Memorandum from Below - Toward a Successful Apostolate
Submitted to Happy Jack anonymously by a person in deep-cover. Memorandum from Below [CONFIDENTIAL: This memorandum is for operational use only. To avoid it falling into the Enemy's hands, destroy it immediately once read. The strategies herein depend entirely upon remaining unrecognised.] Notes Toward a Successful Apostolate by Slubgob, Junior Tempter I am permitted (with some hesitation from my uncle Screwtape) to outline the broad contours of our present strategy for the modern age, now that brute unbelief is unnecessary and, in many places, inefficient. Outright atheism and diffuse spirituality serve us well enough among the masses. But for those still tethered to institutional religion, a more subtle approach is needed. The central aim is no longer to persuade humans that God does not exist. Much better to persuade them that the Enemy exists, but does not speak clearly, and certainly not through any institution capable of making binding claims. Our primary achi...
I had no idea young Calvin had embraced Catholicism with such alacrity. Perhaps this is the real reason there was no room at the diocese of London for him.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, great wig Calvo.
A peaceful and blessed Christmas day to one and all.
Calvin has been ordained as a Deacon in the Free Church of England after his disgraceful treatment by the Established Church of England earlier this year.
DeleteAccording to Wiki, the Free Church of England is "a conventional Anglican church body, worshipping in the Low Church tradition and holding to the principles of the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty-Nine Articles."
It then describes itself as "Episcopal, Liturgical and Evangelical."
Wiki continues:
"It was founded principally by Evangelical or Low Church clergy and congregations in response to what were perceived as attempts (inspired by the Oxford Movement) to re-introduce medieval Roman Catholic dogmas and practices into the Established Church."
[But like all protestant 'churches' it has 'reformed' a couple of times and divided into opposing sections]
"In 1956, the FCE published a revision of the Book of Common Prayer to form the primary text of the denomination's liturgy. The stated intention of the revision was to remove or explain "particular phrases and expressions" from the Church of England's 1662 edition of the prayer book that "afford at least plausible ground for the teaching and practice of the Sacerdotal and Romanising Party.
In 2003, due to the adoption of High Church practices by the FCE, two bishops and ten congregations split from the main Church ... and formed the Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England. Two churches in Farnham and Teddington having become independent altogether, the ECFCE currently has five churches ...
"The provision of contemporary language liturgies has been approved by convocation and a process of drafting and authorisation has begun. The church has continued to ordain bishops in the apostolic succession, with Moravian, Church of England and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church bishops taking part on occasion. ....
The presiding bishop is chosen annually by convocation and has the title "Bishop Primus". Only baptised males are ordained to Holy Orders as bishops, presbyters, and deacons, or admitted to the public teaching office of Reader."
@Chef
DeleteIt's his real hair, from when he was a member of seminal rock bank The Calvin Robinson Experience.
Nice to see you here, to see you nice, have a great Christmas.
@Jack
DeleteIt also seems relevant to mention that the denomination's theology is said to be Calvinist.
Jack may consider himself wished a happy and blessed Christmas.
I'd be more than happy to hear a message of hope from Calvo, but I'm just getting depressing news from that link.
ReplyDeleteScroll forward a few minutes. Robinson's contribution includes carols (in Latin) and thoughtful interviews with Catholic and Orthodox figures such as Gavin Ashenden.
ReplyDelete