Two of the six ecumenical guests attending the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting here said that tension over defining the Anglican Communion are not unexpected, are similar to challenges they face and do not threaten their partnerships with Anglicans.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Eastern Synod Bishop Michael Pryse told reporters on May 9 that "the strains and stresses that you are experiencing in the communion" are not damaging to Anglicans' relationship with the Lutheran World Federation, which he represents.
"Most of us that are engaged ecumenically recognize that many of those issues are being experienced and struggled with right across the spectrum," he said. "This is not a debate that is particularly Anglican. All Christian communities are dealing with these issues. I think an honest recognition [of that] is something that we need.”
Orthodox Metropolitan Nikitas told reporters at the same briefing that "tension is not always bad," invoking the arguments in the Acts of the Apostles during which Peter and Paul initially differ on how to determine the ground rules for admitting Gentiles into the church. "It brought about results and answers to the questions of the church," he said.
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