J.I. Packer, one of the world's most renowned evangelical theologians, left the Anglican Church of Canada, citing "poisonous liberalism" in the church body.
Packer, 81, who was named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in the world by Time magazine in 2005, quit the Canadian arm of the global Anglican Communion with 10 other B.C. Anglican clergy last week, he said, according to The Vancouver Sun. They joined the more conservative and orthodox Province of the Southern Cone in South America.
The Oxford-trained theologian said he can no longer serve under Vancouver-area Bishop Michael Ingham, arguing that he "appears heretical." Ingham had sanctioned in 2002 same-sex blessings in the British Columbia diocese of New Westminster, sparking international uproar.
In recent years, 28 parishes have voted to split from the Anglican Church of Canada, citing the denomination's departure from Christian orthodox values and Anglican tradition. They have realigned with overseas Anglican provinces.
St. John's Shaughnessy Anglican Church in Vancouver, which Packer is a long-time member of, left the denomination in February, placing itself under the authority of the Southern Cone province.
John Stackhouse, a professor of theology and culture at Regent College in Vancouver, sees two different bodes forming in Canada with the continual departure of parishes.
"Frankly, we have not seen this sort of thing in Canadian history, and I'm not sure we've seen it in Anglican history," he said, according to The Canadian Press.
"With the significant size of these dissenting groups, and the international support for them ... we may see two different bodies in one geographical territory," he said, noting that Anglican churches traditionally have been determined through geographic, and not ideological, boundaries.
While the controversy has focused on homosexuality, Stackhouse says the issue is about more than sex.
"This is about the fundamental question of how we derive any kind of Christian truth," he said, according to The Canadian Press.
Packer, who has outlined a conservative Christian theology in his 1973 bestseller Knowing God, described the Bible as "absolute" authority on divine truth and that it clearly describes homosexuality as a grave sin, as reported by The Vancouver Sun.
The Rev. Kevin Dixon, priest at St. Mary's Anglican Church in Kerrisdale, meanwhile believes Packer is adopting a "literalistic" reading of the Bible.
"It's important for people to understand that the holy scriptures is a very nuanced document. I think we need to allow people room to come to a new understanding," said Dixon, the local newspaper reported.
"I have not always held the view that same-sex relationships are consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ, but now I do."
Packer argued that top leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada have changed their interpretation of Christianity while he and other conservative Anglicans have remained committed to traditional Anglicanism.
"I'm simply being an old-fashioned mainstream Anglican," Packer said.
As conservative Anglicans believe the core beliefs of Christianity are being called into question by the Anglican Church of Canada, the small group of parishes that have left may just the first wave, some predict.
"Every diocese in which this (approval of same-sex blessings) has happened – or something like it has happened – churches have split off," said Stackhouse. "This [issue] is very much in play now; this is not the end game at all."
Over the weekend the Anglican Network in Canada, a splinter group comprised of parishes now under the authority of the Province of the Southern Cone in South America, held a conference where they welcomed Archbishop Gregory Venables, leader of that southern province. His arrival at the conference stirred controversy as the Anglican Church of Canada told him not to intervene in the country's affairs. He refused, however, saying the conservative group of Anglicans wanted him there.
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J I Packer's book, Knowing God, is just great reading. Almost every Christian I know has read that book, and it sure helped me as a young Christian. Bless and support our brother !
J.I. Packer has a blessing coming his way,because he is obeying Jesus..Paul said to the
Corinthian church congregants not to keep company with anyone who is called a brother (or called born again), who is sexually immoral, ,,, not even to dine with such a person.1 Cor. 5:11.
thanks for the clarification
loveall,
I think you misunderstand- we are to love all sinners, we are not to love their sin. It is with love that we tell sinner's that they MUST come to REPENTANCE for their sin- not carry on in their sin thinking that it is fine with the LORD. CHRIST told all the sinners that HE loved, to REPENT of their sin, you must read and OBEY the WORD thoroughly and not pick and choose the parts your itchy ears want to believe/hear. People who want to believe the sin of homosexuality is okay often use CHRIST'S love all passages to justify their arguments. IN JESUS NAME
or been friends with one?
