Reports include – Pedal power at Lambeth; Vatican archbishop rebukes Blair over his support for gay marriage; Reorganisation of church on Isle of Man; Sing it with Passion; 5 Scottish dioceses against covenant
Pedal power at Lambeth
C of E Media – Cycling Church of England staff and London clergy stopped off at Lambeth Palace on their way to work to show support for the Jewish community’s Year of the Bike launched this week by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. The cyclists were greeted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and Rabbi Nathan Levy, who is part of the Rabbi Relay Ride bike adventure taking place this summer.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/03/pedal-power-at-lambeth.aspx
Vatican archbishop rebukes Blair over his support for gay marriage
The Tablet – A senior Vatican figure has rebuked Tony Blair after it was reported at the weekend that he “strongly supports the Prime Minister’s proposal” to legalise gay marriage.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation, had harsh words for the former Prime Minister, who became a Catholic in 2007 and whose comments were reported in the Independent on Sunday.
He said: “If the stories in the press about Blair’s thinking are true, I think he should examine his conscience carefully”, Vatican Insider reported.
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/3927
Reorganisation of church on Isle of Man
As part of a programme of reorganisation of the Sodor and Man dioceses of the Church of England throughout the island, a draft scheme – the Western Pastoral Scheme 2012 – proposes the creation of a new ecclesiastical parish. Under the proposal, the parishes of German (which includes Peel), Patrick, St John’s and Michael would merge as ‘The Parish of the West Coast’.
http://www.iomtoday.co.im/community/church-reorganisation-for-west-1-4340560
New Anglican diocese of Leeds plan approved
BBC – Anglican leaders in Ripon and Leeds have approved plans for a new larger diocese. The Church of England Dioceses Commission is proposing to abolish the dioceses of Bradford, Wakefield and Ripon and Leeds. A new single diocese of Leeds, serving West Yorkshire and large parts of North Yorkshire, would be created instead. The synod of Ripon and Leeds approved the plan subject to assurances about diocesan jobs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-17350480
Sing it with Passion
BBC – Britain is about to be hit by a singing revolution… and you can be part of it.
As part of The BBC People’s Passion, the BBC has commissioned a brand new choral work which will be performed by choirs across the country at Easter 2012. This nationwide premiere will unite singers in a moment of national harmony to perform this stunning new work with music composed by Sasha Johnson Manning and lyrics by the poet Michael Symmons Roberts.
Read a blog post from Christine Morgan, Head of Religion and Ethics Radio about The People’s Passion.
Jonquil Panting, Producer of The People’s Passion for BBC Radio Drama, tells us how you can join in during Easter Week.
See a list of choirs taking part and join in the music-making
Download the sheet music and audio clips.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/peoples-passion/
5 Scottish dioceses against covenant
Episcopal Cafe – a report on the status of the covenant in the Scottish Episcopal Church:
If you are at all familiar with the Scottish Episcopal Church, you will know that we have seven dioceses in this Province: Aberdeen, Argyll, Brechin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Moray and St. Andrews. At this stage, all but the first two of these diocese have held their Synods and all have rejected the Covenant, and a prevailing view (though perhaps not the only one) is that Aberdeen and Argyll will follow suit.
The only fly in the ointment at this stage is the possibility that the Provincial Synod will be asked to make assent to the Covenant a canonical matter, in which case the normal two-year ratification process would be set in motion (assuming such a canon were initially accepted). At this stage, it seems more credible to assume that the Covenant is dead in the water in Scotland.
Bear in mind that the Scottish Episcopal Church has close historical and liturgical ties with the Episcopal Church in the U.S. and is perhaps therefore predisposed to be supportive of its American counterpart, which is seen as a presumed culprit in the present debate. After all, it could be argued that the Anglican Communion itself was born in Aberdeen in 1784, with the consecration of Samuel Seabury to be the first American bishop.
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/