The conversation around the proposed Anglican Covenant appears to be surfacing two discernible streams: those who are in favor of its adoption rather immediately, and those who favor a cautious skeptical approach. Few if any are against a Covenant outright. Having reviewed the St. Andrew's draft of the proposed Covenant, I had originally concluded that it was pretty serviceable. I viewed the abundant appendices as perhaps a sly way of weighing the thing with such cumbersome processes of application that effectively it would be a moot exercise. I no longer hold to this position. As serviceable as it may be, the proposal is less about a covenant of relationship than it is about a description of a juridical process. I believe this renders the proposed covenant a detriment to the vitality of the Anglican Communion, and certainly to the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church.
