ACNA’s Gamble

Somewhat missed in the midst of all the mayhem lately, both churchly and worldly, is the following ACNA news reported by Jeff Walton:

Bishop John Guernsey, Dean of Provincial Affairs, has been tasked by the College of Bishops to put together a Working Group on Race, Racism, and Racial Reconciliation “to help us talk as Biblical Christians in the midst of a polarized culture.”

Given the difficulties the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), among other churches, is having in dealing with issues relating to race and racism, this is an understandable decision.  But it is also a gamble though most of ACNA may not know it yet.

I should say right off that from what I’ve been told, this Working Group is very early in its formation. If even part of its composition or remit has been determined, I am not aware of that.  Thus this post if based only on the initial information Walton has reported.  If anything is going on behind the scenes that is proving me right or wrong, I do not know.

Having said that, forming this Working Group is not without merit.  Issues surrounding race and wokeness are creating not a little discord in ACNA.  Some of you may have noticed that.  It is not only the culture that is getting “polarized.”  This contention is one more strain on unity ACNA does not need.  If done well, the Working Group could provide a relatively peaceful channel for discussion.  Further, bishops and priests who may be pressured to take sides could defer to the Working Group, saying they would like to wait and hear what it has to say.

Yes, that may seem to be passing the buck.  But as contentious as these issues are now, it might be wise to defer these to a future time with the hope that it will be a calmer time.  This might be a better way to proceed than trying to ignore these issues, which is virtually impossible anyway, or by having it out now in either an organized or disorganized fashion during this angry polarized time. 

Still the formation of the Working Group has potential pitfalls.  Bishop Guernsey, being the Dean of Provincial Affairs, was a logical choice to form it.  However, many among the more conservative in ACNA do not have a great deal of trust towards him.  Whether that lack of trust is justified or not, or is a reflection on him or on those who distrust him, I will leave aside.  But if the Working Group acts in ways that displease conservatives, they will that much more likely see those ways as intended from the start and from the highest levels of ACNA.

A related potential pitfall could be the selection of those to join the Group.  For one thing, to simply put in the Group those most interested in racial issues would be a mistake because the result would likely be a composition slanted towards wokeness since woke people are rather obsessed with race.  In any case, it is of the upmost importance that the Working Group not be slanted towards the “justice” wing of ACNA.

Another pitfall and perhaps the biggest gamble the College of Bishops of ACNA is taking by creating this Working Group is that they are raising the stakes.  Now there will be a more prominent group formed by and just below the College of Bishops that will likely be making pronouncements on these contentious issues.  Yes, there are already groups at the provincial level that have spoken to such issues, such as the Anglican Multi-ethnic Network, but these are perceived as projects.  The Working Group will be seen as of higher and more central authority.  Its pronouncements will be perceived as speaking more for ACNA.  (I am talking about perceptions here.  I am not in a position to know what, if any, authority the Group will actually have to speak for ACNA.)

Of course, if the Group’s pronouncements are wise and in line with scripture instead of in line with wokeness, that could be a good thing indeed.  Certainly, Archbishop Foley’s recent statements in this area, particularly his statement to the Provincial Council, have been helpful overall.  But it could be that, to lessen the risk of division, the Working Group may choose to avoid making statements or be very selective in so doing.  We shall see.  

Combine all this and perhaps unforeseen developments, and there is the risk that the Working Group will eventually end up being perceived as a pre-ordained effort to put ACNA in the Woke Church camp.  That this will further strain ACNA’s unity goes without saying.  Note that I see this as a worst possible scenario and that I am saying there is a risk that the result will be such a perception.  I am not making a prediction, nor am I saying such a perception would be fair.  I am saying the ACNA College of Bishops has just taken a big risk.

I am not even saying it is wrong to take this risk.  For ACNA’s current ad hoc approach to addressing this area is not working well.  Divisions within ACNA are getting worse.  An effort “to help us talk as Biblical Christians in the midst of a polarized culture” is surely needed.  So this risk, this gamble if you will, is noble and perhaps even wise.  But it is still a gamble and one worth watching.