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Model BBC Radio Interview by GAFCON UK Chairman

Model BBC Radio Interview by GAFCON UK Chairman

By Julian Mann
Special to VIRTUEONLINE
www.virtueonline.org
Nov. 20, 2016

The chairman of GAFCON UK, Canon Andy Lines, has just conducted a model interview on BBC Radio 4 in debate against the revisionist Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt. Revd Nicholas Holtam, and it is highly instructive to consider why.

The interview can be listened to you here: here (37 minutes into The Sunday Programme).

There are three reasons why this was a model interview:

1). Canon Lines was dignified. Bishop Holtam kept interrupting and had at one point to be brought to order by the presenter Edward Stourton. Bishop Holtam kept calling Canon Lines 'Andy' as if he were dealing with an awkward toddler whereas Canon Lines referred to the Bishop of Salisbury once as 'Bishop Holtam'. This added to the reasonable and courteous tone Canon Lines managed to achieve in contrast to that of his opponent

2). Canon Lines was well-prepared. This was reflected in the short, concise, calm answers he gave to the questions put to him, whereas Bishop Holtam tended to be long-winded and prone to emotional responses rather than reasoned argument.

3). Former tank commander Canon Lines had set himself a clear objective. He successfully rebutted the charge that GAFCON UK had behaved 'outrageously' in publishing a list of Church of England clergy and laity in leadership roles, who are supposed to be accountable to their Bishops but who have chosen to flout the received biblical teaching of the Church as expressed in Lambeth Resolution 1.10. Canon Lines communicated clearly that the behaviour of these individuals was already in the public domain and that GAFCON UK did not 'out' anybody.

So, a model interview for servants of the Lord Jesus Christ tasked to engage with the secular media in the cause of biblical orthodoxy.

Julian Mann is vicar of the Parish Church of the Ascension, South Yorkshire, UK www.oughtibridgechurch.org.uk

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