letters to the editor
Church as communion by name in the article, may I make a Anglican Church of North America, sev-
From the Bishop of Guildford couple of points. eral legitimate jurisdictions have served
I was grateful to Fr Ernest Skublics for It is true that there is no ‘concordat’ in the front lines in defending Anglo
his excellent, though succinct, article on between the FCE and the Church of Catholic faith and practice. Among these
ecclesiology [ND Feb]. He is absolutely England, but the FCE has been, since are the ACC, APCK, and APA along with
right in drawing attention to the danger 1992, a ‘Designated Church’ under the some independent diocese organizations
of immediately applying the notion of Ecumenical Relations Measure. It is such as the DHC. While they do not rep-
universal communion, hammered out therefore a church to which the Church resent overwhelming numbers, they have
in ecumenical theology, to the commun- of England’s ‘ecumenical canons’ B43 been a persistent, faithful remnant in
ion, impaired or otherwise, which exists and B44 apply. FCE clergy and laity may maintaining the ‘faith of the fathers’.
between the churches of the Anglican therefore already perform within the We have been the voice of orthodoxy in
Communion. Having remarked on this, Established Church the range of liturgi- opposition to a seriously deficient prayer
huge advantage can be taken of the ecu- cal acts permitted by those Canons. Per- book revision, ordination of non-celibate
menical texts for an ecclesiology of com- sonal relations between members of the homosexual men, ordination of women
munion. two churches are often cordial, and FCE and lesbians, denial of the basic tenets of
It is a matter of some regret that the bishops have been official guests at the the faith by bishops and clergy, abandon-
ARCIC statement of 1990 Church as Enthronements of the last two Archbish- ment of the sanctity and nature of mar-
Communion has received so little atten- ops of Canterbury. riage (divorce of clergy and bishops), and
tion. Here, again succinctly, is worked While it is true that most FCE worship other departures from Scripture, tradi-
out a sacramental understanding of is currently 1662-based, it should not be tion, and reason.
the Church, which should be no point assumed that this will continue indefi- I wonder if your readers in the UK and
of contention between Anglicans and nitely. We already have a drafting group around the world are even aware of our
Roman Catholics – or indeed other clas- preparing modern English liturgy. One presence and witness. Those leaving TEC
sical churches. advantage of coming rather late to litur- seem hell bent on joining African or South
With this, I would commend the newly gical renewal is that it is possible to learn American bishops without even glancing
published Orthodox Anglican state- from others’ mistakes! our way, even though it is unclear where
ment on the Trinity and ecclesiology, Our experience shows that it is possible these bishops stand, beyond the homo-
The Church of the Triune God. I would to maintain a Reformed Catholic identity sexual issue. As I tell my parishioners, we
also add to the theologians mentioned as an indigenous Church in England. are called to be faithful and God will take
by Fr Skublics the important name of Fr John Fenwick care of the numbers. However, it con-
Jean-Marie Tillard op, whose death just 16 Windsor Crescent, Ulverston, stantly amazes me that we get almost no
a few years ago still leaves a gap among Cumbria, LA12 9NP notice from magazines like yours, with
great ecumenical theologians who have whom we share common cause.
worked for Anglican Roman Catholics We’re here too Tom Parsons
reconciliation. From the Revd Tom Parsons Christ Church Anglican, Pinehurst,
XChristopher Hill The article entitled ‘A free province’ in NC USA
Willow Grange, Jacob’s Well, the March issue contained the story of the
Guildford GU4 7QS FCE, a body of which I was totally igno-
Letters for publication should be sent to:
rant. While reading the story, I could not
Staying friends
The Editor
help comparing FCE with the many con-
New Directions
From the Rt Revd John Fenwick tinuing churches in this country. Begin-
2A The Cloisters, Gordon Square
I read with interest Alan Edwards’ ning with the Congress of St Louis in the
London WC1H 0AG
article on the Free Church of England in late Seventies, wherein the ACC (Angli-
your March edition. As I am mentioned can Catholic Church) was born as the
nd.editor@forwardinfaith.com
The Parish of St Peter in Plymouth
The love of Christ compels us
Fr Malcolm Gray
Are you passionate about ……
will celebrate his last Mass
Christian Formation Serving of the Poor
as Vicar of Holy Trinity
Then you can explore them alongside a Sister of Charity working in this inner city parish.
Winchmore Hill on
We have places for three women under 40 years old.
Sunday 22nd April at 5pm
Why not spend a day, a weekend, a month or a life time discovering the Galilee Group
and The Well, helping to form new Christians and refresh tired ones?
All friends warmly welcome
Experience the privilege of seeking out and serving those on the edge of life, the
and our fellow priests invited
overlooked and left out. to concelebrate (but let him
Enquiries: Fr Sam Philpott SSC, St Peter’s Vicarage, Wyndham Square, Plymouth PL1 5EG
know in advance)
Tel: 01752 222007 Email:
frphilpott@aol.com
frcmg.wh@btopenworld.com
or: Sr Mary Joseph SC, The House of Charity, 26 Wyndham Square, Plymouth PL1 5EG
Mobile: 07890 297 089
Mass will be followed by a party
April 2007
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newdirections
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