Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Rowan Williams Pray Together Over Differences

 

 

Archbishop of Canterbury in Fresh Push to Stop Anglicans from Converting

The Archbishop of Canterbury signalled a fresh push to dissuade traditionalist Anglicans from defecting to the Roman Catholic Church as he joined the Pope in stressing moves to bring the two churches together.

The Telegraph:

Rowan Williams used a joint prayer service in Rome to call for a renewed drive to “restore full sacramental communion” between the Anglican and Catholic churches.

Dr Williams and Pope Benedict XVI prayed and lit candles together at the Chapel of St Gregory the Great, in a service highlighting 1,400 years of links between the church in England and Rome.

Pope Benedict welcomed Dr Williams as “my dear brother in Christ” and referred to members of the two churches as “the faithful – both Catholic and Anglican”.

The two leaders took part in vespers at the monastery of San Gregorio Magno al Celio which has developed strong links with the Anglican Church in recent decades through its community of Camaldolese monks.

During the service one of the hymns was Love Divine, by Charles Wesley, the English hymn writer.

It was there that Pope John Paul II prayed with the former Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie in September 1989 and again with Dr Williams’ predecessor Archbishop George Carey in 1996.

The site’s links to England date back to the sixth century when it was the home of Pope Gregory the Great.

It was from there that he dispatched St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, on a mission to help reconvert the Anglo-Saxons.

In his address the Pope described the site as the “birthplace of the link between Christianity in Britain and the Church of Rome”.

He added: “We hope that the sign of our presence here together in front of the holy altar where Gregory himself celebrated the eucharist sacrifice will remain not only as a reminder of our fraternal encounter but also a stimulus for all the faithful – both Catholic and Anglican … to renew their commitment to pray constantly and to work for unity.”

Dr Williams is due to begin discussions with fellow bishops in the coming weeks on how to introduce women bishops in the Church of England.

Traditionalist Anglo-Catholics have warned that the move would set back efforts to restore full communion between the Anglican and Catholic churches.

Several hundred are poised to join the Ordinariate, the branch of the Catholic Church set up for disaffected Anglicans, if a compromise agreement cannot be reached.

But in his address Dr Williams spoke pointedly of the two churches as “one holy catholic and apostolic body”.

He said the churches shared a “clear yet imperfect” relationship with a “vision of the restoration of full sacramental communion”.

But he admitted that this was held back by a “deficit in the depth of our hope and patience”.

He also spoke against a growing materialism in the economy which had created a “feverish advertising culture” fuelled by greed “in which the needs of actual human beings seem to be almost entirely obscured”.

The service was held to mark the 1,000 anniversary of the Camaldolese monastic community.

The Huffington Post has:

Pope Benedict, Archbishop Rowan Williams Pray Together, Avoid Catholic Anglican Divisions.

Read on here.

But as you can see, the Pope was ready:

Pope Benedict XVI attends the Vespers Prayer Service at the San Gregorio al Celio Basilica on March 10, 2012 in Rome, Italy (Getty Images).

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams on his Meeting with Pope Benedict XVI Today

Vatican Radio:

Pope Benedict received in audience on Saturday morning the Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, Dr Rowan Williams, at the start of his 3 day visit to Italy. According to the Anglican leader, the discussions focused on “a shared sense of deep anxiety” about the situation of Christians in the Middle East and a look ahead at the theological reflections that Dr Williams will be offering the Synod of Bishops next October. They also talked “quite animatedly” about a recent lecture the Archbishop gave in Geneva on how to connect Christian theology with human rights. After the audience Philippa Hitchen sat down with the Anglican leader to talk about their meeting, about current concerns in the Church of England, including the Anglican covenant, legislation on women bishops and the forthcoming diamond jubilee of Queen Elisabeth, as well as about the concept of monastic values as a key to ecumenical progress…..

Listen here (mp3).

His homily at Papal Vespers, San Gregorio Magno al Celio, can be read here.

