Dear Friends,
What is the collective noun for a gathering of Anglicans? A gaggle? A confusion? A politeness?
Truth is, I am not sure there is an official one but this week more than 250 Anglicans will be gathering in Maroochydore for what is called “General Synod”.
General Synod is a national gathering of elected representatives from each of the Anglican Dioceses across Australia. I have been elected as one of the 71 representatives of Sydney – making up about 30% of the whole Synod. The numbers are worked out on a proportional basis – the more clergy you have ordained and working in your diocese, the more representatives you are allowed to send to General Synod. I leave on Sunday 3rd and will return Friday 8th.
The General Synod is run from 8.30am-9pm every day and time is spent discussing issues of national importance to Anglicans – both internal issues and national issues.
This General Synod, significant attention will be given to Child Protection rules for bishops and clergy and how we can work together in unity despite the differences in Anglican churches across Australia.
Unfortunately, in many of the 23 dioceses around Australia there are very few people attending church. There are many factors at play in this including diminishing populations in country towns and the ongoing secularisation of society. However, it is my view that the most significant factor is that in many places, the Gospel is not preached and the churches are not remaining culturally engaged.
It may come as a surprise to you that in many Anglican churches around Australia, while the Bible would be read week by week, it is not believed. Many clergy do not believe that Jesus died an atoning death as our substitute to take away the sin of the world. Many clergy do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their Gospel is often a stripped back statement about the love of God that demands little and sanctifies everything.
This is where the problems for us Anglicans arise. The reality is that someone like me who believes the Bible is the inspired word of God, that Jesus died as an atoning substitute for my sin and that he rose bodily from the dead are not welcome in the pulpits of many Anglican churches around Australia.
Until we can work out what God is on about, it is unlikely we can have meaningful unity. If you pray for anything this week, please pray for that!
In Christ
Nigel