New Bishop of Durham announced
“The Diocese of Durham has announced this morning on their website the new Bishop of Durham Designate:
‘The announcement by Downing Street this morning confirms that the Bishop of Durham Designate is The Rt Revd Paul Butler … currently Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham…” – Report from EV News.
C of E Christmas Campaign back to basics
“A marketing initiative established to remind Brits about the true meaning of Christmas is trying something different this year … they have swapped their shock tactics for a simple, direct campaign message: Christmas starts with Christ. …
‘Just 12 per cent of adults know the nativity story, and more than one-third of children don’t know whose birthday it is.’” (emphasis added)
– from the Anglican Communion News Service. Photo: ChurchAds.net
Reaching the lost in England
“While in parts of Latin America or Nigeria a street preacher can regularly lead 20 people to make a decision for Christ in half an hour, in France or Britain even Christians will hurry past a street preacher, embarrassed, and the brave speaker may be more likely to get arrested than make a convert.”
– Andrew Symes, the new Executive Secretary of Anglican Mainstream, writes on the challenge facing the Church in England.
Key UK conference planned for November
Reform and the Anglican Mission in England are organising a conference for Anglican evangelical leaders in November.
“ReNew will be a two day conference with the aim of advancing Anglican Evangelical ministries for the salvation of England.”
Speakers include Hugh Palmer, William Taylor, Richard Coekin, Mike Ovey and John Richardson. Details here.
Anglican Mainstream response to legalisation of same-sex marriage in England & Wales
“With other marriage advocates, we at Anglican Mainstream are distressed but not entirely surprised by the passage of last week’s legislation. …
Of course the entire social fabric will not collapse overnight. Social mores do not function like that. … But SSM will have unintended and for some unforeseen consequences. …”
– Read it here.
Same-sex marriage bill granted Royal Assent
“The Daily Telegraph and BBC reported yesterday afternoon that royal assent has been given to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Billl, paving the way for the first same-sex weddings next spring in England and Wales.
The Queen, who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, gave her formal approval to the Bill yesterday afternoon.” – from Evangelicals.org.
The Archbishop of Canterbury on a coming royal birth
“When this baby is old, it will be the 22nd Century. Yet he or she will be able to tell children about a great grandmother… who served in the Second World War.
By then, the 1940s will be as far away as the Crimean War and the charge of the Light Brigade is today.”
– Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby reflects on the hope a new baby brings. In Mail Online.
‘Irreconcilable’ understandings of the nature of God
John Richardson in the UK writes,
“There aren’t many things that qualify in my view as ‘must read’ articles, but this from Colin Coward, Director of Changing Attitude, is one of them. Here is a taster:
“The Church of England knows it has a crisis on its hands. It thinks the crisis might be solved by gently persuading enough conservatives to overcome their convictions and vote yes for women bishops. I am convinced the problem is far deeper than that. I think we hold dramatically different understandings about the nature of God and they are irreconcilable.”
For a rather different perspective from that of Changing Attitude: Rosaria Champagne Butterfield on DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) and the Rock.
New full-time Director for Reform
“The chairman of the Anglican evangelical campaigning network Reform today announced the appointment of Reform’s first full-time director, Mrs Susie Leafe…”
– from Reform.
Canterbury’s Lords Speech leaves door open for Same-Sex Blessings
“Welcome though the Archbishop of Canterbury’s opposition to the same-sex marriage bill is, Dr Justin Welby’s speech in the House of Lords on Monday made some significant concessions that bode ill for local churches. …”
– Julian Mann takes a look at Archbishop Welby’s address in the House of Lords this week.
Women Bishop Proposals may bar many evangelicals from parish ministry
“New proposals for introducing women bishops run counter to the Church’s desire to see those on both sides of the debate flourish in the Church of England, according to Reform …”
Church Society calls on House of Lords to put the brakes on Same Sex Marriage Bill
Here’s a Church Society Press Release, dated Wednesday 29th May 2013
Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society, has written to the Lords Spiritual to express concern about the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill which will be debated in the House of Lords next week.
The debate may focus on the notions of ‘rights’ and ‘equality.’ As Christians, we support and should defend the legal equality (properly defined) of all those who experience same sex attraction, and recognise them as made in the image of God. What this Bill would actually achieve, however, is not a great advance for minority rights but a fundamentally-flawed redefinition of a basic institution for every single one of us. Read more
Gay marriage Bill — Letter to The Telegraph
This letter from church leaders across England, was published in The Telegraph yesterday (20th May 2013) –
The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill is set to isolate hundreds of thousands of young students and workers across the country who hold a fuller view of marriage based on religion or a traditional view. These young people, from teenagers to 30-year-olds, will suffer discrimination and face new risks to their careers, and futures, if the Bill passes in its present form. Read more
Anglican Mainstream responds to French vote
Anglican Mainstream in the UK has published a brief statement on this morning’s vote to approve ‘same-sex’ marriage in France.
New Executive Secretary for Anglican Mainstream
“The Trustees of Anglican Mainstream are delighted to announce that the Revd Andrew Symes has accepted appointment as Executive Secretary of Anglican Mainstream in succession to Dr Chris Sugden…”
– from Anglican Mainstream.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…