The Archbishop of Canterbury's Presidential Address to the Anglican Consultative Council

In an address that gave a challenge to the prevailing views of many Anglicans, the Most Rev George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, indicated that 'diversity' and 'comprehensiveness' are not, in his view, the defining characteristics of Anglicanism. Instead he said that 'the constant interplay of Scripture, tradition and reason provide limits to diversity,' and that Anglicans do not live by the principle 'Anything goes.' Dr Carey made these observations during his Presidential Address to the meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Dundee, Scotland.

"Now some have said the idea that the "diversity" and "comprehensiveness" that have been our by words can be held up as the defining characteristic of Anglicanism. I do not accept that," Archbishop Carey said. "I, and I guess most of us, do not accept that there are no cardinal doctrines, beliefs or limits to orthodoxy...We must be very wary of any understanding of comprehensiveness that masks doctrinal indifference. Instead we need to view it as the breadth of a Communion exploring the fullness of a faith rooted in Scripture, anchored in the creeds, expressed in faithfulness to the Dominical sacraments and embodied in a faithful episcopally-led Church," the Archbishop said in a veiled reference to the Lambeth Quadrilateral, a statement on reunion accepted by the Lambeth Conferences of 1888 and 1920.

'Unity' was another issue the Archbishop discussed. Pointing out that there were cultural, theological and even contextual reasons for conflict among Anglicans, Dr Carey quoted one of his predecessors, Archbishop Michael Ramsey, who wrote "The Cross is the place where the theology of the Church has its meaning, where the unity of the Church is a deep and present reality..."

"The unity question will not be solved through easy humanistic ideas of fellowship and brotherhood, but by the hard road of the Cross," Archbishop Carey said. Being open to the creative will of God will lead into difficult areas, and perhaps conflict with others, but the more strongly Christians hold to the faith, with clearer minds about the lines between belief and unbelief, heresy and orthodoxy, the sharper will be the challenge.

While the Archbishop affirmed vigorous debate and healthy intellectual engagement on the basis of shared faith as important ingredients for Christian struggling to share their faith with the world around, he also repudiated unilateral action by dioceses and provinces within the Anglican Communion.

"No-one has the right to take decisions that affect the whole. The moment the 'local' wrests decisions from the whole, it is engaging in division," he said. "Every House of Bishops must seek unity of vision for the sake of the Province it leads - and deviation from agreed constitutions will only weaken the Church bishops claim to serve. No Province should take unilateral action which affects and impairs the whole Communion....to engage in division is itself to undermine the truth," Archbishop Carey said. "The call to unity is at least as strong in Scripture as is the call to purity and holiness."

Archbishop Carey mentioned two matters that had recently "come across his desk." These were the non attendance at the ACC meeting of the Dr Moses Tay, the Archbishop of South East Asia at the meeting, who had written to the Archbishop expressing disappointment that some parts of the Communion appeared to be ignoring or rejecting key resolutions of the Lambeth Conference. "We are the poorer without his voice," the Archbishop said.

Archbishop Carey also voiced he disagreement with the central thesis in Bishop Richard Holloway's book Godless Morality where Dr Carey believes Bishop Holloway argues that God must be left out of the moral debate.

"Surely to conclude that we must turn our back on scriptural insights and teachings, the body of doctrine in the Church formed over the years and theological learning is an unacceptable option for us," Archbishop Carey said.

Referring to the 1998 Lambeth Conference Dr Carey said he believed it had achieved a great deal, and on many things there was considerable agreement. He instanced the energy and determinism on International Debt, about Anglican relations with Islam which differ round the world, the importance of creative ministry to youth, and the vital challenges of mission and evangelism. "We are constantly called to be a missionary church proclaiming Christ until he comes again," he said.

While Archbishop Carey was very direct in his address, it was received in the spirit of openness that is characterising this meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council. Archbishop Carey and Bishop Holloway were observed warmly greeting each other after the presidential address concluded.