Where is the Church of England Evangelical Council when we need it?
by David Baker, Christian Today:
A long time ago, in a land that certainly now feels far, far away, the renowned Anglican evangelical theologian John Stott had a good idea.
What would happen, he mused, if different evangelicals within the CofE could be brought together to talk, pray, plan and resolve any differences?
Thus was born the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) in 1960. And it still exists today. Indeed, in 2014, according to its website, it had a bit of a revamp, with a new constitution and leadership. And the website is rather good.
The problem is simply that it doesn’t look as though it is doing or saying enough. And that’s a pity, because at this somewhat fraught and unsettled time in Anglicanism’s history it is arguable it is needed more than ever.
The CEEC’s quietude is all the more puzzling because it is full of talent. The list of council members contains the names of many people who have a history of leadership, competence, vision, passion and godliness.
It is also usefully diverse too – bringing together bishops, lay people, theological college principals, and different groups such as New Wine, Reform, CPAS, Fulcrum, Anglican Mainstream and Awesome (a network of Anglican evangelical women leaders).
There is some thought-provoking material on the website – for example, a paper on transgender issues by Martin Davie, the Oxford University theologian, and a thoughtful discussion of same-sex relationships and the options for Anglican traditionalists.
But these papers – useful though they are – fall a long way short of fulfilling the list of aspirations set out on the vision webpage of the CEEC. Broadly speaking, it reads as though it is CEEC which should be leading, envisioning and co-ordinating the concerns of evangelicals within the Church of England.
See Andrew Symes’ answer to David Baker’s questions about CEEC here.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
