Church officials within the Church of England have raised concerns that certain traditional Christmas carols are “problematic” because they explicitly refer to Jesus as the “true Messiah.” The Birmingham Diocese recently commanded its clergy to reassess the language used in hymns to create an “inclusive” environment during the festive season. This is not the first time the COE has attacked its’ own heritage to appease the woke mob.
The Birmingham Diocese instructed priests to “use language that won’t add further confusion or tension or take away anything from the good news of the Nativity,” according to the Mail on Sunday. One of the hymns singled out was “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending,” a favorite of Queen Victoria, which has been criticized for declaring Jesus as the “true Messiah.”
Another classic hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” has been targeted for the phrase “captive Israel” in the first verse. The diocese’s email suggested that such language could lead to misunderstandings, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Rt. Rev. Michael Volland, bishop of Birmingham, said the decision was influenced by the political climate.
According to The Telegraph, Volland said “Members of our team working closely with diverse communities in Birmingham invited churches to think about providing some context for people new to church who might be unsure why ‘Israel’ is being discussed and whether this has any relation to the current conflict.” He stated that no hymns or liturgies have been formally altered, but priests are encouraged to offer explanations to ensure the Christmas message remains clear and welcoming.
Volland went on to say, ” “Members of our team working closely with diverse communities in Birmingham invited churches to think about providing some context for people new to church who might be unsure why ‘Israel’ is being discussed and whether this has any relation to the current conflict.” However, critics were quick to pounce on the decision.
One vicar wrote into the Mail to say the Church of England has “really lost the plot.” The anonymous vicar noted that even Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t mandate Russian Orthodox churches to “censor carols at Christmas.” A former member of the General Synod and executive secretary of the Anglican Mainstream group, Canon Chris Sugden, stepped forth to argue against the changes.
“Hymns should not be altered just because the Church conforms to every progressive cause,” he said. He also asked if Jewish or Hindu festivals would be forced to change. Andrew Pierce, Mail consultant editor and columnist wrote on X “The Church of England has told vicars to edit Christmas carols for fear of causing offense. To whom? […] The people the church is offending are Christians. Again,”
The feckless diocese defended their position. Members of the “presence and engagement team” stated that the hymns contain a “strong emphasis of supersessionism,” the doctrine that Christianity is the one true religion. The Church of England, the official religious arm of the British Crown, has a problem with saying Christianity is the one true religion.