News for Week Ending 11/26/2012
Uruguay feels ‘abandoned and unsupported’ by Standing Committee
Anglican Journal reported November 22, 2012, that the Diocese of Uruguay feels “abandoned and unsupported” after the Standing Committee (formerly the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council) failed to approve its request to become a part of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, rather than the Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America. The diocese had cited theological difference with the Southern Cone, in particular, on the matter of women’s ordination, and wanted to become a part of the more liberal Brazilian church.There seems to be some confusion over just what the Standing Committee did. According to Anglican Journal, the Standing Committee “turned down its request to change provinces.” The Anglican Communion News Service story of October 26, however, indicated that “The Standing Committee decided to convene a subgroup to consider next steps in responding to the [Uruguay] diocese.”
Women bishops measure defeated in CoE
On November 20, 2012, the General Synod of the Church of England defeated a measure to allow for women bishops. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) The compromise measure required a two-thirds vote among bishops, clergy, and lay members of the General Synod. It failed narrowly among the laity. The measure was strongly supported by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and his designated successor Justin Welby. Episcopal News Service covered the story here, and published a follow-up story on the aftermath of the defeat.The defeat is widely viewed as a debacle. It has been covered extensively in news stories, and commentary about the vote has also been extensive. Anyone wishing to explore in depth what is being said about the failed measure should consult Thinking Anglican (beginning here), which has covered the matter with its usual thoroughness. Perhaps the most insightful commentary on the mess the Church of England has gotten itself into is an essay by Linda Woodhead on the Modern Church Web site. A post at The Lead gives a good sense of the consternation caused by the General Synod vote.
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