Church of England must serve all the faiths, says Archbishop

The Times today notes a call from the Archbishop of York: Church of England must serve all the faiths, says Archbishop -Times Online.

The Church of England should be open for use by people of any religion or none, like a hospital, says Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York. There is a strong case for regarding the Church as a public body that does not exist simply to serve believers, he argues. Whether or not most people attend regularly is irrelevant.

“At a time when a creeping social Darwinism is on the rise, where life is measured in terms of its quality or usefulness, the Church remains the last bastion of defence for those who would find themselves close to jettison by society,” the Archbishop says. As the recession bites, the Established Church must rediscover its confidence and self-esteem. “The Church of England must once again be a beacon by which the people of England can orientate themselves in an unknown ocean.”

The Archbishop writes alongside leaders from all the major faiths in Faith in the Nation: Religion, identity and the public realm in Britain today,  published today by the Institute for Public Policy Research.  

There is a short press release on the Archbishop's website, Archbishop defends role of the Church  and and also a longer piece, Faith and Nation  (Unclear if it is the actual article in the book.)

With a growing focus on the place of faith in society, and especially the realisation that faith will not die out or be marginalised as so many predicted, the report has a vital message. The Archbishop strikes a fascinating balance between the role of the established Church of England a place for all, and its continuing call to share the Christian Gospel:

The Church of England, itself part of the world-wide Church, has given birth to churches in 166 countries. I myself benefitted from the educational work of English, Scottish and Welsh missionaries in my country of birth, Uganda. Now, as a Christian and Archbishop in England, I simply remind the English of what they first taught me.

I am amazed that there is so little consciousness of this rich heritage. We need to become better acquainted with this legacy, be grateful for it, rediscover its dynamic and build upon it. The spiritual wealth and "faithful capital" that made this country great is to be shared not only with present and future generations in the UK, but as a free gift from God to the whole of humanity.

A nation with a clear, shared view of itself, of its basic values and beliefs, and the behaviour that those within society can expect from each other, will be better prepared to face up to the challenges of the modern world; be they the impacts of globalisation, different working patterns, an increasingly mobile population, or the challenges of climate change; not forgetting the turbulence in the money markets. Who ever thought that money as a means of exchanging goods would become the leading brand of goods with a market of its own!

For the Church in England must once again be a beacon by which the people of England can orient themselves in an unknown ocean by offering them the Good News of God in Christ in practical and relevant ways to their daily lives. The Church in England must rediscover her self-confidence and self-esteem that united and energised the English people those many centuries ago when the disparate fighting groups embraced the message and invitation of God's love in Jesus Christ.

The current challenge for the Church of England, as I believe it is also for other denominations, is to ensure that it is proclaiming the Gospel afresh in a way that is comprehensible and relevant to people today. Inviting them to participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  (The rest is here.)

I have a copy on order and will plan to post on it in due time. It is an important and timely contribution to the discussion on what it is to be British today.