Modern Church
Encyclopedia
Modern Church is a UK-based membership organisation that promotes liberal Christian
theology. Its president is the Revd Professor John Barton
, who succeeded the Rt Revd Dr John Saxbee
in 2011.
Founded in 1898 by members of the Church of England
as The Churchmen's Union for the Advancement of Liberal Religious Thought, it was part of the modernist movement that defended biblical scholarship and new scientific findings – especially evolution
– against fundamentalism
. By 1902 when objects were finally agreed, the name had become The Churchmen's Union. This was changed to The Modern Churchmen's Union in 1928, The Modern Churchpeople's Union in 1986, and Modern Church in 2010.
Also in 2010 a new constitution was adopted. Objects remained unchanged from those in place in 1986 but procedures for electing trustees were revised and management responsibilities clarified.
In the years following its formation 'the Union' established a journal and an annual conference. The first issue of The Modern Churchman was published in 1911, edited by Henry D. A. Major. Major continued as editor until 1956 and was considered the moving spirit of the organisation until his death in 1961. The journal, renamed Modern Believing in 1996, is published quarterly and indexed in the ATLA Religion Database
.
Conferences began in 1914. With the exception of the war years these have remained a significant annual event for members. The 1921 conference 'Christ and the Creeds' caused controversy in the national media over the range of views expressed. This was a factor in the creation by the Church of England of a Doctrine Commission in 1922 to investigate and in 1938 report that such views were compatible with Christian faith. The 1967 conference 'Christ for us today' organised by Norman Pittenger
was as controversial as 1921, but times had changed and it was regarded as "less earthshaking". In 2008 the 'Saving the soul of Anglicanism' conference chaired by the Archbishop of Wales
included the Bishop of New Hampshire Gene Robinson
as a speaker shortly before the Lambeth Conference to which he had not been invited.
At the end of April 2011 Modern Church had 520 members.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
theology. Its president is the Revd Professor John Barton
John Barton
John Barton may refer to:* John Barton , English theatre director and founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company* John Barton , engineer noted for his engravings using his Ruling Engine...
, who succeeded the Rt Revd Dr John Saxbee
John Saxbee
John Charles Saxbee was the 71st Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England between 23 March 2002 and 31 January 2011. He was introduced to the House of Lords as a new Lord Spiritual on 1 July 2008 together with former Director-General of MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller.-Education and...
in 2011.
Founded in 1898 by members of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
as The Churchmen's Union for the Advancement of Liberal Religious Thought, it was part of the modernist movement that defended biblical scholarship and new scientific findings – especially evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
– against fundamentalism
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
. By 1902 when objects were finally agreed, the name had become The Churchmen's Union. This was changed to The Modern Churchmen's Union in 1928, The Modern Churchpeople's Union in 1986, and Modern Church in 2010.
Also in 2010 a new constitution was adopted. Objects remained unchanged from those in place in 1986 but procedures for electing trustees were revised and management responsibilities clarified.
In the years following its formation 'the Union' established a journal and an annual conference. The first issue of The Modern Churchman was published in 1911, edited by Henry D. A. Major. Major continued as editor until 1956 and was considered the moving spirit of the organisation until his death in 1961. The journal, renamed Modern Believing in 1996, is published quarterly and indexed in the ATLA Religion Database
ATLA Religion Database
The ATLA Religion Database or ATLA RDB, is an index of academic articles in the area of religion. It is updated quarterly by the American Theological Library Association . The database indexes journal articles, essays and book reviews related to a wide range of scholarly fields related to religion...
.
Conferences began in 1914. With the exception of the war years these have remained a significant annual event for members. The 1921 conference 'Christ and the Creeds' caused controversy in the national media over the range of views expressed. This was a factor in the creation by the Church of England of a Doctrine Commission in 1922 to investigate and in 1938 report that such views were compatible with Christian faith. The 1967 conference 'Christ for us today' organised by Norman Pittenger
Norman Pittenger
William Norman Pittenger was an Anglican theologian. He played an important role as promoter of process theology and he became one of the first acknowledged Christian defenders for the open acceptance of homosexual relations among Christians...
was as controversial as 1921, but times had changed and it was regarded as "less earthshaking". In 2008 the 'Saving the soul of Anglicanism' conference chaired by the Archbishop of Wales
Archbishop of Wales
The post of Archbishop of Wales was created in 1920 when the Church in Wales was separated from the Church of England , and disestablished...
included the Bishop of New Hampshire Gene Robinson
Gene Robinson
Vicki Gene Robinson is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Robinson was elected bishop in 2003 and entered office in March 2004...
as a speaker shortly before the Lambeth Conference to which he had not been invited.
At the end of April 2011 Modern Church had 520 members.