UPDATED: see below
The Church of England General Synod has voted to recognize that members of ACNA wish to be remain in the Anglican family. The vote displaced the language of the original motion that would have “express[ed] the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America”.
The private member’s motion that failed was:
“That this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America”.
The Bishop of Bristol (the Rt Revd Mike Hill) moved as an amendment that passed:
Leave out everything after “That this Synod” and insert:
“(a) recognise and affirm the desire of those who have formed the Anglican Church in North America to remain within the Anglican family;
(b) acknowledge that this aspiration, in respect both of relations with the Church of England and membership of the Anglican Communion, raises issues which the relevant authorities of each need to explore further; and
(c) invite the Archbishops to report further to the Synod in 2011”.
Another amendment passed adding “aware of the distress caused by recent divisions within the Anglican churches of the United States of America and Canada” after the words “That this Synod.” This final wording of the motion as passed is here at the CoE website.
Another amendment to the amendment failed. (It would have merged the original motion with Bristol’s amendment.)
The debate made it clear that ACNA was not a part of the Anglican Communion. If ACNA wishes to be a part of the Anglican Communion there are procedures for that, procedures ACNA is not interested in following. And, the Archbishop of ACNA’s answer to the question “is the ABC Anglican?” is no, at “the cost of his office.” Meanwhile, this is how ACNA explains today’s events to its members.
UPDATE:
From ENS
Church of England says no to full communion with breakaway entity.
The Church of England has said it recognizes and affirms the desire of the Anglican Church in North America to remain in the Anglican family, but it is not yet ready to be in full communion with the breakaway entity.
Earlier in the day the synod debated and rejected a motion condemning coverage of religion by the BBC.