Part 325. Call my bluff. Will the bishops fold?

I detect an element of desperation in the following statement by John Dunnett. When a poker player has a poor hand it is not recommended to raise the stakes. A bluff may be called with dire consequences.  I cannot see the House of Bishops folding. It almost as though the CEO of the Church of England Evangelical Alliance is going 'all in".  A risky strategy.

The statement is a demand for a Third Province. If it is rejected what then?  Does the departure lounge await?

"Following countless conversations with members of CEEC, General Synod, the Alliance and many others, I've noticed widespread consensus about what the so called PLF ‘provision’ or ‘reassurance’ needs to deliver, as the House of Bishops have chosen to proceed with their proposed changes regarding Living in Love and Faith. 

Let me highlight just three of them for you:

 

ONE We need to be in a part of the Church of England that has one biblical doctrine of sex and marriage. It's just not possible to hold two contradictory doctrines side by side. 

 

TWO We need to have bishops who believe, teach and lead out of orthodox convictions. Bishops who believe and uphold biblical teaching. Laypeople are saying to us, that's the kind of bishop they long to be overseen by. Clergy are saying that they need to be licensed and overseen by such bishops. 

 

THREE We need to guarantee what you might call ministerial pathways for the future. By that I mean securing the ongoing supply of people, being trained for ordained ministry, the ongoing supply of clergy, being appointed into parishes.

 

And of course, we're talking here about the guarantee of future appointment of orthodox bishops. We don't want anyone to be barred from ordination, parochial ministry, the episcopacy, because they can't, in good conscience, use or allow the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith. 

 

And if the provisions that are being explored and possibly brought to General Synod cannot guarantee at least those three things, then we have to see it as insufficient provision. So… 

 

> Please do pray for the challenging meetings that are currently going on about how Orthodoxy can be provided for, secured, going forwards. 

> Please do pray for those who are feeling vulnerable, even being squeezed at this time because of their stand for orthodoxy. 

> Please do pray for wisdom for those who are having to live out the reality of impaired fellowship at this time."

John Dunnett, National Director CEEC