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C of E disestablishment debate gathers pace

-19/02/05

As the Church of Englandís general synod (its national governing body) was meeting this week, the re-awakened conversation about its possible disestablishment continued to gather pace – with articles in leading British newspapers (both the secular and church press) and growing global coverage.

The Christian Herald, an influential evangelical weekly, has highlighted the issue on its front page. The Times, a daily newspaper of record in the UK, ran an article by Theo Hobson, a leading proponent of ending the church-state fusion.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Bartley, director of the theological think tank Ekklesia, which has called for an ecumenical reconsideration of the disestablishment issue, spoke on the ëGood Morning Americaí ABC television show, which broadcasts coast to coast, and on UK radio.

Writing in The Times, Theo Hobson (whose book ëAnarchy, Church and Utopia: Rowan Williams on Churchí is published by Darton Longman and Todd in March) declares: ìUpon his appointment to Canterbury, [the Archbishop] shoved his disestablishing sympathies into the closet. Surely he should reach out to those with similar feelings ó young, confused Anglicans especially ó and tell them itís OK.

ìItís OK to feel slightly nauseated by grand occasions of state, to feel that royalist pageantry stifles the spirit of Jesus Christî, Hobson continues.

Acknowledging the pain and difficulty that would be involved in seriously considering the need to free itself, Hobson goes on to say that ì[t]he Church of England really ought to have modernised itself over the past few centuries. By remaining attached to the monarchy it has opted to become part of the heritage industry. A sensible enough decision in some ways ó it means no end of interest from tourists and plenty of merchandising opportunities. But it [also] means that it is no longer a convincing or compelling form of Christianity.î

This theme is echoed by Ekklesiaís Jonathan Bartley in an article published in this weekís Church of England Newspaper. There he writes: ìWhatever oneís views on the ethics and circumstances of the latest royal engagement, it highlights the need for a major change in the Church of Englandís confused and highly questionable marriage to the state.î

Bartley, who penned the piece jointly with ecumenist and Ekklesia associate Simon Barrow, continues: ìIn the Charles and Camilla saga, it seems as if the Church has again been a bit-part in constitutional affairs, dragged along by the wishes of Palace spin-doctors. The upshot is that the C of Eís future Governor will be a man who is not to permitted to re-marry in his own Church using the official liturgy he would pledge to uphold at his coronation.î

The article points out that defenders of Establishment say that the Church has greater ëinfluence in the nationí through its Crown privilege. ìWhat they really mean is that, in all honesty, we have much less trust in the Prince of Peace is than we do in worldly princesî, it declares.

ìThe message of the Gospel is that Godís grace and forgiveness is available to all, whatever their statusî, the piece continues. ìJesus practised open table fellowship, said that the last would be first in Godís kingdom, and created a new community of equals ñ the church. The Crown, by contrast, is an institution that exists to preserve an order based on eugenic privilege. That most Christians do not notice this, and do not see how the Churchís royal allegiance falsifies the Gospel, illustrates just how blinded we are by worldly status.î

Jonathan Bartley concludes: ìWe could waste the next couple of months fretting the niceties of a royal wedding. But wouldnít it be better to inject some proper theological energy into the church-state debate? What we do will reveal where our faith ñ which the monarch purportedly ëdefendsí ñ really lies.î

The full original article is now available online.

Theo Hobson also has an article in the respected Roman Catholic paper, The Tablet, this week. In it he says: ìBefore [Archbishop of Canterbury] Rowan Williams was enthroned he spoke boldly about the possibility of the Church recapturing the imagination of the culture. Maybe he will come to the conclusion that it cannot do so while it is established ñ and idea he has flirted with for years. Now that would be interesting.î


Find books now:

C of E disestablishment debate gathers pace

-19/02/05

As the Church of Englandís general synod (its national governing body) was meeting this week, the re-awakened conversation about its possible disestablishment continued to gather pace – with articles in leading British newspapers (both the secular and church press) and growing global coverage.

The Christian Herald, an influential evangelical weekly, has highlighted the issue on its front page. The Times, a daily newspaper of record in the UK, ran an article by Theo Hobson, a leading proponent of ending the church-state fusion.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Bartley, director of the theological think tank Ekklesia, which has called for an ecumenical reconsideration of the disestablishment issue, spoke on the ëGood Morning Americaí ABC television show, which broadcasts coast to coast, and on UK radio.

Writing in The Times, Theo Hobson (whose book ëAnarchy, Church and Utopia: Rowan Williams on Churchí is published by Darton Longman and Todd in March) declares: ìUpon his appointment to Canterbury, [the Archbishop] shoved his disestablishing sympathies into the closet. Surely he should reach out to those with similar feelings ó young, confused Anglicans especially ó and tell them itís OK.

ìItís OK to feel slightly nauseated by grand occasions of state, to feel that royalist pageantry stifles the spirit of Jesus Christî, Hobson continues.

Acknowledging the pain and difficulty that would be involved in seriously considering the need to free itself, Hobson goes on to say that ì[t]he Church of England really ought to have modernised itself over the past few centuries. By remaining attached to the monarchy it has opted to become part of the heritage industry. A sensible enough decision in some ways ó it means no end of interest from tourists and plenty of merchandising opportunities. But it [also] means that it is no longer a convincing or compelling form of Christianity.î

This theme is echoed by Ekklesiaís Jonathan Bartley in an article published in this weekís Church of England Newspaper. There he writes: ìWhatever oneís views on the ethics and circumstances of the latest royal engagement, it highlights the need for a major change in the Church of Englandís confused and highly questionable marriage to the state.î

Bartley, who penned the piece jointly with ecumenist and Ekklesia associate Simon Barrow, continues: ìIn the Charles and Camilla saga, it seems as if the Church has again been a bit-part in constitutional affairs, dragged along by the wishes of Palace spin-doctors. The upshot is that the C of Eís future Governor will be a man who is not to permitted to re-marry in his own Church using the official liturgy he would pledge to uphold at his coronation.î

The article points out that defenders of Establishment say that the Church has greater ëinfluence in the nationí through its Crown privilege. ìWhat they really mean is that, in all honesty, we have much less trust in the Prince of Peace is than we do in worldly princesî, it declares.

ìThe message of the Gospel is that Godís grace and forgiveness is available to all, whatever their statusî, the piece continues. ìJesus practised open table fellowship, said that the last would be first in Godís kingdom, and created a new community of equals ñ the church. The Crown, by contrast, is an institution that exists to preserve an order based on eugenic privilege. That most Christians do not notice this, and do not see how the Churchís royal allegiance falsifies the Gospel, illustrates just how blinded we are by worldly status.î

Jonathan Bartley concludes: ìWe could waste the next couple of months fretting the niceties of a royal wedding. But wouldnít it be better to inject some proper theological energy into the church-state debate? What we do will reveal where our faith ñ which the monarch purportedly ëdefendsí ñ really lies.î

The full original article is now available online.

Theo Hobson also has an article in the respected Roman Catholic paper, The Tablet, this week. In it he says: ìBefore [Archbishop of Canterbury] Rowan Williams was enthroned he spoke boldly about the possibility of the Church recapturing the imagination of the culture. Maybe he will come to the conclusion that it cannot do so while it is established ñ and idea he has flirted with for years. Now that would be interesting.î