Resolutions

Resolutions of ACC-5

1. Advisory Group on Mission Issues and Strategy
2. Anglican-Lutheran relations
3. The 'Filioque' clause in the Nicene Creed
4. ARCIC
5. Anglican Centre in Rome
6. The Oriental Orthodox Churches
7. The co-ordination of ecumenical dialogue
8. Full communion
9. Pastoral letter
10.  Preparation for ACC meetings
11.  Spiritual renewal
12.  Training in leadership
13.  Training of bishops
14.  Francophone dioceses
15.  Information on training
16.  Pensions in the Anglican Communion
17.  The Personal Emergencies Fund
18.  Forward planning regarding pensions
19.  Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America
20.  Extra-Provincial dioceses
21.  CCEA membership of ACC
22.  Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission: work
23.  Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission: themes and issues
24.  Collegiality and conciliarity
25.  Anglican Congress
26.  Metropolitical functions
27.  The election of bishops
28.  New dioceses and Provinces
29.  Dioceses and Provinces in trouble
30.  Bye-laws
31.  Financial Statement for 1980
32.  Professional courses for ACC staff
33.  Associate Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs
34.  Budgets for 1982 and subsequent years
35.  Allocation of the budget
36.  Evaluation of the ACC
37.  Research Trust
38.  Conflict in southern Africa

Resolution 1: Advisory Group on Mission Issues and Strategy

The Council requests the Secretary General to constitute a continuing inter- national Advisory Group on Mission Issues and Strategy. It should have a membership of up to eight, to which one or two members might be added as needed. It should report to each ACC meeting, which should regularly review its work, constitution, and composition.

The Group should include representatives of mission agencies and those who are directly concerned with the Partners in Mission process. Its composition should be similar to the groups which have been called from time to time in the past to advise on mission. Mission agencies should be invited to contribute to the funding of such meetings, which might take place in conjunction with meetings of the Council and at least once between Council meetings.

On the lines of Resolution 9 of ACC-4, the Group should advise the Council on the further development of the Partners in Mission process by receiving reports from Provinces or regions and in the light of these reports should:

1. review mission issues and strategy;
2. identify exceptional needs and opportunities for mission and development which call for a Communion-wide response, and
3. find ways and means for collaboration with other Christian bodies in mission and evangelism.

The Council welcomes the indication that mission agencies would be prepared to assist the funding of such a group and proposes that, in due course, a small budgetary provision should be made by the ACC itself.

Resolution 2: Anglican-Lutheran relations

The Council invites the Lutheran World Federation to consider the reconvening of a Joint Anglican-Lutheran Working Group to assess the regional dialogues and to make appropriate recommendations about the future relationship between the two Churches to the Lutheran World Federation and ACC-6.

Resolution 3: The 'Filioque' clause in the Nicene Creed

The Council :

1. expresses its gratitude to the members of the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Commission for their work in the past and looks forward to a new report which will enable the two traditions to find practical ways of extending dialogue and co-operation at an levels, especially where the two Churches are living side by side;
2. recommends that in discussing the 'Filioque' clause , the Provinces should, in the exercise of their autonomy, make their decisions with close consideration for the possibility or non-possibility of a final Anglican and Western consensus;
3. recommends that within Provinces there be no unilateral diocesan alteration of the Creed;
4. recommends that latitude might be allowed for deviations from this policy on rare and exceptional occasions of ecumenical courtesy towards the Orthodox Churches; and
5. requests the Secretary General to keep the matter under review in preparation for the next Lambeth Conference.

