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Initial Statement on the February 2007 Communique from the Primates of the Anglican Communion As we read the results of the Anglican Communion primates' meeting in Dar es Salaam, we are reminded that the primates, like all who minister in our churches, work hard to find ways to care for those in their charge. I am particularly grateful for the ministry of our presiding bishop They, like the rest of us, do so best when doing so together, mindful of our differences and in the light of the Christ we share. It is no easy task to care spiritually for millions of people in a wide range of cultures and societies as they seek to follow the paths on which God has set them. Success with this task helps our communities of faith abide in the fullness of God's abundant love. Failure with it leaves our communities showing signs of wear, fracture, and decay, making that love seem elusive. I think the primates' communique and schedule, and the draft covenant, should be judged primarily on this score. This will take some time for The Episcopal Church to do. Some of us will find these documents to be a balm. Some of us will find in them the taste of wormwood. Yet because we share a tradition that is global in reach and of great value to many, we should ask, "In what ways would these recommendations, suggestions, and plans make for healthier, more stable and more loving communities of faith?" and "How would they make the ministries of such communities more difficult?" Answering these questions truthfully and openly will help us decide how best to proceed. As we do so, our calling is not only to minister to those who feel most at odds with The Episcopal Church because of its decisions in 2003 and 2006. We must also minister to those whom they themselves have made to suffer. These tasks are not for one segment of our Episcopal community only, but for all of us. For that grace we should be thankful. Christopher I. Wilkins, Ph.D. |