Saturday, May 12, 2007

No Small Event

The blogosphere has been buzzing all week over the installation of Martyn Minns as Missionary Bishop in the Church of Nigeria for CANA—the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. Not surprisingly, conservative bloggers have been praising this action; liberal bloggers have been dissing it, as has PB, Katharine Jefferts Schori herself, who according to the New York Times, stated that “an invitation to episcopal ministry here without any notice or prior invitation” was not in keeping with “the ancient practice in most of the church...” So Katharine is finally concerned with adhering to the ancient practice of the Church. Let's hope this is the beginning of a trend.

But why all the fuss? It has been well over a year since the Synod of the province of Nigeria voted to set up CANA. Martyn Minns went to Nigeria to be consecrated a missionary Bishop on August 20, 2006. Surely these actions were more significant; and just as surely, last week's installation in Virginia was simply the next step along a predictable path.

Two observations, neither of which is original: (1) It happened over here. Nevermind that a priest from Virginia goes to Nigeria and is consecrated, just as long as nothing happens over here that might convince North Americans that they can be Anglicans apart from TEC. (2) The installation over here is starting to drive the point home that TEC's actions might actually result in consequences that matter.

Whatever the case, the reactions on both the right and left make it clear this is no small event.



Filmed at Hylton Chapel
Woodbridge, VA
Produced by Kevin Kallsen
by AnglicanTV

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