THE POWER OF RECONCILIATION
By Justin Welby
Bloomsbury Continuum. 285 pages. £17.99
ISBN 978 1 399 402 972
In the fractious and divided world we live in, any help on reconciliation we can get is to be welcomed.
Especially from one, like the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who has wide experience in the subject and has spent years being involved in reconciliation projects not only in England but much further afield.
The book states that there are some 50 major conflicts around the world dividing people, not to mention all the smaller issues of relationships between people that cause heartache and heartbreak.
He says: ‘I write about peacebuilding and reconciliation in the sense of seeking relationships at all levels of human life that are resilient enough to have disagreement without destruction, victory without triumphalism, concessions without degradation. Reconciliation is the long drawn-out process, extending sometimes over generations, which seeks to achieve that end. Peace is not found by avoiding conflict but by disagreeing well’ (p.13) (italics mine).
In his quest for widespread reconciliation, the author, as you might expect, has been profoundly affected by his faith in Jesus Christ in who he finds his identity (p.25). ‘Christians are called to be forgiven forgivers, reconciled reconcilers’ (p.209), responding to the call upon their lives by Jesus: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’. He says: ‘The idea of reconciliation within the Christian tradition is the very cornerstone of Christian faith’ (p.32). Pondering the Incarnation has had a major affect on his thinking: ‘Incarnation is part of God’s process of reconciling humanity with God, of reaching across the difference and breaking down the barriers of human failure and selfishness so that human beings can live in this world in justice and equality in the presence of God’ (p.33). ‘At a global, national and community level, the reconciliation of race and ethnicity, as well as class, gender and sexuality, nationality and other differences, is a holy calling’ (p.233).
This book is full of helpful and practical material to help in many different situations. Anybody reading this will not only be moved and challenged to seek to make the difference Welby calls for to make the world a better place where peace and justice as well as reconciliation is advanced, but to be the ‘salt and light’ that our Saviour calls us to be.
‘Why am I disappointed?’
This book is, I understand, to be given to each bishop at the Lambeth Conference this year. It will be a very helpful resource. Why then am I disappointed when there is so much excellent material in the book?
Three reasons:
1. Though he movingly says ‘In Christian understanding, in some extraordinary mystery of beauty and love, God on the cross brought together justice and mercy, opening not only the gift of forgiveness to all who accept it but their own forgiving of themselves, and even others’ (p.265), the evangelistic thrust of the reconciliation brought about by the Cross, is not majored on. Reconciliation with God is humankind’s greatest need – hence Paul’s appeal, ‘be reconciled to God’ (2 Cor. 5:20).
2. The concept of ‘disagreeing well’ is central to the book. If this means ‘agreeing to disagree’ without seeking revenge on opponents, all would surely agree! But does it mean that in the Anglican Communion we must be ‘fellow travellers’ with people who deny the apostles’ faith and practice? While Welby sees that in the sad breakdown of marriages it may be necessary to part, ‘Perhaps rather than putting the marriage back together, it may be parting well and with care for all those affected’ (p.240), he does not seem to see that the Anglican Communion cannot go on without addressing ‘the tear in communion’ caused by liberal bishops at such a fundamental level. Surely, we cannot go on together without deep repentance and a return to the authority of God’s word written?
3. This book calls for listening carefully to those with whom we disagree, understanding their perspective and taking the sacrificial road towards justice, truth and reconciliation. Is that serious listening and action being taken by the Archbishop and others to support those orthodox leaders who seek to be obedient to the truth of God’s word? Any failure this year to stand by the Biblical position of Lambeth 1998 on human sexuality will only cause further division. Charity begins at home!
