William F. Hammond has shared his thoughts on the Summary of the Law and the proposed Anglican Covenant. Bill is a frequent contributor to this blog, and is the very capable webmaster for Albany Via Media. He sees Jesus' summary of the Law as central to our faith relationships, as does Bishop Love, whom he quotes. Shouldn't any covenant that proposes to regulate the relationship of our churches to one another also reflect Jesus' command? Bill offers this:
In an early February comment at Openly Episcopal in Albany I raised several issues concerning the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant. One of those issues is that the proposed covenant seems to be blind to the importance of the Summary of the Law for Christian ethics.
The importance of the Summary of the Law in our lives was raised this past winter by Bishop William H. Love in his sermon on the occasion when a new rector, the Rev. Nixon McMillan, was installed at St. Paul's Albany. We are fortunate that much of the material from Bishop Love's sermon at St. Paul's was reprised in a parish leadership presentation that is found in the February/March 2010 issue of The Albany Episcopalian.
He writes:
In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus states, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Mt. 22:40) To put it simply, the vast majority of everything we read in Holy Scripture focuses on and is centered around these two commands – Love God with all that we are and all that we have and second, Love our Neighbor as our self. If we can learn to be obedient in living out these two commandments, NOT SUGGESTIONS or NICE IDEAS, but commands from the One in whom “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given,” we will, in essence, be fulfilling all the commandments.
If there is to be an Anglican covenant document, it is important that the Summary of the Law be given explicit attention in it.
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