I have been thinking about churches who see themselves as specialist in some way, on the edge of the church because they are Charismatic, or Conservative, or Anglo-Catholic. Once a church is on the edge of their tradition then they are the safeguarders of the treasure that exists in that tradition, and stepping away from that edge risks loosing forever the treasures. As an example, if a church stops using incense and it is the only church for miles that does this, then there is a loss for those who benefit from this practise.
This made me wonder two things. Does a church stand on the edge to preserve the full breadth of the church as a whole, or do they stand there to try to get the centre to move more in their direction? More interesting than that, perhaps is the question of whether it is difficult to avoid being stuck if you find yourself on the edge. So are the Anglo-Catholics on the edge a bit stuck over women priests, not because of the issue itself, but because it represents moving closer to the centre? Is it possible to be vibrant, innovative, to change, whilst still remaining a safeguarder of the treasures at the edge? I would say yes, emphatically so.
4 comments:
The Anglican communion is built for the most part on ideology and practice best exemplified by wise words a one late chaplain of college I attended:
None must
Some should
All may
And it's for that reason, a convenant WON'T work. The convenant is the biggest impediment to any semblance of "unity" or communion Anglicanism has left. The Anglican church's uniqueness is the ability to delineate between similar and same. We can all be in communion but not necessarily identical, each community/individual has it's/their own witness. The day one group decides to impose on another, will mark the end of the communion.
Lesley, the flaw in your argument is the presupposition that the church traditions you mention regard themselves as being on the edge or should be regarded as being on the edge. There is a certain arrognance amongst sections of the church who regard themselves as being at the centre when others might argue that they are the very ones who have moved to the edge (this would certainly be the argument of many conservative evangelicals). It is a simplistic and distorted understanding of ecclesiology that many find offensive because the people using it often seem to locate themselves at the centre. I just don't see this as a helpful approach.
I'm decidely on the edge - any given day my little spirit could be snuffed out. May our Father, the great and mighty Lord God enlighten us. May he teach us to be humble, meek & mild. May he teach us to do his will, and leave off our own way.
God is no respecter of persons, as we know. And by our fruits we shall be known - as we also know. So, more energy into making ourselves acceptable children to our Father, and less into imagining we know anything of ourselves may be healthy.
God bless and keep you,
Robert
Thanks for your comments. I too think the Covenant idea is a lousy one for the Communion. I think the Conservative Evangelicals may see themselves as at the edge of the Anglican communion but perhaps in the centre of where the church should be.. Robert, I think perhaps if we aren't on the edge in that sense then we are perhaps too far into our comfort zones.
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