The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion addressed the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church for the first time in 21 years, when members heard the Rt Rev Anthony Poggo pay warm tribute to the Church during the final session of the three-day meeting at the Stirling Court Hotel.
On his first visit to Scotland, Bishop Poggo described the SEC as “an incredibly valued member of the Anglican Communion”.
Bishop Poggo said in his address: “I see how you are living out the mission of Christ in your Province and I commend the work that you are doing.
“You have contributed a different kind of Anglicanism to the Anglican Communion. One of the things I have found is that it is possible to be Anglican without being historically tied to the British establishment and to the British Empire. You show the historic diversity of the Anglican tradition and have helped to break free of colonial ways of thinking.
“Anglicanism in the British Isles is stronger for having the diversity of traditions that you have, going back to ancient Celtic and Irish roots as well as to Augustine’s mission to Kent in 597. Your role in consecrating the first American Episcopal bishop is an important historic contribution to the foundation of what is now The Episcopal Church and by extension, the Anglican Communion.”
Bishop Poggo, who is originally from South Sudan, had been in attendance throughout Synod after accepting an invitation to come to Scotland extended by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Bishop Mark Strange. He had listened carefully to debates about a new Provincial Strategy, liturgies, mission, Net Zero and the Church’s exploration of the legacy of slavery.
As he addressed Synod on its closing day, he took the opportunity to share with members a brief sense of his role as Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the role of the Anglican Communion Office, and discussed where various matters currently stand in the Communion. He also thanked those from the Scottish Episcopal Church who have contributed directly to the Communion through participation in commissions and networks, and was delighted to meet up with the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth and Dr Beth Routledge (both Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway, and both pictured right), who are the SEC representatives on the Anglican Consultative Council and will attend the next ACC meeting in Belfast at the end of June (ACC-19). He also gave thanks to the SEC for its “consistent giving of provincial contributions”.
“We see ourselves at the ACO as an enabling team, here to serve and strengthen communion life,” said Bishop Poggo. “Our role is about connecting Anglican churches around the world, in global mission and fellowship. I visit member churches of the Anglican Communion – not only those who are larger in size, but all member churches. We treat ourselves as sister churches, and now no longer talk of a ‘mother church’ because we are all equal members of this family.”
Updating members on current objectives at the Communion, Bishop Poggo spoke about the view expressed that there is a need for review of the structures of the Communion, and thanked the SEC for its engagement with the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals which have been offered for consideration by the Communion and will be discussed at ACC-19.
“In a diverse communion and in a post-colonial world, the aim of the work is to help find ways for Anglicans to walk together to the highest degree possible,” said Bishop Poggo, as he went on to address the main challenges facing the Communion at the moment.
“We are all aware of some of the disagreements in the Anglican Communion family – ordination of women, same sex relations and Anglican identity. As I travel across teh Anglican Communion, one thing I have found is that most member churches are happy to carry on in their relationships with other provinces in spite of these differences, however some are not. It is important not to ignore our disagreements and divisions but to face them together in a truthful manner and find ways in which we can live together.
“As we move forward as a Communion, we need to be aware of our different contexts and how we accept and acknowledge the way in which our contexts are different. Whatever might happen its importnat that we continue to respect each other’s contexts but also understand that we need to disagree well within this family.
“Membership of the Anglican Communion is voluntary; all provinces are autonomous and they choose to belong. At the same time, they are interdependent, forming one family of Christ. Membership entails participation in the common life of the Communion – contributing to its mission, engaging with its Instruments, and enriching one another in faith.
“It also rests on mutual recognition and sacramental communion with other member churches, ensuring that our shared life is lived out in relationship, not isolation.”
He concluded: “Let me take the opportunity to thank you, especially Bishop Mark, for your consistent contributions that support the work of the Anglican Communion Office. It is good to be here and please pray for the upcoming meeting of the ACC-19 and its deliberation, and also pray for the decisions that will be made at the meeting, and pray for Archbishop Sarah [Mullally] – this will be her first meeting as President of the ACC.
“I look forward to walking with you and supporting you, and working together with you in the ways I can during my time as Secretary General.”
The Primus led loud applause from a very appreciative Synod, and said it was a “delight” to have Bishop Poggo in attendance throughout the three-day meeting.
