Classical Anglican Churchman

Virtue Online recently reported on the Congress of Traditional Anglicans in Victoria BC. That the several churches represented there came together the way they did is a good sign. Intercommunion between these groups would go a long way towards healing the rifts that have been created by the pride of man. I think this meeting, and the one scheduled in September in the Northeast, if it turns into something more than just a few small jurisdictions meeting, can lead the way towards getting us all back together. Corporate Union might not be achievable, but inter-communion and working together to evangelize the United States could make the Continuum a major player, and an alternative to the ACNA, with the continued unresolved issue of Women's Ordination there.

Again, I think the way forward is through leaving the old wine-skins behind in favor of state-by-state dioceses or provinces. The more local we get, the better all of the churches will be. The main thing that must be combated is the sheep-stealing and the jurisdiction jumping. State-by-state groupings simply make sense. If you were to combine all of the Continuum churches from any one state (say Florida, or Pennsylvania), you would have enough parishes to create a missionary diocese. Plug a Bishop in (or elect one), and you have a ready made unit.

The statement that came out of the Victoria Congress is a good beginning point. What needs to happen next is a meeting of the Houses of Bishops of the several jurisdictions. Relationships need to be established there, because these are the leaders of our respective churches. Then, it can filter down to include clergy getting to know one another, and helping one another. If we can break through the distrust, we can create the unity we seek, without forcing the issue. We can let the old fade away in favor of the new. Its not like we'll really be starting anything new, we'll just be restructuring it in a way that makes more sense.