Folia Theologica et Canonica, Supplementum (2016)
Hanns Engelhardt, Marriage and Divorce In Anglican Canon Law
70 HANNS ENGELHARDT The Meeting of the Primates of (virtually) all the Provinces56 in January 2016 resolved regarding the problem: (...) 4. The traditional doctrine of the church in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds marriage as between a man and a woman in faithful, lifelong union. The majority of those gathered reaffirm this teaching. 5. In keeping with the consistent position of previous Primates’ meetings such unilateral actions on a matter of doctrine without Catholic unity is considered by many of us as a departure from the mutual accountability and interdependence implied through being in relationship with each other in the Anglican Communion. 6. Such actions further impair our communion and create a deeper mistrust between us. This results in significant distance between us and places huge strains on the functioning of the Instruments of Communion and the ways in which we express our historic and ongoing relationships. 7. It is our unanimous desire to walk together. However given the seriousness of these matters we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity. 8. We have asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a Task Group to maintain conversation among ourselves with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognizing the extent of our commonality and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ.57 The Anglican Consultative Council (ACC), to which all the Provinces send episcopal, clerical and lay representatives,58 at their 16lh meeting in Lusaka in April 2016, have resolved (Resolution 16.24: Walking Together): 56 For the origin and authority of the Primates* Meeting cf. Engelhardt, H., Die Anglikanische Gemeinschaft und ihre kirchenrechtlichen Strukturen, in Zeitschrift dér Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte Kanonistische Abteilung 85 (1999) 433-447, especially 445 seq. Doe, N., The Legal Framework of the Church of England. A Critical Study in a Comparative Context. Oxford 1998. 346, n. 31. 57 http://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/206038/Primates_Meeting_2016_Statement.pdf (accessed 12 June 2016). 58 For particulars cf. Engelhardt, H., Die Anglikanische Gemeinschaft und ihre kirchenrechtlichen Strukturen, 442 seqq. Doe, N., The Legal Framework of the Church of England, 349 seq.
