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Irish Evangelical Anglicans Excoriate Cathedral for allowing Muslim Politician to give pulpit address

Irish Evangelical Anglicans Excoriate Cathedral for allowing Muslim Politician to give pulpit address

Submitted by David W. Virtue, DD
www.virtueonline.org
October 26, 2018

In light of the event in Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford, on Saturday 23rd June 2018 where Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi became the first senior Arab Muslim politician to give an address from the pulpit of a Christian Church in Ireland and after much consideration:

We wish to affirm the Christian belief, understanding and teaching of the Church Catholic on the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as "the way, the truth and the life and that no-one comes to God the Father except through [him]" (John 14:6, 7) and that salvation is found in no-one else (Acts 2)

Whilst acknowledging the cultural and religious diversity of 21st century Ireland, we remain convinced of the Church of Ireland's historic position that the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ is for all and must be shared with all including people from other faiths or of none

We rejoice in our church's work of mission at home and overseas in centuries past and long for an increase in mission in our day that leads many to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as both Saviour and Lord

We affirm the Church of Ireland's teaching that eternal salvation is only through the name of Christ (article 18 of the 39 articles) and that Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation (articles 6 & 7)

We regret that a misleading impression was given at this event that the Bible and the Quran “are different books by the same author”, an assertion which remained unchallenged. This is not, and has never been, the teaching of the Church Catholic, nor indeed of the Church of Ireland

We acknowledge the need for a society which allows freedom of religious expression but in that freedom we pray for those who have committed themselves to Christ and, especially, for those ordained as Deacon, Priest or Bishop within the Church of Ireland, to remain faithful to the Gospel of Christ, upholding the uniqueness of Christ and avoiding and opposing the syncretism that such an event promotes.

We acknowledge that the whole of society benefits from a commitment to freedom of religious expression, and from developing greater understanding between individuals and communities. We also affirm the importance of welcome and hospitality within the Christian tradition. However, we call upon all members of the Church, especially those who exercise ordained ministry within the Church of Ireland, to have confidence in the teaching of the Gospel, in proclaiming the uniqueness of Christ, and in rejecting the syncretism that such an event promotes.

A statement for and on behalf of:
The Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship (CIEF)
New Wine Ireland
Evangelical Fellowship of Irish Clergy (EFIC)

We acknowledge that the whole of society benefits from a commitment to freedom of religious expression, and from developing greater understanding between individuals and communities. We also affirm the importance of welcome and hospitality within the Christian tradition. However, we call upon all members of the Church, especially those who exercise ordained ministry within the Church of Ireland, to have confidence in the teaching of the Gospel, in proclaiming the uniqueness of Christ, and in rejecting the syncretism that such an event promotes.

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