Cable Forum - View Single Post - Is Charles, the head of the Church of England, Greek orthodox?

**Chris** · 05-04-2023, 18:59

What a lot of non-religious people don’t seem to appreciate is that devotion to a certain Christian denomination is not always as rigid as it used to be. Kate Forbes, now possibly the most famous member of the Free Church of Scotland, said herself that she’s only in that church because it’s the local one. I’m minister of a Baptist church but many of my members have been members of other denominations before. Within Western Christianity the fault line is increasingly seen as being between those who are within the community of faith - which can be described rather loosely - and those who are outside. Circular arguments over fine points of tradition and practice are increasingly seen as side issues upon which we can happily agree to differ. Even during my studies for ministry ordination, I usefully read and quoted works by Roman Catholic theologians and even (whisper it, shock horror) a former pope. A mere generation ago in a Scottish Protestant teaching establishment that would have been unthinkable.

Of course in Charlie Farlie’s case there are unique considerations that don’t apply to the likes of us mere mortals, he being Supreme Governor of the Church of England and all that. I doubt very much whether he’s minded to provoke a constitutional crisis by even floating the idea of formally adhering to the Eastern church. But if he draws strength and inspiration from its particular take on Christian tradition and theology he will be doing nothing very different than a great many other British Christians do today.

05-04-2023, 18:59	#6
Chris Trollsplatter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 38,120	Re: Is Charles, the head of the Church of England, Greek orthodox? What a lot of non-religious people don’t seem to appreciate is that devotion to a certain Christian denomination is not always as rigid as it used to be. Kate Forbes, now possibly the most famous member of the Free Church of Scotland, said herself that she’s only in that church because it’s the local one. I’m minister of a Baptist church but many of my members have been members of other denominations before. Within Western Christianity the fault line is increasingly seen as being between those who are within the community of faith - which can be described rather loosely - and those who are outside. Circular arguments over fine points of tradition and practice are increasingly seen as side issues upon which we can happily agree to differ. Even during my studies for ministry ordination, I usefully read and quoted works by Roman Catholic theologians and even (whisper it, shock horror) a former pope. A mere generation ago in a Scottish Protestant teaching establishment that would have been unthinkable. Of course in Charlie Farlie’s case there are unique considerations that don’t apply to the likes of us mere mortals, he being Supreme Governor of the Church of England and all that. I doubt very much whether he’s minded to provoke a constitutional crisis by even floating the idea of formally adhering to the Eastern church. But if he draws strength and inspiration from its particular take on Christian tradition and theology he will be doing nothing very different than a great many other British Christians do today.