Chur c h patronage
Sir: Your criticism (February 22) of the General Synod's decision to abolish the
Power of private patrons to choose their Parish priests is justified and vitally relevant at a time when this body is increasingly tending towards policies Whose end product seems to be disestablishment. This sort of appointment has always led to the direct reinforce, ment of the meaningful tie between those who have taken Holy Orders and the lay people.
However, I do not think the step is wholly undesirable. The parochial sense is essential, yet not enough in the wider context of the Church of England. Members of the Church should feel a
Part of the whole of Christ's Body, and not sh-n-l..
p y their own parish church. Hence the centralist principles of the General Synod's move can only serve to strengthen that feeling of common identity between all communicants. What is said at Lambeth Palace, or by the General Synod, should mean as much to Anglicans as the words of individual incumbents. Unity and a
sense of common purpose come in this way.
Surely this idea of the rewarding ,uentification able to be felt between all worshippers is something we need now more than ever. It should take precedence over considerations concerning Establishment.
Stephen hen Hackling President the Anglo-Catholic Society, Christ Church, Oxford
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