Church of England

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Like a toothless old woman muttering in a corner ignored by everyone
—Former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey[1]

The Church of England, also known as the C of E, or the Anglican Church is a Christian church, self-described as Reformed Catholic, and the state religion of, not surprisingly, England. It was also the state religion of Wales until 1920. Other Anglican or Episcopal Churches throughout the world are affiliated with the Church of England and Anglicanism is not declining worldwide as it is in Britain. The South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu is one of the world's most famous Anglican clerics.

Contents

[edit] Founding and the English Reformation

As every older English schoolkid knows, the Church of England was initially founded when, in 1534, King Henry VIII refused to put up with the Pope's objections to sanctioning his divorce due to Catherine's relation to the Habsburgs who controlled Spain and much of Italy. Henry, being King and having the wherewithal to do so, declared the English Church to be split from the Roman Catholic Church, and put himself at the head of the new church - after God/Jesus Christ of course. Some of the emerging Protestant theology was adopted to further the division, and Henry took advantage of his new ecclesiastical leadership to forcibly close down England's monasteries and convents, confiscating their wealth and land.

Although popular belief holds that the church in English was protestant from that point on this is, in fact, incorrect. Following the accession the throne of Mary I of England in 1553 the Church again returned to Roman control. Perhaps unsurprisingly various executions followed.

It was Elizabeth I of England who made the definitive break with Rome when coming to the throne in 1558. Over the next century or so, the theology and practices of the Church shifted back and forth under various regimes, sometimes appearing Catholic but without allegiance to the pope, sometimes fairly Puritan, before settling somewhere in the middle.

[edit] Transition to modern times

There is disagreement whether the CofE are Protestant, it seems they call themselves Catholic but not Roman Catholic.[2] The Church has a minor role in the British government, with Bishops sitting in the House of Lords and has usually backed government policy. The so-called Lords Spiritual represent only England: other branches of the Anglican Church, other faiths, and freethinkers are not specially represented in the House of Lords. The Queen is still formally the head of the CofE.

For a large part of its history the CofE has been connected with maintaining the established order, that meant traditional upper classes in charge, the middle classes in the middle and the lower orders knowing their subordinate place. This is less true today and traditional ties between the CofE and the Conservative Party are weakening.

In recent decades, church attendance in Britain has dropped considerably and the Church of England's influence is becoming increasingly irrelevant in society, but they still have those Lords Spiritual.

It is under something of a hostile takeover bid by the Roman Catholics, who have set up a system where Anglican parishes can convert over without having to change any of their liturgy or dogma. They simply change "Anglican" to "Catholic." Their priests don't even have to be celibate![3] The Vicar of Bray[wp] would have been proud.

It should be noted that the Church of England is the established church only in England. The CofE was disestablished in Wales in 1920, with its former dioceses being renamed as the Church in Wales (sic); the Church of Ireland was disestablished in 1871, long before the partition of Ireland, and Scotland has the Church of Scotland, which is in the Reformed/Presbyterian tradition rather than Anglican. (The equivalent to the CofE in Scotland, is the Episcopal Church of Scotland, which is the second, perhaps third, church tradition in Scotland.)

[edit] The modern Church

The nice country vicar in effect inoculated vast swaths of the English against Christianity.
—Rev. Giles Fraser[4]

Unlike fundamentalist forms of Christianity, Anglicanism does not demand a literal interpretation of Biblical passages such as the creation, great flood and virgin birth; indeed, the Church of England has been part of efforts to oppose those who insist that one must make a choice between reality and God. Modern Anglicans are also usually very tolerant and respectful of other Christians. The Church of England doesn't tend to put the fear of Hell into people—all it really offers is tradition, rituals, tea, jumble sales, and cake.[5] On balance, Anglicanism should be considered a mostly harmless (though somewhat boring) branch of Christianity.

Despite a heavy presence of stuffy, old fashioned conservative types, the Church of England has become increasingly progressive compared to many other Christian churches. Justin Welby is the new Archbishop of Canterbury, and while he is an evangelical, he is well-liked by many branches of the Church and strongly supports women bishops.[6] Like many intelligent people Welby can't always suppress rational thinking and he admits he sometimes doubts the existence of God. [7] Welby is not the only doubting Church of England cleric. One study suggests roughly 3% of the Church of England clergy admit to doubting the existence of God.[8]

[edit] Child abuse

While not approaching the horrific levels of abuse which the Catholic Church experienced, the Church of England has had to confront the issue of child sexual abuse at the hands of its clergy, there were noteworthy cases in in Sussex. [9][10]Cumbria, [11] There was systemic failure to prevent late Dean of Manchester, Robert Waddington committing mass child abuse. Justin Welby is working to ensure that complaints are not brushed off as has happened, files dating back to the 1950's are being examined and independent investigators are involved to prevent cover ups. [12] [13]

