Two New Zealand dioceses oppose the proposed Anglican Covenant, Canon John Rees says it is both “insignificant and vital,” and The Living Church takes No Anglican Covenant Coalition’s challenge and offers some reasons to support it.
The Rev. Malcolm French, at Simple Massing Priest, rounds up the latest developments:
Two New Zealand dioceses, Aukland and Waiapu, have rejected the so-called Anglican Covenant. Both dioceses passed motions explicitly rejecting the Covenant (which is a stronger action than merely defeating a pro-Covenant resolution).
The Waiapu resolution, while affirming the desire to remain a part of the Anglican Communion, goes on to say that:
We do not believe that the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant will enhance the life of the Communion and request that the General Synod / Te Hinota Whanui declines to sign the Covenant.
The Aukland resolution is even stronger, expressly stating that:
Clause 4.2 of the proposed Covenant contains provisions which are contrary to our understanding of Anglican ecclesiology, to our understanding of the way of Christ, and to justice, and is unacceptable to this Synod.
To date, two Maori dioceses and two Paheka dioceses have rejected the proposed Covenant …
The Lead reported on the lack of coherence and logic in Canon Rees’ study guide for the Diocese of Oxford here.
Last, from Simple Massing Priest:
… the No Anglican Covenant Coalition has posted a list of pro-Covenant articles from The Living Church. While Coalition members are by no means persuaded by the arguments, the authors of these articles are doing a service by mking a coherent case for the proposed Covenant, while doing Covenant critics the courtesy of taking our concerns seriously.
This contrasts well with the babbling points (they are too juvenile to be called talking points) from Lambeth and the Anglican Communion Office which are a disgraceful amalgam of disingenuous contradiction (the Covenant won’t affect anything but is vital to the survival of the Communion), slander (anyone wo questions the Covenant either hasn’t read it or is a fascist) and emotional blackmail (if you don’t support the Covenant, you are being disloyal to poor Rowan.)
And h/t to The Rev. Bosco Peters at Liturgy