with the historic Anglican example of community and relationship in the face of differences and disagreements. Although the Episcopal Church has been restricted in some ways, its relationship to the wider Communion continues. Though we disagree, we are still brothers and sisters in Christ.

This is perhaps the great lesson and witness in last week’s news; in a broken world where people separate from one another too easily, even pushing each other away, the Anglican Communion is showing another path forward: a path of fellowship and community.

As the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, stated in response to the Primates at their meeting, “Our commitment to be an inclusive church is not based on a social theory or capitulation to the ways of the culture, but on our belief that the outstretched arms of Jesus on the cross are a sign of the very love of God reaching out to us all. While I understand that many disagree with us, our decision regarding marriage is based on the belief that the words of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians are true for the church today: All who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, for all are one in Christ.”

Like the wider Anglican Communion, not all members of the Episcopal Church are of one mind on all matters. Nonetheless, as Episcopalians we value the sentiment of our Presiding Bishop's response, and try to live that out to the best of our abilities. In practice, nothing changes at the parish level as a result of the Primates’ Meeting. Christ Church will continue to be a center for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, spreading the Good News of God's love for the whole world and inviting people to reconcile with God and one another. Our church will also continue to offer sacrament and prayer and to serve in our communities as the hands and feet of Christ. We continue to seek justice for all of God's children, and look for the presence of Christ in all people. Our parish remains a community where all are welcome.

Let’s keep praying for our parish, our Church, and our Communion, trusting God to work in and through us for the continued growth of the Kingdom.

Tom+

O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one hart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.