Come Up Higher: A Response to the Report of the Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion
Ephraim Radner

"One Baptism, One Hope in God's Call: The Report of the Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion" is a significant, if quite imperfect step, in the process that ECUSA must follow if this church is to maintain its integrity as both a witness to the Gospel and an existing and thriving institution, and if she is to contribute constructively to the same future for the Anglican Communion. But it is only a step, and if allowed to function as a destination by our General Convention, it will prove not only a disappointment, but an ecclesial quagmire, perhaps even a disaster.

It is important to note two political factors that should limit our understanding of both the actual and intended influence of this Report. First, the Commission that was chosen to write it was extraordinarily unrepresentative of ECUSA (let alone of Communion-oriented members of ECUSA), and highly over-represented by those who favor the decisions of GC 2003 that precipitated the crisis this Commission was designed to address. Second, another committee - a "special legislative committee" - has already been appointed to provide the actual resolutions that will go to the floor at Convention, making use of the Commission's recommendations as they choose. This Special Committee, while still not exactly balanced, is far more representative of both ECUSA and her interests in Communion life. The fact that the Commission came out with the Report it did, especially in its theological orientation (see below) is a cause for thanks, not disdain, and it represents hard work and good faith on the part of members from often opposing viewpoints. But there is obviously much more work and struggle in store.

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