Because, to judge from the reports emerging from Dar-es-Salaam, the Holy Spirit has told Rowan Williams to recognise two Anglican churches in the USA; it He has told Katherine Jefferts Schori that one is quite enough. So what it She now needs to supply to Dr Williams is the speech that will persuade Dr Schori not merely to acquiesce in the establishment of a parallel Anglican organisation in North America, founded on the assumption that she is a heretic, but that she should pay for it as well. Like I said, I’m glad this isn’t my job, because I can’t begin to conceive of an argument that would carry any weight with her.
About Dr Akinola I have nothing to add, except that he can’t see an episcopal lawn without planting a tank on it.
Yet there remains one simple gesture that Dr Williams could make which would solve the whole problem. If reports are true that the persecuted and reviled Nigerian gay Christian Davis Mac Iyalla has turned up for this meeting, all he has to do is to leave the bunker and embrace him publicly as a gesture that God loves such people even if the Anglican Communion is divided over how to express this love. I am reasonably certain that this would solve the problem of who stays in Communion with whom right there on the spot.
In a strictly Christian context, of course, such as when referring to gatherings of the Church of England (just about, anyway), the proper form of reference to the Holy Ghost would surely be “he”, rather than “it”. We may have our own theologies, which include a ghost or ghosts, holy or otherwise. In this case, however, it is a matter of politeness towards their views, like calling Mohammed ‘The Prophet’ in a Muslim context, and not of giving voice to our own theological precision. 😉
Well, there’s an unexpected visitor! Your point has been taken. I did dither, when writing that post, between all three alternatives (might the Holy Spirit be identified with Wisdom, in which case, “she”?) and decided on the gender-neutral representation. No doubt someoe will be along in a moment to argue.
What – don’t you expect visitors?
Not from so far as way as Ugley, no, sorr.
Sorry, but the tank image caused me to splutter my coffee, after which I was overcome by a Photoshop moment, which is now on my blog.