Tag Archives: Anglican mayhem

Australian Anglicans preparing for a split

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Orthodox Anglicans in Australia are trying to forestall the North American debacle:

IN AN unprecedented linking of church and state, the national leader of the Anglican Church has asked the NSW government to stymie a move that would let the powerful Sydney diocese ”divorce” the rest of the Australian church and leave the national office impoverished.

On the eve of the Australian Anglican Church’s three-yearly synod, which opens in Melbourne today, Brisbane Archbishop Phillip Aspinall wrote to the NSW Attorney-General, shadow attorney-general and director-general of the Department of Justice, seeking their help.

Australia’s primate responded with:

AUSTRALIA’S Anglican leader launched a passionate plea for unity yesterday, saying divisions severely damaged the Christian message and risked fragmenting the church.

”How can we talk about unity, tolerance and respect with regard to the Middle East or justice if we can’t live it out in our own life?” asked Brisbane Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, the primate of Australia. ”We undermine our message if we don’t model it.”

He acknowledged the depth of divisions in the worldwide church over gay bishops, but said there could be disagreement without disunity.

Aspinall reckons there can be disagreement without disunity. Since unity in this context means: the state or quality of being in accord; harmony and this particular Anglican disagreement has been so lacking in harmony it has split the Anglican communion, Aspinall, to be even thinking this, must have fallen down a rabbit hole and be taking tea with the mad hatter.

Swearing for Jesus

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From here:Add an Image

Reverend Michael Land, 67, said Christians needed to adopt swearing in their everyday language because it is how Jesus would have spoken.

He said too many people put Jesus “on a pedestal” and failed to realise that he was poor, relatively uneducated and preferred not to mix with the elite of his day.

He added that the Church risked becoming out of touch with ordinary people if its clergy did not become “streetwise” and failed to use earthy language.

Rev Land, who is retired but still preaches at Burghill occasionally, said: “The church must be more streetwise and use language most people use today.

“People view Jesus through tinted spectacles and place him on a pedestal.

“The reality is that he was poor, lacked any real education and did not fraternise with Pharisees or scholars.

“People today would probably be quite shocked at the language he used at that time.”

I’m all for speaking to people in language that they understand even if it is a bit ripe. Rev. Land’s real problem, though, is his implied de-Deification of Jesus. Who better to be on a pedestal than God? Rev. Land’s insistence that Jesus doesn’t belong there presumably means he doesn’t believe Jesus is God and, thus,  is not a worthy object of our worship.

Even though Rev. Land is a bit wobbly on the Deity of Jesus, he does have firm views on driving:

He described the driving incident and said: “Someone pulled out in front of me so I sounded my horn. The driver got out of his car and came over to me.

“I wound my window down and said ‘why don’t you learn to f***ing drive’. He just walked away. I don’t think he could believe it.

“I did not remove my clerical collar, why should I? I did it then and I’d do it again, I’m not afraid to tell it how it is even if that means swearing.

It seems to me that Rev. Land should learn how to be a fucking vicar.

Anglicans in the Vancouver Gay Pride Parade

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Here is a video of the Anglican contribution to the Vancouver Gay Pride Parade:

Apparently it was “A magnificent demonstration of civility”.

It was also an exercise in Scripture mangling by people carrying signs saying, “no good thing will God withhold from those who walk with integrity” Ps 84:11. The organisation “Integrity” has high-jacked not only the word but the New English Version’s translation of what most others have as “walk uprightly”; since when did homosexual activity become a component of walking uprightly?

Further along we have a few brightly painted blokes sporting tea-shirts declaring themselves, presumably, to be “intrinsically good”, in spite of the general drift of Scripture, experience and common sense that says we are all intrinsically bad – so bad that we need a Saviour.

There is even a Rowan Williams doppelganger in there at 2:14.

The Church of England is following in the footsteps of TEC and the ACoC

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In the CofE’s case, the straw that is breaking the camel’s back is not just the possible consecration of a gay bishop – Dr. Jeffrey John specifically – but women bishops.

As Ed Tomlinson points out, though, the real problem is the substitution of a subjective experience derived pseudo-faith for faith that has been revealed by God:

As an Anglican priest likely to accept Rome’s offer I urge Synod to think again. We reach a crossroads and clarity is vital if pain is to be kept to a minimum. Either the Church of England wants to profess the revealed faith or one being revealed through innovation. So set your course that your members might know where they stand.

In truth the continuing desire to consecrate women is answer in itself. So I urge no provision at all but sincere commitment to release buildings and funds to those whose future lies elsewhere. Stop fudging, it no longer works, and what you are going to do, do quickly. Amiable separation is preferable to an abusive, damaging union.

I admire that last paragraph for its invincible optimism. The fact is Anglicanism in the West has little interest in Christianity – instead, it is obsessed with power, institutionalism and money: as in North America, the lawsuits will begin as soon as those whose future lies elsewhere switch allegiance and try to stay in their buildings.

What is also quite likely is – to take a leaf out of the ACoC book – procrastination through conversation; woolliness through waffling. Or as Fred Hiltz might put it: “embracing our differences in a Spirit-led watershed moment by having more conversation – that’s an action which makes me proud to be Anglican.”