e-Mail tonyc@ncf.cacomprehensive analysis | Correspondence on this subject |
It was Remembrance Day 1997 when this site was started as a result of the controversy surrounding public statements of belief made by our then United Church moderator, Rt.Rev. Bill Phipps, under the headline: "Is Jesus God?"
The Ottawa Citizen stories and other published articles are given below, with responses to this site by readers and e-mails distributed at the time by concerned people, and a selection of relevant writings on faith reflecting both sides of the controversy.
In November 1999 the debate was partially re-kindled when the Ottawa Citizen published a story: "Church ready to ditch Father, Son and Holy Spirit." I see this as a worrisome progression from the debate started by the "Is Jesus God?" article of October 1997.
Bill Phipps completed his term as Moderator in 2000. This site continues, under a modified title, because the issues raised have been with us since long before his statements to the press, and will continue long into the future. Subsequent additions to the site cover matters of general concern to renewal groups.
Whether this site has helped others to a better understanding of the nature of Jesus Christ as Lord I cannot say, though that remains its aim. For myself, however, it has influenced my whole life and my hopes for the one to come. When the site began I knew nothing of the renewal movement, and had just started to attend an Alpha Course. Now, writing in August 2000, I have co-lead numbers of Alphas, and have been married for more than a year to Laurie-Ann, whom I met through her response to the site, and whose scholarly writings now form its backbone. Praise the Lord for his mysterious ways!
More recently - 2002 - a group of eight Anglical parishes in Vancouver have stood up to their Bishop in opposition to his intention to permit the blessing of same-sex unions. This debate has international repercussions, and not just within the Anglican church. I have added links to this issue, which is a further eposide in the conflict between liberalism and othodoxy. Indeed, from this point on, this site will be widening its scope to cover the issue of the erosion of orthodoxy in the face of the march of liberalism, a trend that fills me with sadness, but sparks my ministry and makes it worth while.
He has many supporters, both ordained and lay. He has received letters from former church members saying that his vision was appealing to them, and they wanted to come back to the church. He may feel that he can increase the membership and influence of the United Church by promoting a more liberal understanding of our beliefs. Compared with Anglican John Spong, he seems conservative. The UCC is far from being the only denomination struggling with doctrine. Visit the 1998 Anglican Lambeth Conference
So why does this make me so sad? Not because Bill has spoken out, but because a sizeable number within the United Church are clearly sympathetic with his views and support him, if the attenders at the Nov 10 gathering are representative. I'm sad because he was elected by people who knew his beliefs. He is doing exactly what he was elected for. But they and he aren't reckoning with some significant Christian forces: those who have always believed in the Jesus of the Bible, newer Christians converted by the likes of John Wimber, Luis Palau, Billy Graham, and Nicky Gumbel of the Alpha movement, the power of the internet when harnessed for the Lord, and let's not discount the Christian music audience continually massaged by singer / evangelists such as Rebecca St. James and Ruth Fazal.
Those who follow a more scripture-based faith are represented by Renewal Groups within the UC: Church Alive - 905-835-2884; Community of Concern - 800-465-7186, and The National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations, NACC, - 905-826-2104. Fellowship Magazine, 800-678-2607 is a platform of these Renewal Groups. There's a polarization appearing. There are renewal groups in other denominations, such as Anglican Renewal Ministries - ARM.
On this issue we are debating the essential fabric of our faith. And, with God's grace, this confrontation could become a victory for Jesus against those who would crucify him, again.
We are talking about the very divinity and resurrection of Chist, without which Christ was a fraud and all of us fools to follow him. Bill Phipps said that the divinity of Jesus is irrelevant, and that He is not the only way to God. He sees Jesus as a subset of God; just the part that can be accommodated within the human body. No church expects all members to concur in all aspects. A church should ask for unity in essentials; charity in non-essentials. I see these matters as essential to our basic faith and are stated as such both in the traditional and modern creeds.
Bill Phipps thinks that a watered-down concept of Christianity, more easy to believe and accept, is what people want, and he's willing to give it to them (2 Tim 4,3-4). He's probably closer to Spong than he's yet ready to admit. He sees an influx of people to our church who are more comfortable with a rational interpretation. This is a view that has been taught in many theological colleges for 20 years, places known to be true tests of faith. Spiritual leadership these days often rises up from congregations. (If you are planning to go into the ministry, choose your college carefully.)
No one said it was easy to believe in Jesus as Lord; to believe that He was born by a miracle, and that after He died He returned in the flesh (and ate broiled fish and regular food, unlike an apparition). It takes a leap of faith that even Thomas was not ready for, until he put his fingers into Jesus wounds. If it were all proven beyond the need for faith, every being could accept it without effort, and without reward. When Jesus is truly in your heart, you know He is Lord, and every part of your life becomes a rejoicing tool for God's purpose.
Hearing Bill Phipps debate these matters, I have the impression of a man whose journey of faith has not yet blossomed to that true joy in Christ, that certainty of His power as God incarnate, yet a Christ whose desire is for a personal relationship with us, His special creations. Bill has an intellectual concept that has come from study, rather than a love concept that has come from faith. Worship with any black congregation to see the difference, and then remember that white Christians are now the minority.
e-Mail tonyc@ncf.ca
November 13, 1997 |
November 14 |
November 15,16 |
November 17
November 20 |
November 24 |
November 28 |
November 30 |
December 3
December 4 |
December 15 |
December 22 |
Jan 15, 1998 |
Jan 16 |
Jan 17
Jan 23 |
Feb 3 |
Feb 16 |
Feb 28 |
Mar 10 |
Mar 28 |
May 2 |
Sep 6 - the Last Word?
2000 |
2001 |
| Articles on faith | Inclusion below does not necessarily imply endorsement of the views expressed by the compiler of this page. |
United Church of Canada Renewal Groups
Other denomination Renewal Groups
On line periodicals
Conferences, future and past
Other relevant links
Tony Copple, Kanata, Ontario. Updated March 18, 2000
A Personal Announcement
ps. By strange coincidence, or by the power of the Lord depending on
your viewpoint, the Lectionary Reading for Sunday November 9, soon after this unfortunate story broke,
was Mark 12: 38 - 40, which another "coincidence" found me unexpectedly reading from the lectern. In the New International Version:
As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets.
They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths."
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