Perhaps my favorite time in Orlando was spent in a small group with Dr. J. I. Packer. It is hard to overestimate Packer\u2019s impact on evangelical Christianity. The graciousness he afforded me to sit on a couch and ask him questions for more than an hour was humbling and helpful. He is very clear minded at age eighty-two and he remains incredibly conversant, insightful, and witty. Impressively, his words are impeccably precise.<\/p>\n
As we sat on the couch together, he explained that Anglicanism is patterned after the ancient Roman governmental system so that a bishop has jurisdiction over a geographic area. However, this long-established ecclesiological pattern has been breached because Anglicanism is suffering from \u201cheretical bishops.\u201d\u009d By \u201cheretical bishops,\u201d\u009d Packer was referring to those bishops who sanction homosexual activity. He explained that the \u201cheretical bishops\u201d\u009d won support for their position following much lobbying. This sadly required Bible-believing Anglican churches to come under the authority of other orthodox bishops outside of their geographic area rather than remain under \u201cheretical bishops.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
When asked about calling those who support homosexuality and profess to be Christian \u201cheretical,\u201d\u009d Packer very carefully and insightfully explained what he meant.<\/p>\n