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July 07, 2006

Archbishop Williams on the Anglican Communion

There is no secret that the worldwide association of Anglican churches, which includes the Episcopal Church, is going through a time of turmoil at present. The spiritual leader of the Anglican world is the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. In the past week the Archbishop has delivered two important addresses on this situation, that bear careful reading and thoughtful consideration.

The first of these addresses was referenced in Rev. Anne's sermon on July 2nd, and is addressed to the "Bishops, Clergy and Faithful of the Anglican Communion". The second was delivered at the opening of the Church of England's General Synod (their annual convention.) In both writings Williams speaks to the desire for unity and the desire for truth. Some have described these as conflicting desires, but the Archbishop sees unity and truth as inseparable quests.

Both of these points are really grounded in the belief that our unity is something given to us prior to our choices - let alone our votes. ‘You have not chosen me but I have chosen you’, says Jesus to his disciples; and when we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we are saying that we are all there as invited guests, not because of what we have done. The basic challenge that practically all the churches worldwide, of whatever denomination, so often have to struggle with is, ‘Are we joining together in one act of Holy Communion, one Eucharist, throughout the world, or are we just celebrating our local identities and our personal preferences?’

and from the second address:

That is why a concern for unity – for unity (I must repeat this yet again) as a means to living in the truth – is not about placing the survival of an institution above the demands of conscience. God forbid. It is a question of how we work out, faithfully, attentively, obediently what we need to do and say in order to remain within sight and sound of each other in the fellowship to which Christ has called us. It has never been easy and it isn't now. But it is the call that matters, and that sustains us together in the task.

The full text for "The Challenge and Hope of Being an Anglican Today" is here.

The full text for "Address to General Synod on the Anglican Communion" is here.

Unity and dialog across our diverse community is a valued aspect of the Trinity community. Please take the words of the Archbishop into your thoughts and prayers and join in this important conversation.