I understand what the bible says about homosexuality in leviticus and from paul....what did jesus say concerning people of that nature? He said, " I am not here to degate the law....also the most important thing he said was, " To Love ALL...it does not matter their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or SEXUALITY...I am not stating that i agree with homosexual marriage, but i am confused about the conflict between Jesus' statement about Love and Pauls/leviticus statement about damnation...one question for everyone...have you ever conversed with a gay person?
I cannot believe the BOLDNESS with which these individuals/groups claim that homosexuality is not a sin. I'd like to know what bible they're reading because every one I read says it is. In fact, I've had non-christians read the same verses, and they come to the same conclusion that God says it IS a sin. I mean....this isn't rocket science here!
Yesterday, I saw a website for Metropolitan community church, and it stated that Jesus celebrated and confirmed homosexual relationships, as well they stated that, many theologians agree and are seeing scripture with a new set of eyes. (I'll bet!) I NEVER thought I'd see the day that people would so blatantly go against Scripture, all the while claiming to represent the church of Christ....whoa.
I won't be surprised if he becomes Catholic. It tends to be the route for most orthodox Episcopalians and it will be the direction for 400,000 Traditional Anglicans shortly.
Biblical Truth should always supercede our hold to our denomination this is why I converted to the Catholic Church after being raised and pastoring in the Baptist and Calvinist traditions.
ten10: It isn't wrong to hold a brother or sister in higher esteem than ourselves. JI Packer is a precious brother in Christ, who has helped many, including myself, come to a better understanding of Almighty God. I do not worship or praise them, that belongs only to God, but I will encourage them and show the high respect!
The Lord tells us to esteem others better than ourselves. How about if we could show respect and dignity to another person, whether or not we agree with what they are saying.
I encourage others, go check out JI Packers books and strengthen your understanding of God, HE is the one who inspired these brethren to write! So, God bless JI Packer for standing on The Word of God and not on what the world says is right, we are living in the end times, and what is wrong is considered right, and what is right is considered wrong..and this is all prophetic!!
God bless JI Packer and all those who share the love of Jesus Christ and speak the truth in love!! In Jesus Name, Amen
JI Packer is one of the main influences of my reading that lead me to understand that I could have a personal relationship with God, that this God wanted to be known!!! That Jesus Christ died to restore the world back to the relationship we enjoyed before the fall.
Of course, not all people will accept this....God has done His part, and we must do ours, we either accept what Jesus Christ has done or we reject it, and this is our decision of where we spend eternity.
God bless JI Packer for standing with Jesus Christ and not this world.
truthandjustice1: The Lord God doesn't care if we're "Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish" in Christ there is neither, He is concerned with the state of our heart and are we living in a personal relationship with the Lord God.
Man is the one concerned with externals, God is concerned with the inner person. How can anyone read the Word of God and fail to see that God is NOT denominational, HE is no respector of persons, and HE loves the World, Jesus died for the whole world.
I do not need any other person to intervene for me (and I am speaking the truth in love here truthandjustice1). I will never allow anything to keep me from my relationship with Jesus Christ,
HE is the love of my life and my best friend, and HE wants to be that to everyone! I encourage everyone, ask Jesus Christ what HE wants, and what HE likes! HE said, "I will build my church (He never said man would build it) and the gates of HELL will not prevail against that church! The church is simply the body of Christ (body, persons who acknowledge JESUS IS LORD!)
And no person, no pope, (respectfully speaking) can snatch me out of the LORD's hand! HE loves me unconditionally, and I do not have to perform or do anything for Him to approve of me, HE already does!!!
the problem with these theologians is that they are in accessible. the system makes it impossible to confront them and their understandings.
its amazing that there are two opposing understandings but they remain isolated from each other.
There are a great many "Great" Church leaders of the past and present who have written good books or commentaries about the Christian faith. We should be very careful who we "idolise" when it comes to our faith.
Here in South Africa very other Christian sports star is idolised by a sports mad public, and it is difficult to defend these so called Christian sportsmen/women when they fall from the faith.
If GOD can use a donkey He can use any vessel He chooses to communicate His message, the vessel remains but a vessel. I praise GOD that Rev Packer has moved from the liberal Anglicans, I also wish he had done so much sooner as I would have done in the same scenario.
