The Church of England and the Future of World Anglicanism
by Richard Condie, TGC Australia:
The Church of England made a decision last week which will have long-term consequences for the Anglican Communion around the world. Their General Synod (national oversight body) voted to accept a recommendation from the Bishops to prepare prayers of blessing for same-sex marriages in the Church of England.
Their official media release says:
The General Synod has welcomed proposals which would enable same-sex couples to come to church after a civil marriage or civil partnership to give thanks, dedicate their relationship to God and receive God’s blessing.
How shameful that the bishops who are charged with upholding the doctrine of the church were more willing to promote error than the people that they are supposed to lead.
The Bishops were adamant that the church was not changing its official doctrine of marriage, which is still understood to be a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. However, the decision to offer prayers of blessing and to unequivocally accept and affirm people in same-sex relationships seems to challenge that assertion.
The decision is undoubtedly out of step with the official doctrine of the Anglican Communion, against its own commitment that it “cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same-sex unions”, and contrary to the opinion of over 75% of the worshipping members of the Anglican Church throughout the world.
These moves come as the conclusion of a six-year process called “Living in Love and Faith,” in which the Church of England has been exploring issues of human sexuality. The Bishops met last month and agreed to recommend the prayers of blessing which were accepted by the Synod. The vote was carried by an overwhelming majority of bishops (36/4) and a narrow majority of lay people (103/92).
Shame
How shameful that the bishops who are charged with upholding the doctrine of the church were more willing to promote error than the people that they are supposed to lead. The same shame was echoed recently in Australia, where lay people overwhelmingly supported an orthodox statement on marriage in our General Synod for it only to be voted down by our bishops.
The reactions around the world have been swift. Archbishop Kaziimba of Uganda described it as a “suicidal path” and challenged them to have the integrity to step out of the Anglican Communion. The Global South Primates questioned the fitness of the Archbishop of Canterbury (who supported the measure) to lead the Communion. Archbishop Foley Beach, the Chairman of Gafcon, said that the Archbishop of Canterbury was “shredding the last remaining fragile fabric” of the Communion. The Church of England Evangelical Council spoke of their deep sadness and profound grief that the “Church of England now appears set on a course of action that rejects our historic and biblical understanding of sex and marriage, by departing from the apostolic faith we are called to uphold.”
(Hat tip to Anglican Ink)
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
