Apropos the just received email distro from Ali Symons, here are my wishes.
A Church which unconditionally welcomes all who seek God. /God judges.
A Church which accords all individuals respect without regard to race, creed or sexual orientation or physical-mental condition, as all are children of God.
A Church which deals with reality. People are different, always have been.
A Church which is truly Christ centred. Love and understanding is the quest.
A Church which is community oriented. Not cliquish, nor fixated on the individual, but balanced since we are social beings. A church relevant to the secular world is appropriate if outreach and mission is an objective.
A Church which treats the Bible as an imperfect but deeply significant record of human experience with the sacred; one which challenges us to discern the holy life through study, contemplation, discussion and prayer . Why does the Bible have to be wholly considered as The Word of God?
A Church which celebrates its evolution and provides forms of worship which reflect both our traditions and our continuing discernment.
Those are my personal wishes. This grandfather believes the current drift of the Church guarantees the disinterest of the younger generations. But based on my attendance to a number of Synods, there appears to be a considerable gulf between the clergy and laity on the matter. Dealing with that will be quite a challenge. By the same token, I suspect that most congregations will not deal with your question in plenary. Leadership of such a discussion would have to be experienced and respectful.
Best wishes
Those who build their house upon the sands of a Bible that is not authoritatively known as the very Word of God will find their faith washed away when storms of life come along.
Biblical literacy and belief in Scripture as the core document of our faith is a prerequisite to any life of any Christian community. The Primate ought to develop a program that enhances our understanding of Scripture. Mind you, having looked at a couple of his sermons, I find them lacking hermeneutical depth, since he seems to offer a “state of the Church” type talk rather than an exposition of Scripture. Still, our need is to understand that, how’s it go? — “All Scripture is God breathed, and useful for teaching, correction, rebuke and training in righteousness…”
If the Bible is imperfect and not The Word of God, then you undermine what it means to be Christian and you become something else. There are many religions out there who agree with some points in scripture, even major parts of it, but they do not call themselves Christian because to be Christian means to beleive all of scripture.
Cathy and Brian, the Bible is not the Word of God, Jesus is. The Bible, as David said, is the record of human relationship with the Divine and, as such, it is a basis for our development in faith – but not the only basis. God has not stopped interacting with His creation since the Council of Carthage. God still speaks to us through 20th and 21st century prophets like Desmond Tutu and Sr. Joan Chichester, Henri Nouewen and Herbert O’Driscoll. To be Christian does not mean ‘believing all of scripture’; it means living and growing in Christ, living the Great Commandment, and so much more. This grandmother agrees with every word that grandfather David wrote. His vision of the church is also my vision of the church.
Rene J., Winnipeg, Diocese of Rupert’s Land