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Saturday, July 28, 2007

Ephraim Radner Responds to Matt Kennedy's 'A Hard Truth'

http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/4668/

[Stand Firm] 28 July 2007--I think Matt’s numbers are, if not exactly on target, at least in the vicinity. And, yes, it’s a “hard truth” to grapple with – the “truth”, that is, that we are looking at the split up of the Anglican Communion along rather major, not minor, lines, with a Canterbury that will not be able to straddle both (or the many) sides. As some of the posters here have pointed out, furthermore, we are (at least in terms of numbers and “holding things together”), in a lose-lose position at this point: whatever Abp. Williams chooses to do, there are bishops and primates and provinces – and therefore, congregations and clergy – who are going to separate from one another. After all, this has already happened, and it appears as if it will not be avoided in the future. Some people will care a lot about this; others (as we can see) not much at all. Whether or not, as Dr. Noll and others speculate, this or that of the divided groups ends up being a source of renewed faith and witness into the future is, however, a bit of speculation I would not try to entertain. The history of the Church is filled with examples of groups who have thought themselves to be the bearer of God’s blessing into the future who have been proved right (just a few); and other groups (far more numerous) who have been proved wrong. Only God knows in this case. I do not place bets on churches.

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