Thinking Anglicans

Bishop of Dorking to become Bishop for Episcopal Ministry in the Anglican Communion

Press release from the Anglican Communion Office

Bishop for Episcopal Ministry appointed to build on successful Lambeth Conference

A new post of Bishop for Episcopal Ministry in the Anglican Communion has been created to build on the success of this year’s Lambeth Conference. The Right Revd Dr Jo Bailey Wells, currently Bishop of Dorking in the Church of England’s Diocese of Guildford, has been appointed to the post and will begin her new role in January 2023…

46 Comments

Opinion – 15 October 2022

Jon Kuhrt Psephizo The Ecclesiastical Doughnut: is the Church of England ungovernable?

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Culture in the CofE according to Past Cases Review 2

Helen King sharedconversations Extending our search for the truth: reviewing Past Cases Review 2

Brenda Wallace ViaMedia.News A Peek under the Episcopal Carpet – Past Cases Review 2 and its Blind Spots

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Global South responsible for creating a homophobic and transphobic movement

24 Comments

Opinion – 12 October 2022

Archbishop Cranmer Bishops in the House of Lords keep ‘pure religion’ in public life

LGBTQ Faith UK Ministry to the Heartstopper generation

Joshua Askwith ViaMedia.News Risking Reputations: The Process of Reconciliation and Belonging through the Lens of Ruth

Anonymous Surviving Church The Conservative Party at Prayer

20 Comments

Bishop of Beverley

Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office: the Bishop of Beverley is the provincial episcopal visitor (PEV) for the Province of York. There is more on the York diocesan website. The new bishop will be consecrated on St Andrew’s Day.

Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Beverley: 12 October 2022

Her Late Majesty The Queen approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Stephen Race to the Suffragan See of Beverley, in the Diocese of York.

From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 12 October 2022

Her Late Majesty The Queen approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Stephen Race, Incumbent of the Benefice of Central Barnsley and Area Dean of Barnsley, in the Diocese of Leeds, to the Suffragan See of Beverley, in the Diocese of York, in succession to The Right Reverend Glyn Webster following his retirement.

Background

Stephen was educated at St Hild and St Bede College, Durham. He trained for ministry at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, and was ordained Priest in 2003.

Stephen served his title at St Mary’s Wigton, in the Diocese of Carlisle, and in 2005 he was appointed Vicar of St John the Baptist, Dodworth, in the Diocese of Wakefield. He was additionally appointed Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) in 2008 for the Diocese of Wakefield (and subsequently the Diocese of Leeds), having served as Assistant DDO from 2005.

Stephen was appointed Priest-in-Charge of St Mary’s Barnsley in 2014, and additionally Priest-in-Charge of St Edward the Confessor Barnsley and St Thomas Gawber in 2017. Following this, he was licensed as Priest in Charge of St George’s Barnsley in 2018 and with the pastoral reorganisations completed, he was licensed as Incumbent of the Benefice of Central Barnsley in 2019. Stephen has served as Area Dean of Barnsley since 2009 and has been an Honorary Canon of Wakefield Cathedral since 2011.

33 Comments

Dean of Canterbury

Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office

Appointment of Dean of Canterbury: 11 October 2022

Her Late Majesty The Queen approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Dr David Monteith, Dean of Leicester, for election as Dean of Canterbury.

From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 11 October 2022

Her Late Majesty The Queen approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Dr David Monteith, Dean of Leicester, for election as Dean of Canterbury, in succession to The Very Reverend Dr Robert Willis following his retirement.

Background

David grew up in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He was educated at St John’s College, Durham, and trained for ministry at St John’s College, Nottingham. He served his title at All Saints’, Kings Heath, in the Diocese of Birmingham, and was ordained Priest in 1994.

In 1997, David was appointed Curate at St Martin-in-the-Fields, in the Diocese of London, and in 2000 he became Associate Vicar. From 2002, David served as Priest-in-Charge at Holy Trinity, Wimbledon, in the Diocese of Southwark, additionally serving as Area Dean of Merton from 2004.

