Newsletter November 2007

Dear Friends in Reform

Thank you for so many expressions of warm support as I take up the post of chairman. I do so with some trepidation, because I am very conscious of the huge amount David Banting has contributed both to our network and the wider church in his time as chairman. He has always been a real encouragement to me and I'm very grateful for the example he has set. I'm delighted too that Paul Dawson has agreed to become our new Press Officer. He is keen to hear from anyone who would like to publicise Reform's work and outlook in local media. He can be contacted at media@reform.org.uk.

Two competing gospels

The future for the Anglican Communion is inevitably a dominant concern at the moment. Peter Jensen, the Archbishop of Sydney, has recently written that a new gospel of 'inclusion' is being championed by the USA Episcopal Church, with 'missionary faith'. In other words, there are now two competing gospels in the Anglican Communion: the gospel of 'inclusion' and the gospel of 'salvation'. We would of course want to insist that salvation and inclusion are linked, but it is helpful to see that the present struggles about the authority of the Word of God inevitably reflect on the gospel we proclaim. Reform's strap line is 'to win the nation for Christ'. We cannot do that without standing firm on the authority of God's Word.

Conference talks and CDs

This is a time of struggle in the Anglican Communion and apprehension in the Church of England. Our conference last month was therefore very timely. It helped to remind us that whatever the pressures we face, we must first think clearly about our theology. Over the two days we had great insights into the issues we face but I was glad we started with Melvin Tinker's exposition from Matthew 16, which was an eye-opening demonstration of the importance of the congregation gathered around Christ (who is the 'rock' in verse 18, not Peter) for our understanding of the church. The denomination does not define the church. Angus MacCleay later showed us how many of today's debates ultimately go back to our doctrine of God. His analysis of the way in which modern liberal thinking reflects a loss of confidence in the Trinitarian nature of God was a real encouragement to stand firm. If you couldn't make the conference, may I encourage you to download them from the web site. The address is http://www.reform.org.uk/pages/conference/07mp3s You must then add the username conference07 and the password rc2007. If you are not able to do this then contact the Reform office for a copy on CD. I hope in due course that we'll be able to publish some of the contributions.

Reform Agenda for the coming year

The conference also gave me the opportunity to draw some conclusions from the present divisions in the Anglican Communion. One was that the failure to discipline the USA Episcopal Church will inevitably encourage those who want to see same-sex relationships fully accepted at all levels in the church. However, as the pressure grows, so the issues at stake will become ever clearer - and evangelical determination firmer.

Two consequences flow from this. First, we must prepare ourselves for a more difficult environment. We need to encourage more people to stand for General Synod, especially potential members of the House of Laity. There is a good possibility that we could prevent that House gaining the two-thirds majority it would need to pass contentious legislation (eg on women bishops). Secondly, we will increasingly have to think about 'irregular' action. Parishes may have no option but to consider this course of action if they wish to distance themselves from Bishops who advocate unbiblical sexual morality. It would be nice to think that our own House of Bishops might eventually provide for some sort of cross-Diocese orthodox Episcopal oversight in these circumstances. However, if nothing is forthcoming, then principled irregular action is bound to increase in frequency as the liberal agenda advances.

Given this outlook, my hope is that the Reform Council will consider initiatives in a number of areas:

  • Provision of briefing papers for use with PCCs on key issues as they arise
  • Publications outlining the theological arguments underpinning our actions
  • Encouragement to engage wisely within existing church structures
  • Ways of helping parishes with their efforts to obtain the financial assistance they may need at times of 'principled irregularity'
  • Encouragement for ordinands to see how effective gospel ministry can continue to be pursued within the Church of England
  • Action to carry forward the resolutions passed at this year's conference.

As part of this agenda, my hope is also that every member of Reform will try to recruit one new member in the coming year. We will need each other more than ever as pressure to move away from God's Word grows within the Church of England. To this end we will be publishing a new membership brochure in the next few months. I do hope you will be able to make good use of it.

Rod Thomas

 

Reform Conference 2007 Resolutions

1 Reform Conference 2007 proposal on Future Ministry in the Church of England

This conference believes that the Church of England can provide a uniquely effective framework for the exercise of full-time Bible-teaching ministries. In the light of growing divisions within the Anglican Communion, it requests the Council to explore ways of fostering these ministries in a new climate, in particular by developing the work of the panel of reference, and by considering what further steps might be necessary to provide financial and Episcopal support for ministers who have to consider irregular action in order to defend Biblical truth and promote the Gospel.

2. Reform Conference 2007 proposal on Women Bishops

This conference notes that proposals are being developed by the Manchester Commission for those who cannot in conscience accept the Episcopal oversight of a woman and resolves that the only oversight that will be acceptable will be alternative (not extended) oversight with clear and fully independent jurisdictional powers.

3. Reform Conference 2007 proposal on Lambeth 2008

This conference notes that a significant number of bishops will not be attending Lambeth 2008 and that without them the event will lack credibility and be a failure. It believes that firm action in relation to TEC is required, and asks the Archbishop of Canterbury to convene a meeting of Primates as the only way of preventing fractures in the Anglican Communion from becoming permanent. It therefore calls on the Primates of the Anglican Communion:

  1. To ask the Archbishop of Canterbury to meet the request for a meeting of Primates as a matter of urgency
  2. To declare that TEC has placed herself outside the bonds of that Communion; and
  3. To encourage the provision of alternative Episcopal oversight for orthodox parishes in the USA and in other countries where a need has been demonstrated.

4. Reform Conference 2007 proposal on reforming the Church

This conference asks the council to consider further the proposals made at its session on Tuesday 16th October 2007 for reforming the Church of England by action both within the 'existing structures' and 'from the edge'.

5. The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

Reform recognizes

  1. that at the heart not only of Christian ethics but Western Civilization has been Jesus Christ's endorsement of the Old Testament commandment from Leviticus 19.18,
    'to love your neighbour as yourself';
  2. that the understanding of biblical love as evidenced from the previous verse, requires love for the sinner but discrimination against sinful behaviour, Leviticus 19.17,
    'do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke you neighbour frankly so you will not share in his guilt.'
  3. that the New Testament apostolic commandment is clear: (Rom 12.9 'love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good'.) So Christians are called to hate the sin but love the sinner;
  4. that the Bishops of the Church of England have summarized the Biblical teaching on Homosexuality as follows:
    'there is ... in Scripture an evolving convergence ... Sexual activity of any kind outside marriage comes to be seen as sinful, and homosexual practice as especially dishonourable' (Issues in Human Sexuality).

Reform, therefore, asks the House of Commons Committee on the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

  1. to ensure that there is no amendment to the Bill that fails to distinguish homosexual orientation from homosexual behaviour which Christians must vigorously oppose;
  2. to realize that Christians, following Jesus Christ who forgave an adulterous woman but also said, 'go now and leave your life of sin' (John 8.11), also have to love the sinner but hate the sin;
  3. to understand that as the biblical understanding of sin includes all sexual relationships outside monogamous heterosexual marriage, it must include all 'homosexual practice'.