I am grateful for Dr Packer's decision. He has had a great influence on me through his book "In Step with the Spirit". May God strengthen him and all those Anglicans who decide to remain faithful to his Word.
"Nuanced"...yeah, you go ahead and explain that "Nuance" to the Living God, when you fall into his hands. For me, I'm terrified at the thought of falling into the hands of the living God. I certainly am not arrogant enough to call evil good and good evil. When you stop acknowledging something like homosexuality as a grave sin, and start trying to find "nuance"...you are half way to hell already.
Paul was as right as could be...itching ears, they will turn away from sound doctrine to the doctrine of demons. Every Anglican concerned with the state of their immortal soul should flee that apostate denomination like the plague.
I have the same question as "Knight." What took Packer so long? Why didn't a man of his obvious intellect see the handwriting on the wall sooner?
There are more people than the liberals fear there are who stand by sound Biblical truth.
Quecat,
"God bless Mr Packer for adhering to the truth of scripture over the opinions of men"...his writings reveal what you have stated. Read the link I posted to his article last year. His writings are very Catholic.
...who, God willing, will abstain from mindless denominations of any type and adhere solely to the Word of God as a "Christian" and nothing more.
"God bless Mr Packer for adhering to the truth of scripture over the opinions of men"...we are of the same opinion and if you have read his writings then we are of a similar mindset
I'm sorry I thought we were discussing J.I. Packer, a protestant theologian who I respect. His writings speak for themselves. A truly good Christian who God willing will find his way into the Catholic Church.
I don't see where rejecting liberal heresies would naturally lead one to then embrace the extra-biblical concepts of "purgatory", "transubstantiation", "reconciliation", "infant baptism", or a "co-redemptrix".
The blood of the Reformers was not spilled in vain.
"Come out of her, my people"
I've always liked and respected the work people like Packer and Colson have done in the evangelicals and Catholics together movement. I especially like the article he wrote last year: http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=908.
Perhaps its time Re. Packer to cross the Tiber?
God bless, Packer. May others follows his lead.
How appropriate.
Today's devotional from John MacArthur:
“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’ Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
"The apostle Paul knew that those in the Corinthian church were being exposed to the heretical theology. This false teaching was having a bad influence on the Corinthians’ behavior. That’s why Paul tells them in today’s verse, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” It is impossible to be around evil people and not be contaminated both by their ideas and their habits.
This glimpse at the situation in Corinth proves that sound doctrine matters and does affect how people live. "
God bless Mr Packer for adhering to the truth of scripture over the opinions of men.
Packer is one of the most orthodox theologians of our day. I'm surprised that this took as long as it did.
"As conservative Anglicans believe the core beliefs of Christianity are being called into question by the Anglican Church of Canada, the small group of parishes that have left may just the first wave, some predict."
Praise God that not everyone is being blinded by the liberal theology sweeping the globe.
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace - Romans 11:5.
As many of these bishops and leaders of mainstream denominations push through these marriage redefinitions, I've really pondered how it got to this point. How is it that folks get to leadership positions in these major denominations with such non-traditional (in my opinion un-biblical - but that isnt the point of my post) viewpoints? If I didn't know better, I would say the gay-lesbian activist movement specifically targeted this goal (getting leaders into leadership positions of major denominations) as a means of advancing their cause (normalizing homosexual relations) - and had a specific pre-conceived plan - how else do you explain it? I mean why would you even become an Anglican minister 20 years ago if you felt the bible wasn't the authority and the denomination's very long held statutes were invalid? And with such un-traditional and counter-doctrinal viewpoints, how/why do you rise up in leadership? Why not find a denomination that matched, or else start your own? Its an awfully big challenge, commitment and effort to become a minister - why would you go through all that if you had such major differences in doctrinal beliefs? Am I the only person who ponders this? Again, I'm not wanting to debate whether you think homosexuality is biblical or not (I don't think there's much of a debate, nonetheless) but more to the point, if you believed that way (that is is bibical and ok) why you would commit to a denomination as a minister, and rise up through leadership of an organization/denomination that didn't agree with you, and then force change? It seems so disingenuous, and fishy, to me.
This is the effect of "the Bible is our only authority and the way I interpret it is just as valid as yours." Lord, help us.