Last week I was in a conversation with some of my fellow
clergymen about how to properly deal with disagreements and arguments in the
life of the church. As I listened to that conversation I was reminded of one
of my greatest heroes in the church, the great Anglican theologian, Richard
Hooker. Here is a man who was born into a meager family and used what
connections he could to become a priest in the church. Eventually he became a great
teacher and theologian, which is what we know him for today. He is most famously
credited for the three legged stool of Anglicanism as a model for how to make
decisions in the Church. In this model, he tells us to first consider
Scripture, then the traditions of the Church, and finally our own reason when
working out how to find a solution for an issue. However, what he is less known
for is the great controversy that surrounded his tenure as the rector of the
famous Temple Church in London. During his first few years in his position,
Richard Hooker, was constantly badgered, questioned, belittled, humiliated,
bullied, and harassed by his subordinate, Walter Travers. The controversies
surrounded Churchmanship, God’s will toward sin, and many other issues of
critical importance to the identity of the young Anglican Church. You can read
a more detailed account of the controversy by CLICKING HERE and I would
strongly encourage everyone to do so. However, what is remarkable is not necessarily the contraversy itself, but that
Richard Hooker, even though he could have simply fired, Walter Travers, never
did. Mr. Travers was eventually removed from his post by the vestry of the
church who simply got sick of his inappropriate behavior. In fact, Richard
Hooker, felt that the constant attacks by Mr. Travers tended to only sharpen
his intellect and helped him to think very carefully about his own position and
theology. What is perhaps most interesting, is that these bouts
motivated Richard Hooker to write his great series of books Of the Laws of
Ecclesiastical Polity, which are one of the greatest theological writings in
Christianity and certainly in Anglicanism.
What I think we can take away from this is to remember Richard
Hooker’s model of humility and grace when dealing with disagreements. Perhaps
we need to all look harder for God among the arguments themselves, keep an open
mind about our opponent’s view, and use our disagreements to test our own
understanding of what God’s will is for us and His church. However, as we do
those things, I believe we must always remember to show the courtesy and
brotherly love that Richard Hooker showed to Walter Travers. We must remember
to give others the room to disagree and to never take action against or alienate someone because we hold a different opinion. That gentle self-effacement is a halmark of a Godly person. Therefore, when we disagree, remember that genuine love and unity among the family of God are perhaps the
most important elements for a healthy church. As St. Paul tells us, we should, “Love
one another with brotherly affection and outdo one another in showing
honor.”(Romans 12:10) As we seek those things, I think we would
do well to look to that great founding theologian of Anglicanism, Richard
Hooker, to model that life for us.
