Source: AAC International Update
The following article by the Rev. Canon Chris Sugden first appeared in the March 5, 2013 edition of the AAC’s International Update. Sign up for this free email here.
The “Faith in Conflict” Conference in Coventry Cathedral (www.faithinconflict.com) from February 25-27 was four years in the planning. It was centred on the Community of the Cross of Nails which grew out of the destruction of Coventry Cathedral in an air raid in 1940 which razed much of Coventry to the ground. “Father forgive” has been the motto at Coventry ever since. Among staff members of the Community at Coventry have been Justin White, now the vicar of Baghdad, Justin Welby now Archbishop of Canterbury and David Porter who has been appointed his Director of Reconciliation.
“What is meant by reconciliation?” was a key question I pressed on speakers and resource people. The answer was “assisted conversations” so that disagreements did not escalate to be destructive. It was freely acknowledged that when issues of truth and principle are at stake, such processes are not intended to resolve the impasse in a via media but to enable those who disagree to live in as high a degree of Christian unity as may be possible. Reconciliation may not have its full biblical and theological meaning in this usage.
In the scripture, reconciliation means reconciliation with God and by such reconciliation effected by Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we are reconciled to each other across the diversity of race, gender and class, which are turned into hostile divisions by sin. Paul devotes his letters to enabling communities comprised of Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles to express the reconciliation Jesus had effected, rooted in their common confession of sin at the cross and faith in his atoning sacrifice and life-giving resurrection.
So, to take the elephant in the room, the question to a priest or bishop in a same sex partnership, is “Are you willing and able to come with the rest of the church throughout the ages to the cross of the incarnate Lord and together confess our sins, as set out in the scripture, and seek his forgiveness and spiritual health?”
Reconciliation is not a matter of reconciling light and darkness, or holiness and sin in some pragmatic acceptance of some form of “faithful” same-sex relationships which would be as contradictory as finding some form of acceptable adultery.
In contrast, the mediation processes being offered were designed to give those who felt disrespected and humiliated in church disagreements a platform on which to stand in seeking to have “assisted conversations”. These might be about the ultra vires actions of some authorities in the church and might seek to prevent the escalation of personalising the issues, drawing others into the argument on each side, allowing bitterness to enter their soul, such that the main issue in dispute was drowned by a cacophony of other noise.
Indaba did not come into the programme, though leaflets about it were distributed. Indaba was not explored or discussed as an example of the mediation process. The origin of Indaba lies in cultures which have carefully drawn boundaries, values and procedures. It is a process of talking out disputes within those parameters. It is not the means by which the parameters themselves are arrived at. So it is a misuse of indaba to engage with the fundamentals of the faith, though it might well be used to debate the use of church funds.
The debate between Tory Baucum and Shannon Johnston exemplified an assisted conversation. Tory Baucum said he had no intention to rejoin TEC, that Bishop Johnson was a brother who was in error and whom he longed would repent. But it was the kindness of God that leads to repentance he urged, not the wrath of man.
New Bishop of Blackburn
There has been widespread welcome for the appointment of Archdeacon Julian Henderson from Guildford as Bishop of Blackburn. He is an evangelical who, while in favour of women bishops, voted against the legislation in November because it did not provide sufficient “proper provision”. Though his vote in the House of Clergy made no difference to the outcome as it was lost in the House of Laity, he has had to endure significant criticism in Guildford Diocese.
The Church Times reported: Unlike his two predecessors – the Rt Revd Nicholas Reade, who retired on 31 October; and the Rt Revd Alan Chesters – Archdeacon Henderson is willing to ordain women as priests. He said on Friday that he was “in favour of women serving as bishops”, although he voted against the draft women bishops Measure in November ( News, 23 November).
Archdeacon Henderson said in a statement issued by Church House: “Let me be clear, I am in favour of women serving as bishops and will want to introduce a change in the current diocesan pattern by ordaining women as deacons and priests.
“But I hope my vote at General Synod last November will be a reassurance to those opposed to this development, that I want to be a figure of unity on this matter and will ensure there is an honoured place for both positions within the mainstream of the Church of England. Might Blackburn be a model for the rest of the Church of England!”
Forward in Faith issued this response:
“Catholic Anglicans have reason to be grateful to Archdeacon Henderson, as one of those members of the Synod who voted against the Women Bishops Measure despite their own support for the principle.
We welcome his commitment to ensuring that there is an honoured place for both positions on the ordination of women within the mainstream of the Church of England. Like him, we hope that Blackburn might continue to be a model for the rest of the Church of England in this regard, as it has been under his predecessor. Whether that can be so will depend to a significant extent on whether both views continue to be represented among the diocese’s bishops.”
The Same-Sex Marriage Bill – update
The Committee Stage of this bill is taking place in the House of Commons. Significant evidence is being presented that Same-sex ‘marriage’ has negative effects. The evidence was presented to the House of Commons committee examining the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, in a written submission by Dr Patricia Morgan, the British family policy researcher, on behalf of SPUC. The submission can be read in full here.
