Conservatives drive split deeper within Anglican Church
A group of parishes is preparing what could be the first step towards a formal split in the Church of England over issues such as homosexuality, with the creation of a new ‘‘shadow synod’’ vowing to uphold traditional teaching.
Members may decide to withhold money from the offering plates in their dioceses, instead channelling funds towards their own ‘‘missionary’’ plans.
Representatives of almost a dozen congregations will gather in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, this week for the first session of what they say could develop into an alternative Anglican Church in England.
Organisers, drawn from the conservative evangelical wing of Anglicanism, say they have no immediate plans to break away, but are setting up the ‘‘embryonic’’ structures, which could be used to do so if the established church moves further in what they see as a liberal direction.
The new alliance will be viewed as a ‘‘church within a church’’ but founders have not ruled out full separation if, for example, the Church of England offers blessingstyle services for same-sex unions – a move expected to be considered by bishops in the coming months.
Differences over sexuality have already led to a major rift in the 80 million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion and formal
‘‘If senior leaders of the Church of England water down the teaching of the Church of England on key issues like homosexuality, then this synod could easily evolve into a new Anglican jurisdiction in England.’’ The Rev Dr Peter Sanlon, vicar of St Mark’s Church in Tunbridge Wells
splits in the United States and Canada after the ordination of openly gay bishops.
Congregations from Rochester, Canterbury and Chichester will become founder members of the new grouping. They claim the Church of England’s leadership is ‘‘watering down’’ centuries-old teaching on core beliefs including the authority of the Bible.
Top of their agenda will be discussing founding new ‘‘Anglican’’ congregations in England. They are likely to consider joining forces with congregations outside the Church of England with links to Anglican bishops overseas, particularly in Africa.
The move came as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, spoke of being ‘‘constantly consumed with horror’’ at the church’s treatment of gay and lesbian people.
The Rev Dr Peter Sanlon, vicar of St Mark’s Church in Tunbridge Wells, who is hosting this week’s meeting, said: ‘‘If senior leaders of the Church of England water down the teaching . . . on key issues like homosexuality, then this synod could easily evolve into a new Anglican jurisdiction in England.
‘‘The Archbishop of Canterbury has signalled that he is aware of the possibility that a significant proportion of the church will not accept a change in the church’s teaching. This could be the beginning of that playing out.’’
Sanlon added: ‘‘I am not leaving the Church of England but in order to stay, I need new partnerships and structures to discharge the mission of the Church of England.
‘‘My only problem now is coping with the number of clergy contacting me wanting to know how they can join in.’’
A Church of England spokesman said ‘‘shared conversations’’ involving bishops, clergy and laity would lay the foundations for ‘‘further formal discussions’’ on sexuality.