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And, of course, we also live in a Europe which is uncertain about the
presence of the slalom in its midst. The growth of Islam in Western societies
has brought many benefits, yet it also carries the shadow of Islamic terrorism,
and questions about the ongoing and future character of Europe, raised by such
authors as Douglas Murray and Roger Scruton.
The Reformation is an example for us of a Christian movement that
inspired a new vision within Europe. At the time when Europe lacks vision,
when the European Union has stalled, and no longer inspires confidence and
energy enough to provide unity for the people of this continent, a new vision is
desperately needed.
No-one can turn back the clock to the medieval or post-war world, but
is it a coincidence that Europe seems to have lost its soul, or vision, not long
after the EU made the historical and strategic mistake of erasing from its con-
stitution any mention of Europe’s Christian past? By taking leave of a huge
source of past European vision, what is left is a project which is still worth
fighting for, but somehow fails to inspire enthusiasm.
We need a vision that turns us away from ourselves, towards a world still
full of poverty, violence and migrants, not in on ourselves. The prospects of
such a vision arising from a self absorbed and acquisitive culture, with little
common narrative, loosely held together by value such as tolerance and human
rights are rather thin.
The question is whether the Christian churches can again give such a
vision, a vision that inspires allegiance, discipline, and focus for the next stage
of our continent’s life. It is a task that will require all the churches to work to-
gether, and as we would say within the diocese of London with confidence cre-
ativity and compassion. It requires not more detailed historical theological ana-
lysis, nor endless papers written for internal church ordering, but instead a re-
newal of faith and life, which so captures our own imaginations, that it has the
capacity to capture the imagination of an entire generation.
Whether or not it catches fire, and goes viral across Europe will depend
on whether the church can be renewed in the life of the Spirit, recapture the
heart of the Gospel for today, express it in language that ordinary people can
understand, and ensure that Gospel speaks again to our world, as it did in fal-
th
tering, imperfect, yet powerful ways in the 16 century.

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