[Athanasius]

Church of Nigeria cuts ties with the Diocese of New Westminster
Word...17 Million orthodox Anglicans can't be wrong.

The Church of Nigeria has issued a statement expressing deep sadness with the recent decision taken by the Diocese of New Westminster, Canada, to officially sanction same-sex union.

In light of the news that the diocese conducted the first same-sex blessing using an authorised public rite on Wednesday 28 May, the Primate of Nigeria, the Most Revd Peter Akinola, said, "Regrettably, the much desired reflection that will ease the strain on our Communion has been jettisoned. Furthermore, failure to ensure strict compliance with resolutions duly passed at our meetings clearly shows that Bishop [Michael] Ingham and his diocese see no value in being accountable to anybody."

In addition, Archbishop Akinola referred to a statement that he issued at the ACC-12 meeting in Hong Kong on 25 September 2002, saying:

"While I appreciate that the New Westminster diocese and the Church of Canada may not be, in numerical terms, especially large ecclesia bodies, we value them as dearly as we value all our partner Provinces. We have a growing fear for the sense of loss which any sustained departure by them from our common path and mind must risk. We urge and pray that reflection will lead to reconsideration. It is hard indeed to see any action, which threatens our Communion to be justified as a "local mission priority.

"But there is also a further context of which I must speak, painful though it is. Many of us from the two-thirds world feel that the global north still seeks to retain its disproportionate power and influence in our Church just as in the world. It is significant that those dioceses most tempted to indulge themselves with unilateral actions, taken without consulting the wider Communion, seem so often to be among those materially most advantaged and to be in the global north. Should this not occasion reflection? Do we not see here, in the ready assertion of superior wisdom, a new imperialism?"

The Archbishop of Nigeria, representing 17 million Anglicans in Nigeria spread over 80 dioceses, has stated that "it is this flagrant disregard for the Anglican Communion and what the vast majority of it stand for [and as a consequence] that has made it inevitable for the Province to severe communion with Bishop Ingham and the diocese of New Westminster."

[Ted Logan]

Wow! Archbishop Akinola has his head screwed on straight-- strong words, well-spoken.

[Ridley's Own]

Those in our own HoB considering such a move would do well to not follow Bp. Ingham down the prim-rose path.

[Athanasius]

From the chatter I hear, it still may happen this summer. Whatever...

I wish more of our Bishops in PECUSA had a pair like their African counterpart.

[Ridley's Own]

Originally posted by AlwaysReforming
From the chatter I hear, it still may happen this summer. Whatever...

I have serious doubts about it, though, given the unanimous position of the Theology Committee's Report.

Here's an interesting thought from some very smart people, one of whom is the Dean of my home diocese's cathedral:
http://www.adventbirmingham.org/adve...les.asp?ID=923

Tool around that site a bit. Dean Zahl is infra-low church, and I think you may enjoy a bit of what he has to say.

Here's another interesting question... Would Abp. Akinola and others be just as quick to break communion with the Archdiocese of Sydney if they start allowing "lay presidency" at Communion?

[Athanasius]

Originally posted by Ridley's Own
Here's another interesting question... Would Abp. Akinola and others be just as quick to break communion with the Archdiocese of Sydney if they start allowing "lay presidency" at Communion?

I doubt it...the African Bishops (in my experience, limited) are first and foremost Biblicist...there would certainly be some chatter, but since the Bible does not forbid lay presidance...I don't think they would get this upset.

[Ted Logan]

Here's something I've wondered about-- are LEMs authorized to celebrate Eucharist only for shut-in ministries/hospital visits and occasions where a priest isn't present, or would it be acceptable for me to do the LEM Eucharist on a youth trip (like a hiking trip or a canoe trip) if I were an LEM?

[Ridley's Own]

Originally posted by Ted Logan
Here's something I've wondered about-- are LEMs authorized to celebrate Eucharist only for shut-in ministries/hospital visits and occasions where a priest isn't present, or would it be acceptable for me to do the LEM Eucharist on a youth trip (like a hiking trip or a canoe trip) if I were an LEM?

You're not authorized to celebrate at all. A LEM can only distribute elements that have already been consecrated by a priest/bishop.