If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
(Mark 3 v24)

A meeting has just been held in London of the Archbishops from the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion with the usual vacuous ending. The Archbishop of Canterbury has shrewdly acted with the political alacrity once displayed by the Labour government when in Office, that when you have a disaster you create a diversion by announcing another headline grabbing suggestion. He has proposed out of the blue, that Easter should be celebrated on a fixed date each year, and this has been taken to the television, radio and press with maximum publicity, thus thrusting the outcome of the meeting out of many peoples’ minds.

The Archbishops had been discussing how to avoid a schism in the Communion, raised when the leaders of the Churches in Africa, Asia and South America, who hold a conservative view of Scripture, objected to the inclusion of the United States Church which supports the ordination of homosexual clergy, same sex marriage, and an open acceptance of homosexuality in general.
The conservative leaders point out the unequivocal statement of Scripture, that any form of homosexuality is condemned, and is a violation of God’s creative order. The liberal leaders of the Western Churches, and especially the United States, take a libertarian and permissive approach allying themselves with modern society.

The outcome of the meeting was that the United States Episcopal Church has been suspended from taking part in any policy making decisions for three years, (which is of little consequence) but allowed to remain in the Communion. This is claimed to be Anglican compromise.

The liberal side, as one might have anticipated, are screaming homophobia, and such is the power they have over the media, that it is overlooked that if someone has a different opinion or viewpoint, that is not phobic; and there is a lack of intelligence and tolerance by anyone so claiming. There is no suggestion, nor should there be, that any man or woman would ever be barred from attending Church. Indeed, more so that they be welcomed to hear why others differ.

Liberals do have an innate intolerance of anyone who has an opinion which does not tally with theirs. We are always hearing calls for democratic attitudes, so why not allow the 38 leaders have a vote, the democratic way, and the majority view accepted. However, that is not just going to happen, so it would be wiser and less damaging to the Church to stop this endless wrangling and let each side separate.

In the book of Acts of the Apostles we read, ‘the early Church devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles, and the Lord added to their Church.’ The Western Churches are not devoting themselves to the teaching of the Apostles and their numbers are tumbling, whereas the Eastern Churches are and the Lord is adding to their numbers. Is there not some moral there?

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It should be noted that there is the Anglican Church of North America, which teaches a conservative message, formed from members who left the Episcopal Church because of its apostasy.

Thew following is part of a quote from Archbishops who hold traditional biblical beliefs

We are pleased that Archbishop Foley Beach of the Anglican Church in North America has
played a full part in the Canterbury meeting of Primates and that sanctions have been applied to
the Episcopal Church of the United States, (TEC) recognising the need for mutual
accountability on matters of doctrine within the family of the Communion.

However, this action must not be seen as an end, but as a beginning. There is much that causes
us concern, especially the failure to recognise the fact that the Anglican Church of Canada
(ACoC) has also rejected the collegial mind of the Communion by unilaterally permitting the
blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of those in active homosexual relationships. We
fear that other provinces will do the same.

Since the beginning of the crisis in the Communion brought about by the actions of both TEC
and the ACoC, the Anglican instruments of unity have been unable to guard biblical truth and
restore godly order. There must therefore be doubt about the effectiveness of the sanctions that
have been agreed.

In particular, it must be recognised that the continuing brokenness of the Communion is not the
result simply of failed relationships, but is caused by the persistent rejection of biblical and
apostolic faith as set out in Lambeth Resolution 1.10. We are therefore disappointed that the
Primates’ statement makes no reference to the need for repentance.

The need for the GAFCON movement is being recognised by an ever increasing number of
people and we are encouraged in our conviction that God has called us to work for an Anglican
Communion which is a truly global family of Churches. We long to see a united, confident and
courageous witness to God who by the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ has given
us an unshakeable hope and assures us of his unfailing love.