What is an Anglican?
An early start today. We recorded a conversation about Anglican identity with two bishops: Archbishop Ian Ernest, chair of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa, and Bishop Colin Johnson form the Diocese of Toronto. Henry Orombi's broadside against the Archbishop of Canterbury was also on the agenda. A key question for the future of Anglicanism is whether the See of Canterbury will continue to have its current defining role. What would a post-Canterbury Anglicanism look like?
After recording the discussion, I had breakfast with producer Bert Tosh and John Benson, our sound supervisor, in the Origins cafe at Darwin College. Add 'Origins' to the growing list of buildings and locations in need of hermeneutical analysis as key clues to the Anglican debate. And while you're at it, I note here the presence on campus of a building named after , who helped to lead the British forces in the American War of Independence. Cornwallis was a future Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and governor-general of India.
Back to the programme. We've been here since Wednesday recording packages, doing interviews, and setting up guests for tomorrow's special edition of Sunday Sequence. My interview with Gene Robinson will lead after the 9 o'clock news, and at this stage we're planning to open the programme in the open air outside a significant building. That may be Canterbury Cathedral, in which case we may even be able to hear some bells. We'll have reports from the marketplace, meet some of the bloggers who have been writing up their experiences online, and narrate the key events that have brought the Anglican Communion to this Lambeth Conference. We've also planned a big discussion featuring some key players in the debate, both from the United States and Ireland. Bert and John are in the other room, making final edits of reports for tomorrow.
The Conference officially ends tomorrow. Rowan Williams will give his final presidential address at 3.30 pm, followed by a short press conference, then participants will make there way to the Cathedral for the final service.
Comment number 1.
At 2nd Aug 2008, brain_cell wrote:My analysis of what is fundamentally wrong with our society (I speak as an Englishman) is that there is a deep cultural, moral, psychological and spiritual vacuum, which is being filled by an often neurotic celebrity culture, as well as a political system which seeks to speak into areas of life for which it has not, and should not have, a remit. Government and celebrity have become the substitute for God.
So what has this to do with the Anglican Church? Everything! But let me explain...
I think that the Church is often burdened by a kind of internationalism, which blinds us to the real needs down our own streets. Please do not misunderstand me - of course we should engage with the outside world and in overseas mission - and of course we should celebrate the Worldwide Anglican Communion. But the Church of England - i.e. that branch of Anglicanism in England - should recognise its responsibility to speak clearly and truthfully on those problems which are tearing apart our own society, instead of expending energy worrying about the approval of foreign provinces or other denominations.
So what is an Anglican? From an English perspective, it is a Christian belonging to a Church primarily committed to communicating the Gospel into our own society. That is non-negotiable. It is not about nationalism or even patriotism. It is about a commitment to the needs of the people of our own nation. Other Anglican provinces and other churches, such as the Catholic Church, should therefore come to terms with and submit to this reality.
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