The Women Bishops debate: much vexation without representation
Late on Monday evening, the General Synod of the Church of England voted to take away my bishop. Not only mine, of course — they voted to take away all the Provincial Episcopal Visitors from the parishes which have enjoyed their ministry in the last few years. …
We must not forget that the Church of England has regularly in the past been on the side of oppressing those who wanted to express their religion freely. As one writer observed (I cannot locate the quotation, but remember it well), it was the Church of England which, due to its intransigence, virtually single handedly created Nonconformity. …
– John Richardson writes at The Ugley Vicar.
C of E vote backs women bishops
The Church of England’s ruling General Synod has voted to ordain women as bishops and approved a code of practice aimed at reassuring opponents. However the code falls short of safeguards demanded by traditionalists, such as allowing male “super-bishops” to cater for those against the reforms. … – from BBC News.
From the Church Society’s summary of the day’s business –
In the afternoon the Synod began the debate on Women Bishops. Due to the large number of amendments a total of six hours of debate was allowed going up to 10pm. After the first four hours Synod had covered seven of the fourteen amendments. However, this represented the bulk of the difficult decisions.
The initial motion had been put by the House of Bishops which is sadly unrepresentative of the wider Church. Read more
Sydney makes it clear: no split
The Bishop of South Sydney, Robert Forsyth, has welcomed statements by the Primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, that the GAFCON movement is not aimed at breaking away from Anglicanism.
Numerous press reports have described GAFCON as a ‘split’ and have questioned its effects on Australia.
Archbishop Peter Jensen last week made it clear he didn’t expect the Australian church to change as a result of GAFCON as events were being played out ‘on the world stage’. …
– Read the full story from SydneyAnglicans.net. (Photo: Russell Powell.)
Melbourne: Pastoral statement on GAFCON
Pastoral statement from Bishop Paul White, Vicar General
“Following the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), many of you are no doubt aware of media reports, suggesting that the Anglican Communion is facing serious division.
It’s premature to comment at this point. There will be opportunities, after our return from Lambeth, for reflection on GAFCON and the Lambeth Conference and to discuss various statements and resolutions resulting from both.
Meanwhile, together with my fellow Melbourne bishops, I wish to assure the clergy and laity of the Melbourne Diocese that relationships in the Anglican Communion will be properly and prayerfully considered at the forthcoming Lambeth Conference, the ten-yearly meeting of world Anglican leaders, held from 16 July to 4 August in Canterbury, England.
Please uphold with us, affirmation of Archbishop Freier’s hope for Lambeth: that it will provide an opportunity to ‘live the unity that we share in Christ.’
The need is for the Church to engage in mission in a world facing suffering as varied as climate change, poverty, aggression and corruption, to name but a few. Therefore, we ask that all Melbourne Anglicans heed the Archbishop’s call to prayer, and display grace and generosity of heart to which a life centred in the Gospel calls us.”
– From the Diocese of Melbourne.
Tom Wright: there’ll always be an England
Bishop Tom Wright has expanded his earlier statements on why he is unhappy with GAFCON and last week’s meeting in London.
The Anglican Essentials Canada blog has a link to his comments – as well as some comments on his comments.
‘England bypassed. Global Communion isolated.’
Many years ago a Dutch friend of mine told me about a cartoon which expressed what they thought about the English attitude: an English newspaper headline read, “Fog in the Channel. Continent cut off.”
In the same way, we have seen English bishops, and indeed Archbishops, complaining that GAFCON has not shown due regard for Anglo-centric structures and personalities — that they, and not ‘self-appointed’ individuals and bodies, have the right to define the terms by which Anglicanism is constituted and operates.…
– John Richardson writes on the mindset of the Church of England at the Ugley Vicar.
C of E General Synod to debate women bishops tonight
Tonight (Australian time) the Church of England’s General Synod, meeting in York, will spend more than four hours debating a motion on women bishops. David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society, reports that there are 14 amendments proposed.
– See David’s summaries of General Synod for Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
(Photo: Australian women bishops Barbara Darling and Kay Goldsworthy – by Janine Eastlake / Anglican Media Melbourne.).
