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	August 2003
		Anglican unity: how is it held? by John Harrower
			Anglican unity is a hard won and most precious commodity. During the English Reformation our Anglican forebears overcame mixed theological and political divisions by deciding for a 'common liturgy'. This common liturgy was to be conducted in the common tongue and participated in by the common people, and to remove all doubts, the liturgy compilation was entitled The Book of Common Prayer. Its Preface stated: Our general aim therefore in this undertaking was, not to gratify this or that party in any of their unreasonable demands; but to do that, which to our best understandings we conceived might most tend to the preservation of Peace and Unity in the Church; the procuring of Reverence, and exciting of piety and devotion in the Publick Worship of God. Forum for significant change It is because our Anglican unity has been won through our liturgy, that the action of the Canadian Diocese of New Hampshire, in authorising a liturgy of blessing for same-sex unions, is so schismatic. The Primates of the worldwide Anglican Communion have expressed their disagreement with this action. Changes in liturgy reflect changes in culture and theology. The forum for significant change has been the Lambeth meeting of bishops from all around the world. At the last Lambeth meeting (1998) the bishops committed themselves to study and to listen to the voices in the issues concerning human sexuality. The action of New Westminster in sanctioning a same-sex liturgy has pre-empted this debate and shows disdain for any collegiality and commitment to Anglican processes of unity. It is for this reason that I believe the liturgy approved by the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster for the blessing of same-sex couples is so schismatic. There is more to discuss Issues such as the ordination of women as bishops, and lay presidency at the Lord's Table must also be worked through in both conversation and decision. The cancellation of Third World debt, the AIDS crisis in Africa, and local environmental issues must also be addressed with the worldwide and Australian church, in order that our unity is retained in truth and love. We must support, and be participants in, a continuing dialogue where we do not write one another off, and we do not take precipitate action. Until the Lord returns ('Come, Lord Jesus!') we will struggle to understand the calling of Christ to the way of the Cross. The demands of Christ's love are to overcome our own demands of ego and self-will. Attributing characteristics of evil to people whose emphases are different from ours, is unhelpful and is not conducive to peace and unity in the Church. To express my own concerns I wrote to the parties involved in recent events and have received helpful correspondence, in particular, from the Archbishop of Canterbury. May we all be encouraged by our Anglican forebears, to do that, which to our best understandings we conceived might most tend to the preservation of Peace and Unity in the Church; the procuring of Reverence, and exciting of Piety and Devotion in the Publick Worship of God.