Dear Friends,
I and many others subscribe (at no cost) to an email service (pressmail@stmw.org) that trawls daily the reputable British newspapers and religious publications and reports, and sends out articles of interest or import to the Anglican Communion. This is operated from S. Matthew’s Church, Westminster, a great Anglo-Catholic Church very close to Westminster Abbey. In the past couple of weeks there have been several articles arriving daily about the goings-on in Jerusalem and then in London, as Conservative Evangelicals have made a concentrated assault on the soul of the Church. This week there have also been columns from the Guardian and the Independent which have urged even atheists and non-church people to wake up and see the threat that this assault represents, not only to the Church but to a civilised society.
A fine column by Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark, shows the nonsense of the evangelicals’ manifesto and some of the claims that are being reiterated. He concludes by commending the deeply Christian demeanour of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is being abused and sidelined by these power-mongers. He writes, “It seems that the Archbishop of Canterbury has decided that enough is enough. In the face of hectoring unreason, he writes, in the traditional Anglican language of thoughtful holiness: 'The Gafcon proposals for the way ahead are problematic in all sorts of ways and I urge those who have outlined these to think very carefully about the risks involved.' I think that he is saying, 'Don't go down this destructive path.' ”
It is a very destructive path and I hope and pray that our leadership will not be bullied into taking it. Pray for the Bishops preparing for their Lambeth Conference meeting beginning later this month.
School holidays have begun. I hope all involved in schools have a safe and enjoyable break, and return refreshed for the new term.
May God bless you all.
Peter Williams
Prayer for Lambeth:
Pour down upon us, God, the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
that those who prepare fpr the Lambeth Conference
may be filled with wisdom and understanding.
May they know at work within them
that creative energy and vision which belong to our humanity,
made in your image and redeemed by your love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
