Spot the Anglican Irony

Am I still Anglican? Ridley Melbourne’s Michael Bird asks in the wake of the Gafcon announcement of the Global Anglican Communion – a reset of the links between natiuonal Anglican churches.

“Am I still Anglican?

“Because, according to GAFCON, you cannot be Anglican and be in communion with the See of Canterbury. But, I’m part of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, which is part of the Anglican Province of Australia, which is in communion with the See of Canterbury. So, based on the GAFCON re-definition or re-ordering of Anglicanism, no, I am not Anglican.”

Well, Michael you are Anglican. In my humble opinion that is. You can be Anglican without a link to the mother Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Let me explain from a very unlikely source.

But first, Gafcon says you can be an Anglican still in the Anglican church of Australia, still linked to Canterbury – Gafcon sets out provision for individual dioceses to be part of their Global Anglican Communion by simply accepting their Jerusalem Declaration. A diocese does not have to cut their province’s (national church) links with Canterbury.

Want an example? Sydney Diocese. Arguably at the centre of Gafcon, but still part of the Anglican Church of Australia and linked through that with Canterbury.

Their General Secretary Paul Donison has pointed out that any individual Anglican can join a local branch of Gafcon as well.

So as far as Gafcon is concerned, Michael Bird can be assured of being an Anglican.

But you don’t have to take Gafcon’s word for it… Here comes the less than likely source.

Let’s begin by quoting Jeremy Greaves the Archbishop of Brisbane. He writes to his clergy, accurately quoting the constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia.

“The Anglican Church of Australia is governed by a constitution that was adopted in 1961 and that
clearly defines who we are and how we are connected within the wider Anglican Communion.
The Constitution states that:
• The Anglican Church of Australia, being part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ, holds the Christian Faith as professed by the Church of Christ from primitive times and
in particular as set forth in the creeds known as the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed.

• This Church receives all the canonical scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as being the ultimate rule and standard of faith given by inspiration of God and containing all things
necessary for salvation.

• This Church will remain and be in communion with the Church of England in England and with churches in communion therewith so long as communion is consistent with the Fundamental
Declarations contained in this Constitution.
(The Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia ss. 1,2 and 6)”

Now here is the irony. As Jeremy’s third par points out, as long as the Church of England is consistent with the Fundamental Declarations – the creeds, Bible and a third one “This Church will ever obey the commands of Christ, teach His doctrine, administer His sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, follow and uphold His discipline and preserve the three orders of bishops, priests and deacons in the sacred ministry.” – we will be in communion with the Church of England.

But what if the Church of England changes its doctrine? The constitution allows for the possibility that might happen. TheChurch of England by changing it’s doctrine may not

• hold the Christian Faith as professed by the Church of Christ from primitive times, or
• obey the commands of Christ, [or] teach His doctrine.

Here comes the compounding irony.

The Church of England has adopted prayers of blessing for same sex couples to be used in regular services. However, their House of Bishops have hit pause on special stand-alone” services prayers of blessing gay couples – because that sort of change requires a two thirds vote in their General Synod and allowing gay ministers to be married in civil weddings has also been paused. That change for clergy marriages would only require a simple majority in the Engliah General Synod (church parliament).

All three are arguably changes in. doctrine.

All three could still happen. Progressive members of the Church of England, though dismayed at the pauses, will still campaign for services of blessing, and married gay clergy.

Here’s the dilemma or irony for progressive Anglicsns in Australia. If the church of England were to find a way to do what progressives want and have same blessings and allow gay clergy to be married civilly, it would amount to a change in doctrine significant enough for the Australian Church to declare they are no longer in communion.

Should the Austrslian church become more determinedly evangelical and the Church of England more progressive we could see the Australian church in Gafcon’s Global Anglican Communion (eventually).

So progressives it seems are somewhat caught. Do they want the Church of England to be fully inclusive? For in doing so they may open the door for the australian church to join Gafcon’s Global Anglican Communion.
And, yes,Michael Bird you’d still be arguably Anglican (but without Canterbury) in a church still called the Anglican Church of Australia,