Anglican Primate blasts "aggressive" ordinations
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official7349
- Date
- 2000 February 7
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press release
- Text of motion
- TORONTO, February 7, 2000 -- Archbishop Michael Peers has used the strongest language yet in the widespread condemnation of irregular ordinations aimed at undermining the leadership of the Episcopal Church in the United States.
- Archbishop Peers, the Primate of The Anglican Church of Canada, termed recent ordinations in Singapore "an act of aggression: and "an open and premeditated assault on Anglican tradition, catholic order and Christian charity".
- Last week in Singapore the Primates of Rwanda and South East Asia consecrated two American priests as bishops and said they would be "released" into the United States. Archbishop Peers said: "Bishops are not intercontinental ballistic missiles, manufactured on one continent and fired into another as an act of aggression".
- The ordinations have been roundly condemned by liberal and conservative forces alike. Archbishop Harry Goodhew of the Diocese of Sydney (Australia) noted that a meeting of the Primates is to take place next month, and conservative church leaders, including Archbishop Moses Tay of South East Asia, had agreed in Kampala last month not to take any precipitous actions before the Primates meeting.
- "I am surprised and not a little disappointed that people who were present at Kampala, and agreed upon, have moved now beyond that agreement and have taken action that is contrary to the tenor and spirit of our understanding," Archbishop Goodhew said.
- An article on the web site of the conservative organization Forward in Faith America said the ordinations are likely invalid because "certain necessary ingredients to make the ordinations valid were missing and/or certain impediments were present." It lists nine `ingredients and impediments', including the veil of secrecy surrounding the event did not allow for a proper use of the Si quis", a clause in the ordination rite which allows objections to be expressed.
- The Archbishop of Canterbury termed the ordinations "irresponsible and irregular" and said the action was "a grave disappointment". In the United States, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold said he was "appalled" by the "singularly unhelpful" actions and "profoundly disturbed by the caricature that has been presented of the Episcopal Church in the United States".
- Archbishop Peers, who is partly responsible for planning the meeting of Primates next month, said the ordinations indicate the need for the Primates to deepen their understanding of Episcopal ministry.
- The text of Archbishop Peers' statement follows:
- Statement by Archbishop Michael Peers, member for the Americas of the Primates' Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion
- I write as a member of the Primates' Standing Committee which, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, has spent time over the past months planning the March meeting of Primates.
- Because of the recent action in Singapore, there will be greater need at that meeting to deepen the understanding of Primates about episcopal ministry.
- In the Anglican tradition, bishops are chosen by the local church according to its standards and practices. The persons chosen are affirmed by the wider church, that is, the province, and then ordained by bishops acting in, with, and for the church of the diocese and province.
- Bishops are not intercontinental ballistic missiles, manufactured on one continent and fired into another as an act of aggression.
- The recent irregular ordination in Singapore is, in my opinion, an open and premeditated assault on Anglican tradition, catholic order and Christian charity.
- I ask for the prayers of the whole church for the Primates' Meeting that it may contribute to deeper comprehension. mutual trust, and godly quietness among its members and throughout the Communion.
- Archbishop Michael G. Peers
- Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada
- Member of the Standing Committee of the Primates' Meeting
- - 30 -
- Contact: Doug Tindal, Director of Information Resources, 416-924-9199 ext. 286; 905-335-8349 (residence) or Sam Carriere, Editor, Print Resources 416-924-9199 ext. 256
- Subjects
- Peers, Michael G. (Michael Geoffrey), 1934-2023
- Tay, Moses (Moses Leng Kong), 1938-
- Goodhew, Harry (Richard Henry), 1931-
- Murphy, Charles (Charles Hurt), 1947-2018
- Rodgers, John (John Hewitt), 1932-2022
- Griswold, Frank T. (Frank Tracy), 1937-2023
- Church of the Province of South East Asia
- Episcopacy - Anglican Communion
- Anglican Communion - Bishops
- Consecration of bishops - Anglican Communion
- Anglican Communion. Primates Meeting (10th : 2000 : Oporto, Portugal)
- Anglican Communion - Parties and movements