Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, opened the proceedings of the General Conference by categorically denying a fundamental tenet of Christianity. Indeed, Schori derided the teaching that a person can be forgiven of their sins through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus as "the great Western heresy: that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in right relationship with God."Just about the time you think this gal's ideas cannot possibly get any more twisted, irreverent and historically counterfactual, they do.
David Virtue thus asks, "Is it any wonder then that The Episcopal Church is on a trajectory towards death while the Anglican Church of North America is on an incline to life?"
Speaking of the orthodox Christianity represented by the ACNA, Virtue says, Ironically, it is precisely that kind of faith that has energized more than 100,000 Episcopalians in 700 parishes and 28 dioceses to leave The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to start another Anglican Church on North American soil to preach THAT gospel which she rejects...
Last week's, the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans meeting in London was a reiteration of the "faith once for all delivered to the saints" the call to "Be Faithful" amidst a culture of unfaithfulness, decadence and decline.
The Church of England, and its counterpart The Episcopal Church together have average Sunday attendances that make up one decent sized Nigerian diocese. Is it any wonder then that focus of Anglicanism is no longer in the West but in the Global South.
This begs the question, at a deeper level, as to why the fast-growing Anglican Communion in the other two-thirds of the world needs to pay service, even lip service to Canterbury...
Western pan Anglicanism is in decline. It's only hope is a reaffirmation of a gospel that does not wince at substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, forgiveness of sins through repentance and faith and the hope of eternal life.