Anglican woes

The Anglican Communion is probably at an impasse that has taken it to the wall of schism. Whether we want to break it down, like the walls of Jericho, I do not know. All I do know is that via media is seemingly no longer possible without some kind of realignment.

The Episcopal Church in the USA thinks that going over the boundaries and then claiming new territury of thinking is OK. They think the church is a democracy. In a limited way it should be such as individual church ordering, but the Faith itself is not open to democratic whims. It is surely a received truth or it is nothing.

In many ways, the hierachy of the Episcopal Church can be seen as revisionists. They are papalbly opposed to anything other than their interpretation of the Faith. Anything or anyone else must either kow-tow or be marginalised. It is interesting that the media in general succumbs to the blandishments of the liberal thinkers rather than engage with the traditionalists. In many ways the traditionalists have truth on their side. The Latin word traho means I hand down. In Christian terms it means handing down the faith as received. It does not mean adding new doctrines to suit the World's ways. Within that Tradition should be tolerance, understanding, and compassion.

Katherine Jefferts Schori is the former Roman Catholic now leading the Episcopal Church. She has ongoing issues with traditional Catholic teaching. Her vehemence against it colours her beliefs, to such an extent that she issues dictacts and denouncements of those Episcopalians (still in the church that is) who feel uncomfortable with the new ideas. Mrs.Schori wants traditionalists to accept her as the Presiding Bishop. If, in conscience they can't, she wishes them gone. OK for those that turn a blind eye in the hope of being left alone, but the new ascendency demands new loyalties. This is half the problem with regards to Anglican unity.

Traditionalists are often accused of wanting to have a church-within-a-church. The accusers don't seem to see that a ruddy great cuckoo has landed in the nest and is kicking out the original chicks!

I don't want to see schism, but I can't go along with all the wants and desires of the liberals. We have impaired communion at best. Full communion is there only in name. Fractured communion has happened. If the Anglican Communion is to survive it must create structures across the world that can accommodate as many diverse opinions as to what Anglicanism is. Otherwise there will be two parallel communions. Not a disaster, but neither would it be helpful to the cause of unity.

Posted in: Anglican Communion,Episcopal Church,Katherine Jefferts Schori