Statement by the Standing Committee of the Synod of the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia, at the 4th Meeting of its 6th Session in Lake Toba, Indonesia, on 21st February 2019.
Noting the decision of the General Synod of lgreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (IEAB) on 2nd June 2018 to change its doctrine of marriage and to recognise same-sex marriages and further to amend its Canons to allow for the rite of blessing of same-sex marriages, which is a contravention of Resolution 1.10 of the Lambeth Conference 1998; and
Recalling that as a consequence of the then Episcopal Church of the United States of America (ECUSA) proceeding with the consecration of Gene Robinson as a Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003, in contravention of Resolution 1.10 of the Lambeth Conference 1998, the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia declared in 2003 that it was in a state of impaired communion with ECUSA (now known as The Episcopal Church); and
Further consequent to the decision of the Scottish Episcopal Church on 8th June 2017 to change its doctrine of marriage and to recognise same-sex marriages and further to amend its Canons to allow for the rite of blessing of same-sex marriages, which is a contravention of Resolution 1.10 of the Lambeth Conference 1998, the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia declared on 31st January 2018 that it was in a state of impaired communion with the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Now it is hereby resolved,
That the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia declares that it considers itself to be in a state of impaired communion with the lgreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (IEAB) with immediate effect.
Dated this 21st day of February, 2019.
The Most Reverend Datuk Ng Moon Hing
Archbishop of South East Asia
Bishop of West Malaysia
The Right Reverend Rennis Ponniah
Bishop of Singapore
The Right Reverend Datuk Melter Jiki Tais
Bishop of Sabah
The Right Reverend Danald Jute
Bishop of Kuching
[…] From Read it all: […]
I join many Anglicans in the Province of SEA in thanking the Bishops and the Standing Committee for this statement.
However, I have a problem with the phrase: “in a state of impaired communion.” In my view, it conceals and glosses over the seriousness of the matter over which this statement had been made. Why do I say this? To use a physio-psychological analogy, for insurance or work-cover purposes, one’s mental or physical impairment (caused by some form of injury), could be assessed, for instance, on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 being mild, and 10 meaning severe, and the rest in-between. So, my question here is this: to which degree or state the Province of SEA is impaired of communion with the IEAB? 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10??
To my knowledge, this is not the first time a member province of the Communion had used this expression ”impairment”, and I am of the opinion that the use of the word ”impairment” is misleading as the very issue which has caused the apparent ”impairment”!
Interestingly — and ironically– the use of the word impairment — to indicate a disassociation of one part of the communion with another, which I guess what is being intended to be conveyed — lends itself into the error of generalising the state of affairs of the Communion, including the Province which is distancing itself from the other: IMPAIRED!?
I had a feeling that the word “impaired” was not the best one to use and you have put that feeling into intelligible words. “Broken communion” or similar might be a better state to be in.
It reflects the fact that many in the province are still faithful, and also that repentance (if it occurs) will lead to restoration of communion.
Sydney diocese, for example, is in impaired communion with TEC because, at least up until recently, there were some bishops, priests and laity within TEC who remained faithful to biblical teaching.
Let us salute the integrity and courage of the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia in standing against the (un-Biblical) acceptance of same sex marriage by those parts of the Church who have fallen into wilful error by condoning that which God clearly condemns in both Testaments.
Unity achieved by the abandonment of God’s eternal Word is not unity, it is apostasy. It is only as the Church remains loyal to the essential teachings of the faith that we can experience unity in the Holy Spirit.
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
James 4:4