Anglican Future Conference Report (Part Two)

Continued from Part One posted yesterday ...

There were other plenary sessions along with a plethora of competitive yet competent working groups addressing particular concerns that had drawn participants to this Conference. For us as NZ Anglicans our ‘moment in the sun’ came in a plenary session which, to this participant’s perception, highlighted differing perceptions of our local situation. 

Former Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, led a 90 min. pastiche of live and taped video interviews with church members around the world who were facing difficulties in remaining loyal Anglicans. For many, pressure upon them to conform to liberal-minded local church agendas meant the prospect of separation was the only way forward. In this context four NZ attendees were invited to describe difficulties faced by evangelical Anglicans in their country. The introduction and the specific questions put to them – and even the responses they then gave – suggested a dire situation. One Vicar and his parish (represented on the platform) had already withdrawn from the Church; others, we were informed, are in the process of making their decisions. Other Kiwis present, however, were not of the same mind about the direness of the situation for ACANZP. For them, talk of departure is premature when decisions have not yet been made by ACANZP’s General Synod.

The NZ crisis is potential, but not yet immediate. It concerns the Church’s recognition (and blessing) of same sex marriages, a provision already legislated for by our Parliament. Our General Synod has set up a ‘Working Group’ to prepare recommendations as to what proposals should be brought before it to consider - and if supported, authorize – when it next meets in May 2016. That committee is yet to report back to the whole Church to provide opportunities for parishes and local diocesan synods to consider and debate its proposals before that General Synod meets.

One working group took up this issue for New Zealanders in more detail, but its title indicated its assumptions: ‘Deciding when to stay or go.’ Contributing to this group Australian Peter Adam, a former Principal of Ridley Theological College, was a calming voice pointing out that history showed that separating churches or new denominations are not guaranteed great success or greater doctrinal purity. We all live in the same world, with the same dilemmas before us. [Ed: for more on Peter Adam's approach, see here.]

But for Australians it was clear this kind of crisis was not their priority - or even for them a threatening concern. They were more troubled about the state of the Anglican Church in their country and its need for change if it is to successfully evangelise a new generation.  The nature of most of the working groups reflected this. How does one plant a new congregation? What are the obstacles hindering this? How can an existing church be turned around? What opportunities do social media present for reaching through to an otherwise unreachable age group? Discipling new believers. Gender issues in Australia. Rural ministry challenges. The future of dioceses.

One evening meeting was devoted to setting up an Australian branch of the FCA (Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans) to promote orthodoxy in the wider Anglican Communion and to offer support to those who for whatever reason are forced to withdraw from their dioceses while still considering themselves Anglican. It could not have been a long or contentious meeting as the launch took place standing up, following Sung Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral!

Over all, the Conference was marked by measured presentations, the absence of histrionics or hyperbole, the platform contributions of women, respectful listening to others, and the high quality of the lead speakers. Out of all this a consensus could be sensed that liberal theology, and parish ministry based on this, was a dead end; and that there was a need to bring our whole Anglican Communion, beginning with ourselves, back to its reformed Anglican roots, based on the primacy of Scripture in telling our story and determining our future.

Brian Carrell