Is there a glimmer of hope?
“The conduct of the House of Bishops has been deceitful and dishonest and disgraceful – concealing legal advice and the game plan. …
To believe there are glimmers of hope is not to prepare for the end of evangelical ministry in the Church of England. Such ministry is being squeezed out and it is naive not to see it, not say it, and not help others prepare for it.”
– Anglican Futures has published this honest assessment from a clergyman in the Church of England.
Do continue to pray for Bible-believing Christians in the CofE.
We cannot agree to disagree, says CEEC’s John Dunnett
From The Church of England Evangelical Council:
The meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England concluded on Tuesday.
Commenting on the debate on the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process, Revd Canon John Dunnett, National Director, Church of England Evangelical Council, CEEC, said: “The decision taken by General Synod to move to next business [before the end of the debate] is demonstrative of widespread dissatisfaction with how the bishops have been progressing the LLF process. The one thing that Synod could largely agree on was that neither side could support the proposals that would emanate from the motion, as tabled at Synod. We believe that GS2346, as presented at Synod, is riddled with confusion and ambiguity, contains proposals we could never support, and outlines inadequate structural provision.
“Significantly, the move to next business is also evidence that we cannot ‘square the circle’ in the debate, as currently framed. This issue is not adiaphora – we cannot agree to disagree.
“This is why we continue to call for a legal and structural settlement without theological compromise, which we believe is the only way forward. We will gladly work with Bishop Martyn Snow to explore this route further. Between now and July, we will be calling on churches and their leaders to articulate their support for this.
“Many feel that the fabric of the Church of England is tearing as a result of the Living in Love and Faith process and that structural differentiation is the only way of maintaining any degree of unity.”
– Source.
Living in Love and Faith: what now for those who cannot ‘agree to disagree’?
“Yesterday the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, tried to reset the ongoing Living in Love and Faith (LLF) debate, asking the General Synod of the Church of England ‘to be reconciled with God and show this by being reconciled to one another’.
He talked of the missionary imperative of the Church finding a way to ‘agree to disagree’ and pleaded for Synod to avoid “a series of speeches simply saying, ‘Synod needs to agree with me’, or others just need to change their mind”.
But the problem facing the Church is, as Ed Shaw said, ‘We do not all believe the same things when it comes to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.’…”
See also:
What do we mean by reconciliation? – Martin Davie.
“The problem with the LLF/PLF debate in the Church of England at the moment is that the majority of the bishops are promoting a truncated form of reconciliation, a form of reconciliation which emphasises quite rightly the virtues of humility, patience and love, but also gives liturgical recognition to sexual immorality in the form of the blessing of same-sex sexual relationships and same-sex marriages and the ordination of those involved in them. …”
Image: Bishop Snow’s call for reconciliation despite holding contradictory beliefs.
Church of England is ‘standing on the brink of a precipice’
“As the General Synod of the Church of England gathered once again in London on Friday, Rev Ian Paul, a member of the Archbishops’ Council challenged the agenda in forceful terms.
Suggesting that Synod had made ‘avoiding reality a bit of an art form,’ he claimed that the Church of England is ‘standing on the brink of a precipice’. A precipice which could leave the next generation with nothing but a ‘heap of ruins’ to fight over. …”
– Susie Leafe writes at Christian Today.
See Ian Paul’s challenge last Friday (link should go to 01:31:28 in the video).
“The Church of England – a heap of ruins for the next generation.”
Why the “equality” Bill is a threat to religious freedom — and what you can do about it
“The Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 introduced by Independent MP Alex Greenwich is due to be debated next month and voted on in March.
The bill makes wide-ranging changes to 20 pieces of NSW legislation that will undermine religious freedom and entrench a radical gender ideology in NSW. …”
– Bishop Michael Stead writes at SydneyAnglicans.net.
He emphasises,
“Christians need to act immediately to make our opposition to this bill known.
We need to contact our local State members. Most politicians have little idea about the contents – let alone the consequences – of this bill.
It is important they hear our concerns before the bill’s scheduled voting day on March 14.”
This is an important article and deserves to be widely shared.
See also contactyourmp.org.au for background and helpful resources.
LLF and Reconciliation- taking the wrong path?
“‘This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’
These words, from Jeremiah 6:16 were quoted by the Rt Revd Keith Sinclair, retired Bishop of Birkenhead, at the end of his address at Gafcon IV in April 2023. He had been asked to speak about the global implications of the decisions taken by the Church of England’s February General Synod to introduce prayers of blessing for same-sex couples. His presentation was masterful and measured – as befits one of the most respected conservative leaders in the Church of England – and it was met with the most extraordinary standing ovation. …”
– This post from Anglican Futures warns that the Church of England’s direction into the abandonment of Biblical morality and teaching is fixed.
