General Synod told attempts to marginalise Christianity should not deter church from its ‘God-given duty’
The Guardian has reported (Tuesday 8th) that the archbishop of York has said the Church of England cannot expect to be “universally welcomed or applauded” for performing its “God-given duty” to re-evangelise the country.
At a meeting of the General Synod in London, Dr John Sentamu warned that the “counter-cultural vision” of the church mission did not promise a “life of ease, but of criticism, even persecution”.
He told the assembled clergy and laity that people lived in “fractious and uncertain times” in which the national church was “constantly questioned and attacked”.
His words echoed those of Pope Benedict XVI who, during his historic visit to the UK last September, told Catholics that fidelity to the gospel involved being “dismissed out of hand, ridiculed and parodied”.
The archbishop of York told Synod that any attempts to marginalise Christianity should not deter the Church of England from fulfilling its “opportunity and obligation” as the established church.
More at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/feb/08/church-debate-archbishop-york-sentamu