Plea for Kirk to continue social action; Ministers to quit kirk over gay ordination; Medical guidelines create fear; Woman priest says C of E bishops are wife-beaters; Vicar leaves church to become Elvis impersonator; Facebook vicar offends faithful allegation; Sussex priest and organist in court over boy sex assaults
Kirk urged to continue speaking and acting for social justice
Ekklesia – The Church of Scotland General Assembly has heard a passionate plea to continue speaking and acting for social justice in the name of the Christian Gospel.
The Rev Ian Galloway, Convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, described press accusations that the Kirk was “silent” on a range of social issues, or speaking without acting, as “baloney”.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16668
Ministers may quit Church of Scotland over gay clergy row
Guardian- The church is the first major Presbyterian church to ordain openly gay and lesbian ministers – but there is a fear this decision may lead to a schism. The Church of Scotland is braced for mass resignations over moves to allow the ordination of gay ministers, with up to 150 conservative and evangelical ministers threatening to quit, the Guardian can reveal. However, a spokesman for the Church of Scotland denied that so many ministers were threatening to leave and urged critics of gay ordination to wait until a theological commission reported in 2013.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/14/gay-clergy-row-mass-resignation
http://www.thejournal.ie/ministers-may-quit-church-of-scotland-over-gay-clergy-row-279496-Nov2011/
Medical guidelines may create an ‘atmosphere of fear’, says bishop
Catholic Herald – Bishop Tom Williams, auxiliary bishop of Liverpool, has criticised draft guidance by the General Medical Council (GMC) on the role of belief in medical practice.
The bishop, chairman of the bishops’ conference Healthcare Reference Group, said he would “strongly encourage Catholic doctors who work in the health service, and all those who have an interest as patients, carers or potential patients” to respond to a consultation on the draft.
The guidance, entitled “Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice”, was issued last month and is subject to consultation.
Bishop Williams said: “The draft consultation document does not have a balanced or positive appreciation of the value of religion for patients or for the importance of requiring, and hence permitting, doctors to make conscientious ethical decisions. Both religion and conscientious objection seem to be treated as problems to be minimised and circumscribed as much as possible. However, this attitude is incompatible with respect for the religious beliefs of patients and with a commitment to their best interests.”
Woman priest says C of E bishops are wife-beaters
Telegraph -A woman priest tipped as a future bishop has compared senior Church of England figures to wife beaters. In an article on her blog titled “The Battered Bride of Christ”, The Rev Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, questioned why women should stay in an “abusive institution”.Her comments follow moves by bishops to alter proposals to allow the ordination of women bishops.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9286807/Woman-priest-compares-Church-of-England-bishops-to-wife-beaters.html
It’s Elvis Priestly! I’m on a mission from God, says vicar who quit his church
Daily Mail — A Church of England vicar has left his congregation all shook up after quitting his job – to become an Elvis Presley impersonator. The Reverend Andy Kelso, 64, ditched his dog collar to wear a high collar and jewelled white jump suit after saying he had a calling from God. Now, the father of five has been dubbed ‘Elvis Priestly’ after he stopped preaching from the pulpit to belt out The King’s classics to other churches, packed-out pubs, clubs and old folks homes near his former vicarage.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2148577/Its-Elvis-Priestly-Im-mission-God-says-vicar-quit-church-The-King-impersonator.html#ixzz1vlqh0gvm
Facebook vicar offends faithful allegation
Daily Mail – A vicar has been reported to his bishop for allegedly offensive remarks on Facebook.
Sussex priest and organist in court over boy sex assaults
BBC News – A Church of England priest and an organist have appeared in court over the sexual abuse of two young boys in West Sussex in the late 1980s. Father Wilkie Denford, 77, who is semi-retired and from Shoreham, and Michael Mytton, a 68-year-old organist …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-18173975