Clergy who don't believe in God

The London Times ^ | 5 July 2005 | Ruth Gledhill

[Aussie Dasher]

Clergy and laity show signs of schism over homosexuality, miracles and the Almighty

HUNDREDS of Church of England clergy doubt the existence of God and fewer than two thirds believe in miracles, a study out today says.

The report, published on the eve of the General Synod, refers to “very fragile faultlines along which the Church of England could be torn apart”. Congregations are much more conservative than most of the comparatively liberal clergy preaching to them.

The report says that if committed Anglicans are clear about one thing it is the existence of God: 97 per cent have no hesitation in affirming His existence. Yet, it continues, one in 33 clerics doubts the existence of God. If reflected throughout the Church’s 9,000 clergy the finding would mean that nearly 300 Church of England clergy are uncertain that God exists.

[diverteach]

Psalm 26:4-9 I have not sat with vain persons, niether will I goin with dissemblers. 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash mine hands of innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works 8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men.

[aimhigh]

...and fewer than two thirds believe in miracles.

Here's Paul's scriptural test for any church -

"But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will test, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. " 1 Cor 4:19-20

It appears these churches fail the test.

[concerned about politics]

Yepper - the signs are all there.

"They will have a form of Godliness, but lack the power of it."

[skimbell]

$

[StonyBurk]

T'anks-- you said it as good as-- Nah you have said it better than I could--but then as the local daily said I'm so far to the right of Ronald Reagan I make him seem like a new Dealer.The local homosexuals have their activists call everytime I got published to call me a bible thumper.
But I've seen a lot of kids enrolled in Bible Colleges who
do not believe in God-- most don't even believe the Bible
to be relevant to todays world-hence the gays in the pulpit-and same sex marriage -- and all--look up-our salvation draws nigh.

[sageb1]

"A minister who doesn't believe in the Bible is like a doctor that doesn't believe in Grey's Anatomy."

Or like a Supreme Court Justice who doesn't believe in the Constitution.

[Mount Athos]

"I swear, I think the seminaries were infiltrated by Marxists a decade or so ago, and now we are seeing the poisonous fruit of the effort."

I think it's more like 3 or 4 decades ago

[sionnsar]

So why does their book say "The Book of Common Prayer"? Who are they praying to?

' First off, throw the question of the title (of the '79) to the Rev. Dr. Peter Toon, and prepare to stand back. Second, as I noted, they think of themselves as providing a service ("if it makes them feel better...").

And third, as a PK ("preacher's kid") I can confidently inform you that priests and ministers are just as human as you and me, and that sometimes some of them go through periods of questioning their faith too -- and that sometimes, unfortunately, they don't come through such.

(I'm not considering here those with other agendas...)

[sageb1]

"(I'm not considering here those with other agendas...)"

Like the International Humanist and Ethical Union? Or Swing's URI?

[sionnsar]

Bingo. And worse.

[HangnJudge]

And third, as a PK ("preacher's kid") I can confidently inform you that priests and ministers are just as human as you and me, and that sometimes some of them go through periods of questioning their faith too -- and that sometimes, unfortunately, they don't come through such.

I've no problems with questioning
And some may lose their faith

But they don't stay preachers, like these guys

[jackv]

I read nin the paper just 2-3 days ago, the Church of Christ is gearing up to support gay marriage.
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST!!!
Now how can that be???? It just boggles my mind!

[HangnJudge]

I read nin the paper just 2-3 days ago, the Church of Christ is gearing up to support gay marriage.
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST!!!
Now how can that be???? It just boggles my mind!

What is the distinctive plea of the church of Christ?

It is primarily a plea for religious unity based upon the Bible. In a divided religious world it is believed that the Bible is the only possible common denominator upon which most, if not all, of the God-fearing people of the land can unite. This is an appeal to go back to the Bible. It is a plea to speak where the Bible speak and to remain silent where the Bible is silent in all matters that pertain to religion. It further emphasizes that in everything religious there must be a "Thus saith the Lord" for all that is done. The objective is religious unity of all believers in Christ. The basis is the New Testament. The method is the restoration of New Testament Christianity.

http://church-of-christ.org/who.html#plea

Must be forgetting lots of that stuff Paul wrote
Like in first chapter of Romans
26 ¶ For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

[T'wit]

Kwaanza is on a different list -- 10 things that nobody believes in.

[tessalu]

Wicked people are taking over the churches, and we all need to beware that we are not dragged into this.

[Agrarian]

This is what is known in other professions as "fraud."

[horse_doc]

I believe that it is the UNITED Church of Christ that is sanctioning sodomy, not the Church of Christ.

These are two very, very different denominations. The United Church of Christ is sort of a Unitarian Lite. The Church of Christ is about as conservative as you get.

[jackv]

Yes, you are right. It is the UCC. I don't know how they can even claim to be followers of Christ.