Anglican clergy skeptical about resurrection of Christ
The Layman Online, August 8, 2002
Only one third of the Church of England clergy believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ – one of the cornerstone doctrines of the Christian faith – according to results of a survey published in the Daily Telegraph in London.
“There are clearly two Churches operating in the Church of England: the believing Church and the disbelieving Church, and that is a scandal,” said the Rev. Robbie Low, a member of Cost of Conscience, the traditionalist organization that commissioned the survey.
Belief in the bodily resurrection of Christ has been an essential doctrine of the church since eyewitnesses observed the ascension of Christ. “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins,” the apostle Paul told the church at Corinth.
The survey of pastors in England also revealed that more than half the Anglican ministers did not believe in the virgin birth.
No poll has been published in the Presbyterian Church (USA) that suggests that Presbyterian ministers are skeptical that Christ physically rose from death. However, Presbyterian polling and Church of England polling show a marked similarity in one area: a high rate of skepticism that Jesus is who he says he is – the way, the truth and the life and the only way to salvation.
The British showed that only half the Church of England clergy believed that faith in Christ is the only way to salvation. According a 2001-02 poll of the PCUSA’s Presbyterian Panel, only 38 percent of the Presbyterian pastors and 22 percent of the specialized clergy believe that faith in Christ is the only way to salvation.
In its July 31 report, the Daily Telegraph said, “While it has long been known that numerous clerics are dubious about the historic creeds of the Church, the survey is the first to disclose how widespread is the skepticism.”
The British poll showed that members of some liberal groups, including Affirming Catholicism, had even greater skepticism. Only 35 percent of the members of Affirming Catholicism believe in the bodily resurrection and only 24 percent believe in the virgin birth.
Dr. Rowan Williams, the new archbishop of Canterbury, is a founding member of the Anglo-Catholic group, but says he holds firmly orthodox views on the resurrection and the virgin birth. Low said the survey raises concern about liberal leadership. “Increasingly, positions of authority are being placed in the hands of people who believe less and less,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “It is an intolerable situation where the faithful are increasingly being led by the unfaithful.”
Evangelical scholar P. Mark Achtenmeier of Dubuque Theological Seminary wrote a commentary about the resurrection of Christ for the “What Presbyterians Believe …” series.