Schism

The church is in the midst of a huge theological debate that is one about how you view scripture, how you view culture (western/developed vs developing seems to be the divide as it plays out) and what you view as orthodoxy. It may very well rip my dear Anglican church apart. As the J I Packer decision unfolds itself in Canada, this is one issue that will definitely not go away.

To the vast majority of the non-church going population this is an irrelevant issue and confirms their worst fears about religion and its perceived prejudice and bigotry. On the other hand, some do believe this is a good, challenging and proper debate about what it means to follow Jesus and how this works itself out in lifestyle decisions and choices- whatever the prevailing culture may or may not think about them. I am, on this one, orthodox in my views, but that does not mean I am unengaged with nor unsympathetic to those who hold very different views from my own. Of course, this is complex (were it not, we would not be having such a cerfuffal about it) but for those who wonder what on earth all the fuss is about here is the BBC to shed some light on things.

You don't have to be a church leader to care about this because, in time, what we decide as a church will have potentially enormous consequences. In the meantime we must hold on to our hats and watch this space.....