When is ‘Good Disagreement’ not Good? When It Contradicts God’s Word
by Stephen Noll, Contending Anglican:
The drumbeat for “good disagreement” fills the Anglican air – and will no doubt become more frenetic – as Lambeth 2020 approaches. Within one week we have had an appeal from the Archbishop of South Africa: “Whether you agree with where the communion is, whether you don’t agree, come and express your difference in this beautiful space which is a gift from God.”
Next Andrew John, the Bishop of Bangor (Wales), surveys the arc of local Anglican opinion (against same-sex marriage – 1 bishop, 21 clergy, 28 laity; for same-sex unions or marriage – 5 bishops, 27 clergy, 38 laity). He then turns to the pertinent biblical texts and concludes: “whenever the Bible deals with this matter it is always in negative terms and is properly summed up in the oft-repeated phrase: ‘The Church cannot bless what God does not.’” For many other Christians, he continues, the matter is not settled. Deploying tried and tired tropes about “developing doctrine,” the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15, and the “slavery-women-gays” analogy, he concludes (surprise, surprise!) that same-sex marriage “is fully in keeping with our faith and orthodoxy.”
Finally, the Rev. Dr. Brett Cane, a Canadian Anglican serving in Egypt, has written an article on “Biblical Perspectives on Staying in Fellowship.” Having noted Paul’s exhortation to seek the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and Jesus’ parable of the wheat and tares and His prayer for unity (Ephesians 4:1-4; Matthew 13:24-30,36-43; John 17:20-23), Dr. Cane concludes:
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