The paper "Towards an Anglican Covenant" is therefore available on this site, and Provinces, Anglican Communion commissions and networks, theological institutions and all who are interested are invited to respond to the questions set out in the paper in preparation for the work of the Task Group. The Anglican Communion Office is aware that several groups around the Communion are already looking at this question,and particularly invite the groups who have already developed material to contribute.

Responses to the paper should be submitted in electronic format (preferably in Word) to this address: covenant@anglicancommunion.org Joint Standing Committee 'Towards an Anglican Covenant' A Consultation Paper on the Covenant Proposal of the Windsor Report

Background

1. Among the proposals of the Windsor Report 2004 ( TWR ) there was the suggestion that an Anglican Covenant be developed and adopted in the life of the Communion ( paragraphs 117-120, reproduced in the Appendix ).

This was one of the report's main recommendations, proposed in order to give explicit articulation and recognition to the principles of co-operation and interdependence (sometimes called "the bonds of affection") which hold the Anglican Communion together.

TWR considered that this was one vital way in which trust and co-operation could be rebuilt between the churches of the Anglican Communion in the wake of recent tensions.

2. The work of the Reception Reference Group, which met under the chairmanship of Archbishop Peter Kwong, and subsequently with Primus Bruce Cameron, between the publication of TWR and the meeting of the Primates in Dromantine, Northern Ireland, in February 2005, indicated a high measure of support for the idea.

One third of those who responded to the proposal supported the covenant as set out in the Windsor Report. One third accepted the principle of a covenant, but offered significant reflections on the way in which such a covenant would have to be articulated in order to be effective [1] .

One third did not favour the idea of a covenant, basing their opinion along the sort of objections set out below (paragraph 4).

The Primates at Dromantine, reflecting on these findings, stated their welcome for the concept of a covenant. [2] 3.

The proposal for an Anglican Covenant now has to be carried forward: the development of a draft - initially perhaps in several different models - of a Covenant text, and the establishment of an agreed text and covenant in the life of the Communion.

Specifically these questions arise, and were addressed at the meeting of the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates and of the Anglican Consultative Council (JSC) at their meeting in London in March 2006:

* Is the concept of an Anglican Covenant still viable?
* What form of covenant is best suited to the needs of the Communionat the present time?
* Who will be responsible for the preparation of a draft text?
* How will the Provinces and Instruments of Communion be participantsin the generation of a text?
* What method of implementation will be adopted, or how might thismethod be best discerned?
* What sort of timetable is desirable for the covenant project?

In order to assist this process, the following reflections are put forward as a basis for consultation. Downloads

* Covenant Consultation Paper (PDF document 173K)