´óÏó´«Ã½

The document narrates a ten-year-long battle for the heart and mind of Anglicanism, explaining every significant meeting, conference and episcopal decision, then it outlines the theological culture war that has divided the 78-million-strong Anglican Communion. It lays out key theological differences -- not just over sexuality, but in respect of the nature of the church, the importance of mission, the centrality of the Scriptures, the uniqueness of Christ, the importance of mission, and much, much more. In essence, the document describes two very different faith communities: the so-called Anglican Communion, which it regards as little more than a Canterbury Communion that has lost its way, and the real Anglican Communion, which is an emerging union of Anglican bishops, clergy, laity, parishes, dioceses, and whole provinces, who are prepared to walk apart from Canterbury in order to maintain the values and principles of what they regard as historic orthodoxy.

According to the document, "These past ten years of distraction have been agonizing, and the cost has been enormous. The time and financial resources spent on endless meetings, whose statements and warnings have been consistently ignored, represent a tragic loss of resources that should have been used otherwise. It now appears, however, that the journey is coming to an end, and the moment of decision is almost upon us."

I've lost count of how many times I have, as a journalist, asked commentators of one new schismatic development or another represents the beginning of the end for the Anglican Communion. But this document is stunningly finalistic. It even draws a parallel between contemporary events and the post-Reformation England of the 16th century:

"Then, the Catholic Church in England was faced with the choice of aligning itself with either Rome or Geneva. But, when forced to decide its identity, it sought to distinguish itself from both the practices of the Papacy and the excesses it associated with
the more radical reformers. Now, after five centuries, a new fork in the road is appearing. Though this fork in the road may present itself publicly as a choice in relation to aberrant sexuality, the core issues are about whether or not there is
one Word, accessible to all, and whether or not there is one Christ, accessible to all."

And it is very doubtful that the upcoming Lambeth Conference can do anything to stop the formation of this breakaway Communion. The GAFCON study document greets with palpable despair the decision by Rowan Williams to preside over a Lambeth gathering that "has not been designed, as in the past, as an opportunity for serious theological engagement and heartfelt reconciliation. We are told that it will be a time of prayer, fellowship and communion. These are commendable activities, but this very Communion has already been broken by the actions of the American and Canadian Churches. The consequence is most serious, for if even a single province chooses not to attend, the Lambeth Conference effectively ceases to be an Instrument of Unity. Moreover, the status of the Archbishop of Canterbury, as convenor and as an instrument or focus of unity, also becomes highly questionable."

That sounds like Episcopalian Endgame to me. To remove any remaining doubts about that, the document asserts: "There is no longer any hope, therefore, for a unified Communion".

(Pictured: the new logo of GAFCON.)