I'm not Anglican, but it has been instructive to see how the battle between liberals and conservatives has played out in the Anglican church. Previously, I reported how an African Bishop had been assaulted by English clergy (bureaucrats) for refusing to support sexually active gay bishops. Today brings a report of exposed secret plans for controlling upcoming meetings. Who are the 'good guys' here, again? Christians are to look at the means, not just the purported ends.

Conservative Birmingham theologian Rev. Paul Zahl was attenting a typical Inter-Anglican Doctrine Commission meeting in Virginia recently, when someone unexpectedly handed him a set of documents, which he takes back to his hotel room to read.

Rev. Zahl discovers they have been prepared by the church bureaucrats who organize meetings on behalf of top Anglican leader Archibishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, and are adressed to him. The documents outline a secret plan for denying conservative bishops a voice in upcoming meetings: they must not be allowed to raise the issue of the appointment of active gay bishops. They contain a detailed schedule outlining how to choriograph the meetings: a 'blow-by-blow' plan broken down into fifteen minute intervals, to block conservative Bishops from calling for deliberation or decision-making.

The authors of the document stress to the Archbishop that it would be "disasterous" to allow conservative Anglicans to withhold money and obedience from liberal dioceses, as their conscience might dictate.

Soon, the man who handed him the document called Rev. Zahl back, saying a mistake had been made, urging him to return the documents. Zahl complied.

Zahl said "It was like out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie," and said he hoped Rowan Williams would be above such manipulation. He has also alterted conservative third-world bishops about these "tricks of manipulation" which have been planned for the meetings.

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.