I continue to be very deeply troubled by the frightening silence of the Primate’s meeting and the rest of the Anglican Communion with respect to the proposed violations of human rights and international accords being considered in Nigeria right now. I’m not the only one.
The Anglican Scotist has this to say at the end of a long thoughtful post:
“We should fear the wrath of the power of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit more than the wrath of ++Rowan Williams, ++Marty Minns, and ++Akinola; a bit of fear here would be entirely appropriate. Pleading the distinction above in section I is bizzare to anyone with reality as it is now unfolding in mind. For the horse has already left the barn; Elvis has already left the building: the Anglican Communion, ++Rowan’s little organic unity, is already persecuting homosexual persons in Nigeria via the Nigerian Church.
It, ++Rowan’s organic unity, formerly known as the Anglican Communion, had a chance to register an objection loud and clear when it might have effected something significant before the law was ratified. Or at least it might have acted to declare solidarity with those bearing the image of Christ among Nigerian homosexuals. It chose not to do so. What madness is this? We are acting like people possessed–indeed, I am learning anew the gravity of Mark’s exorcism stories. We are nearing the limits of argument.”
Read the rest here: Taking Out the Trash
(Via The Anglican Scotist.)
As I have said, I will disavow using the title of “Episcopalian” and “Anglican” to describe myself should a clarity about this not come forth; I will not leave, but those terms will come to represent anything but the Gospel. This crosses a line, and I cannot go along. While everyone was calling for this or that fasting (for someone else, of course), holding on to this or that posture or position or status in our structures, folks are facing further expressions, now physical, of persecution at the hands of Primates and Anglican leadership and the silence of the rest of the Communion is deafening. Our moral credibility as a constitutent institution and as a communion may be quickly coming to an end for all of the world to see. And the Scotist is right to invoke the fear of God’s judgment. I wonder if this legislation was even discussed in Tanzania? And it now appears that even some Muslim leaders are hesistant while our own Anglican leaders forge ahead.
“catholic” arguments for our (re)structuring in the face of our present Anglican polity only serve in the end to widen the responsibility for this lack of voices saying “no” to such legislation and to Christian leaders who would propose such. Three years ago, I wrote to Archbishop Williams about turns of events in this direction in an open letter posted by Dr. Crew, that blood will be on our hands. Others pooh-poohed me at the time. Now here we are.
When our primates, in order to acheive the appearance of unity, ignore Abp Akinola’s campaign to incarcerate gay Nigerians, we should indeed wonder what madness has possessed us.
The function of the Anglican Communion increasingly appears to be to ensure its own continued existence at any cost, rather than to stand up for the values of the Lord it claims to serve.
Did you see this at Walking with Integrity?
Apparently the bill has been withdrawn for now.
Thanks Ann – I hadn’t.
The legislation has simply been “rewritten”, which means it says pretty much the same draconian things in more nuanced language.
Crud.
Thanks for the info *Christopher.