Posted on 12/09/2014 3:17:24 PM PST by marshmallow
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) In a lengthy interview in The Times of London, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby predicted that the Anglican Communion might not hold together because of strong disagreements on the ordination of women as bishops and full rights for LGBT people.
The candid interview came at the end of Welby’s visits to the 38 provinces (or country-states) that make up the Anglican Communion.
Welby said that although individual churches remain “strong, resilient and thriving,” the differences among them remain profound.
“I think, realistically, we‘ve got to say that despite all efforts there is a possibility that we will not hold together, or not hold together for a while,” he said. “I could see circumstances in which there could be people moving apart and then coming back together, depending on what else happens.”
Rod Thomas, chairman of Reform, an evangelical network of English and Irish Anglicans opposed to women bishops and LGBT ordination or unions, agreed with the archbishop’s assessment.
“If, as an Anglican, you believe more or less the same things but you just can’t reach agreement on something that is terribly divisive, you do go your separate ways. That will mean that the heads of various Anglican churches around the world won’t be able to meet together and say ‘Look, we’re all united’ in the same way they did in the past.”
(Excerpt) Read more at religionnews.com ...
Staying with what the Bible says can become a stumbling block when viewed through the lens of the current culture. The church was birthed in a very hostile world controlled by the Roman Empire. It’s not going away anytime soon, but seperating over major issues like LGBT or even ordination of women would not necessisarily a bad thing.
Freegards
LEX
This is all about who owns the land, buildings and other assets of this church, imo. Follow the money.
Our congregation left the Episcopal Church 6 years ago - leaving Canterbury will by an easy step. We left then over the Bible, and we will do it again.
By the way, life on the “other side” (Biblical side) is very, very good!
LGBT people have full rights. They can repent, reform, and choose to follow God's word, or they can choose to continue to live in sin. Those are exactly the same full rights as everyone else has.
A few years back, just after Pope Benedict visited England, three Anglican bishops and 500 Anglican parishes requested entry into the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis might try to have the RCC become part of the CoE or the Unitarians... lol
A client of mine recently decided to move from the Anglican Church to the true Church. There must be thousands like him.
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