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LETTERS (12 March): Readers have their say
By Market-Place
March 12, 2008
Letters to the Editor LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Market-Place readers are invited to respond to articles and raise new issues of concern through the ‘Letters’ page. Write to: LETTERS, PO Box 335, ORANGE NSW 2800 or market@ix.net.au

LETTERS: 

* Paper's lack of graciousness
* Power & control  
* Dangers of 'closed-system' thinking
* Not listening?
* US flouting Lambeth
* They just don't get it
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Paper's lack of graciousness

Dear Sir,

"I respect the consciences of those who have said that they do not feel

able to attend [the Lambeth Conference] because there will be those

present who have in their view acted against the disciplinary and

doctrinal consensus of the communion.

"Needless to say, I regret such a decision, since I believe we should be seeking God's mind for the  Communion in prayer and study together; but it simply reminds us that even the most 'successful' Lambeth Conference leaves us with work still to be done in rebuilding relationships."

That is the Archbishop Rowan Williams speaking at February's Church of

England General Synod.

It is a pity that the Market Place (especially the writer of The ISSUES) could not be so gracious.

Bishop Robert Forsyth

Bishop of South Sydney

 

They just don't get it

Dear Sir,

The author of the article; "Weasel Words announce Lambeth Boycott" (Market Place February) invites critical comment.

The statements by 'Sydney' Anglican leaders justifying their refusal to attend Lambeth this year, are indeed 'weasel' statements . They repeatedly emphasise their loyalty to the Anglican Communion and then advance spurious reasons for refusing to participate in the Church's most high-profile forum.

In effect they are saying, 'We will not play by the established rules; we can only attend if all other players submit to our new rules'. There is something not only smarmy in this attitude it is at bottom fascist. That is, the Sydney-ites want to bully everybody else into acceding to their understanding of Christianity under the pretext of defending Biblical 'truth'.

They should go to Lambeth and stand up like real men and defend their point of view openly. This, of course, they do not like to do because their views come across as biased, arrogant, self-righteous, hidebound and based on a demonstratively absurd view of Holy Scripture to which they appeal as the final authority for and justification of their immature behaviour.

The message in Dr Ray Barraclough's article in the same issue, "Christian Scriptures endorse honour-killing?" shows up the 'Sydney' or Moore College approach to scripture as being in every way 'fascist' and by implication brutally inhumane. 

Some people just don't get it, do they?

Revd Dr John A. Moses

Professorial Associate

St Mark's National Theological Centre

Barton ACT.

 

US flouting Lambeth

Dear Sir,

So much outrage regarding Sydney Bishops 'flouting' the conventions of Lambeth! 

So little outrage regarding US Bishops flouting the conventions of Lambeth!

Revd John Tongue

Ulverstone, Tasmania

 

Not listening?

Dear Sir,

I am very saddened by Archbishop Jensen's statement of boycott.

The loudest message I want to give him is this simple principle: if you

don't listen to me, why would I listen to you? But I guess he probably

doesn't read Market-Place either!

Don Reid

Boyup Brook WA

 

Dangers of 'closed-system' thinking

Dear Sir,

Congratulations to the author of The ISSUES (Market-Place 13 February) for such a cogent and coherent statement on the decision of the Sydney Bishops not to attend the Lambeth Conference this year. 

I personally found two features especially poignant.  The photograph of the gracious Archbishop Goodhew with assistant Bishops and their wives at Lambeth '98, seemed to highlight the very different atmosphere that prevails in Sydney Diocese today compared to ten years ago. 

Then there was the timing of the release of the statement by the Archbishop of Sydney - immediately after the ordination of deacons in St Andrews Cathedral.  Praise God so many were ordained to diaconal ministry.  It must have been impressive and uplifting to witness and to share in.  Why then make a statement with potentially divisive and painful repercussions after such an inspiring occasion?

Success and growth are motivating; wealth and abundant resources are energy-creating.  Sydney Diocese has these at a time when many others in the Anglican world are struggling.  The ordination service would have been a vital reminder of this. 

On such a heady occasion was it all too easy for sensitivity to be dulled to the concerns of others.    This is a particular danger if one believes one has the truth and others are, to a greater or lesser degree, deceived.  The United States under President George W. Bush has demonstrated this 'closed-system' thinking with disastrous consequences.

Power, wealth, and the assurance that one is on the side of truth and right can result in decisions that cause damage to the Body of Christ.  Remember the 'plain words' of Jesus: "...that they may all be one ... so that the world may believe that you sent me" (John 17:21).              

Yours faithfully

Fr Mark Watson

Parish Priest

Bateau Bay NSW

 

Power & control

Dear Editor,

I commend Market-Place for its 'ISSUES' article on the weasel words used by Archbishop Jensen and the Global Anglican Future Conference group in framing their rebuttal of an invitation to the Lambeth Conference.

I agree that the Sydney Anglican leader's decision not to participate could be viewed as a "power and control ploy", aimed at creating a break-away faction composed of evangelical dissidents, including the head of the Diocese of Nigeria, the most populous Anglican diocese in the world.

One wonders if the present reluctance of Sydney bishops to attend the 2008 Lambeth Conferences is a fresh manifestation of the strong 'exclusive brethren' streak which infiltrated Moore College at the end of the 19th Century. This exclusive tendency has often affected relations between Sydney Archbishops and other Australian bishops, and made life particularly difficult for dioceses which have been planted clandestinely with Sydney diocesan 'clone churches' which look to Sydney for episcopal oversight rather than to the diocesan bishop in the area where the church has been planted.

According to Jesus, "if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand'.(Mark 3:25).

The dawn of the 21st century has been plagued by "unholy" religious warfare, involving Muslims, Jews and Christians. Surely it is the duty of 'true Christians' to be seen as advocates of peace and reconciliation rather than as self-interested troublemakers. In terms of the bigger picture, should all Anglicans be seriously posing the question: Is the issue of a bishop's sexual orientation momentous enough to risk destroying Anglican unity?

Yours sincerely,

Dr Mavis Rose

MacGregor, QLD