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The Anglican Free Communion “The Episcopal Free Church”
The Free Protestant Episcopal Church
Primus: Christmas Message
London, England, UK. December, 2019
There used to be a perception that,with the ever rolling years, the world was to become a better place. The idea; enshrined in a Christmas Carol, probably had its basis in the Industrialised world, as it gathered pace in the seeing of better standards of living and almost universal education. But with two World Wars and the many conflicts ever since, where regime change, precipitated by violence and revolution, leaving millions killed, maimed or destitute give us reasons to believe the state of the World is worse than ever before. Climate change and global warming add to what many might see as a impending doom upon our planet. A generation of young people find other answers to human existence, and, for many, such answers do not line up with the Christian Faith. Sometimes our attempts to convey the essence of the Faith is like seed falling on stoney ground. It just does not take root. And then Christians fall out with one another, debating policy and procedure above what really matters: holding all in a loving, warm and inclusive embrace. The early days of The Free Protestant Episcopal Church was an attempt to transcend denominational barriers with a welcome and acceptance across a wide spectrum of Christian practice. The best of both the Catholic and Protestant traditions could be experienced without conflict. And the same should be said for our unequivocal stance on inclusivity. We should make no apology for that, neither should we pretend we are becoming a Communion like some Church’s where a focus is placed in a particular stance on sexuality or liberal theology that militates against tradition and non-sacramental worship. That is not our position. We preserve a Catholic and truly Apostolic Faith within all that is authentically Anglican as our Founding bishops understood that. Our task ahead will not be easy and the challenges immense. But Our Lord entered this world to serve and with a mission. We follow where he leads. We stay loyal to that mission within our universal Communion, respecting one another and embracing one another and acknowledging the Primus as the source of unity. The world will present enormous problems for all of us, but we remain resolute in our faith, even in the midst of the turmoil so evidently obvious. May God give each one of us the strength to persevere and the will-power never to give up or give in.
With my love and blessings, + Richard Primus : United Kingdom.
+Richard Archbishop Primus