 

Archbishop John Hepworth Responds to the TAC Bishops Meeting in South Africa

The horrid headline reads: Aussie purged as global head of rebel Anglicans.

ANGLICAN breakaway archbishop John Hepworth has been removed from his post as the global primate of the church at a meeting of bishops in South Africa.

Archbishop Hepworth, the Australian leader of the Traditional Anglican Communion, last year claimed he was raped by three Catholic priests nearly 40 years ago.He had planned to step down at Easter after bishops in several countries lost confidence in him and opposed his attempts to reunite with Rome.

A statement issued by the TAC’s College of Bishops after the meeting in Johannesburg late on Thursday night also revealed the body voted to remain completely Anglican, despite Archbishop Hepworth’s successful attempts to reconcile the TAC with the Catholic Church in Rome last year.

“The TAC will remain fully Anglican,” the statement said.

“While it receives, with thanks, the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus from the Holy See, the TAC College of Bishops has voted as a communion to decline the invitation.”

Archbishop Hepworth said yesterday he accepted his removal. “I was going anyway in four weeks’ time and all I’m doing is filing and putting our information in archives. . It’s a meaningless gesture and if it’s meant to upset, I am not upset.”

Of the 20 active bishops in the TAC, 12 attended the meeting in South Africa, constituting an official College of Bishops.

While the college voted against the Rome reconciliation, Archbishop Hepworth said a significant number of parishes in Australia, the US and Britain were already working towards reunification. “Union was never going to be achieved without friction and conflict,” he said.

“It was a divisive matter 500 years ago and those of us who suggested (reconciliation) were always going to get in trouble.”

HT:   Deborah Gyapong

Reformational schism at its best. Never pretty.  Always shameful.

 

 

Traditional Anglican Communion College of Bishops Meeting in South Africa

UPDATE:  Archbishop John Hepworth responds.

I rely on second-hand sources for the following information on the Traditional Anglican Communion College of Bishops meeting here in South Africa:

1. Traditional Anglican Communion College of Bishops Rejects Ordinariate (Virtue Online)

The end came swiftly for Archbishop John Hepworth in Johannesburg when the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) College of Bishops accepted the resignation of their leader after a long battle with the wounded, self-inflicted Australian Primate who had sought entry for himself and his church into the Roman Catholic Church.

A majority of the TAC College of Bishops met at St. George Conference Center outside Johannesburg, February 28 – March 1, 2012 to discern a new direction for the embattled Communion. They elected Indian Archbishop Samuel Prakash as Acting Primate.

Twenty active bishops with 12 voting in session voted that the TAC would remain fully Anglican. A news release said that while it receives, with thanks, the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus from the Holy See, the TAC College of Bishops has voted as a Communion to decline the invitation.

Before he left the US for South Africa Presiding Bishop Brian Marsh wrote VOL to say that he fully anticipated a course would be charted that is unambiguously Anglican and under leadership that will uphold and teach, by word and example, the faith of Christ crucified. “You may be certain that I will do my best to ensure that any decisions provide for the spiritual safety of God’s faithful people.”

Every Bishop and Vicar General in the Traditional Anglican Communion was invited to attend this meeting. Of the twenty active bishops, twelve voted in session. Nine of the twelve churches were represented.

This meeting of the College of Bishops was long overdue,” said the bishops. “Over the past two years, several members of the College of Bishops had requested of the Primate an urgent meeting of the College. Anglicanorum Coetibus or the Apostolic Constitution had never been discussed or debated within the College of Bishops. Meetings of the College of Bishops had, in fact, been scheduled at least twice over the past two years. Most recently, a meeting was called by the TAC Primate for mid 2011. This meeting was canceled abruptly by the Primate. Accordingly, the meeting in Johannesburg was voted to be the overdue meeting of the College of Bishops.”

The College of Bishops voted unanimously to accept the resignation of John Hepworth as TAC Primate by resolution that states: “it is resolved that he cease to hold the office of Primate immediately. Archbishop John Hepworth vacates the Office he has held since 2003, along with the individual appointments which are the prerogatives of that Office. Such offices and positions are now vacant and subject to reappointment.”

