ECCLESIASTICAL TITBITS 2

ECCLESIASTICAL TITBITS 2

About the middle of WWII I joined the cubs. Subsequently I went on to become a scout, one of the new fangled Senior Scouts and a scoutmaster. Because I became a cub I became a church member and a Christian. From all of those I learnt many things which helped me throughout my life and were instrumental in forming my values, although I must always acknowledge the role of my parents in this. Among the things learnt was the primacy of loyalty to one’s family, friends, groups and organisations. Not a blind loyalty but a discerning one which sought to enhance and promote the other, whether a senior or junior in one’s life.
Today I look around and see that that loyalty is now treated as old-fashioned, of no significance. Even church folk no longer stick to principles enshrined in that virtue. Nevertheless I was surprised and disturbed to learn that a former archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, had trespassed on independent dioceses in the States. He went to them without invitation or the permission of the diocesan and conducted confirmations in others’ realms.
This is not showing loyalty to the church, the faith or God. It is destructive. Such actions will cause dissension, confusion and dislocation of the Body of Christ and the break up of the church. It is not Christian behaviour but speaks of arrogant individualism foreign to Christ’s example and teaching.
PISCATOR