A Holy Post article that was posted today. You can also comment on this at Holy Post:
David Jenkins June 21, 2010
I am a member of St. Hilda’s Anglican Church, the parish that was recently featured in the National Post article, “Oakville Anglican parish home of profound revolution.”
St. Hilda’s separation from the Anglican Church of Canada in February 2008 was as much about the fact that the Church had drifted away from a coherent belief in Christian basics — the Resurrection, Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and the Virgin Birth — as it was about blessing same-sex unions. In spite of the variety of issues at hand it has been the same-sex blessing issue that gets the most attention —with the attendant suspicion that parishes that oppose same-sex blessings are packed not just with routine run-of-the-mill church hypocrites, but homophobic hypocrites.
Is being an antiseptic church where only wholesome families and saintly, celibate, straight singles could fit in — a kind of Stepford Church — an accurate picture of a parish like St. Hilda’s? No. If it were otherwise, I would have to leave.
William Temple, the former Archbishop of Canterbury said: “The church exists mainly for those who are not its members.” All parishes should concentrate on attracting people who are not Christians or churchgoers. Whether or not they are living out of wedlock with someone — of the opposite or same sex — is immaterial. The hope, though, would be that their perspective and lives gradually change as they become followers of Christ in his Church.
I would much rather attend a church with a high percentage of un-churched gays who are honestly seeking to live according to the Gospel than one with a high percentage of straight cradle-Anglicans who are not. And I don’t think that this would necessarily be unappealing to a gay or straight non-Christians. To say, “we believe in trying to live according to Biblical principles, even though we all may fail to varying degrees” has, I suspect, a more honest ring than the note of desperation in, “come to our church and do or believe what you want”.
St. Hilda’s has always attracted more than its fair share of single mothers, misfits, waifs, strays and assorted eccentrics — especially artists; the more the merrier. Many have passed through gaining sustenance along the way and some have made it their home. Sometimes it is chaotic: the pious have likened it to a circus. But unwelcoming? Never.
The people who gathered around Jesus were not all respectable: he was a friend to prostitutes, beggars and outcasts – sinners of every kind – and his friendship changed them.
Even though the most conspicuous reason cited for parishes leaving the Anglican Church of Canada is opposition to the blessing of same sex-unions, there is no desire on the part of these parishes to become aloof from the lost and broken – gay or straight. The one place that should always welcome all, including society’s misfits, is the Christian Church.
This is a ‘cool’ article. Thanks for representing us (even the non-St. Hilda’s types) so well.
The depth of “St. Hilda’s contribution to ANiC’s last year Synod or convention or whatever we end up calling it contributed greatly to the “new look, new feel” of our Holy Spirit Led time together. I can only hope and pray that this will continue with other participating venues such as Bishop’s and or Priests consecrations as well as the acknowledgement and celebration of retirees. Also importantly possibility of hosting Confirmation for our young people. This I pray would be in line with the catachethesis (Sp?) being prepared by Dr. Packer, which again I pray will be a program that begins at Baptism
and proceeds through (the coming of age), Laying on of Hands (apostolic confirmation) and continues in a higher education mode for preparation of marriage, assisted examination of personal ministry, ordained or commissioned, or a knowledgable examination and faith based empowerment of the gifts of the Spirit.
OH my goodness once again I have slipped off topic to trip the light fantastic.
St. Hilda’s has given us a exemplary blessing as has several of her citizens not the least of which is “our man with a blessed finger on the pulse of truth” as well as the talent to bring it to those most in need. Thanks Ol Horse…………you are loved.
Indeed a very articulate letter that is incredibly well written. It makes perfectly clear to anyone with an unbiased mind the following:
1. The issue is entirely about being faithful to God, as God has shown us in His Holy Scriptures (and not about sex), and
2. That Christianity is all about us being changed so that we are brought/moved closer to God. It is nothing about changing god (lower case was deliberate) in order to make us feel better about the life we have chosen to live.
May God Bless St. Hilda’s Anglican Church!
Really well put David. The orthodox position is so very misrepresented most of the time it is critical that there be an articulate statement made of just what we do stand for, and against, for that matter. I wish that your letter was printed as a response to Bishop Bird’s letter.
Hi to all the gang
Greg
David Jenkins
Re: ‘Stepford Church’
Didn’t know what that meant so went to Google “Stepford Church” and found out about movie “The Stepford Wives”. Now I get what that saying means. It sounds like St Hilda’s is a reaching out church very much like the Salvation Army. I think is nice.
Thinking about what goes on at St Hilda’s what comes to mind is the saying ‘Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin’.
Wesleyan Hymn ‘Come Holy Ghost’
‘Upon our -Disordered Spirits- move’
We are all disordered by nature
The Holy Spirit comes upon those who ask
Hymn ‘Come Thou Font of Every Blessing’
‘Take our hearts Lord take and seal it for thy courts above’
See St Augustine’s Confessions as well