Archbishop Samuel Prakash, as the senior active Metropolitan, was elected Acting Primate by acclamation. In so doing, the entire assembly expressed complete confidence in Archbishop Prakash, who was consecrated Bishop in 1984 and currently serves as Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of India. Archbishop Prakash was one of the original founding Bishops of the TAC.

Bishop Michael Gill of Cape Town was appointed Secretary of the College of Bishops. During its three day meeting, the College of Bishops passed several resolutions relating to the International Anglican Fellowship, Episcopal Oversight and Ecumenical relations between Continuing jurisdictions. The College of Bishops resolved to commit itself to Mission and Evangelism, recognizing that the central purpose of God’s people is to bring others to Christ.

Earlier in February Archbishop Hepworth, sensing that his day was done as leader of the TAC issued a “Pastoral Letter” over the pending split accusing some of his fellow bishop of “bullying” and canceling arrangements which they had entered into.
“Clergy and laity have been bullied and threatened with expulsion.” He also accused them of schism. “A minority of the bishops plan to meet shortly in South Africa with the openly published agenda of expelling all those who are at the various stages of discernment of the offer of the “fullness of Catholic Communion” contained in the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Benedict XVI.”

However it was a majority of the college of Bishops who met in Johannesburg and they were unanimous that Hepworth must go.
Hepworth pled for tolerance and said Anglicanism has always aspired to tolerance. “Even the persecution of Catholics in England was balanced by tolerance and respect in missionary regions. Anglo-Catholics and Evangelical Anglicans sustained a mutual respect and restraint in spite of vigorously asserting their positions. Opponents found this a weakness. Those of us who experienced it found it a strength.”

However Hepworth’s battle with Rome and his charges that he had been homosexually seduced by three priests hardly endeared him to Rome’s leaders. He also blasted a Roman Catholic archbishop for interfering with his parishes in Canada. In the end Roman Catholic officials told him politely that he could enter the Roman Catholic Church as a layman. Hepworth refused the offer.

Hepworth says the majority of TAC remain loyal to their oaths and promises on doctrine and discipline and to himself. “They are determined to protect their people and minister to them as they make decisions and undergo processes that cannot be hurried any more than outcomes can be foreseen.”

He included bishops and senior clergy, in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Torres Strait, Australia, Africa and India, who are determined to continue their ministry, to respect the ecclesial bonds that exist between them, to sustain their Christian friendship even as some of them succeed (with their clergy and people) in being pioneers of Ordinariates that will grow, if they are of God.

Hepworth said they would meet with him shortly to celebrate their bonds of Christian commitment, and will take steps to protect their ecclesial identity.

2.  TAC College of Bishops in South Africa (English Catholic)

This arrived in my mailbox about the meeting in South Africa. I have no information other than what is given below. We await a list of those present at the meeting.

* * *

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2012

THE TRADITIONAL ANGLICAN COMMUNION COLLEGE OF BISHOPS

The members of the Traditional Anglican Communion (hereafter referred to as TAC) College of Bishops met at St. George Conference Center outside Johannesburg, South Africa between February 28 – March 1, 2012 for the purpose of transacting the business of the Church and of discerning a new direction for the Communion. The business was conducted strictly in accordance with the TAC Concordat.

The College of Bishops, the highest legislative body within the Communion, affirmed by resolution its faithfulness to the TAC. The TAC will remain fully Anglican. While it receives, with thanks, the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus from the Holy See, the TAC College of Bishops has voted as a Communion to decline the invitation.

This meeting of the College of Bishops was long overdue. Over the past two years, several members of the College of Bishops had requested of the Primate an urgent meeting of the College. Anglicanorum  Coetibus or the Apostolic Constitution, for example, had never been discussed or debated within the College of Bishops. Meetings of the College of Bishops had, in fact, been scheduled at least twice over the past two years. Most recently, a meeting was called by the TAC Primate for mid 2011. This meeting was canceled abruptly by the Primate. Accordingly, the meeting in Johannesburg was voted to be the overdue meeting of the College of Bishops.

