Leslie Francis and Andrew Village Church Times Counting the cost of pandemic ministry
“What is the state of clergy morale, one year after the first lockdown”
Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Misogyny in Islam and Christianity
Jen Frost Insurance Post Briefing: Ecclesiastical’s child abuse claims shame – CEO Hews’ admission too little too late?
44 CommentsOn Friday, the Titus Trust published Documents relating to the Titus Trust’s response to John Smyth’s abuse with the following preamble:
We believe that it is vital for the truth to be made known in a case like this and that this is especially important for those who have suffered so much harm. So in the interests of seeking to be wholly transparent about the role and actions of the Trust during the period in question, and given the delay in the publication of Keith Makin’s review, we are now publishing a timeline showing when the Trust became aware of John Smyth’s actions, how much we knew and how we responded. We are also providing answers to questions and allegations that have been raised about these matters in this document. It is our prayer that this will be helpful to all who have been involved in this tragic case.
The actual documents are all contained in this pdf. There are three parts:
The Church Times carries a news report by Madeleine Davies: Titus Trust: ‘This is what we knew of John Smyth’s abuse, and when we knew it’. And also Titus Trust timeline: a digest.
The Guardian has also covered this: ‘Bleeding for Jesus’: book tells story of QC who pitilessly abused young men (scroll down for reference to Titus Trust statement)
A statement in response to Titus Trust has been issued by survivors, the full text of which is also copied below. (more…)
24 CommentsStephen Parsons Surviving Church The Power of the Internet to bring change to the Safeguarding World
Frog Orr-Ewing Psephizo Do we need to ‘Save the Parish’?
42 CommentsNews from the Diocese of Newcastle
Bishop Christine announces the date of her retirement
The Right Reverend Christine Hardman, after six years as Bishop of Newcastle, has announced that she is to retire from her role at the end of November.
Bishop Christine, the 12th Bishop of Newcastle, said: “I am reaching my 70th birthday at the end of August and my time as Bishop of Newcastle is drawing to a close. Her Majesty the Queen has graciously accepted my resignation, and with the Archbishop of York’s permission I will be stepping down as Bishop of Newcastle on 30th November, 2021…
119 CommentsJames Mumford UnHerd What the ‘Save the Parish’ campaign doesn’t understand
“Justin Welby’s plans are better than critics claim”
Mark Bennet Surviving Church Doing Church without the difficult bits
David Ford Church Times In defence of ordinary, faithful churchgoers
“Talk of ‘missionary disciples’ means little to lay people in the parishes — and risks alienating them”
Alison Milbank The Critic Is the Parish Church worth saving?
Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Finding the voice of LGBTIQ+ people and allies in the LLF conversations
9 CommentsGreta Gaffin Earth & Altar 5 ways to pretend you know more about the Church than you really do
Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Searching for Expertise in Safeguarding in the Church of England
Giles Fraser UnHerd The Church is on the brink of revolt
101 CommentsAlister McGrath The Living Church Anglicanism and the Natural Sciences
Gavin Drake The Jill Saward Organisation Church of England’s High Court contempt threat for abuse victims
Rachel White Surviving Church Lessons Not Learned: an 18-Month Review
Helen King sharedconversations The Church of England as a WASGIJ
Alex Clare-Young Living in love and faith? The construction of contemporary texts of terror
Archbishop Cranmer Does it matter if Church of England parishes wither on the vine?
29 CommentsThe Church Times has this report by Madeleine Davies: ‘Save the Parish’ campaigners have Synod in their sights.
A CAMPAIGN to elect members to the General Synod under a “Save the Parish” banner was launched in London on Tuesday evening, with a warning that this was “the last chance to save the system that has defined Christianity in this country for 1000 years”. The move was welcomed by a Church of England spokesman.
In his remarks at the campaign launch, in St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield, in London, the Rector, the Revd Marcus Walker, spoke of the need for a “co-ordinated campaign” that would unite Anglicans across traditions, transcending debates about women’s ordination and same-sex marriage…
There is a video recording of the launch event, which you can view here. The keynote speakers were Alison Milbank and Stephen Trott.
