What God Did At TEC's General Convention

TEC's General Convention in Anaheim, CA is ended.  Although it stated its wish to remain "in communion" with other Anglicans, it does not wish to do so if that means restraints on pan-sexual rights and blessings.  More fundamentally, it has asserted once again and with vigor its affection for unorthodox theologies with respect to revelation, salvation and Biblical authority.  There is just one conclusion that liberal and conservative Anglicans can agree upon: 

We can be thankful that God's Will was done.  

Devoted members of TEC will say that they were honest and stood up as martyrs for LGBT "rights".   Critics will say that "without death there can be no resurrection", and therefore TEC is being drawn into the pit of its own making. Hoping not to be drawn into an argument over differing perspectives, I'm writing this little article just to point out the most likely impacts on various affected communities of interest:

Impact on the Anglican Communion

The Anglican Communion, for its part, appears to be ready to grant TEC its wish to leave.  Separation of large parts of the Anglican Communion from TEC have been facts on the ground for several years, and what happened in Anaheim will accelerate the trend.   We can expect many more provinces of the Anglican Communion to declare themselves out of communion with TEC.  The real bonds of the Anglican Communion are in these bi-lateral agreements between the provinces.  In due time, other bonds will break as well, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Consultive Council.  The timing of it all is still in question, but it is now clear to the majority of Anglicans worldwide that this is the end of the road. After losing TEC, the Anglican Communion will have a distinctly more conservative outlook.  

Having parted ways with TEC, ecumenical efforts toward TEC will also cease as Anglicans regard it increasingly as just a mission field.  Both sides will be able to take pride in their role in upholding America's tradition of religious pluralism and mutual respect.   But real "Anglican Ecumenicalism" will become more of a process of reaching back toward primary Anglican, catholic, and reformed principles, and less like reaching for common ground with people who simply don't agree on things (e.g. Biblical authority)**. Ecumenical efforts with Reformed, Catholic and Orthodox churches will find much common ground with the new Anglican Communion, and "bonds of affection" should be expected to grow in surprising ways.  

Impact on The Episcopal Church

Many (but not all) bishops and priests returning from General Convention will find it difficult to hold their ranks.  There are priests, laity, parishes and even dioceses which will begin making plans to depart.  Many parishes will suffer large losses of membership.  Some parishes will try to leave (few will be successful).  Several dioceses will try to leave (possibly with more success).  At every level of the church hierarchy, money will be scarce and people will be anxious.  With increasing regularity, property will be sent to public auction.  On the positive side, The Episcopal Church will have found its own voice.  Like the Unitarian Universalist movement that preceded it, an Episcopalian philosophy will arise with its own recognizable characteristics and culture.  They will rightfully take pride in that culture, and some percentage of the American population will be attracted enough to that culture to claim new membership.

Impact on Anglican Church in North America

While ACNA now claims to have just 100 thousand members, the new Province will in 5 years be claiming 500 thousand members or more. I make this prediction because I believe a more accurate count would show that it's well on the way.   New Anglican churches will continue to pop up all over the place in the United States.  For the most part, they will be refugees from TEC... but having separated themselves from TEC's influence they will gain popularity among Christian evangelicals as well.  With time, some groups will merge, grow and find their voice in the new Province. Meanwhile, other disaffected Anglican groups, especially those with Catholic leanings will move toward affiliation.  

Many of the new parishes will be small loosely organized groups with no property.  Members will have scant appreciation or knowledge of Anglican history, tradition, culture or principles.  There will be conflicts aplenty as old ways are recovered and new ways are created.  Missions will be created from scratch.  Resources of people and property will be reallocated, and it will seem for years that everything is in motion, that nothing is stable.  

** This is important for Anglicans In The Wilderness because:

• Its prime objective is to give a voice to Anglicanism's first principles and early traditions, to demonstrate a stable and tangible liturgy which is the foundation of Anglican history, tradition, culture, and principle
• It will offer a clearing house for people and other resources that God calls to be engaged in Anglican mission, supply a platform for amateur Anglican bloggers, and provide a billboard for Anglican events and missions