DAILY NEWS

GB news – 26th May

Two areas dominate GB church news – the fallout from the C of E House of Bishops’ decision on the ordination of women to the episcopate, and why The Principal of one of the Church of England’s leading evangelical theological colleges has taken a leave of absence.

Women bishops

Bishop says  Bishops cannot let go of a culture of sexism and sanctioned discrimination.
Blog – Bishop Alan Wilson reflects on the legislative changes that Bishops added to legislation allowing for the ordination of women to the episcopate. He names two lies behind all the machinations: that it is not about sex and this does not regularize discrimination. What the Bishops cannot let go of, Wilson says, is the culture of sexism and sanctioned discrimination.
http://bishopalan.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/cooking-curates-egg.html

Women bishops: Statement from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
C of E media – The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued a joint explanatory statement about the amendments made to the Women Bishops legislation at a meeting of the House of Bishops earlier this week.
http://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/05/women-bishops-statement-from-the-archbishops-of-canterbury-and-york-about-the-amendments-to-clause-5-and-clause-8-of-the-draft-measure.aspx

Announcement from Group of Six 

Thinking Anglicans – The Group of Six (the six officers of the General Synod) has determined, by a majority, that the two amendments made by the House of Bishops to the draft Women Bishops Legislation do not alter the substance of the proposals,…
http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/005514.html

A suicide note for the Church of England over female priests
Guardian – Andrew Brown writes – Giving parishes the power to choose their bishops is actually a break with tradition – and would mean it is no longer one church

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2012/may/25/church-of-england-female-priests

Sudden departure of Principal

Richard Turnbull on leave of absence from Wycliffe Hall

Church Times – Wycliffe Hall, the Evangelical theological college in Oxford, was tight-lipped this week about the sudden departure of its Principal, the Revd Dr Richard Turnbull. Rumours started circulating about his absence on Friday. The college’s council finally issued a statement late on Wednes­day afternoon to assert that he had not been dismissed. In its statement, the council con­firms that staff and students were told that Dr Turnbull was to take “a leave of absence”.
http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=129148

The following Statement from the Wycliffe Hall Council was published on Wednesday.
Staff and students at Wycliffe were told last week that Principal Richard Turnbull is to take a leave of absence from the Hall. The Council wishes to make it clear that the Principal has not been dismissed. The Council and Richard are now in ongoing discussions over his future role at Wycliffe, with Vice-Principal Simon Vibert assuming the position of Acting Principal. We have every confidence in Simon, and in the rest of the staff, to ensure continuity and the efficient functioning of the Hall during this time.

The outcome of the discussions with Richard will be communicated to staff and students in due course. However, our overriding priority is to ensure Wycliffe remains unequivocally committed to equipping men and women as leaders, preachers, church planters and evangelists in the mission of proclaiming and living the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, with a deeply biblical understanding of the nature of the Kingdom of God.
http://www.wycliffehall.org.uk/content.asp?id=1707

Wycliffe Hall principal out
Anglican Ink – George Conger writes…Dr. Turnbull’s leave of absence came as a surprise to many outside observers as the college appeared to have recovered from its difficulties. However, an insider who asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak on behalf of the council said the departure of Dr. Turnbull centered round issues of trust and management…
http://www.anglicanink.com/article/wycliffe-hall-principal-out