And there is an embryonic website.
135 CommentsColin Coward Unadulterated Love Radical Christian Inclusion – a definition
Stephen Parsons Surviving Church The ‘morale’ factor. Senior church staff and their support of clergy
20 CommentsThe Church Times carried this report by Muriel Porter on 23 July: Conservative Evangelicals plan new diocese in Australia
THE conservative Evangelical group GAFCON Australia has formulated plans for the creation of a diocese for “Anglicans who will be forced to leave the Anglican Church of Australia“, according to a media statement…
Here is the full press release from GAFCON Australia: GAFCON Australia backs plan to form non-geographic diocese for Australian Anglicans
Then on 30 July, there was a further report by Muriel Porter: GAFCON ark too early, Australian Primate observes
..Archbishop Smith criticised the board of GAFCON for not showing restraint until the Australian Church had had an opportunity to discuss the Appellate Tribunal’s decision. Instead, GAFCON’s decision was “ramping up the tensions among us”, he said. GAFCON’s move, he continued, was in contrast to the “very significant restraint . . . shown by people who might want to see movement toward the blessing of same-sex couples”.
Despite the forecasts, there had not been a “flood” of blessings of same-sex unions after the tribunal decision, he said, “Not a flood, not a trickle, not a drip”; so “faithful, orthodox Anglicans can continue with confidence as members of the Anglican Church of Australia. To suggest or insinuate otherwise is to not speak the truth.”
The letter from the Australian Primate Archbishop Geoffrey Smith mentioned in that report can be read in full over here.
74 CommentsAndrew Lightbown Theore0 Speaking of church, speaking of strategy; speaking of leadership
Martyn Percy Meander Feeding the Five Thousand
23 CommentsThe Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Revd Dr David Ison, has announced his intention to retire in September 2022. Dr David Ison will be 68, and will have served at the Cathedral for ten years.
The announcement can be read on the websites of the Diocese of London and of St Paul’s Cathedral.
24 CommentsPress release from the Church of England
Update on Smyth Review
29/07/2021
An update on timing for the Smyth Review from the National Safeguarding Team:
For the survivors and victims of the appalling abuse by Smyth it is vital this review is done thoroughly but we have also taken very seriously their concerns on timing. Due to the ongoing high volume of information coming into the reviewers, following the recent publication of an executive summary and statements relating to Smyth, it has been agreed that the deadline for submission of evidence will now be September 30. The reviewers will then compile data and timelines and set up any further meetings before writing up their report. This will be followed by a representation process once the report has been completed, publication is expected in 2022.
We apologise for the length of time this has taken, while some meetings were delayed by COVID the reviewers have also been dealing with an exceptionally high volume of information which has needed looking into; this has included harrowing testimonies from survivors and victims and we thank them for their courage and willingness to participate.
After the deadline of September 30 arrangements will be made by the reviewers to listen to any further survivors and victims, or those who have other information, who wish to come forward to share their experiences in a supported and confidential manner.
Both the reviewers and the Church recognise that giving information to this review has the potential to be re-traumatising for victims and survivors.
Support continues to be offered; please contact Emily Denne at emily.denne@churchofengland.org
or call the independent Safe Spaces helpline, on 0300 303 1056, or email safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk
Anyone who would like to come forward and share information please do contact the independent reviewer Keith Makin keith.makin@independentreviews.live
2 CommentsFrancis Spufford The Christian Century How I changed my mind about same-sex marriage
“It began when I realized the church has always had a process for changing its mind.”
Gilo Surviving Church Interim Support Scheme & Redress Scheme
Ian Paul Psephizo Can the C of E plant new churches and retain the parish system?
An interview with John McGinley
Paul Andrews The Yorkshire Post Why Church of England needs new PR team to win back worshippers
Colin Coward Unadulterated Love The LLF definition of radical new Christian inclusion is not radical, nor new, nor Christian, nor inclusive
Meg Warner The Tablet Anglicanism and mission
[requires free registration to access]
Press release from the Church of England
2 CommentsAlan Smith announced as next First Church Estates Commissioner
27/07/2021Alan Smith, Senior Advisor – ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Risk and Inclusion, and former Global Head of Risk Strategy at HSBC, is to be the next First Church Estates Commissioner, Downing Street announced today. Alan has also been a Church Commissioner since 2018.
