Sir, Christians who are not Anglicans are dismayed by the endless bickering in the Church of England (“Church in meltdown over gays and women”, June 16, and letters, June 17) because of what it is doing to the reputation of the Chistian faith. The issues which divide the established Church have nothing to do with the gospel we are all here to declare. Little wonder the pagan world looks on with cynical disbelief.

Most of us could not give a damn whether there are women bishops, or any bishops at all. Nor are we bothered about the sexuality of spiritual individuals who can communicate God’s love for us. We are indignant that at a time when people need more than ever to hear about the life-affirming blessings of faith, the CofE cannot resolve its differences. The truth this is now teaching us is that Christianity cannot be expressed uniformly through a “worldwide communion”. It is inevitably conditioned by the historical, linguistic amd social cultures of the people among whom it takes root.

The sooner this monolithic bureaucracy is re-formed into independent local churches the more effective it will be. Then those who want to play religious power games can get on with it, without bringing the whole of Christianity into disrepute.

The Rev Ian Gregory
The Congregational Federation

Sir, While the imminent break-up of any relationship is to be looked upon with regret, in the case of the Anglican Communion it may be a blessing in disguise. By throwing off its conservative shackles, the Anglican Church could embrace the possibility of becoming a progressive organisation no longer insistent on being run solely by heterosexual men but open instead to all people regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. As with the condemnation of gay ordination, the arguments used against female members of the clergy are both outdated and theologically vacant. For instance, a common argument used by conservative organisations is that Jesus deliberately chose an all-male discipleship, therefore giving the Church justification in forming its own clique of ecclesial holy men. However, recent scholarship has suggested that (while not perhaps being his wife) Mary Magdalene was one of Christ’s disciples. Conservatives often also forget that it was a group of women, rather than their bearded counterparts, who first witnessed the empty tomb and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Another schism may indeed be painful for Christianity, but continuing with the status quo would undoubtedly be the greater of two evils.

Greg Marcar
Cranleigh, Surrey

Sir, The traditional and orthodox Christians in the Church of England are suffering abandonment by their leaders. Is it not time for those of us in the Catholic Church to make every effort to extend the hand of friendship to our Anglican brethren and to resume dialogue with them?

Real differences should not be concealed, but we have much in common and clear explanations in a spirit of goodwill could bring peace of mind to many of those involved in the present trauma. Let us hope that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church does not remain aloof but makes a positive attempt to respond to the disquiet of those disaffected Anglicans in the established Church.

John Owen
Sittingbourne, Kent

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