During the meeting of the Anglican Primates in England recently, I have seen friends who are priests on both sides of the American Anglican/Episcopal divide flippantly dismiss the Anglican Communion as unnecessary to their ministry. I saw several articles go by about what was potentially at stake, most of the authors treating the subject from the angle of contemporary political struggle and intrigue.
What I have not seen anywhere yet are the biblical and theological underpinnings that are the foundation for Anglican polity and its processes, which we Americans—who all believe ourselves to be right—admittedly find excruciatingly slow. Americans who are conservative theologically just want the Archbishop of Canterbury to speak plainly and definitively on the subject. Americans who are theologically liberal are quick to point out that nothing is binding on them or can challenge their autonomy if he does.
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