Magic Statistics

h/t: The Bearded Man

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As The Most Rev Fed Hiltz prepares to move to Toronto to assume his duties as primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, he granted an interview to the Halifax Daily News, a major newspaper in his soon-to-be former Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.  It's too bad that the News published only the reporter's summary of the interview and not the actual transcript, for many important details are missing.

When asked about his hopes for his primacy, he says, "I hope we can tackle some of the big issues in the life of the church and that we can enable the church to have a different face and voice in society."

That face and voice will be less "self-absorbed" by internal issues - especially the divisive debate on same-sex relationships - and more concerned with world-wide problems, Hiltz says.
. . .
The enduring debate on same-sex relationships is taking away time and energy from these issues, Hiltz says.

Abp Hiltz seems to think that concern about the status of same-sex relationships in the church is just an internal ACC issue, and not a “big” one at that.  I hate to bring the bad news but, to the contrary, that issue is a major contributor to a painfully long, drawn-out, and increasingly acrimonious dispute throughout the Anglican Communion.  Canada's decisions at General Synod 2007 have already attracted critical attention from Global South primates, and I don't think they will just shrug their shoulders and go away if our new primate responds, "Sorry, but we’re not giving much attention to that anymore.  We’ve moved on."

In view of the international Anglican kerfuffle, it’s hard to reconcile Abp Hiltz’s desire to downplay same-sex relationships with this:

Hiltz also hopes to improve relations with other branches of the Christian church and other faiths.

How is one going to improve relations with other Anglican provinces if one refuses to engage their concerns?

"Together, we are stronger. One church speaking out can be ignored, but when several churches come together, the media listens. We are a more effective force together."

That our new primate is apparently more interested in garnering media attention than in filling our rapidly depleting pews does not bode well for the immediate future of the ACC, I’m afraid.

When the subject turns to General Synod’s narrow defeat of same-sex blessings, Abp Hiltz makes this enigmatic comment.

"As difficult as it is," that the vote failed by such a slim margin, "it would have been just as difficult had it passed by two votes," Hiltz says.

And then this.

It all comes down to how people read and interpret scripture, Hiltz says. He points to slavery as an issue where Christians changed their interpretation of scripture.

In his letters, St. Paul makes several statements in favour of slavery, but few Christians would defend that position now.

It’s too bad no Scripture references are provided to support the claim that St Paul wrote in favour of slavery “several” times, because I don’t know of one.  Paul mentioned slavery in various contexts, most often speaking of being slaves of sin or slaves of God.  A few times he referred to the civil institution of slavery prevalent in the Roman Empire, but never to favour it.

I would think it rather difficult for Paul to condemn those who kidnap for the purposes of selling into slavery (as he does at 1 Timothy 1:10) while favouring the institution of slavery itself.

Paul encouraged Christian slaves to respect and obey their masters, and he also enjoined Christian masters to treat their slaves well.  In New Testament times, when the church could not influence government or social policy, that was all Paul or any Christian leader could do.  Even there, however, he does not speak in support of slavery itself.

St Paul’s letter to the Christian slave-owner Philemon is subtle but, I think, not ambiguous.  Philemon’s slave Onesimus ran away and became a Christian under Paul’s ministry.  Paul sent him back to his owner with the letter, in which Paul appeals to Philemon to see his runaway slave as

no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Paul asks Philemon to exercise goodness, not by compulsion but of his own free will, positive that Philemon will do the right thing.

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

What “obedience” is Paul talking about, for he has given no orders?  It seems clear that he wants and expects Philemon to emancipate Onesimus.  That the letter is addressed not only to Philemon but also to the church that meets in his house indicates that the decision was subject to the discernment of the whole church, not just one individual.

In view of this, the suggestion that Paul favoured slavery is baffling.

As for the claim that “Christians” (all? some?) at some undefined point in time adopted a new and radically different understanding of Scriptural teaching on slavery, well, we’ve been there and done that.

Finally, Abp Hiltz sees no reason why Anglicans can’t just learn to rejoice in theological diversity.

The church may never get to a position with which all agree, Hiltz says, so the question becomes, "How should we get to a place where we have respect for our differences?"

I appreciate that this interview was given before last week’s Global South statement, but the writing has been on the wall at least since the primates met in Tanzania last February, and indeed since the 2004 Windsor Report.  The goal Abp Hiltz sets before Canadian Anglicans has been wishful thinking for quite some time.

Assuming this report accurately reflects his views, he shows no cognisance of Canada's increasingly precarious situation in the Anglican Communion.  He gives no indication of what he might do as a serious attempt to maintain the ACC’s standing in the Communion.  He exudes confidence that we'll just keep talking and searching for a way to live together, but other primates have indicated that the time for talk not backed by action has passed.

One hopes that the next reporter will ask our primate, “What concrete steps do you propose to secure unity, both within the Anglican Church of Canada and in the worldwide Anglican Communion?”  And don’t take more fudge for an answer.

h/t: e-mail from the See of Pisiquid.

Previous related posts:

• "The problem is the Western church's way of handling Scripture"
• Father David Curry's notes on General Synod
• Archbishop Terry Buckle’s letter to Yukon clergy
• Anglican priest to flout General Synod decision on SSBs
• Primates likely to criticise Canada's ambiguity on same-sex blessings

The collect for today, the 7th Sunday after Trinity, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:

Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle: Romans 6:19-23
The Gospel: St Mark 8:1-9

Artwork: Tintoretto, The Miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes, 1545-50, Oil on canvas, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.