Resolution 4: ARCIC

The Council:

1. Expresses its gratitude t all those who have served on ARCIC since 1970, and especially its Co-Chairmen, Archbishop Henry McAdoo and Bishop Alan Clark, and its co-secretaries Mgr W.A Purdy and the Revd C.J. Hill;
2. Commends to the Churches of the Anglican Communion the two questions proposed by the Co-Chairmen in their letter of 2 September 1981 to the Archbishop of Canterbury , viz.:-

'Whether the Agreed Statements on Eucharistic Doctrine, Ministry and Ordination, and Authority in the Church (1 and II), together with Elucidations are consonant in substance with the faith of Anglicans' and 'Whether the Final Report offers a sufficient basis for taking the next concrete step towards the reconciliation of our Churches grounded in agreement in faith';

1. Endorses the further proposal that a new Commission be set up, with the two broad terms of reference proposed in the same letter: to work out, on the basis of the Final Report, the implications of reconciliation grounded in faith should the two Churches respond favourably to the questions posed; and to suggest the stages through which the two Churches would eventually move towards organic unity in full communion and also the practical steps involved at each stage.

Resolution 5: Anglican Centre in Rome

The Council accepts the Constitution for the Anglican Centre in Rome, as given under the heading 'Proposed Constitution' in document ACC-5:81 2220.

Resolution 6: The Oriental Orthodox Churches

The Council welcomes the proposed visit of the Rt Revd Henry Hill to the leaders of the Oriental Orthodox Churches on behalf of the Churches of the Anglican Communion and requests that any proposals resulting from his visit be discussed at ACC-6.

Resolution 7: The co-ordination of ecumenical dialogue

The Council requests the Secretary General to communicate the findings of the forthcoming meeting of the chairmen and secretaries of Anglican international ecumenical conversations to the Churches of the Communion with a view to their response being further discussed at ACC-6.

Resolution 8: Full communion

The Council requests the Standing Committee to suggest ways in which we may enrich our relationships with those Churches with which we are in full communion.

Resolution 9: Pastoral letter

The Council requests its President and Chairman to address a pastoral letter to the Primates for transmission to people, parishes, and dioceses, drawing their attention to the full report of ACC-5 and inviting them to share as fully as they can in the quest for Christian unity.

Resolution 10: Preparation for ACC meetings

The Council recommends to the Standing Committee that, in preparation for future Council meetings, all members should receive in advance fuller materials on the issues assigned for study to their Sections. These should include the fruits of research undertaken within the Communion on these issues, and an appropriate bibliography for each issue.

Resolution 11: Spiritual renewal

The Council recommends that the Secretary General request all member i Churches to report on the incidence, progress, and significance of spiritual renewal, including the Charismatic Movement, within their life; and to make a summary of these reports available for study to members of one Section of the Council in advance of ACC-6.

Resolution 12: Training in leadership

The Council believes that what St Augustine's College, Canterbury , supplied in the past in the training of emerging leadership in the Anglican Communion is still needed; and it hopes that appropriate and contemporary ways (which could be ecumenical) may be found for supplying this experience of co-operative ministerial training within the Anglican Communion.

Resolution 13: Training of bishops

In the light of resolution 23 of ACC-I and of resolution 19 of the Lambeth Conference 1978, together with pages 78-9 of the Report of the Lambeth Conference 1978, the Council requests the Secretary General to conduct a survey of progress in the specialized training of new bishops throughout the Communion over the past ten years. In respect of in-service training of bishops, it supports the proposals indicated in the Lambeth 1978 report.

(Note: Resolution 19 of the Lambeth Conference of 1978 reads: 'The Conference asks each member Church to provide training for bishops after election in order more adequately to prepare them for their office; and to provide opportunities for continuing education'.)

Resolution 14: Francophone dioceses

The Council asks the Secretary General to investigate the possibilities of

1. providing the Francophone dioceses with information about resources in French; and
2. the translation into French of necessary Anglican publications;

and to act accordingly.

Resolution 15 : Information on training

The Council requests the member Churches, if they do not do so already, to send regularly to the Secretary General information concerning their resources and plans in the area of Christian training, for communication throughout the Anglican family. The Council reaffirms that the proper channel for making known priority needs is Partners in Mission.

