From: "CE" 

What does any of this have to do with Catholicism?


On Mar 27, 8:09 pm, "* irenic *"  wrote:
> Theological Basis for the Study Guide
> The 1976 meeting of ACC 3 said this about the Communion:
>
> "As in the first century, we can expect the Holy Spirit to press us to
> listen to each other, to state new insights frankly, and to accept
> implications of the Gospel new to us, whether painful or exhilarating." [1]
>
> Since then, we in the Anglican Communion have often found new insights to be
> both painful and exhilarating. Through the 1980s and 1990s the Churches
> where Anglican Christianity was comfortably part of the culture were greatly
> challenged by the call from the dynamic churches of Africa and Asia, to move
> from ministry to mission. Churches which had based their ministry around
> pastoral care of a fixed community found it hard to accept the call for a
> Decade of Evangelism. It was painful to accept their failure to see the
> mission imperative in their own location. However, wherever they responded
> and took mission in their own context seriously, these churches have been
> rejuvenated.
>
> Such developments as "Fresh Expressions of Church" and the
desire to break
> the bonds of extreme poverty, now represented in the church's support for
> the Millennium Development Goals, have enabled churches in Europe and
> America to reconnect with the Mission of God.
>
> Ways of responding to new understandings of human sexuality in some cultures
> have given us a fresh challenge. They have led some to believe they have new
> insights and others to see those insights as contrary to the way of Christ.
> The prime task for each of us is to hear what God is saying. We can only do
> this by listening to each other. As the Archbishop of Canterbury has quoted
> "Only the whole church knows the whole truth."[2]
>
> The Church of Uganda has asked to be listened to in this manner. In its
> Position Paper published for ACC 13 it says: "We (also) believe the Church
> of Uganda has a mission to the Anglican Communion to share the treasure of
> the Scriptures and to call other parts of the Communion to recognize and to
> submit to the Authority of Scripture as the place of transformation into
> abundant life."[3] This is an uncomfortable message for some. It is a
> reminder from the church which faced political violence and oppression with
> love and forgiveness, as well as bearing the brunt of the AIDS/HIV pandemic
> with loving service,  that its witness is founded on an uncompromising
> commitment to Jesus as seen trough the Bible.
>
> The Episcopal Church of the USA has also called for the kind of
> uncomfortable listening envisioned at ACC 3.  In response to the call of the
> Windsor Report,[4] they offered the report To Set Our Hope on Christ also to
> ACC 13.[5] In this report they sought to explain why "in good faith and in
> loving obedience to the saving Word of God, many Christians in the Episcopal
> Church have come to a new mind about same-sex affection, and of how this has
> led us to affirm the eligibility for ordination of those in covenanted
> same-sex unions."[6] They too believe that their insight is "in loving
> obedience to the saving Word of God". This is painful for many to hear.
>
> ACC 3 in 1976 reflected on partnership in the Church of the New Testament.
> They said: "Christian partnership did not then mean that the partners,
> although united in their missionary goals, were always in accord on how they
> were to carry out this mission - witness the disagreement between Peter and
> Paul in Galatians 2. Rather they were asked to face each other, and the
> roots of their disagreement and agreement, so openly that both could go
> forward in mutual love and respect into further creative activity."[7]
>
> The Anglican Communion has an agreed statement of its mission  - The Five
> Marks of Mission.[8] We need to begin on this common ground of our mission
> purpose. We then need to face one another, as Peter and Paul did, and admit
> our differences as to how we carry out those goals. We are asked to face one
> another and the roots of our disagreements and agreements. We need to do
> this openly so that, as a Communion, we can go forward in mutual love and
> respect for further creative activity in building up the Kingdom of God.
>
> In a debate which has become intensely polarised, the form of the materials
> we offer will attempt to follow Biblical patterns. We hope to listen to one
> another with love and mutual respect. This is our Anglican tradition and the
> only reasonable way forwards.
>
> 1. Common Ground
>
> The foundation for our dialogue needs has to be common ground. ACC 3 talked
> of common ground as being our common mission. This remains the basis for our
> shared life today.
>
> Our mission is to all people, including gay and lesbian people, their
> families, their friends and those with whom they work. Our mission is with
> gay and lesbian people as members of our churches and partners in the
> gospel. This has always has been the case, even when we did not know it.
>
> To accept this does not mean that we have to accept same sex partnerships or
> partnered gay clergy. Historically and in the present day many of the gay
> and lesbian people who have served the church in mission and ministry, both
> lay and ordained, have not accepted such partnerships for themselves nor
> seen them as valid expressions of a holy life for others.
>
> In our present time more and more societies are accepting gay lifestyles as
> valid and morally acceptable. Many countries are committed by law to
> allowing gay rights and offering same sex unions. This means we are required
> to engage in these societies in a new way.
>
