As Thinking Anglicans has observed, a transcript of the questions asked at last month’s CoE General Synod and the answers is now online.
It was reported at the time that there were questions asked so as to inject at least a mention of ACNA into the meeting. These can be found on pages 16 and 17 of the PDF transcript:
26. Revd Angus MacLeay (Rochester) asked the Chairman of the House of Bishops: What representation did the House of Bishops have at the recent inauguration of Bishop Bob Duncan as the Primate of the Anglican Church in North America on June 24?
The Bishop of Bristol [the Rt Revd Michael Hill]: None. It is not the practice of the House to arrange such representation.
Revd Angus MacLeay: Bishop, what is the view of the House of Bishops as to the Anglican identity of the Anglican Church in North America and are any—
The Chairman [The Bishop of Willesden (Rt Revd Pete Broadbent)]: I know you would love to get in this one, but I am afraid it is asking for an expression of opinion. Can you rephrase the supplementary?
Revd Angus MacLeay: Could I ask the Bishop: are any individual members of the House of Bishops in communion with the Anglican Church in North America?
The Chairman: That one is all right but it is not actually one that arises out of the question. It was a question but it was not the right question.
27. Mrs Lorna Ashworth (Chichester) asked the Chairman of the House of Bishops: Has the House of Bishops considered the relationship of the Church of England to the new Anglican Church in North America?
28. Mrs Alison Ruoff (London) asked the Chairman of the Ministry Division: Has the House of Bishops considered what degree of recognition and welcome the Church of England can offer to the new Anglican Church in North America?
The Bishop of Bristol: With permission, Chairman, I should like to answer the Questions from Lorna Ashworth and Alison Ruoff together. The House has not specifically considered this matter.
Revd Canon Dr Chris Sugden (Oxford): Do any of the House of Bishops regard themselves as being in communion with the bishops of the Anglican Church in North America?
The Bishop of Bristol: I think that given the fairly recent development of ACNA, as it is now called, I find that a very difficult question to answer on behalf of my colleagues. You will be aware that some bishops sent good wishes to them. I would not be qualified to say whether that means they regard themselves in communion and I think because of the recentness of this development, the reality is that the House of Bishops at some stage will look at that and think about it, but, on the other hand, I think there is then the issue of how we deal with individual clergy from them, which of course is covered by the Overseas Clergy Measure 1967, which is a matter for the Archbishops.
Mrs Alison Ruoff (London): Would the Bishop give an assurance to the Synod that this urgent question will be on the agenda for the next meeting of the House of Bishops, please?
The Bishop of Bristol: I do not think it would be for me to give that assurance. All I can say is that I am aware that the House of Bishops and the Archbishops in particular are aware of this fairly recent development and I am quite sure that they will be concerned to look at what the ramifications of this are, not just for the Church of England but for the wider Anglican Communion.
Revd Hugh Lee (Oxford): Is it for the House of Bishops, for the Archbishop or indeed for General Synod to decide ultimately whether we wish to be in communion with such a province?
The Bishop of Bristol: Procedurally I do not know the answer to that question. I would have thought that, first off, it might be a discussion amongst the House of Bishops and it would be for the House of Bishops to decide whether or not that would be shared more widely. This is a situation that we have never quite had to deal with in recent history before, and therefore I think it is new for all of us.
The Bishop of Durham (Rt Revd Tom Wright): Is the Bishop of Bristol aware that earlier today at a meeting of the House of Bishops Theology Group the new canons and constitution of ACNA were tabled for consideration by the theological group of the House of Bishops so that they might then come in a considered way to the House of Bishops?
The Bishop of Bristol: I am truly thankful for the Bishop’s question. I was not aware of that fact but welcome it in the light of the discussion of the last few minutes.
All of which raises the hypothetical, could the Church of England choose to be in communion with ACNA without ACNA being part of the Anglican Communion? A Private Member’s Motion stating “Mrs Lorna Ashworth (Chichester) to move: ‘That this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America.’.” The rules by which PMM’s enter debate are here. This motion has crossed one minimum threshold: It has garnered in excess 100 signatures signaling interest in debating it. If I understand this correctly it could, but not necessarily would, be scheduled for debate at the next General Synod.
Speaking of being in communion, recall that there was also a brouhaha at General Synod over the communion relationship between the CoE and Church of Sweden in light of developments in that church — such as a bishop in a committed same sex relationship [and addressed in question 51 below]. The exchange is on pages 30 and 31 of the question transcript but can also be found in full in an earlier post at Thinking Anglicans.