Fulcrum has published an article by Andrew Goddard entitled Framing the Anglican Covenant: Trick or Treat? A Response to Inclusive Church and Modern Church.
The propaganda on the Anglican covenant produced by Inclusive Church (IC) and Modern Church (previously MCU) and published in the church press reveals a most frightening development in contemporary Anglicanism. Two of the Church of England groups most associated with an appeal to reason have demonstrated themselves to be incapable of reasoned argument. They have also revealed themselves so hermeneutically challenged when faced with a relatively simple and short text whose contemporary context is well known that, did I not know some of the groups’ leaders, I would conclude they were deliberately misrepresenting the situation and framing false charges just in order to rally their troops and engender fear in those relatively uninformed of the covenant’s background and content…
“We are presented with a vision of the covenant as an oppressive mechanism which will be used against us by such dangerous elements as ‘neo puritans’ and ‘Anglicans in other parts of the world – (than the U.K.)’ – Andrew Goddard – Fulcrum – I couldn’t have put it better myself! What Andrew Goddard asserts here is nothing less than the simple unadulterated truth. The original architects of the Covenant – faced with the open hostility of conservative puritans in the U.K. and in the ‘Global South’, who were prepared to (and is some case did) enter into schism against… Read more »
Andrew Goddard is quite correct. There is nothing to worry about with respect to the Covenant. Now, pursuant to the Covenant: I should like to lodge a complaint against the ecclesiological innovation of Flying Bishops in the C of E. I should like to lodge a complaint against the C of E for not accepting the orders of clergy ordained by female bishops. I should like to lodge a complaint against the C of E for limited acceptance of clergy ordained by male bishops who ordain women. I should like to lodge a complaint against the C of E for… Read more »
‘The propaganda on the Anglican covenant…’ Pots and kettles perhaps?
It is interesting comparing this to Andrew Goddard’s 2007 briefing paper (for the Evangelical Group on General Synod) on the Covenant. According to this: ‘At the heart of much opposition to the covenant process is a belief in the “autonomy” of provinces that is theologically and legally flawed and corrosive of the interdependence that is central to life together in the body of Christ – as the work of the Lambeth Commission showed. Paul famously reminded the Galatians that it was for freedom that Christ set them free (5.1) but went on to warn them that they must not use… Read more »
Andrew Goddard now has me convinced totally of the so-called *’Covenant’s’* undesirability.
* Covenant — it is nothing of the sort.
It’s the stuck pig that squeals.
The phrase “relational consequences” is nothing but Orwellian doublespeak for “sanctions and punishment.” That Andrew Goddard is unable to admit that speaks to Andrew Goddard’s character.
I find I wish to have less and less to do with this brave new C of E and Anglican Communion. How dare he misuse the name of the on-going sacrament (as distinct to the initiatory one)as a synonym for the anglican communion ? Appalling misuse of language. But, one of a growing number. He tries so hard along with the Evangelical parties to annex the term ‘biblical’ unto themselves. What is ‘biblical’ about right-wing,*clericalist (albeit Reformed*) anti-gay, white heterosexual, middle class males, as they launch their strategies to turn back the clock; re-imposing their domination over the ‘unordained’, female,… Read more »
Thank you for this, Savi, especially this statement: “They oppose any idea of covenant because they do not wish to be accountable to the wider Communion or to develop means to enable us to keep in step with one another and with the Spirit as he leads us together in faithful obedience to Scripture.” Accountability does not mean the same thing as submission or capitulation. It means being prepared to give an account of actions; whether that account meets with approbation or otherwise is another matter. The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada have both given extensive accounts… Read more »
Wow. Goddard is so over-the-top (“demonstrated themselves to be incapable of reasoned argument”), that he’s helping making IC/MC’s case! O_o
Well I couldn’t dive too deeply into all AGs richly textured details – put in the mildest tones of plausible deniability, I have to say after reading a bit; without getting a good grip on his utter lack of regard for the new fangled covenant as a means of policing/punishment – and here’s a nice dollop even sweeter perhaps: AG obviously assumes he and his no change sort will be on the business ends of that policing and punishment. He’s basically agreeing that righteousness in various cultural contexts which bother to take human and social sciences about queer folks at… Read more »
Surely a good side of the covenant will be improved ecumenism with Rome? look on the bright side and stop moaning.
The “bright side” that the AC starts to become as imperious as Rome, RIW? (the easier to assimilated, Borg-style?) Please spare us your Schadenfruede…
“Look on the bright side and stop moaning”
– Robert I Williams –
If that is the ‘bright-side’ heaven knows what the ‘dark-side’ would be like!
“Surely a good side of the covenant will be improved ecumenism with Rome?”
Why on Earth would that be good?!
Besides, the Covenanters may not find they have any more numbers than the ordinariate. People don’t have to stay in a church, and if Anglicanism does that great a disservice to humanity as to adopt the so-called Covenant, it may find itself hemorrhaging.
It’s also unlikely to improve anything with Rome, as it seems the most con-evo elements have been percolating this particular sewage.
What about the errors of Rome ?
Remember Latimer and Ridley