Windsor Bishops affirm "safe space" for Windsor-compliant parishes - when read along side the Kigali Communiqué we see hope

I've been reflecting on the Windsor Bishops Letter and what strikes me is what it doesn't say, perhaps more so than what it does. For example, the bishops affirm "that many congregations within The Episcopal Church need a safe space within which to live out the integrity" (now isn't that an ironic choice of words) "of their faith in compliance with the Windsor Report." It goes on to state that there are other congregations that do not accept the Windsor Report - but they take the recognition much further with the Windsor-compliant parishes. They recognize (as 815 and General Convention do not) that we need a safe space.

In addition, they also affirmed "the need of some among us for an alternative primatial relationship." They defended this need by clearly stating that "This response does not weaken our fundamental theological and ecclesial commitments" (which is precisely what broke down at the New York Summit - that it is inconceivable to 815 that dioceses and bishops could come under the jurisdiction of a different primate). In fact, the Windsor Bishops state emphatically that "our unity has strengthened them, and for this we thank God." They are not calling for a "why can't we all just get along and be happy" approach - but in fact show a true liberalism (in opposition to the counterfeits liberalism of canonical hardliners) in that unity comes from rejecting heresy - that affirming structures does not equate affirming unity. What is true unity is found in common biblical faith centered on the risen Lord Jesus Christ. This is The Church.

The Episcopal Church has made a terrible mistake in thinking that structures are the church. That is emphatically not true. It is Jesus Christ and His Word that binds us together and the Windsor Bishops dramatically breakthrough to that truth.

The letter states that they "pledge ourselves to work with our Episcopal colleagues to care for all God's people in our dioceses" but what it doesn't say is in what structure will that be done. We assume - because we are still operating under the assumption that church = structure - but that assumption has to be put to rest. This letter does not say that. It pledges care - but it doesn't say how.

What also strikes me is who didn't sign the letter. This is a Windsor-compliant letter and may be addressed to the Episcopal House of Bishops - but the real audience is the Primates of the Anglican Communion.

We have a separation - and this letter identifies that separation through the positive, rather than the negative. These bishops pledge to find unity in the faith - not the structures. And that hits close to home.

When we read this letter along side this portion of the Kigali Communiqué, what do we see? Let's take a look:

"We have asked the Global South Steering Committee to meet with the leadership of the dioceses requesting Alternative Primatial Oversight, in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Network and the ‘Windsor Dioceses’, to investigate their appeal in greater detail and to develop a proposal identifying the ways by which the requested Primatial oversight can be adequately provided."

It is clear that the Windsor Bishops are opening the door for this to go forward in North America by refusing to denounce alternative primatial oversight. And what does that mean?

It means hope.

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