” Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” A quote from the Psalm 1.

My prayer is that while the Federation may be in the ACoC, they will not be “of” the ACoC.

No one has any quarrel with the “uniqueness of Jesus”,
so also would all the religions of the world say. But there is a contention about the divinity of Christ, that he is God and that ” Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Jesus said unto him, (Thomas - added for clarity by me), ” I am the way, the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
The term “unique” is a nebulous term. We have heard it used by non-believers. So was Buddha unique and Muhammad, Zoroaster and Confucious.
Come, let us be alert and not be fooled by this popular epithet for Jesus.

I believe that schism being a major - maybe not the worst - sin was one of the undertones of the recent Federation consultation.

I agree with Warren,#13. The 5-point plan of “action” is no different from what Anglican evangelicals have been doing for the last couple of decades. It seems to me that the Federation-that-was has met to give themselves permission for inaction and and anonymity. After watching this blog for over a year I have finally felt compelled to express my profound disappointment.

As for Federation I suspect what they will do and become will reveal itself over the next couple of years as next to nothing. I don’t see them becoming the rallying point of much since they are apparently more concerned about the reform of a national church than the Gospel. No line will ever be drawn in the sand, even though our Lord and his apostles made many lines quite clear. Jesus does not want our religion, he wants our hearts. He wants authentic Christians. With Packer I think Anglicanism is one if the best expressions of Christianity, but not when it is rank with heresy on points ultimate to the faith such as the divinity of Christ, the uniqueness of salvation through Him, and the Bible as God’s authoritative Word written.

The good thing is, the lifeboats (or perhaps the new ship now) are still available to the ship-repairers, and should the latter prove succesful in their endevours, vis-versa.

Overall, if you check our ‘blog rules’, we err on the side of free speech. However, we have been known to do some ad-hoc moderating on occasion, where really required.

I’m not proposing to moderate this discussion, but just encouraging charity in this, that whatever frustrations there are, to support each other in love.

What may also be forgotten is the fact that many of us are witnesses in parishes which would not succeed in a vote to join ANiC if such a vote were called at this time. And at the same time we also do not have other Anglican churches in our communities to run to if we did want to join ANiC and abandon our role as witness within the ACoC. Personally, we have always said that we would stay and witness until we were “thrown out” and that is exactly what we are still doing in spite of several attempts to get rid of us in the past. Even at the worst of times God still has His seven thousand within Israel who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

I’m in the same boat, AMP. Like it or not, I’m restricted to an “inside strategy,” even though I identify with ANiC.

Regarding blog conversations, I’m grateful for the leeway given here to explore contrarian views and I appreciate the moderators’ firm but gentle boundaries surrounding our discourse.

Advent blessing to all:
“I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth. Go ye out to meet him and say: Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel?”

May the Lord be with you all,
Ross

Do you believe that your voicing the concerns of the orthodox still in the ACoC is going to effect a change of heart in the leadership, or are you doing it simply because you believe God called you to, and that is sufficient in itself?

I’m not being critical of your position - it’s an honest question.

That’s a good question. I’m not sure there will be a change of heart in the leadership. All indication seem negative. Some, on both sides of the issue, are looking at GS2010 as a watershed. I think there will be more of the same unless motions are worded so that all delegates understand exactly what they mean. Maybe that’s why I’m involved. There are many conservatives and moderates in our church that have been silent, by choice or ignorance. Maybe I’m involved to somehow encourage them to stand and be counted. I believe that God called me to for a reason, I’m struggle with not being sure what that reason is.

I will pray for you to have confidence in your calling.
Thankyou!