Rico Tice, a well known evangelical chief and former Church of England minister, has left the denomination in response to what he sees as its rising departure from biblical values, significantly concerning same-sex marriage and repentance.
Tice, finest often called the co-author of The Evangelism Course Christianity Explored and co-founder of Christianity Explored Ministries cited the denomination's current choice to permit monks to bless same-sex {couples} and the dearth of a substantive response to issues raised by him and 5 different CofE-affiliated parachurch leaders final October.
In an interview with Evangelicals Now Tice, the previous senior minister at All Souls, Langham Place, London, defined that he now worships on the Worldwide Presbyterian Church (IPC) in Ealing, London.
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“Final October I used to be one in every of six evangelical leaders of para-church organizations with hyperlinks to the Church of England who wrote [Archbishop of Canterbury] “Justin Welby and all of the bishops clarify our deep 'heaviness of coronary heart, soul and thoughts' concerning the subsequent trajectory of the Church in the direction of the affirmation of same-sex marriage, particularly the brand new Prayers of Love and Religion,” he mentioned.
“We known as on the archbishop to withstand the affect of cultural values when they’re in opposition to the values of the Bible. We did this as a result of it broken our potential to work with orthodox individuals of different denominations – how might they belief us? We obtained no substantial response from him, and that was a key second in my choice to depart.”
The CofE's “prayers of affection and religion” are new tips adopted final December that permit monks to bless same-sex {couples} however don’t require them to take action, a measure opposed by many evangelicals within the Church of England amid a rising schism inside the Church of England . Anglican Communion concerning same-sex marriage and biblical orthodoxy.
Tice mentioned the transfer to the Worldwide Presbyterian Church in Ealing, London, was motivated by a need to take care of alignment with its values. She has a long-term relationship with church minister Paul Levy.
He mentioned the congregation's emphasis on eldership, Reformed theology and the Westminster Confession appealed to him. Tice nonetheless retains a license to evangelise, which permits him to talk in CofE congregations.
“Nonetheless, I take into account it very important that I’ve demonstrated a transparent separation from a church that now not affirms biblical orthodoxy, particularly with regards to preaching repentance,” he mentioned.
Tice's position on the Worldwide Presbyterian Church contains evangelism and coaching in evangelistic strategies comparable to Christianity Explored, Hope explored and Phrase one to at least one. Nonetheless, he considers himself an atypical member of the congregation who attends providers together with his household and engages in fellowship with different members of the congregation.
Tice expressed his disappointment and disappointment, describing the state of affairs on the CofE as “completely heartbreaking”.
“On reflection, I used to be naive about our present tradition within the Church of England as a result of I by no means thought I’d see such a transparent, pervasive denial of the Christian's must repent of each sin he commits,” he mentioned.
Tice stays related to the Anglican Communion, expressing dedication to the World South mannequin of World Anglicanism and saying he considers himself a “cradle-to-grave Anglican”.
“However the unhappy reality is that the Church of England has deserted Anglicanism,” he mentioned.
He suggested evangelicals contemplating leaving the CofE to assist Orthodox clergy and native Christian constructions and convey collectively those that share related values.
By voting 24 to 11 final December, the CofE bishops confirmed their earlier choice to approve the ultimate texts of the “Prayers of Love and Religion” to be used in common public worship or personal prayer.
The texts had been additionally printed with pastoral steering explaining how they could possibly be used, and the Home of Bishops additionally mentioned it could take into account pastoral measures to guard the consciences of those that wish to use the prayers and those that don’t.
Earlier than it was accredited, many individuals within the Anglican Communion expressed their opposition to the proposal.
In April 2023, over 1,300 Conservative Anglicans from over 52 nations gathered in Kigali, Rwanda and issued an announcement calling for a “reset” of the worldwide Anglican Communion after the Church of England voted to bless same-sex {couples}.
“Because the Lord doesn’t bless same-sex unions, it’s pastorally misleading and blasphemous to create prayers that invoke blessings within the title of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” reads the assertion often called the “Kigali Dedication.”
“Public statements by the Archbishop of Canterbury and different Church of England leaders in assist of same-sex blessings are a betrayal of their vows of consecration and consecration to banish error and uphold and defend the reality taught in Scripture.”
In July 2023, 27 evangelical leaders, together with Pastor Nicky Gumbel, creator of the internationally fashionable Alpha evangelism course, despatched a letter to the School of Bishops arguing that it could be unlawful for bishops to reward the blessing. They known as for the CofE Common Synod to be given the chance to vote on the Prayers of Love and Religion beneath Canon B2, which requires a two-thirds majority in every of the Synod's three chambers.
