Lambeth Conference to create a ‘Pastoral Forum’

It cannot have escaped your attention that the Bishops of the Anglican Church are meeting in Kent for a once in a decade – Lambeth Conference. Nor can it have escaped your notice that the church is in danger of schism as a result! But who are the contestants in this bout for ecclesiastical domination?

In the pink corner we have the liberal ‘innovators’. These people favour forcing the toothpaste out of the tube -in the hope that was is done cannot be undone. Deliberate meddlers in church teaching, they previously broke all rules in order to ordain women. They did this with no permission in the 1970′s and the church has been fractured ever since. Now they have broken the rules once more in order to ‘bless’ and ordain practicing homosexuals. It would be under emphasising the point to state it is causing a bit of a tizz in the process. The innovators demand a fully inclusive church in accordance with their own thinking (which by co-incidence is backed up by God who is apparently revealing everything via his Holy Spirirt- I say the Holy Spirit is revealing to me that readers of this blog should send me a bottle of gin!!) It is odd but despite calling themselves ‘fully inclusive’ there exists no room in their version of church for those who disagree with them! (as we saw at Synod)

These people will not be held back by trifling inconveniences such as the clear teaching of scripture, church unity or tradition. Their pin up is Gene Robinson, who left his wife and children and recently entered a civil partnership with a male lover. It was then he was made a Bishop much to the anger of the wider communion. Although not invited to Lambeth he has turned up anyway. Despite being small in number and fast declining – the American Anglicans have lots of Bishops – thus they are (arguably) over represented at the conference and have much clout.

In the blue corner are the evangelicals. Despite doing next to nothing when women were illegaly ordained – the ‘evos’ are now hopping mad! Nothing gets them going like a bit of gay sex it seems! So when the Americans refused to honour their promises and continued with their innovative programme of inclusion – the evangelicals acted with strength and haste. They set up a seperate conference in Jerusalem and have laid down a gauntlet to Canterbury- sort out the mess or else!! One tiny problem is that by not turning up- they are unable to influence proceedings – so we might conclude they have already given up hope and decided to walk apart. Their pin ups are our Rochester’s very own +Michael Nazir Ali and +Jensen of Australia. The evangelicals have the support of most African leaders and represent vast numbers of people.

So where are the Anglo-Catholics you might ask? (In danger of slipping down the middle un-noticed we reply!) Well doctrinally we have thrown our lot in with the evangelicals-for we deplore any decision that contravenes scripture, church teaching and tradition. We further deplore anything that hampers unity with Rome (Roman Catholics) and Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox). However we would not encourage losing perspective and getting too het up over just one sin. We question why some are making such a fuss over ‘homosexuality’ whilst doing nothing about women priests and abortion for instance? One cannot pick and choose faithfulness! This ‘issue’ is only one symptom of a much deeper malaise. That the Anglican Church is in moral and spiritual meltdown. It does not know what it is nor from where its authority should come.

So where are things currently? Well after racking up a mind blowing £2million of debt (can you believe no one bothered to ask who who is paying for Lambeth? – That will be the quota up again!) the Conference has just released something to hold the church together and avoid Schism. Drum roll please………..

…the answer is another confusing report and committee! No really!! You could not invent it! How depressing. In essence we are to trust in a ‘new Pastoral Forum’. This will ban naughty Americans from blessing further ‘gay unions’ and it will also ban naughty African bishops from striding into America and offering care to traditional Christians who are feeling outraged by their own church. So everything is fine then……….or is it?!

Forgive me. I REALLY want this to work. But the creation of another stupid ‘thing’- be it committee, body, legislative group, document or whatever- is not going to change anything. The blessing of gay unions has already been banned and the American liberals just ignore it in any case. So why should they behave differently this time?

Unless Anglicans go back to basics and once and for all agree on where authority lies – then we remain deeply divided and heading for terminal decline. Canterbury MUST declare how decisions are to be made. Either we are a new emerging liberal sect- able to do what we want- when we want – adding to the faith we have received. Or else we are part of the one true Apostolic faith. Called to obey tradition and church teaching. In which case scripture and tradition is not to be toyed with.

And if we do wisely choose to abide by scripture, reason and tradition then it is not just the blessing of gay unions- but the ordaining of women too – which should be stopped with immediate effect. We must return with purpose to a church that is recognisably orthodox. Anything less will only paper over deep and alraming cracks in the fabric of the church. If we opt to further ‘fudge’ the issues then the slow train wreck that we are witnessing will continue apace. Many will be hurt- and we will thwart the progress of Apostolic Faith in the Westrern World.

The Anglican church CAN be saved from the brink of destruction. But only by brave, firm, principled action. And does anyone really think that is going to emerge….

Dear Lord, Help the broken Church in which we serve. Only a miracle of grace can save it now. But you are the God of miracles and the Lord of Resurrection! Help our Bishops to be brave enough to admit past errors and to see false teaching for what it is. Hlep us all to return to One true Faith that comes to us from the Apostles. We pray especially for those faithful Christians whom the church is continually hurting by its endorsment of secular thinking and wanton acts of innovation. Be with us as we face an uncertain future together and lead us, with joy, to a place of safety and truth. Amen