There appear to be worrying divisions emerging in FiF between the Rome-ward bound and CoE loyalists. That has the potential to scupper the movement, which would be a pity. It is one of the most lively and evangelizing organizations in England.
If people are fearful and a bit confused it is quite understandable, we are facing extinction after all. But do not underestimate the unity of Anglo-Catholics! We love each other dearly and will stand firm to the end. Thus we stay -for now- hoping for that miracle. Yet despite the hope we do remain somewhat resigned to the fact that the C of E is growing less orthodox and Catholic by the day. This tension between hope and realism are what resonated through the meeting.
For this tension is the real predicament. We desperately want to stay – we love the Church of England to our finger tips- but her Synod is steadily ensuring that ‘being a member of said church’ and ‘maintaining an authenitcally Catholic spirituality’ becomes impossible. And when asked to choose – we are left with no choice!
Thus I -and many others- live with the painful knowledge that the day is coming- and it will break my heart when it does, leaving my family homeless- when the Church has become truly liberal and truly protestant. I myself will not have changed- I will continue to believe what the C of E taught me and to desire worship which the C of E taught me. Nevertheless I will be left high and dry becuase the institution re-imaged itself to appease current society.
Saddest of all is the fact that all of this pain could so easily be avoided by affording us a structural solution. So simple- a Diocese of our own. So little for our opponents to offer- they only lose parishes who already look elsewhere for episcopal care- yet they will not. Why? Because they do not want us to be seen as a viable and/or healthy option. Instead we must face death by code of practice…which is slow terminal care at very best.
Interestingly the youth Council, whilst supporting women’s ordination, is able to see the problem and solution. They recently voted, with their 80% female membership to seek a structural solutiuon…so why cant others? (but then the young arent blinded by 60’s feminism and a hatred of orthodoxy)
So -yes the meeting was sad. Yes the tension we live out each day was manifest. But trust me- we are close and united. And that is why we will continue to be the greatest success story of the decade of evangelism and will continue to move forward in faith.
For years my head said Church of England whilst my heart said Church of Rome. Eventually, when my head said Church of Rome I found my heart then said Church of England. Finally both head and heart said Church of Rome, and I followed both head and heart to Rome. I guess much the same is happening to many in Forward in Faith; I know I owe all my Catholic formation to the Church of England, but the time seems to be approaching when such a formation will no longer be possible at all. It will not be a matter of a single issue, but the recognition that catholicity has finally been squeezed out of the Church of England.
There appear to be worrying divisions emerging in FiF between the Rome-ward bound and CoE loyalists. That has the potential to scupper the movement, which would be a pity. It is one of the most lively and evangelizing organizations in England.
If people are fearful and a bit confused it is quite understandable, we are facing extinction after all. But do not underestimate the unity of Anglo-Catholics! We love each other dearly and will stand firm to the end. Thus we stay -for now- hoping for that miracle. Yet despite the hope we do remain somewhat resigned to the fact that the C of E is growing less orthodox and Catholic by the day. This tension between hope and realism are what resonated through the meeting.
For this tension is the real predicament. We desperately want to stay – we love the Church of England to our finger tips- but her Synod is steadily ensuring that ‘being a member of said church’ and ‘maintaining an authenitcally Catholic spirituality’ becomes impossible. And when asked to choose – we are left with no choice!
Thus I -and many others- live with the painful knowledge that the day is coming- and it will break my heart when it does, leaving my family homeless- when the Church has become truly liberal and truly protestant. I myself will not have changed- I will continue to believe what the C of E taught me and to desire worship which the C of E taught me. Nevertheless I will be left high and dry becuase the institution re-imaged itself to appease current society.
Saddest of all is the fact that all of this pain could so easily be avoided by affording us a structural solution. So simple- a Diocese of our own. So little for our opponents to offer- they only lose parishes who already look elsewhere for episcopal care- yet they will not. Why? Because they do not want us to be seen as a viable and/or healthy option. Instead we must face death by code of practice…which is slow terminal care at very best.
Interestingly the youth Council, whilst supporting women’s ordination, is able to see the problem and solution. They recently voted, with their 80% female membership to seek a structural solutiuon…so why cant others? (but then the young arent blinded by 60’s feminism and a hatred of orthodoxy)
So -yes the meeting was sad. Yes the tension we live out each day was manifest. But trust me- we are close and united. And that is why we will continue to be the greatest success story of the decade of evangelism and will continue to move forward in faith.
For years my head said Church of England whilst my heart said Church of Rome. Eventually, when my head said Church of Rome I found my heart then said Church of England. Finally both head and heart said Church of Rome, and I followed both head and heart to Rome. I guess much the same is happening to many in Forward in Faith; I know I owe all my Catholic formation to the Church of England, but the time seems to be approaching when such a formation will no longer be possible at all. It will not be a matter of a single issue, but the recognition that catholicity has finally been squeezed out of the Church of England.
100% agree flabellum