“It is a certainty that there will be many private meetings and whispered conversations taking place over the coming week in a last ditch attempt to find a way of persuading Synod that a square is just a circle with pointy bits.
There is a crossroads ahead – but it is hard to see a good outcome for the orthodox.”
Image: Bishop Keith Sinclair at GAFCON IV. See his address at GAFCON IV here (it may take quite some time to load).
Speaking of (the Church of England’s General) Synod
From Church Society:
“Halfway through this five-year term of General Synod, Chris Moore and Ros Clarke discuss what’s on the agenda, what it’s like to serve on synod, and why you should consider standing for election next time.”
– Listen here – and there are links to papers and the livestream for those who are interested.
LLF road map to ‘rebuilding trust’ set out at General Synod briefing
“A fresh way forward on Living in Love and Faith (LLF) will be presented to the General Synod later this month, in the hope of ‘rebuilding trust’ lost over the past year. …”
– Anglican Mainstream has the link to an article in Church Times.
How to rebuild trust after what has happened?
Photo: Jacqui J. Sze, via The Archbishop of Canterbury’s website.
CEEC expresses ‘profound concern’ at ‘Living in Love, Faith and Reconciliation’ paper
Here’s a media release from the Church of England Evangelical Council:
Monday 12 February 2024, London, UK: CEEC has expressed ‘profound concern’ at one of the papers published ahead of February’s meeting of the General Synod.
The paper entitled ‘Living in Love, Faith and Reconciliation’ (GS2346) is being brought to the Synod by the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow.
In response to the paper, Revd Canon John Dunnett, National Director, said:
“CEEC wholeheartedly welcomes the commitment in this paper to pursue openness, humility, honesty and transparency in the Living in Love and Faith process. At the same time, we are profoundly concerned by the many ambiguities in the Commitments, and that the theological underpinning of the ‘reset’ appears to remain that of ‘adiaphora’.
“Most concerningly of all, the Commitment to ‘exploring the process for clergy and lay ministers to enter same-sex civil marriages’ could drive a coach and horses through Church of England doctrine.
“The title ’Living in Love, Faith and Reconciliation’, will appear to many to contradict the need for differentiation. CEEC remains convinced that the maximum degree of unity possible can only be obtained through a robust structural settlement.”
The Church of England’s General Synod will meet from 23-27 February, in London.
– Source: CEEC.
Orthodox bishops publish ‘theological vision’ of Christian life and discipleship to ‘encourage’ and ‘equip’
“The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) welcomes today’s publication of a ‘theological vision’ of Christian life and discipleship by a group of orthodox bishops.
These bishops, writing on behalf of a wider grouping in the House and College of bishops, say that the affirmations included in the vision are designed to ‘bring greater clarity to our points of convergence and divergence’ and to ‘encourage and equip’ those who continue to hold to the Church’s historic teaching. …”
A lament for Scotland
In his latest podcast, David Robertson laments – and asks you to pray – for the land of his birth:
“In this week’s episode we look at the history, culture, and politics of Scotland. I have taken over a year to do this. It is possibly the hardest thing I have ever had to do because it is so hard for me to be objective.
This is deeply personal. And there is so much to say. It was difficult to decide what to leave out – I literally had hundreds of hours of material … I hope what has remained in will be helpful in understanding modern Scotland – and indeed the modern world. …
There are lessons for all of us in seeing how Scotland has changed, been blessed and declined. …”
And a strong reminder to pray for the nation and people of Scotland.
C of E Bishop of Newcastle quits LLF post over appointment of a conservative theological advisor to the House of Bishops
“The appointment of a conservative opponent of same-sex blessings as interim theological adviser to the Church of England’s House of Bishops has led to the bombshell resignation of the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, as co-lead bishop of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.
Bishop Hartley became co-lead LLF bishop with the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, after the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, stepped down as the LLF lead bishop in November. …
The interim theological adviser is the Revd Dr Tom Woolford, who as a member of General Synod has opposed the introduction of services of blessing for same-sex couples.”
– As the Bishop of Newcastle apparently takes her bat and goes home, things don’t seem to be going well in the attempt to hold the Church of England together. Story from Julian Mann at Anglican.ink.
