7 Primates refuse to take Communion with head of Episcopal Church
Posted February 16, 2007
The Lord's Supper -- which traditionally shows the unity of the church -- today revealed the divisions in the 77-million-member Anglican communion. At least seven conservative primates from the Global South refused to share the broken bread and poured out wine with liberal presiding bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the Episcopal Church USA. That's the cup half-empty analysis.
The cup half-full analysis would be this: Apparently 31 primates -- representing a majority of Anglicans around the world -- are united enough that they can celebrate the Eucharist with the American leader. Notably, the Archbishop of Canterbury, one of the instruments of unity, is also comfortable sharing the chalice with his U.S. colleague.
To read a statement from the Global South leaders on their decision to skip the Eucharist, click below.
SITTING AT THE LORD'S TABLE: (Taken from the Website of the Church of Nigeria)
Statement from Global South Primates
CONN/100207
A number of the Global South Primates have not shared in the Holy Eucharist
today with their fellow primates. They include Abp. Peter Akinola, Abp John
Chew, Abp. Benjamin Nzimbi, Abp Justice Akrofi, Abp. Henry Orombi, Abp.
Gregory Venables, and Abp. Emmanuel Kolini. They represent more than 30
million faithful Anglicans. They have released this statement:
"We each take the celebration of the Holy Eucharist very seriously. This
deliberate action is a poignant reminder of the brokenness of the Anglican
Communion. It makes clear that the torn fabric of the Church has been torn
further. It is a consequence of the decision taken by our provinces to
declare that our relationship with The Episcopal Church is either broken or
severely impaired.
Scripture teaches that before coming to sit with one another at the Lord's
Table we must be reconciled. (Matthew 5:23-26 and 1 Corinthians 11:27-29) We
have made repeated calls for repentance by The Episcopal Church and its
leadership with no success. We continue to pray for a change of heart.
We are unable to come to the Holy Table with the Presiding Bishop of The
Episcopal Church because to do so would be a violation of Scriptural
teaching and the traditional Anglican understanding, "Ye that do truly and
earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your
neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of
God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways; Draw near with faith"
(Book of Common Prayer)
This is a painful decision for us and also for our host and brother, the
Most Rev¹d Donald Mtetemela. He understands our painful dilemma and accepts
our decision. Pray for the Church."
Friday, February 16, 2007
White Sands Hotel, Jangwani Beach, Tanzania
Comments
This really does bother me, people can have their differences and in time maybe they can work them out, but to refuse communion as a group, you have to ask yourself, are you making a political statement or a religious one.
Editor's note: I attended a nice church Sunday and the friendly people made it clear that unless I (and other visitors) were members of the Orthodox church, we could not take communion with them. Only baptized Orthodox faithful were invited to receive the body and blood. At Catholic churches, it's generally the same way. And at many Baptist churches, it's the same way. In fact, some Baptist churches are even stricter. It's not enough to be a baptized Baptist from out of town. You must be a baptized Baptist who belongs to that particular church. I've attended many churches where all of those who confess Jesus Christ as savior are invited to the meal. At others, all baptized Christians can participate. I've heard of churches that offer communion to all -- no strings attached.
Most have forgotten that Jesus dined with Judas-wonder what the thoughts will be --when we all get to heaven.
I understand what your saying Frank, but wasn't this group all anglican and wasn't the tradition last supper part of the history of the meeting. These people are bishops and above , they are the one who precipitate doctrine. They can't take communion together? It subtracts from the christian spirit of the meeting, its a slap in the face. Its a disagreement recourse. Its revenge in a religious sect. This is what I gather from what I have read on it, am I missing something?
Editor's note: It certainly makes for an uneasy family reunion... By the way, that orthodox church I mentioned earlier did something really nice. Although the communion bread and wine were for baptized orthodox Christians only, they had another basket of homemake "non communion" bread which was also blessed and shared with guests. So nobody left empty handed.
You make a good point, Frank. Anglican theology has always called for a communion open to all baptized persons, of whatever denomination.
This is such a hallmark of our religious life that I was amazed to see some of the primates refuse to take communion with Jefferts Schori, whatever they might think of her views or those of the American church.
You're right about the whole bread thing, Frank. When I was in law school, I had a buddy who was Greek Orthodox, and every time he came to Sunday dinner with us, he brought a loaf of fresh bread -- straight from church.
I think the Orthodox faith is quite interesting. I may have mentioned before on here that I had read a book called "Becoming Orthodox," by Peter E. Gillquist. It's about a bunch of evangelical protestants who decided they were going to do their own research and read the bible and the early church fathers, and whatever else they had lying around, and figure out, once and for all, what the church is supposed to be. They, they'd see if any existing church met the mold.
And they decided that the Orthodox faith was the embodiment of what they thought a church should be. So they all joined it, and don't think that whole scene wasn't hilarious. And they became priests and bishops and stuff.
But it's an interesting book, and shows that sometimes the more christians seem different, the more they are the same.
Some things to keep in mind.
The number who refused to take communion alongside Presiding Bishop Schori was seven. The last time this happened, 14 primates refused to take communion alongside then Presiding Bishop Griswold. The so called "majority" (which wasn't even a majority at that time, 14 out of 38 primates) has now dwindled to 7 out of 38. The number has been cut in half in two years.
The bishops who refused to take communion today, not just refused to take it alongside Bishop Schori, but at the same time refused to take it along side the Archbishop of Canterbury as well as several of their brethern which whom they are closely aligned. It was not just a slap in the face to Bishop Schori but to all the other bishops as well.
And, above all and by far the most important aspect, they made the holy eucharist about them. The eucharist is about God, period. Instead they decided to do some grandstanding and make what is the most sacred event for us, into something political. They should be deeply ashamed of themselves, although I know they're not.
Taking communion has never and will never include something about judging the people with whom you are taking communion with. When I take communion every Sunday, am I to judge everyone in the church and make sure we are all on the same page politically, theologically and otherwise?
Very good post, Allen.
Very well said, particularly the part about the 14 primates refusing to take communion with Bisop Griswold. Grizzled (no pun intended) old ex-Marine that Frank Griswold was, I'm sure he had some choice words for the other primates.
The 7 Primates who didn't attend the Eucharist stayed away because their Provinces had declared impaired or broken relations with The Episcopal Church 18 months ago. They were acting consistently with the declarations of their Provinces (which represent about 30 million Anglicans). Among the primates who did attend, there were others who also abstained from Communion. No one knows the exact number of Primates who refused to commune, but it is about 12. Regardless of the number, that fact remains that the Anglican Communion is broken.
I think that the act of refusing communion (and I have done it once, I must admit) is about saying "my relationship with this body or an individual in this body is broken". It seems that this minority of ultra conservative bishops is trying to send the message that someone else has done the breaking, besides themselves.
I'd argue that the Church has always valued heterodoxy over schism, and it appears that current events are bearing this out. We will seen when it is all finished. I for one am grateful for the many conservative bishops who are working to stay in the body, and for the liberal ones who are doing the same. It appears to me that the far right fringe is trying to break something that is by its' own admission far from perfect (that can only happen in heaven, right?) but isn't down for the count.
Above all I just pray that the Holy spirit continues to be manifest in the best efforts of the Church, and that in our diversity of belief and practice we can in small ways we can make manifest aspects of the intention of God.
Refusing to take communion with someone is kind of tacky. Thankfully there is at least a majority view against tackiness.