A Covenant for the Anglican Communion Its Origins and Contents June 2011

How did it come about? The Historical Context from 1992 Onwards ‣ 1992 Belonging Together: Inter Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission Report to Anglican Consultative Council (ACC 9), dealing with how to address tensions in the Communion ‣ 1996 Formation of American Anglican Council (Conservative Grouping of TEC Dioceses) ‣ 1992–2010 Conversations on Sexuality in the House of Bishops and General Synod ‣ 1997 The Virginia Report on Governance in the Communion ‣ 1998 Lambeth Conference and resolution

How did it come about? The Historical Context ‣ 2000 and 2001 Irregular consecrations in Singapore and Denver of Bishops for Anglican Mission in the Americas ‣ 2002 New Westminster, for 3rd consecutive Synod, debates and makes decision on same-sex blessings ‣ 2003 Consecration of Bishop of New Hampshire ‣ 2004 The Windsor Report on Communion ‣ Cross-border interventions into Canadian and American dioceses

Origins of the Covenant Paragraphs 118 and 119

Historical Context (continued) ‣ March 2005 Standing Committee of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council issue Towards an Anglican Covenant ‣ 2006 Archbishop of Canterbury establishes the Covenant Design Group ‣ 2007 The Nassau Draft (Draft 1) ‣ 2008 The St Andrew’s Draft (Draft 2) ‣ 2008 Discussion of the concept of a Covenant in Indaba at Lambeth Conference

Historical Context (continued) ‣ 2009 The Lambeth Commentary – a summary of the thoughts of the Bishops at the Lambeth Conference ‣ April 2009 The Ridley-Cambridge Draft (Draft 3) ‣ May 2009 Anglican Consultative Council 14 in Jamaica ‣ Nov 2009 Final Text (Ridley-Cambridge revised) ‣ June 2010 General Synod considered the Covenant text and passed Resolution A137

The Covenant Text ‣ An Introduction including Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission (IATDC) material, which serves to provide a theological basis for understanding what is meant by “Communion” and “Covenant” ‣ It will always accompany the Covenant but is not part of it

The Covenant Text Comprised of four sections and each section now consists of two parts: ‣ Affirmations ‣ Commitments These are made by each individual church (Province) of the Communion.

Section 1: Our Inheritance of Faith Section 1: Our Inheritance of Faith speaks of our core principles, what we believe as Anglican Christians. Almost all Christians could make these affirmations “but they reflect the particular way in which the churches of the Anglican Communion have spoken about their faith and the key marks of that faith.” —Inter-Anglican Standing Committee on Unity, Faith, and Order (IASCUFO) Study Guide

Section 1: Our Inheritance of Faith Affirmations Each church affirms: ‣ Communion in the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church ‣ Historic formularies ‣ Common Prayer and liturgy ‣ Participation in the mission of the Church ‣ Scripture, theology, teaching and discipleship 1.1.1–1.1.8

Section 1: Our Inheritance of Faith Commitments How the churches of the Anglican Communion live out this shared faith is dependent upon their contexts and cultures, and may well vary according to the needs of the mission of God in each place. It is through the guidance of the Holy Spirit that each church witnesses in its own context, and is also committed to a common approach to the faith we share.

Section 1: Our Inheritance of Faith Commitments Each church is committed to a way: ‣ of teaching and action that is consonant with our shared faith and agreements ‣ of teaching and discipline that is rooted in scripture and tradition ‣ of witnessing for renewal and holiness ‣ of reading scripture –1.2.8

Section 1: Our Inheritance of Faith Commitments (continued) ‣ of interpreting scripture ‣ of leadership ‣ of upholding communion ‣ of seeking the truth together –1.2.8

Section 2: The life we share with others: our Anglican Vocation Section 2 describes who we are as Anglican churches and how we function together. It also describes our mission in the context of the universal Church.

