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Christianity Today, July (Web-Only), 2008 |

Dispatch from Lambeth

Crackup of Anglican Communion at Hand, Evangelical Bishops Say

Gloomy assessment comes from two leading Anglicans at Lambeth.

Timothy C. Morgan | posted 7/21/2008 09:26AM

Editor's note: If you are following the now-labeled "Summer of Schism" among global Anglicans, the well-known George Conger, occasional correspondent for Christianity Today, offers the assessment below ...

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Lydia

Posted: July 24, 2008 5:21 AM

Conservatives, fundamentalists, evangelicals, I can call myself any or all of these or none. They are a means of identifying what theology one follows. What is more important than this process of identification is the witness of those who call themselves Christian within this Church. The 39 articles are a good staring point for learning what is required of a bible believing Christian. Putting into action the teaching of the founder of our faith (The Lord Jesus Christ Under the headship of God the Father) is much more important than whether I am fundamentalist or conservative. We should be praying that the Church as a whole will once more turn back to a faith once delivered and practised. We should not be re interpreting scripture to fit our current life styles, but reinterpreting our lives in the light of the Gospel of Christ. The conservative Bishops must be allowed to say and do what they believe is right in the light of Scripture.

kilty

Posted: July 23, 2008 5:50 PM


People seem to speak of actions and reactions of The Episcopal Church who haven't a clue as to what it truly is. It is a church for those who can think. kiltyone@dslextreme.com

JR	Posted: July 23, 2008 10:50 AM


It seems as though some think the Word has changed or evolved, because society has. If we can't or won't follow the requirements set forth in Scripture, why attempt to be a part of the body. Why not join the Psuedo Evangelicals. If you decided to join any other organization, you wouldn't join and then try to recreate their rules; would you?

Ralph Gaily

Posted: July 22, 2008 3:05 PM


Hebrews 12:22-29...... !!

John	Posted: July 22, 2008 11:49 AM

The imminent "crack-up" of the Anglican Communion has been predicted more times than the Second Coming, and yet it has yet to occur. And I doubt it will here. The Anglican Communion has always had a wide diversity of theology and practices, from practically Catholics to practically Unitarians to practically Baptists, with all the shades in between. And yet it has worked now for 400 years, and I predict will continue just fine after Lambeth this Summer.

Terry L. Brown

Posted: July 22, 2008 10:42 AM

That the Anglican church is on the edge of schism is no surprise. What is surprising is that it has taken so long for the schism to reach fruition. When the authority of the written Word of God - the Bible - was superseded by feminist cultural pressures beginning 40 years ago to ordain women as pastors and authorities over men - in direct violation of Scripture - it was only a matter of time before other "offensive" teachings would be superseded. Concerning the comment about some being bibliolatrous, I don't worship a book. I do worship the Author of the Book. It was He who said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). When the traditions of man become the doctrines of God - as Jesus condemned the religious leaders of His day of (Matthew 15:3) - false beliefs will inevitably be embraced.

Coram Deo

Posted: July 22, 2008 8:37 AM


Re: Anonymous If Gene Robinson did take the Bible "very very seriously" then he would repent and believe it.

Caritas

Posted: July 22, 2008 12:51 AM


This is certainly not pleasant or welcome news, however it is a reasonably factual report by CT as opposed to the op-eds that are passed off as news. As to the Lambeth events the rule seem to be, 'do as you wish no matter how outrageous, repugnant, or heretical, just do it within the communion, and never ever criticise.'

Yard[D]og

Posted: July 21, 2008 10:50 PM

It is time for to let those Bishops go. Let them go there way. While the Spirit is moving the church, a few of them, because of their cultural or theological training remain in the past with misguided Biblical interpretations and attempts to discover what folks 2000 years ago meant by this word or that. Just let them go ... but they can not take with them the dreams and visions of the Episcopalians long gone or those who wish to welcome all of God's creation into His every changing and evolving creation. I am sick to death of listening to them. Years ago it was said that we could argue in the pews but when we came to the communion rail, we were one in the Body of Christ. That is no longer true. A few have chosen to reject the Body ... the very people that our Lord would have embraced are the ones this group of bishops will go so far as to once again as to split the Body. It is them, not us ordinary sinners who will have to answer for their actions.

