June 6, 2002: Synod -8 days
BREAKING NEWS
IN THE HIT MOVIE 'The Sum of All Fears', terrorists deliberately set off a nuclear weapon to try to start a greater conflagration. This is not a movie. It has now been confirmed by our network that Bp. Michael Ingham intends to APPROVE MOTION 9 [Motion 4] at the June Synod in New Westminster, giving permission for the blessing of same-sex unions in his Diocese, possibly with a conscience clause and an Episcopal visitor operating under his authority. We also have it on good authority that there will be no '60%' needed for the motion; thus it to all appearances +Bp. Ingham has refused any and all conciliation with Essentials and classical Anglican clergy and parishes who have spent endless hours and prayers trying to seek pastoral care and compromise from him. Remember: "For those of a 'traditional conscience', I believe this means being respected for their honestly-held conscience, traditional conscience, backed by centuries of Christian teaching. I believe it means they should be free from coercion or imposition to change their conscience, and that they should be protected and affirmed in their right to hold to their historic beliefs." Documentation below ....
THE TOP-SECRET PROPOSAL which +Bp. Ingham offered to Essentials Clergy on May 23rd; their counter-proposal (rejected by +Bp. Ingham today, June 6th); and the brand new +Ingham letter to NewWest Synod Delegates on all these matters (dated June 4th, apparently, 2 days before the deadline proposed to keep things private with the Essentials clergy). Note: "I have discussed this [pastoral proposal] with both the Primate [Michael Peers] and the Metropolitan [David Crawley], and have their support in bringing it forward." Did you get that little tidbit? The copy of the actual official letter needs Adobe Acrobat to be read (and it's a big file; 2.8 MB). A handier web-page version may be found here. No matter what happens now or at Synod, this is but Act I of a 3-act drama. And God has the last word ....
PRAY MORE for the Diocese of New Westminster, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Anglican Communion ....
- END -
The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
Minister of Christ Church, Biddulph Moor,
England & Vice-President and Emissary-at-Large
of The Prayer Book Society of America
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