The First Church Estates Commissioner chairs the Church Commissioners’ Assets Committee, a statutory committee responsible for the strategic management of the Church Commissioners’ £9.2 billion investment portfolio.
(more…)
The House of Bishops met on Monday 26th of July 2021 via Zoom
26/07/2021
The House of Bishops met on Monday 26th of July as the final meeting prior to the summer break.
Following a number of procedural items, the House reflected on the July Synod and looked forward towards the next quinquennium. The Clerk to the Synod addressed the House as to whether it might be necessary for the Synod to meet more frequently in 2022 or 2023, for reasons including the substantive work arising out of the Emerging Church work.
The House then turned its attention to potential implications for Anglican – Methodist LEPs and ecumenical relations following the decision of the July Methodist Conference to permit same-sex marriages to take place in Methodist churches. The Secretary General addressed the House, as did the Enabling Officer for the LLF project and Next Steps Group. The House agreed to seek advice on the matter from the Episcopal Reference Group of the Faith and Order Commission, with the House noting the need also to engage with the Archbishops’ Council.
The Bishop of Huddersfield, in his capacity as the lead bishop for safeguarding then updated the House on the Safeguarding National Casework Management System. The House agreed additional steps to help the project become more fully embedded in dioceses, with the National Safeguarding Team available for discussions regarding any particular concerns or issues for dioceses.
The Archbishops’ Adviser on Racial Justice then addressed the House on the next stage of the Commission of Racial Justice, commissioned by both Archbishops. The House was updated and invited to note the progress outlined so far towards implementing the recommendations from the Lament to Action report. In addition, the House also noted and commented upon the draft terms of reference for the Commission on Racial Justice.
The Bishop of London, in her capacity as Chair of the Recovery Group (now concluded) then updated the House on what is now permissible since 19th of July and confirmed that she and her colleagues will continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation carefully as it continues to evolve.
The Archbishop of York then briefly updated the House on the Vision and Strategy workstream of the Emerging Church work. This was followed by the Bishop of Leeds who spoke to the Governance Reviews Group’s (GRG) work and report. The House noted the progress made to date, with the full report of the GRG to be presented and discussed at the September College of Bishops.
The meeting concluded with the Archbishop of York giving a blessing.
16 CommentsTwo statements have been issued about Myriad:
See also the interview with John McGinley linked in the previous article.
All of this is discussed in great detail by Madeleine Davies in the Church Times:
Priests and bishops a ‘given’ in Myriad’s vision for lay-led churches.
Martin Sewell Archbishop Cranmer The immoral, scandalous and disgraceful nature of CofE bullying
Stephen Parsons Surviving Church The Importance of Prophetic Ministry in the Church
Anderson Jeremiah Church Times Mixed-ecology church: why definitions matter
“Some who use the language of biology are, in fact, proposing a model driven by economics”
Church Times Leader comment: Fr Griffin: one death too many
Meg Munn Chair of the National Safeguarding Panel Taking Zoom to the next level
The Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication An interview with John McGinley
7 CommentsKevin Scully Limiting factors? How did we get there?
Charlotte Gauthier All Things Lawful And Honest Set God’s People Free
Colin Coward Unadulterated Love ‘We’ve made our decision’: the Church of England and trans people
3 CommentsSeveral times over the years we (Simon, Peter and Simon, the editors of TA) have posted reminders encouraging “good commenting”. One of the common themes is the number of pseudonymous and anonymous comments. As long ago as 2009 we wrote:
please consider seriously using your own name, rather than a pseudonym. While we do not, at this time, intend to make this a requirement, we do wish to strongly encourage the use of real names.
This request still stands but we have also decided that even where we allow pseudonymous comments the pseudonyms must be distinct. In particular we will not publish comments that come with the tag “Anon” or similar.
Long-term pseudonymous commenters may wish from time to time to sign comments with their real names, even while continuing the use of the familiar pseudonym.
76 Comments