Archbishop tells Primates: ‘I have done what I can’

THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury has written to the primates of the Anglican Communion stating he has done his best to honour the promises he made to them at the January primates gathering.

However, the Most Rev Justin Welby conceded that he does not have the authority to impose his will upon the Anglican Consultative Council.

In a letter dated 16 March to the primates, Archbishop-Welby reported there had been “great rejoicing and thankfulness [over] the outcome of the Meeting” in Canterbury which had adopted an agreement calling for the Episcopal Church of the USA to be ‘disciplined’ for having adopted rites for same-sex marriage.

Archbishop Welby undertook to see that American Episcopalians would not be permitted to represent the Anglican Communion in ecumenical and inter-faith meetings; that they would not be elected or appointed to the Communion’s standing committees; and that they would not participate in decisions concerning church doctrine and polity for the next three years.

He had done his part, he wrote. “As I undertook to you, I have followed through by changing the representation of those bodies where I have the ability to make a decision, so as to put into effect the agreement we reached amongst ourselves.”

However, he could not dictate to the Anglican Consultative Council.

“It is well recognised that there is no single body within the Anglican Communion that has juridical authority over individual provinces. We are autonomous but interdependent.”

He then stated: “For these reasons, I hope and pray that every province that is able will be present in Lusaka. The decisions we took in January can only have effect if they gain general ownership amongst the Communion, taking in laity, priests and bishops.

“Even if a province is not able to be present, I urge you to pray fervently for the outcome of the ACC.

“Only those who are present will be able to make their voice heard and their votes effective,” he wrote, urging the primates to make “every effort” to ensure their Church’s participation in the meeting.