Boundaries are a big deal. Donald Trump has proposed a ‘Great Wall of America’ between the US and Mexico.
In Europe the functioning, or otherwise, of the ‘Schengen Area’ is the greatest challenge that the EU has faced in a while and, of course, we all anticipate that 2016 will bring a referendum on our membership of the European Union, which again will be largely focussed on the merits and demerits of freedom of movement of capital, people, goods and services across borders. We could go on.
Worldwide Communion
As an international family of autonomous national churches, the Anglican Communion has also been faced with the multiplication of issues relating to national boundaries. It has long been an accusation made by liberal Anglicans in the US that conservatives seeking ‘alternative episcopal oversight’ from orthodox foreign bishops was a grave violation of the jurisdiction of The Episcopal Church (TEC). At the same time American conservatives criticise what they see as TEC’s attempt to ‘buy’ influence in national churches in the Majority World by financing revi-sionist projects and theological education.
‘Power is a powerful drug and the detox process is hard’
One of the most insightful speeches at the Church of England's General Synod in July came from The Revd Lindsay …