First Take on the Covenant Partnership

To their credit, the latest formation of a conservative episcopal faction in TEC seems to abhor schism as a means to maintaining a firm hold on the substance of the faith: thus their otherwise curious elevation of the Anglican Communion's sundry offices to ecclesial status. Only with such status would there be something these dioceses and their bishops could be part of which would make leaving TEC something other than an act of schism.

That may seem to imply they maintain a unity with the rest of TEC without the spirit of unity, or a unity merely pro forma. Maybe, but even such a thin unity would mean something, and even such a--to my mind--strained attempt to leave separation open while avoiding schism is a positive step.

Isn't there some way to build a more perfect, spiritual unity on that positive basis?