Holy muddle

Last week the newspapers reported on a priest and his congregation who have decided to leave the Church of England and join the Roman Catholic church.  I wish that congregation well on their Christian pilgrimage but I won’t be joining them.

In an interview this week their criticism of the Church of England seemed to rest on it’s  accommodations to the modern world and current controversies around women bishops and gay clergy.  They suggested that this was indicative of a Church that was no longer true to the faith once received.

I have to say, however, that much of what was criticised are qualities which I celebrate.  I am glad to be a priest in a Church that can debate doctrine openly.  I am glad that this Church finds its way in the modern world by weighing Scripture, reason and tradition.  And I am glad that we believe that the Spirit of Christ will continue to guide us into all truth.

From Jerusalem to Constantinople and from Rome to Canterbury the history of Christendom has been one of a meandering pilgrimage exploring what it means to be the Body of Christ in the world today.  If church history teaches us anything it is that the answers to that question are seldom straightforward.

For the Church of England this has meant that we have ordained women to the priesthood for the past seventeen years.  It has also meant that over twenty years ago, our House of Bishops report was able to recognise the gifts and the blessing of gay clergy and repent of homophobia.  And for these reasons and many more I’m staying in a messy, flawed and holy Church of England.