Self examination and penitence
Graham Leonard
THE CHURCH IN CRISIS by Charles Moore, A. N. Wilson and Gavin Stamp
Hodder & Stoughton, £6.95
Ihave always understood that propriety demands that anyone who is asked to review a book should, first, read it and secondly should abstain from reading the reviews of others before doing so. I have certainly read the book but, when, as in this case, it has been serialised in part before publication, a reviewer can, I think, be excused for having read the reactions in the press, particularly so when, as in this case, the book itself is more in the nature of a tract, intended to provoke rather than a work of literature.'
Such reactions as I have seen have ranged from the angry to the dismissive, although some have come from those who press for the Church to be inclusive, providing a haven for all on whatever terms. Some have bidden us not to heed the 'young fogeys' on the ground that they do not represent the people but those who have done so have not hesitated to claim such authority for themselves. It is a pity that errors of fact and the repeated stating of opinions as if they were facts, have made it easier for such attitudes to be taken but they certainly do not justify its dismissal.
The authors have in fact provided a very necessary, if not welcome, tool for those who hold positions of responsibility in the church today, namely, a manual for self- examination and penitence. It has not been immediately recognised as such but this is not surprising for self-examination and penitence, although traditionally regarded as indispensable for growth in the spiritual life, have not been greatly in evidence in recent years.
The older forms of self-examination included such questions as 'Have you blasphemed against God? Have you stolen other people's possessions, time or reputa- tions? Have you worshipped money?' Such simple and direct recognition of sin is out of fashion today. The authors have under- standably adopted a more sophisticated approach. They recognise that the Church of England is suffering from a disease, which, if not mortal, is very serious. They describe many of the symptoms. The way they do so tests the spiritual capacities of those who read their book. It is largely left to us to diagnose the nature of the disease. Whether or not we will do so depends upon our reactions to what they write.
As we read, we experience moments of dismay, at times of outrage. What matters is whether we then recall the words of St Peter (which, of course, I quote from the Authorised Version), 'For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults ye shall take it patiently? but if when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable to God.' In other words, we ask of what we should repent, ex- periencing a just rebuke, and what we should bear. If need be, judging our actions to be right, we then ask how it can be that we are so misunderstood. Either way brings spiritual profit, which is not forthcoming, if we react impatiently and dismiss the book out of hand.
Reading the first chapter, with its glimp- ses of synodical life, fascinating to those who have a taste for it, and do not take part in it just as a matter of duty, we find ourselves asking where our loyalty really lies. Is the will of the Synod to be identified with that of God notwithstanding what is said in scripture and tradition? We may reflect on the fact that Parliament with all its claims to sovereignty only claims to determine what is legal not what is true or morally good.
In Chapter Two by asking what is the role of a priest, A. N. Wilson also leads us to ask what the Church is for and, very important today, what people expect of it. The answers of those outside are often very different from those within and reflect the saying of Our Lord about the children of the world in his generation being wiser than the children of light. Besides expect- ing a lot of other things those outside do expect the Church to speak of God, even if they do not listen to what it says.
The last chapter is difficult to approach constructively and with charity. Mr Stamp pleads in my judgment very rightly for the retention of the parochial system by which every person lives in the territorial area of a parish and, whatever his beliefs or lack of them, has rights to the ministrations of the parish priest. But Mr Stamp gives no indication that he recognises or under- stands the chronic problems with which church people have to contend up and down the land in town and country alike, trying to maintain this system and to preserve buildings which not infrequently are now in quite the wrong place for their real purpose. He wants a vicar for each individual parish (even, say, for Helland by itself on Bodmin Moor with a population of 210?). But for all that complains when the church commissioners spend money contributing to the stipend and housing. When the tale of his church-tasting is ended, the impression is given that nothing suits him and it is not clear what would. If anything did it is unlikely it would be right for all, and it is all for whom he professes to speak. On the last page, his solution seems to be no more than the provision of a beautiful, well-ordered Church in good repair. Such provision presented great problems even in Mr Stamp's beloved 19th century, which were frequently met as in the case of church schools, by the great generosity of the parish clergy, from their own incomes. More than a well-ordered and beautiful church is needed for the redemption of mankind.
However, this book can be used with profit to help the Church to recognise its illness, and discern that the remedy lies in the recovery of obedience to the Faith as revealed by God not derived by man. I hope and pray that it will.
Graham Leonard has been the Bishop of London since 1981
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