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o understand Mary is to understand the
Christian faith. The consideration of the
ARCIC report Mary: Grace and Hope in they may, this month, study the report and
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Christ at next month’s session of General Synod reflect upon it, and, next month, affirm the
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is, therefore, of real importance. For a repre- Catholic faith.
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sentative body more used to debating struc-
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tural and political issues, it will not be easy
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to move into the careful reading of Scripture,
and come up with a response appropriate to a
Editorial
church that is both Catholic and Apostolic.
Editor: Nicholas Turner
What is required of us all is that we study ‘R
egius Professor of Divinity in the
University of Oxford.’ The words
conjure up an image of staid scholar-
Deputy Editor: Kathleen
McCully
the scriptural passages about Mary with ship, conservative, erudite, measured.
Assistant Editors: Geoffrey
something of the same grace, gentleness and Not so the present (and first female)
Kirk, Jonathan Baker,
obedience that she herself shows in those same incumbent, Marilyn McCord Adams. Profes-
Simon Heans, Owen Higgs, texts. The references may be both few (albeit sor Adams is a radical of a new and excoriat-
Thomas Seville CR,
rather more than many Anglicans suppose) ing kind. A case in point is her recent paper,
William Davage, Len Black
and brief, but they are extraordinarily rich in ‘Shaking the Foundations: LGBT Bishops and
Contributing Editors: Andy
meaning and teaching. Blessings in the Fullness of Time’, delivered at
Hawes, Francis Gardom,
There is, rightly, an element of theologi- the Chicago Consultation, Seabury–Western
Arthur Middleton, Gerry
O’Brien, Barry Orford,
cal struggle in seeking to grasp the nature Seminary, 5 December 2007. In it Adams not
John Richardson
of faith and grace as expounded to us by the only makes the case for Lesbian–Gay–Bisex-
Apostle Paul. But all is very different when we ual–Transgendered bishops, but also the case
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study the word concerning the mother of our for a complete and radical re-imagining of
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We have to listen quietly, ponder these ‘The Church has inherited an institution
Forward in Faith. Individual sayings in our heart, and receive the message of marriage that involved buying and selling
copies are sold at £2∙50. of the Lord in gracious obedience. We have women – like reproductive livestock – from
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to lay aside the divisions of history, and read domination by one male into subservience to
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what Scripture says in all its fullness – to another (remember, ‘love, honor, and obey’?).
Office at the address above.
be content not with a supposedly adequate Despite a couple of decades of dialoguing, the
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portion, but only with the whole wealth of Church still joins society in treating marriage
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that glorious Word. as a ‘sacred cow’ that cannot be touched (wit-
Priests from Anglican
To know Mary is not a doctrinal matter, it is ness the dogmatic insistence that homosexual
Provinces in Third World
(rather obviously) personal. And to know her marriage is a category mistake), when the
countries and students in is to know her Son, and to know the Lord Jesus whole idea of godly partnership needs radical
theological training in the
is the Christian faith. It is, therefore, of the revision.
Anglican Communion will
utmost importance to mission that General ‘Modern heterosexual couples involv-
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Synod is not led into some political cul de sac. ing ‘liberated’ women are left to their own
devices to transmogrify the institution from
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It is true that there are seemingly political the inside. My suspicion is that uncloseting
Mike Silver
elements to Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ same-sex partnerships will help us to distin-
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with regard to an Anglican acceptance of papal guish dimensions of intimacy – for example,
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obscure the central role of Mary as the Mother models of equality and illustrate different divi-
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Mother, born in the world.’ – would not only move us towards marriage
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Mary’s role. If the press, ever eager to mis- as it evolves new norms.’
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represent the Church of England, were to Bishop Peter Selby, a soft cuddly radical
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The Incarnation is a great mystery, which tell me that their own marriage was threatened
The next issue of newdirections
needs prayer and reflection to be properly by the public recognition of gay relationships.’
is published on 1 February
understood in an age so unfriendly to serious Perhaps he should have consulted the Regius
theological thought. It is absolutely central to Professor before revealing his naiveté.
ND
January 2008
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newdirections
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