Challenging boundaries

Boundaries are a big deal. Donald Trump has proposed a ‘Great Wall of America’ between the US and Mexico.

In Europe the functioning, or otherwise, of the ‘Schengen Area’ is the greatest challenge that the EU has faced in a while and, of course, we all anticipate that 2016 will bring a referendum on our membership of the European Union, which again will be largely focussed on the merits and demerits of freedom of movement of capital, people, goods and services across borders. We could go on.

Worldwide Communion

As an international family of autonomous national churches, the Anglican Communion has also been faced with the multiplication of issues relating to national boundaries. It has long been an accusation made by liberal Anglicans in the US that conservatives seeking ‘alternative episcopal oversight’ from orthodox foreign bishops was a grave violation of the jurisdiction of The Episcopal Church (TEC). At the same time American conservatives criticise what they see as TEC’s attempt to ‘buy’ influence in national churches in the Majority World by financing revi-sionist projects and theological education.

In a world of porous boarders it might be wondered just how long the protection of national jurisdiction can endure. After all, people cross parish boundaries to go to the church of their choice. This is why two changes in the functioning of the Anglican Communion – one now established and one pending – are so significant.

The change that has already occurred is the establishment of the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). That new Anglican church means that in both Canada and the US there are now two Anglican churches – the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) and the aforementioned TEC now function alongside the newcomer ACNA.

At present TEC and ACoC point to the fact that they are presently recognised as Anglican churches by the Archbishop of Canterbury whereas ACNA is not, which made the invitation of the Primates of all three churches to Canterbury in January so significant. Whether the importance of recognition by Canterbury survives that meeting and if it does whether ACNA will also be recognised will be at the top of the agenda.

But the pending change has taken most by surprise because it has come out of the blue.

Joining Scotland

The Church of England has proposed entering into a closer relationship with the Church of Scotland. In geographical terms this would appear to make some degree of practical sense but in both theological and Anglican terms it makes little sense at all.

The Church of Scotland is, of course, while the national church, not an Anglican church – it is Presbyterian. The Anglican church in Scotland is the Scottish Episcopal Church who, it transpires, have not been consulted about these proposed arrangements. In an admirably restrained, but nonetheless clear response, they have made clear that what the Church of England intends to do is, in their view, a wholly unacceptable violation of the territory of their church.

When borders, border-crossing, exclusive jurisdiction of national churches and recognition by Canterbury are at the very top of the agenda for the Primates’ meeting, it is striking that the Archbishop of Canterbury has taken this moment to lay himself open to accusations that he himself is leading a church which no longer respects national boundaries. This makes an already complex situation even more difficult and the conversations that will take place at General Synod in February more pertinent. Once again, we ask for your prayers.