Four years ago now, which is still comparatively recent on many time scales, a leading organization in the field of national and international religious research and statistics was commissioned to conduct a survey on the beliefs of clergy of the Church of England.

Carried out during 2002 by Christian Research at the request of Cost of Conscience, an Anglican think-tank, the survey found that of the 1,700+ clergy (46% of those approached) who replied, many admitted to doubting some of the most fundamental articles of the Faith which they publicly profess to believe Sunday by Sunday.

One of the interesting things that has been noted in recent times is the hand-in-hand ordination of women to the priesthood, and ordination of practising homosexuals likewise. These are both very recent trends in the 2000 year history of the Christian church, something that is a feature only of the last decade or so. This occurrence coincides with the growth of liberal theologies, a move away from a traditional exegesis of Scripture by some who are more open to the influences of our postmodern secular age and the pressure to be “inclusive” of all. These influences include moral relativism, the political correctness of multiculturalism, and the reign of pragmatism and utopianism. A worldview that regards these ideas more highly than the truth claims of traditional Christianity will require the efforts of revisionism to provide an alternative interpretation of Scripture that better fits the philosophy of the age. Such revisionism has heralded both the ordination of women and of practising homosexuals, neither group previously considered appropriate as ordinands by Christians who adhere to a traditional exegesis of Scripture.

But back to the findings of the aforementioned survey and several interesting and disturbing outcomes arise. On every single item in the questionaire, confidence in the faith among female clergy is less than that of their male counterparts. When it comes to beliefs concerning the person of Jesus, the gaps between male and female clergy become highly significant.

Of those who could confidently assert that they believe that Jesus Christ died to take away the sins of the world, the numbers were as follows:
76% of male clergy
65% of female clergy

But even so, if the clergy are Christians, although given that we all may be subject to doubts occasionally, might one not expect something far closer to 100% ?

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:8-11

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:15

Of those who believe that Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can be saved, the figures were as follows:
53% of male clergy
39% of female clergy

Given that some folks may have never heard the Gospel and that God, being supremely just, will accommodate those accordingly - surely this belief requires a firm commitment as a founding truth claim?

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ”
John 14:6

35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
John 3:35-36

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6

Of those who confidently believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, the figures were as follows:
58% of male clergy
33% of women clergy

Again, this is a foundation belief of Christianity, so something far nearer 100% should surely be expected?

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Luke 1:30-35

Of those who confidently believe that Jesus physically rose from the dead, the figures were as follows:
68% of male clergy
53% of female clergy

But if Jesus did not rise physically from the dead, as witnessed by over 500 people as reported in the New Testament, then the whole Christian faith is a sham. If God, Creator of all, is able to speak the universe into existence, then it is surely no problem for Him to raise His Son Jesus from the dead. Therefore a 100% belief rate among Christian clergy is surely in order?

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
Mark 16:1-7

10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15″Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
John 20:10-19

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:26-29

It would appear that the historic creeds are no longer believed by all clergy in the Church of England. Likewise, the 39 Articles of Religion that contain the foundation beliefs of the Anglican Communion. Those clergy who defined themselves as conservative evangelical came out as the strongest believers whereas of those who favoured more liberal views, less than 25% were confident believers in the Virgin Birth or the uniqueness of Christ in salvation.

Quoting from the report of the survey:

It has been clearly demonstrated that despite the much-vaunted diversity within the Church of England, such diversity is due to the existence of two churches with irreconcilable theological beliefs and moral values.
Their divergence has often been portrayed as being solely concerned with the issue of the ordination of women as priests and bishops - but this is no more that the presenting symptom of the many radically different attitudes to the authority of Scripture, the doctrines of Creation and Incarnation and, most critically, the person of Jesus Christ.
This survey reveals the divisions are far wider and go much deeper than any single presenting symptom.
Conservative evangelical and Catholics, for all their historic differences, hold in common both the faith and the traditional moral teachings of the undivided Catholic Church.
Liberals, by contrast, embrace a theology and moral methodology deriving from the prevailing views of the secular society in which they live. Conformist rather than prophetic, they appear to have little interest in transforming the world by the grace of a Saviour about whose claim upon their lives they are deeply uncertain if not dismissive.
Believe it or not!

Links to the Mind of Anglicans Survey reports:
Robbie Low’s Analysis
Further Conclusions Part II
Survey Analysis Part III