He said the Church of England was failing to capitalise on a widespread "residual faith" in English society.
"There is a great deal of residual faith around in this country, you only have to meet people in hospital, people who are sad from the death of those they love, people who don't turn up on Sundays to church but who ask us to pray with them," he said.
He added: "The trouble is that what is on the label of the Church tin is still not what is in the tin.
"On the label, the church tin says 'open here for salvation, peace, hope, purpose, love, Kingdom.. but when it is open inside the tin we so often find humbug, or if we are Anglicans, fudge.
"People outside the church have noticed that internalising tendency and they don't want to belong to an apparently useless and self-orientated organisation.
"The symptoms of this can be seen in the general decline of the self- preserving parts of the institutional church and in contrast, growth among the more visionary and less defensive."
2 comments:
The Cof E is one faith that is religion in a form without a faith. Queen Elizabeth is a failure as the head of the church. I hate to say that as I have a deep respect for her in other ways. Not so long ago I read a speech she made which said, everyone needs a faith and its not important what that faith is (Muslim, Buddist)... WHAT!! I was shocked and disappointed to read this. We Christians profess our faith in a risen savour and in nothing else.
Hiya Crystal Mary, here is an extract of the Queen's Christmas speech 2012, "At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child. From that day on he has inspired people to commit themselves to the best interests of others. "This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son 'to serve, not to be served'. He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ. "It is my prayer this Christmas Day that his example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others. "The carol, In The Bleak Midwinter, ends by asking a question of all of us who know the Christmas story, of how God gave himself to us in humble service: 'What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part'. The carol gives the answer 'Yet what I can I give him - give my heart'. "I wish you all a very happy Christmas."
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