No Hope of a Solution at Lambeth

From Christianity Today Liveblog: An interview with Mouneer H. Anis, Episcopal bishop of Egypt and primate of the Anglican Province of the Jerusalem and the Middle East (including North Africa)…. my thoughts after the jump

What’s your greatest worry concerning Anglicanism?

I am very concerned about the unity among the conservatives and the evangelicals within the Communion. The Communion is in a crisis, and there are many impaired relationships.

We have made ourselves clear, our theological stand very clear many, many, many times. We announced our rejection of the new revisionists way within the Anglican Communion in many occasions and conferences. This time should not be a time for conferences only, but it should be a time when we actually take action. I personally feel that the issue of homosexuality is just a superficial symptom of a very, very deep illness in the core of the Communion.

Is this an illness in Anglicanism or the church on the whole?

The actual problem is crossing [theological] boundaries of the Communion. The Anglican way is Scripture, the authority of the Scripture, and the interpretation of the majority, or the accepted interpretations of the Scripture by the majority, not just one church within the family.

[From No Hope of a Solution at Lambeth, conservative bishop says | Liveblog | Christianity Today]

I told Methodist Bishop Sprague, Illinois, the same thing back when I participated in a “Diversity Day” dialog. I shared with him that I felt homosexuality was the manifestation of deeper issues and splits within the Methodist denomination. I told him that I didn’t appreciate both sides using those with same sex attractions as scapegoats for what the real underlying issue of scriptural authority. It’s one thing to say that we have the important issues of homosexuality to address but it is another to allow that to be justified as “the” reason why a denomination is facing crisis.

In other words, I believe in the works within denominations to address the homosexual issues from a redemptive perspective. That said, I am against saying the “gay” battle is the only reason why some denominations are facing splits. Do you agree or disagree?

Update: Albert Mohler weighs in.

Share on ...