Resolution 16: Pensions in the Anglican Communion

The Council instructs the Secretary General to initiate an enquiry throughout the Communion to ascertain whether it has the assurance of the commitment of the member Churches to the proposal to create an 'offshore' or international pension plan, to provide for certain special cases where church workers for some reason fall outside the normal provincial arrangements, this commitment to be evidenced by their willingness to produce the substantial funds required.

Meanwhile the Council notes, with the Working Group on Pensions in the Anglican Communion, that a fund already exists to meet short-term emergencies, but with inadequate resources: the Personal Emergencies Fund.

Resolution 17: The Personal Emergencies Fund

The Council strongly commends to every Province the claims of the Personal Emergencies Fund for their support.

Resolution 18: Forward planning regarding pensions

The Council notes the following five working principles and recommends that in any forward planning regarding pensions in the Anglican Communion these principles be kept in mind:

1. It is the responsibility of the Churches in the Anglican Communion to provide adequate pensions (or other retirement benefits) for their clergy and lay workers, their widows and, where appropriate, their dependents. A pension can only be considered to be adequate when the recipient is not at a disadvantage in the society wherein he retires.
2. A member of the clergy or a lay worker should be able to transfer his service from one Church in the Anglican Communion to another without prejudicing his pension.
3. Service qualifications appearing in the rules of a pension scheme should be defined as the total number of years' service in the world-wide Anglican Communion wherever possible.
4. The means whereby the second and third principles will probably be achieved in practice is through the transferability of pension rights from one Church to another, or failing this through the preservation of rights.
5. Wherever possible, a person who is serving in a Province other than his home province for a specified period after which he expects to return to his home Province, should be covered by the pension plan of his home Church.

Resolution 19: Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America

The Council approves the new Constitution of the Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America (The Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America) subject to the amendments proposed by the Constitutions Committee being made to the satisfaction of the Secretary General.

Resolution 20: Extra-Provincial dioceses

The Council receives the following Report and accepts the recommendations made in it.

East Asia
1. General

The region covered by the CCEA is too widespread, and too diverse ethnically, culturally, historically, and linguistically for a single Province to be contemplated.

Contact between church members, even within, say, Malaysia, is rare because of distance, and diversities between Sabah and West Malaysia are considerable. Also, to have the Archbishop of Canterbury as Metropolitan, while appreciated, is felt to be a remote and alien affiliation. But the fact of belonging to a world-wide Communion is therefore appreciated and its development, in consultation with the dioceses, could be welcomed.

It is therefore recommended that:

1. the main Anglican groupings within East Asia be considered separately;
2. the present need is to suggest an intermediate which would increase acquaintance and interdependence among the dioceses;
3. contact by and with other parts of the Anglican Communion be encouraged and supported.

2. Malaysia and Singapore (the dioceses of Kuching, Sabah, West Malaysia, and Singapore)

We invite the Archbishop of Canterbury to request the ACC, acting as a consultative body,

1. to set up machinery for achieving (2) above and also to formulate in close consultation with the four dioceses concerned and their Metropolitan, the Archbishop of Canterbury , a constitution for a proposed Province comprising the four dioceses, and to report to ACC-6 ;
2. to recommend, within this constitution, a joint Synod of the dioceses which would include clerical and lay members as well as the bishops. The joint Synod would norn1ally meet in one House. It is suggested that the whole Synod elect one of the diocesan bishops to be chairman for a stated number of years.
   It is not envisaged that there need be much change in present diocesan constitutions.
   The Archbishop of Canterbury would be the ultimate Metropolitical Authority until, aided by the experience of acting together through the joint Synod, an autonomous Province was formed. Any change in the constitution would, until then, require the agreement of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
3. to encourage closer relationships with and by other parts of the Anglican Communion, particularly in the fields of mission and devotional life.

