Phil S. has posted a helpful summary and analysis of the Kigali Communique which was issued the other week following the meeting of most of the Global South Primates:

“Lastly, even granting that the Global South primates haven’t gone as far as I feared, I’m still concerned. I’m concerned because even the threat to set up a new province is deeply problematic. For one thing, the Windsor Report made it clear that this kind of extra-provincial interference is really not on, however understandable it is, given the situation in the TEC. All too often, conservatives forget that Windsor spoke against this kind of interference, even if it concedes that those who have indulged in this kind of oversight have done it from the good motive of giving pastoral support to parishes which cannot accept GC 2003 or their bishop’s support for the ordination of Gene Robinson or which face sanctions for their position. Yet, these extra-provincial interventions merely add to the confusion in the American church.

Further, these interventions are deeply problematic as far as ecclesiology goes. If we are a tradition which claims catholicity, then we should be extremely cautious about allowing actions which encourage schism. We are a tradition which, in the words of priest that my wife knew, rejects splitting as a means of theological discourse. I fully grant that TEC (and to a lesser extent, AC of Canada) have already broken into schism with the rest of the Communion because of their actions in 2003/4 and their failure to admit their mistake since. Yet, I don’t think compounding the damage helps which is precisely what extra-provincial intervention is doing.”

Phil goes on to point out that unless we all can figure a way to stand back from the precipice, we’re going to be burning bridges that are going to take generations to rebuild.

To be honest, given the moves by the more “liberal” part of the Communion of late, which have been quite painful for the “liberal” wing and which are being dismissed out of hand by the “conservative” side as meaningless or inadequate, the lack of reciprocity from the “conservatives” is less than helpful right now. When one side tries to proffer a compromise and the other side turns up its nose, it’s pretty much impossible to get a conversation started.

Of course that may be the point. There are people who see no need of conversation since their ultimate goal to split the Church so that they are no longer forced to pray with people they feel are unacceptable to Jesus. Which is a point of view I can find no sign of agape within.

Read the rest here: Kigali, Covenant and Communion