The Church of England faithful left to fend for themselves; Archbishop Of York Calls For All Children In Poverty To Get Free School Meals; Vicar-elect of St. Martin-in-the-Fields “stretched” and “humbled”; Southwark Evangelicals set up alternative quota; Church is open for beer worshippers; Scotland’s imams oppose gay marriage.
The Church of England faithful left to fend for themselves
Daily Telegraph – St Michael’s and All Angels is one of many Anglican churches decimated by a large-scale conversion to Catholicism. How is it coping?
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Holidays aside, St Michael’s lost many parishioners to the Ordinariate, including a church warden, two deputies and the parish administrator. They decided to convert after the Rev Minchew announced his departure last November, without – Mr Thompson insists – discussing it with other church members. “He asked everyone to come to our main mass at 11am on Advent Sunday, when he announced it from the pulpit. I think one or two saw it coming, but others were surprised.”
Since their vicar left, the parishioners have strived to make church life as normal as possible. Visiting clergy, including a retired vicar from Lewisham, have led Sunday mass, while members of the congregation have filled vacant roles on the parish council. “The two aims were to maintain the services and keep the church open during the day, both of which we’ve done,” says Mr Thompson. “It’s miraculous what you can achieve when everybody comes together.”
The move from St Michael’s to the Ordinariate was the largest from a single church so far, but not unusual. Despite condemnation from Anglican opponents – Dr Giles Fraser, former canon chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, described it as “predatory”– the Ordinariate has proven effective. Statistics released by the Catholic Church in February show a membership of around 1,200, including a “second wave” of 250 conversions at Easter, the traditional time for entering the faith.
In Britain, Ordinariate groups exist in just over half the 22 dioceses in England and Wales, and the practice has garnered support in the United States, Canada and Australia. Up to 70 former members of the Anglican clergy have been – or are waiting to be – ordained into the faith. Some Church of England sceptics worry that when the General Synod debates the issue of consecrating female bishops in July, a vote in favour may encourage further moves to the Catholic faith.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9214082/The-Church-of-England-faithful-left-to-fend-for-themselves.html
Vicar-elect of St. Martin-in-the-Fields “stretched” and “humbled”
Episcopal Cafe – In reflecting Tuesday evening on his seven years as dean of Duke Chapel, Sam Wells said his own faith was strengthened during his tenure and he hoped he pushed the chapel to engage more fully with the rest of campus and surrounding community.
From DukeToday:
“I’m the kind of person who discovers my faith through articulating it,” Wells said during a 90-minute “Exit Interview” conversation with WUNC Radio’s Frank Stasio. “So I’ve been deepened in faith.
“I have particularly, I think, grown in confidence about the trustworthiness of the Christian gospel in the face of the intellectual and moral and social challenges of our day,” he said to an audience of about 150 in the chapel’s main sanctuary and those who watched the live webcast of the event.
Wells has been appointed vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, a parish with a reputation for ministering to people without homes. He and his family leave for England this summer. He preaches his final sermon as dean on Sunday, May 6.
In response to a question about the chapel’s purpose in a pluralistic campus community, Wells said, “I think the key word for me is blessing.
“My aim when I came here is that for the chapel in general, and me more narrowly, to be seen as a blessing to the whole campus.”
Archbishop Of York Calls For All Children In Poverty To Get Free School Meals
ACNS – The Archbishop of York today backed The Children’s Society in its calls to make sure that all children living in poverty can get a free school meal.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/4/19/Archbishop-Of-York-Calls-For-All-Children-In-Poverty-To-Get-Free-School-Meals
Southwark Evangelicals set up alternative quota
Church Times – Evangelicals in the diocese of Southwark are drawing up plans for an alternative parish share. It is understood that documents to set up the scheme, which will be a registered charity, were scheduled to be signed yesterday. About 100 Evangelical clergy and lay people met the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, earlier this month to protest about the lack of Evangelicals in senior posts. (The quota is the shre of the diocesan finance which is paid by an individual parish)
Church is open for beer worshippers
Belfast Telegraph – A vicar has welcomed real ale lovers into his church for a beer festival, saying he thought it was the kind of event Jesus would have enjoyed.
The Hull Real Ale and Cider Festival is being held at Holy Trinity Church in the city centre.
It is the first time in the event’s 34-year history it has been held in a church.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/offbeat/church-is-open-for-beer-worshippers-16147248.html
Scotland’s imams oppose gay marriage
BBC News – Muslim leaders from Scotland’s biggest city have voiced their opposition to gay marriage. The Scottish government has been consulting on whether to bring in a law which would allow churches to hold same-sex wedding ceremonies. The Council of Glasgow Imams said such a legal move would be an “attack” on their faith and fundamental beliefs. The views of the Islamic clerics are in keeping with those of the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland. Five smaller church groups have expressed their backing for a change to the law.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-17753462