YORK ISSUES CONVERSION CALL TO CHRIST AT GENERAL SYNOD

Cranmer’s Reader is hot foot back from the General Synod. He has an encouraging report on the uniqueness of Christ for the youth group of loyal readers (not forgetting the faithful Anglicans of South Dakota):

The General Synod of the Church of England is unique in the history of the world. Nowhere else and at no other time has almost every view held in Christendom been found under one roof. Also, no one traditional grouping has sufficient numbers on its own to push through a proposal contrary to the wishes of the others.

This has led to certain strengths and weaknesses. Often, Cranmer’s Reader’s journey home after a group of sessions is accompanied by disappointment, disaffection and disgruntlement.

However, it was not true this time. Although controversy and duplicitous wordings were still present, there was much to enthral, inspire and encourage.

One of the highlights of the week was Paul Eddy's private member's motion on the uniqueness of Christ. The reason for this is the present tendency to be so friendly towards other religions that an impression is given that Jesus is not the only Son of God, the only Saviour, or the only Lord. It could appear that it does not matter which religion is followed, so long as one leads a good life.

Paul Eddy began with a sound, encouraging message, setting the scene for what was to come. This was followed by Bishop Nazir-Ali who gave a scholarly résumé, affirming the uniqueness of Christ from a biblical and historic perspective. The tempo and tone then changed gear.

A member of Malaysian background was called to speak and described his conversion from Buddhism to Christ. He spoke in glowing terms about the uniqueness of Christ and the effect on his life. He finished by saying that there is no such thing as a "happy heathen”.

The debate then continued with a series of testimonies. Clergy spoke of their experience in helping people of other faiths come to know Christ. A bishop spoke of confirmations and the risks taken by converts from other faiths.

Another Synod member spoke and described himself as the dodgiest of dodgy liberals. He stated that he wanted to know more about the uniqueness of Christ and that he himself had not had a conversion experience. Minutes later, the Archbishop of York spoke enthusiastically, and invited the previously described speaker to receive a conversion experience there and then.

Finally there was a most poignant speech given by a lay member. We were given a brief description of the member's conversion from Islam to Christianity. A fearful story was related as how the member's life was in danger, having received threats. Say no more!

It was sad that the bishop of Hulme was reported in the national press as being disappointed by the debate and that Synod members did not understand inter-faith issues. What a travesty! He misjudged the whole mood of Synod and the whole sense of encouragement that was engendered during that session. It is a pity that the impression given by the bishop to the general public was so negative in the face of such an enthusiastic witness.

Mr Jonathan Redden is reader at the parish of Wadworth and Loversall, Doncaster in the diocese of Sheffield and is a member of General Synod. He recently retired as consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary. In 1996 he was made visiting professor of orthopaedic surgery at Beijing Medical University.