Members of the College met in a spirit of prayer and with a desire to discern God’s will for the TAC. A majority of active Bishops and Vicars General who hold voice and vote attended the meeting and made several decisions of immediate import to the TAC.

The College of Bishops voted unanimously to accept the resignation of John Hepworth as TAC Primate by resolution that states: “it is resolved that he cease to hold the office of Primate immediately.” Archbishop John Hepworth vacates the Office he has held since 2003, along with the individual appointments which are the prerogatives of that Office. Such offices and positions are now vacant and subject to reappointment.

Archbishop Samuel Prakash, as the senior active Metropolitan, was elected Acting Primate by acclamation. In so doing, the entire assembly expressed complete confidence in Archbishop Prakash, who was consecrated Bishop in 1984 and currently serves as Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of India. Archbishop Prakash was one of the original founding Bishops of the TAC.

Bishop Michael Gill was appointed Secretary of the College of Bishops.

During its three day meeting, the College of Bishops passed several resolutions relating to the International Anglican Fellowship, Episcopal Oversight and Ecumenical relations between Continuing jurisdictions. Several appointments were made by the Acting Primate. There was a strong feeling among the members of the College of Bishops that a new direction had been taken by the TAC.

The level of attendance at this College of Bishops meeting was exceptional. Every Bishop and Vicar General in the Traditional Anglican Communion was invited to attend this meeting. Of the twenty active bishops, twelve voted in session. Nine of the twelve churches were represented.

Finally, and most importantly, the College of Bishops resolved to commit itself to Mission and Evangelism, recognizing that the central purpose of God’s people is to bring others to Christ. Several moving statements were made by members about the need to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world deeply in need of hearing it. A program of equipping the saints for the work of Evangelism was supported by the College of Bishops with enthusiasm.

 

On the Traditional Anglican Communion Meeting in South Africa

Just a short note on the upcoming (this week) Traditional Anglican Communion College of Bishops meeting here in South Africa (Johannesburg).

I’ve been getting a lot of e-mail enquiries/comments (particularly today) asking for information on the meeting, about the agenda, or if I know what is going on. The short answer is: No.

While the meeting is in South Africa (and yes, so am I) I will not be in service there. Yes, I have commented much, followed and blogged on the events leading up to this meeting, but I’m no journalist. I am a Priest – a Parish Priest – who has a blog. So at the moment, I know as much (or as little) as you do.

The COB will be doing that which they feel the Lord leads them to do and I’m sure in due course they will let the rest of us know. Be patient and prayerfully so. And it’s Lent anyway…

As I said to the folk at Church today, Lent is the time to look inward, at ourselves, to see our own faults, sins and shortcomings, and to work on those things that we need to change within ourselves. May I suggest we concentrate on that? It is a journey with Jesus in the wilderness. Easter will soon enough be here, and with it, our Resurrected joy, hope and glory.

 

Bishop Brian Marsh on the Traditional Anglican Communion Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa

From his Lenten Message on Ash Wednesday:

22 February 2012-Ash Wednesday

Dear Friends in Christ,

I bid you all a Holy Lent!  During the next several weeks, many bishops and vicars-general of the Traditional Anglican Communion will meet outside Johannesburg, South Africa. We will gather in prayer, as we seek to discern God’s will for our communion. I ask that each of you individually, as well as parishes, hold us in your prayers. We hope that we may return invigorated and with a firm commitment to the Traditional Anglican Communion. I expect that we will make several decisions that will shape a future direction for the TAC.

I also fully anticipate that we will chart a course that is unambiguously Anglican and under leadership that will uphold and teach, by word and example, the faith of Christ crucified. You may be certain that I will do my best to ensure that any decisions provide for the spiritual safety of God’s faithful people.

