Church of England Parishes Consider First Step to Break Away Over Sexuality

The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 8/28/16 | John Bingham

[marshmallow]

A group of parishes is preparing what could be the first step towards a formal split in the Church of England over issues such as homosexuality, with the creation of a new “shadow synod” vowing to uphold traditional teaching.

Representatives of almost a dozen congregations in the Home Counties are due to gather in a church hall in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, later this week for the first session of what they say could eventually develop into an alternative Anglican church in England.

Organisers, drawn from the conservative evangelical wing of Anglicanism, say they have no immediate plans to break away - but are setting up the “embryonic” structures that could be used to do so if the established church moves further in what they see as a liberal direction.

The new alliance will be viewed as a “church within a church” but founders have not ruled out full separation if, for example, the Church of England offers blessing-style services for same-sex unions - a move expected to be considered by bishops in the next few months.

Differences over sexuality have already triggered a major rift in the 80 million-strong worldwide Anglican Communion and formal splits in the US and Canada after the ordination of openly gay bishops, which traditionalists say goes against the teaching of the Bible.

[Paulie]

The wheat continues to be separated from the chaff.

[M.K. Borders]

“. . .Ordination of openly gay bishops, which traditionalists say goes against the teaching of the Bible.”

Traditionalists do not say homosexuality is against teaching of the Bible. It simply IS against the teaching of the Bible. There is no room for opinions. You either resolve to do what the book says or you do not.

[TexasFreeper2009]

funny that a branch that came into being by not standing firm behind Gods teachings on divorce suddenly finds it’s spine when it comes to another issue.

[terycarl]

This is an example of the original problem with the revolution in the first place. The disparate protestant denominations, all having their own versions of Christianity and all doing things their own way.....didn’t work, did it????

[elpadre]

The liberals infiltrated the government bureaucracies, the universities and the churches. They have done a masterful job taking over every segment of our society. It may have started after WWI, but it grew exponentially with the hippie revolution of the 60’s and 70.

I really believe Trump is our only hope. Trump plus a lot of prayer for our nation.

[omega4412]

The disparate protestant denominations, all having their own versions of Christianity

Same division in the Roman Catholic church, over the same issues

[NetAddicted]

Excellent point. What are non-traditionalists, Satanists?

[fwdude]

If a church group is even "talking" about some type of acceptance or affirmation of sexual deviancy, that means that the decision has been made. All we're watching is empty theater.

The United Methodist "church" is practically there.

[ReformationFan]

Exactly.

[terycarl]

The disparate protestant denominations, all having their own versions of Christianity Same division in the Roman Catholic church, over the same issues

Not at all...the protestant "denominations" are all individual and separate units....all of the Catholic groups are still Catholic and all have the Sacraments and basically the same beliefs.