From the Revd Jean Mayland
Sir, — Thank you for printing the excellent letter by Pam Bird
(Letters, 13 May) whom I first met in the 1970s, when she was secretary to
Archbishop Ted Scott, Primate of Canada and Moderator of the WCC Central
Committee. Her letter is full of knowledge and wisdom. Let us hope and pray
that the Primates and the ACC will take note.
JEAN M. MAYLAND
Minister Cottage
51 Sands Lane, Barmston
East Yorks YO25 8PQ
From Dr Philip Giddings and Canon Dr Chris Sugden
Sir, — Miss Bird ignores the fact that the Anglican Consultative Council
has a legal constitution. Article 3 of that constitution specifically provides
for alterations to its membership. This alteration can include both additions
and (if the need arises) expulsions.
Alterations to the membership require the assent of two-thirds of the
Primates. As the Primates’ Meeting in Northern Ireland unanimously agreed to
ask ECUSA and the Anglican Church in Canada to withdraw from the ACC, it is
plain that the two-thirds assent was present for this request. The matter was,
of course, phrased as a request rather than an order — a push rather than a
shove — and ECUSA and the Anglican Church in Canada have responded to that
request.
However, there can be no doubt that, if by Lambeth 2008 agreement is not
reached on the issues which led to the Windsor report — the consecration of the
Bishop of New Hampshire in the USA, and the adoption of same-sex rites of
blessing in Canada — the expulsion of ECUSA and the Anglican Church in Canada
not just from the ACC but from the Anglican Communion itself remains a distinct
possibility.
PHILIP GIDDINGS
CHRIS SUGDEN
Anglican Mainstream
21 High Street
Eynsham
Oxon OX29 4HE