The closest we might come is the 'Anglican Covenant' proposal which came out of Canterbury in around 2008. Provinces around the world are debating and deciding on the matter now. If passes it could be quite a new development that forced each Province to be accountable to all the others!
Interesting points, Mark, I do think we should concentrate on that which we have in common and move forward, which I think is part of what Sean is saying. However, I fear the worst is yet to come, if the recent GC is any indication of what the future might hold. I think we must fight for orthodoxy, which I see as a defense of the Gospel.
Mark, I wanted to come back to the issue of the 'Anglican Covenant'. The 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church has now voted no on it. I think you are right. I doubt a Covenant will happen given the diversity within TEC. Here are links if anyone is interested in reading about the Anglican Covenant and TEC's rejection of it. Deputies/Bishops vote no decision on Anglican Covenant The Anglican Communion Covenant An Anglican Covenant (some background)
Does anyone think that the Covenant process is anything but a dead issue? The Convention had the decency not to put it to a vote. In the Church of England recently, parishes voted, with a majority of parishes voting against.
Mark, I think a Communion wide adoption of the Anglican Covenant is probably not going to happen, at least not in the foreseeable future. Ireland, Mexico, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, South East Asia, Southern Cone of America, and the West Indies have approved or subscribed to the Anglican Covenant. The adoption by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa is pending ratification at its next synod meeting. The Church in Wales sent questions to the Anglican Consultative Council, but fears the rejection by the Church of England has jeopardized the Covenant's future. The Church of England, the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and Episcopal Church in the Philippines will not adopt the Covenant. The Episcopal Church voted to “decline to take a position on the Anglican Covenant.” Ironically, they voted to continue to monitor the progress of the Covenant, until the 2015 General Convention. Yet, they phased out funding for the Episcopal Church staff position for Anglican Communion affairs. Source for all the above: Responses to Episcopal Church non-position on Anglican Covenant AND No Anglican Covenant: Anglicans for Comprehensive Unity
Indeed, the closest thing we might have came to was the Covenant, but it is pretty much dead in the water. However, if we can bring our prayer books "closer" or a bit more "universal," then I think we would have greater unity. It is an idea.
Sean, Yes, I would say the Covenant is "dead in the water." It will be interesting to see what happens in the Church of England (voted against the Covenant) in the next few years. The Archbishop of Canterbury will face a huge job with the troubled Communion; and there are British religious and political issues to consider. The Queen's role as head of the Church of England is being questioned: Queen's role as head of Church of England 'may no longer be appropriate' The British Prime Minister is now calling for same-sex marriage: British PM reiterates call for same-sex marriage, scolds churches that ‘lock out’ gay members