tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post4497137766675531117..comments2024-03-28T22:29:52.666+13:00Comments on Anglican Down Under: The Latin Mass and GAFCONPeter Carrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-67536239509547476222008-05-30T12:25:00.000+12:002008-05-30T12:25:00.000+12:00Hi MichaelThe missional strength of the broad Angl...Hi Michael<BR/>The missional strength of the broad Anglican church in the West is that it remains a functioning active church in many parts of that world when other churches have fallen by the wayside. But there are weaknesses to being 'broad' and one of those is identified by you, namely the tendency to absorb rather than critique the mores of the world.<BR/><BR/>If I have apparently suggested that the church needs to conform to the mores of the world then I have not communicated clearly!<BR/><BR/>Two quick notes. One is that our world speaks in certain languages and the gospel should be communicated in those languages - as, of course, the church did with Greek in 50 AD. The other is that we should think about how we communicate which opens doors rather than shuts them. Thus my comment about the danger of perception that our message is primarily defined in terms of exclusion of gay and lesbian people. One attitude/value of the Western world today is toleration of diverse sexualities. Engaging with that toleration, the reasons for it, and the reasons why it might become something else seems to me to be a discussion with great potential to shut doors to the gospel rather than open them.<BR/><BR/>But life is complex, and these few sentences do not do justice to all that can be said about the issues you raise. I cannot disagree with you final comment about the problem of Anglican diffidence!Peter Carrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-5297793673567383212008-05-27T14:20:00.000+12:002008-05-27T14:20:00.000+12:00The missional strength of a broad Anglican church ...The missional strength of a broad Anglican church hasn't exactly been apparent in the Anglican church in the West these last 50 years or so. If we judge a movement by its fruit, there isn't much to show for that time. It pains me to think of the church continuing on down its fissiparous path, and yet...<BR/><BR/>Struck too by the apparent suggestion that the church needs to conform to the mores of the world. Ordination of women maybe right or wrong, but neither case is made because of the practice of the wider secular community. The world is accelerating away from 1550 or 1950, and yet we proclaim a gospel revealed in around 50. So we need thought forms and ways of communicating that help open the hearts and minds of our contemporaries, without selling out the timeless truths. One of the problems with the Anglican church is perhaps that is has not spoken with an authority and confidence, and Spirit-empoweredness to make many come to their senses, and to the GospelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com