I have received a very thoughtful piece from The Rev. Joseph F. Duggan of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, a doctoral candidate at the University of Manchester in England. Find it beneath the “continue reading” tab.
He writes: TEC must lead Anglicans in a radical attitude adjustment. Ideological differences must be given the same privileged status of inclusion as race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. Rather than continuing to take sides TEC must stand up for all differences, even the ones that repulse. Historically astute Anglicans know that communion must be achieved amidst the constant strife of difference and interdependence. Difference is constitutive of the Anglican Communion, not a disturbance that must be disciplined. TEC must exemplify this interdependence and coexistence of difference.
The ultimatum that The Episcopal Church (TEC) received at the meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion in Tanzania is old news. What’s new? TEC now has a deadline of September 30 to respond. Until last week, TEC has ignored the concerns of conservative Episcopalians. In a failure of strategic awareness TEC refused to offer acceptable alternative oversight and has pursued civil litigation in contested parish properties. Now these Episcopalians, with the help of conservative Anglicans from around the world, have backed TEC into a corner of decision.
The conservatives have mastered the political game and brilliantly framed the conversation. The liberals have reacted with their historical passive resistance and postponements. Now, an unprepared TEC must hurriedly consider the Primates’ last word. Apparently, TEC must choose between the irreconcilable: Scriptural literalism versus GLBT justice. Under this scenario, one will lose while the other celebrates their victories. Yet if TEC does not change its course, both liberals and conservatives will unexpectedly lose a piece of their shared history.
Anglicanism is a historical outcome of the Reformation battles between Roman Catholics and Puritans. Elizabeth I held the Church of England and the state together through the influence of Tudor tolerance. One aspect of this legacy: for centuries Anglicans’ theological controversies -– even extreme differences – were always tolerated.
Anglicanism is unique among Christian theologies. It does not depend on the unifying authority of the Roman Catholic papacy or dogmatic confessional standards. Anglicanism is a living tradition. No longer though, as Tudor tolerance apparently has been forgotten.
The only thing that contemporary liberal and conservative Anglicans have in common is their mutual revulsion. Both have missed the point of Anglicanism. Toleration of difference is at stake. If Anglicanism can no longer hold together both the GLBT activist and Scriptural literalist, then Anglicans cannot avert a schism. This historic Reformation tradition will come to an abrupt end.
No longer are differences between believers simply markers on their respective faith journeys. Apparently no one in the Anglican Communion believes that their fellow members are contingent works in process who need the unconditional love of the other. Losing its capacity for ambiguity would irrevocably change the provocative nature of Anglicanism. Despite the pressure of disturbing differences, the Communion can hold. It has in the past and must in the future.
At present TEC is in an untenable position. If it chooses to comply with the Primates’ demands, then the inclusive justice mission of TEC will be indefinitely postponed. If it breaks away from the Anglican Communion, it will have lost membership in a diverse worldwide community of Christians. Liberals say inclusive justice is worth the cost. Conservatives say preserving orthodox belief is worth the cost. Those who say these costs are negligible are naïve. As somebody who loves TEC and its membership in the worldwide Anglican Communion I am optimistic and hopeful.
TEC still has time to reframe the conversation by once again standing on historic ground and thereby reclaiming the counter-cultural power of Anglicanism.
TEC must lead Anglicans in a radical attitude adjustment. Ideological differences must be given the same privileged status of inclusion as race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. Rather than continuing to take sides TEC must stand up for all differences, even the ones that repulse. Historically astute Anglicans know that communion must be achieved amidst the constant strife of difference and interdependence. Difference is constitutive of the Anglican Communion, not a disturbance that must be disciplined. TEC must exemplify this interdependence and coexistence of difference.
Like Jesus on the cross who spoke to the thief, Anglicans must always be humbly prepared to say to the other, “you will be with me in Paradise”. TEC must repent, not to the Primates, but to the Communion for forgetting Tudor tolerance. TEC must say that there is absolutely no contradiction between the Scriptural literalist and GLBT activist. Both are faithful Anglicans who disagree. TEC must say, “we will cherish them and we will nurture their faith”. This is Reformation Anglicanism. This is a radical inclusive Gospel that defies political strategies. As Jesus gazed compassionately on Pontius Pilate, TEC must likewise compassionately gaze on the differences of all Anglicans, but will it do so?