The problem I have with confessionalism can be summarized in two words: locality and constitutionality. I don't have difficulty with confessions of faith, per se. But we must recognize them as limited by their local nature (i.e., they are not universal), local context (i.e., they address issues at hand at a particular time and in a particular setting) and local perspective (i.e., they cannot anticipate later developments, broadening horizens, or new circumstances). This is particularly problematic when a church or tradition affirms a confession as constitutive of its life and existence, where a confession stands as the unalterable sine qua non of "true" Christian faith and practice.
GAFCON's "confessional Anglican" alternative shifts the balance between "catholic" and "reformed" that presently characterizes Anglicanism dramatically to one side (i.e., the reformed). Hence, the suppression of those Anglicans out of sync with the confessional rationale is inevitable, IMO. This is not a good scenario for catholics. Just ask Jim Packer.
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I'm sorry that I am just coming to your blog, but I believe this to be an excellent point.
Even though we may disagree on the method, I believe that the RCC has "transcended" this problem with DofD. However, for those confessionalists (ie Presbyterians, Lutherans, even Baptists) they tend to live in the past. That has been the problem for the Reformational "communities". I do believe this is what has sent Anglicanism apart and has made her so attractive to the RCC.
Great point.
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