(Updated) Church of England parishes consider first step to break away over sexuality
John Bingham, Telegraph [followed by a number of other articles and statements in response to this story]:
A group of parishes is preparing what could be the first step towards a formal split in the Church of England over issues such as homosexuality, with the creation of a new “shadow synod” vowing to uphold traditional teaching…
[…] They claim the Church of England’s leadership is progressively “watering down” centuries-old teaching, not just over the issue of sexuality but many core beliefs including the authority of the Bible.
The group have now held their first meeting:
Statement agreed on proceedings of first Partnership Synod of Rochester, Canterbury and Chichester:
“This inaugural meeting of the Partnership Synod met on Thursday 1 September with representatives from 12 churches across 3 Dioceses. The main focus of the meeting was on the gospel imperative to see more churches planted both within and beyond the Church of England in order to reach the nation for Christ. The Synod spent time reflecting on how its member churches could get more involved in promoting such initiatives, and resolved to set up a research group in order to bring back practical proposals by the end of January 2017. The Synod also considered how its member churches could provide financial support to other gospel-minded churches within Rochester Diocese in order to assist the Diocese as it faces a severe shortfall in this financial year.”
Read also:
Statement from the Task Force of GAFCON UK in response to John Bingham’s article in the Daily Telegraph 29/8/2016
GAFCON UK warmly commends the initiative of Rev Dr Peter Sanlon and others from a number of parishes in the Home Counties to set up a ‘shadow synod’ as stated in John Bingham’s article ‘Parishes begin Church split’. This is a grass-roots initiative by local congregations which is representative of the views of many across the country, and is in line with the concerns of Anglicans from the GAFCON movement worldwide as expressed in the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008 and subsequently.
The message being clearly conveyed is that: there are Church of England churches that hold to the unchanging truths of the gospel and the formularies of the Church of England; these churches oppose the relentless slide towards revisionism in the Church of England structures; these churches are prepared to take action to protect their congregations.
GAFCON UK exists to promote faithfulness to the gospel and provide fellowship for those who share this commitment, and it is for these reasons that we warmly commend this initiative.
Andy Lines Chairman of GAFCON UK Task Force
GAFCON UK is being set up in succession to the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans UK & Ireland (FCA UK & Ireland). Like the FCA it is affiliated to the worldwide GAFCON movement. Currently there is a small task force, chaired by Rev Canon Andy Lines.
More articles on this initiative:
Church of England vicar criticised for ‘damaging’ comments over gay pride and child abuse by Katie Forster, Independent
Anger erupted after Tunbridge Wells vicar linked child abuse with gay pride, from Kent Live website, [Ed. – but comments on the story say it is an “invented controversy that involves taking Facebook comments entirely out of context” ; “gossip journalism which fails to make any attempt to understand the issues concerned”].
Where will the new Anglican jurisdiction lead? from Christian Concern
Disgust with C of E’s ‘slide’ on Tunbridge Wells agenda by Madeleine Davies, Church Times
Same-sex marriage/blessing confronts Church of England with “a structural flaw of fatal proportions” from Archbishop Cranmer [features the text of a major talk by Gavin Ashenden who explains clearly the roots of the Anglican schism and suggests what to do about it].
Gay ‘marriage’ threatens to break apart Church of England, Lifesite
Breakaway move by CofE churches over homosexuality welcomed by Gafcon by James Macintyre, Christian Today
Anglicans consider new synod to oppose gay marriage by Ruth Gledhill, Christian Today
Church faces split after conservatives reject liberal stance by Sandy Rashty, The Times
Church of England faces split as parishes discuss stance on homosexuality, Belfast Telegraph
Evangelicals ‘preparing for split’ from Church of England over same-sex marriage by Nick Dufy, Pink News
Vicar warns Church of England could split over homosexuality by Jamie Grierson, Guardian
Could the Church of England be on the verge of SPLITTING? by Joey Millar, Daily Express
Church Of England Parishes Could Break Away Over Gay Marriage by Nick Hallett, Breitbart
Church of England threatened by split over homosexuality by Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News
Conservative clerics move to set up alternate structures within Church of England from Catholic Culture
Will Church of England Finally Split Over Homosexuality? from Charisma News
Sex Further Divides Church of England from Church Militant
CofE split threat: Conservative parishioners opposed to same-sex marriages start plans for a new Anglican Church by Martin Robinson, Mailonline
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