St. Valentine's Day, Oban and the Primates of the Church Meet

14^th February 2007

St. Valentines Day

Favourite Valentine’s card from The Interesting Thoughts of Edward Monkton range:

Big picture of a love heart with the words Somebody thinks I’m gorgeous written underneath.

Followed by the words:

Cut this out and stick it on your HEAD – then everyone will know what I think of you*

*But please don’t blame me if you get some funny looks.  People can be WEIRD you know.

I am just setting off for Oban – by car.  A wonderful treat as my husband is driving and my son has come for the ride.  The lure of the latest computer game was almost too great for him (and me)!  It’s a surprisingly bright and still day – at least on the East Coast.

I feel as though this is a pilgrimage day – although rather a cushy number in the car.  We all have expectations.  I am off to meet a colleague to plan a lecture in May.  A colleague I have known for years but in a different world.  I am looking forward to touching base.  My husband and son will disgorge Rainbow, my guide dog and me at our destination and travel on to view Dunstaffnage Castle.  We will meet up later and no doubt share news of our respective afternoons.

Work that doesn’t feel like work is always the best work to have, but we aren’t all so fortunate.  Sitting in the car typing this on the laptop feels like bliss – with the odd peak at breath-taking scenery all about me. 

I was struck this morning, hearing the latest reports on the radio that some of my brothers and sisters in Christ in the Anglican Communion are in for a period of demanding discernment as the Primates of the Anglican Communion gather.  Not comfortable work and likely to cause hurt and misunderstanding whatever the outcomes.  They are meeting in Tanzania this week to discuss what is to become of the Anglican Communion. 

Anglicans all feared we would divide some years ago over the Ordination of women.  Remarkably, some would say providentially, we held it together with varying provisions being rolled out for those who felt that they could not adhere for reasons of ecclesiology and conscience to the admission of women into the priesthood.  A further moment of division emerged as the legislation came into being which permitted women to be elected Bishop.  Now we face the challenge that may shatter us. Our Bishops must discern the most authentic and efficacious way forward.

The election of the first openly homosexual Bishop, living with his partner, in the USA caused a storm of controversy.  African and Asian Provinces called foul – and the Church of England saw it pretty much as an own goal.  It has had a much wider impact than I suspect those who sought the election of Gene Robinson could ever have envisaged.

As a Christian I cannot believe that the intention in Bishop Robinson’s elections was to cause schism.  I suspect the majority of those who supported him saw his election as a profoundly just moment when the Church could claim significantly more authenticity than it had done before.  I suspect they believed it was prophetic gesture that would ultimately bring healing to the Church.  The actual impact has been, in the short term at least, quite other.

I am utterly supportive of a vision of the Church as welcoming all people irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation or disability to its ranks both as members of the denomination and as authorised ministers.  But, and this is a big but, I do believe we are a Church which places significant emphasis on our corporate nature across cultural, social and economic divides.  If one part of the Body of Christ acts unilaterally over an issue which has been discussed widely and is known to be highly controversial and divisive, then the rest of the Communion is right to take time to reflect on how it must proceed from this point; what the consequences will be.

We are at variance with each other.  Just because it feels as though we have been here before over other issues does not mean we can ride the rapids with relatively little damage this time.