Diocesan changes given final approval in York; The Church has a right to autonomy on women bishops; United Reformed Church votes to host same-sex civil partnerships
Diocesan changes given final approval in York
Plans to bring the Diocese in Europe into line with the other 43 dioceses of the Church of England with regard to its Diocesan Synod and decision making have moved another step forward with the Draft Measure for Europe being given Final Approval after a debate on Saturday afternoon (7 July 2012) during the General Synod sessions in York University.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/7/9/Diocesan-changes-given-final-approval-in-York
The Church has a right to autonomy on women bishops
Peter Mullen, a C of E priest writes in The Telegraph – Everyone in the Church of England accepts that, sooner or later, there will be women bishops. The argument is between traditionalists and the radicals, modernisers and feminists. The traditionalists ask for provision of conscience so that they may be allowed episcopal oversight by a male bishop. The radicals will not accede to this request, claiming that such an allowance would mean that women bishops would be diminished by their being denied authority in traditional parishes.
Of course, people will take their own view of the controversy. But something new and shocking has happened very recently. Those MPs who form the ecclesiastical committee in
Parliament have warned the traditionalists that they must accept women bishops and without that provision for conscience’s sake. In other words, the Government is ascribing to itself powers to instruct the Church concerning its doctrinal, ecclesiological and theological policies.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/petermullen/100169833/the-church-has-a-right-to-autonomy-on-women-bishops/
United Reformed Church votes to host same-sex civil partnerships
Ekklesia – In a historic move, the United Reformed Church (URC) has become the largest faith group in Britain to decide to host same-sex civil partnership ceremonies on its premises. The URC’s General Assembly voted yesterday (7 July) to take advantage of a change in the law that means civil partnerships can be solemnised on religious premises.
The move was described as “wonderful” by Rev Adrian Bulley of City URC in Cardiff, a church that has long supported Christian blessing for same-sex partnerships.
The decision on whether to host the ceremonies will be left to each URC congregation. No church or minister will be obliged to be involved if they do not agree.
Many churches within the URC have been blessing same-sex partnerships since 2005, but these have not been recognised in law. When civil partnerships were introduced in 2005, the law prevented the inclusion of religious elements.
The United Reformed Church was formed in 1972 by a merger of the Presbyterian Church of England with most of the churches in the Congregational Union of England and Wales. They were later joined by other groups within the Reformed Protestant tradition.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16813