BISHOP OF EBBSFLEET

STATEMENT ON THE WINDSOR REPORT

JOIN with other bishops in thanking the Archbishop of Armagh and the members of the Lambeth Commission for the report they are offering to the wider Church for study. The Windsor Report cogently expresses the reasons why a province or diocese should not proceed unilaterally with innovations in faith and order. It suggests ways of deepening the Instruments of Unity that have evolved to maintain the life and fellowship of the Communion.

It is a matter of regret, however, that the Windsor Report understates and apparently underestimates the disintegration already brought about by the doctrine of provincial autonomy, hesitantly and reactively adopted by the Anglican Communion, and specifically by the practice of provinces proceeding to ordain women to the priesthood and consecrate them to the episcopate. Some observers would say that it is precisely disintegration of this sort that engendered disregard of Scripture and Tradition and impatience to innovate as the Communion, inevitably slowly, has sought to find a common mind on new and no less contentious issues. It is no surprise that ECUSA has acted pre-emptively in matters of human sexuality; North American bishops also acted no less pre-emptively in 1974 over the priesting of women.

Welcome though attempts to deepen Anglican cohesion and unity undoubtedly are, it is disturbing that, were the Windsor Report's 'Anglican Covenant' (Appendix 2) adopted in its draft form, many who believe what Anglicans have traditionally believed would be excluded from continuing as Anglicans. The Covenant assumes a degree of mutual recognition and inter-changeability of orders which is at present impossible.

I remain grateful for what is offered to the Church: I hope that it encourages thoughtful restraint. I hope too that, as the Windsor report is studied, ways may be found of deepening and extending the examination of our damaged ecclesiology. As we make 'every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' (Eph. 4:3), may we look beyond our domestic Anglican preoccupations to the ecumenical imperative of the Prayer of Jesus that the whole Church might be one, as the Father and Son are One (John 17).

+ Andrew Ebbsfleet

19th October 2004


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