Thinking Anglicans

update on New Westminster disputes

On 10 September, the Anglican Network in Canada issued a press release, Parishes ask court to clarify parish trustees’ responsibilities.

On 11 September, the Diocese of New Westminster published Supreme Court suit brought against Diocese and Bishop.

And on 15 September, the Anglican Journal published Former New Westminster clergy and lay leaders sue diocese.

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Father Ron Smith
15 years ago

The Plaintiffs “joined eight other conservative parishes that have left over what they believe to be a growing liberal view of homosexuality within the Anglican Church of Canada” – Anglican Journal. One wonders whether there was a like movement among the early Jewish Christians who disagreed with Saint Paul’s ‘growing liberal view’ about the redundancy of the need for circumcision, in order to fulfil the requirements of fidelity to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – as revealed in Jesus Christ, Messiah. This Luddite attempt to imprison the Gospel within the bounds of out-dated cultural pre-suppositions will continue to… Read more »

Ford Elms
Ford Elms
15 years ago

“Paul’s teaching about the virtues of Christian Love versus Law is received and understood by the New Puritans” But it won’t be, because they take such comfort in Law. I have speculated before, often scornfully, on why this should be, but that’s not a good thing. It is clear, though, that Law and obedience to it underlies their concepts of God’s love, redemption, and Christian behaviour. It goes pretty far. The statement was made here a while ago that God hates sinners until they repent! (see Romans 5:7-9). This from someone who rejects the idea of justification by works! Notice… Read more »

Erika Baker
Erika Baker
15 years ago

Ford
“Look at the “They’re the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions”.

But that’s apparently only true when other people’s sex lives are concerned, not when it’s about false witness, coveting (the prosperity gospel) or anything else they find a little inconvenient.

Erika Baker
Erika Baker
15 years ago

Ford “The challenge, which may be too great for me, I’m afraid, is to engage this attitude as valid rather than simply scorning it.” But we’re doing that constantly. We’re forever saying that we don’t want our relationships to be accepted simply because they’re loving, but that we believe the Law simply doesn’t say what is often claimed. Changing Attitude, LGCM and others have only ever argued on a Scriptural basis, interpreting relevant passages differently, putting them in original context, highlighting translating errors (Göran!)…. Tobias Haller is only one of those who constantly frame this theologically on this forum. it… Read more »

Ford Elms
Ford Elms
15 years ago

“The response is that we’re making Scripture say what we want it to say, implying that we’re deliberately falsifying it.” I think this is what I meant by challenging. It clearly isn’t enough to correct mistranslations, though when Luther did it they seem to think it was great, or to say that the requirement to love our fellow human beings supercedes the Law. So, how do we engage them in a way that is meaningful to them? We can’t talk about the Second Great Commandment, they simply don’t understand it. We can’t speak of better access to the original texts,… Read more »

Malcolm+
Malcolm+
15 years ago

“One wonders whether there was a like movement among the early Jewish Christians who disagreed with Saint Paul’s ‘growing liberal view’ about the redundancy of the need for circumcision, in order to fulfil the requirements of fidelity to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – as revealed in Jesus Christ, Messiah.”

Some scholars would argue that such a group did indeed exist – and that the remnants of this sect were wholly absorbed into Islam some centuries down the road.

Ford Elms
Ford Elms
15 years ago

“Jewish Christians who disagreed with Saint Paul’s ‘growing liberal view’ about the redundancy of the need for circumcision”

Weren’t they the Ebionites? They illustrate a very good point: those who insist on adherence to the Law miss the point of the Gospel.

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