Learning 2 new cultures

A few things recently have reminded me that I am living in 2 new cultures here – Rwandan and Episcopalian. We are learners in both and it often seems as if Rwanda is more understandable than the workings of the Anglican communion.
This is especially true of the ongoing, high-profile and increasingly acrimonious dispute between the African episcopalians and their American counterparts. It centres on the ordination of openly homosexual priests and bishops, but there are a number of other issues lurking just below the surface. Self-interest is just behind theology in some of the discussions I have heard.
To our shame, Presbyterians know a lot about church schism. lt is one of the hallmarks of the Scottish branch of the church and indeed our most recent split is less than 10 years old and was still quite acrimonious when we left the UK 1 year ago. One of the things which impressed me about our first contacts with the Church of England was its ability to maintain unity in diversity. CMS, the mission organisation we are with, certainly shows a generosity of spirit in the people it “sends” as missionaries and in the work it supports. The “charism of a big heart”, a phrase I once heard used to describe the Church of Scotland, describes it well.
It is particularly disappointing now to find that the wider communion is in such serious difficulties over this very issue of unity, which initially appeared to be its greatest strength. It feels as if we have come to live with a family which is bitterly feuding with its American cousins, while the grandmother in England tries vainly to patch up the quarrel. I’m a guest here on 2 counts, and will therefore refrain from detailed comment, but words and actions on both sides appear to be extremely provocative. While we learn the culture of episcopalianism, we definitely treat this as a “no-go” area.