Archbishop Cranmer Maundy Thursday: there needs to be some foot-washing in Oxford
The Anglican Communion News Service has published several Easter messages from primates. You can find links to them (and messages from previous years) here.
Giles Fraser UnHerd Have I abandoned my flock?
Peter B Surviving Church A personal rethinking of the Passion and Easter story
Thanks for drawing attention to Peter B’s thoughtful and moving piece. I recently read Delroy Hall’s book A Redemption Song (https://www.sthild.org/news/exploring-black-british-pastoral-theology), which suggests that, if the violence in the Passion narrative is not sanitised, the Eucharist can be a place for healing trauma. But that is a big if, requiring sensitivity on the part of those leading worship to the fact that cruel injustice – including against those who resist others’ mistreatment and who embody hope for a better world – and God’s identification with those on the receiving end is not an abstract concept; even then, some may at… Read more »
Thank you for sharing Peter B’s article. It is powerful and moving. I will think a lot about this piece between now and next Holy Week, and think carefully about how I preach on the cross as a result. I was reminded of a time some fifteen years ago when I led an Ignatian meditation on the death of Christ – something I had done often. One participant had a very strong reaction affecting her physically. At the time I could not understand why that had happened. This article has given me pointers as to possible reasons why. I think… Read more »
It seems highly unlikely that the Bishop of Oxford will mirror the Divine condescension in his treatment of the Dean; he didn’t do so for Matthew Ineson. Jesus spent most of his time teaching about the corrupting influence of power and the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his day. I wonder what he’d have to say to Bishop Croft.
Bishop Croft’s behaviour towards the fully exonerated Martyn Percy is beyond puzzling – but unsurprising in an age in which there is an almost pathological inability to admit wrongdoing in high places. This makes Archbishop Justin’s ‘I was wrong’ repentant public statement concerning Bishop Bell last November almost a divine miracle.
Have I missed an announcement in the CT or anywhere else about Giles’ future?
https://twitter.com/giles_fraser/status/1497851986758279174?s=20&t=B89Kus2VrE6_ZweLpNTWtg
From ‘Appointments’ on page 28 of the Church Times, No 8295, 11 March 2022:
FRASER. The Revd Dr Giles Fraser, Rector of St Mary’s, Newington, to be Vicar of St Anne’s, Kew (Southwark), remaining Hon. Canon of Sefwi-Wiawso, Ghana (Ho, West Africa).
So! both PRIDE and PREJUDICE are still seen to prevail in a certain Oxford College! Sadly, also seemingly supported in the diocese.
Love you, Father Giles! You still have plenty to contribute in our restless world of the Body of Christ. May God bless you in your new parish. I especially liked this from your article here, in reflection on your departing worship service: “On Easter Sunday, as dawn breaks over South London, I will light a fire in the crumbling remains of my old church, substantially redesigned by the Luftwaffe, yet unbowed. I will take that fire into church and the first of the day’s baptisms will begin. Clouds of incense will pick up the light now streaming in through the… Read more »
I also wish him well. He follows the distinguished ministry of Fr Nigel Worn.
Thank you to Archbishop Cranmer for highlighting the continuing shame of the Christ Church Oxford scandal. The shameful treatment of Martyn Percy at the end of his time at Christ Church – must be called out. Has the Bishop of Oxford authority to stop a person preaching in St Mary’s, Oxford and if he does surely he must say why. What is the position of the sub dean of the Cathedral in all this? This must be called out too. It is said he ordered locks to be changed (and what expense?) to keep the Dean out of the Cathedral.… Read more »
The Bishop of Oxford, the Sub Dean, and whoever is ‘advising’ them, need to be called out for perpetuating a miscarriage of justice – and perverting the course of justice by obstructing it.