See also:
Living in Love and Faith: A Statement from Bishop Helen-Ann:
“there is no doubt that LLF remains front and centre in the life of our Church at this time…”
Full statement:
“My first commitment, and priority, is to continue to respond to God’s calling to be Bishop of Newcastle, and I rejoice in this calling. It has become clear to me in the last 48 hours that there are serious concerns relating to the recent process of appointing an Interim Theological Advisor to the House of Bishops. This was, and is not, an LLF appointment, and neither Bishop Martyn nor myself were involved in it. Whilst the remit of the theological advisor is broader than any matters relating to LLF, there is no doubt that LLF remains front and centre in the life of our Church at this time. What has transpired in the last 48 hours has had a critically negative impact on the work Bishop Martyn and I were seeking, in good faith, to do. My role as co-lead bishop for the LLF process is now undermining my capacity to fulfil my primary calling, to lead and care for the people and places of the Diocese of Newcastle.
I am fully committed to the vocation and life of the Church of England, its place in our diverse communities across this land, and in the wider Anglican Communion. Mindful of different views within my own diocese, I am also fully committed to the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people. I do not believe these are mutually exclusive, and I am not naïve in saying this. As I approach the 10th anniversary of my consecration as a bishop, my decision to step down from my LLF role is not one I have taken lightly, but is one built on all I have learnt about being a bishop, both here and in Aotearoa New Zealand. I will continue to be involved in the LLF process as a diocesan bishop, and will endeavour to prayerfully and actively work towards fulfilling the commitments expressed above, and those already agreed to in General Synod.
+Helen-Ann Newcastle,
February 1st 2024.”
And earlier:
Living in love, faith — and reconciliation – Church Times, 25 January 2024 by Helen-Ann Hartley and Martyn Snow:
“We are at a crossroads: either we have reached the point of separation, accepting that different views cannot co-exist within the same Church, or we must shift the debate to the question how we live well with difference. We believe firmly in the latter approach, and, therefore, we are issuing a call for reconciliation and bridge-building. …” (emphasis added)
Photo: Dr. Helen-Ann Hartley.
Mr Facing Both Ways
“In his book The Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan refers to a character called ‘Mr Facing Both Ways.’
As I reflected on the events of the past year and where they have left the Church of England it struck me that Bunyan’s name for this character is also an apt description of the current position of the Church of England.
On the one hand, the Church of England officially continues to adhere to (a) the traditional Christian doctrine of marriage and sexual ethics, and (b) the traditional Christian doctrine that visible holiness of life should be required of Christian ministers.
On the other hand, since 17 December last year it has contradicted (a) in terms of its liturgical practice. Furthermore, it seems certain that action by the House of Bishops will mean that in the coming year the Church of England will contradict traditional Christian doctrine further in area (a) and will also contradict it in area (b) as well. …”
– Martin Davie looks at the current situation in the Church of England and suggests how orthodox Evangelicals should respond.
Living in Love, Faith and Reconciliation: an exercise in bait and switch
“Last week, the lead bishops for Living in Love and Faith process, Rt Revd Helen-Ann Hartley and Rt Revd Martyn Snow set out some of their thinking in a comment piece for the Church Times – Living in Love, Faith and Reconciliation.
‘We are at a crossroads: either we have reached the point of separation, accepting that different views cannot co-exist within the same Church, or we must shift the debate to the question how we live well with difference. We believe firmly in the latter approach, and, therefore, we are issuing a call for reconciliation and bridge-building.’
Their attempt to ‘reset’ the debate will rest on a number of commitments, which will be brought to General Synod for discussion in February. They have yet to be published – but for once the devil will not be in the detail – but in their purpose and underlying premise …”
– This opinion piece at Anglican Futures looks at where ‘reconciliation and bridge-building’ is likely to lead.
And it is yet another reminder to pray for wisdom for faithful believers in the Church of England.
“Gender critical” victories in tribunal cases
“Over the last month there have been three important tribunal decisions (two in the UK, one in Australia) in favour of women who had been disciplined or dismissed or sued for expressing ‘gender critical’ views.
This phrase, broadly, refers to those who believe that sex is a biological reality and that someone’s gender aligns with their sex. Allegations of ‘transgender vilification’ or claims that someone’s views on this matter can be a ground for workplace penalties have been common over the last few years.
But the three cases I want to mention here (involving social worker Rachel Meade, academic Dr Jo Phoenix, and commentator Kirralie Smith) suggest that the tide may be turning in favour of those who hold the view that biology matters. …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster sees an encouraging trend.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…