> Agreeing to listen does not imply that we must accept the position of those
> to whom we are listening.  However it does mean that we seek to hear God
> speaking to us and discover his will. It does require that we offer respect
> and, perhaps change the way in which we speak.
>
> All the Churches of our communion are agreed on the need to proclaim the
> Good News of the Kingdom, to teach, baptise and nurture new believers, to
> respond to human need by loving service and to seek to transform unjust
> structures of society. It is on this ground we begin our conversations.
>
> 2. Creating Safe Space - Allowing All to be Heard
>
> The monitoring process has enabled the Facilitator for the Listening Process
> to collate materials from the Provinces of the Communion. Several have
> submitted studies and papers. These will be used to inform the Study Guide.
> There are many books and articles written on the subjects and they will also
> be used to inform the Study Guide. Jesus respected religious leaders and
> scholars such as Nicodemus and the voices of such people are vital for the
> task. There wisdom and learning are vital to us.
>
> However, they are not the only voices which we need to hear. In 1998 The
> Lambeth Conference made a commitment to "listen to the experience of
> homosexual persons". Such people have a huge range of experiences and many
> have responded to the good news of God's Kingdom with joy and follow God
> with commitment.
>
> Jesus valued the voices of those considered insignificant in the eyes of the
> world in which he lived: for him it was women, children, the disabled, the
> poor and those who were labelled "sinful". Our listening
will need to be to
> those whose voices are not often heard, due to their ethnicity, their
> gender, their lack of education or because they are regarded as
"sinful". We
> need to model our way of listening on the practice of Jesus.
>
> For the experiences of these people to be heard we need a safe place where
> their voices and experiences will not be open to ridicule, abuse or even
> physical and emotional violence. Such violence is the experience of gay and
> lesbian people in every culture and country. We need to have a way of
> reporting which offers safety, security and freedom from censure.
>
> The internet offers the possibility of response which was never available
> before and we hope to use this medium to allow as many to respond as
> possible. While millions of Anglicans do not have computers in their homes,
> most towns do have internet cafes.
>
> This way of collecting materials is not perfect, but it offers access for
> more people than ever before. We will, of course, accept contributions in
> any form, but the internet and e-mail will give us new opportunities.
>
> Some who would identify themselves as traditional or conservative feel they
> are silenced by powerful liberal voices. We are offering a safe place for
> all views and perspectives. The voices of conservatives from around the
> world are actively sought, even if it will mean pain for those who are
> liberal in their outlook. The voices of liberals are actively sought, even
> if that is likely to cause pain to those who are conservative. Those who
> feel they are attacked on both sides should also feel safe to contribute.
>
> We are also seeking to hear from those who are uncertain and who are
> questioning. You do not have to be certain that you have discovered the
> voice God in order to contribute.
>
> Some one who just sends in questions is welcome. All of us who have run
> groups know that it is the person who asks the "silly"
question who enables
> the whole group to hear answers. No question is "silly" if
you do not know
> the answer!
>
> 3. Vulnerability
>
> The  issues surrounding human sexuality have made us all feel vulnerable.
> Some fear the ending of the faith as we know it.
> Others fear not being accepted.
> Some fear being split in two with conflicting loyalties.
> Some fear to ask questions and some fear to answer them.
>
> These fears can only be answered by trusting in God to care for our church
> and for all who come to Him. However we need to admit our own vulnerability
> and accept the vulnerability of others.
>
> Again it is the Bible that gives us the ultimate model. Jesus accepted the
> vulnerability of being human. His fears in Gethsemane were answered by his
> trust in God who rescued him from despair and death. We need to accept that
> all are vulnerable and trust God who can bring reconciliation in any
> context.
>
> When Jesus was afraid he prayed. Please turn to prayer. Pray if you are
> preparing to contribute and pray for the process. By praying you will be
> contributing.
>
> Conclusion
> It is on this Biblical basis, in line with Anglican tradition and from
> reasoned analysis that we begin the task of encouraging the acquisition of
> further materials that the bishops of the Communion in preparing for the
> Lambeth Conference.
>
> 1. ACC 3 page 55
>
> 2.http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/41/50/acns4161.cfm
>
> 3.http://www.aco.org/listening/world/docs/doc6.cfm
>
> 4. Paragraph 135http://www.aco.org/windsor2004/downloads/windsor2004b.pdf
>
> 5.http://www.episcopalchurch.org/53785_71881_ENG_HTM.htm
>
> 6. Ibid. page 6
>
> 7. ACC 3 page 55
>
> 8.http://www.anglicancommunion.org/mission/fivemarks.cfm
>
> ~~~
>
> Summaries are available here:http://www.aco.org/listening/reports/
>
> Study Guide can be found here:http://www.aco.org/listening/study/
>
> --
>
> Shalom!     Rowland Croucherhttp://jmm.aaa.net.au/ - 19,000 articles/ 4000
humour
> 'These Christians must show me they are redeemed, before I will believe in
> their Redeemer' - Nietzsche  (My response? God's?)

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