Realignment of Anglican Groups

There is some legitimate speculation going on here and there about what will happen to any parishes or individuals who might be inclined to exercise their liberty of conscience and go off at a tangent, whilst the majority of the TAC forms the material for Ordinariates in communion with Rome. The question needs to be addressed.

Archbishop Hepworth wrote in his Pastoral Letter On the Gathering of Anglicans the following:

What of those who are not yet ready to make this decision?

I have been discussing this question with national groups of our bishops and with some of those whom Catholic Bishops Conferences have appointed to liaise with us. There is no time limit on the acceptance of this Constitution. It is designed to have a lifetime of centuries. Some people are ready and anxious to move now; others are seeking more time for prayer and reflection. Others are confused by the surge of public argument about the Constitution. We are committed to the pastoral care of all our people, those who will quickly move into full communion and those who are not yet ready. We are already discussing the structures for this. The Traditional Anglican Communion will not disappear, but will endure for the same purpose that it was created to fulfil, and which is so clearly described in the text of our petition.

I am unable to say what will be decided in practical terms. However, it would seem to be a temporary provision for those requiring more time to make a decision, grapple with the more difficult aspects of Catholic teaching and perhaps also to make some crucial personal decisions.

For those who have made up their minds, negatively, it would seem that they have a choice of becoming Orthodox or seeking a new settlement, either a new schism or an agreement with one of the continuing Anglican Churches. Continuing Anglican clerics and lay people are painfully aware of the suffering brought by fragmentation and internal strife, above all when these problems are the doings of rival bishops and jurisdictional problems.

We must respect those who reject the Catholic Church for reasons of informed conscience, invincible ignorance, or prejudice, but we will certainly be watching to see whether those groups of Anglicans prove capable of solving their own problems. It is too early to say whether we will be seeing new episcopal consecrations or efforts to reunite and realign under existing bishops and stable jurisdictional structures. This will be a test of whether such ‘lifeboats’ can be taken seriously and seen as viable.

Perhaps these small jurisdictions look different in America than in Europe. We English are generally very cynical about minority churches and the old phenomenon of episcopi vagantes. It would seem to me that this jaded phenomenon has run its course, and that the thing to do is to align with mainstream Catholicism or pursue another avenue in life. At the same time, we do not have the right to sneer at those who have found themselves in that situation because there was no room at the inn, and they often carried their Christian faith with heroism and great courage. Their intention was to work for the unity of the Church, and not to deceive the faithful for questionable ends.

Perhaps, in the future, if the Continuum that decides to remain independent begins to demonstrate unity and ecclesiastical discipline, an ecumenical dialogue could be envisaged, in the same way that the ARCIC dialogues with the Anglican Communion have not been abandoned. This may not happen for some time yet, as certain blogs show signs of aroused emotions and wounded human pride.

One of the most positive signs we should look for of good will would be the small number of bishops compared with the numbers of priests and lay people in the parishes and missions. They seem themselves to recognise this problem. It is always possible for bishops who are not needed for episcopal ministry to shelve their episcopal status and serve their Church as simple priests, as signs of humility and realism, thus inspiring confidence and trust among priests and lay folk.

Instead of engaging in polemics against Rome or the TAC Hierarchy, it would be good to see the “others” begin to organise their independent church bodies and demonstrating their hard work, stability and unity over a number of years, showing that what they offer the world is able to withstand the test of time.

Let them take up the challenge.