Updated. The General Synod voted in favor of debating the Covenant – next step is most likely to debate in dioceses and then back to the next Synod for final vote. However, follow along with Thinking Anglicans as the process continues (and changes, perhaps).
General Synod: Anglican Covenant debate
From Thinking Anglicans
General Synod is debating the Anglican Communion Synod this (Wednesday) morning. We will update this article as the debate proceeds.
There is a briefing paper (GS Misc 966) available, which includes the text of the Anglican Covenant. The text of the draft Act (GS 1809) is reproduced below the fold.
The Bishop of Bristol (The Rt Revd Michael Hill) moved
504 ‘That the draft Act of Synod adopting the Anglican Communion Covenant be considered.’
Mrs Mary Johnston (London) proposed that the debate be adjourned to July 2011. The proposal was defeated on a show of hands. Synod then immediately agreed to close the debate and move to a vote. The voting was by houses and motion 504 was carried in all three houses with the voting figures below.
Bishops 39 for 0 against 1 abstention
Clergy 145 for 32 against 11 abstentions
Laity 147 for 25 against 8 abstentions
Read more HERE
GAFCON “Primates Council” rejects Anglican Covenant:
The Primates Council of GAFCON met in Oxford recently and today released a statement rejecting out of hand the entire Anglican Covenant. It should be noted that the Primates Council includes some people who are not Primates: Venables is no longer primate or is at least a lame duck, and Jensen is not a Primate.
5. For the sake of Christ and of His Gospel we can no longer maintain the illusion of normalcy and so we join with other Primates from the Global South in declaring that we will not be present at the next Primates’ meeting to be held in Ireland. And while we acknowledge that
the efforts to heal our brokenness through the introduction of an Anglican Covenant were well intentioned we have come to the conclusion the current text is fatally flawed and so support for this initiative is no longer appropriate.
The No Anglican Covenant Coalition’s statement about the Synod vote.
LONDON – Responding to the voting on the proposed Anglican Covenant by the Church of England General Synod, No Anglican Covenant Coalition Moderator, the Revd. Dr. Lesley Fellows made the following statement:
“The No Anglican Covenant Coalition is disappointed that the Church of England has voted to continue consideration of the Anglican Covenant. The debate made it clear that many members believe the Covenant will undermine the traditional Anglican comprehensiveness. We have lost this round. We will continue to oppose the Covenant in the Diocesan Synods and work to defeat it when it returns to the General Synod.”
“We note that the GAFCON Primates have said ‘the current text is fatally flawed and so support for this initiative is no longer appropriate.’ A two-tier communion appears to be unavoidable.”
Read the NACC statement here.