What Mainstreamers (in NZ) Really Think But Have (Mostly) Been Too Afraid To Say It:Dr Bob Robinson
That’s the blunt summary of what mainstreamers think about Anglican identity. We estimate that these mainstream Anglicans make up between 40 – 60% of practicing Anglican adults in NZ. Let’s call them half of our Church. And because they are the younger part this percentage will grow. Of course the mainstream part of the church is not perfect. There are temptations to triumphalism, individualism and ungraciousness. Not all mainstreamers think and act alike; there is quite a diverse range of opinion and ways of doing things. And, as an academic I know that every issue is complex and multi-layered. But in forty years of watching Anglicans in NZ I have never seen these mainstreamers so strong numerically and so well-equipped theologically – and I have never seen them so determined to resist the revisionism that is the root cause of our disunity.
One last point. New Zealand doesn’t actually need Anglicanism – quite apart from the fact that New Zealanders don’t seem very interested anyway. But what NZ does need is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me reassure you of the mobility of Kiwi Christians under the age of 40 who will gravitate to – or leave – Anglicanism in direct proportion to the presence of (a) excellent preaching; (b) doctrinal orthodoxy; (c) the quality of relationships and pastoral care. The future of Anglicanism depends upon those priorities – not upon further analysis and dialogue.
Who are we as Anglicans? We are a church called to be Gospel-centred, Christ-centred, biblically-based and doctrinally orthodox. Our future is strong and assured if – and only if – we remain true to that foundation and resist the suicidal urge to build on any other. Because, of course, “There is no other foundation than the one already laid: that foundation is Jesus Christ†(1 Cor 3.11).
[Read here->http://www.anglican-mainstream.org.nz/amnz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1620&Itemid=45]
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