Forward in Faith was grateful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the inauguration of the Lambeth Commission, which has now produced the Windsor Report 2004.  The Report is couched in eirenic terms and asks of all the Provinces of the Anglican Communion a degree of tolerance and forbearance which has not recently been in evidence. 

In practical terms, the Report does little to reassure those who fear that unilateral action by Provinces in matters of order, doctrine or morals is now unrestrainable. 

• It asks the innovators in the United States and Canada to apologise for their divisive actions, but gives no indication as to what form of apology would be deemed adequate. 
• It talks repeatedly of ‘communion’ but fails to make clear what are the minimum requirements for a relationship to be thus described. 
• It asks both sides in the present debate to desist, but it requires no one to withdraw, still less to repent. 

We very much doubt that this Report will add either to the stability of the Communion, or to its self-understanding as a worldwide partnership of provinces of the church catholic.

Geoffrey Kirk