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Report could have a ‘profound impact for good’ says Eames
By Bill Bowder
THE CHURCH TIMES
THE Lambeth Commission’s report, concerning the future shape of the Anglican Communion in the light of current disputes about homosexuality, is finished. A number of Evangelicals are already saying that they will accept the report only if it passes the test of scripture.
It will be considered by the Primates’ Standing Committee and the Anglican Consultative Council on the morning of 18 October. It will be made public that afternoon.
The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, who has been chairing the Commission, issued a statement after its third and final meeting at Windsor Castle on Friday. The report could make "a profound and practical impact for good in the life and mission of the Anglican Communion", he said.
"This has been a labour of love in the faith that Christ is our guide and strength in working for peace and healing."
The Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, a member of the Commission, said that healing required "appropriate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. We have done our best to offer that, and we have finished our task."
The Commission’s mandate was about how the Communion made decisions, not "whether it is or is not appropriate to have public rites of same sex-blessings or to consecrate into the episcopate someone who was openly living in a same-sex situation," Dr Wright said on Tuesday.
"We were asked to clarify the ways in which decisions are made, and this will inevitably be not only about the past, but also about the future. There has been a clarifying of perspectives that are already there."
But the chairman of the Church of England Evangelical Council, (CEEC), the Ven. Paul Gardner, said: "The CEEC will want to continue talks very widely with bishops right round the world. We want to see the Eames report upholding traditional biblical and orthodox understandings of behaviour and the place of holiness in Christian life. We will judge all things by scripture."
Anglican Mainstream warned last week that the report would not be accepted if it tried to resolve the crisis by adopting a process of "reception", nor if it proposed any kind of associate status for the Episcopal Church in the United States. Federation was also out. "Orthodox members of the Communion will not accept such a compromise move," the group said.
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