By John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor
(The Telegraph) A group of parishes is preparing
what could be the first step towards a formal split in the Church of
England over issues such as homosexuality, with the creation of a new
“shadow synod” vowing to uphold traditional teaching.
Representatives of almost a dozen congregations in the Home Counties
are due to gather in a church hall in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, later this
week for the first session of what they say could eventually develop
into an alternative Anglican church in England.
Organisers, drawn from the conservative evangelical wing of
Anglicanism, say they have no immediate plans to break away - but are
setting up the “embryonic” structures that could be used to do so if the
established church moves further in what they see as a liberal
direction.
The new alliance will be viewed as a “church within a church” but founders have not ruled out full separation if, for example, the Church of England offers blessing-style services for same-sex unions - a move expected to be considered by bishops in the next few months... (continued)
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