PRESS RELEASE FROM REFORM
"Death By A Thousand Cuts": REFORM Urges Archbishops Council To Rethink Publications Strategy
REFORM has urged the Archbishops Council to consider ways of ending the current confusion caused by the way its publications are presented.
Writing to the Secretary General of the Council, Mr Philip Mawer, REFORM chairman David Banting has expressed serious concern that the House of Bishops and different boards and committees of the General Synod can produce publications advocating views that undermine the historic Anglican position with little or no apparent accountability. REFORMs fear is that these views then become accepted as part of Anglicanism so that eventually core doctrines become compromised. Mr Banting says that this amounts to "death by a thousand cuts" - as the beliefs which the Church of England wishes to share with others become increasingly compromised.
Mr Banting referred to REFORMs previous criticism of the publication "Sharing One Hope?" which undermined the Churchs commitment to mission amongst all people by the way it emphasized the difficulties with evangelism among Jewish people.
However, Mr Banting said that REFORM reserved its strongest criticism for the recent "Occasional Paper" produced by the House of Bishops entitled "The Eucharist: Sacrament of Unity". REFORM says that this document fails to present accurately either the past or the present position of the Church of England on both the nature of Holy Communion and the function of bishops.
"No doubt the House of Bishops wish to minimise the differences we have with Roman Catholics in order to aid ecumenical discussion", said Mr Banting, "but pretending we believe things we don't, helps nobody."
The House of Bishops paper states that "belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is clearly taught in the Church of England's Eucharistic theology" and it suggests that Anglican teaching is compatible with Roman Catholic theology at this point.
However, the Church of England does not, and never has, accepted this position. We do not believe that the bread and wine taken at the Eucharist actually become Christ's body and blood. The author of the Churchs Prayer Book, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, wrote that in the Holy Communion "Christ's body and blood be given to us in deed, yet not corporately and carnally, but spiritually and effectually"*. This differs entirely from the view of the Roman Catholic Church that "it is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood that Christ becomes present in the sacrament".**
REFORM says that in trying to accommodate Roman Catholic ideas of what happens at the Eucharist, the House of Bishops has tried to paper over cracks by ambiguous language. One example is the way that the Roman Catholic idea of a Eucharistic "sacrifice" is affirmed by identifying our self - offering with Christ's sin - offering (paragraphs 23-24). This is tendentious and disingenuous.
Regrettably too, the document over - emphasises the role of bishops. REFORM particularly disagrees with the assertion in paragraph 48 that "Anglicans believe all churches should be... episcopally ordered" (emphasis added) since this goes beyond both Scripture and Anglican formularies read in their historical - theological context.
REFORMs suggestion is that every publication not sanctioned by General Synod should put a disclaimer on the front cover. This should say that the views contained within the document do not necessarily reflect the views either of the Archbishops Council or of the General Synod of the Church of England.
* Quoted in Diarmaid MacCulloch: Thomas Cranmer [New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1996] p492
** Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1375
NOTES FOR EDITORS
REFORM is a network of Anglican evangelicals committed to evangelising the nation. There is a common belief that the Church of England could provide the best basis for this, but only if the Church remains committed to the absolute authority of Scripture. REFORM was set up in the wake of the vote on the ordination of women but now campaigns on a wide variety of issues. Approximately one third of all members are clergy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact:
Rev David Banting (chairman) on 01708 376400
Rev John Richardson (on Reforms detailed criticisms of the House of Bishops Occasional Paper) on 020 8534 7503 or 07931 506913 (mobile)
Rev Rod Thomas (Press Officer) on 01752 402771
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