In particular, we commend the report’s:

• Linking of unity and communion to both mission and holiness
• Emphasis on the supreme authority of Scripture
• Critique of views of autonomy in terms of independence and its emphasis instead on interdependence and mutuality
• Understanding that the Archbishop of the Canterbury does have a real authority— to call whom he wishes to councils
• Clear desire to strengthen the Communion through repairing the ‘tear in our fabric’ and renewing our commitment to one another.

We also welcome the Report’s willingness to:

• speak honestly about the seriousness of recent actions and the ensuing crisis
• attribute responsibility for it to ECUSA and New Westminster and
• find a way for us to ‘walk together’ by laying out a ‘path of reconciliation’ based on repentance and forgiveness and requiring a moratorium on further actions.

In each of these three areas, however, we have also identified some concerns that the Report is in places weakened in achieving its ends by

• some ambiguities in its wording (leading to incompatible interpretations being offered—even by members of the Commission)
• analysis that is insufficiently thorough
• and practical recommendations that are inconsistent or inadequate.

In particular, we draw attention to:

• The fact that the deeper problems underlying our current sickness stem from a departure in some form from Scripture.
• The lack of clarity about how ‘regret’ relates to ‘repentance’ and how it is to be expressed
• The reticence to provide a theological analysis in terms of sin and a remedy in termsof discipline
• The flawed analysis and critique of those who have intervened in order to protect the orthodox in other provinces
• The uncritical acceptance of DEPO within ECUSA, which does not question the full authority within their dioceses of those very bishops whose standing in the Communion has earlier been called into question by the Commission.

We therefore call on the Primates to follow through the Report’s own logic and internal dynamic in order to strengthen its recommendations.

In particular, we call on the Primates in February to:

• Welcome and affirm the vision of life in Communion set out in the Report and explore fully its proposals for the Instruments of Unity.
• Reaffirm clearly and defend the Anglican teaching on sexuality as expressed in Lambeth I.10.
• Ensure that the ongoing listening and sharing of perspectives that is necessary in all pastoral care is not seen to undermine the status of Lambeth I.10 within the Communion.
• Confirm that statements of ‘regret’ must signify the ‘repentance’ necessary for true reconciliation and so include a commitment not to repeat the actions.
• Confirm that emergency intervention to provide pastoral care and oversight of orthodox parishes and dioceses is theologically and ecclesiologically justified.
• Provide a structure so that genuinely adequate episcopal oversight can be provided, one which is not dependent on those whom the majority of Anglicans believe have departed from the ‘Christian faith as we have received it’.
• Assess, in a clear and limited timescale, whether the actions taken by ECUSA in response to the Report are sufficient to enable them to remain in the Communion and so be in conformity with their own Constitution and canons.
• Assess, in a clear and limited timescale, whether the actions taken by New Westminster in response to the Report are sufficient to enable them to remain in the Communion.
• Assess, in a clear and limited timescale, whether the Primates’ own request for adequate episcopal oversight for loyal Anglicans in provinces or dioceses with revisionist leadership has been met.
• Identify those who remain committed to ‘walking apart’ and establish processes by which it is clear they have done so.
• Use their enhanced responsibility to implement sanctions against those committed to ‘walking apart’, including requesting the Archbishop of Canterbury not to invite them to Communion councils.
• Define and clarify the “exceptional circumstances and conditions” under which the Archbishop of Canterbury in the words of the mandate to the Lambeth Commission might exercise an “extraordinary ministry of episcope .. with regard to the internal affairs of a province other than his own for the sake of maintaining communion.”
• Recognise, support fully and seek to protect all those who clearly signal their compliance with Windsor’s recommendations especially in the case of legal action against them.

END