The art of persuasion explained; Reform and Renewal slated.
by Andrew Symes, Anglican Mainstream.
Martyn Percy has stirred up further controversy with another aggressive attack on the leadership of the Church of England.
Before Christmas, Dr Percy began a series of articles, containing personal criticism of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and strongly arguing for the C of E to embrace revisionist sexual ethics (for detail, and counter arguments, see here, here and here). He was a prominent signatory of the open letter published just before the Canterbury Primates meeting, urging the Church to affirm and celebrate “LGBTI members” and to apologise for “discrimination on grounds of sexuality”. As a result, there has been a major row at evangelical theological college Wycliffe Hall, where Dr. Percy has been invited to preach in Chapel (see here).
The clergyman, who is in the unusual position of holding the historic office of Dean of Oxford’s Christ Church Cathedral which is combined with the role of head of the governing body of the prestigious and extremely wealthy college of that name, has written another article for the Modern Church website.
He uses the piece to strongly criticise the entire Reform and Renewal programme currently being implemented in the C of E, which he sees as a business-managerial approach to church leadership, rather than one informed by reflective theology. Lambeth Palace, he says, is in a state of panic about church decline, and the response is a programme of root and branch reform, strong in evangelical zeal combined with secular accountancy models and media spin. Instead, he says, there should be a measured approach, valuing for example the history of village churches and the wonderful appreciation they receive from the community even if very small numbers attend regularly.
Dr Percy claims that the senior leadership of the Church do not understand the organisation they are trying to change, and are causing alienation and division with “manipulative rhetoric” about the need for mission and growth. But then he goes further, accusing those leading the Reform and Renewal initiatives as “Grace-less…without love…a bullying dictatorship…an exclusive power elite”. He talks about the idolatry of business models, and lack of intellectual, theological and spiritual depth; he goes on to use the analogy of the Titanic: the Church needs to change course by abandoning the Reform and Renewal programme before disaster strikes.
But in response, it could be argued that the Church has already hit the ‘iceberg’ and is sinking, mainly, ironically, because of the liberal theology and outdated church practices which Dr Percy exemplifies. Reform and Renewal is a series of emergency measures as a response to an unfolding crisis, which includes reallocation of diminishing resources, focussing on mission, and improving the quality of leadership and discipleship in Bishops, clergy and lay people. Dr Percy objects to all of these measures. He seems to hate the idea of cuts in principle but gives no hint of an alternative suggestion for how to increase funding levels. He objects to the language of mission, growth and discipleship, vaguely suggesting that what is needed instead is “spiritual food”. He is furious about suggested improvements to theological education and leadership training. Again, while I’m sure that there is much in the Reform and Renewal process which is not perfect, there is irony in a lead article for ‘Modern Church’ arguing so vociferously against much-needed change in the church’s vision and strategy.
Better evangelism – learn to persuade.
Moving from the depressing spectacle of a senior clergyman arguing against the need for mission, to the much more positive one of a faithful layman showing us how to do it.
Peter May came to Christ at the age of 20 after a long and serious search for the meaning of life. He trained as a medical doctor and was a GP for 30 years, but during his entire life he has used his clear and probing mind as an evangelist and in the service of the Church. A lifelong Anglican (on General Synod for 25 years), he also has rich experience of engaging in debates about the Christian faith, particularly among students.
Now in retirement, Peter has produced an excellent book: The Search for God and the Path to Persuasion, which focuses on what might be going on in the heads of non-believers, and how Christians can intelligently and compassionately engage in evangelism. The particular focus is on persuading people to change their beliefs. This has traditionally come under the heading of ‘apologetics’. But Peter May wants to ditch this term – he says that although ‘apologia’ is found in the New Testament meaning the defence and explanation of Gospel truth, it carries connotations of being ‘apologetic’ today, and also has an intellectual image which puts off ordinary Christians from trying to do it.
Peter is not afraid to take on some contemporary myths, for example the idea that Christians should just ‘tell their story’, and assume that because of the postmodern cultural ideas about ‘truth’, non-believers are only persuadable by empathy and testimony not by reason. Worse still is the oft (mis?)quoted aphorism of St Francis – “preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words” – ie the idea that people will be drawn to Christ by good deeds and warm hearts alone. No, says May, we need to find opportunities, as Jesus and Paul did, to “reason with” people, and explain the truth of the Christian faith centred on Christ, not just my own experience and how I feel about it.
There are some really helpful suggestions on how to do this. At the core is the willingness of the Christian to ask questions and listen carefully to the answers. But this is not the caricature of the insensitive evangelist browbeating hapless objects in order to chalk up converts. Peter May says there will be times where we have a limited time to talk to strangers, or set-pieces such as giving a talk and then engaging in public dialogue. But most of the time we work through existing friendships. Once we have decided, out of obedience to Christ and love for the person, to share our faith, the best way to start is to ask some of the deeper questions to find out what people think, to identify their worldviews. To begin with, it might even be appropriate, says May, not to bring in Jesus as our answer – that will come later.
The apostle Paul in Lystra and Athens used a form of ‘natural theology’ to begin his attempts to persuade people to turn from their current belief systems and to Christ. Jesus himself asked a lot of questions to expose people’s thinking. We can do the same, before we gain the chance to explain the good news of Christ clearly.
The book combines detailed study of Scripture with many amusing anecdotes and illustrations; it shows a grasp of history and world Christianity as well as contemporary Western thought, all set out in a brisk readable style. Above all there is a real passion for Christ and his Gospel which shines through, and a conviction that anyone who knows the Lord and his word can do this essential work. For the ‘reform and renewal’ of the C of E, it would help for starters if a few more clergy were able to put the principles of this book into practice!
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