St John's Church

Macaulay Road, Broadstone, Dorset

Home History Vicar's Monthly Leader Service Times

August 2010

FROM THE VICAR : Because of the unique connection of the Church of England with the State, the parish church exists to serve the whole community - unless people belong to another denomination, another religion or choose to have none at all. This means that it serves many more people than come along regularly for worship. Those who are regulars, come from the broad spectrum of traditions that once was the great strength of the Church of England - and generally, we held each other in respect, even if we did not totally agree with their point of view. Nowadays, this respect has been laid to one side and there is a great deal of bullying going on at all levels - ignoring the biblical image of the Church as a Body with many different parts and when one part hurts, all the rest hurt with it.

The whole Anglican Communion comprises only 2% of Christendom and is strongest in parts of Africa, where it clings firmly to its traditions. This means that probably less than 1% of Christendom has come up with what some of us would consider to be innovations in our heritage - the ordination of women, the consecration of gay bishops, blessing of same-sex unions, remarriage in church after one or several divorces, the abandonment of the authority of the Scriptures, and much more besides.

The recent decision of General Synod to have women bishops by about 2015 will be welcomed by some, others will be neutral and some will be totally horrified. If it is right that there should be women priests, then they should also be bishops in due course. I would argue that the original premise was not the majority decision of the whole Church, of which we are but a part, and that by departing from our heritage, we are now in danger of becoming just another sect. The theological arguments were based upon a single text from Paul's letter to the Galatians (ch.3 v.28) - which is nothing at all to do with ministry, but the dignity of all human beings through their baptism. If Paul is to be cited as the authority on these matters then why is his ruling in the First Letter to Timothy (which is about ministry) conveniently ignored? Look it up in I Timothy 2.8-14!

The Church should never be in tandem with the fashions of the secular world - otherwise it has no purpose whatsoever - but should be a reflection of heaven on earth and the hope of future glory.

I happen to believe that God is more firmly in control of the situation than we give him credit for and that he is about to do great things for his Faithful. We need above all, to pray for our parish and its future and for the whole Church. Some will stay put and go along (perhaps even grudgingly) with the changes and others may take advantage of Pope Benedict's gracious invitation (about which we will hear a lot more after his Visit to this country in September). But what I feel will be very wrong is for those gentle souls, who do not shout and debate, to feel that they have no place in the Church and simply stop coming.

Martin Fredriksen.

 

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