Section 2: The life we share with others: our Anglican Vocation Affirmations ‣ Communion is a gift from God given to all God’s people ‣ Our call to constant repentance ‣ The imperative of mission ‣ Our common mission shared with others 2.1.1–2.1.5

Section 2: The life we share with others: our Anglican Vocation Commitments Each church commits: ‣ to share our resources in order to evangelize ‣ to heal and reconcile a broken world ‣ to engage in mission through the Five Marks of Mission adopted by the Anglican Communion ‣ to be humble and open to our own conversion ‣ to renew our structures for mission ‣ to root our mission in the worship of God 2.2.1–2.2.5

Section 3: Our Unity and Common Life Section 3 is concerned with how we function as churches in relation to one another and the structures we have created to assist that process.

Section 3: Our Unity and Common Life Affirmations We affirm: ‣ that we are called to live together in the unity of Christ ‣ that we belong to and are accountable to one another ‣ the role of bishops and the threefold ordained ministry in leading and equipping the ministry of all God’s people 3.1.1–3.1.4

Section 3: Our Unity and Common Life Commitments Each church commits itself to live and learn together with all the others: ‣ to support the work of the Instruments and take their counsel seriously ‣ to respect the autonomy of each Church while upholding mutual responsibility and inter-dependence ‣ to try to discern God’s will through listening, prayer, study and debate 3.2.1–3.2.7

Section 3: Our Unity and Common Life Commitments (continued) ‣ to seek a shared mind with the churches of the Communion ‣ to take due care in acting on controversial matters ‣ to participate in mediation in situations of conflict ‣ to live in the highest degree of communion possible 3.2.1–3.2.7

Section 4: Our Covenanted Life Together Section 4 describes the procedures to adopt the Covenant and living together under it. It says who may adopt it and includes practical mechanisms for seeking resolutions in the case of disputes, delineates how to withdraw from the Covenant, and states how it can be amended. This section’s purpose is to strengthen relationships within the Anglican Communion.

Section 4: Our Covenanted Life Together Affirmations Each church affirms: ‣ the description of who may adopt the Covenant and how ‣ that each church makes a commitment to the others when it adopts the Covenant ‣ that each church affirms the statements about faith, mission and common life in the first three sections ‣ that there is nothing in the Covenant which limits the autonomy of any church 4.1.1–4.1.7

Section 4: Our Covenanted Life Together Affirmations (continued) ‣ that every Province who is a member of the Anglican Consultative Council is invited to adopt the Covenant ‣ that the Instruments of Communion may invite other churches to adopt the Covenant ‣ that the Covenant becomes active for each Province when it adopts it 4.1.5–4.1.7

Section 4: Our Covenanted Life Together Commitments Each church commits to the following: ‣ a process for trying to reach agreement on disputed matters ‣ to live by the common commitments made in the Covenant ‣ that the Instruments of Communion monitor the Covenant through the Standing Committee 4.2.1–4.2.9

Section 4: Our Covenanted Life Together Commitments (continued) ‣ when a question arises in the life of the Communion, each church seeks to live out its commitments ‣ that when there is not a common mind, the Standing Committee seeks to facilitate agreement and may seek advice from the Instruments (ACC and Primates) ‣ that if a church takes a controversial action against advice, the Standing Committee can recommend interim relational consequences 4.2.1–4.2.9

Section 4: Our Covenanted Life Together Commitments (continued) ‣ that on the basis of advice, the Standing Committee many declare something incompatible with the Covenant ‣ that on the basis of advice, the Standing Committee shall recommend relational consequences to the churches and/or the Instruments ‣ that only churches that have adopted the Covenant can participate in the decision-making of this process ‣ that each church agrees to put means in place to oversee its own participation in the Covenant 4.2.1–4.2.9

Section 4: Our Covenanted Life Together ‣ Section 4.3 describes a process for withdrawal ‣ Section 4.4 prescribes the text of the Covenant and how it might be amended

Overall Comments Sections 1 to 3 ‣ are largely non-controversial and have clearly heeded the comments of Provinces Section 4 ‣ was revised in November 2009 following the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC 14) in Jamaica, based on input from the Provinces The Covenant has now been presented to Provinces (national churches) to consider adoption

Next Steps General Synod 2010 Resolution ‣ Calling for study materials to be prepared by the Anglican communion Working Group ‣ Reference to Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee and Governance Working Group for advice on theological, ecclesial and constitutional implications ‣ Council of General Synod to bring a resolution to General Synod 2013