The reason I am still an Anglican, despite believing the Church of England has lost its faith, is that I made a pledge to stay and fight alongsid orthodox, bible believing Christians some years ago. I do not, you see, believe in ‘escape’- to simply convert to another church for myself is no option. Why? Because I am a priest with people to pastor to and I refuse to abandon my flock when the wolves are calling!
Thus for some years I have stayed within the C of E, despite grave misgivings about its synodical process, praying that God would provide hope and opportunity for those Anglo-Catholics who uphold the teaching of the ages. In short I prayed, not for escape but for exodus. The chance to move, with my people and my brother priests, to new and safer pastures where we may serve the Lord with integrity, according to Catholic doctrine and without risk of persecution and attack. And, if possible, with the building. Not because I care about fabric but because the British are fiercely loyal to their places of worship!
Please note this prayer for salvation came despite a genuine love the Church of England. I weep when I consider how it has been so drastically changed in recent years. But changed it has been and not for the better. Each passing year it seems increasingly alien, a permissive church that panders to secularisation, tolerating almost anything except, perversely, orthodox biblical teaching! Only this week the Swedish Anglicans ‘voted’ to allow gay weddings…once I would have gasped, now I just shrug my shoulders in resignation.
Last July was the turning point for me. The General Synod made it abundantly clear that we Catholics were not only unwanted but also unloved. I saw with clarity that the long term future for Anglo-Catholics was extremely bleak. Those who oppose us believe it is a politically correct ‘justice issue’ that we should not be appeased. Hence the over whelming lack of desire to provide the structural solution that we Catholics have consistently and patiently explained that we need in order to survive. The sort of structure which the Pope in love is now offering. A structure the Synod, in seeming hatred, refuses to give.
Which leaves me in a funny place tonight. I will still never go for the ‘escape’ clause (despite what some papers might claim!) Indeed I promise my congregation what I have always promised- that we are in this TOGETHER. We must all prayerfully consider our future and sensitively listen to everybody’s hopes and fears. One thing is certain, we have time to ponder, and that can only be a good thing. Nothing will happen in a hurry!
So let me clearly state: for as long as they need me I am their priest and will remain so. However, a genuine opportunity for exodus now lies before us. God’s vicar on earth has reached out to us and we must surely respond accordingly.
Thus in my sermon tomorrow I will call on the congregation of S. Barnabas to enter a period of prayer and fasting. Vigils will be held. Opportunity for discussion will be made. We will move slowly and sensibly and we will wait for the Holy Spirit to lead. Much remains obscured for now. Much is yet to be revealed. But we cannot pretend that what happened this week does not have far reaching consequences for each and every one of us. If synod cannot deliver, and having broken promises how can we ever trust their word even if they DO offer something, then we must consider all the other possibilities that lie before us.
Some claim my mind is made up. It is! Not to stay or go, mind you, merely to take this consideration as seriously as possible and to err on the side of those who uphold orthodox faith and do not undermine it.
If God really IS calling us to an exodus moment, we must be ready to respond.
“Only this week the Swedish Anglicans ‘voted’ to allow gay weddings…once I would have gasped, now I just shrug my shoulders in resignation.”
I will put this down to ignorance, rather than a deliberate untruth. The Church of Sweden is not Anglican. It is Lutheran. It is not a member of the Anglican Communion.
Sorry that was ignorance! However it IS precisely the sort of thing that HAS been going on in the C of E as well….so the point stands!
Funny how, listening to the pods and now reading the blogs, the goal posts are moving. Are bluffs being called? Is it just me who’s tired of this incessant bleating and change of face?
Come on in – it’s wonderful! You’ll never look back. I don’t. And I loved the CofE too. I had to love her and leave her. Best decision I ever made.
You should too. You won’t regret it.
Found your blog as a result of the BBC quote from ‘funerals’ post. I’m greatly enjoying it and it’s giving me a real insight into a different part of the Church from the one in which I worship. Please keep it up.
Today in our Anglo Catholic church we celebrated Bible Sunday by pledging anew to the Holy Word of God and thanking God for the anglican church in which we are free to serve and evangelise in our parishes Of course the C/E is far from perfect (after all we are all sinners) and neither is the RC church the eutopia you imagine. I have to say I am getting fed up the way you constantly denegrate the C/E in your blog although I admire you for tackling important issues Stay with the faith and dont get side tracked the grass is not greener on the other side of the hill
I’m so sorry about my above comment, I didn’t mention “ignorance” in terms of any errors in your article, I meant ignorance from church leaders, who guide their churches into sinful and unbiblical ways. I wish I could view church leaders as ignorant of Biblical truth, but I am far too cynical.
I miss-read the comments.
Sorry for confusion and hope I didn’t cause offense.
It is desperately sad that the C of E are now so tolerant towards post-modern demands which are in stark and open contradiction to scripture. Diversity is a by-word for accepting all people and practices, regardless of whether or not they are pleasing to God. It is encouraging that moral truth is being protected by the Catholic Church, although for many Christians, there are doctrinal aspects of this faith which overtly contradict the teachings of Jesus. Reformed Protestant churches with Conservative moral values are possibly closest to the simple and accessible faith that Jesus left with us. Theological freedom is essential to unity, but appears to have given rise to moral freedom – the two should be mutually exclusive.
in a mad and hectic week I GENUINLY had missed the point. I retract it and apologise.
I wanted to post my thoughts on your sermon, but comments are turned off on this article – is this going to be permanent?
Great to read your blog on all this Ed. Has the moment of truth now arrived… Are we Anglo-catholics really serious about being Catholics? Or has the whole thing simply been a fancy dress parade, literally and figuratively?! A time of waiting indeed, but how today’s psalm at Mass rang true with the times!
As a “Roman” Catholic who lives in Argentina, I promise to keep you and your whole parish in my poor prayers.
I’m really confused… we have longed for this offer, prayed for it, worked for it and ached over it.
Now we have it.. we are actually debating about whether to take it. If we want to be catholic Christians in the fullest sense, we must take it now for this offer will never appear again.
Exactly Mark. Well said.