I was amused to read in a comment on the Anglican Mainstream website that Archbishop Jensen of Sydney had accused me of “putting loyalty to my diocese above loyalty to Christ”. I don’t know if he did say this or, if so, why he said it or what he meant by it – but it did make me smile. To be dissed by Archbishop Jensen would be seen by many as a badge of honour.
What is interesting here is that bishops are supposed to be loyal to their diocese (that is, their clergy, parishes, people, etc) as part of their expression of their loyalty to Christ. That is why I will defend my lot against silly attacks from people who don’t know what they are talking about. Yesterday I confirmed nearly 40 people (mostly adults) who have come to Christian faith and commitment – none of them in evangelical churches. Being a bishop is brilliant simply because you get to see where God is at work, apparently sometimes breaking his own rules.
I wonder how Archbishop Jensen regards clergy in his own diocese who disagree with him or decide that loyalty to Christ means being disloyal to his diocese and him? I suspect I know the answer. To disagree with (or be disloyal to) him would be the same as being disloyal to Christ. And I thought ‘infallibility’ – by Popes or any other Archbishop – was not a good thing…
In this context there have also been mutterings about Anglican Mainstream itself being a misnomer. Surely AM should call itself something like Anglican Conservatives? Or do we need a new grouping called Mainstream Anglicans to give a home to all those who feel disenfranchised by AM stealing the term?
That would surely help our mission in and to the world…
(In case of doubt, that last comment was ironic.)
July 13, 2009 at 8:58 am
I know from experience how those in control of the Diocese of Sydney manage those who disagree with them, and it isn’t particularly edifying or pretty: your suspicion is pretty accurate. But their treatment is consistent with their view that we’re in serious error (at best).
July 13, 2009 at 9:24 am
mainstream-anglicans.net is available – get in there quick !
July 13, 2009 at 9:30 am
Thanks for making me smile with this post x. I’ve always rather enjoyed the fact that I don’t feel as though I ‘fit’ anywhere within ‘christian’ groups
). Keep up your good work, it’s nice to know there is at least one Bishop out there in the real world with his feet firmly planted in Christ.
July 13, 2009 at 9:36 am
Well said that Bishop! ‘Anglican Mainstream’ strike me as about as mainstream as cuckoos. Maybe ‘Anglican Sideline’ would be closer to the truth, with the strapline ‘Undermining the Faith’…
July 13, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Peter Jensen and his pals have long since stopped being amusing to me. I certainly sympathize with you, or anyone else, who has been unjustly attacked by that crowd. It’s one thing for Dr. Jensen to say, “I disagree with these decisions of the Episcopal Church, and they are bad for the Anglican Communion because…” or “I believe that Bishop Baines is wrong about this…” It’s when he and his supporters go into overdrive and slander folks for promoting “the sanctification of sin,” or “putting loyalty to his diocese above loyalty to Christ” that we have good reason to take offense.
Kurt in Brooklyn
July 13, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I believe and understand that I am a disciple of Christ and as a Christian a Member of the Church of England.
Being new to the CofE I am completely tradition neutral, and look at all of the things that are going on in a bemused manner.
I belong to a Parish, within a Benefice, which has various shades of tradition, but all of whom, worship mutually at each others Churches, and are united in the call to mission and service. I believe that this is what should be about.
It is good to see leadership and critical comment on some of these issues, which helps me to become a little more enlightened.
Keep up the good work!
July 14, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Last year I decided to cancel my membership of all Christian Organisations except the Church of England. I can’t think of anyother way of saying how much I am in it.
July 15, 2009 at 11:17 am
I always refer to them as Anglican Extreme.
But given that so many of us have simply decided that the church is no longer a place where we can remain, to be treated as at best second-class citizens, and at worse, satanically possessed anti-christs, so the future is likely to see them become the mainstream, and the church itself a small and marginalised sect in the UK
July 15, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Will legalized Gay Marriage threaten Liberty?
http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/gay-marriage-debate-in-perspective/