Yesterday the Church of Ireland voted to “subscribe” to the Anglican Covenant. Earlier this week, as already noted, the Province of South East Asia acceded to the Covenant. Both seem to be taking to the Covenant on their on terms.
The Anglican Communion News Service has the details on the Church of Ireland action:
“The General Synod of the Church of Ireland meeting today in Armagh voted in favour of the following Motion on the Anglican Covenant: ‘Seeing that the Anglican Covenant is consonant with the doctrines and formularies of the Church of Ireland, the General Synod hereby subscribes the Covenant.’ The vote was passed by a large majority of the House of Representatives. The House of Bishops also voted as a separate House, approving the motion, also by a large majority”
There’s been some discussion among the Café’s newsteam about the language chosen in both instances. Rather than adopt, Ireland decides to “subscribe”. South East Asia “accedes”. Perhaps the point is to make clear that in Ireland, the Covenant is something that can be unsubscribed. Certainly that’s the implication in South East Asia where the accession is stipulated as being dependent on other provinces agreeing to full throated support of Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10. The implication is that if the Episcopal Church were to sign on, then South East Asia would no longer accede…
Interesting that Provinces are attempting to find wiggle room in their relationship to the Covenant isn’t it? I would just how much wiggle room is acceptable to the rest? How much room does the Episcopal Church have if it comes to that?
(ENS notices the language used in South East Asia and Ireland too.)