Learning From the Anglicans

The Church (sic) of England has elected a dame to be the “archbishop” of Canturbury. While some naïfs within the Anglican Communion have expressed shock and surprise (aren’t they adorable?), it’s not like we couldn’t see this Canturbury Tailspin into Dante’s concentric circles of infernal excrement coming.

As I wrote back in April:

The Anglican communion started with women “deacons.” Only then, women “priests.” And only much later, women “bishops.” The key is to get on the onramp as easily as possible. At a certain point, people just get used to it, and they don’t even notice anymore. Then it is time to take the next step.

I know it’s rude to say, “I told you so,” so I’ll be a proper Southern gentleman and say, “I told y’all so.” But it’s not that I’m particularly prescient. Even the Rev. Charles Portfield Krauth, whose been dead since ’83 (1883, that is), saw how such a dumpster fire could happen. He wrote about this very process back in 1871.

But lest we get too uppity because we’re in the LCMS, let’s not forget that the Atlantic District (which indeed touches upon the saltwater - stereotypes are earned, not given, as the kids say - has been training and recognizing women “deacons” for a long time - and publishing pictures of them in their vestments. As I wrote back in 2014, “Women in albs, cinctures, and stoles appear to be clergy.” And indeed, in a bodacious attempt to shift the Overton Window, back in 2010 (and still online as of 2012), the Atlantic District explained the role of these albed and stoled deaconettes:

4.3 Members of the district diaconate shall neither preside at the Holy Eucharist nor exercise the Office of the Keys. In the absence of an ordained pastor and with approval of the pastor and congregation, the deacon may serve at the divine service including the communion liturgy using reserved sacrament. This practice should be used sparingly so as to not confuse the “Office of Deacon” and the “Office of Pastor.” The deacon may officiate at funerals under the direction of a supervising pastor. The deacon may proclaim the Gospel in formal and informal settings after he/she has received training in homiletics and while remaining under the supervision of an ordained pastor.

I can’t find this online anywhere today. Maybe the policy has changed. I hope so. The best construction is that it has. But a public acknowledgement (and explanation ) of such a change would be far better than simply disappearing the document down an Orwellian memory hole.

One would have to be naïve indeed not to see how the progressive minority in the LCMS - or in any conservative institution - operates. Slow and steady wins the race. For the trajectory of the Anglican Communion is indeed a “roadmap to the full inclusion of women.”