Center Aisle June 13, 2006

Center Aisle is an opinion journal offered by the Diocese of Virginia as a gift to General Convention. We offer analysis and opinions from a variety of sources that reflect the transformational center of our church.

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The middle is not the midpoint on a line between two extremes. In the life of faith, the great bulk of people are at the center, and that center is faith in the Risen Christ. The Pastoral Address to the 210th Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia, 2005, the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee
How Many 'R's in Windsor?

There has been much talk of embracing the Windsor Report. We think that’s good. But do you really know Windsor’s ABCs? Or for that matter, how about the ‘R’s?

Of the four ‘R’s currently making the rounds you will find two in the report:

REGRET: As in, we should express regret “that the proper restraints of the bonds of affection were breached” in the election and consent to Gene Robinson.

RECONCILIATION: As in, Windsor is not a judgment but “part of a pilgrimage towards healing and reconciliation.”

But we’ve been hearing some other ‘R’s that you will not find in Windsor:

REPENTANCE: As in repent for the election of Bishop Robinson. There is no reference to repentance for the election and consent to Bishop Robinson.

ROLLBACK: As in, undo it. There is no call in Windsor for a rollback of the consent to Bishop Robinson. Indeed, Windsor recommends that the Archbishop of Canterbury (Windsor’s real ABC) use “very considerable caution” in inviting and admitting Bishop Robinson to the councils of the Communion. The premise of that recommendation is that Gene Robinson will indeed remain a bishop.

So, embrace Windsor? Sure. Let’s just make we know our ABCs.





Center Aisle is published by the Diocese of Virginia; Publisher:Peter James Lee; Editor: Ed Jones, St. George's, Fredericksburg; Editorial Writer: The Rev. John Ohmer, St. James', Leesburg; Editorial Writer: The Rev. Lauren Stanley, Episcopal Missioner to Sudan; Staff Writer: Susan Daughtry Fawcett; Cartoonist: Mike Kerr, Diocesan Treasurer, St. Clare's, Richmond; Researcher: The Rev. Holly Antolini, St. Paul's, Richmond; Design/Production Print/Web: John Dixon, Michael Pipkin, Leo Campos; Coordinator: Patrick Getlein