Archbishop of York to be considered for Canterbury; Leaders of a dissident Anglican movement meet in UK; Statement on report from Joint Committee on the Government’s Draft House of Lords Reform Bill; Archbishop of Canterbury pulled out of Cambridge college job over gay cleric row; Royalty’s holy treasures unveiled in new exhibition; Church plays down racism claim
Archbishop of York to be considered for Canterbury
Telegraph – The Archbishop of York has signalled that he wishes to be considered to succeed Dr Rowan Williams as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dr John Sentamu has repeatedly refused to confirm whether or not he would be throwing his hat into the ring to lead the Church of England when Dr Williams steps down later this year.
But last night it emerged that he had stepped down from the body responsible for the appointment – meaning that he can formally be considered.
It follows mounting speculation that the 62-year old archbishop would not stand as a candidate due to his age and recent bouts of poor health.
The Ugandan-born prelate has also been the target of a whispering campaign since Dr Williams announced his resignation, which some supporters claim is partly motivated by racism within the Church. His decision to stand aside from the Commission, the group of clergy and churchgoers who secretly choose bishops and archbishops, confirms him as a front-runner for the most senior job in the Church of England. An outspoken figure on issues such as poverty big business and gay marriage, he is popular with evangelicals and has the backing of several senior figures as well as other leaders within the worldwide Anglican Communion.
But his critics, including many liberals, privately suggest he is a maverick.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9219849/Archbishop-of-York-to-be-considered-for-Canterbury.html
Leaders of a dissident Anglican movement meet in UK
BBC News – Leaders of a worldwide dissident Anglican movement are meeting in London to discuss how to sustain traditional Christian beliefs.
The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA) grew out of concern over developments in some national Churches.
Many Anglicans, particularly in Africa, object to the ordination of gay bishops in the US.
Some 200 delegates from 29 countries are expected to attend the leadership conference at a south London church.
The FCA was founded following the Gafcon (Global Anglican Future) conference in Jerusalem in 2008.
The fellowship was an attempt by more traditional Christians to re-assert what its leaders regard as authentic biblical teaching.
The conference is being held at St Mark’s church in Battersea Rise.
One of the participants, Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen, has described the FCA as “the only game in town”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17811524
Archbishop Peter Jensen is in the UK for the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans conference this week. Listen to his interview with Edward Stourton on BBC Radio 4 The Sunday Programme.
Listen here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01gf4jz
(Starts at around 0:10:10)
C of E Statement on report from Joint Committee on the Government’s Draft House of Lords Reform Bill
C of E media – Commenting on today’s publication of the report by the Joint Committee on the Government’s Draft House of Lords Reform Bill, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James said:
“The longstanding position of the Church of England is that the key test of Lords reform is whether it will serve parliament and the nation better. The Joint Committee has found that the Government’s proposals fall short of meeting that test.
“The concerns raised by the Committee about the damaging effect on the conventions governing relations between the two Houses, were the Lords to be wholly or partially elected, should give Government pause for thought before embarking on any rapid plans for change. Questions of whether the primacy of the House of Commons could be maintained against an elected Lords, whether the Parliament Acts would still apply, and whether elected Lords would encroach on the constituency roles of MPs, have been rightly highlighted by the Joint Committee.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/04/statement-on-report-from-joint-committee-on-the-government%27s-draft-house-of-lords-reform-bill.aspx
Archbishop of Canterbury pulled out of Cambridge college job over gay cleric row
Mailonline – The Archbishop of Canterbury pulled out of the race for a top job at a Cambridge college because of a row over a senior gay cleric. Rowan Williams announced last month he was stepping down as Archbishop and would become the Master of Magdalene College. However, The Mail on Sunday has learned that he had originally been in the running to head rival Emmanuel College.
Royalty’s holy treasures unveiled in new exhibition
Telegraph – They include Henry’s personal copy of the Invicta Veritas (victory of truth) written in 1532 by Thomas Abel, a priest and chaplain to Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s first wife, who he divorced to marry Anne Boleyn, leading to the Church of England’s …
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/9217666/Royaltys-holy-treasures-unveiled-in-new-exhibition.html
Jubilee Near You website launched
C of E Media – A new website launched 23rd April offers Church of England churches, the opportunity to highlight the wide range of community and parish events being organised for the Queen’s Jubilee.
www.jubileenearyou.com will showcase the diversity of events planned for the Diamond Jubilee weekend at the beginning of June.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/04/jubilee-near-you-website-launched.aspx
Church plays down racism claim
Independent – Claims that an early favourite to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury has been the victim of “naked racism” have been played down by the Church of England. Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, has been targeted by an “anonymous whispering” …
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/church-plays-down-racism-claim-7669146.html
Toxic whispers in the Church
Telegraph – The Church of England must ensure that the process to replace Dr Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury is free of the taint of racism. Today, we publish worrying allegations of racism in the higher reaches of the Church of England.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/9218285/Toxic-whispers-in-the-Church.html