In the Church Times , the worldwide international weekly paper serving the Anglican Communion published today, its Irish correspondent Greg Ryan states that a delegation of three bishops met with Archdeacon Stevenson following which his withdrawal was announced.
Ryan who is a priest in the diocese comments, “The reaction among clergy and laity in the diocese has ranged from incredulity to annoyance at what is seen as outside interference in an episcopal selection. The relationship, from 14 years ago, was known to those who chose him, and there is anger that hostile publicity has been allowed to inform the direction of the Church of Ireland.”
The bishops “failed to back their man” - In the Irish News yesterday a full page in the Weekly ‘Faith Matters’ feature was given to an article by William Scholes, the journalist who broke the news of the problems centring on Ven. Leslie Stevenson’s withdrawal from the appointment.
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Statement by The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson:
The Virtue on Line web site states that,"The electoral college for Meath and Kildare has been called for May 28." So far there has been no announcement on the C of I web site or a Press Release issued.
The Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke issued the following statement : "The decision in recent days by Archdeacon Leslie Stevenson to decline consecration as a bishop has come as a shock to many people within the Church of Ireland and beyond.
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“The Church of Ireland thought it could make bishop a man who had once had to resign from a parish because he had an affair with a female parishioner”. In yesterday’s Irish News, columnist William Scholes referred to Archdeacon Leslie Stevenson’s withdrawal as Bishop - elect of Meath and stated that “the damaging episode could have been avoided.” If the church felt it could make a man a bishop who had had an affair with a female parishioner, “at best this was misguided. At worst it was arrogance”
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The Clerical and Lay Honorary Secretaries of the Dioceses of Meath and Kildare have issued the following statement on behalf of the members of Diocesan Synod and Diocesan Council
The Virtue on Line website has removed its report and comment on the recent withdrawal from the appointment to the bishopric of Meath and Kildare.
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The Church of Ireland in the most foot-dragging fashion possible followed the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian Churches in commenting prior to the Stormont Assembly’s debate on same-sex marriage.
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On Sunday afternoon the C of I Press Office announced that "The Ven. Leslie Stevenson has decided to decline his appointment as Bishop of Meath & Kildare. The Consecration scheduled for Wednesday 1st May 2013 in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, will, therefore, no longer take place.
Intimacy with God
On Monday the Northern Ireland Assembly will debate a motion that calls on the Stormont executive to bring forward legislation that would allow for same-sex marriage. This week the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches have written to Northern Ireland Assembly members ahead of the motion on same-sex marriage; the Evangelical Alliance also has commented.
Gerry Lynch on the Slugger O'Toole website - The News Letter and the Antrim Guardian have both reported that Justice Minister David Ford has ‘agreed’ to step down from his duties as an elder at Second Donegore Presbyterian Church in County Antrim, as a result of his vote in favour of civil marriage equality.
Today’s thought is from Jeremy Taylor
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Today’s thought is from Robert Runcie