It may come as a surprise to some to know that I have signed the form to become listed on the electoral roll of the local parish church. Every six years all Church of England parish churches have to produce a new electoral roll. Signatories of current rolls cannot simply be transferred to the new roll. All must sign the form.
Given my dismay at the failure of the CoE to speed up the Living in Love and Faith process and the abysmal decision of General Synod not to agree to totally independent safeguarding provision one might think I had no interest or desire in associating with the church. However, I do enjoy the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) services of Matins and Evening Prayer, particularly the latter when it takes the form of Choral Evensong. I appreciate the language of the BCP and the singing of the magnificent choir. The choir regularly performs at cathedral services, most recently at St. Paul's Cathedral.
On their own language and music would not justify my decision to re-join the CofE. There are deeper reasons as exemplified in the theological opinions of John Robinson, Richard Holloway, John Shelby Spong et al moving along the road towards a postmodern, radical theology free of the clutter of creeds, doctrine, dogma and regulation. You have to be inside to promote change, not looking on from without. The malign influence of fundamentalist evangelical attitudes has to be countered and challenged at every turn.
I have taken the following statement by Don Cupitt to heart.
"I am a priest in the Church of England and I practise in a rather traditional way, but when I say the creed, I regard it not as giving me supernatural information but as showing me a way to walk in."
No comments:
Post a Comment