fraser

Christian, husband, dad, curate.

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@BishopJohnInge 2 years enduring a faculty process trying to argue for decent, comfy, stackable chairs, and Lincoln Cathedral have plastic bucket chairs 😭😭😭

[fraser @fraser_oates]

Following clearly worded letters over past weeks & speeches in the chamber this afternoon, today was a vote for progress on this matter at the expense of many people, congregations, leaders, & networks. We are now in the territory of visible differentiation & it is heartbreaking.

[General Synod @synod]

The main motion is carried with votes recorded as follows:

Bishops: 22 for, 12 against, 5 abstained
Clergy: 99 for, 88 against, 2 abstained
Laity: 95 for, 91 against, 2 abstained

#synod

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@BishopWorcester I can’t think of a more woeful indication of where we are as a church if the slogan for our times is ‘unite behind our compromise’! Is this really the joyous gospel we’ve been commanded to offer the world?

[fraser @fraser_oates]

“The primary ascesis required of a Christian is trust. By trust we give up illusory claims to omniscience. We give ourselves into God’s hands and choose to be reformed according to his purpose.” - Erik Varden, Chastity

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@davidjamessims Is that Croome?!

[fraser @fraser_oates]

I baptised my daughter this morning alongside 3 others. Powerful transformative encounters with the living God. A full church celebrating resurrection hope. I am full of joy 🙌 @allsaintsworcs

[fraser @fraser_oates]

Where do you think the @churchofengland is on this cycle? Is it possible for the English church to rediscover confidence its founding convictions and see growth again?

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@ric_thorpe This looks great! 🔥

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@TimothyClarke9 @BishopWorcester Not sure how you see this being coherent, the whole process is a minefield of doctrinal (& legal?!) confusion.

Anglican communion/ecumenical unity is ruptured & for other denoms/provinces that hv already accepted this change it has only exacerbated decline. It looks detrimental!

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@sgingerthoughts Is it possible that the motivation behind a party in church could be anything more substantial than ‘getting people into the church building’? Is it possible for discipleship to be fun? Don’t underestimate the godly integrity of some leaders/churches holding these kinds of events

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@richjohnson @allsaintsworcs 3 months!!?

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@RAMoon8 @missjillyp @theweeflea @InclusiveEvos Of course, you are entitled to your own opinion, but this won’t coincide with the evangelical faith I.E. are seeking to uphold, which is that Christ alone is the embodiment and entry point to ‘ultimate reality’.

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@RAMoon8 @missjillyp @theweeflea @InclusiveEvos Belief in Jesus is the centrepiece of the Christian faith and it underpins evangelical theology (which I.E. profess) - atonement, conversion, sanctification, & evangelism all hinge on Christ & belief in him alone. Only in Christ are we reconciled to & accepted by the Father.

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@NikkiGroarke @Psephizo Thanks for this, appreciate it. I’d kindly suggest it’s worth I.E. being willing to grapple with this on X, given this is where the convo began. There is undoubtedly a wider audience than just me hoping to dialogue around this well & thoroughly & atm it feels like another silo

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@Psephizo @NikkiGroarke I would really appreciate an honest answer to this too @NikkiGroarke. If there is going to be a rupture within (Anglican) evangelicalism (another layer of painful division in the Church) it surely warrants robust dialogue & justification, which seems lacking at the moment.

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@2D0XPS Does the act of baptism alone (separate from agency and consensual participation) make a person a member or Christ and child of God? Isn’t this ultimately determined by a person’s belief in Christ and his gospel? (E.g. John 1.12?)

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@agentbrowniac @MrsSarahP Bibliocentrism, crucicentrism, conversionism, & activism.

[fraser @fraser_oates]

@MrsSarahP @agentbrowniac Thank you for the concern. I’m not questioning the presence of power play and abuse, I’m challenging your broad sweeping claim that the tenets of evangelicalism are innately abusive. It’s not helpful.