I recently attended the Mere Anglicanism conference in Charleston, South Carolina. Why would a Pentecostal attend an “Anglican” conference? At first, I registered to attend because of the speakers – all world class Christians seriously engaged in the mission of God. Also, the theme was intriguing – “Salt and Light: The Christian Response to Secularism.”
The conference began with a halo – not the halo that rests upon the head of a saint; but the halo that warns me of the onset of a migraine headache. Anyone who suffers from migraines, knows how light and noise can easily distract one’s thinking process. At the onset of the halo, I usually go home searching for darkness and silence. But I didn’t come to Charleston to hide in my hotel room, so I attended the first session. It’s been a long time since I had been around so many clergy collars; and I’ve never been around so many Anglicans. But, I wondered, “Are there any closet Pentecostal/Charismatics here?”
N. T. Wright, as always, was captivating. He offered a powerful critique of how some Christian theologies actually mirror, even capitulate, to secularism. Secularism wishes to separate the heavenly from the earthly. If you’ve read Wright’s books, then you’re familiar with his themes. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates that God has acted to redeem this material, physical world. A Christian theology that makes a distinction between heaven and earth (i.e. going to heaven when we die) does not reflect the mission of God, which is the meeting of Heaven and earth effecting New Creation. After Wright’s presentation I went straight to my room to sleep off the migraine.
At breakfast the next morning the dining area was filled to overflowing with collared Episcopalians. I grabbed an empty seat. Almost immediately, I was approached by a woman who asked, “Do you mind if my husband and I sit with you?” I replied, “Please do.” The gentleman introduced himself as an “Episcopalian, Presbyterian, academician” and asked, “Which parish do you serve?” I smiled and told him that I pastor a Pentecostal congregation – the Vidalia Church of God. He and his wife smiled and exclaimed, “We’re Spirit-filled!” He then told me his story: raised Episcopalian, studied at Princeton, turned Presbyterian. After years of marriage they grew apart and in the midst of their crisis they both were filled with the Spirit. He said, “In the midst of my brokenness I found myself on the beach wailing in tongues.” Then, he and she shared how that experience renewed their lives and marriage. I was moved to tears of rejoicing.
The first session of the day was presented by Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, a Pakistani born Anglican priest. Most of his presentation demonstrated how English (and American) law was formed out of the Christian gospel. The Christian faith, as expressed in the Holy Trinity, is relational; and because all humans have a common origin all humans are created equal. Modern secularism embraces equality, but denies the relational in favor of autonomy. However, the most powerful thing he said was, “What we need is movements. The institutional church – any church – isn’t working. We need people moving throughout the world unafraid to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.” Speaking as an Anglican with a strong ecclesiology, Bishop Nazir-Ali was not dismissing the church, but calling for the church to be moved by the Spirit in non-traditional ways of engaging the world.
Ross Douthat presented the second session. I will discuss his session in a separate blog in a few days.
Mary Eberstadt spoke soberly about the “Angry New Intolerance,” specifically focusing on the sexual revolution. She correctly points out that the homosexual agenda has its roots in the sexual revolution of the 1960s and the divorce culture of the 1970s. This is a threat to the future of Christianity because the family is the primary dispenser of the Faith. Broken families mean a disoriented Faith. The sexual activists aren’t just opponents to Christian morality, they are fanatically vitriolic, filled with rage. The one unexpected effect of this anti-Christian rage is the unity of the Church. Christians of all tribes are standing together.
If Eberstadt was sober, Os Gusinness was dark, even frightening as he discussed the New Atheism. Even though the secularists and the New Atheist are a small elite minority, they hold the power. Tragically, the strongest argument for atheism is the history of the church in Europe. The church failed to prophetically critique the corrupt kings; instead the church, both Catholic and Protestant, colluded with corrupted governments and produced centuries of bloodshed. From the ashes of World War II modern secular democracies of have emerged. The productivity and prosperity of the West have brought forth a generation that has indeed learned to live on bread alone – there is no need for God. He fears that tolerant liberalism of modernism will give way to an intolerant illiberalism of post-modernity supported by science and technology, the horrors of which we dare not imagine. He pondered if the church was up to the task, then asserted the glory and hope of the Gospel.
That evening I attended a Festival Eucharist at The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul. With well over 1000 in attendance this was the most powerfully majestic worship service I’ve ever attended. The Anglican liturgy, the choir and orchestra, the sermon by the Rev. Dr. John Guest, and 30 minutes of congregational hymn singing (from “Be Thou my Vision” to Micheal W. Smith’s “Here I am to Worship”) as the congregation made their way to the altar to receive the Eucharist. Yes, the Spirit was powerfully present. I was moved from weeping to rejoicing again and again.
Alister McGrath talked about the need for Christians to tell better stories, following the model of C. S. Lewis. He does not dismiss our theological creeds, but insists that our creeds must form the foundation of stories. Stories inspire the imagination of the masses. He wondered, what if there was a Christian storyteller, like J. K. Rowling (the creator of Harry Potter), who could capture the imagination of an entire generation of young people.
I want to return to my earlier question: “Why would a Pentecostal attend a conference called Mere Anglicanism?” I discovered that the Anglicans (and others) in attendance were sincere and serious about the Christian faith. Mere Anglicanism is a movement of the Holy Spirit seeking a reformed, renewed orthodox Anglicanism in North America. Throughout the conference I overheard many Anglicans talking about Pentecost, sharing their encounters with the Holy Spirit. When I introduced myself as an “unrehabilitated Pentecostal,” they rejoiced and welcomed me. I attended to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
The theme of Mere Anglicanism 2016 is “The Christian response to Islam.” I’ve already saved the date on my calendar.
