Click to open
or right click to download

Note that this is a corrected version.
Use in stead of the paper issue!

The executive summary of the report (to be found here: http://www.anglican.ca/about/files/2010/10/Executive-Summary-GWG-Memo-on-the-Covenant-June-2011.pdf) identifies a number of problems in the Covenant. First there are concerns about the imprecision and ambiguity of important terms like communion, church, faith, a shared mind, relational consequences, incompatibility with the Covenant and controversial action. Secondly there are concerns about the powers of the Standing Committee, the details of procedures, the lack of rights to appeal, etc. Thirdly, since the Church of Canada is a confederation, it is unclear what consultations are necessary for the Church of Canada to be able to commit itself doctrinally or otherwise. This includes concern that the strong episcopal participation in decision-making processes might not sufficiently recognize the place of the laity. Finally, it is not clear what the consequences of non-adoption of the Covenant would be.

Earlier we reported that the Synod of the Diocese of Europe (one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England) already approved the Anglican Covenant. On May 31st, the laity supported the Covenant on a 20-3 vote, while clergy supported it 21-1 (2 abstentions). The Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, and the Rt. Rev. David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop in Europe, both voted in favour of the Covenant.