The BBC and Bishop R Duncan of Pittsburgh, USA

I listened to Bishop Robert Duncan this morning (Monday 13th October) as he was interviewed by the BBC in London immediately after his over-night flight from Pittsburgh. He stated that he expects/hopes that the Primates meeting will not only issue a rebuke to the ECUSA and call upon the diocese of New Hampshire to rescind its call to Canon Robinson, but will also actively intervene within the ECUSA to restore things to the status quo before the General Convention. An English Bishop, Selby of Worcester, disagreed with him on all points except that he did concede that the Primates could, if all agreed, issue a “rebuke” only to the ECUSA.

This interview with this kind, gracious and courageous man from the steel city led me to meditate and sit down to write this:

It will be a LOST OPPORTUNITY and a rejection of an OPEN DOOR

If it so happens that the Primates’ Meeting on October 15/16 is the direct or indirect means by which Canon Robinson is NOT consecrated and ECUSA bishops begin to withdraw permission for blessing of “gay” couples, this state of affairs will possess the potential of being a good thing. BUT only the potential of a good thing, for if the matter of “gay” rights is seen not as the real & basic problem of the ECUSA but as its present, major, presenting problem – for there are surely also other acute presenting problems.

This crisis caused by the voting of the General Convention in August 2003 is much deeper than a crisis over the public approval of gay unions. It is about the rejection by the ECUSA over several decades of the traditional basis for the exercise of divine authority for her worship, doctrine, morality, discipline and order. It is about the rejection of the authority of Scripture for faith and conduct and of the Anglican Formularies as Signposts from Scripture to the right and acceptable nature of worship, doctrine, morality, discipline and order.

Therefore, if the AAC or any other reforming society/group thinks and states that a return to the status quo of July 2003 before the approval of Canon Robinson is sufficient to achieve their goals, then, I suggest all, that is ALL, is effectively lost. For nothing has been learned from the loving providence and kindness of the Holy Trinity in the last three months. This Crisis is, I suggest, sent by the Lord of the Church at least to open the eyes of those who claim to love Him, to open their eyes as to what kind of substantial U-turn is necessary for the ECUSA (or any large part of it) to get back into the route called The Anglican Way and into an ecclesial context that is pleasing to His Majesty, the LORD our God.

To make this major U-turn will not be easy, but it is necessary whether there is either a change of direction in the ECUSA (Robinson withdraws etc.) or there is the creation by the AAC of some kind of a parallel province alongside the present ECUSA, helped by foreign primates.

The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon.)