They mean to make a recommendation that promises to be made public by 18 October. So that is why I write this - we all are living in this news. We will see this report soon.

How are we to understand what God is doing? How do each of us at
St. John's, Western Run understand and sort out the drama as it unfolds before us?

To make this fair and simple (without being simplistic), I thought I would put the history of this ecclesiastical explosion into the context of what has happened the last few years and from a world Christian perspective. Just follow the numbers:

1. The 1998 Lambeth Conference, a ten year gathering in England of some 700 Anglican Bishops from around the world, voted with an overwhelming majority that the practice of homosexuality, hence same sex unions, contradicts the teaching of scripture.

2. Some American and Canadian Bishops/Dioceses came home and ignored this Lambeth agreement. They conducted ordinations of practicing homosexuals and permitted same sex blessings right away. This became an affront to many and a festering issue that would not go away. People became more polarized with this issue that had been in the center of dialogue for 30 years.

3. Spring 2002. The Diocese of New Westminister (Vancouver, BC, Canada) with the encouragement of its Bishop voted to perform same sex unions and create a liturgy for that. Persecution of nine parishes that objected began.

4. Summer 2003 at our General Convention in Minneapolis 62 Diocesan Bishops (majority) endorsed Gene Robinson and opened up the use for dioceses of "local option" in ordaining active gays and for performing same sex marriages.

5. The response to this action brought unexpected crisis to ECUSA (Episcopal Church USA) leadership. A financial downturn began in budgets. There was a gathering of 6,000 in worship, 3,000 registered in Dallas/Plano on 7-9 Oct 03 that included 1,000 clergy at a conference called “A PLACE TO STAND”. These "Plano" gatherings were also held in Northern Virginia, New England and Southern California.

6. Before the actual consecration of Robinson in NH on 2 Nov 03, the PRIMATES (the Archbishops or Presiding Bishop of each of the 38 provinces - countries or areas of the Anglican Church) gathered in emergency session and all signed a unified statement condemning such innovations and encouraging the Episcopal Church not to proceed with the consecration of Robinson, or this will "tear the fabric of the Communion at the deepest level." Here also the Lambeth/Eames Commission was appointed to evaluate and recommend the impact of the ECUSA and New Westminister decision. Our Presiding Bishop returned and two weeks later was the Chief Celebrant and Consecrator of Robinson in New Hampshire. This caused world-wide exasperation in a Communion that prided itself on acting in collegiate (not dictatorial) fellowship. The Anglican Communion is not a Federation where each province is free to do or believe what they want.

7. The Anglican Church world-wide has 76.6 million members in 38 provinces. Our ECUSA province has 2.4 million (3.13%). Canada .96%. The Diocese of New Hampshire in ECUSA has 16,628 members (.21%). Following the Robinson consecration, the 2/3 World of Africa, Asia & South America (referred to as the 'Global South') began to disassociate themselves from North American Episcopalians. These provinces are where the fire and life of the Gospel burns strong and where Christians are in direct missionary confrontation with Islam, famine, AIDS blight and uncertain political regimes. 21 Provinces (well over half the Communion) declared themselves in Impaired or in Broken Communion with us. 14 from this group are no longer in communion with ECUSA but are in communion with the Network of Congregations and Dioceses that remain faithful to Anglican teaching and practice within ECUSA. Many of the very needy African provinces have refused money from wealthy ECUSA institutions.

8. On one side of this issue, ECUSA Bishops met outside Houston in early 2004 and the majority defended their actions at General Convention 2003 and have continued generally to be silent about the crisis hoping that this storm, like prayerbook revision or women's ordination, will simply blow over. Six Dioceses have officially sanctioned Same Sex Blessings. There are numerous stories of orthodox parishes either Anglo-Catholic, Traditional or Evangelical in unsupportive dioceses having a most difficult time. Canon Law and lawyers are center stage.

