Not very Christian

A recent front-page article in the press (Daily Telegraph, July 8) recorded comments made by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, who is the C of E’s head of education, and are an exposé on the current state of the Church of England.

Bishop Pritchard states that: ‘Schools should no longer be forced to hold collective worship because of the decline in Christianity in Britain; that compulsory acts of worship were more suited to the forties and could put children off religion.’

This position, from a senior clergyman, beggars belief. Who, then, is going to instruct children in Christianity and those wonderful stories of Jesus, and His teaching on how to inherit God’s kingdom? Certainly not the church, if Bishop Pritchard has his way; and certainly not most parents of this present age, who themselves have had little instruction in such matters.

Perhaps, the most serious point here is that Bishop Pritchard is acting against the clear teaching of scripture: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22 v 6).

If the church and schools won’t teach it – who will? Surely, if Christianity is declining, then Christians should respond by redoubling their efforts in sharing the Gospel.

Rod Boggia

via email