[edit] Women in the clergy

Since the days of suffragettes in the early 20th century, women have militated for the right to serve the Church in all capacities; this movement gained momentum in the 1960's. The Church allowed women to become ordained deaconesses in the 1980s; since 1992, the Church has accepted women as priests. A long-delayed and divisive vote on female bishops took place in November 2012 with below two-thirds majority in the House of Laity. A year later, the Church's governing body voted overwhelmingly to allow women to become ordained as bishops, joining their counterparts in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. [14][15] In July 2014 the General Synod of the Church of England voted to allow women bishops. Dissenting parishes can insist on a man to govern them and there will be an independent arbitrator. Justin Welby claims women bishops are theologically acceptable and the primary duty of the CofE is to stay together connected to current society. [16][17] Libby Lane was consecrated as bishop of Stockport in January 2015 and became the first woman bishop in the Church of England. [18] [19] [20]

[edit] Official positions on social and political issues

  • Evolution - In 2010, the CofE officially stated that not only is evolution compatible with Christianity, it is a disservice to both science at large, and scientists who are Christian, to deny the facts and findings of science.
  • Homosexuality - The Church allows that homosexuality "in and of itself is no bar to faithful Christian life," but at the same time "sexual activities outside of the bonds of marriage are a sin," and that marriage is as defined, one man and one woman. The upshot? It's fine to be gay, as long as you are celibate. The Church was one of the most vocal groups in opposition to government plans to introduce same-sex marriage in the UK,[21] as it would dilute the sanctity of marriage. Informal prayer for a gay couple is allowed provided there is pastoral discussion why the couple go against church teaching. [22]
  • Homosexuality as clergy - Some homosexuals have also been accepted as clergy in Anglican churches outside England, including Bishop Gene Robinson in the New Hampshire diocese of the Episcopal Church. These moves have been met with strong opposition from many traditionalists. Some of the more homophobic branches of the Anglican church refuse to stay in communion with those branches that are "open and affirming." In England gay men in civil partnerships can serve as CofE priests and bishops provided they make an unenforceable promise to remain celibate.[23] Ordained deacons, priests and Bishops may not enter same sex marriage and people in same sex marriage may not be ordained. [22]
  • Divorce - Ideally marriage should last a lifetime but divorce sometimes happens for varied and painful reasons. Vicars have discretion to allow divorcees to remarry in church and failing that a service following a civil wedding is possible. [24]
  • Involvement in War - The Church of England also broke with historical tradition by opposing British involvement in the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  • Poverty - Unlike the American Religious Right the Church of England speak up "for the poor and the marginalized," but relatively few listen.[25] The CofE was accused of failing the poorest citizens; examples include selling social housing to the highest bidder while homelessness increases[26] and betraying London protestors from the Occupy Movement by permitting the police to remove protestors from St Paul's Cathedral.[27] Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury also wanted church based credit unions to out compete loan companies, notably Wonga though he acknowledged that would take decades. Welby was not promoting legislation which would protect victims of loan sharks much sooner. [28] A week later it was discovered that the Church had invested in Wonga - and the stake had not been sold about six months later because the Church wanted to avoid losing money on the payday loans.[29] Actions speak louder than words.

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey
  2. http://anglicancleric.blogspot.com/2007/08/anglicanism-catholic-or-protestant-last.html
  3. Well, any new ones would, but the old ones don't.
  4. Quoted in Dawkins, Richard, The God Delusion, p.41
  5. Or death
  6. Justin Welby named as next Archbishop of Canterbury; Justin Welby set to become new Archbishop of Canterbury; Justin Welby: Ex-oil executive facing Church of England’s 'impossible job'
  7. Archbishop of Canterbury admits he has doubts about God
  8. Clergy who don't believe in God
  9. Archbishop of Canterbury condemns child abuse failings
  10. Church of England makes Chichester child abuse apology
  11. Ex-canon of Carlisle Cathedral Ronald Johns jailed
  12. Inquiry into CofE cleric abuse claim set up
  13. Church of England to examine 1950s records in child abuse investigation
  14. Church of England Votes in Favor of Female Bishops, NBC News, 20 November 2013
  15. Church in Wales backs women bishops
  16. Justin Welby: Women bishops vote 'based on theology'BBCYouTube video
  17. Justin Welby: Women bishops vote 'based on theology'
  18. First female bishop named as the Reverend Libby Lane
  19. Church of England’s first female bishop named as Libby LaneLibby Lane: First female bishop to be consecrated
  20. Not all Anglicans are comfortable with women's ordination and small numbers have left to join the Roman Catholic Church over the issue. See History overturned as Anglican bishops are ordained as Catholic priests.
  21. Church of England Gay Marriage
  22. 22.0 22.1 Gay couple blessings ruled out by Church of England bishops
  23. Mixed response to CofE decision to allow gay bishops
  24. What is the Church's teaching on divorce?Marriage after divorce
  25. Analysis: new Archbishop's challenge
  26. The church is failing our poorest citizens
  27. Occupy London protesters accuse St Paul's of betrayal
  28. War on Wonga: We're putting you out of business, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tells payday loans company
  29. Archbishop Justin Welby admits Wonga stake has not been sold
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