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AMERICAN ANGLICAN COUNCIL HEAD URGES ORTHODOX TO STAY THE COURSE
By David W. Virtue
The President of the American Anglican Council has written to his supporters urging them to stay the course even as the Anglican Communion roils in turmoil over the Windsor Report and the consecration of V. Gene Robinson.
In a letter to his constituency Canon David C. Anderson blasted the Episcopal Church leadership saying, "The revisionists in ECUSA are already attempting to maneuver a delay from the Primates with promises of formal study of the Windsor Report by the General Convention and possible responses in 2006, 2009 and beyond. The ECUSA House of Bishops seems to be trying to hide behind General Convention, claiming they have no authority to respond to the Windsor Report. V. Gene Robinson stated that he saw “wiggle room” with regard to same sex blessings in the report. There you have it: delay and confusion. ECUSA revisionists now claim that those charged by their ordination vows to guard and protect the faith have no ability to respond to this important document? Why the delay now? Why did they not seek such a cautionary position during General Convention 2003?"
Anderson told his orthodox laity followers, that the work would not be finished until the new Anglican realignment in America was firmly in place.
In his letter Anderson wrote, "Your commitment to the vision and mission of the AAC is crucial to us during this significant moment in church history – a time when the very principles of the church are being challenged from within and from without, and a time when we are seeing courageous faithful people rise up from all quarters of the globe to stand firm for the orthodox faith."
"The October release of the Windsor Report of the Lambeth Commission has brought a measure of clarity to the current crisis in the Anglican Communion. There is much to be thankful for in the Windsor Report: the acknowledgement that ECUSA and New Westminster have breached the bonds of our common life, the call for those offending bishops to express authentic regret for these offending actions, the call for moratoria on the ordination of non-celibate homosexual persons and blessings of same sex relationships."
Anderson noted that the strongest language in the entire document was found at its conclusion: “There remains a very real danger that we will not choose to walk together. Should the call to halt and find ways of continuing in our present communion not be heeded, then we shall have to begin to learn to walk apart.” (Windsor Report, par. 157). The Lambeth Commission acknowledges the very real possibility that the revisionists in ECUSA may find themselves choosing to “walk apart” from the rest of the Anglican Communion. They will not do this without fighting, delays and visiting more confusion on those who want to walk together in a united, missionary Anglicanism. Therefore, our work is far from complete.
Anderson blasted Griswold's offer of "regret" for the negative repercussions felt by fellow Anglicans
"I can state clearly that it is much more than feelings driving our passion and concern for the unity of Anglican Communion and preservation of Anglican orthodoxy in America. We are resolutely committed to the Anglican orthodoxy wherever it is found – in the US and around the globe."
Anderson said that for the revisionists in ECUSA, it is still about human sexuality and Griswold's statement indicates clearly a commitment to an agenda over orthodoxy and unity within the Anglican Communion. "For the AAC, it is now and always has been about the orthodox expression of the Christian faith in every pew in every church, and to this end we will keep working."
“The AAC reiterates our Biblical position on the ongoing controversy on human sexuality: God created us male and female and we cannot sacrifice truth for any revisionist agenda which leans on a faulty understanding of Christian unity… We are committed to the united future life of the Anglican Communion, one that is rooted in truth and love and faithfulness to the gospel of Christ, according to the Scriptures.” The Conference went on give recognition to the Anglican Communion Network and to send a strong word of encouragement to all of us who are working for a united Anglican orthodoxy in the USA."
Anderson said the next major milestone in the road to Anglican realignment would be February 2005, in Belfast, Ireland when the Windsor Report would be formally received by the Primates.
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