As we look ahead to the coming year, what may happen?
According to American pastor F. Kenton Beshore, the second coming of Jesus will be between 2018 and 2028, with the Rapture by 2021 at the latest. Well, who knows? Maybe F. (as I affectionately call him for short) will be proved right. Or maybe not. F. reckons it’s all got to kick off within a generation of the founding of modern Israel in 1948, with a generation being 70-80 years. He’s not one for vagueness, our F. He’s not Church of England.
As a good Anglican, however, I specialise in vagueness, especially when it comes to prophecy. So here, rather than any firm predictions, are some questions that may shape how 2020 unfolds.
1. Can the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) unite people in vision, strategy and action?
Some of what happens in the CofE in 2020 will depend on the CEEC. In recent years it has shown a desire to up its game, provide a clearer vision and leadership, and has some good and sharp minds on it. But I think even its biggest supporters would admit it still has a little way to go. Can the CEEC continue its upward trajectory in 2020?
2. Will Anglican evangelicals be successful in coordinating and electing candidates to General Synod?
Nominations for the 2020-25 Synod close in August this coming year, with elections in October. The Evangelical Group on General Synod (EGGS) has produced a helpful leaflet. Google ‘eggs elections 2020’ and it comes up at the top if you want to download it.
3. Will the ‘Living in Love and Faith’ report express a biblical view of love and faith?
This is the CofE’s long-awaited report on sexual issues, etc, designed, as Bishop Christopher Cocksworth put it rather oddly, to help us all ‘with our sexing’. Yes, he really did say that. Well, it may express a biblical view of love and faith – but probably alongside other views together with calls for ongoing dialogue. What happens after that?
4. Will the Global South, GAFCON and EFAC movements be able to co-operate more closely?
GAFCON is the Bible-based global movement for Orthodox Anglican gospel mission, its website says. The Global South movement of 25 of the 39 Anglican provinces is summed up by Wikipedia as having ‘theological conservatism on matters of sexual ethics and life issues, and by their Evangelicalism in churchmanship.’
Meanwhile, the Evangelical Fellowship of the Anglican Communion (EFAC) says it wants to ‘win the world for Jesus Christ by upholding the biblical gospel through the Anglican family and beyond. We are Bible People. Gospel People. Church People.’ Perhaps friend F. can see a reason for all these different groupings somewhere in Ezekiel. We should ask.
5. What will happen at Lambeth 2020?
Justin Welby’s Lambeth Conference for worldwide Anglican bishops takes place in July –August (the conferences started in 1867, and have been held occasionally since then, roughly every decade). Who will go? Who will boycott it? Will anything of note happen, or will it be all talk?
6. How will the GAFCON Primates’ Conference affect Lambeth 2020?
Gafcon’s 2020 Bishops’ Conference takes place in June, shortly before Lambeth. How will each shape the other?
But, of course, we should expect the unexpected. Dear F. believes the ‘144,000’ in Revelation are ‘144,000 Jewish Billy Grahams’. The mind boggles, but it could be fun if he is right!
