Why not leave?
By Alan Purser.
When REFORM was launched to attempt to rescue the Church of England, the question was
asked, “Why not Leave?”. Now, more than 30 years on, when the sterling efforts of REFORM can
be seen to have come to naught, the question weighs all the more heavily on those still within our
sadly compromised denomination, whilst answers are demanded by those outside looking in – as
well as, often most stridently, by some who have already left. So, we need to ask, why not leave?
It is apparent that the vast majority of Church of England members, whether lay or ordained, have
no immediate plans to leave. This is despite the tragic turning away from orthodoxy led by the
House of Bishops, aided & abetted by Archbishops Welby and Cottrell. There is much um-ing &
ah-ing to be heard, accompanied by the wringing of hands, as differing analyses trigger earnest
discussions about acceptable terms for a negotiated settlement and how to achieve it (with or
without legal action). All the while the inexorable slide into blessing that which God has said he
does not, and will not, bless gradually becomes established as normal practice in the parishes.
So, why stay? Especially when there is another way of being Anglican readily available, in
fellowship with orthodox brothers & sisters around the globe, by joining the ANiE network.
It seems that there are a number of reasons, this one or that one being found more persuasive –
but the outcome is much the same: a decision to stay, at least for the time being. That this should
provoke a critical response is unsurprising, but the article in last month’s posting likening a
decision to stay in the Church of England to the Aaronic idolatry of the Golden Calf is, I suggest,
as misconceived as it is damaging.
A moment’s reflection on the enormity (in the proper sense of that word, signifying a heinous evil)
of Aaron’s sin – later repeated by Jeroboam – reveals the inappropriateness of the comparison.
Aaron attributed the saving acts of God to a Golden Calf, and then urged the people to bow down
and worship it – a clear and scandalous act of idolatry. However, drawing a comparison between
this and the decision to remain in the Church of England requires either diminishing the
seriousness of Aaron’s betrayal or misrepresenting the motives of those choosing to stay.
I deeply regret that the article’s author has seen fit to do this, and hope that on reflection they will
think better of it. But in order that others may resist adopting the analogy, and in order to avoid
any impression of a wider acceptance of it, I wish to suggest that however short-sighted the
decision to stay might turn out to be (and that is surely a matter of judgement) it does not
constitute Golden Calf style idolatry. Even though choosing to stay is likely to prove acutely
uncomfortable in the short run, and almost certainly untenable before long, it is incumbent on all
of us to respect and honour those we disagree with on matters of strategy so that “the unity of the
Spirit be maintained in the bond of peace”, as the Apostle pleaded to the Ephesians.
But if not as idolaters, how then should we regard those who decide to stay? Church history
bears witness that at times of doctrinal dispute those who are brothers & sisters in Christ have, on
occasion, turned on one another – for instance, by attacking those who don’t act quite in the way,
or at the time, others deem necessary. Instead of this effort needs to be made to listen more
carefully to one another, and to display that forbearance required by the Apostle of those who are
in Christ (forbearance being needed only when there is disagreement).
Listening to those who say they will stay, it becomes apparent that sometimes in order to preserve
their opportunity for gospel ministry, sometimes to protect the flock committed to their charge and
sometimes simply out of fear and a sense of helplessness, many brethren remain genuinely
unable to see how they can leave. Of course indecision can be dressed up as patience, and
passivity presented as generosity of spirit, but equally a decision to leave in haste can mask
personal ambition, rivalry or resentment. The story of the European Reformation is littered with
examples of this – in contrast, thankfully, to the godly behaviour of such men as Thomas Cranmer.
But, why not leave? For some there is simply too much at stake; for others weariness and
disillusionment combine with personal hurt to weaken resolve; maybe there is a lack of
confidence in a viable alternative or just a profound attachment to the idea of a State Church
holding out the light of the gospel to the nation – either way leads to a determination to contend
for continuation of the status quo; sometimes it is an acute awareness of the cost involved or
even simply a sense (arguably born of wishful thinking) that all is not quite yet lost.
But the wellspring of this is surely not idolatry, but rather an overriding sense of responsibility for
the sheep committed to our charge and accountability for the stewardship of the platform for
gospel ministry inherited from past generations. Whilst the debate continues over if, when and
how to leave, that discussion needs to be conducted as between brothers and sisters, rather than
resorting to drawing analogies that denigrate those with whom we disagree. Such restraint lies at
the very heart of what was originally conceived as the ‘Twin Track Strategy’ (as espoused by
GAFCON GBE amongst others) whereby everything is done that possibly can be done to preserve
and maintain authentic gospel churches within the established structures of the Church of
England, whilst simultaneously bold steps are taken to build an alternative way to be Anglican, in
fellowship with orthodox believers around the world. Inevitably some will be more focussed on the
former, whilst others invest their energies predominantly in the latter – but both ought to do so not
as rivals but as fellow servants of the same Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, if we are to recognise,
respect, honour and pray for one another then now must be the time to redouble our efforts to
work in concert rather than indulging in accusations of unpardonable idolatry. Please.
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