Four of us from the Anglican Church in America will attend the meeting in South Africa: Bishop Stephen Strawn of the Diocese of the Missouri Valley, Archdeacon Alan Koller, Peter Thomas as well as me. During the time we are away, I have asked that the Diocese of the Northeast continue under the pastoral and parochial oversight of the Rural Deans. I have every confidence that Fathers Ley, Williams and Tutor will serve their deaneries well. Bishop Langberg will be available to them should they need immediate episcopal consult. If necessary, I will be available by email or cell phone.

Blessings to you all.

Your Brother in Christ,

+Brian

 

Archbishop Rowan Williams to Visit Pope in Rome Next Month

Interesting…

 

 

What is Happening to the Traditional Anglican Communion?

Having just written on the current state of the Traditional Anglican Communion (here), some more rather revealing news by way of Bishop Brian Marsh (President of the House of Bishops of The Anglican Church in America):

January Newsletter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This monthly newsletter comes to you with all good wishes for the New Year.

A Blessed Epiphanytide to you all!

International News

Many of you have asked about what is happening to the Traditional Anglican Communion. Much as the recent events have effected the Anglican Church in America, the Traditional Anglican Communion is going through a similar restructuring process. We fully expect that, within a very short time, leadership issues within the TAC will be resolved and that we will emerge with a stronger, more committed Anglican leadership model. This model may, in fact, be somewhat different from what we have used in the past, but it will, I believe, be much more consistent with the needs of an international Anglican jurisdiction.

Currently, plans are being made to invite members of the College of Bishops to a gathering that will address a variety of issues of concern to member churches of the TAC. We expect such a gathering to take place within the next two months.

In advance of that conference, I can assure you that the ACA remains a strongly-committed traditional Anglican church. The TAC will remain a committed international Anglican presence.

After all that we have been through during the past two years, I can report – with gratitude to God – that we have fulfilled our mission, we have stayed together and approach the future with confidence…

The above was posted on Diocese of the Northeast website here.

 

The World Consultation on Continuing Anglican Churches Addresses

On the Anglican Province of America website:

The World Consultation on Continuing Anglican Churches was held Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4, 2011, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Brockton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area. The Diocese of the Northeast of the Anglican Church in America sponsored the conference. The Consultation was well attended, yet most of the attendees were from the northeastern United States.

The expressed hope for this gathering was to bring together leaders of the so-called “Continuing Church” movement to build relationships with an eye to the future of the movement. The Most Rev. Walter Grundorf, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Province of America, said that he prays “that there will be more of these…meetings in the future, and even greater participation, as we seek common ground to bring the…Continuing Anglican Jurisdictions into a closer relationship.”

The Consultation began with the first plenary session on Thursday afternoon. The Right Rev. Brian Marsh, Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church in America, presented his paper “The Continuing Church: First 35 Years.” The Most Rev. Mark Haverland, Archbishop of the Anglican Catholic Church, presented his paper “Spirit of St. Louis: Theological Integrity in Communion and Continuum” at the second plenary session later that day. The Right Rev. Michael Gill of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa (Traditional Rite) gave the keynote address at the banquet on Thursday evening. On Friday morning, the Right Rev. Paul Hewitt of the Diocese of the Holy Cross presented his paper “Ecumenism in the Continuum” to the third plenary session. Bishop Grundorf presented his paper “Continuum in Future Tense” to the final plenary session on Friday afternoon. The Consultation concluded with a question and answer session moderated by the Rev. James Hiles, rector of the host parish. The presenting bishops were the panel for the session. The papers presented at this gathering can be seen at the links published below, as they become available.

Here are the links:

Welcome & Plenary Session I

Bishop Marsh, “The Continuing Church: First 35 Years”

Plenary Session II

Archbishop Haverland, “Spirit of St. Louis: Theological Integrity in Communion and Continuum”

Keynote Address

Bishop Michael Gill

Plenary Session III

Bishop Hewitt, “Ecumenism in the Continuum”

Plenary Session IV

Bishop Grundorf, “Continuum in Future Tense”

HT:   Fr Anthony Chadwick