Rt. Rev. Michael Nazir Ali said Anglican relationships with other religions are ‘damaged’
By: George Conger.
A “disruption of fellowship” will likely result from the actions of the 76th General Convention, predicted the Bishop of Rochester in an American newspaper this week.
Writing in the Washington Times on July 27, the Rt. Rev. Michael Nazir Ali said the General Convention’s actions “will have caused a schism despite repeated entreaties by the rest of the communion not to take unilateral action that contravenes the teaching of the Bible, the unanimous teaching of the church down the ages and the understanding of the vast majority of Christians today. “
Bishop Nazir Ali declined to speculate on what actions would be taken on a communion wide level, but noted “there can be little doubt” that the votes to junk the moratoria on gay bishops and blessings will “further damage” fellowship among Anglicans and will spur “more talk of the rupture, impairment of communion and the like.”
The American decision to “walk apart” from the communion will “further damage ecumenical relations with other churches, such as the Roman Catholic, the Orthodox and various evangelical and Pentecostal bodies. Interfaith dialogue, especially with Muslims, also has been adversely affected, with dialogue partners asking how what they have hitherto regarded as a ‘heavenly religion’ can sanction a practice that most religions do not permit,” Bishop Nazir Ali added.
However, “those who remain orthodox in faith and morals” should understand that “any disruption of fellowship” within the Anglican Communion arising from the events of recent weeks, will be taken “for the sake of discipline and the eventual restoration of those who have chosen to go their own way to the common faith and life of the church,” he said
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