Anglican Leader Warns of Fear Against Terror, Within Church

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, July 10, 2007

"Fear not," said a Church of England bishop in the days after several bomb plots were discovered and amid the second anniversary of the 2005 suicide bombings.

Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, warned Monday that fear of terrorism can lead to "false conclusions about our Muslim neighbors."

"Fear has begun to shape the minds and the decisions of those who take counsel for the nations," Sentamu said at a General Synod meeting in York on Monday. "To name the face of evil in the brutality of terrorist attacks is good theology, but to say simply that they are evil and we are good is bad theology that can lead to dangerous politics."

He went on to say that the challenge people face isn't about "moderate Muslims versus so-called radicalized Muslims." Rather, the challenge is about "Islam being used for quasi-political ends."

The archbishop's comments come just days after London marked the anniversary of the July 7 suicide bombings in 2005 that killed 52 people. It was the worst attack on British soil since World War II. A week before that, two men drove a burning jeep into the main terminal doors of Glasgow Airport and two car bombs were foiled in Central London. Police are continuing their investigation into the failed attempts and have so far charged one – Bilal Abdulla, an Iraqi doctor – of eight suspects.

"The language of fear has become the language of international relations," said Sentamu who noted that a new book on terrorism is published every six hours worldwide.

Fears are also gripping the Church, particularly the Anglican Communion.

"At the moment, the Church is in danger of being paralyzed by fear of schism in the Anglican Communion; by much painful disagreement over the controverted issue of ordaining people in same-sex relationships, and the blessing of such relationships," Sentamu said in his address.

And when fear grips the Church, Sentamu warned that "Christ can easily be pushed out of the way as we try to show others that we are right and that they are wrong."

"Then, grace, compassion and love go out of the window."

The 77 million-member Anglican Communion is on the brink of schism over recent actions of The Episcopal Church in the United States. In 2003, The Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay bishop and last November installed Katharine Jefferts Schori, who supports ordaining openly gay bishops and blessing same-sex unions, as its head bishop. Jefferts Schori has also indicated that Jesus Christ is one of many ways to salvation.

Anglican leaders have set a Sept. 30 deadline for The Episcopal Church to make an unequivocal pledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or bless same-sex unions.

Sentamu called Anglicans to set aside their fears and anxiety and focus on the mission of the Church and meeting the needs of those who are suffering.

Earlier during the July 6-10 meeting, the general synod voted to proceed with drawing up a formal covenant and binding agreement to articulate the common foundations of Anglican belief, particularly on the issue of homosexuality and how member churches and provinces should manage related disputes.

Some have said the covenant goes against the traditions of Anglicanism, whose hallmark is its lack of rules. And liberal Anglicans fear it would discipline those churches that welcome gay and lesbian members.

But members of the synod believe a covenant is necessary.

"We thought we had some sort of agreement and then, four years ago, it turned out that we didn't," said Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham, according to BBC News.

"Lambeth (the Anglican Communion's global decennial meeting), and the Primates (Anglican leaders) asked the Americans not to do something, and they did it anyway."