Anglo-Vatican announcement has important American/African dimension

The Anglican Communion includes over 80 million persons worldwide.

I'll leave it to others to look at the possibilities for reconciliation and communion with the Catholic Church in Africa, where the Anglican Communion is on average far more conservative than their British counterparts.

But let us not forget the large numbers of Anglicans (Episcopalians) in the United States - well over two million. Episcopalians in the United States are not all of one mold, but among their number there are many traditional "high Church" individuals, who would be most disposed to reunification with Rome. There are already numerous "Anglican-rite" parishes in the United States, which allow for the inclusion of some elements of traditional Anglican prayer in the Catholic Mass.

Cardinal George - President of the US Bishops - has released a statement to reflect on the US dimension of the decisions announced in Rome and London today which I include in full:

Today the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has received word of the new Provision in the form of an apostolic constitution issued by the Holy See for the reception into full communion with the Catholic Church of groups from the Anglican tradition. The USCCB stands ready to collaborate in the implementation of that Provision in our country.

This step by the Holy See is in response to a number of requests received in Rome from groups of Anglicans seeking corporate reunion. The application of the new Provision recognizes the desire of some Anglicans (Episcopalians) to live the Catholic faith in full, visible communion with the See of Peter, while at the same time retaining some elements of their traditions of liturgy, spirituality and ecclesial life which are consistent with the Catholic faith.

This Provision, at the service of the unity of the Church, calls us as well to join our voices to the Priestly Prayer of Jesus that ‘all may be one’ (Jn 17:21) as we seek a greater communion with all our brothers and sisters with whom we share Baptism. For forty-five years, our Episcopal Conference has engaged in ecumenical dialogue with The Episcopal Church, which is the historic Province of the Anglican communion in North America. The Catholic Bishops of the United States remain committed to seeking deeper unity with the members of The Episcopal Church by means of theological dialogue and collaboration in activities that advance the mission of Christ and the welfare of society."

I certainly intend to do my part - there is an English pub down the street and this evening I'm going down there to have a few pints in celebration of the 1st annual "Anglo-Catholic Reunification Day."

Breaking: Conservative Episcopalians to form rival US province

The fracture of the Anglican communion continues. This time, dramatically:

Conservatives estranged from the Episcopal Church in the United States and its Canadian counterpart are expected to formally announce Wednesday the formation of a rival “province” in the two countries.

Leaders of the new Anglican Church in North America are expected to unveil a draft constitution for the province — or ecclesiastical territorial division — at an evening service at the 1,200-seat Wheaton Evangelical Free Church in Wheaton, Illinois, the group said in a written statement.

“The public release of our draft constitution is an important concrete step toward the goal of a biblical, missionary and united Anglican Church in North America,” Bishop Robert Duncan of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, diocese, said in the written statement.

The move comes after years of debate over several issues, ranging from the interpretation of the Bible to homosexuality. Tensions reached a boiling point in 2003, when the Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay man, Rev. Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire. (CNN)

Stand Firm is the traditional Anglican blog in America. They have been posting live updates:

BREAKING: Constitution Approved for New Province // From an anonymous (but impeccable) source. That's all we have now. More details as news develops. // The vote to approve the constitution was unanimous, with no abstentions. // 4 of 9 canons have been voted on. The assembly has now broken for lunch. // No more news until the press conference later in the day.

They also have a live video stream from Wheaton where the meeting is taking place.

More links: New York Times, AssociatedPress, UK Telegraph, Dallas Morning News.

I wonder if any conservative pastors, congregations or individuals are considering the Catholic Church as an alternative to this new rival province and the old communion?

update: also checkout Texanglican.

[photo credit: Sally Ryan for the New York Times.]

"Episcopal Church faces possible major defection" (Reuters)

The disintegration continues (by which I mean nothing more sinister than the "lack of integration"):

The U.S. Episcopal Church faces major tumult this week when an entire California diocese with more than 9,000 members decides whether to secede in an unprecedented protest over gay issues.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, based in Fresno and consisting of nearly 50 churches in 14 counties, would be the first diocese to bolt from the U.S. branch of the 77-million-member global Anglican Communion if Saturday's final vote passes.

