The woes assailing the Diocese of BC are recounted by Bishop James Cowan here (use RealPlayer to listen).
The bishop admits that recently ASA has dropped from 5000 to 4000, and that the diocese is ready to make some “hard decisions” which will include closing parishes.
Although some have left because of increasing revisionism, the bishop believes others are attracted to the church because of it; not enough to pay the bills, though.
The bishop’s solution is to forge a deeper connection with the culture and engage in more “social justice” and ”spirituality” – a word that came into vogue in the 1980s, meaning all manner of hocus-pocus that is so inclusive it leaves no room for the Gospel.
The Anglican Church is the only institution I know that believes the solution to problems is to continue to do what caused them – but with more vigour.
Sorry, but one of the primary but negative definitions of “institution” is to amplify error by engaging in negative feedback–that is, to amplify wrong actions.
I think you mean positive feedback: pushing further in the same (wrong) direction. Negative feedback acts as a damper, resisting changes.
The first thing this diocese and others in the ACoC have done is to close the Bible and replace it with their version of political correctness and follow the crowd mentality. They have nothing to offer and when you have no standards, such as the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ there is nothing left worth being a part of.
Too bad they haven’t made the “hard decision” to evangelize. Closing churches is much easier and more politically correct.
“The Anglican Church is the only institution I know that believes the solution to problems is to continue to do what caused them – but with more vigour.”
Well said.
“The Anglican Church is the only institution I know that believes the solution to problems is to continue to do what caused them – but with more vigour.”
I too agree!
“The only thing man has learned from history, is that man does not learn from history.”
“Failing to be accountable and correct past errors, simply means we are bound to repeat them”
“In addition to repeating past errors, we open ourselves to creating new ones”
As a result of the SSB issue, ANiC/ACNA in general have recognized and taken positive steps to return to Orthodox thinking. Failure to identify the root causes ) that brought us (the Anglican Church) to this diplorable state insures difficulties down the road.