Five months after the “two month” deadline that the ABC set for himself for the appointment of these “pastoral visitors” that are going to “assist in healing and reconciliation” we have this group appointed—a redux of the “Panel of Reference,” and the “Windsor Continuation Group” and the TEC pastoral visitors [remember those?]. . . whatever—they’re all the same group, attempting to fulfill the same purpose which is an appearance that something meaningful is being done for folks who no longer wish to be in TEC because it’s a corrupt heretical body—and their unfortunate rectors.
Martyn Minns! Matt Kennedy! Random clergyperson still in TEC but whose parish is in “dispute” and “tension” with TEC and who might lose more parishioners if something isn’t done that looks good, fast—call your office!!! There are some “pastoral visitors” who wish to help you heal and reconcile.
An initial group of pastoral visitors has been named by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to assist in healing and reconciliation given the current tensions in the Anglican Communion.
Those appointed by Williams to the pastoral visitors team are:
the Rt. Rev. Santosh Marray, bishop of Seychelles (Indian Ocean);
the Rt. Rev. Colin Bennetts, retired bishop of Coventry (England);
the Rt. Rev. Simon Chiwanga, retired bishop of Mpwapwa (Tanzania) and former chairman of the Anglican Consultative Council;
Major General Tim Cross, a retired British soldier who was the U.K.’s senior-most officer involved in the Pentagon’s post-war planning in Iraq;
Canon Chad Gandiya, Africa desk officer for the U.K.-based mission organization USPG; and
the Very Rev. Justin Welby, dean of Liverpool Cathedral (England).The Anglican primates, at their February 1-5 meeting in Alexandria, Egypt, affirmed the recommendations of the Windsor Continuation Group and called for the development of a “pastoral council” and the appointment of “pastoral visitors.”
Both the primates and the continuation group supported Williams’ plan to appoint an interim group of “pastoral visitors” who could be called upon in any dispute or situation of tension until the May 1-12 meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, the communion’s main legislative body. Despite that time limit, the continuation group noted that Williams suggested an initial 12-month appointment.