What’s wrong with multi-faith worship?

Apr 20, 2022 by

by Tim Dieppe, Christian Concern:

The Royal Family website describes the recent Commonwealth Day Service in March 2022 as a “multi-faith service.” The Queen was represented by The Prince of Wales at this annual service. Famously, and controversially, Prince Charles has previously suggested that he would prefer to take the title ‘Defender of the Faiths’, or ‘Defender of Faith’ rather than “Defender of the Faith” when he becomes king.

More recently he has made clear that he will take the title “Defender of the Faith”, while using the position to also protect other faiths. It will be very interesting to see how this develops when he actually does become king, and whether he agrees to the very explicitly Christian coronation vows he will be asked to make. Any divergence from the Christian nature of the coronation service is likely to provoke a constitutional crisis.

Multi-faith worship prohibited in CofE buildings

Many people do not realise that multi-faith worship is actually prohibited in consecrated Church of England premises. Canon Law insists that all services “shall be neither contrary to, not indicative of any departure from, the doctrine of the Church of England in any essential matter.” (Canon B5). Even the use of the building for any other purpose, such as a play, a concert, or an exhibition, should be such that “the words, music, and pictures are such as befit the House of God, are consonant with sound doctrine, and make for the edifying of the people.” (Canon F16).

While the Commonwealth Day service was described as ‘multi-faith’, it actually did not include any prayers to other gods. The full service can be watched here. At the end of the service [1:33:00], representatives of four major faiths pronounced blessings on the Commonwealth on behalf of their faith communities. This probably did not breach canon law, though it comes very close, and arguably did at points. The Hindu representative, for example, stated that “Peace is Brahman” which is a statement of Hindu doctrine that contradicts Christian teaching, and therefore should not be pronounced in a Christian act of worship.

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