The Anglican Communion Institute, Inc.

The Panel of Reference New Westminster

For over three years now, most of the Communion’s attention has been focussed on the Episcopal Church of the USA due to its decisions at the 2003 General Convention. It is easily forgotten that the current crisis was really triggered a year earlier when, in June 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster decided to authorise same-sex blessings through a synodical vote (the third, following similar votes in 1998 and 2001) and the consent of its bishop, Michael Ingham.

The Anglican Communion: Where are We Now and Where Are We Headed?

A brief analysis by the Anglican Communion Institute
 
It is now nearly three months since General Convention ended and, with the latest letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the situation and difficult path in the months ahead is becoming clearer.
 
The background
The significance of General Convention cannot be downplayed. The Primates at Dromantine in February 2005 had faced requests from many in the Global South for a speedy response to Windsor. The Primates made clear the seriousness of the situation:

Petition to the Third Global Anglican South to South Leadership Team and Primates Advisory Group

Who are the authors?
The two signatories on behalf of The Society for the Propagation of Reformed Evangelical Anglican Doctrine (SPREAD) are Bishop John Rodgers Jr and Bishop John Rucyahana from
Rwanda
. This is important. In addition to their involvement in a similar petition to the Egpyt meeting of the Global South, both have a long history of separatism and intervention within the
American Church