What can we expect of the Shared Conversations?<\/p>\n
By Stephen Hofmeyr QC, Acting Chairman of the Church of England Evangelical Council, writing in the Church of England Newspaper.<\/p>\n
The Church of England is embarking on a process of \u201cshared conversations\u201d\u009d which has two objectives. The first objective is \u201d\u02dcto clarify how we can most effectively be a missionary church in a culture which has changed its view on human sexuality\u2019. Amen! The revealed truth of the gospel is God\u2019s truth for all people, everywhere, in every age. Therefore, the issue about being an effective missionary church is not about whether we are free to change what God has taught, but how to communicate God\u2019s truth in a culture that has changed its view. In areas of human sexuality, that will require a communication of the Bible\u2019s teaching about the body and sexuality which a generation ago would have gone without saying. So long as the scope of this first objective is correctly understood, it presents a wonderful opportunity. The second objective is \u201d\u02dcto clarify the implications of what it means for the Church of England to live with \u201d\u00a6 \u201cgood disagreement\u201d\u009d on these issues\u2019. What are the possible outcomes of these shared conversations?<\/p>\n