On the other side, a Network of Parishes and Diocese almost like a faithful religious order have been forming and alternative oversight is being sought for pastoral and confirmation needs. There is great hope that this way schism will be avoided, integrity preserved and links to world Anglicans in mission continued. Churches that share similar perspectives have been coming together. Alternative oversight for Confirmations has happened. Some of these like in Ohio were without the Diocesan Bishops’ permission. Some like in Maryland or in Northern Virginia have the Bishops' endorsement. Churches have left ECUSA for supervision by Global South Bishops. The Diocese of Nigeria is sending Missionaries to the USA. There is great uncertainty, confusion and upheaval in our midst. People look for a clear word from the Lambeth (Eames) Commission.

9. At the end of September this Commission report will be completed and the public will see it Oct 18. The London Times says there has been a leak. The obviously unsubstantiated word is that there will be restorative discipline exercised against ECUSA. Our Bishops could be banned from Collegiate gatherings until there is some repentance. One thing for certain is that, if there is not some clear directive against these North American innovations, the some 350 African (CAPA) Bishops gathering in Nigeria, October 24-31, will take firm action.

Timetable of Lambeth Commission Report & Implementation of Recommendations..

As this timeline indicates, we can anticipate a process of discussion and implementation as the Lambeth Commission Report goes through the appropriate channels. During this very challenging time, people will need to seek the Lord, be vigilant in prayer and find a godly balance of perseverance, patience and courageous actions.

Octoberr 24-31, 2004 June 18-29, 2005 September 30, 2004 | |
| October 18, 2004 | February 20-26, 2005 |
_______|________________|___________________|_____________|_____________|_______
Lambeth Commission | All-Africa Meeting | Anglican Consultative
report presented Lambeth Commission Lagos, Nigeria | Council (ACC) meets and to the Archbishop report released publically | will implement the
of Canterbury | Primates’ recommended | actions, Nottingham, UK | Meeting of Primates of the Anglican Communion to discuss and make decisions regarding the report recommendations, Belfast, N. Ireland.

I think there is growing consensus that the Lambeth Commission report, the mind of the 38 Primates that will gather again in Ireland Feb '05, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), June 18-29 and the Archbishop of Canterbury will all spell a major challenge to ECUSA and Canada. This will be a political and doctrinal dimension of this crisis, but the personal and pastoral reaching out, befriending and working with homosexual persons is ongoing.

Already you see a realignment in our communion. The Global South is spiritually powerful and growing. Theology, which has been downplayed in the past, is taking a more center stage. The North American and European churches are in clear decline. A North American Network of Dioceses and Parishes and Institutions are coming together and growing. Ministry, Mission and Budget are being organized differently in a Post-Christendom culture. In short, "The world has been turned upside down" (Acts 17:6).

10. How do we (ECUSA) and St. John's respond? Many words come to mind – arrogance; indifference - 'who needs this?'; withdrawal; denial; repentance; humility; division; 'how-dare you.' God certainly has our attention and this is not just a private religious matter. It is a call to pray. On vacation, I read a number of books helping me stretch on how I should ask that question; "What is God doing for Heaven's sake?" This took me back to the tumultuous time of the early Church Fathers and to Apostolic Teaching and Practice. One of the principles that truly comforted me was that, in the long view of church history, the universal always overcomes the particular. Christian orthodoxy (small o) never gets culturally sidetracked but is catholic, universal, everywhere the same. This issue before us gets at fundamental issues as a church in Communion with others going back to the Apostles - Scriptures, Tradition, Worship and Liturgy, Order and Fellowship in a Communion, practice and witness of faith.

We live in the age of voluminous information and the Internet. You don't get much about the church in the papers. I list some sites that you might find helpful (I do) if you wish to follow this drama. I am sure you can find many other helpful places too. You might like to put some of these on your computer 'Favorites' the next few months.

The Rev. Dr. Robert D. Nix, Jr. is the rector of St. Johns Church, Western Run Parish in Glyndon (NW Baltimore County).