Deeply Exercised but Moving On

http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/comments/editorial_comments_1st_august_2008_deeply_exercised_but_moving_on/

[Global South Anglican] 1 Aug 2008--I read the Windsor Continuation Group observations, which came in three installments, with a sense of hope. I recalled that this was also the immediate response of most when the Dar Es Salaam Statement was released. There was hope then that the ‘torn fabric’ will be healed.

This hope can be summarised this way: That finally, actions will be taken in response to the actions of those who caused the tear in the first place. Finally, we may be able to move on and get on with the mission of the church. Finally, the actions and ministry of the church will no longer get the attention of our world media (which is a good sign – as the real church work is boring stuff for the public).

It is now 2008, and the gaping wound is still there. For many, it still feels like the wound broke open yesterday. Through these years, many have been deeply exercised over matters which they have no control. I am one of them, along with many of my colleagues. The web became a forum for such a ‘vexation of spirit’ but after all is said and posted, the decisions still falls into the hands who could make a difference – our Primates, and especially, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

It is both a moral and pastoral responsibility to bring closure to a disciplinary issue for the sake of the flock. The nature, intensity and duration of the disciplinary response can be mitigated by various factors, but to fail to exercise them is a failure of pastoral leadership. Vicars of parishes know this only too well. There can be a lot of listening and pastoral understanding, but the continual viability of a community is dependent on the proper exercise of this moral and pastoral responsibility.

Dar es Salaam held the most promise. It was Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates, speaking in one voice. Or at least, it appeared so initially. How has it been followed through? Kyrie Eleison, repeating the closing words of our dear Archbishop of Uganda’s latest public address. We can’t help but ask, “If that Statement did not do much, what will these WCG observations accomplish?”

We may need to retrace our steps – back to Dar Es Salaam – if there is any hope for healing.