Is the Church of England ‘splitting’?
For the last few weeks the news media have been full of stories about an impending ‘split’ in the Anglican Communion. Interest has focussed especially on the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) which took place in Jerusalem in the middle of June, on a follow-up meeting in London on July 1st and the Lambeth Conference which began on the 16th July. My wife and I participated in both the pilgrimage to Jerusalem as well as the conference in London so have firsthand experience of what is happening.
GAFCON is a response to a trend which has been affecting the Anglican Communion for over fifty years, but which came to a head with the consecration of a divorced priest in a homosexual relationship as Bishop of New Hampshire in the USA in 2003.
That trend may broadly be described as ‘theological Liberalism’. Liberal theology has in the past contributed much by way of thoughtful challenges and ideas. Without strong traditionalist foundations, teaching and leadership, however, the Church that builds on Liberalism soon finds it is resting on sand.
Asked in an interview with Time magazine whether belief in Jesus is “the only way to get to heaven,” the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the USA, Katharine Jefferts-Schori, answered, “We who practice the Christian tradition understand him as our vehicle to the divine.” Not only does this duck the question, but it reduces Jesus to some kind of spiritual ‘space shuttle’ to get you into God’s orbit — a far cry from the ‘true God of true God’ found in the Creed.
Another important feature of the new Liberalism is in the area of human sexuality, where there is growing acceptance of same-sex relationships. In North America, this has resulted in the blessing, and even the ordination, of many people in such relationships, quite contrary to the long traditions of the Church and to what the Bible has to say.
In 1998, the Lambeth Conference of bishops issued a statement which established the traditional, biblical, view of human sexuality as the ‘Anglican’ position. Since then, however, Anglicans in the USA and Canada, often supported by people in this country and other ‘Westernised’ parts of the Communion, have advanced an agenda to challenge this. Repeatedly there have been meetings at which bishops and Archbishops have agreed to ‘hold the line’, only for some of them to go home and do the exact opposite.
This is the reason I, and many other Anglican clergy, have felt ashamed of the image of our Church in the secular media. But not any more. Late last year, it became clear that many Archbishops and Bishops from around the world were deciding not to come to this year’s Lambeth Conference. Instead they would be meeting in Jerusalem to plan for a future within the Anglican Church based on a return to our biblical roots. You can read more on my personal blog http://stephensizer.blogspot.com
GAFCON came about partly to resist the spread of this extreme Liberalism and partly to provide a haven for those who were being forced out of the denomination. The growing number of Bishops and clergy associated with GAFCON are not leaving the Church of England or fermenting division. We are seeking to heal the long standing divisions by re-asserting biblical teaching and traditional Anglican values.
The Jerusalem Statement (www.gafcon.org) which was endorsed by the 1,200 international delegates attending, repeats what is found in our own Canon Law: “The doctrine of the Church is grounded in the Holy Scriptures and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular, such doctrine is to be found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal.”
Quite what GAFCON will mean for us here in England and in Virginia Water remains to be seen. Certainly, however, the Church of England will never quite be the same again. Those attending the conference in Jerusalem included 8 archbishops and 291 bishops. They represent the vast majority of Anglicans worldwide. In contrast, those attending Lambeth this month represent a shrinking minority.
In the very first article I wrote for Connection, over eleven years ago, I said that we held traditional views on the Christian faith and morality. We have not changed them and Christ Church continues to proclaim the living faith in Jesus Christ and teach the Christian faith as found in the Bible. God is honouring this. Attendance on Sunday mornings has more than doubled in the last eleven years. If you would like an accurate assessment of the issues visit www.anglican-mainstream.net or email me your questions. I would be pleased to meet up for coffee any time.
May the Lord bless you and those you love,
Stephen