And so this particlular Canterbury tale comes to an end

Today Lambeth finishes. Of course, the processes only hinted at will now need fleshing out but in the meantime, the ABoC finished with these words:

...our calling, therefore, is to make that further step to a ‘covenant of faith’ that will promise to our fellow human beings the generosity God has shown us; that will honour the absolute and non-negotiable dignities of all and strengthen us to resist any policy or strategy that implies that what is good and just for me is not good and just for all my human neighbours...We have quite a strong degree of support for a Pastoral Forum to support minorities, a strong consensus on the need to examine how the Instruments of Communion will best work, and a recognition - though still with many questions - that a Covenant is needed... I shall look within the next two months for a clear and detailed specification for the task and composition of a Pastoral Forum, and I shall ensure that the perspectives of various groups looking at the Covenant and the Windsor process, as well as the Design Group for this Conference help to shape the implementation of the agenda outlined in the Reflections document, and are fed into the special meeting in November of the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates and the ACC. We may not have put an end to all our problems - but the pieces are on the board. And in the months ahead it will be important to invite those absent from Lambeth to be involved in these next stages. Much in the GAFCON documents is consonant with much of what we have sought to say and do, and we need to look for the best ways of building bridges here.

The Reflections document contains:
‘We believe that the Pastoral Forum should be empowered to act in the Anglican Communion in a rapid manner to emerging threats to its life.'

It warns that a ‘proliferation’ of ad hoc episcopal ministries such as those put in place by conservatives cannot be maintained. It calls for all existing ministries already set up to be placed "in trust" in order to be reconciled back into their original provinces.

One of the most significant passages is one of the first: ‘There have been differerent interpretations of the sense in which ‘moratorium’ was used in the Windsor Reprot. Our understanding is that moratorium refers to both future actions and is also retrospective: that it requires the cessation of activity. This necessarily applies to practices that have already been authorised as well as proposed for authorisation in the future.’

Handford explained that this did not mean Bishop Robinson would be asked to step down. He accepted that Bishop Gene had been legally elected under US canons. But he said there could be no more. See Ruth Gledhill

So in summary does this mean that there are to be no more episcopal consecrations of openly and partnered homosexual priests within churches that choose to reside within the tenets of the new covenant?

Does this also mean that there should be no church blessed homosexual marriages in churches of the new covenant?

Does this mean that churches loyal to the new covenant should not seek to come under, or should now indeed renege upon, alternative episcopal oversight?

Where does that leave Babyblueonline's church?

How does this impact upon LGBT Christians?

How does Gene Robinson feel about this?

Are GAFCON still unsatisfied and by what now specifically?

Does all of this help to bring the message of salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ to people everywhere and in every circumstance?

Goodnight and God bless, Rachel.
Tomorrow is a new day!

See Bishops hope for a united future