WHAT ABOUT THOSE LIBERALS ?

To read some sections of the Church Press and one or two of the Religious Affairs Correspondents of the broadsheet national newspapers you would think that the Church of England is being torn asunder by people called "Liberals". Some of us think that it's high time that a rich and vibrant and life-giving way of being Christian had a better press. Now, it seems, this might be about to happen. The new "Affirming Liberalism" is a loose association (a "network") of individuals, lay and ordained, which will help many to see the phenomenon of liberal Christianity in another way. Simon Marsh, Vicar of Bramhall, who is leading our Parish Weekend next month, took himself along to the launch in Oxford a few months back and comments on it below in an extract from his "Blog" (http://frsimon.squarespace.com) :

WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY JOY it was to be present at the Inaugural Conference of the new Affirming Liberalism network at Trinity College Oxford yesterday. Not much of a “party affiliated” person by nature I was surprised by the enthusiasm with which I greeted news of a new liberal-minded network within the Church of England. But then it’s true that I’ve grieved in the past decade or so as I’ve watched fellow Christians become more and more deeply entrenched in one degree of “certainty” after another. It’s true that I’ve been distressed by my own disinclination to “fight back”. It’s true that my theological inclinations have always been more ready to seek out affirmations than assertions. So the 10 Affirmations unexpectedly set before my eyes by Affirming Liberalism were bound to bring relief and joy to my heart.

"Affirming Liberalism seeks to enhance the ‘enrichment’ of the Christian faith and support ordained and lay Christians of the Liberal Anglican tradition by:

* Affirming faith in Jesus’ life, teaching, death and resurrection as revealing God’s limitless love for all humanity in this life and the next.

* Affirming the dynamic action of the Holy Spirit in dispersing this divine love throughout the world.

* Affirming the positive impact of biblical, literary and historical criticism for our engagement with Scripture and Tradition.

* Affirming appreciation of the distinctive nature of religious language in vibrant worship which connects us to the divine.

* Affirming a philosophical approach to Christian faith and the search for truth through God-given reason.

* Affirming the positive insights of the natural sciences and mathematics in the formation of a Christian world-view and understanding of the universe.

* Affirming the positive impact of the social sciences for understanding human nature and society, and developing Christian ethics.

* Affirming the vitality of the performing and creative arts in shaping a dynamic Christian vision of life lived in relation to God.

* Affirming open, creative conversation with Evangelicals and Catholics as a means of enriching our understanding of the Christian gospel.

* Affirming open, creative conversation with other faith traditions and cultures as a way of deepening our understanding of God."

On a day when another furore surrounded our wise and compassionate Archbishop, a day when words of contempt and ill thought-out political, theological and philosophical posturing have thus far contributed so very little to the task of engagement with the realities of our time, the golden sunshine and the golden spires of a Saturday in Oxford have been balm to my soul. Good and open conversation, real ‘offering’ in worship, an astonishingly excellent lunch, and marvellously framing contributions from Professor Keith Ward and Dr Mark Chapman have given me HOPE and Liberal Affirmation! Laus Deo.

Worth watching ? More information on http://www.affirming-liberalism.org.uk

Roger Clarke

September 2008