Back the other week, I was talking to some Evangelical Anglicans about the state of the CofE. I explained to them the problem. With their “stay in” strategy that it leads to people thinking they have to stay when their evangelical vicar is inevitably replaced with a liberal. One response was to the effect that… Continue reading The deficient shepherd culture
Tag: Church of England
You aren’t faithfully loving people by staying in a burning building with them
I’ve been desperately trying to think of a way that gets a message across with urgency. I’ve also been desperately trying to find ways to say that without offending friends. So several times I’ve come close to saying that you are not really providing for and protecting a flock by detaining them at a wolf… Continue reading You aren’t faithfully loving people by staying in a burning building with them
The real mythology about contending in the Church of England
The level of denial within Evangelical Anglicanism is deeply distressing for all who are concerned for Christ’s bride and particulary those who respect and treasure this particular expression of the church. Sadly, one such example is offered by George Crowder’s article in Evangelicals Now “Four myths about contending for truth in the CofE”[1] The first… Continue reading The real mythology about contending in the Church of England
Disestablishing and re-establishing
Simon Jenkins wrote here in the Guardian recently about the sorry state of the Church of England. This has prompted some discussion about whether true reformation, renewal and revival of the Church of England (as opposed to within the Church) is possible. I may come back to talk about that specific subject but I want… Continue reading Disestablishing and re-establishing
If Jesus was willing to keep attending the synagogue despite its problems, should I keep attending the established church despite its?
If you are in a church that follows the lectionary (we are not), then this Sunday, one of the readings will be Luke 4:14-21. I saw one person on Facebook ask whether a legitimate application was thar despite all of its problems, Jesus was there in the established church of his day. Now, I suspect… Continue reading If Jesus was willing to keep attending the synagogue despite its problems, should I keep attending the established church despite its?
Gender neutral God?
The Guardian reports that the Church of England are looking at moves towards gender neutral language for God. It’s worth noting a couple of things before digging into the substance of the matter. First, that commissioning a report has a bit of the feel of kicking things into the long grass, don’t expect firm action… Continue reading Gender neutral God?
Nope, Champing will not save the church
Among the weird and wonderful stories showing up in the so called main stream news this week was this one about champing. “What on earth is that?” I hear you ask. Well, apparently it’s a new craze, based on the idea of glamping where historic churches (CH amping … get it?) are opened ip for… Continue reading Nope, Champing will not save the church
Reviewing the Stephen Sizer Church Disciplinary Measure Tribunal
Here’s a little further commentary on the Stephen Sizer case with the intent of helping us think about how we best get to the heart of issues. In my initial article, I suggested that those seeking to draw attention to antisemitism with regards to Stephen Sizer seem to have taken a bit of a scatter… Continue reading Reviewing the Stephen Sizer Church Disciplinary Measure Tribunal
Stephen Sizer, antisemitism and church discipline
In this article, I wrote about why the church seems to have dealt badly with the problem of antisemitism, particularly in relation to the Stephen Sizer case. Before going further, I should also mention again that this is not just about the Sizer case. As I commented in the previous article, a couple of years… Continue reading Stephen Sizer, antisemitism and church discipline
Church buildings close because churches die
It has been reported that 400 Church of England parish churches have closed in the last decade and 1000 in the last 30 years. This has prompted concern, not just, or so much from practicing Christians but non-believers too. See for example this by Michael Deacon in the Daily Telegraph. The primary concern of those… Continue reading Church buildings close because churches die
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