Thinking Anglicans

Opinion – 10 July 2024

Sean Doherty ViaMedia.News Trust and Training

Phil Groves ViaMedia.News The Alliance and the Bishop of Oxford

Lorraine Cavanagh On Forgiving The Church

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FearandTremolo
FearandTremolo
3 months ago

There’s an interesting line in the Doherty piece: “I took a straw poll of a cross-section of TEI principals to ask, ‘is your institution/programme designed to form candidates in a particular strand of Anglicanism?’ All of those who responded said no. We see our task as preparing candidates to serve the whole of the Church.” Thing is, I don’t think that people see those two things in tension. Granted, my experience of TEI’s is limited to a handful of open days, but if we take St. Stephen’s as an example, I think they’d be very happy to say that they’d train anyone and train them… Read more »

John Davies
John Davies
Reply to  FearandTremolo
3 months ago

Sadly I am also only too familiar with the fratricidal contempt that you refer to; indeed in the past, due to the wonderful examples set me in various evangelical books, have been equally guilty. Its no excuse if I said that I find similar attitudes in other spheres – any of you familiar with the worlds of steam enthusiasts and football will know exactly what I mean. Unfortunately, much as some of them might wish it, my fellow ferroequinologists don’t have supposedly divine support for their likes and dislikes, as so many Christians do! “I’m of Apollos”, “No, I’m of… Read more »

Susannah Clark
Reply to  John Davies
3 months ago

ferroequinologists”… now that’s some word!

I wish I’d known that when I was a three-year-old child and The Royal Scot came thundering past.

“I’m a Ferroequinologist, Daddy!”

And he’d lift me in his arms of love and I’d feel safe forever.

John Davies
John Davies
Reply to  Susannah Clark
3 months ago

Not sure if I made it up myself, or read it somewhere! In other words, follower of the iron horse……

FearandTremolo
FearandTremolo
Reply to  John Davies
3 months ago

Thing is, that squabbling about favourite locomotives (I’m very basic and love everything Sir Nigel ever designed) or football teams (YNWA) is at least a part of the fun of following them. Like I might talk a big game about how much I hate United, but in my heart of hearts I’m fully aware that every hero needs a villain, and they get to be ours and we get to be theirs. It’s a part of the fun. But we are called by the Lord God Almighty to be unified, and I think that starts with a sense of attitude,… Read more »

John Davies
John Davies
Reply to  FearandTremolo
3 months ago

Absolutely agree, my friend. The problem is, that when you give something seemingly divine approval for being superior to any other legitimate expression of a particular theme, it tends to become enshrined in your attitudes. And that is where the danger lies. As a very straightforward low evangelical Protestant I find it difficult at times to accept many aspects of the Catholic expression of our faith – and the further south into Europe I go, the more difficult it can become. (Madeira’s mid-19th century history did not help my ecumenical outlook just recently!) But, whether we agree or not, we… Read more »

John Davies
John Davies
3 months ago

Lorraine’s comment about loss of trust is only too true. How can I trust an organisation which covers and compounds the offences of certain members towards their fellow men and women by organised cover-ups and self-protecting legal threats? Sadly, once trust is destroyed – as we can see only too well in our society – it takes an enormous amount of rebuilding. We have a very long way to go, up a very steep incline.

Rev Richard Fisher, Staffordshire
Rev Richard Fisher, Staffordshire
3 months ago

Dear Phil, thank you for your illuminating piece, the fruit of study, engagement and experience across the Anglican Communion over the years.

Philip Groves
Philip Groves
Reply to  Rev Richard Fisher, Staffordshire
3 months ago

Thank you

Susannah Clark
3 months ago

Phil’s article is insightful and informative. The reaction to Drexel Gomez – ‘He was spoken of as ‘representing’ them, but he had no mandate to do so’ – prompts a similar question about CEEC. Are its alleged 2000 signatories really representative of their churches, many of whom will have a diverse cross-section of views in their congregations? And do those congregations even know that their ministers/priests have signed up to CEEC’s plans? In March 2023, CEEC asked followers to sign up to their ‘Declaration’ – with the promise that “in due course we will publicly issue the names of supporters”. They… Read more »

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