In 2009, he was appointed Team Rector for Merton Priory Team Ministry and additionally went on to serve as Canon Chancellor of Leicester Cathedral. He took up his current role as Dean of Leicester in 2013. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2016, from the University of Leicester, which acknowledges his role in the community including overseeing the re-interment of King Richard III in Leicester Cathedral in 2015.

As Dean of Leicester, David has chaired the St Philip’s Centre for Interfaith Dialogue and led and chaired the Bishop of Leicester’s Rural Commission. He currently chairs the Church of England College of Deans.

David shares his life in a Civil Partnership with David Hamilton, a palliative care and bereavement counsellor.

Update

There is more on the Canterbury Cathedral website. This includes the date of the new dean’s installation: Saturday 17 December at 15.00.

21 Comments

Opinion – 8 October 2022

Martyn Percy Prospect With the Church of England dying, how much longer can we justify having bishops in the House of Lords?
“The Church of England could be extinct by the 2060s. That threatens to trigger a constitutional, as well as an existential, crisis”

Andrew Goddard Psephizo After Lambeth: what next for the Church of England?

Stephen H Surviving Church My Experience of Bullying in the Church

a first-time incumbent Church Times Do parishes really need thick-skinned priests?
“If the Church want responsive pastors, someone needs to warn them about bumps in the road”

123 Comments

Opinion – 5 October 2022

Stephen Kuhrt psephizo How to encourage bullying in the Church

The Guardian C of E must welcome gay people or face questions in parliament, says MP
“Labour’s Ben Bradshaw says church is ‘actively pursuing a campaign of discrimination’ against lesbian and gay people”

Paul Wheatley The Living Church Why Study Biblical Languages?

Laudable Practice ‘Thou hast crowned the year with thy goodness’: Thanksgiving for Harvest in the 18th Century Church of England

0 Comments

Opinion – 1 October 2022

C Don Jones Patheos The Dying Church?

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church The Clergy Disciplinary Measure revisited

54 Comments

Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney update

I reported here in August that the Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney had been suspended, and that the suspension had been lifted when she appealed against it. The Episcopal Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church has now refused the appeal by a majority of three to two. The bishop’s suspension from office now resumes with immediate effect until further notice, while the next stage of the process takes place.

1 Comment

Opinion – 28 September 2022

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Eight Progressive CofE Groups to meet Next Steps Group Bishops.

The Archbishop of York The Labour Party Conference Church Service
“Each year Christians on the Left host a church service at the beginning of the Labour Party Conference. This year Archbishop Stephen was invited to preach at St James in the City, Liverpool.”

Andi Chapman ViaMedia.News Ordained, Commissioned, Faithful and Eternally Hopeful

114 Comments

House of Bishops – 26 September 2022

Press release from the Church of England

House of Bishops – 26 September 2022
26/09/2022

The House of Bishops met by Zoom for its September meeting.

The meeting began with a series of reflections on the passing of the Queen, with the Bishop of Coventry offering condolences and a vote of thanks on behalf of the House.

An update was then given by the Enabling Officer of the Living in Love and Faith project. The paper updated the House on current timelines and changes, following the cancellation of the College of Bishops in September, due to the death of the Queen. The paper, outlining the proposed approach over the coming months was noted by the House.

The House was then addressed by the Secretary of the House on the inflation and energy crisis, and how it was affecting churches and the wider community. The House discussed work under way on how the national Church institutions may be able to contribute to helping dioceses and churches deal with the extra costs in the coming winter.

The Bishop of Guildford then gave an update on the work of the national governance Review Project Board. Since its formation in February 2022, the National Church Governance Project Board (NGPB) has been developing its proposals in relation to the governance of the National Church Institutions (NCI). The paper shared the Project Board’s proposals so far and sought guidance and assurance from the House on the current direction of travel. The House provided comments on issues such as the future board composition of the Church of England National Services (CENS) and the creation of a Nominations Committee.

The House was then addressed by members of the Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB) updating the House on the work of the Board which provides independent oversight and scrutiny to the work of the National Safeguarding Team and the broader safeguarding culture across the Church of England. The lead bishop for safeguarding updated the House more generally on safeguarding matters.

