Understanding our crisis of Truth & Authority in Western Anglicanism

1. Meaning of 'crisis': call for judgment and action
2. Nature of Anglicanism:
   • catholic Christianity
   • historically focused
   • biblically based
   • future oriented
   • self reforming
3. Meaning the truth (correspondence)
   authority (control)
4. Cause of crisis:
   • mid-century mutation in theology method and hermeneutics of historic Christianity,
   • patristic and protestant older liberalism, 'critical orthodoxy' new subjectivism, Tillich etc.
   • two religions in one church relativizing the world to the faith, or vice versa?
5. Responding to the crisis ('niceness' will not do)
   • Realignment within Anglicanism
   • Re-education within congregations
   • Refocusing on Christ, his gospel, and spiritual life

Biblical Wisdom for Us Today

1. The nature of wisdom: wisdom literature theologia: doctrine, ethics, spirituality
2. The task of re-education and re-formation: teaching and learning personal pastoral direction
3. Resources for the task: Puritans and Richard Baxter
   1. Relating to God:
      • have no secrets from him
      • impose no limits on him
      • cherish no doubts about him
   2. Relating to yourself:
      • good habits (virtues)
      • self-mastery (disciplines)
   3. Relating to others:
      • thoughtful love at home
      • with friends
      • in business
      • in pastoral care
   4. Relating to situations:
      • work hard
      • walk humbly
      • wait hopefully