A LAY member of the Church of England's General Synod has caused controversy within the Church for voicing the need to actively convert Muslims.Paul Eddy, who is training for ministry, has registered a private member’s motion which already has the support of 124 synod members, but has attracted criticism and discouragement from other Church leaders.
Mr Eddy is pressing resolutely ahead. He said: “If it’s not successful as it stands, then basically it will say that the House of Bishops no longer believes in the uniqueness of Christ.
“If the House of Bishops in any way shape or form try to wreck the motion or amend the motion or did not come out clearly for it, it would be the most incredibly damaging thing for the Church of England.”
The Canon Chancellor of Blackburn, the Rev Canon Chris Chivers said: “I would very strongly disagree with that. We’re talking here about language, we’ve spent nearly 70 years talking about language, so let’s be attentive to what language we use when talking to people of other faiths.”
Mr Eddy said he is keen for people of faith to engage at a grassroots level, rather than have inter-faith dialogue monopolised by academics and liberals. He would like to see a report as thorough and useful as the 2005 urban ministry report, Seeds in Holy Ground, being compiled for use in converting Muslims.
“Interestingly Muslims have appreciated what I am saying better than liberal Anglicans. We’re both missionary faiths. But many people in the pews and the pulpit have lost confidence the gospel, because they feel it isn’t politically correct.
“Everybody wants to be incredibly nice to each other and we’re not learning anything about each other’s faith.”
Canon Chivers said he both agreed and disagreed: “We need to be absolutely clear about who converts. My understanding is that God converts. It is my job to commend Jesus to people.
“The language of conversion is very threatening. We don’t want to hold our Bibles up to bash people over the head.”
Canon Chivers was recently announced as the Fusion Man of the Year for his work in community cohesion. Asked whether he would like to see the Muslims of the UK becoming Christian, he said: “If that’s God’s will.”
Mr Eddy has received the support of the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, who, while admitting the need to be sensitive to people of other faiths, said: “I think it may have gone too far and what we need now is to recover our nerve.”
“Co-operation among faiths arises from a recognition of distinctives and not by diluting what we believe merely for the sake of good relations.”
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