Anglicans Haven't Split -- Yet!

Word comes, via the LA Times, that the meeting of Anglican Primates has concluded without schism -- yet. Not that everyone is happy that the schism hasn't been finalized. But the word that has come out suggests a solution that ultimately is untenable. It simply puts on hold for a short period what's inevitable. The American Episcopal church has already moved to far along the road to go back. To ask the American Church to not only stop (for now) offering services of blessing or to ordain gay priests simply isn't going to work. And to ask that they apologize -- that definitely won't work. Rowan Williams has done his best to bring the parties together, but the Archbishop of Canterbury lacks papal authority to bring the warring parties to the table. I don't envy him for this predicament. I know where he'd like it to go, but such is not possible at this time.

What does this mean for the future? I guess it means a divided Anglican communion, but in reality it's already divided. The Via Media is no longer a middle way, if it ever really was such an entity. This is unfortunate, but hopefully in time the schism will heal. They have done so in the past, but it's always easier to split than to reconcile.

Of course I comment on this as an interested by-stander, one who was once an Episcopalian, but no longer am. Still, I remain interested and concerned for the church of my childhood.