The U.S. church and Anglicanism generally have been in upheaval since 2003 when the Episcopal Church consecrated Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as the first bishop known to be in an openly gay relationship in more than four centuries of church history.

Dissent over that as well as the blessing of same-sex unions practiced in some congregations has caused a number of defections by traditionalists in the U.S. church.

More from Reuters.

Papist conversion: Episcopal Bishop of SW FL John Lipscomb

An open letter was published today by the episcopal bishop of southwest Florida John Lipscomb:

I have communicated to the Presiding Bishop my request to be released from my ordination vows and the obligations and responsibilities of a member of the House of Bishops. I have taken this step in order to be received into the Catholic Church. Through a long season of prayer and reflection Marcie and I have come to believe this is the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s call to us for the next chapter of our lives...

... I have a deep love for the sacramental life, most especially the Eucharistic sacrifice through which God continues to pour his grace into our lives in the Word that needs no words.

... I believe God is now calling us to continue our ministry to serve in the healing of the visible Body of Christ in the world. I am convinced our Lord’s deepest desire is for the unity of the Church.

[Read full letter.]

While praying for John (as well as his wife and family) and rejoicing in his intention to join the Catholic Church, I just point out that the open letter misses several opportunities to witness to his episcopal brethren concerning his reasons for joining the Church.

His description of his devotion to the eucharist (only the true sacrament gets a capitalized 'E'), for example, would have been a prime opportunity, and while it is true that the Lord desires the unity of the Church, he also desires personal unity with each human being, and he has also revealed that this personal union is best sought in and through the visible structure of the Catholic Church. This strikes me as a more fundamental reason to convert to Catholicism.

Furthermore, ending your open letter with a Thomas Merton poem that begins "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going" isn't the most inspirational choice. I think it's clear that John Lipscomb at least knows where he isn't staying, and has some inkling where he is going, else he wouldn't put himself through the drama of a highly-public conversion.

[And do realize that these observations in no way detract from a) my joy at his decision and b) my fervent prayers for him and his family and c) my admiration of his honesty and bravery.]

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida has a statement. Lipscomb's successor is quoted as saying "I am pleased that [Lipscomb] and Marcie have found their place of spiritual solace."

The diocese of SW Florida (see map) contains 79 congregations and about 35,000 members.

As background, a 2003 article published by the St. Petersburg Times notes that "From the start, Bishop John B. Lipscomb has been at the forefront of the fight against the ordination of the American Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop." Also: "Lipscomb has been vocal about opposing what he views as the Episcopal church's slide away from scriptural teachings."

Here's another interesting quote: "I have said consistently that I have no interest in leaving the Episcopal Church or the Anglican Communion and I have no intention of leading this diocese out of the Episcopal Church," he said." Well, (we should all) thank God intentions can change.

In Februrary, The Tampa Tribune did an extensive article on John Lipscomb that I found very illuminating. Some excerpts:

The way John Bailey Lipscomb sees it, he got his miracles on the front end of life.

It was 1950, a time when society shunned unwed mothers and technology saved few premature babies. Lipscomb came into this world way too early, a 41/2-pound preemie born to a young woman who gave him up for reasons he never knew.

"Why I wasn't aborted or why I didn't die in the hospital, I can only owe to God," he says. "I got a real double blessing right from the start." Maybe that's why Lipscomb, 57, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida since 1997, doesn't bemoan the double-whammy that hit toward the back end of life.

In 2002, he learned he had Parkinson's disease. Then, three years ago during a mission trip to Africa, he contracted malaria. Both are chronic conditions that can worsen over time.

Wow, that's alot to have on one's plate. It may also explain the acceleration of his plans to enter the Church. The story also mentions that he recently went back to school at Graduate Theological Foundation in South Bend, Indiana to complete a doctorate in theology. I'm guessing that the extra studies didn't hurt his interest in the Catholic Church. The article also mentions John Lipscbom suggesting someone "organize a 30th anniversary celebration of the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church."

Yes, conversion takes time, and never occurs in a vacuum. All the more reason to keep him in our prayers.

And for the further-interested, the Tampa Tribune article also has a short interview.

Thanks to Michael Lewis for the tip. Amy has also posted on this story.