Struggling to go forward

Another step on the way to the ordination of women bishops, a request to the British government to suspend its nuclear arsenal, a report of the sale of ecclesiastical buildings and a strong appeal against Islamic terrorists: these were the most important questions on the agenda of the General Synod of the Church of England, which ended in York on 11 July. British Anglicans decided that there do not exist theological obstacles to the ordination of women as bishops, but failed to find a legislative solution that would satisfy those who oppose women bishops and are threatening to abandon the Communion. “IN A THOROUGH MESS”. In 1994, when women were first ordained as priests in the Church of England, the idea of a third separate province with its own autonomous Bishops to represent those contrary to the ordination of women satisfied the two factions. But today the supporters of women bishops, who accuse the Church of hypocrisy, rebel against an identical compromise. During his homily to the Synod gathered in York Cathedral last Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, theological head of the Church of England and of the Anglican Communion, which represents 77 million faithful worldwide, admitted that the “Church of England is currently confused and struggling”, and added that “we may be in a thorough mess, but at least we shall not mislead anyone into supposing that the power and wisdom of God depend upon the smooth coherence of the Church of England’s workings”. BLASPHEMOUS TERRORISTS. In the same sermon Rowan Williams accused terrorists of blasphemy and “the fantasy of being in total control”. The fact that they want “to clothe suicide with the spiritual power of martyrdom… represents a condition of spiritual weakness that is both pitiable and terrifying. For the person who resorts to random killing in order to promote the honour of God or the supposed cause of justice, it is clear that God is not to be trusted. God is too weak to look after his own honour and we are the strong ones who must step in to help him. Such is the underhand blasphemy at work”. The archbishop’s sermon also touched on the appeal of Prime Minister Tony Blair to “moderate” Muslims to challenge the extremists in their midst. Rowan Williams explained to the members of the Synod that “what we look for is not just moderation and unexciting religious commitment… It is people who are extreme in their confidence in God who will most effectively challenge the extremists of murder and fear”. IMMORAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS. During the Synod nineteen Anglican Bishops wrote to the British daily “The Independent”, declaring their opposition to the renewal of Britain’s nuclear arsenal. Calling nuclear weapons “profoundly contrary to God”, the bishops joined their voice with that of the Catholic Church that had made the same request a few days previously. In their letter the bishops accuse the Prime Minister Tony Blair of double standards. “The money spent on the maintenance and replacement of the nuclear arsenal could be used to heal the environment, and to combat terrorism, poverty and debts”, write the bishops, reminding Blair that last year he had participated in the campaign “Make poverty history” but today fails to maintain its ideals. FINANCIAL RECOVERY. A Report on the financial situation of the Church of England was also presented to the Synod. It explains that the Church, over the last five years, has earned over 100 million pounds (over 142 million euros) by selling off many parsonages with important historical value. The proceeds have been used to plug the black hole of some 9.5 million pounds (13.5 million euros) caused by the drop in value of the pensions of clergy. The decision to sell off the properties was challenged by an Anglican pressure group which accused the Church of “a short-sighted operation of financial surgery that benefits a constantly growing bureaucracy which it is not able to support”. The group “Save our Parsonages” has accused Anglican dioceses of wanting to get rid of buildings of major historical value without any consideration for the wishes of the local population. In the 1990s the Church of England lost some 800 million pounds (1142 million euros) by poor investments in stocks and shares, and has had to find ways of making good the deficit and funding the costly maintenance of an important heritage of ecclesiastical buildings, 44 bishops’ residences and 9 palaces. A drastic plan of financial recovery led to the sale of historic buildings at a rate of 30-40 million pounds (40-50 million euros) per annum to fund the pensions of the clergy that cost some 100 million pounds per year (almost 143 million euros).