When approved, the constitution and joint Synod would come into being at the authorization of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

At the first meeting of the joint Synod, a person nominated by the Arch- bishop of Canterbury would preside until the synod had elected its first Chairman.

3. Korea (the dioceses of Susan, Seoul, and Taejon)

The meeting noted that the dioceses which had responded to the paper sent by the first meeting, and which had discussed matters with Bishop Howe (Busan and Taejon) envisaged the formation of a Province within the Anglican Communion, but also recognized that preliminary to that, important steps were possible and necessary under the present joint constitution.

The meeting recognized the comparative isolation of the dioceses in Korea, and a sense of aloneness which gave their membership within the world-wide Anglican Communion a special value and significance for them.

The unsatisfactory financial position was also a matter of concern, especially for Taejon and Busan.

It is recommended, under the present constitution for Korea;

1. that there is increased collaboration between the three dioceses;
2. that there is concentration on mission and Church growth, the Anglican Church in Korea being as yet very small indeed ;
3. that at the initiative of the Archbishop of Canterbury as Metropolitan, the Anglican Communion seek ways to support and encourage the Church in Korea; and that the growing collaboration with Japan -the NSKK -be supported;
4. that consideration be given as to whether the Bishop of Seoul should always (as in the present constitution) be chairman of the joint Synod, or whether there should be election by the whole Synod, as proposed for Malaysia;
5. that the Archbishop of Canterbury , through the ACC, ask the Church in Korea if, in the light of their experience of a national constitution, they feel that in a few years there could be a Church of Provincial status in that part of the world.

4. Hong Kong and Taiwan

The Diocese of Hong Kong and Macao is a member of the Chung Hua Sheng Kung Hui (CHSKH -the Holy Catholic Church of China) whose Constitution and Canons are now in the custody of the Council of the Church of East Asia (CCEA). Today the CHSKH as we have known it, no longer exists in mainland China. The Diocese of Hong Kong and Macao, however, continues to have very close relationships with the Church in mainland China. The Diocese of Taiwan is a member of Province VIII of the Episcopal Church of the USA. The meeting noted that the future of both dioceses is closely linked with what happens in mainland China. The increasing communication and interchange between them was seen as an important and commendable way forward.

5. The Philippine Episcopal Church (PEC)

The three dioceses of the Philippine Episcopal Church are members of CCEA, i and are part of the Episcopal Church of the USA. One diocesan bishop is known I as the Prime Bishop and is the principal bishop for the PEC.

Since May 1980 the PEC has had a Committee on Church Autonomy. The meeting had a good deal of information from that Committee, and also Bishop Howe was able to attend its meeting in Manila in November 1980.

The Committee states its goal as 'the establishment of an autonomous Church or Province of the Anglican Communion in the Philippines'.

It is recommended that:

1. encouragement be given to the work and goal of the Committee on Church Autonomy;
2. note be taken of
   1. the exploration of a Covenant Relationship with the Episcopal Church of the USA; and
   2. the expectation that the number of dioceses in the PEC will be increased, probably to six;
3. warm appreciation be expressed of the emphasis by the Committee that I mission is of the essence of the Church's existence - 'Thus, as we talk of autonomy, we also talk of the Church as being mission in the Philippines, but also as existing for and on behalf of all mankind';
4. encouragement be given to 'keeping doors open' so that it may be possible at a suitable time for a future Province to invite to membership dioceses beyond the present limits of PEC; and also to consider a closer relationship with the Philippine Independent Church.

The area of Province IX and Latin America

The area concerned is, roughly, the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, including Cuba; Mexico and parts of Central America; some northern dioceses in Southern America.

There is no one exact aim, but several are under serious consideration. The area must be understood as being in via.

