The Anglican Communion: Renewing our Common Life

In our seventh FeAST webinar, The Very Rev. Chris Dowdeswell, PhD explores the deep structural and theological challenges facing the Anglican Communion today — and offers a constructive vision for its renewal. Drawing on his PhD research, Chris argues that the Communion’s crisis cannot be explained only by its most visible disagreements (human sexuality, episcopal authority, scriptural interpretation), but points instead to a deeper failure: the loss of the contemplative and communal reasoning that once lay at the heart of the Elizabethan Settlement. This webinar offers not only diagnosis, but also a reasonable hope for the future, proposing a model of Spirit-led discernment grounded in perspective-taking, behavioural science, social brain research, and postmetaphysical philosophy — aiming to move beyond factionalism toward renewed common life. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - Prayer & Speaker Background 04:09 - Presentation / Webinar