Letter printed in the Daily Telegraph on 25 July 2017
Letter printed in the Daily Telegraph on July 25, 2017
SIR – Recent actions in the General Synod in pursuit of a culture that denies biblical ethics, as they have been practised and understood “at all places and in all times”, have caused many Anglicans great concern.
There are times, particularly in the face of social disintegration, when it is the duty of the Church to be counter‑cultural. The failure of the House of Bishops to uphold the teaching of the Bible and of the Universal Church in this area is very disappointing, if not surprising.
Booing of traditionalists and the levels of personal abuse aimed at them during the Synod have only deepened mistrust between the different sides.
There are now effectively two opposed expressions of Anglicanism in this country. One has capitulated to secular values, and one continues to hold the faith “once delivered to the saints”.
We and others stand with the majority of faithful Anglican across the globe, in prioritising Scripture and the unanimous teaching of the universal Church over secular fashion. We note the results of this same conflict in North America, even as we look for and pray for a similar renewal of orthodox Anglicanism and of Anglican structures in these islands.
Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali
Bishop of Rochester, 1994-2009
Rt Rev John Fenwick
Bishop Primus, Free Church of England
Rev Gavin Ashenden
Former Chaplain to the Queen
Rev Mark Burkill
Chairman of Reform
Andrea Minchello Williams
CEO of Christian Concern
Rev William Taylor
Chairman of Renew
Rev Nigel Atkinson
Vicar of St John’s, Knutsford
Rt Rev John Ellison
Executive of Anglican Mission in England (AMiE)
Rev Lee McMunn
Mission Director of AMiE
Rev Tim Chapman
Minister of Christ Church, South Cambridgeshire
AMiE
Rev Paul Darlington
Vicar of Oswestry, Holy Trinity
Chairman of Church Society
Mary Durlacher
Member of General Synod
Rev Dick Farr
Chairman of Church Society Trust
Fr Martin Hislop
St Luke’s, Kingston upon Thames
Rev Canon Nigel Juckes
Incumbent, Parish of Llandogo
Rt Rev Josep Miquel Ferrer
Free Church of England
Rev Steven Hanna
St Elisabeth’s Church, Dagenham
Rt Rev Paul Hunt
General Secretary of Free Church of England
Rev James Paice
Vicar of St Luke’s, Wimbledon Park
Trustee of Southwark Good Stewards Trust
Rev Dr Peter Sanlon
Vicar of St Mark’s, Tunbridge Wells
Convener of Anglican Partnership Synod
Rev Dr Andrew Symes
Executive Secretary of Anglican Mainstream
Rev Melvin Tinker
Vicar of St John’s, Newland
Rev Robin Weekes
Minister of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon
Chairman of Reform