Not a Whiff of No

The Study Guide to the Anglican Communion Covenant gives not one hint of suggestion that it might not be wanted, but boy does it give the lie that this is only about high level Church relations in the Anglican Communion. It is about every parish church, every Anglican believer.

We know about the emphasis on purple:

3.1.3 we affirm the role of bishops and the threefold ordained ministry in leading and equipping the ministry of all God’s people

3.1.4 we acknowledge 4 Instruments of Communion that serve our life in communion: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council, and the Primates’ Meeting

But here we go with this guide, and look at the question, and by 'church' it does not mean Church of England:

Read each subsection (4.1., 4.2, 4.3). What might this mean for your church?

4.2.1 each church recognizes and seeks to live by the common commitments made in the Covenant

4.2.2 the Instruments of Communion monitor the Covenant through the Standing Committee

Is this a one off? Is it hell (it could be hell!):

This study guide is intended to help Anglicans engage with the text of The Anglican Communion Covenant: to understand it, to deepen their faith as Anglican Christians, and to become more committed to life together in the Anglican family.

The Covenant can be understood as a description of life in the Anglican family. It contains an agreement about what the family’s values are, what its purpose is, and how it lives together.

The fourth paragraph speaks of the specific Anglican community of faith and the need to work together within this family.

Anglicans are making their commitment to each other through a Covenant.

Anglicans as people engaged with Scripture, in worship, mission, service and proclamation. about our mission and how we are to undertake it.

How is each of these affirmations and commitments lived out in your church?

How do you understand the work of your church in furthering the mission of God in the world?

The Covenant was, and is, a document about restriction. This document makes it clear: it is about every church, every believer. It must mean a Communion built on excluding a specific group of people, of further restriction, and this is further placed down into every parish, every attender. It further confuses Communion and Church.

Now we know. It is not just a document about restricting one Church to another within Anglicanism, but it is about every parish and every believer who is Anglican. I'm glad I'm gone.

This Covenant has slipped through every little goal put in its way, and now it will go to the dioceses for approval, and when they say 'yes' through those goalposts it will be pressure on the General Synod to say the final 'yes' too.

I suggest, as a friend who got out: find a way to say No.