Female churchgoers sign petition against women bishops; Church of England bishops must be equal; Bishop of London pulls out of race to become the next Archbishop; Church growth research teams announced; Portsmouth Diocese changing way lay readers are trained; Sentamu’s flaws over gay marriage; Church cream teas celebrate start of Olympic torch relay; Special Grace for Diamond Jubilee lunches; Sand, sea and spirit – Lindisfarne
Female churchgoers sign petition against women bishops
BBC News – More than 2,000 female members of the Church of England have signed a petition opposing the ordination of women bishops.
The signatures were collected by Proper Provision, a group calling for a better deal for traditionalist parishes who do not want to be overseen by a woman.
It will be handed to Church leaders considering measures to introduce women bishops, at a meeting in York.
It is the final chance to change Church law before a final vote in July.
The petition was signed by 2,200 women.
Its organisers claim it was supported by churches that are mostly growing, and have young congregations, with women well represented in leadership roles.
BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said it was designed to counter any impression that opponents of women bishops consist mainly of male traditionalists with a negative view of women clergy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18135098
Church of England bishops must be equal
Miranda Threlfall-Holmes writes that legislation allowing women to be ordained as bishops must not compromise the authority of bishops. In The Guardian at Comment is free:
On Monday the House of Bishops will meet to discuss whether to try to “tweak” the delicately balanced compromise legislation to allow women to be bishops.
If they do tweak, the General Synod, which must approve the results, should reject the legislation altogether. Any further changes will make the legislation pointless, by undermining the legitimacy of having women as bishops at the same time as saying they can be. How patronising! Those opposed to women’s ordination – and, worryingly, many who say they support it – seem to think that this is just about a few ambitious women wanting the pointy hat. How hopelessly, and sadly, wrong that is.
This is about the church finally and unambiguously proclaiming that women and men are both equally made in God’s image and able to relate to God in the same way; that gender is not a fundamental dividing line, let alone one that necessitates a hierarchical relationship, between two fundamentally different parts of humanity.
…
The current legislation is a major compromise for all parties in this debate, and we can’t find a better compromise than this. We can’t compromise away the entire point of having women and men together in the threefold ministry, or the theological integrity of our church. There is no point having this legislation just to get female bishops at any price. If the House of Bishops can’t bring itself to wholeheartedly endorse women’s ordination, I think I will feel I have to vote against the measure at final approval, rather than vote for enshrining theological incoherence and gender discrimination in canon law.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/may/19/female-bishops-compromised-out-of-existence
Bishop of London pulls out of race to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury
Mailonline – The Bishop of London, a front- runner to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury, has ruled himself out of contention by offering to serve on the body making the appointment.
The Right Rev Richard Chartres had been widely seen as a leading contender since Dr Rowan Williams announced last month that he will step down from the Church’s top post at the end of the year.
Dr Chartres, a close friend of Prince Charles, is one of the Church’s best-known figures and supporters say he has the gravitas and experience for the role.
But insiders have disclosed that he put his name on a list of a handful of bishops prepared to sit on the Crown Nominations Commission, the 16-strong group of clergy and churchgoers who will appoint the new Archbishop
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2147010/Bishop-London-pulls-race-Archbishop-Canterbury.html
Church growth research teams announced
C of E media – Research Teams have been appointed to start work on an 18-month project on church growth, supported by funding set aside by the Archbishops’ Council and the Church Commissioners for research and development (2011-13). The Church Growth Research Programme will focus on a range of growth areas including cathedrals, church plants, different patterns of deploying clergy and the union of parishes. The successful organisations have been appointed through a competitive tendering process which attracted a good number of high quality proposals.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/05/church-growth-research-teams-announced.aspx
Portsmouth Diocese changing way lay readers are trained
Diocese of Portsmouth – It’s an important role in our diocese and the way we train people for it is about to change. Our diocese has 88 Readers, or licensed lay ministers, as well as 39 others who have permission to officiate. They are not clergy but are licensed by the bishop to lead worship, take funerals, preach and offer pastoral support to worshippers.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/5/21/Portsmouth-Diocese-Were-changing-the-way-our-lay-readers-are-trained
Sentamu’s flaws over gay marriage
Guardian – The former Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries, Canon Mark Oakley of st Paul’s Cathedral and Iain McLean, Professor of politics, Oxford University are amongst a group who have written to the Guardian disagreeing with the Archbishop of Your
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/20/sentamu-flaws-gay-marriage
Church cream teas celebrate start of Olympic torch relay
Christian Today – Thousands of free cream teas were served by churches across Cornwall on Saturday to mark the start of the Olympic torch relay. The Great Cream Tea Challenge was organised by Churches Together in Cornwall, with cream for the event being provided by Rhodda’s and local farmers. The event was held alongside a day of prayer for Cornwall and prayers were said for everyone taking part in the cream tea. Many participating churches put on sporting events for the occasion.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.cream.teas.celebrate.start.of.olympic.torch.relay/29896.htm
Special Grace for Diamond Jubilee lunches
Christian Today – Churches are being encouraged to take the lead in their communities so that Big Jubilee Lunches start with a specially written Grace – the words of which are available here:
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/special.grace.for.diamond.jubilee.lunches/29900.htm
Sand sea and spirit – Lindisfarne
Christian Today -A new initiative is encouraging people to consider a visit to one of the most important places in British Christian history Lindisfarne
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/sand.sea.and.spirit/29899.htm