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.
Archbishop of Canterbury’s inauguration sermon
“For nearly two thousand years the Church has sought, often failing, to recognise in its way of being that Jesus is the Son of God. The wind and waves divided Jesus from the disciples. Peter ventures out in fear and trembling (as you may imagine I relate to him at this point). Jesus reconciles Peter to Himself and makes the possibility for all the disciples to find peace.”
– Read Archbishop Justin Welby’s sermon delivered at his inauguration ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral overnight. (Photo: Diocese of Durham.)
Your guide to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s inauguration
“The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s public ministry will commence on Thursday when he is enthroned – or ‘installed’ – in two special seats in Canterbury Cathedral. …
The date of the ceremony resonates in several ways: March 21st is the feast day of St. Benedict of Monte Cassino, a significant figure for both Canterbury Cathedral and Archbishop Justin himself, who is an oblate of the Order of Benedict. A thousand years ago, the cathedral was a Benedictine monastery.”
– Everything you wanted to know about this week’s enthronement – from the Anglican Communion News Service.
(March 21 is another anniversary which is perhaps more significant – the execution of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1556.)
Archbishop Welby and the E-Word
“Archbishop Justin Welby very seldom uses the E-word – ‘Evangelical’. He mentions it only when amongst friends.
Speaking at New Wine, for example, in 2006 he declared: ‘I’m an orthodox Bible-believing Evangelical … Scripture is my final authority for all matters of life and doctrine.’ But it’s not a label he usually chooses to define himself. …
… Although the ‘Evangelicalism’ label will not often be heard at Lambeth Palace, that other momentous E-Word – ‘Evangelism’ – falls much more frequently from Welby’s lips. His abiding passion is for people to come to faith in Christ and for churches to grow.”
– In an article to be published in the Spring 2013 issue of Cross†Way, Andrew Atherstone provides a very informative profile of the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
St. Helen’s Thanksgiving service for Chappo
The video from the Thanksgiving service for John Chapman, held at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London a week ago (1st March 2013), is now available on Vimeo.
Participants include William Taylor, Dick Lucas, Richard Bewes and Hugh Palmer.
Dick Lucas remembered the first time he met Chappo – and Hugh Palmer preached from Romans 1.
The video runs for 51 minutes and is most edifying.
Canterbury tale
Evangelicals Now, has an account of last month’s visit by Archbishop of Canterbury-Designate Justin Welby to a Vineyard church.
“Unusually perhaps for a senior Anglican, Justin Welby was very clear on the exact time and date he became a Christian and on the gospel he responded to.”
– Read the article here. (Photo: Diocese of Durham.)
Freedom is the issue
“Any expression of the view that marriage is between a man and a woman is held to stigmatize those who believe that marriage is gender neutral.
Such alternative views are claimed to be prejudiced, to stigmatise others, and to be the source of unhappiness and searches for “change”. Such stigmatization has to be banished from society by the state.
Therefore even holding such an opinion is wrong – or rather causes offence and hurt, and must be eliminated. Even if the state admits diversity and plurality, certain pluralities cannot exist. …”
– The American Anglican Council has published an important article from the UK by Vinay Samuel and Chris Sugden. Read it all here.
(images via Anglican Mainstream and GAFCON.)
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…