Archbishop expresses concern over launch of new conservative group

[Episcopal News Service] The creation of a new conservative entity intended to offer oversight to Anglicans in England unwilling to accept their bishop's authority is cause for concern, according to a press release from Lambeth Palace, home to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
The "Anglican Mission in England" was launched in June by the conservative GAFCON Primates Council, which describes the new entity as "a society within the Church of England dedicated to the conversion of England and biblical church planting."
A "panel" of five bishops has been appointed "to provide effective oversight in collaboration with senior clergy." The panel consists of one serving bishop, Wallace Benn of Lewes, and four retired bishops: Michael Nazir-Ali, John Ball, Colin Bazley, and John Ellison.
Furthermore, three unnamed lay members of Church of England were ordained as deacons in Kenya in early June and are expected to serve the new entity.
"The desire of those who identify with the society is to have an effective structure which enables them to remain in the Church of England and work as closely as possible with its institutions," according to a GAFCON press release.
While the Lambeth press release welcomes the notion that the new initiative intends to remain faithful to the structures of the Church of England, it raises concerns about the lack of clarity in how the proposed panel of bishops might relate to the oversight of diocesan bishops. "Nor is there any definition of what the issues are that might be thought to justify appeal to such a panel rather than the use of normal procedures," it said.
The release said that the ordination of three English candidates to the diaconate in Kenya "with a view to service in England is problematic. It is not clear what process of recognized scrutiny and formation has taken place and how, in the absence of Letters Dimissory (the relevant formal letters from the sponsoring bishop), they have come to be recommended as candidates for ordination by the authorities of another province."
The archbishop of Canterbury has spoken with the archbishop of Kenya about the situation, the release said, noting that "it seems that there were misunderstandings of the precise requirements of English Canon Law and good practice as regards the recommendation of candidates for ordination and deployment in mission. It is hoped that an early opportunity will be found to clarify what this new initiative seeks to achieve if it is truly to serve God's mission in the most effective and collaborative way."