AMiE: Virtue's Take on AMiE

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=14604

The formation of the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) finally caught the attention of Lambeth Palace this week. The deep thinkers there issued the following statement lashing out (in a typically understated British fashion) at the new mission.

"The creation of an 'Anglican Mission in England' prompts concern for a number of reasons. "It is not at all clear how the proposed panel of bishops relate to the proper oversight of the diocesan bishops of the Church of England. Nor is there any definition of what the issues are that might be thought to justify appeal to such a panel rather than the use of normal procedures.

"Furthermore, the ordination of three English candidates to the diaconate in Kenya with a view to service in England is problematic. It is not clear what process of recognized scrutiny and formation has taken place and how, in the absence of Letters Dimissory (the relevant formal letters from the sponsoring bishop), they have come to be recommended as candidates for ordination by the authorities of another province."

All this has overtones of what took place more than a decade ago here when Chuck Murphy started AMIA. The same old arguments are now being revisited. There are some differences. The AMiE says it will stay in the CofE, but for how long? Evangelicals in the CofE are a large body. If they shift their loyalties away from their diocese to the AMiE and towards GAFCON/FCA, what will the CofE look like years from now? Unlike the small numbers of Anglo-Catholics who have fled the CofE for Rome, evangelicals in England fill the seminaries and hold the key to the CofE's future.

AMIE leaders later fired back at Lambeth's charges and defended the ordinations saying that half the serving clergy of the Church of England will retire in the next ten years, a little acknowledged fact with no apparent strategy to address it. Meanwhile, there are delayed candidates offering, parishes willing to sponsor them, and others eager to receive their ministry. There are also congregations wishing to remain within the Church, but not receiving recognition, as well as missional church plants that need authorization. Many senior clergy are concerned about the quality of ministry that may be available in the future.

"AMIE has come about precisely in order to retain within the Church of England those who share passion for gospel mission and wish to minister within this Church despite some problematic issues," said Paul Perkin, Chair of the AMiE steering committee.

"Significant challenges face those called to minister in England at this time. Its ordained clergy need oversight and encouragement from those who believe in their work and ministry and who will walk with them step by step both theologically and missiologically. Such encouragement has been given by the Primates Council of GAFCON," he argued.

"Episcopal collegiality within England needs to be matched by both Episcopal collegiality with the wider Anglican Communion and Episcopal integrity in upholding and teaching the truth of the Christian faith as found in the Scriptures." You can their full statements in today's digest.