Peace on earth and in the church

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests,’ sang the angels (Luke 2:14). A mangled version of this has entered popular speech, making Christmas a time to think about the end of wars on the earth. Not that that is a bad hope, and as we end 2007, it is certainly right for us to look out into the world and long for a thorough outbreak of peace among all men everywhere.

But the peace which the angels announced was an even more profound one. It was peace between God and humanity, a reconciliation through Christ the Lord. Much as we long for the cessation of war, so much more should we be gladdened that God has acted to remove the causes of warfare between himself and us. This is what makes us sing with joy at Christmas and throughout the year. It is also the true ground of reconciliation between people.

Unfortunately, even God’s people, saints who are also sinners, fall into the trap of quarrelling with each other. The peace which should rule our relationships does not always have that effect. Christmas offers us a reminder that we should attend to our fellowship with each other and yearn for wholesome and healthy relationships based on truth and love.

Some disagreements amongst God’s people involve matters of principle where we have to differ. We need to do so courteously wherever possible. But truth is even more important than unity, and the consequences of unbiblical teaching have to be revealed and opposed. As we end the year there is one matter which is causing much grief amongst Anglicans and where we need to bear witness to biblical teaching while respecting those with whom we differ.

Within the Anglican Church of Australia we now have the situation that in some dioceses there may be women bishops. You know that I am opposed to this innovation on scriptural grounds, believing as I do in the equality of men and women in Christ, but our complementarity in church and home. I believe that the way that God has ordered our relationships is demonstrably for the best.

I am disappointed about the way in which this innovation came into existence, through the Appellate Tribunal of our Church, rather than the Synod. The nature of the ministry is a key point of fellowship between Christians. A change of this significance should have been the consequence of mutual agreement in General Synod rather than legal fiat.

The fact that two-thirds of the Synod was needed to pass such legislation is a proper indication of the seriousness with which a novelty such as this should be viewed. It is a high, but not impossible bar. I am aware that many were frustrated by the fact that the numbers were never enough in the General Synod and almost certainly would not have been enough this time. But that is the nature of the rules of fellowship. A legal decision resting on a 4-3 majority is scarcely a sound basis for a change of this magnitude. It is a shaky start to an innovation.

Throughout Australia there are Anglican Christians in dioceses where there may be women bishops who have in-principle objections. It is possible to think that women priests are legitimate and still to oppose women in the episcopacy, for example. Often, too, people can quietly change parishes if they wish to do so. But it is much harder when it comes to someone in the episcopate.

So far I have been encouraged by the approach of the Australian bishops who seem to want to talk such matters through and make some sort of provision for those who have in-principle objections. The Bishop of Ballarat and I have begun a new organisation called an Association for the Apostolic Ministry, in order to help locate such people, to represent their interests and to further educate the Church about biblical teaching on this subject. I would be glad to hear from anyone who has an in-principle difficulty or knows of others who do, so that we can begin to work to their behalf.

This is a rather unsettling matter to be talking about at Christmas. It is not the fact of having doctrinal disagreements which is wrong. We can, however, conduct ourselves wrongly in an otherwise good cause. We must always endeavour to ‘speak the truth in love’. Then, despite our disagreements and the necessary actions we must take to help people and to teach God’s word, we may do so in a way which brings that glory to God which was the first element of the angels’ song.

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