4 of 4

Canterbury Williams has decided to keep legislative review of Lambeth 1.10 off the official agenda. The entire three-week Lambeth event is to be less legislative and more like a South African–style "Indaba," or consultation of elders.

Conservatives fear Williams is turning Lambeth into an English "tea party" in which nothing substantive can take place. Increasingly, they believe Canterbury-led Anglicanism itself is in decline, because Williams, long a personal supporter of full inclusion for gays, endorses Lambeth 1.10 merely as one means to keep the communion intact.

In mid-March, the Episcopal House of Bishops will meet in Texas to consider their response to the demands of the primates. It is shaping up to be another clash of values and priorities.

That session will be no English tea party.

Timothy C. Morgan is deputy managing editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Our special section on the widening division in the Anglican Communion has news stories and opinion pieces.

Christianity Today's Weblog covered Episcopal bishops' response to the primates' communiqué.

Christianity Today's recent articles on ECUSA and Katharine Jefferts-Schori include:

Church Divorce Done Right | Denominational splits just aren't what they used to be. By Ted Olsen (Mar 7, 2007)

Dividing the Faithful | Conservatives fleeing the Episcopal Church regroup —apart. (February 9, 2007)

Falling Apart | Controversial decisions at the recent General Convention have accelerated the break-up of the Episcopal Church. (August 1, 2006)

Episcopalian General Convention Adopts Vague Resolution | Call for 'restraint' in consecration of practicing gays falls short of recommendations of Anglican leaders. (June 22, 2006)

General Convention Brushes Against Its Deadline | Conservatives, liberals can't agree on response to the Windsor Report. (June 21, 2006)

Conservatives Stunned by Bishop's Election | The new church leader supports same-sex marriages, vows to bend over backwards for those she disagrees with. (June 20, 2006)

Episcopalians Elect Female Nevada Bishop as Top Leader | Conservatives see election as confirmation of church's 'revisionist theology,' while one diocese appeals for alternative oversight. (June 19, 2006)

Gays in the Church Debated | Conservatives press Episcopal convention to repent of gay bishop's consecration. (June 16, 2006)

Several blogs are following the crisis in the Episcopal Church, including TitusOneNine and Stand Firm.

first page |  4 of 4

share this page

April 2007, Vol. 51, No. 4