HomePress ReleasesLiving Reconciliation ‘Deeply Problematic’

Living Reconciliation ‘Deeply Problematic’

Published on

spot_img

GAFCON highlights critical review of ACC book justifying indaba

Dr Martin Davie, a widely respected Church of England theologian, has exposed serious flaws in ‘Living Reconciliation’, a book published recently by the Anglican Communion Office to champion its ‘Continuing Indaba’ project.
 
While recognizing that there are some helpful insights, he describes the book as ‘sadly lacking’ because it offers a highly distorted account of reconciliation, one that is not grounded in the teaching of the Bible, despite the claim by the Anglican Communion Office that ‘The Bible is central.’ See here.
 
Dr Davie shows that biblically the ministry of reconciliation is first and foremost evangelism and he writes ‘The New Testament’s emphasis is not on people learning to live with what divides then, but learning to live out what unites them’.  In sharp contrast, the writers of ‘Living Reconciliation’ are focused inwards on what they see as the pressing need to live with difference within the institutional Church.
 
Furthermore, there seems to be no limit on what those differences may be. The book assumes that the deeply divisive teaching of such Anglican Churches as the Episcopal Church of the United States on same-sex sexual relationships are within the bounds of what is acceptable within a fellowship of Churches.  
 
But the problem goes well beyond this particular flash point. Dr Davie sees that the ‘Continuing Indaba’ model of reconciliation actually undermines the Anglican Communion’s witness to the gospel because it is ‘effectively a blank cheque for the acceptance of any and every possible form of deviation from New Testament Christianity.’
 
The review is published by the Church of England Evangelical Council and can be found at http://www.ceec.info . It is a powerful reminder of how essential GAFCON is for the future of the Anglican Communion when confusion about the gospel is actually being encouraged by its central institutions.
 
Until recently Dr Davie was Secretary to the Faith and Order Commission of the Church of England, Theological Secretary to its Council for Christian Unity and Theological Consultant to its House of Bishops.

Latest articles

Former Eastbourne vicar pleads guilty to child pornography charges

A retired East Sussex clergyman appeared before the Old Bailey last week to plead...

Archbishop of Uganda’s Easter message

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba...

Preparations begin for Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations: Henry Orombi to preach

The Chairman of the Northern Uganda Regional Cluster, the Rt Rev. Godfrey Loum,...

New Westminster Archbishop’s Statement on Lapu Lapu Day tragedy in Vancouver

April 27, 2025 To the People of our Diocese of New Westminster,Last night in Vancouver,...

Graham Staines murderer given early release from prison

The early release of Mahendra Hembram, one of the men convicted in the 1999...

More like this

Former Eastbourne vicar pleads guilty to child pornography charges

A retired East Sussex clergyman appeared before the Old Bailey last week to plead...

Archbishop of Uganda’s Easter message

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba...

Preparations begin for Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations: Henry Orombi to preach

The Chairman of the Northern Uganda Regional Cluster, the Rt Rev. Godfrey Loum,...