Rowan Williams – I long to see women bishops in CofE; Women bishops vote is to go ahead; Bishops to meet amid fevered pre-Synod lobbying; Fresh expressions attracting dechurched and nonchurched; Equal civil marriage: some developments; Methodist Church opposes use of drones; CAP wins award for fundraising campaign; Words for Worship – helping us take our heritage of Christian prayer to heart
Rowan Williams – I long to see women bishops in CofE
Christianity Today – The Archbishop of Canterbury warned that the Church of England would be staring into the abyss if it delayed final approval of draft legislation on women bishops any longer
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/rowan.williams.i.long.to.see.women.bishops.in.cofe/30210.htm
Women bishops vote is to go ahead
BBC – The Church of England’s ruling Synod has backed sending legislation on women bishops to a final vote next week.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18731136
Bishops to meet amid fevered pre-Synod lobbying
Church Times – The House of Bishops will meet informally (this) morning, before the General Synod’s business begins, to test its common mind on the future of the draft legislation for women bishops. Three members of the House will be from dioceses whose synods have voted to ask it to reconsider the amendments. These amendments have been criticised by a number of supporters of women bishops, including the campaign group WATCH, and a group of senior women clergy, since they were announced in May. The amendments cannot, however, be withdrawn at this meeting.
http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2012/6-july/news/uk/bishops-to-meet-amid-fevered-pre-synod-lobbying
Fresh expressions attracting dechurched and nonchurched
Christianity Today – Fresh expressions of church are attracting a mixed bag of believers and nonbelievers according to a new report
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/fresh.expressions.attracting.dechurched.and.nonchurched/30211.htm
Equal civil marriage: some developments
Independent – Religious figures meet at conference to back plans to legalise civil gay marriage. Religious figures who support gay marriage will today launch a fightback against church leaders who have come out against same-sex…
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/religious-figures-meet-at-conference-to-back-plans-to-legalise-civil-gay-marriage-7906904.html
Methodist Church opposes use of drones
Christianity Today -The Methodist Church has challenged the use of drones in targetting suspected terrorists
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/methodist.church.opposes.use.of.drones/30205.htm
Charities fear child poverty rise
BBC – The number of children living in vulnerable families could rise to more than one million by 2015, three leading UK charities warn.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18732477
CAP wins award for fundraising campaign
Christianity Today – Christians Against Poverty have won an award for their 15 campaign to raise funds for their debt counselling work. The campaign challenged CAP founder John Kirkby and charity supporters to run 15 marathons in 15 days.
The huge feat, which coincided with the charity’s 15th anniversary, took them across the UK and as far away as Australia and New Zealand, raising an impressive £1.2m.
In addition to running, Mr Kirkby had a demanding schedule of speaking engagements over the 15 days, including a fundraising dinner hosted at each marathon venue.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/cap.wins.award.for.fundraising.campaign/30204.htm
Words for Worship – helping us take our heritage of Christian prayer to heart
C of E – A new book from Church House Publishing aims to re-establish some of Christianity’s oldest words of worship into the heart of the nation. Words for Worship – compiled by members of the Liturgical Commission – explains the origin of some of the most popular prayers and liturgy used in Common Worship (2000) and the Book of Common Prayer (1662), some stemming from the Bible, others pre-dating the Church of England to medieval and early Christian times.
http://churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2012/07/words-for-worship-%E2%80%93-helping-us-take-our-heritage-of-christian-prayer-to-heart.aspx