August 2, 2007  Geographical Reality  In response to my previous
post, Rick Allen has left a thoughtful comment which I think
deserves a more prominent response. He asks  Why [is]
discipline...appropriate at the diocesan and provincial levels,
but not at the level of the communion. What is it about the unit
of the "Nation" that should make it independent of the norms of
the whole, and be immune from types of uniformity which the
provinces are competent to legislate for their dioceses?  This
question conveniently refocuses us on the whole issue of the
distinction between "what is" and "what [some think] ought to
be." The present fact is that in the Anglican Communion the
highest judicatory or basic unit is the province (or to use the
old and somewhat inaccurate language, "national or particular
church." This is inaccurate to the extent that some churches,
such as TEC still have some international jurisdiction as the
result of missionary or colonial history.)  This principle is
actually quite traditional, and w