The archbishop of York has suggested that opening words of the Lord’s Prayer, recited by Christians all over the world for 2,000 years, may be “problematic” because of their patriarchal association.
In his opening address to a meeting of the Church of England’s ruling body, the General Synod, Stephen Cottrell dwelt on the words “Our Father”, the start of the prayer based on Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:2–4 in the New Testament.
“I know the word ‘father’ is problematic for those whose experience of earthly fathers has been destructive and abusive, and for all of us who have laboured rather too much from an oppressively patriarchal grip on life,” he said.
His comment – a brief aside in a speech that focused on the need for unity – will divide members of the C of E, a body whose differences on issues of sexuality, identity and equality have been highly visible for years.
After Cottrell’s speech, Canon Dr Chris Sugden, chair of the conservative Anglican Mainstream group, pointed out that in the Bible Jesus urged people to pray to “our father”.
He said: “Is the archbishop of York saying Jesus was wrong, or that Jesus was not pastorally aware? It seems to be emblematic of the approach of some church leaders to take their cues from culture rather than scripture.”
Rev Christina Rees, who campaigned for female bishops, said Cottrell had “put his finger on an issue that’s a really live issue for Christians and has been for many years”.
She added: “The big question is, do we really believe that God believes that male human beings bear his image more fully and accurately than women? The answer is absolutely not.”
In February, the C of E said it would consider whether to stop referring to God as “he”, after priests asked to be allowed to use gender-neutral terms instead.
It agreed to launch a commission on gendered language, saying “Christians have recognised since ancient times that God is neither male nor female, yet the variety of ways of addressing and describing God found in scripture has not always been reflected in our worship”.
Most of Cottrell’s speech was devoted to the word “our” rather than “father”, as a way of urging the fractious members of the synod to be a little more brotherly and sisterly in their discussions.
He told members of the synod: “We remain stubbornly unreconciled, appear complacent about division, and often also appear all too ready to divide again […] We have got used to disunity. We think it’s normal when in fact, it is a disgrace, an affront to Christ and all he came to give us.”
One of the most divisive issues within the C of E, same-sex marriage, led to a decision earlier this year to allow clergy to offer services of blessings to gay and lesbian couples who have undergone a civil wedding.
The first blessings were expected this summer, after final approving of the wording of prayers by the synod meeting this weekend. But the presentation of the prayers, plus new rules on whether gay and lesbian clergy may marry their partners, and whether to lift the existing instruction that clergy in same sex relationships must be celibate, have been delayed until November.
I know so many Anglicans who left this has been church and came to Orthodoxy. Visit any Episcopalian church now and it’s almost empty!
Anglican Hierarchs “Defined”
They are like straw before the wind, And like chaff that a storm carries away.
Book of Job 21:18
What Patrarch Krill of Russian and now entire Orthodox Church should do ..is publically decertify the Christian Church orders like the Evangelical , Anglocan , Episcopalian and all the “Unreformed Protestant Chruches of America and England … as Christian Faiths and Countries ….
Lets remind everyone …the Orthodox church is the Original Church of Christ … all the other churches established are nothing more than New Christian Franchises who called themselves Christian houses of worship !
They are no different than what a “Dunkin Donuts or Mcdonald franchise” is , which pay a “Franchise Fee ” to Corporate Mcdonald or Dunkin donutes to independently own, and use the Dunkin Donuts brand name which promises to provide a high quality donut or product consistently over and over again!
Importantly, they are allowed to own a “Franchise” on the basis of them operating the franchise in a manner that requires strict adherence to the baking instruction , donut cooking material, guidlines , operating standard and rules of the Dunkin Donuts International Organizations! Any deviation from those standard … can result in the loss of the “Dunkin Donuts Brand name” , and no longer can operate under the Banner of Dunkin Donuts! , which normally puts the franchise owner out of busniess!
Therefore, Patriarch Krill with 6500 Nuclear weapons behind him.. can declare that …The Orthodox Church no longer believes that the Christian Churched follow the strict teaching of Original Church of Christ ..and no loner can use the “Chrsitian Church Label ” Furthermore , all masses must adhere to the operating guideliness of the Original Church of Christ to be awarded a Christian church franchise !
Furthermore , these Christian Churches are tainting the “Christian laber and Brand of the Original Church of Christ by making unauthorized changes to the Christian standards established by the Original Chruch of Christ and maintained by the caretakers of the holiest sites in Chrystomdom …the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehme and the Holy Seplucher in Jerusalem !
In other words …”WHOSE YOUR DADDY “… CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF AMERICA AND WORLD”!
IMAGINE THAT …ABOUT 120 MILLION AMERICANS WILL FIND OUT THAT THOSE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES HAVE NEVER BEEN AUTHORIZED TO PREACH CHRISTIANITY AND PROPERLY WORDHIP GOD AND THEREFORE AMERICA IS STRIPPED OF ITS GREATES TOOL OF WAR …WE ARE RIGHTEOUS CHRISTIAN SOLDERS SAVING THE WORDL …!
St. Theophan the Recluse “decertified” them 100+ years ago…Read his magnificent letter to those who even dared to have a conversation with Protestant proselytes of the time…
The “Anathemas” that are supposed to be recited on the Sunday of Orthodoxy (but which Constantinople & most of the Greek Patriarchates omit these days) “decertify” all of the “old heresies”.
St. Mark of Ephesus did not buckle in 1439, when the rest of the Orthodox delegation was pressuring him to refer to the Latins as “Schismatics”, but he insisted on the term “heretics”.
There is no real need of a “new” decertification, but the boldness to proclaim the obvious (Heresy), and stop playing “diplomacy” with Dogma.
This “boldness” is lacking because it would constitute a barrier to the “inter-faith” / Uniate / Global Religion movement that has been a “fashion trend” for Phanariotes over a century now…
This boldness is lacking because it would constitute a “moment of shame” when the hierarchy would have to admit that the modern, innovative policies of “oikonomia” (including our hierarchy incorrectly referring to them as “Churches” / “heterodox” vs. “heretical congregations” & marrying people who are not Orthodox, etc) have only resulted in a dangerous dilution of the original Faith and tradition of our Church Fathers.
These people are the anti-Christ in priestly vestments.