The meeting then concluded in prayer.

30 Comments

Opinion – 24 September 2022

Anonymous Surviving Church Safeguarding: Remembering Another Anniversary

Fiona Jack ViaMedia.News Getting Hot under the Collar about Sex

Jeremy Pemberton From the Choir Stalls An anniversary, and some weddings and funerals

4 Comments

Opinion – 21 September 2022

Helen King sharedconversations When the information flow stops: where is Living in Love and Faith?

Pete Broadbent 2030 Vision: People Strategy: Models of Church and Models of Ministry

Anonymous Survivng Church Safeguarding: Remembering a Birthday and an Anniversary

Martyn Percy Anglicanism.org Deconstructing Sydney Anglicanism: Past, Present and Futures
There is a pdf version of this article here.

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church When do forms of Pastoral Care become a Safeguarding Concern?

93 Comments

Opinion – 14 September 2022

Meg Munn Chair of the National Safeguarding Panel Assessing and managing risk

Rachel Starr ViaMedia.News What is Marriage? Living in Love and Faith… and Denial

Margaret Wilkinson Church Times Loss of parish — and housing
“Marriage breakdown can leave spouses without a place to live”

26 Comments

Opinion – 7 September 2022

Laudable Practice Gloriana Day: Thanksgiving for the Mellow Light of the 1559 Prayer Book

Molly Jane Layton The Living Church Lambeth and Women’s Ordination

Andrew Village and Leslie Francis Church Times Lockdown communion: voices from the pews

19 Comments

Dean of Norwich

Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office. There is more information on the Norwich Cathedral website.

Appointment of Dean of Norwich: 6 September 2022

The Queen has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Andrew Jonathan Braddock, Interim Dean of Gloucester, to be appointed Dean of Norwich.

From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 6 September 2022

The Queen has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Andrew Jonathan Braddock, Interim Dean of Gloucester, to be appointed Dean of Norwich, in succession to The Very Reverend Jane Hedges following her retirement.

Background

Andrew was educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and trained for ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He served his title in the parishes of Ranworth with Panxworth, Woodbastwick, South Walsham and Upton, in the Diocese of Norwich and was ordained priest in 1999.

In 2001, Andrew was appointed Rector of Cringleford and Colney, also in the Diocese of Norwich, taking up the additional role of Rural Dean of Humbleyard in 2004. In 2008, Andrew was appointed Diocesan Missioner in the Diocese of Gloucester and in 2013, he became Canon Missioner of Gloucester Cathedral and Diocesan Director of Mission and Ministry.

Andrew was commissioned as Interim Dean of Gloucester in April 2022.

29 Comments

Opinion – 31 August 2022

Stephen Bates The New European The Church of England: Has it got a prayer?

David Ison ViaMedia.News Two Things Which Really Matter

35 Comments

Dean of Truro

The Very Revd Roger Bush, the Dean of Truro, announced earlier this month that he will retire at the end of September. The Bishop of Truro has subsequently announced that he is appointing Fr Simon Robinson SMMS as Interim Dean of Truro for the period of one year from 9 October.

“It is intended that he will fulfil this role for a full year, with the process of the appointment of a new Dean, in succession to the Very Rev. Roger Bush, taking place in parallel.”

Announcement from the Dean
Bishop Philip thanks Dean of Truro
An Interim Dean for Truro Cathedral

25 Comments

Opinion – 27 August 2022

Andrew Godsall ViaMedia.News The Church and the Body: Becoming a Safe Space to Talk about Dating and Sex

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Binary Thinking in Anglican Churches. Is it likely to take over?

Church Times Leader comment: Uncovered: how clergy struggle to take holidays

80 Comments

Opinion – 24 August 2022

George Browning Pearls and Irritations The Anglican breakaway ‘cult’ – a swan that quacks like a duck must be a duck

Fergus Butler-Gallie The Spectator The depressing rise of the cathedral gimmick
“Even our most sacred spaces have begun the process of Westfield-isation”

58 Comments