Church must confront this clash of convictions
Peter Jensen
February 13, 2007

I have worshipped God in Anglican churches in places as remote from each other as Punta Arenas at the southern tip of Chile, Darwin, Cape Town, Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, Oxford, Washington and Vancouver. I could visit many more places, in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere. In all there is a family resemblance stemming from origin, relationships, teaching and practice.

These churches are in communion with each other. As an Anglican clergyman, I was welcome to minister with few questions asked.

In a world of division, great international movements such as churches are precious reminders that we all belong to the same human race. Through them, people from around the world care for each other in practical and effective ways. Christians are world citizens. Unity matters.
On the other hand, the church is not infinitely flexible. It cannot be, if it is to be true to its calling. It has a task to bear witness to the truth that is in Jesus Christ. There are boundaries to that truth, and hence boundaries to the Christian fellowship. the rest