I think what I find really chilling is that he says ‘churches’ not just ‘church’. He’s clearly got far more than the CoE in mind when he’s talking about using governmental power to ‘gently’ lead the churches to his position on this equality in their practice and doctrine.

I think UK Christians are in for another round of hard times - not the first time post-Reformation, but I’m not sure how ready for it they are.

Please someone help me with this.  We as orthodox Episcopalians(Anglicans) here in the Dio. of SC see what has happened to TEC with leadership of the liberal revisionist clergy.  I unfortunatly see the C of E leadership drifting down the same path.  Conforming to the modern secularism of the public officials, media and entertainment industry.  What will happen if the next AB of Canterbury, as a prior post noted, is not a traditonalist?  Where will our leadership come from?  Will the whole Anglican Communion implode?

I think the next Archbishop of Canterbury choice puts the Communion in grave peril. If he turns out to be a no holds barred theological liberal, I think it would be a complete disaster. The Global South isn’t going to put up with that. They may not break off formally, but for all de facto means, it will be.

The tradition has been to have a high church then low church Archbishop. It’s the low church, evangelical turn. I think if they end up picking a liberal Evangelical it will be doubly explosive because the low church folk in the C of E will basically rebel (and they have a lot of money as the C of E goes), and the liberal high churchmen aren’t necessarily going to listen to him unless they can use him as a pawn. I think such a pick would be even more powerful than Rowan Williams. At least Williams didn’t actively try to push his liberal ideals and at least generally tried to make sure that conservatives were not completely disenfranchised. I don’t think he was effective at it at the end of the day, but at least he put on the facade.

The irony is that I don’t know if a conservative low churchman is going to be any better. I mean, if they get a real firebrand, then its still game over because the liberal elite in the C of E will ignore him, as they basically have been doing with Williams in the last few years.

I don’t know what the answer is other than to say, “If you call be with that job offer, I’m going to hang up the phone.”

Cameron is pronouncing that there is nothing to debate regarding the subject. He also quietly puts forth the threat of enforcement into every aspect of life. There’s nothing “gentle” in his speech. It is rather chilling.  Good to note, Mark, that he’s not only speaking to the CofE, but pronounces a universal theology.

Cameron’s final point is that he wants to change the culture.  What does he mean by this?  If he means that he wants a culture where there is no prejudice towards gays and lesbians, no expressions of contempt, then I would think that nearly everybody would be with him there.  But I think it is deeper than that.  He wants, I think, a culture in which no one can dissent from the official line that everything LBGT is OK and not to be questioned.  In today’s newspaper it reported how a Green Party councillor in Brighton has been subjected to a party inquiry, and has received lots of abuse via email etc, for voting against gay marriage.  This is happening repeatedly where anybody raises their head above the officially sanctioned parapet.  Imagine it in any other context - antisemitism, race etc - and this kind of bullying would be called fascist.  Yet somehow when it happens in this context it is not regarded as bullying but as the triumph of right thinking.  God help us.  I have always voted in elections, I have thought it very important and a civil duty.  For the first time ever I think I will not be able to cast a vote in the next election.

Well, reportedly the Camerons attended loony liberal affirming catholic St Mary Abbotts in Kensington.

Call me Dave is a pleasant enough fellow, completely naive and clueless about not just this issue, but as he makes clear, about much of the Christian faith.

Why is that?  Why should David Cameron have any idea if he is not told about the faith in St Mary Abbotts, St Martin-in-the-Fields, All Saints Margaret Street?  Shouldn’t their rectors be sent back to school rather than made bishops?    These are really questions for the Bishop of London, and the Druid.

If Call me Dave is giving the Church of England a hard time, it has only itself to blame.  We reap what we sow.