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The Church of England and Islam: Contemporary Anglican Christian- Muslim Relations and the Politico- Theological Question, 1988-2012

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The Church of England and Islam: Contemporary Anglican Christian- Muslim Relations and the Politico- Theological Question, 1988-2012 View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Heythrop College Publications The Church of England and Islam: contemporary Anglican Christian- Muslim relations and the politico- theological question, 1988-2012 Richard J. Sudworth Heythrop College, University of London PhD May 2013 1 Abstract The thesis proposes that an ecclesial turn has taken place in the contemporary Church of England’s reflections on Islam that seeks to root relations with Islam in the prior identity of the church as a participatory community within the life of the trinity. This ecclesial turn in Christian-Muslim relations resonates with a broader reorientation in political theology that seeks to address the question of how public space is shared with Muslims by beginning with a traditioned account of God and the Church. A summary of historical Christian theologies of Islam in the wider Christian tradition culminating in the seminal documents of Vatican II demonstrates the persistent attention to questions of the trinity and the need to hold together both theologies of dialogue and evangelism in the Christian-Muslim encounter. The historical context for Anglican Christian-Muslim relations is then outlined, highlighting recurring themes of loyalty and nationhood that underscore the significance of the politico- theological question. Analysing specifically the documents on other faiths produced by the Lambeth Conferences of 1988, 1998, and 2008, a move to inter-religious relations is revealed that eschews earlier attempts at novel theologies of religions. The work of Kenneth Cragg and Rowan Williams will be seen to be vital influences on this move as part of a school of scholarship that draws together an evangelical, missionary stream with a catholic sensibility of presence, both dependent upon a sacramental vision of the world. A retrieval of traditions will be seen to have shaped the contemporary understanding of relations with Islam including an attentiveness to the experiences of the broader Anglican Communion. This retrieval amounts to a consolidation of traditional Anglican themes, re-interpreted for the contemporary reality of religious diversity, exemplified in Cragg’s adaptation of the kenosis theology of the Lux Mundi school. This retrieval is also a widening of the canon in the recovery of other Christian traditions. Thus, Williams retrieves the contemplative tradition of the Desert Fathers and the Eastern Orthodox sensibilities of the Russian émigré movement in his account of Islam. Both theologians will be seen to situate themselves within the retrieval and renewal of sources exemplified by the Catholic Church in Vatican II. Williams and Cragg also situate themselves within the sacramental, comprehensive vision of Richard Hooker, thus embodying a very Anglican engagement with Islam. Notable developments in historical Anglican 2 political theology are analysed and critiqued in the light of their responsiveness to a traditioned account of Anglican Christian-Muslim relations and their ability to support the diversity of encounters with Islam that the historical analysis suggests is necessary. The thesis concludes that the theological legacies of Cragg and Williams and their resonances with the wider canon of Christian tradition provide a rich resource for Anglican encounters with Islam that confirm the endeavour as an ecumenical task. 3 MPhil/PhD Thesis Declaration Form NAME Revd Richard J Sudworth TITLE OF THESIS “The Church of England and Islam: contemporary Anglican Christian-Muslim relations and the politico-theological question, 1988-2012” DEGREE FOR WHICH THESIS IS PRESENTED Theology PhD COPYRIGHT DECLARATION 1. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author. 2. I agree that the thesis presented by me in 2013 for examination for the MPhil/PhD Degree of the University of London shall, if a degree is awarded, be deposited in the library or electronic institutional repository of Heythrop College and that, subject to the conditions set out below, my thesis will be made available for public reference, inter- library loan and copying. 3. I authorise the College authorities to retain a digital copy of the abstract of my thesis for inclusion in any published list of theses offered for higher degrees in British universities or in any supplement thereto, or for consultation in any central file of abstracts of such theses. 4. I authorise the College Library, or its designated agents, to hold a digital copy of my thesis for the purposes of electronic public access, inter-library loan or the supply of copies. 