This is part two of a three part series in Christian Today – the original is here
What does the future hold for England’s church-state relations?
The Church of England is the state church in England. It has been so since November 1534 when the Act of Supremacy abolished papal authority in England and declared King Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. But does a state church mean that it is ‘nationalised’ – that is, owned and run by the state?
Church-state relationships have always been tricky and complex. In a theocratic state, the Church would run the state. I suspect all but a tiny minority of Christians would regard that as an appalling idea! In most modern societies there has been for many centuries a separation between church and state. In the US, that separation is largely complete, but in most European countries there still remains some formal connection between church and state – what I would call being good neighbours and good friends. In this model, the state recognises and to some degree supports the church, but does not run it or determine its doctrine. That is largely the model that has prevailed in the UK.
There is however another understanding of church-state relations some thought had already been consigned to the dustbin of history. However the events surrounding the recent decision of the Church of England Synod to bless same-sex marriages suggest that there are politicians, and perhaps clergy, who want to see a return of this type of church-state relations – what is wrongly known as Erastianism (wrongly because it is named after the Reformer Erastus, who did not teach it!). This is where the state reigns supreme over the church in matters of doctrine and ecclesiology.
In a revealing speech to Anglican Church leaders in Ghana, Archbishop Justin Welby revealed the kind of political pressure he was apparently coming under. “I was summoned twice to Parliament, and threatened with parliamentary action to force same-sex marriage on us, called in England equal marriage,” he said.
Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP, who himself is gay, hinted that the time had perhaps come for disestablishment. He does not think that Parliament will do that but has threatened other ‘reforms’. The Tory MP Andrew Selous, the Church’s representative in Parliament, said that it was not the job of Parliament to put forward church doctrine, before then going on to suggest that that is exactly what Parliament should do: “I am conscious that Parliament’s patience will not be infinite, and there have already been cross-party meetings of MPs to look at a private member’s Bill to require the Church to go further.”
Earlier the leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, wrote to her local bishop, making her demands, “I hope you will back reform, allowing parishes and clergy to conduct weddings for same-sex couples or, at a minimum, enable authorised blessings.” The Guardian summed it up rather well: “Mordaunt’s letter adds pressure on the C of E to change its stance, based on biblical teaching, to reflect the law of the land and the weight of public opinions. LGBTQ+ members of the C of E say its refusal so far to treat them equally is institutional homophobia.”
Erastianism is when we have a church governed by the state – the elites who control public opinion – and the danger of this should be obvious to everyone. If the early church had done this there would have been no early church. Jesus would not have been crucified, Paul would not have defied the Roman Empire, and the world would not have been turned upside down.
Sadly, it is not just some politicians who think that they have the right to control the doctrine of the Church of England. Some ‘Christian’ leaders want to use the state to enforce their own unbiblical doctrines on the Church. Two years ago, Steve Chalke argued that evangelical churches would and should face prosecution from the state for not teaching, affirming or accepting the state’s new sexual doctrines – doctrines which he himself entirely agrees with. Steve Chalke and the Threat to Prosecute Evangelical Churches – CT
His colleague Jayne Ozanne advocates going the same route – getting the state to ban what they call ‘conversion therapy’. The trouble is that it is such a broad and ill-defined term that it can be used to prosecute anyone who advocates the teaching of Christ on marriage and sex. For example, here in Australia they are talking about making celibacy groups illegal!
In case you wonder where this is leading, the case of John Dunn, the street preacher who was arrested for citing 1 Corinthians 6, gives an ominous indication. Although he was acquitted, it was the statement from the government lawyers which set the alarm bells ringing: “There are references in the Bible which are simply no longer appropriate in modern society, and which would be deemed offensive if stated in public.”
Granted, this is an extreme example. Most government attempts to control the church are with ‘soft power’ rather than the hard rule of law. One example is in cases where the government funds church charities, but if the church does not go along with government doctrines, they threaten to withdraw such funding. Another is where established church leaders have positions of privilege in civic and academic institutions.
It is rarely stated explicitly, but the reality is if you don’t play the game, and bow to the state power, you will be out. It is ironic that so many such church leaders speak a great deal about being ‘prophetic’ and ‘speaking truth to power’, but would never dare do so if there was a danger of them losing their state-approved privileges!
As contemporary Western society drifts from its Christian foundations, we will find an increasingly authoritarian state backed by a largely compliant media, a woke corporate business sector, and an academia which has lost all concept of truth, all seeking to make sure that the church is on ‘the right side of history’ – their side!
If politicians want to rewrite the Bible and seek to determine church doctrine, who will stand up against this absolutist state? If church leaders go along with this, then they will, as Justin Welby told Synod, have to answer to God on the day of judgement. Where are our Pauls, Augustines, Luthers and Wilberforces?
Time for the CofE to be disestablished and to distance itself fully from the State.
At the moment, those who oppose God are able to hide behind the CofE and the idea that we are still a Christian country – we are no such thing….for example, most of the 10 Commandments are flagrantly breached by modern society; and that breach is encouraged by current social mores.
Remaining part of the state joins Christ to Satan and tarnishes the Church with the State’s deliberate sinfulness.
By stepping away from the State, the Church can expose its true godless, evil, satanic nature and stand up for the gospel of Christ.
Time to take a stand and pay the cost
“In Australia , they are talking about making celibacy groups illegal.”….when you think that you have heard it all !
I think what they are probably talking about are groups that promote the “ex gay” movement.
The confusion is that to a secular understanding these groups are saying in their name that they can make gay people straight, which is conversion therapy or SOCE. But what they actually do is provide support for single gay people who believe it would be a sin to enter a LTR. If they stopped claiming to be “ex gay” then they would not be being accused of conversion therapy
Just as an important note – Ben Bradshaw is gay, but he also an active part of the Church of England. I know because he used to be my MP and I would see him in church sometimes so I suppose I’m an eye witness haha.
I think the most likely thing is that the CofE will lose their seats in the House of Lords. It’s an unfair anomaly to give the bishops so much secular power, but not other denominations and other faiths.
Even with the church having a link to the state via the King, a fact is, it is Parliament that is overstepping the mark.
The King is unable to be involved in politics. Political arguments and ideas are supposedly democratic, but the Church and faith have and are never a democratic function.
If MPs think they have this right, let them apply the same to any other religion! They’d never dare.
Let them demand the public attend church? They wouldn’t!
Therefore they have no sway whatsoever in imposing what a religion should teach.
Democracy will impose on all, that’s the nature of government, even if your voted party loses, but freedom of religion makes no such imposition, no one must conform to a politically or socially imposed faith. That’s always been an argument for freedom to not hold a belief or not be involved in church life, and not suffer discrimination.
Yet here we have prominent MPs making such statements about what the church, of which they have no say or influence should think or do. The church leaders should be pushing back such MPs into their constituent boxes!
Actually my understanding is that parliament has authority over the CofE and that synod (which is itself an elected body) is a delegated body.
Parliamentarians are not threatening to overrule all churches, just bishops in the CofE. The MPs are frustrated that the CofE has failed to deliver any meaningful response to abuse allegations and same sex marriage.
I would suggest that the vast majority of people in the UK who called themselves Christians 50-100 years ago would not call themselves Christians today. Only a small minority are true believers who are prepared to stand up against a hostile culture. Christianity was always intended to be counter-cultural rather than allied with the power of the state.