Friday, September 13, 2002

More on Convergence, Comprehensiveness and Congress

This short reflection continues the theme of Convergence, Comprehensiveness and Congress. Again I commend the paper by Dr Tarsitano as a basis for more thorough reflection - not necessarily to agree with it but as a starter to serious thought.

First, quotes from two distinguished men.

Philip Schaff, one of the great scholars of 19th century America and one who passionately desired Christian unity on sound principles observed that in America: "Every theological vagabond and peddler may drive here his bungling trade, without passport or license, and sell his false ware at pleasure." In 1939 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who gave up life in America to return to Nazi Germany and sure death, wrote: "In has been granted to the Americans less than any other nation of the earth to realize on earth the visible unity of the Church of God.American Christianity has no central organization, no common creed, no common church history and no common ethical or political principles."

And I myself, a mere, traditional Anglican, and careful observer of the USA scene, have written often of "the supermarket of religions" in the USA and of the little corner of that supermarket where there are thirty to forty varieties of Anglicanism on sale or being advertised.

The divided and multi-faceted Anglican or Episcopal scene in the USA probably does not worry those who rejoice in, or are conditioned by, the tremendous choice in goods, food and pleasure activities in America. After all some people celebrate the fact that there are as many opinions in the country as there are residents.

However, to those who have a deep sense of the unity of the Church (as had Schaff & Bonhoeffer) as the One Body of Christ, and the vocation on earth to realize that unity, the lack of any unity is embarrassing, to say the least.

And with respect to the Anglican Way, as one jurisdiction of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church (with a duty herself to find ways to unity with other Jurisdictions), there is surely a duty of all Anglicans in the USA, who believe themselves to be genuinely desirous of being orthodox and biblically based, to look for ways of convergence and a unity that is generously comprehensive. I say a duty for that is what is first necessary, and we do not know what will happen if all seek to implement this duty.

True enough we start from the position where there are apparently tremendous differences in so many areas - in forms of worship, in priorities in doctrine, in discipline, in general ethos and style and so on. Then we have reality of human beings in positions of authority and power who are understandingly hesitant to relinquish any of this - e.g., the 100 plus bishops in the Continuing Churches, not to mention the would-be orthodox bishops of ECUSA. And all this in a society where individualism and pragmatism and utilitarianism and the like reign without much competition.

This is why I suggested that the fact of and FULL doctrine of our Baptism into Christ and in the Name of the Holy Trinity be the starting point towards convergence and then comprehensiveness. Not the end point but the starting point. By the full doctrine I meant that which is conveyed and presumed in the historic Anglican Rites for Baptism. [Others suggest the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral as a starting point but this is really meant for discussion with non-Anglicans.]

I believe that the varieties of Anglican expression need to be brought together under the same roof for a sufficiently long period for any convergence to begin. In dialogue, which is aimed at the honouring of the LORD of unity, differences will be understood and narrowed and, if God so please, progress will be made. Such a meeting would not have "The Eucharist" but would have times of prayer and reflection, with a mixture of styles. At this preliminary stage the Eucharist does not unite because there is no agreement as to its Shape and its Celebrant!

In dialogue we seek to understand each other and why we believe and act as we do and why we think this or that to be important. By this method we can by God's grace move slowly and painfully at first to a convergence and after that maybe to comprehensiveness in a new National Anglican Church for the USA. To do nothing or to stand on our individualistic and pragmatic separate ground and shout at others, will not help anyone, certainly not the cause of the Church of God on earth.

The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
Minister of Christ Church, Biddulph Moor,
England & Vice-President and Emissary-at-Large
of The Prayer Book Society of America

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