Third draft of Covenant ‘tepid’

The Covenant Design Group. Photo: ACNS(Staff) Journalist George Conger reports that the latest draft of the Anglican Covenant, which will be considered by the Anglican Consultative Council (one of the four “instruments of Communion”) meeting in Jamaica May 1-13, is being embraced by neither liberals nor conservatives. Conger says, “Initial reactions to the document have been poor. While applauding the diminution of the earlier draft’s disciplinary provisions, liberals have voiced concern over the centralization of authority in entities outside existing provincial structures. Conservatives have been disappointed with the third draft for weakening the disciplinary provisions, pardoning the current crop of ecclesiastical malefactors, and advocating a tepid Anglicanism divorced from Scripture, the Prayer Book and Church history.”

However conservative Anglican theologian the Rev’d Prof. Stephen Noll, after analyzing what is known as the Ridley Cambridge Draft, recommends GAFCon provinces sign on speedily. “It is my conclusion that the GAFCon churches should move to the front of the queue and sign on to the Covenant. GAFCon was very clear that it does not plan on leaving the Communion, indeed that it is seeking its reformation. How better than taking initiative and setting the precedent for Covenant membership and direction? Apart from the political reasons cited... I think the Covenant is a good thing in principle and the Ridley Cambridge Draft is the best version we are going to get....”