Panel of Reference Leader Remarks on How Panel Will Work

Source: The Living Church
Date: May 17, 2005
Author: Robert R. Chapman, Jr.
On the web: http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=989

Archbishop Carnley: Panel will aid Mediation Process

With its composition still in the planning stage, the Panel of Reference envisioned by the primates will help people deal"eye-to-eye,” rather than through the media, according to its chairman, the Most Rev. Peter F. Carnley."

That’s been one of the problems of our Communion over the last decade or so,” Archbishop Carnley said. "We’ve been communicating to each other by talking about one another through the media rather than speaking with one another. I see mediation in those terms: encouraging conversation.”

The Most Rev. Peter Carnley was consecrated the AnglicanArchbishop of Perth on 1981. He is the Metropolitan of Western Australia and was elected the Primate of Australia on Feb. 3, 2000. On May 26, the 25th anniversary of his episcopacy, Archbishop Carnley will retire.

Archbishop Carnley recently told the Archbishop of Canterbury he would be happy to be of help to the Communion. With this offer,the Most Rev. Rowan Williams asked Archbishop Carnley to chair the panel.

The Panel of Reference will be an independent body, Archbishop Carnley said. It will offer pastoral advice and mediation. It is not an adversarial processes leading to a judgment. It will work with some of the differences experienced by parishes, dioceses,and provinces. Services will be offered to a national church at the request of its Primate. Participation will be voluntary.

In cases when an alternative bishop has been requested, Archbishop Carnley prefers to think of it as "alternative episcopal ministry” rather than "alternative episcopal oversight.” The diocesan bishop still has jurisdiction, but another bishop will provide ministry to the parish, diocese, or province in question.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will refer requests to the panel. It has not been decided whether to request services through their bishop or directly to Canterbury, Archbishop Carnley stated.

Archbishop Williams will send letters of invitation soon to a short list of candidates for the other panel members. It is intended to have membership representing the geography of the entire Anglican Communion. Consideration will be given to gender and the different orders of ministry. Lay members are likely to be canon lawyers. Theological experts may be consulted, according to Archbishop Carnley, who explained that the Anglican Communion Office will probably provide a secretary and legal advisor.

The first meeting of the Panel of Reference may be held in July, although Archbishop Carnley said most work will be done electronically to save costs. Work will probably be divided among subgroups, instead of the entire panel dealing with every case. The entire panel will probably only meet together once a year or so.

The Anglican Communion Office is funding the Panel of Reference. Archbishop Carnley said members will not be reimbursed, with the possible exception being travel expenses reimbursed once a year.

Looks like Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight to me. With Carnley - a liberal - at the helm I don't expect much relief for beseiged orthodox Anglican congregations in the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada from William's Panel of Reference. Sorry to say it looks like Williams has let orthodox Anglicans down again. May be its his way of thumbing his nose at the global South Primates.