It came to light last month that the Archbishop of Canterbury\u2019s newly appointed envoy to the Vatican had a history of disputing core Christian doctrine, including a widely circulated video in which he calls for people to be \u2018set free\u2019 from belief in a physical resurrection. Dr John Shepherd has responded by issuing a statement which apparently affirms belief that Jesus was raised bodily, but has not repudiated his previous statements to the contrary. Such confusion is itself an obstacle to the gospel.<\/p>\n
We have also learned with deep concern that the Assistant Bishop of Toronto, Kevin Robertson, entered into a same sex union using the marriage service in St James\u2019 Cathedral, Toronto. This step by the Anglican Church of Canada underlines the urgency of our advice in the Jerusalem 2018 \u2018Letter to the Churches\u2019 warning against attending the 2020 Lambeth Conference as currently constituted. For the first time assistant bishops and their spouses will be invited, so we can expect that Bishop Robertson and his partner will be attending and received in good standing.<\/p>\n
Over two hundred bishops did not come to Lambeth 2008 as a matter of conscience because Archbishop Rowan Williams invited the TEC bishops who had approved the consecration in 2003 of Gene Robinson, a man in a same sex partnership, against the clearly stated mind of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, but even Archbishop Williams did not invite Gene Robinson himself on the grounds that he reserved the right not to invite bishops who had caused very serious division or scandal. But now it seems to be considered that a bishop can be married to a same-sex partner in a cathedral, by another bishop, and yet remain in good standing. I strongly commend Professor Stephen Noll\u2019s article \u2018Taking Sweet Council Together\u2019 in which he shows how true Christian fellowship is not only a joy, but also a responsibility and must be based on true doctrine. Without that discipline, the Church is prey to the \u2018fierce wolves\u2019 St Paul warns the Ephesian elders to beware of, even those who arise from within the Church and speak \u2018twisted things\u2019 (Acts 20:29,30).<\/p>\n
With great sadness we therefore have to conclude that the Lambeth Conference of 2020 will itself be an obstacle to the gospel by embracing teaching and a pattern of life which are profoundly at odds with the biblical witness and the apostolic Christianity through the ages.<\/p>\n
St Paul was prepared to \u2018endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ\u2019.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n GAFCON leader says Lambeth Conference ‘will be an obstacle to the gospel’ https:\/\/t.co\/RtI2IEZBFu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Christian Today (@ChristianToday) February 7, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n