Vicars threaten gay marriage Church split
THE Queen’s former chaplain is leading a vicars’ rebellion over gay marriage, as he threatens to break away from the Church of England.
The Rev Gavin Ashenden, who until earlier this year was one of the special chaplains to the Queen, has warned of the prospect of a “declaration of independence” from vicars who feel that those with traditional views are being “marginalised” by the Church establishment.
In a letter published in today’s Daily Telegraph, a group of 23 conservative Anglicans raise the prospect of a split in the Church.
They claim that the General Synod – the Church of England’s law-making body which earlier this month appeared to signal support for gay marriage – has caused “great concern” to Anglicans, and has deepened tensions between the traditionalist and progressive camps. “There are times, particularly in the face of social disintegration, when it is the duty of the Church to be counter-cultural,” the letter says.
It states that the “booing of traditionalists” and the “personal abuse” they suffered at the General Synod had “deepened mistrust” between the two camps. It concludes by raising the prospect of a split in the Church of England, similar to that which took place in the North American Anglican church.
Dr Ashenden told The Daily Telegraph that the letter was a warning that unless there was a change of direction, the Archbishop of Canterbury risked a “revolt”.
“This is a warning that the Archbishop is under notice that unless he leads the Church in a way that remains consistent with the values and authority of the Bible, as opposed to progressive secularism, he will risk some kind of revolt in the form of an independence movement,” he said.
A Church spokesman said: “Synod often debates controversial issues and members can sometimes disagree strongly with each other. That is the nature of debate.”
SIR – Recent actions in the General Synod in pursuit of a culture that denies biblical ethics, as they have been practised and understood “at all places and in all times”, have caused many Anglicans great concern.
There are times, particularly in the face of social disintegration, when it is the duty of the Church to be counter-cultural. The failure of the House of Bishops to uphold the teaching of the Bible and of the Universal Church in this area is very disappointing, if not surprising.
Booing of traditionalists and the levels of personal abuse aimed at them during the Synod have only deepened mistrust between the different sides.
There are now effectively two opposed expressions of Anglicanism in this country. One has capitulated to secular values, and one continues to hold the faith “once delivered to the saints”.
We and others stand with the majority of faithful Anglican across the globe, in prioritising Scripture and the unanimous teaching of the universal Church over secular fashion. We note the results of this same conflict in North America, even as we look for and pray for a similar renewal of orthodox Anglicanism and of Anglican structures in these islands.
Rt Rev Michael Nazir-ali
Bishop of Rochester, 1994-2009
Rt Rev John Fenwick
Bishop Primus, Free Church of England Rev Gavin Ashenden Former Chaplain to the Queen Rev Mark Burkill Chairman of Reform Andrea Minchello Williams CEO of Christian Concern Rev William Taylor
Chairman of Renew and 19 others; see telegraph.co.uk