Scholastics v Orthodox: As Jeffrey John story breaks, we have Bishop Marshall’s ACC resignation letter. Ms Ruth Gledhill
This post from the Times website is behind a "paywall". A few paragraphs below are quoted with permission
As we report today and has been reported extensively elsewhere (links to all the relevant storis are at Thinking Anglicans), Jeffrey John is on the initial shortlist to be the next Bishop of Southwark. Our story is here.
It is of course possible that the Archbishop of Canterbury has had a dramatic Pauline conversion to the justice argument of gay rights campaigners in the Church of England. More likely is that he was boxed in and had little choice but to approve Southwark's mandatory candidate. Nick Holtam from St Martin-in-the-Fields is likely to be the other name that goes forward to the Prime Minister. Under the new rules of the Crown Nominations Committee, David Cameron would normally expect just one name but I believe he has on this occasion asked for two.
Some of the evangelical parishes that are certain to oppose Jeffrey are already withholding their quotas. This has contributed to a diocesan deficit and redundancies. What has Southwark got to lose by taking a stand over Dr John, a stand that would be in line with what the Prime Minister believes and what we all suspect Rowan Williams privately and personally might believe as well?
Yet what of the orthodox, the voices crying out from Africa and the Middle East? A number of leaders from these churches have now resigned from the Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council, including Archbishop Henry Orombi, Archbishop Akrofi and Bishop Azad Marshall of Iran.
In his resignation letter to Dr Williams, which has been seen by The Times, Bishop Azad Marshall said: 'I've felt lonely and voiceless among those who put little or no value on the orthodox view of integrity and fidelity of the interpretation of the Scriptures and their application. I represent a diocese where our people have paid a great price for upholding the truth of the Scriptures. When I see how they have stood by their Lord I feel that I cannot participate in another Anglican Consultative Council when I have no confidence that my presence will make any difference. And neither does it honour those who have died to uphold Scripture.'
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