Already the impact of the Pope’s decision, to reach out to Catholic Anglicans and offer them sanctuary within an Ordinariate, is having an effect at ground level. As I speak with my congregation I am increasingly aware that many are a little pensive and unsettled as they come to realise that S. Barnabas is precisely the sort of parish this offer is aimed at. Momentous revolutionary things are happening at a level far beyond the parish- but it is precisely here, at the coal face, that decisions will need to be made.
We stand at a crossroads then at which doing nothing is not an option. How can we claim to be Catholic and yet refuse Rome’s offer to live out our faith within an Ordinariate which is grounded in Catholic truth? And how can we claim to be Anglican if we only ever look to Catholic teaching and are no longer able to affirm the innovations of General Synod? It really is the mother of all problems!
In the past being Anglican and Catholic was not only possible, it was easy. After all our Church had retained the three fold order of Bishop, priest and deacon following the Reformation and it promoted a biblical orthodoxy and faith in the sacrament. But over the last half Century, as the National Church has evolved into a more innovative and theologically liberal body, the tension for Catholics has grown insurmountable.
Today being Anglican and Catholic is a contradiction in terms. Since holy orders have been tampered with, and the bible ignored on so many issues, Anglo-Catholics are increasingly becoming objects of derision and obstacles to change. Our adherence to Catholic teaching, coupled with a refusal to accept Synod’s ability to proclaim infallible truth, sees us castigated as awkward and compromised in our ability to function. Hence the Pope’s decision to offer us space in which to flourish according to the teaching of the RC Church which we already (largely) espouse from our pulpits.
So do we opt to be truly Catholic and move away from a Church that increasingly suppresses us? Or do we reject the offer of Exodus and move more in line with the Anglican Church? I think this option necessarily demands that we start to accept the decisions, practices and teaching of its Synod. Those really are the only options before us that contain true integrity. If we want to proclaim the teaching of Rome we must accept her offer of hope. If we wish to deny the offer of Rome it would be bizarre to then continue teaching her creeds from our pulpits. That is unless proper structural provision, similar to that which the Holy Father is offering, is created for that expressed purpose.
It is time then, as they say, for both the C of E and Anglo-Catholics to ‘put up or shut up’ . And whatever comes to pass is going to involve a lot of change. But whilst we ponder these things, in our parishes and as individuals, we must ensure that we remain united in love. We must not grow bitter or resentful towards either the Church of England or the Church of Rome. We must simply strive to discern where God is really calling us and what is the best scenario for Christians who believe what we do.
There will be some who are champing at the bit to join the Ordinariate, others will be wanting to remain with Canterbury. That is inevitable. And in each group will be found good, sincere and holy people. Furthermore between these decided minds will be a great swathe of undecided who need time to pause and reflect. Time to listen and think. During this time of prayer and contemplation let us at least pledge to support one another, regardless of views, as we seek to proclaim-together-the Gospel of Christ. Finally I ask those who may not be affected by this offer to pray for those who are.
Well said, Fr Ed. There have been too many rushes to judgment in blogs and other statements. This is a time above all for prayer, and for talking among friends. Thanks.
Well I will pray for you all at this time. There is a great deal of pressure on the Church of England and sometimes it is helpful to put one’s point of view forcefully, and then, to stand. All information from the Covenant and the Review Committee seems to have been closed down at the moment, you can hear a pin drop. Who will blink first do you think? One thing I can tell you, bolting for the door will be seen with glee by some unfriendly eyes. Time for the Church of England to behave like Christians. I would love to be a fly on the wall in Rome next week as the ABC meets up with the Pope.
And at the end of the day it seems to me that St Barnabas is doing a wonderful job of being something the church can be proud of. What could be better?
God bless.
Thinking of you and your church at this crossroads. Has the C of E clarified where churches stand in terms of buildings and facilities? Surely this is the major stumbling block.
As an Anglo Catholic myself, I can say that it does not take too much discernment to see where God is calling us. God calls us towards TRUTH not opinions or anti-orthodox views. Again, it doesn’t take alot of prayer when truth is in plain sight. What it takes is courage and faith to make the move. To try to convince oneself to stay and fight is an “excuse” to NOT walk by faith and enter the Ark of Peter!
Timotheus
I think there was a real opportunity for Anglo Catholics to come together collectively, draw breath and ask the question: what are we for and is there any way we can unite before taking decisions regarding the Anglican and Roman Catholic “offers”? I see that the TAC is now preparing to move on so I think the chance has probably been and gone. A pity because there is now just a choice between Canterbury and Rome and the certainty of a rather saddening split in our ranks.
Timotheus – your words are wise!
IanG- I hear what you say brother and applaud your desire for us to hold together. The trouble is we have asked the house of bishops & synod, again and again and again, for a way to hold together. We have been ignored and treated shoddily.
Now the Pope offers exactly what Synod proclaimed impossible. To ignore a trustworthy offer of sanctuary within an authentically Catholic body -in favour of hoping with fingers crossed from the margins of a secularised church that no longer wants us and is even lobbying parliament to dismiss us on quality grounds is, in my opinion, a no brainer. Perhaps ALL Anglo-Catholics SHOULD hold together by accepting together a new and vibrant future?
That said I am committed to a process of reflection and am willing to listen to all sides and the response of the C of E. That response has thus far been feeble if not totally lacking, save a grumbling at Rome’s tactics and a feeble sermon from an Archbishop admiting we face chaos and uncertainty.- Sheesh that made me want to stay!!
Fr Ed, on some levels I can understand your enthusiasm for the Roman proposal, but a reality check is badly needed. You keep telling us that the Pope has “reached out in love”, which he may well have done, but this rhetoric ignores the potential pitfalls, of which there are many.
The RC Church which you are urging your congregation and others to join is the most conservative and reactionary in living memory. Much has been made of the ordinariates being allowed to retain some sort of Anglican “identity”, but they will also be enclosures in which other Anglican habits (such as married clergy) are kept at arm’s length from the wider RC Church.
Once there, former Anglicans will be subject to the same discipline as other Roman Catholics. Will there be any role for lay people in the new structure? I doubt it.
Rome’s tactics in introducing these new structures have been pretty shoddy, but the Archbishop of Canterbury is in good company – the Roman Catholic bishops were not consulted either.
Rod, had the Pope consulted the ABC and his own bishops, nothing would have happened and he would of course be aware of that fact. It seems clear that he intervened personally to ensure that this initiative was not discussed inconclusively for decades, an outcome that might have suited all parties perfectly except, of course, the people who actually needed an urgent decision.