Comments on: What should the Anglicans do? http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/02/28/what-should-the-anglicans-do.html Steve Addison's blog about movements for the renewal and expansion of the church. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:19:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Wayne Brighton http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/02/28/what-should-the-anglicans-do.html#comment-85145 Wayne Brighton Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:50:20 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/02/28/what-should-the-anglicans-do.html#comment-85145 Steve - I really expected better analysis and not such a one-sided diatribe. An African proverb says that the grass gets trampled when elephants fight. The crisis in the Anglican Communion is not homosexuality - it's mission. The true source of decline is our long-term indifference towards local cultures in which Anglicans live. Institutionally, this has 'frozen' the chosen in a ghetto while alienating those on the fringes. It's like living in a world where the only radio station is ABC Classics FM (our attendance probably mirrors their ratings too). I'm surprised how poorly you present the cultural and missional environment of the US and the Global South. Yes, the TEC is declining. What's unclear is how much the -4.15% is due to the conservatives leaving in recent years. If this is the case, it's hardly the Reformation scaled dispute you suggest. The single greatest cause of decline is conflict. Most Episcopalians just want to get on with things but they are continually mugged by the extremists at both ends of the spectrum. Beware of groups that only have ears for their own voice. As far as the 'global south' is concerned, I'm not so sure the so-called 'biblically orthodox' are capturing all the hearts either. Akinola's biggest challenge is probably poverty and the Pentecostals and indigenous Christian groups. Take for example the Caribbean where Anglicans there struggle to break out of their colonial shell. Things aren't so simple as you make them appear. Yes, we do need more innovation and innovators like John AND Charles Wesley - but people with hearts who are brave and strong enough to work inside a changing system. Mission is the challenge in Australia today and there is plenty of scope provided it's done with the right attitude in the right way. We do need to rediscover our heroes - but from every corner of our broad tradition. We do need to start new churches and many are learning how to be missional once again. The time to start new work is now and across Australia the missional grass is sprouting here and there. Mission is done by double-listening. It would be a shame if a few self-righteous elephants flattened it all. Steve – I really expected better analysis and not such a one-sided diatribe.

An African proverb says that the grass gets trampled when elephants fight. The crisis in the Anglican Communion is not homosexuality – it’s mission.

The true source of decline is our long-term indifference towards local cultures in which Anglicans live. Institutionally, this has ‘frozen’ the chosen in a ghetto while alienating those on the fringes. It’s like living in a world where the only radio station is ABC Classics FM (our attendance probably mirrors their ratings too).

I’m surprised how poorly you present the cultural and missional environment of the US and the Global South. Yes, the TEC is declining. What’s unclear is how much the -4.15% is due to the conservatives leaving in recent years. If this is the case, it’s hardly the Reformation scaled dispute you suggest. The single greatest cause of decline is conflict. Most Episcopalians just want to get on with things but they are continually mugged by the extremists at both ends of the spectrum. Beware of groups that only have ears for their own voice.

As far as the ‘global south’ is concerned, I’m not so sure the so-called ‘biblically orthodox’ are capturing all the hearts either. Akinola’s biggest challenge is probably poverty and the Pentecostals and indigenous Christian groups. Take for example the Caribbean where Anglicans there struggle to break out of their colonial shell. Things aren’t so simple as you make them appear.

Yes, we do need more innovation and innovators like John AND Charles Wesley – but people with hearts who are brave and strong enough to work inside a changing system. Mission is the challenge in Australia today and there is plenty of scope provided it’s done with the right attitude in the right way. We do need to rediscover our heroes – but from every corner of our broad tradition. We do need to start new churches and many are learning how to be missional once again. The time to start new work is now and across Australia the missional grass is sprouting here and there.

Mission is done by double-listening. It would be a shame if a few self-righteous elephants flattened it all.

]]> By: Gavin Parsons http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/02/28/what-should-the-anglicans-do.html#comment-84132 Gavin Parsons Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:52:26 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/02/28/what-should-the-anglicans-do.html#comment-84132 Unity at the expense of truth is false unity. Schism is a good thing if the anglicans can work out how to distibute wealth and property Bring on Schism ! Gavin Unity at the expense of truth is false unity.

Schism is a good thing if the anglicans can work out how to distibute wealth and property

Bring on Schism !

Gavin

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