PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

Sebastian Milbank’s article (“ROD DREHER

COMES HOME”, MAY) on Dreher’s search for an authentic expression of orthodox, thoughtful, traditionally-rooted Christian belief and practice highlights the dilemma faced by many Christian pilgrims living in the “post-Christian” West.

They find themselves falling down the gaps between the apparently successful but theologically simplistic Evangelicals, the self-appointed guardians of ecclesiastical high culture remote behind their defensive walls and the well-meaning “middle-of-the-roaders”.

Meanwhile the Anglican bishops are shackled to the demands of safeguarding, “diversity” and the backlash to church closures.

Thirty years ago, the great missiologist, theologian, cultural commentator and churchman Bishop Lesslie Newbigin was asked at a conference plenary session how long he thought it would take the West to rediscover the truths of historic Christian belief which it threw out with the bathwater at the Enlightenment. “About 200 years”, was his reply. It looks like we are in for the long haul. Rev Canon Dr Paul Burt

southampton