A discussion on the sensitive topic has been tabled for the next meeting of the Church of England’s governing body amid fears that some clergy are ignoring their traditional missionary role.
Some members of the General Synod believe Christ ordered all Christians to recruit nonbelievers and followers of other faiths, and they want to see how many bishops and vicars agree with this view.
Among the speakers is likely to be the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who earlier this year warned that Church leaders had “gone too far” in their sensitivity towards Muslims and were not doing enough to spread the word of God.
At the end of the debate at next February’s Synod meeting in London, bishops, clergy and lay members will vote on whether bishops should report to the Synod on “their understanding of the uniqueness of Christ in multi-faith Britain”, and give examples of how the gospel should be shared.
The Church is about bringing people to Christ. Thus, the debate is moot. Either be a Christian or Universalists. They are not the same thing…and neither are Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Taos, Buddhists, etc…
They are completely different religious beliefs and while they may have some similar moral teachings…it is not about moral teaching but a saving relationship with Christ.
Syncretism is not acceptable.
Amen.
Pretty sad that this is even considered debatable.
# 3…I quite agree and that fact that there is even a question about whether to spread the Gospel to ALL nations speaks volumes about the “babel” in the COE.
The correct word is “how”, not “whether”.
I think there are many in the CofE in need of conversion. Maybe the Church should start there.
so prepare for clever fudge and subterfuge and an avoidance of the question. Bishops to state ‘whilst we are committed to x – we deeply recognise and honour Y and that means we can hold C and D in creative tension- whilst working for G in an atmosphere of mutual warmth as children of Abrahamic faith….
Best still just ask this:
Muslims claim an angel whispered to Mohammed. Was this an angel from God? And if so why was the revelation given us in Christ Jesus not sufficient?
I’m a liberal but I believe that all are saved through Christ, and Christ alone (whether that’s exclusively through the Christian faith is up to God), but I believe strongly that the Gospel should be preached and when preached well, it converts.
It saddens me when Christians have this discussion about whether someone should be converted. Our task is to preach the Gospel of Christ and God works through that as God wills. If a Jew, Muslim, agnostic, atheist, or Anglican is converted through that then we have done well. Aren’t all faith traditions about seeking after the truth? Can’t we all grow further in our search? Our understanding is that the truth is Christ, so why wouldn’t we speak of him?
As an aside, I was told by a (liberal) bishop involved in Christian-Muslim dialogue that if a Christian isn’t interested in others being converted, then a Muslim tends to think the Christian doesn’t care about his or her faith. I hosted a local imam for an interfaith discussion and was amused at how he quickly moved around the parish hall during the reception engaging in what we would call evangelism and faith sharing. And he did it an a conversational, personable way. Would that more Christians would feel comfortable doing so.
Dirk Reinken
Of course NOT. That whole bit about “Go ye into all the world …preach…baptize…teach…observe” was just the metaphorical expression of the non-need to do anything! /sarcasm
Did the CoE learn nothing from the Wesley’s, even after all these years?
I wonder if it would surprise them to know Muslims consider Christians a mission field always and everywhere? And that they consider compulsion a reasonable means to the end? Either converting Muslims or anyone else is on the agenda, or the organization isn’t christian.