Archbishop warns of Church schism
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, the leading figure-head of the 70-million member Anglican Communion warned that the Anglican Communion could split over the issues surrounding Homosexuality. He thought that an alternative structure for the Communion giving national churches/provinces more autonomy, an idea favored by some liberals, would not work. His calls for liberal and conservative church leaders to work together and seek compromise have apparently been ignored, as liberal church leaders in California seem poised to push another gay bishop on the U.S. (Episcopal) Church (see below on Feb. 23).
Labels: Anglicanism
posted by Rev. Daniel McLain Hixon at 3/10/2006
2 Comments:
Daniel,
You point out that: "His calls for liberal and conservative church leaders to work together and seek compromise have apparently been ignored, as liberal church leaders in California seem poised to push another gay bishop on the U.S." but fail to mention that the so-called Anglican Connection Communion in the U.S. has sought before this to seize church property and become a new denomination. Wouldn't this be just as devisive as liberal church leaders?
My problem is this trap that so many people are ready to send us to. Why must we label? When can we move beyond this liberal v. conservative diatribe? It sure doesn't do anyone any good and I highly doubt that it has anything to do with the Kingdom of God. Surely there has to be a place for everyone at the table? Or am I mad?
Your point is well taken, Stephen; I don't believe the Article mentioned property disputes, but I might be willing to argue that those efforts are mechanical/reactive - that is concrete steps towards a division on the part of "conservatives" - whereas the denial of Biblical authority on the part of "liberals" with regards to sexual morality would be a matter of principle/proactive - that is close to the root of the reason that people want to separate to begin with: a shift in principles by a large segment of the American Church leadership. I leave it to you to decide if you think one or the other is worse. I agree that the labels (in quotes here) are not very precise (so much so that they may complicate the dialogue/debate in many ways), but they do communicate the thrust of what is meant without a long wordy explanation of who it is I am speaking of.
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