Dr Phillip Aspinall on ABC Radio
An interview with Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate Dr Phillip Aspinall was broadcast on ABC Radio on Sunday night. The transcript is now available from the ABC.
If we didn’t leave, what did we accomplish at GAFCON?
It is important, when considering what was accomplished at GAFCON, to keep in mind its singular focus. That focus was to identify the Anglican grasp of the apostolic faith, to claim that identity for the whole Anglican Communion and to provide a firm oversight and standing from which to confess the apostolic faith as we Anglicans have received it. …
– Bishop John H. Rodgers Jr., one of the founders of the Anglican Mission in America, at Virtue Online.
See also this interview he gave in February. (Photo: Trinity School for Ministry.)
Book review: Surprised by Hope
N. T. Wright is one of the most talented writers among New Testament scholars today. In this book he presents his understanding of what the Scriptures teach about heaven, the resurrection, and the church’s mission. …
Wright appeals to many because he is brilliant and fascinating, and some of what he says is helpful. Nevertheless, his failure to emphasize the centrality of the gospel is troubling, and pastors who find his work illuminating need to be careful that they do not veer away from their central task of proclaiming the good news to a lost generation.
– Thomas Schreiner, Professor of New Testament at SBTS, reviews Bishop Tom Wright’s recent book, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church – at 9 Marks.
Earlier posts: on Tom Schreiner, on Bishop N T Wright. (Update: David Virtue has a related commentary on recent statements from Bishop Wright – at Virtue Online.)
Archbishop of York defends Williams
The Archbishop of York has told the Church of England’s governing body that a new Anglican traditionalist movement had been “ungracious” in its actions. Dr John Sentamu said he was “deeply grieved” at criticism of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, by the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans. …
– from BBC News. Includes a 3 minute video clip. (Photo: Abp of Canterbury’s website.)
C of E General Synod report 4 July 2008
The Church of England’s General Synod has begin its meeting at York University.
David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society, is posting a daily summary of business. Read the summary for Friday 4th July on the Church Society website.
If I were a Patron
What can be done to halt the Liberal drift of the Church of England identified at the post-GAFCON gathering at All Souls Langham place on the 1st July?
The answer is not “Sign a petition in support of the GAFCON principles,” although I suggest you do exactly that…
The problem with the Jerusalem Statement and Declaration, is that it declares what every minister working for the Church of England is required to declare on their appointment. …
– John Richardson reminds us of the influence of patrons and parish representatives in the appointment of a parish minister. At the Ugley Vicar.
‘Treat GAFCON with respect’ – Church Times
GAFCON was a good thing. Other complexions have, of course, been put on it, but the conference in Jerusalem transformed disaffection from the Anglican Communion into a renewed commitment to its core, which is the love of Christ. Against the expectations of many, the week was not spent fulminating against gays. Bishop Robinson’s name was not heard. …
… the breach in communion, which is no wider than it was before GAFCON, will not widen further if only other Anglicans engage with the Jerusalem Declaration, demonstrate the legitimate, biblical grounds for their differing views and actions, refuse to allow their brothers and sisters to walk apart …
– Comment from Church Times. There is other GAFCON coverage in this edition.
(Archbishops Henry Orombi, Uganda and Peter Akinola, Nigeria, at the GAFCON closing session. Photo: Joy Gwaltney.)
Florida ‘outpouring’ heads for Britain
Todd Bentley, the revivalist behind the Florida Outpouring, is to send some of his Fresh Fire Ministries team over to the UK for a London Outpouring from 10 to 12 July. It will take place at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster, in association with Premier Christian Radio. …
St Andrew’s, Chorleywood, the Charismatic Anglican church from which New Wine and Soul Survivor emerged, has wholeheartedly embraced the Outpourings after its Vicar, the Revd Dr Mark Stibbe, and others visited the Lakeland Outpouring in May.
– Report from Church Times.
See also our earlier story on the ‘outpouring’ for a link to very helpful comments by Justin Peters. And also see this disturbing video clip. (Photo: Fresh Fire.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…