Tuesday, October 19, 2004 AD
Filet-o-Bishop
The disappointingly feeble Windsor Report reminds me of the comments made a few years ago by Phillip Jensen, the ever-diplomatic Dean of Sydney, explaining why so many evangelical ministers prove to be a disappointment when they are made bishops.
Jensen referred to the point in the consecration service when all the consecrating bishops gather round the priest who is becoming a "made man":
"You know why the other bishops gather round him in a circle like that?" Jensen asked. "It's so they can remove the guy's spine."
This isn't all that far from the truth: when George Whitefield was causing a stir with his outdoor preaching in the 18th century - what really riled people was his forthright proclamation of the doctrine of justification by faith alone on account of Christ alone - the suggestion was made that the best way to neuter Whitefield would be to make him a bishop...
Update: A friend has drawn my attention to the exchange of letters in the Sydney Morning Herald in response to Phillip Jensen's remarks about which I posted recently. One correspondent writes:
And let's not forget the faculty rules: "Rule one - no pooftahs."
Actually, that's probably quite appropriate for the Diocese of Sydney ;-)
Jensen referred to the point in the consecration service when all the consecrating bishops gather round the priest who is becoming a "made man":
"You know why the other bishops gather round him in a circle like that?" Jensen asked. "It's so they can remove the guy's spine."
This isn't all that far from the truth: when George Whitefield was causing a stir with his outdoor preaching in the 18th century - what really riled people was his forthright proclamation of the doctrine of justification by faith alone on account of Christ alone - the suggestion was made that the best way to neuter Whitefield would be to make him a bishop...
Update: A friend has drawn my attention to the exchange of letters in the Sydney Morning Herald in response to Phillip Jensen's remarks about which I posted recently. One correspondent writes:
In accusing the Archbishop of Canterbury of theological prostitution for denying the clear teaching of scripture, Dean Jensen has stated no more than the bleeding obvious. Give the man a medal.Another fine contribution there from the University of Woolamaloo Department of Philosophy:
And let's not forget the faculty rules: "Rule one - no pooftahs."
Actually, that's probably quite appropriate for the Diocese of Sydney ;-)
