Defining Anglicanism Amid Crisis

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, July 14, 2007

At a time when Anglicans are in what many call a crisis and trying to define common foundations that would bind them as a global body, the bishop of one of the largest Anglican provinces asks "What is Anglicanism?"

The nature of the crisis in the Anglican Communion has often been identified as the issue over homosexuality, but Archbishop Henry Orombi of the Church of Uganda stressed that the heart of the crisis is the "risk of losing our biblical foundation."

"We in the Church of Uganda are convinced that Scripture must be reasserted as the central authority in our communion," he stated. "The basis of our commitment to Anglicanism is that it provides a wider forum for holding each other accountable to Scripture, which is the seed of faith and the foundation of the Church in Uganda."

A growing number of conservative congregations have severed ties with The Episcopal Church – the U.S. branch of Anglicanism – which they believe has departed from scriptural authority and Christian orthodoxy. The 2003 consecration of an openly gay bishop had heightened the controversy and further indicated the U.S. body's "leftward drift."

In the Global South, which houses the largest Anglican provinces, the majority of Anglicans oppose The Episcopal Church's recent actions and have called for true repentance as they seek to uphold Scripture.

As Nigerian Archbishop Peter J. Akinola said earlier, "All we are saying is, do not celebrate what the Bible says is wrong," he told London's The Times.

"In Uganda, the Bible has grown into a cherished source of authority that is central to Christian faith, practice, and mission. For all God's people, obedience to this Bible is the source of confidence, abundant life, and joy. It is an absolute treasure that no one can take away," said Orombi. "[T]he Word of God has withstood the test of time. The Bible is at the heart of our Anglican identity, and we Ugandan Anglicans joyfully submit to its life-giving and transforming authority."

Knowing the centrality of the authority of Scripture in Anglicanism, Orombi says "we understand ourselves to be in the mainstream of Anglicanism."

Meanwhile, conservative Anglicans have indicated that the American branch, which has stated it will not go "backward" on its 2003 decision, has left Anglicanism and is perhaps defining itself as an offshoot.

"In the current Anglican crisis, we are at risk of losing our biblical foundation," said Orombi. "As bishops, we are constrained, in the words of the 1662 Ordinal, 'to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's Word,' and we are determined 'out of the same Holy Scriptures to instruct the people committed to [our] charge and to teach or maintain nothing, as necessary to eternal salvation, but that which [we] shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the same."

The conviction to the authority of Scripture has led some conservative Anglican leaders to reject the invitation from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, to next year's global Lambeth meeting. Williams had sent out invitations to bishops from The Episcopal Church who supported the 2003 consecration. But Ugandan bishops and leaders from other provinces said they will not attend a Lambeth conference to which "violators" of a resolution that states homosexuality is incompatible with Holy Scripture are also invited.

"It is important that this decision not be misunderstood as withdrawing from the instruments of communion," Orombi explained. "Its (Lambeth's) value as an instrument of communion is greatly diminished when the persistent violators of its resolutions are invited.

"The Church of Uganda takes its Anglican identity and the future prospects of the global Anglican Communion very seriously. Our thoughtfulness in how we participate in the instruments of communion reflects our fundamental loyalty to our Anglican heritage."

At a global meeting in February, heads of Anglican provinces – called primates – set a Sept. 30 deadline requesting The Episcopal Church to make an unequivocal pledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or bless same-sex unions.

"The current crisis presents us with an opportunity to mature into a global communion that represents not just historic bonds of affection but also an advancing mission force for the Kingdom of God that Jesus inaugurated," said Orombi. But for that to happen, Orombi indicated that the instruments of communion, such as the February agreement, need to be strengthened.