What is going on in the Diocese of Southwark? When I worked there a while ago we used to have a standing joke on the Church Council, as we examined the diocesan annual report year after year to see if we could find any mention of Jesus.
Recently a large group of Anglican evangelicals signed a document called the Southwark Declaration which begins: ‘We affirm the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures and their supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. We affirm ... that “it is not lawful for the Church to ordain anything that is contrary to God’s Word written”. We affirm the teaching of Scripture (Genesis 2.24, Mark 10.7, Matthew 19.5), the Book of Common Prayer, and Canon B30 (“Of Holy Matrimony”) that marriage is the union of one man and one woman for life.’
It continues: ‘We affirm it is the one God-ordained context for sexual intercourse. We affirm resolution 1.10 on human sexuality of the Lambeth Conference (1998). We call upon all the bishops... alongside all clergy..., to affirm these truths, live by them, and to teach in accordance with them. We call upon the bishops to appoint to positions of teaching authority only those who hold to these truths in good conscience.’
Signatories include some PCCs, the executive committee of the Southwark Diocesan Evangelical Union and many individual clergy (including my successor at Emmanuel, Tolworth). Interestingly, one of the co-signatories is Stephen Kuhrt, of Christ Church, New Malden, former leader of the ‘open’ evangelical group Fulcrum, who clearly feels things have got serious enough to warrant teaming up with more ‘conservative’ church leaders.
Church open for Muslim prayers
Almost immediately afterwards, things in Southwark deteriorated further as Giles Goddard, a vicar in the diocese, opened his church for Muslim prayers. Speaking in fluent Anglican, he explained: ‘It is very much about St John’s being a place of welcome. We understand God as a generous God, a God who celebrates love and celebrates life.’
Bishop’s statement
The Bishop of Southwark issued a statement saying: ‘Whilst it is very important to build good inter-faith relations, it is clear that an act of worship from a non-Christian faith tradition is not permitted within a consecrated Church of England building.’ He continued: ‘The vicar has issued a statement expressing his sorrow at the offence this has caused.’
But, as some observers pointed out, Giles Goddard was only apologising for causing offence and infringing church guidelines – rather than for the act itself. Surprisingly, perhaps, a letter from three Southwark clergy who described themselves as ‘evangelical clergy serving on the bishop’s senior staff team’ – one of whom I should declare I know and like – was published shortly after in the Church Times.
It spoke of the ‘reality of the vibrant Southwark diocese’ and how ‘the experience of working alongside different insights of the gospel is an enriching one’. This, they added ‘is what working in a broad and diverse Church is supposed to be like.’
The timing was unfortunate. Perhaps the letter was written before the Muslim prayers, and perhaps they were unaware of unbiblical ideas that many clergy clearly feel are permeating yeast-like in the diocese. Diversity of people is wonderful; diversity of doctrine is not. And whenever I hear references to a broad church, I am simply reminded of what Jesus said about the narrow way...
