REFORM LEADERS ‘CAN NO LONGER COMMEND’ NATIONAL EVANGELICAL ANGLICAN CONGRESS

Following the announcement that Dr. Rowan Williams has been invited to attend the forthcoming Fourth National Evangelical Anglican Congress (NEAC 4), the Trustees and Steering Committee of REFORM met in London to consider the implications. The meeting was held because the REFORM Council had previously stated that, whilst Dr. Williams’ standing as Archbishop of Canterbury would be respected, members believed it right to distance themselves from his spiritual authority.

Following the meeting, the following statement was issued.

'The Trustees and Steering Committee of REFORM are greatly concerned over serious theological differences with Dr Rowan Williams, especially over the acceptability of active homosexual relationships. We note:
1. That, while now agreeing to abide by current Anglican discipline, he personally does not agree with “the mind of the overwhelming majority in the Anglican Communion” (Letter to the Primates, 23rd July 2002) on this issue, and
2. That he acknowledges “my personal views are on record and I have not found reason to change them” and, then, is convinced that “they should not be a defining issue” (Letter to Reform, 23rd September 2002).

The REFORM Trustees and Steering Committee, however, believe this is a defining issue (cf 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Revelation 2:20ff) and reflects serious theological error. We deplore the pressure that has led the Church of England Evangelical Council to invite Dr Rowan Williams to NEAC 4.

In the light of the invitation to Dr Williams, many will now feel unable to attend the Congress and it is with the deepest regret that we, the Trustees and Steering Committee of REFORM can no longer commend NEAC 4.'

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Dr Rowan Williams has been invited to NEAC 4 to ‘bring a greeting and lead in prayer’, though not, we note, to teach.
We continue to respect Dr Williams’ unfailing courtesy in interview and debate. However, we have deep reservations about Dr Williams’ views on:

REFORM has hitherto supported the developing agenda at NEAC 4 and encouraged others to do so on the grounds that it is seeking to reaffirm the classic tenets of mainstream evangelicalism – notably, the uniqueness of Christ, the supreme authority and infallibility of the Bible, and the centrality of Christ’s substitutionary death, all issuing in the priority of mission. However, by inviting Dr Williams, this central aim of bringing greater clarity to evangelicalism has been deeply compromised. It will mislead people about what evangelicals believe.

We are saddened by the invitation because it was:
(a) unnecessary, since the Archbishop of York (in whose province the Congress will meet) had already been invited;
(b) divisive, because of the recent and known sensitivities over the Archbishop’s appointment; and
(c) solely the result of pressure exerted on the organising committee of NEAC 4 from a number of senior figures in the wider evangelical constituency who had played little role in recent years in the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) – the body with the constitutional right and responsibility to call and organise NEAC.

Later this summer, REFORM is organising three Day Conferences to address what we again and again believe to be the foundational issue – authority in the Church. The three days (in three different regions: Sat June 7, Bristol; Fri June 13, Oldham; Fri July 4, NE London) will explore what is meant by the authority of the Bible and how (to quote Lambeth 1988 and given expression at Lambeth 1998 in section 1.10) the Bible is “the controlling authority in the Church.” We contend that it is not Anglican, let alone evangelical or Biblical, to say of core doctrinal and moral issues that “we all accept the authority of the Bible and only differ on interpretation.” Our Anglican Articles proscribe such inconsistency and imprecision (see Articles VI, VII, XX, XXI, etc.). However, today’s culture inside and outside the Church requires us to restate where ultimate authority is to be found. Our Day Conferences will address these questions and encourage members in our strategy and priority of mission and evangelism.

Details of the Conferences and further information about REFORM behind this statement, contact the REFORM Office: PO Box 1183, Sheffield S10 3YA.
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.

Footnotes

1 The latest magnum opus on the subject is “The Bible & Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics” (Robert Gagnon, 20002, Abingdon Press) described by conservatives and revisionists alike as indispensable and definitive. It concludes the Bible prohibits active homosexual relationships. Those who disagree simply understand the place of the Bible differently – and that is the big issue.
2 Dr Williams’ dislike for this view of the atonement can be seen in this quotation: “Hence the awful language beloved even of some of the finest theologians and preachers of an earlier age about God’s offended holiness that needs to be mollified” (Page 222, Open To Judgement)
3 See page 58, Open to Judgement
4 This is movingly and cogently explained in Dr. Jim Packer’s article “Why I walked “(i.e. out of the Diocesan Synod in New Westminster, Canada, which had just approved the blessing of same sex unions), printed in Christianity Today Jan 2003 & published as “No to same-sex unions” by Fellowship of Word & Spirit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact:
Rev David Banting (Chairman) on 01708 376 400
Rev Rod Thomas (Press Officer) on 01752 402 771