Why a Covenant, and Why Its Conciliar Form: a Response to Critics

http://anglicancommunioninstitute.com/content/view/92/1/

[Anglican Communion Institute] 13 July 2007--I. Why a Covenant, and why its conciliar form: a response to liberal critics regarding the mutual subjection.

Every Sunday, in my congregation, we offer up to God these words from the Prayer "for the whole state of Christ's Church militant here in earth": "[We beseech] thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant, that all they who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity, and godly love."

We lift up this prayer weekly at least, as do many Anglicans. We seek God's mercy in accomplishing this prayer. And the prayer is that we "agree in the truth of thy holy Word", and live as one. Do we believe in the promises of God to fulfill this prayer? And how do we believe? Do we do so as spectators, or as responsible participants in that for which we seek God's mercy? As when we pray that God would grant us a forgiving heart, do we seek to forgive? Or when we pray that God would grant us peace in our time, do we seek peace in our own actions?