5. I warrant that this authorisation does not, to the best of my belief, infringe the rights of any third party. 6. I understand that in the event of my thesis not being approved by the examiners this declaration will become void. Date .............................. Signature ........................................................................................ 4 PLAGIARISM DECLARATION 1. I certify that the work presented in this thesis contains no unacknowledged direct copying from the work of another person or close paraphrasing of previous work (including my own which has been presented elsewhere) and that any reference to other sources has been properly acknowledged in the bibliography according to academic custom and practice. Date .............................. Signature ........................................................................................ 5 Acknowledgements The evolution of this thesis has been marked by the generosity of a great many people who have given of their time, shared reflections or made themselves available for interview. I would like to name specifically Michael Ipgrave, Graham Kings, Catriona Laing, Theresa Lawton, David Marshall, Lucinda Mosher, Oliver O’Donovan, Julian Rivers, and Rowan Williams. As my supervisor, Anthony O’Mahony has combined generosity with patience, encouragement and a seemingly inexhaustible store of knowledge. It has been my privilege to have found in Anthony the ideal person to explore research that traverses Christian-Muslim relations, theology, history, and politics. In the process, as I have frequently admitted to Anthony, I have become a much better Anglican through my engagement with the traditioned environment of Heythrop College. When asked “what tradition do you seek to retrieve in answering your research question?”, this Anglican priest has learned from his supervisor something of the riches of the Eastern and Latin Churches in ways that I would never have anticipated. My gratitude encompasses the recognition of a debt that is both intellectual and spiritual. Thanks are due too to Guy Wilkinson for his foresight in endorsing the resourcing of Anglicans in the Jesuit “theology and philosophy” climate of Heythrop College. This foresight has been given material form in the financial support from Church House Ministry Division enabling this research to take place. To David Hewlett and the community of Birmingham’s Queen’s Foundation, I am grateful to them for releasing me to Heythrop, for finding creative and flexible solutions to my ordination training and providing a supportive and stimulating centre for my formation. In the Anglican Diocese of Birmingham, I would like to thank Faith Claringbull, Mark Pryce, Bishop David, Bishop Andrew, Steve Simcox, and the congregation of Christ Church, Sparkbrook. They have all recognised that this research has been part and parcel of the priestly vocation. Finally, I would like to thank Fiona, Nellie, and Dylan. Their love and partnership help put all studies and ministry in proper perspective. 6 This thesis is dedicated to Revd Frank Sudworth and Jenny Sudworth. Their formative influence rooted me in an evangelical tradition of scripture reading and prayer. Without those roots this engagement with broader Christian tradition and Christian-Muslim relations would have been impoverished. In memoriam Bishop Kenneth Cragg 1913-2012 7 CONTENTS Chapter 1 - Introduction i. Context and Central Thesis…………………………………….....11 ii. The Church of England and “Anglicanism”……………………...15 iii. The Church of England and Eastern Orthodoxy………………....20 iv. Islam and the Political………………………………………….....28 Chapter 2 – Searching for an Anglican Appraisal of Islam through the wider Christian Tradition: Retrieving from History, Expanding the Canon. Christian-Muslim Relations Part 1 2.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………..34 2.2 Early Christian resources for encounter with Islam: retrieving a neglected tradition…………………………………………………………………..35 2.2.1 Early Christian resources: Summary…………………………...49 2.3 The Catholic Church and Islam: Inheriting the Western Christian Tradition 2.3.1 Pre-Vatican II…………………………………………………..51 2.3.2 Post-Vatican II………………………………………………….57 2.3.3 The Catholic Church and Islam: Summary…………………......70 2.4 Post-Reformation Churches, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Islam 2.4.1 Post-Reformation churches and Islam……………………….....73 2.4.2 Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam………………………………......86 2.4.3 Post-Reformation Churches, Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam: Summary……………………………………………………………...92 2.5 Issues Affecting the Contemporary Context of Christian-Muslim Relations 2.5.1 Religious freedom……………………………………………....93 2.5.2 Islam, Judaism, the state of Israel and Christian-Muslim relations……………………………………………………………...104 2.5.3 Issues affecting the contemporary context of Christian-Muslim relations: Summary…………………………………………………………….118
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