The meeting noted the following lines of thought as having weight in discussions in, and about, the area:

1. a desire for identity and indigenous expression by Churches of the countries in the area;
2. a hesitation about taking a course that would lead prematurely to an autonomy distinct from the Episcopal Church of the USA, which in various ways, through General Convention, is still the Metropolitan authority (except for Cuba);
3. an appreciation of having been within the fellowship of the ECUSA Province;
4. an appreciation of being part of a universal Church, that is of the world-wide Anglican Communion;
5. that a regional grouping might be preferable to an autonomous Province or Provinces.
   
   It is recommended that
   
   1. the ACC re-affirm the agreement it gave in Resolution 19 of ACC4 to the recommendation of the Executive Committee of the Episcopal Church of the USA, concerning the minimum criteria for autonomy;
   2. the ACC support the desire for indigenous expression within the family of the Anglican Communion:

      acknowledging the wish of Churches and dioceses moving towards autonomy to enter into covenant relationships with the Churches with which they have previously shared a common autonomy and ecclesiastical history;
      noting that a continuing relationship, including financial relationship, is common between autonomous Churches in the Anglican Communion;
      and commending the determination of many dioceses and Provinces to be financially self-supporting;

   3. the ACC encourage interaction between the member Churches of the Anglican Communion especially in the field of mission:

      noting that Partners in Mission provides a major contribution to, and a vehicle for, this;

   4. no regional or council grouping, often desirable in itself, shall obstruct development to truly autonomous and indigenous Provinces within the Anglican Communion;
   5. Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and also Cuba shall be included in a larger autonomous Province as soon as that is possible (Also see below: Cuba).

Cuba

When for political reasons Cuba was suddenly separated from the USA, continued membership in the Episcopal Church of the USA became impossible.

Because in the universal Church no diocese can exist on its own, an ad hoc metropolitical body was devised, consisting of the Primates of Canada and the West Indies, and the President Bishop of Province IX.

The meeting noted with approval that the election and consecration of a coadjutor Bishop within the machinery structured by the Metropolitical Authority for such purposes was an outstanding example of how metropolitical authority is able to work even in abnormal circumstances.

Other extra-provincial dioceses:

1. Bermuda
   
   Since the last ACC meeting, Bermuda has been kept informed of this committee working in response to Resolution 18 of ACC-4. It seems clear no change is at present contemplated by Bermuda. Its participation in the Anglican Council of North America and the Caribbean (ACNAC) is an indication of a desire to relate in some meaningful way to that area.
   
   
2. Europe
   
   The Lusitanian Church in Portugal and the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church are two new indigenous extra-Provincial dioceses in the Anglican Communion. The present situation of the two dioceses is working adequately at this early stage. But the Anglican situation in Europe which led to their status as extra- Provincial dioceses is not satisfactory and all concerned must work for the finding of a better solution.

Resolution 21: CCEA membership of ACC

In view of the complexity and diversity of the region, the Council asks the Standing Committee to consider whether the Council of the Church of East Asia should have an additional representative on the ACC, and to report back to the Council.

Resolution 22: Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission: work

The Council encourages the Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission to share information with the member Churches concerning its ongoing work, in order to obtain and invite comments in accordance with paragraphs 2(d) and (e) of Resolution 14 of ACC-4.

Resolution 23: Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission: themes and issues

The Council notes the view of the Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission that the task given to it by the ACC is large and comprehensive, and that it intends to concentrate on a specific and important theme over the first few years of its life.

The Council however hopes that in the future the Commission will be ready to receive and consider issues which cannot adequately be dealt with by a Provincial theological and doctrinal body, especially when these may be of a controversial nature.

Resolution 24: Collegiality and conciliarity

The Council requests the Standing Committee to consider, and to report to ACC-6 how, in a Communion which is gaining an increasing awareness of its universality , the practice of collegiality and conciliarity may be further clarified , and encouraged.

Resolution 25: Anglican Congress

The Council concurs with its Standing Committee that there should not be another Anglican Congress in the next few years.

Resolution 26: Metropolitical functions

The Council endorses Resolution 23 of ACC.2 and sends it again to the member Churches for their approval.

