See Anglican Covenant (Ridley draft)
      My comments are in [bracketted dark green] below.

[Initial statement: This Covenant

• is a type of "loyalty oath" or "litmus test", with pressure for everyone to sign and to affirm. These devices are usually intended to exclude specific groups, and such is the case here: N.T. Wright, in his commentary, explicitly states that this Covenant is entirely aimed at The Episcopal Church. It has been crafted as a statement of faith that the liberal members of The Episcopal Church will not wish or choose to affirm. I believe that loyalty oaths must always be rejected, even by those who completely agree with them. Loyalty oaths can be changed, and those signing on give up much of their power and autonomy. They stifle discussion and are intended to silence dissent.
• seeks to limit and exclude members, instead of following the Anglican tradition of inclusion, exemplified by Elizabeth I's drawing as large a circle as possible to include worshipers.
• claims to preserve autonomy, but Anglican Communion members could only retain true autonomy by leaving the Anglican Communion.
• is narrowly focused toward a very conservative view of Christianity and of Anglicanism. Anyone who doesn't believe every word of the several creeds, in exactly the form they are stated, will be excluded.
• rejects the amazing degree of diversity within the Anglican Communion, as well as diversity within individual provinces and even individual parish churches.
• tries to cover all possible points, and in doing so becomes legalistic and boring. It is just plain boring.
• has a section (3.2.5, see below), that is vague and general, and that can be used to exclude and censure any group at all, although the section is designed for use against the liberals of The Episcopal Church.
• gives total power to the Joint Standing Committee. It would end the autonomy of members of the Anglican Communion. Such power as this practically invites abuse.]

3.2 ... each church ... commits itself:
(3.2.5) to act with diligence, care and caution in respect of any action which may provoke controversy, which by its intensity, substance or extent could threaten the unity of the Communion and the effectiveness or credibility of its mission. [This statement is vague and general. It could be applied to almost any situation. It is clearly aimed at The Episcopal Church, but it could be used to enforce any policy at all. Terrible and disastrous laws are sometimes written in this vague way, and the result is selective unfair enforcement. This is usually the intent.]

(4.2.1) The Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and of the Primates' Meeting, or any body that succeeds it, shall have the duty of overseeing the functioning of the Covenant in the life of the Anglican Communion. The Joint Standing Committee may nominate or appoint another committee or commission to assist in carrying out this function and to advise it on questions relating to the Covenant. [The Joint Standing Committee is all-powerful. Notice that it may appoint anyone it likes, and it may be succeeded by any group at all. Sections 4.2.2 through 4.2.5 further reinforce the total power of this committee.]

(4.2.3) If a Church refuses to defer a controversial action, the Joint Standing Committee may recommend to any Instrument of Communion relational consequences which specify a provisional limitation of participation in, or suspension from, that Instrument until the completion of the process set out below. [Notice that if a church "refuses to defer a controversial action", which could be anything at all that the Joint Standing Committee agrees on and objects to, the penalties of limitation or suspension are immediately imposed.]

(4.2.4) On the basis of advice received from the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates' Meeting, the Joint Standing Committee may make a declaration concerning an action or decision of a covenanting Church that such an action or decision is or would be "incompatible with the Covenant". [Again, the Joint Standing Committee is doing everyting on its own.]

(4.2.5) On the basis of the advice received, the Joint Standing Committee may make recommendations as to relational consequences to the Churches of the Anglican Communion or to the Instruments of the Communion. These recommendations may address the extent to which the decision of any covenanting Church to continue with an action or decision which has been found to be "incompatible with the Covenant" impairs or limits the communion between that Church and the other Churches of the Communion. It may recommend whether such action or decision should have a consequence for participation in the life of the Communion and its Instruments. It shall be for each Church and each Instrument to determine its own response to such recommendations. [This refers to "recommendations" made by the Joint Standing Committee, but there is no appeal mechanism except to the same Joint Standing Committee. Any portion of the Anglican Communion that adheres to the Covenant and wishes to remain that way would be totally subject to the Joint Standing Committee.
      The Covenant does not seem to say, but these recommendations may be to the Anglican Consultive Council, which might make the final decision. Notice that the penalties of limitation or suspension have already been imposed at this point.]

(4.2.7) Participation in the processes set out in this section shall be limited to those members of the Instruments of Communion who are representatives of those churches who have adopted the Covenant, or who are still in the process of adoption. [A "bandwagon" provision -- only those who agree to these onerous rules may participate.]