Frustration has been mounting in the Anglican Communion. Conservatives, liberals and especially those in the middle want our current crisis in communion to be resolved. All sides agree that the countless hours and dollars being spent on settling the issues are distracting us from our principal work in the church, the spreading of the gospel. Patience is running out: for some, justice demands we take this new course, while for others, fidelity demands we hold fast to the ‘faith once received.’

If this were a Hollywood blockbuster, a dashing renegade with chiselled features and unquestionable moral fortitude would lead us through this quagmire with a bold move which, although it might break some rules and ruffle some feathers, would be both right and necessary. Well it would appear that Hollywood has come to the Diocese of Toronto.

In case you haven’t heard, retired Archbishop Terence Finlay has had enough and participated recently in a same-sex marriage. In an interview with another Canadian Anglican newspaper Finlay explained his actions thusly: “I think our church has waited a long time and has discussed this issue over and over and in this particular situation, time [has] just run out for me… this issue has moved from one of unity to one of justice.” If you squint you can even imagine Clint Eastwood delivering this line.

The problem with getting caught up with these romantic visions of settling issues in the church is that for very good reasons, this is simply not how the church is supposed to work. If we left these issues to be determined by our individual inner moral sense, the church would be in utter chaos. So to avoid this sort of chaos, we come together in synod, to study God’s word, to pray, to listen to each other and then finally to agree on the rules by which the church is to be governed.

When we are baptised or ordained and especially when we are consecrated, we agree to humble ourselves and our wills to the will of God as discerned by His church. This is us agreeing to the rules. We have the chance to opt out, as many have with integrity--liberals and conservatives alike. But once we agree to the rules, it is incumbent upon us to model obedience to them. Not only is this obedience required for the smooth operation of any community, but, more importantly, God is honoured by our obedience. After all, those in authority (bishops especially) have solemnly promised - to God and us - that they will in fact play according to rules.

As you can see on page 1, once again those parishes in the Diocese of New Westminster who have been struggling to remain faithful to the doctrine and order of the Anglican Church of Canada (not to mention the teaching of the historic Church) are being told by the Panel of Reference to “be patient,” and let the proper rules and order of the Church work themselves out. One is left wondering whether such an admonition can possibly be taken in good faith, when the very rules and order of the Church are being so blatantly disregarded by those in episcopal leadership.

Choosing the easy route of ignoring the rules and process and doing whatever we think is right, as Archbishop Finlay has done, is a sign of spiritual immaturity and can only lead to further division. The fact is, such acts undermine the civil atmosphere in a Church - and they threaten the very fabric which holds us together as ecclesial body.

In the Anglican Church of Canada we are currently debating changing the rules about certain aspects of our life together (re: our definition of marriage). But one is left asking: Does anyone even believe in the idea of rules anymore anyway?