INTERVIEW: Rev. Aaron Long (UECNA) & Rev. Donald Veitch (WCF-BCP-TFU)

Rev. Aaron Long (UECNA) and I chatted about Dr. Cranmer’s request for a Pan-Protestant Council in a letter to Calvin. I believe the letter was to Reformed participants to gather (possibly with the exception of Melancthon who had switched to Calvin’s view of Eucharistic Presence)—a letter seeking to gather learned and discreet divines to gather and respond to the Council of Trent (1545-1563).. The specific issue was Trent, a continuing Confession by Romanist leaders. It still is the controlling document in the Vatican. It still justifies the divorce of Rome with Canterbury, Geneva, and Zurich amongst others. Calvin answered Dr. Cranmer a month later in March 1553 (1552?...but memory is faltering here).The meeting never occurred although Cranmer was “willing to cross a 1000 seas” to join the effort. In 2023, we would add that the current theological climate, doctrinal non-Confessionalism, post-modernism, ecumenism and the “niceness police” have tossed St. Paul’s specific, bold and strong “anathematization” of works-justification by faith and works. Leaders, largely speaking, do not join or stand with Dr. Cranmer, John Calvin and 1000s in “anathematizing” Rome’s soteriological and Trinitarian heresies. All heresies and errors are traceable to Trinitarianism. To “anathematize” works-salvation, following St. Paul, makes one a “bigot,” a “hater,” an “immoderate,” a "nut-job," and author of "Jack Chick" tracts. Other errant, abusive and opprobrious terms are on offer. That may work with snowflakes, the ignorant and indifferentists, but it does no affect theological combat veterans who read and pray. In the days of Cranmer and Calvin’s days, 1000s were murdered for their Reformed Theology, unlike today. From the Cranmerian topic, the topic switched from to some effort of a similar Pan-Protestant Council to deal with post-modernism and Biblical illiteracy. We took a side tour, an important tour, to the Rev. Dr. James Montgomery’s and Rev. Dr. R. C. Sproul’s pan-Evangelical council on “Biblical Inerrancy” in 1978-1988, a very effective, trans-denominational and scholarly gathering to rebut the anti-Bible-authority folks and anti-infallibilists in the post-modern mainline denominations. The "International Council on Biblical Inerrancy and Authority" was a 10-year project that was international and influential. The mainliners were not involved. Also, we touched on Barthianism and the "shipwreck of his life." After 35 minutes, we were left with pending questions, reserved for next time. Is some kind of unionism in order to address post-modernism? Is that the game? Who's the superintendent or Bishop for that effort? Do we have a Dr. Cranmer in our day or a Calvin? If so, with whom? Is it to be staffed by "competent theologians with PhDs?" Or, as Dr. Cranmer noted, staffed by "learned and discreet divines?" A helpful and thoughtful interview, conducted as it were on a demanding floor of an OPC presbytery, a place where thinkers talk freely, sincerely and without the “Obey the Bishop” theme. For next time, more to come, God willing. More simply, Americans have a Bible, the Reformed Confessions, and the 1935 REC BCP. Biblical illiteracy is the responsibility of the individual. Clergy may and should deal with it. The young need reading, learning, inwardly digesting, and exposure to the Bible. That's a family's responsibility. Also, morning and evening services with the exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism for Sunday evenings could be implemented TODAY without a Pan-Protestant Council. There are denominations that already practice this. ??. More later.