Resolution 27: The election of bishops

The Council requests that the survey material on the election of bishops, prepared in accordance with Resolution 21 of ACC4, should be kept up to date by the ACC staff, and reminds Provinces to keep the ACC office informed of any amendments to their constitutions, including those affecting the election of bishops.

Resolution 28: New dioceses and Provinces

The Council re-affirms the criteria set out in the Report of ACC-4 (pages 54-55) on the formation of new dioceses, and further urges that, when new dioceses or Provinces are being contemplated, the authorities in the diocese or Province as appropriate consult with the Secretary General of the ACC at an early stage.

Resolution 29: Dioceses and Provinces in trouble

While the Council cannot propose detailed guidelines for the exact course of action to be followed in each case of a diocese or a Province in trouble, it endorses the view that responsibility lies with, and that action should be taken,

1. by the Province, in the case of a diocese in trouble within a Province;
2. by the Metropolitan, who, after consultation with the bishop might ask the ACC to advise, in the case of a diocese not in a Province;
3. by the ACC, in the case of a Province, in order to alert the member Churches of the Communion to seek a solution.

Resolution 30: Bye-laws

The Council adopts the bye-laws set out as pages 502-3 of the Agenda and Preparatory Papers for the Fifth Meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council and initialled by the Chairman for purposes of identification, and they are here- by adopted by the Council in accordance with Clause 2(o) of the Council's constitution.

Resolution 31: Financial Statement for 1980

The Council adopts the audited financial statements for the year ending 31 December 1980.

Resolution 32: Professional courses for ACC staff

In order to help the staff of the Council to

1. keep up with new developments in their own fields
b.
2. acquire new skills connected with their own fields,
3. be more efficient in their work,

the Council recommends that in 1982, £1,000 be set aside to enable staff members to take part in short professional courses.

Resolution 33: Associate Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs

The Council resolves that no appointment of an Associate Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs be authorized until

1. There has been a careful review of the essential work the Council needs to undertake in 1982 and 1983;
2. there has been a review of the work-loads of present staff members;
3. a clear picture of the work to be undertaken by such an Associate Secretary has been developed.

Resolution 34: Budgets for 1982 and subsequent years

The Council approves the revised budget for 1982 and the proposed budget for 1983, subject to review by the Standing Committee, and asks that they be submitted to the member Churches, together with the projected budgets for 1984 and 1985.

Resolution 35: Allocation of the budget

The Council resolves that, in making the approach to each province, the 1982 percentage allocation of the budget be used to determine the minimum amount being requested, but that the discussions with the Province be related to the amount requested rather than to the percentage allocation.

Resolution 36: Evaluation of the ACC

The Council:

1. requests the Standing Committee to appoint a small committee to manage the process of evaluation of the ACC; and
2. authorizes the committee so appointed to secure any necessary technical assistance required in the carrying out of the process of evaluation.

Resolution 37: Research Trust

The Council:

1. accepts the offer of a group of concerned persons to provide funds to enable it to set up a Research Trust, designed to facilitate studies to be undertaken under the aegis of the Anglican Consultative Council; and
2. authorizes the establishment of such a trust during 1982 and invites Bishop Howe to be the first Research Fellow, with the request that during 1983 he make a study of developments in the Anglican Communion during the last twenty to twenty-five years, and that the results of this study be made available to the evaluation process referred to in resolution 36 above.

Resolution 38: Conflict in southern Africa

The Council, aware of the conflict existing in southern Africa, particularly in Angola, Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa, wishes to send the following message to the Churches in these countries:

The Anglican Consultative Council, meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, 8-18 September 1981, has listened to the plight of God's people in Angola, Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa as a result of the intransigence of the apartheid regime of South Africa, While abhorring the continuance of suffering in Angola ,and oppression in Namibia and South Africa, the Council assures the Christians in these countries of its continued concern and prayers.