Bookworm-at-Large

Posted: July 21, 2008 7:45 PM

Seems that the Conseervatives are playing Fundamentalists. Yes, there are many problems within the Anglican Communion. However, imminant division is not going to happen. Granted many Conservatives would love to see it happen but they will be disappointed. To play on a phrase from an old cigarette commercial, some people would rather "fight and switch." Church history has shown that divisions often become as "liberal" as the movements they left or they simply dissolve. This group is just as likely to compromise as its theological predecessors. This side of the second coming, there will be no perfect church . . . at least as long as I am a member.

T.	Posted: July 21, 2008 6:40 PM

The schism in CoE sees 2 church trends, namely "making love" and "war": especially a civil war in the ranks and it is mainly about making love. Now the one creature responsible for making love and war is the Whore-of-Babylon, an ancient goddess who is the enemy of Christ. Why has the modern church left sexual righteousness behind and left peace behind? It is overcome with the goddess on every side. It is wretched with false righteousness at every angle and on all sides. On one side are those who make an issue of their sexuality rather than commitment to the righteousness of Christ; while on the other side are those are committed to war against those who are sexual and so need a special doctor, namely the love of Christ. No one can win in such an impasse. The goddess Athena is represented as a warrior and is feminine and is a goddess of love and war and earthly wisdom. Such a mix results in war. Even the type of civility preached by Rowan Williams is Athenian rather than Christian.

Francis

Posted: July 21, 2008 4:10 PM

I think the problem lies in two perceptions of the way doctrine is preserved in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Those who perceive the church as the pillar and base of the truth, the veritable body of Christ, see the church, not the Bible, as the custodian of doctrine. The Protestant wing, adhering to the book as if Christ had said "On this rock I will compile my book," have made a wrong choice, becoming bibliolatrous like fundies. Words in a book are static; the living church is not an organization but an organism, and evolves. Those who worship a book and cannot grow with the church would do well to leave it. Hooker quite rightly saw reason and tradition as belonging alongside scripture. Luther rejected reason but Anglicanism is not Lutheran.

Gerald M. Reynolds

Posted: July 21, 2008 3:24 PM

It is sad and saddening to see the fractionation of so much of Christianity occuring. Human initiated ecumenism seems to have failed. Perhaps if we set aside our preconceived opinions and took another look at our Bibles, we might find the answers we need in God's Word. For me, I cannot help but take seriously Christ's own promise that He would return, that every living eye should see Him come in the same manner in which He left erth for heaven--and that at a time humanity would be least expecting it to happen. (1st Thess. 5) So many of Christianities disciples have looked to the Church for their salvation, instead of realizing that the only One who saves, is the One for and from Whom we have taken our name as Christians. Is it possible that our prejudices and biases have blinded our eyes in seeing Bible prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes and we do not see it because of our presuppositions? believe system was named.

Glenn G

Posted: July 21, 2008 3:09 PM


I expect many were also 'startled' to hear Jesus' reply "I never knew you" to those who claimed to have done many wonderful works in His name (Matthew 7).

David L

Posted: July 21, 2008 2:36 PM

I have been interested in the Continuing Anglican Churches (which are truly orthodox) they are www.anglicanpck.org and www.anglicancatholic.org and http://united-episcopal.org and http://www.acahome.org . They are wonderful churches which battle against the heresy that is modern theological liberal heresy. The Eastern Orthodox (which I am) also have a western rite which is essentially Anglican. It is sad to see how close the Orthodox and the Episcopal Church were to union only to have liberalism create and greater and greater divide. The schism started decades ago when the theological liberals left the faith once and for all delivered. I pray for my faithful Anglican brothers and sisters. Standfast and Godspeed!

Dakotahgeo

Posted: July 21, 2008 2:30 PM


I am all for the shism of these renegade African/South American friends AS LONG AS....the American church members move themselves, ASAP, to those nations. And don't let the door hit you....! GMMelby, Pastor

Anonymous

Posted: July 21, 2008 1:47 PM


What startles anyone who will listen to him, is the discovery the Gene Robinson takes the Bible very, very seriously and speaks as compellingly as any Evangelical about his personal relationship to Christ. The liberal/conservative dichotomy isn't adequate to this debate. Donald Schell

Tim Perry

Posted: July 21, 2008 11:08 AM


Of course Bob Duncan and Greg Venables, both very able and devout bishops btw, see this as the beginning of schism. Schism is in fact what they are committed to. GAFCON is premised upon the schism having already occurred. Perhaps some other evangelical Anglican bishops--Tom Wright would be the obious choice, but any of the "Fulcrum" bishops would do--might offer a different perspective.

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