This audio segment is instructive because it demonstrates the
mindset and epistemological posturing of Churches that have rejected Sola
Scriptura and yet are trying to maintain historic traditions.
It doesn't work.
What he's left with is a weak appeal to 'root metaphors' and
the fact that ordained women destroy the liturgical picture of celebrant as
priest and congregation as bride.
That's not the real issue. If that's the foundation of the
argument then the battle is already lost.
He's right to lament the sociological influence on Anglican
ecclesiology and theology as a whole, but that's all but guaranteed under a
Sacralist Establishmentarian arrangement. Trying to hold on to the past when
the Church has wedded itself to a state... a state in the 16th
century at that, and then to hope to remain static is not just naive, it's
insane.
The Disestablishment of the Church of England will be a good
thing. The liberal congregations will wither and die and those committed to the
theology of the 39 Articles will be liberated to reconsider the teaching of Scripture.
Sadly the dedication to the erroneous concept of institutional Apostolic Succession
will hinder this process, but to be honest the whole Anglican narrative is
dubious to begin with. It certainly was (and I suppose is) perhaps the oddest
chapter/offspring of the Magisterial Reformation.
If you listen to the segment, keep Authority in mind and try
and note the problems of resting on tradition. I would extend this observation
to all denominational traditions but it is particularly poignant in this
instance when the initial foundation was already weak and deficient.
