Dear Rowan: To the New Archbishop of Canterbury on Saving the Church of England for the People of England

by RobertVanDeWeyer (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2002

  $3.25

  The Church of England is in trouble, but should it restore its fortunes by following the route of doctrinal purity of increasing tolerance? How are the non-religious to be brought back into the fold, and won't the first put them off, while the second leaves nothing on offer? This is the basic dilemma the new Archbishop faces. In this open letter Robert Van de Weyer, a self-confessed Anglican rebel, offers some practical remedies. He proposes a means of putting the internally divisive issues of gender and sexuality to one side and reforming and renewing parish life with a few simple steps. The legal challenges required are quite small, but the effects huge. The change lies in restoring the principle of democracy at parish level, that dates back at least to the 13th century. It would liberate the spiritual gifts of parishioners and solve the perpetual financial problems of the Church. Van de Weyer believes it is the most significant reform that a brave and orthodox archbishop could take to restore the Church to its position in the community.