grubbily political reasoning surely exposes the pernicious effect establishment has on some of our bishops, so far have they strayed from the historic role of bishops in Parliament. Now some within the Church do not oppose this change in


the status of marriage, but the argument does not necessarily depend on that particular issue. Tose in favour of same-sex marriage might instead ponder their reacion to the legalization of assisted suicide, which, without doubt, will happen in the not too distant future. Te trajectory of the political establishment of this country tells us one thing – we as a Church cannot with any integrity be joined with it. We must be free to proclaim the Gosel vigorously on these issues without fearing the potential loss of the safety blanket of established status. Te issue of women bishops does


In his Assize Sermon in 1833 John Keble asked, ‘How may a our boast is not in our established


not quite fit into the same category as the two other examples mentioned, since it comes not from Parliament but from the Church of England itself. However, even here the inappropriateness of established status brought itself to bear in the reacion to the defeat of the legislation in November 2012. Readers of this publication will remember the toxicity of the vitriol poured onto the Church in the days following that vote, and the rather disgraceful failure of the bishops to come to her defence. Te Prime Minister told us to ‘get with the programme,’ whatever that means, and the threat to abolish our established position was bandied about with such finger-wagging ferocity that the outside observer would be forgiven for thinking its preservation was the singular duty of all Christian men and women.


Lack of understanding Comments from certain MPs were startling in their lack of


understanding as to what the Church is. All thoughts that the Church of England had moved on from being the Department for Spiritual Affairs, as it had become in the eighteenth century, were dashed. Ben Bradshaw, the former Culture Secretary, made the astonishing remark that, ‘Because the Church of England is established, it is actually answerable to Parliament.’ Tis, from the mouth of a professed Christian! Mr Bradshaw’s amazing presumptuousness went on, ‘And if the Church of England Synod is not able to save itself on this issue, then I think Parliament does have a role.’ His remarks were supported by many MPs. Suggestions were


made that all episcopal appointments be put into moratorium until women bishops legislation was passed, the Lords Spiritual should be thrown out, Parliament should legislate over the head of the Church itself. Our advocate in the House of Commons, Second Church Estates Commissioner Tony Baldry, lectured that ‘If the Church of England wants to be a national church, then it has to reflect the values of the nation.’ In a way, Sir Tony was right, if by ‘national church’ he meant ‘established church.’ And this is the point. Te Church is being held to ransom. But the Church should not feel threatened; it is a holy institution, beholden not to Parliament, nor to notions of worldly status. Indeed the Apostle Paul tells us, ‘We have become the scum of the earth.’ Perhaps before we can grow again we must, in the words of Giles Fraser, ‘be free to be the Church’?


status, nor in great state occasions, but in the resurrected Lord


man best reconcile his allegiance to God and his Church with his duty to his country; that country which is fast becoming hostile to the Church, and cannot therefore long be the friend of God?’ Tis question is more pressing for Anglicans in Britain than it ever has been. We are now fundamentally compromised by our position as an established part of the state, a state that is gradually and benignly dismantling the Christian foundations of our nation. I say ‘benignly’ because it is not done out of malice, but ignorance. Te absurdity of Mr Cameron’s recent remark that Britain is a ‘Christian country’ has been shown by his own legislative programme. Britain is not a Christian country. Our Parliament is not a Christian Parliament. We must ask ourselves whether it is appropriate for us to continue to


collude with what, in the words of John Keble, is effectively National Apostasy.


The Queen Disestablishment would undoubtedly cause the Queen to


break her coronation oath to preserve ‘all such rights and privileges’ pertaining to the Established Church. Yet, I would ask whether in the face of recent events that oath remains intact? ‘Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gosel?’ Does Parliament permit Her Majesty to keep this promise? Is she allowed to uphold ‘the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government’ of the Church of England? I would answer that she is not, for the reason that in truth the UK no longer sees the sentiments of such oaths as the basis of public conduct. As such the Queen is irreconcilably torn between her role as Supreme Governor of the Church and her role as a constitutional monarch of a secular state. Such a situation is sad, but a reflection of the change in this country over the past fiſty years. But establishment has become to some of our bishops a golden calf. ‘No one can serve two masters,’ Jesus said, and as a Church we must ask whether we are living by this teaching while we are established.


Trust in Christ We must, therefore, trust in Christ alone. Our boast is not


in our established status, nor in great state occasions, but in the resurrected Lord. In him alone we find our self-worth, and where we are compromised in his proclamation we have no place. What has establishment done to strengthen Christianity in our nation? Has it truly given our bishops the courage and platform to stand up for the faith? I would answer ‘No’ on both counts. Rather, it leads them unintentionally to idolize that position of status and to justify it against clear evidence that such a position undermines their true vocation. All the while they are party to the creeping erosion of our remaining Christian values, persuading themselves that they can still influence things from the inside. Alas, that opportunity passed a long time ago. Our bishops watch powerlessly as our faith is undermined by the state. Tey must have the confidence to say, ‘We will have no more part in this.’


ND June 2014 ■ newdirections ■ 7


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