Evangelical Anglicans at the crossroads
The 'fractious, ill-tempered gathering' of evangelicals within the Church of England, colourfully , exposes a tradition in crisis. The National Evangelical Anglican Consultation, meeting in All Souls' Langham Place, London, was asked to sing up as members of a break-away faction of the Anglican communion: that's when things got hot and heavy. Trying to persuade them was Richard Turnbull, the embattled principal of Wycliffe Hall. Not many college principals have lost quite so many of their staff in quite so short a time, and some have alleged that Dr Turnbull's approach to people management is not one of his strengths.
I suspect Graham Kings, vicar of St Mary Islington, and the theological secretary of Fulcrum, would agree with that analysis. Read his account of the chaotic meeting . Chris Sugden, executive secretary of Anglican Mainstream, .
Few things are clear after this meeting, but this much is: evangelicalism, both within the Anglican Communion and beyond that denominational base, is not the monochrome variant of fundamentalism that one sometimes meets in theological caricatures of the tradition. Evangelicals disagree amongst themselves about the ordination of women, the full inclusion of gay and lesbian Christians, the war in Iraq, abortion, stem-cell research, and a host of other ethical questions. The Gene Robinson affair has simply broadcast those differences to a wider audience.
Comment number 1.
At 2nd Dec 2008, antisyzygy wrote:"The National Evangelical Anglican Consultation, meeting in All Souls' Langham Place, London, was asked to sing up as members of a break-away faction of the Anglican communion:"
What were they asked to sing, 'Fight the Good Fight'?
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Comment number 2.
At 2nd Dec 2008, petermorrow wrote:Evangelicals at the crossroads.
Mmmm. That might imply something straightforward. But as William points out this is not the case; probably more spaghetti junction than crossroads.
(and even that could have too few lanes)
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Comment number 3.
At 3rd Dec 2008, bitzer_maloney wrote:In spite of the bungled the NEAC meeting, I don't think evangelicalism in the Church of England could be described as 'in crisis.'
There is, perhaps, a crisis of leadership of the CEEC, and certainly its present Chair has developed an unfortunate public reputation in both this and in his day job as a college Principal.
Yes, it's sad that there aren't uniting figures offering gracious leadership as did John Stott. But one reason for this 'problem' is that the C of E now has a strong and still increasing evangelical presence at every level from grass roots to the Bishops. Some crisis!
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Comment number 4.
At 3rd Dec 2008, portwyne wrote:I wish I had time to get into all the interesting debates exciting the blog at the moment but other matters are absorbing my rather scant free time.
I have to add to this thread, however, something I was interested to note recently: Sydney diocese both "overwhelmingly" endorsed the Jerusalem Declaration and passed motions endorsing both lay and female presidency at the Eucharist.
I love how creative Evangelicals can be in interpretation when it suits them! The Jerusalem Declaration specifically endorses the historical threefold ministry and upholds the "the classic Anglican Ordinal as an authoritative standard of clerical orders". I hope someone will enlighten us as to what casuistry squares that circle.
Whither Gafcon unity now? At least half the delegates must be getting their cassocks in a twist over that one - those that still wear them of course!
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