Mothers’ Union Gathering in Scotland; Church Mission Society commissions new leader; On board the Christian Aid Tax Justice Bus; New Dean for the Diocese of Argyll & The Isles; Leading Church historian received into Catholic church
‘The Road We Take’ – Mothers’ Union Gathering in Scotland
At the opening of the two day Mothers’ Union Gathering in Scotland The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrew’s, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church spoke of how much the Scottish Episcopal Church values and appreciates the contribution which members of the Mothers’ Union make to the life and mission of the Church.
Speaking at the opening of the gathering the Primus said “I’m delighted to be at this important Gathering at which you shall consider the future of Mothers’ Union in Scotland. I want first to say how greatly the Scottish Episcopal Church values and appreciates the contribution which Mothers’ Union members and branches make to the life and mission of the church.
“Jesus gathered people – gathered them for feeding when around 5000 people sat down on the grass. Resources were slender – just five loaves and two fish. But a miracle of grace and abundance took place. Jesus gathered them for teaching – in the Sermon on the Mount. The teaching of Jesus is central to the choices which we make in mission and ministry.
“As you consider the future in hope, I want to say to you how much the Scottish Episcopal Church needs and values the contribution which you can make. We are in Church in transition – positively so. Indeed in some ways we are a Church in transformation. There is energy for mission in our dioceses under the leadership of our bishops. There is change and movement in many of our congregations. Nationally we are becoming a church which is proud and honoured to take its place in the mainstream of Scottish church life – and in the civic and cultural life of Scotland.
“These are great and positive changes. I hope that as you prayerfully consider your future, you will think about the new possibilities which open up as you enter into your share in the mission and ministry of this Church which is rediscovering its vocation.”
Church Mission Society commissions new leader
The commissioning service for the Rev Canon Philip Mounstephen, the new Executive Leader of the Church Mission Society, takes place at St Aldate’s church, Oxford on Saturday 13 October at 1.30pm.
The Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry and Episcopal Visitor of CMS, will preach at the special service to be attended by international mission leaders as well as friends and family of Canon Mounstephen, and CMS friends and members.
Canon Mounstephen will have spent the previous three days meeting with the leadership of CMS Africa, AsiaCMS and New Zealand CMS to think and plan together.
He begins work officially at CMS’s Oxford base on 22 October.
Canon Mounstephen’s first major international engagements follow in December with a trip to Kenya and Uganda for the enthronement of the eighth Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Rt Rev Stanley Ntagali. In February, Canon Mounstephen will address tens of thousands of Indian Christians at the Maramon Convention of the Mar Thoma Church in Kerala. This annual convention lays claim to being the largest annual Christian evangelistic convention in the world, with seating capacity at 160,000.
On board the Christian Aid Tax Justice Bus
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Rt Rev Dr John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh joined other church leaders in welcoming the Christian Aid Tax Justice Bus as it pulled into Edinburgh on 3 October as part of a tour of the UK and Ireland to highlight how global tax dodging is hurting the poor in the UK and beyond.
Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty want people to ‘Tick for tax Justice’ by signing a petition that calls on the Prime Minister to push for measures that would require:
• Companies to report on the profits they make and taxes they pay in every country in which they operate.
• Tax havens to automatically share information about the money flowing through them with other countries.
The Most Rev David Chillingworth said: “We must continue to engage in dialogue about the better ordering of our society particularly when so many aspects of our financial system seem to be failing. The injustice of tax dodging widens the gap between the rich and the poor, on a local and global scale. However, this is not just about finance, politics or communities; it’s about beliefs and values and the responsibilities we share for one another.”
www.christianaid.org.uk/tax-bus
New Dean for the Diocese of Argyll & The Isles
The Very Rev Andrew Swift is the new Dean of the Diocese of Argyll & The lsles. In announcing this appointment (which takes immediate effect) the Rt Rev Kevin Pearson, Bishop of Argyll & The Isles said: “It is a particularly exciting time in the life of the Diocese, and Andrew Swift will bring to the role of Dean both spiritual insight and practical skill.”
Andrew Swift has been priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity, Dunoon and St Paul’s, Rothesay since 2010 having previously served in the Diocese of Gloucester, and says “It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to serve the Diocese and the wider Scottish Episcopal Church as the Dean of Argyll and The Isles. As well as continuing my duties in the linked charges of Cowal and Bute, I am very much looking forward to working closely with Bishop Kevin and the diocesan staff, and of course getting to know the many and varied communities within our beautiful but widely dispersed Diocese.”
The role of the Dean of a Diocese is both administrative and pastoral. The administrative duties include oversight of church buildings and inspection of the registers, inventories and records of congregations, and generally acting on behalf of the Bishop when required. Other roles include supporting the Bishop in his ministry in the diocese and deputising for the Bishop in a variety of situations. The office of Dean of Argyll & The Isles has been vacant following the retirement of The Very Rev Norman MacCallum.
The United Diocese of Argyll and The Isles is one of the seven historic dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. With cathedrals in Oban and on the Isle of Cumbrae, the Diocese extends from Iona as far inland as Glencoe and from Lewis and the Western Isles south to Kintyre and Arran.
Leading Church historian received into Catholic church
Catholic Herald – Dr Edward Norman, the historian and former Canon Chancellor of York Minister, was to be received into the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham yesterday
In an article for the Catholic Herald, Dr Norman explains the reasons for his decision to become a Catholic.
He argues that Anglicanism has “no basis for its authority”?as its confession “varies from place to place and person to person”. He says:?“At the centre of?Anglicanism is a great void.”
He adds: “The Church of England provides a masterclass in equivocation; it also, however, is the residence of very many good and faithful Christian people who deserve respect – for their perseverance in so many incoherent spiritual adventures.
“To leave their company is a wrench; to adhere to the Catholic faith is to join the encompassing presence of a universal body of believers in whose guardianship are the materials of authentic spiritual understanding… I have immense gratitude.”
According to a spokesman for the ordinariate, the former Reith lecturer will be received into the ordinariate on Sunday following a “profound intellectual and spiritual journey nurtured and enabled by the Anglican tradition”.