It’s been a heckuva week in the Anglican/Episcopal world
Episcopal Church
A really cool ministry in the Hudson Valley
https://www.dailyfreeman.com/lifestyle/repair-caf-takes-place-feb-at-st-gregory-s-episcopal/article_9c6389fc-4151-11ea-a9a0-07f41a15283f.html
Local news story on Diocese of SC (TEC) search for a new bishop
https://abcnews4.com/news/local/diocese-of-south-carolina-to-begin-search-for-new-bishop
Great article on a church in Greenville, SC celebrating its 200th anniversary
https://greenvillejournal.com/news/christ-church-episcopal-weaving-the-spiritual-and-social-fabric-of-the-community-for-200-years/
New staff member at the Church Center for church planting
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/the-rev-katie-rengers-appointed-episcopal-church-staff-officer-for-church-planting/
Two who died on Kobe Bryant’s helicopter were connected to an Episcopal school
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2020/01/28/episcopal-school-trustee-student-are-among-dead-in-jan-26-california-helicopter-accident/
The PB packing them in in Washington DC
https://www.washingtoninformer.com/bishop-curry-brings-more-jesus-to-se-revival/
St Louis first TEC parish added to national historic register for LGBTQ advocacy
https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2020/01/29/st-louis-church-becomes-first-episcopal-parish-included-in-national-historic-register-for-lgbtq-advocacy/
Article on the journey of two women to priesthood in Pennsylvania
https://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/2020/01/29/ignoring-the-voice-of-reason-two-local-women-say-yes-to-the-unconventional-call-to-become-priests/
CoE Bishop’s Statement on Who should Be Having Sex
The Archbishops of the Church of England issued a “pastoral” statement, ostensibly about the church’s view of opposite-sex civil partnerships which reiterated the CoE’s current policies and stances but that came across as tone-deaf pearl clutching,.
The statement itself (Pdf)
https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Civil%20Partnerships%20-%20Pastoral%20Guidance%202019%20%282%29.pdf
Apparently some of the bishops in whose name this was presented, as well as many other members of the CoE weren’t keen
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/31-january/news/uk/bishops-join-critics-of-their-own-civil-partnerships-statement
and
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/27/church-of-england-stance-on-sex-and-marriage-is-staggeringly-stupid
and
https://viamedia.news/2020/01/28/what-the-bishops-could-have-said/
and
https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/prolocutors.pdf
and then this tongue-in-cheek response form New Zealand
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/29-01-2020/hallelujah-new-zealand-anglicans-can-have-sex-outside-of-marriage/
Thinking Anglicans has a good roundup of reactions too
https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/general-synod-press-previews/
The blowback caused the Archbishop’s to offer an apology that was all about the optics and timing, but definitely not about the content, which belies the whole last few years work on “good listening” and “walking together.”
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/7-february/news/uk/archbishops-issue-apology-over-civil-partnerships-statement
The non-apology part of the “apology” was called definitely noticed and Thinking Anglicans again has a great roundup of responses
https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/responses-to-the-apology-from-the-archbishops/
Lambeth Conference
Potentially something significant, the church in Kenya is now saying bishops can go to Lambeth if they want – they were proposing a total boycott (and the Archbishop still plans on not being there)
https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Anglican-bishops-soften-stance-on-Lambeth-Conference/1056-5431944-jfvxov/index.html
Britain and Ireland
Clergy in the CoE calling for a reckoning with its institutional racism and an independent investigation
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/26/time-church-past-present-racism-say-clergy/
UK Marian shrine in Walsingham has a growing ecumenical presence
https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/walsingham-catholic-and-ecumenical
Lovely article about CoE parishes in France
https://www.connexionfrance.com/Community/Your-News/Corners-of-France-are-forever-England-as-France-is-home-to-more-than-10-purpose-built-Anglican-churches
Church of Ireland offering summer holiday homes in return for being the local priest for a bit
https://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/free-use-of-west-cork-holiday-homes-in-return-for-helping-church-during-summer-977674.html
Church in Wales celebrating its centenary by engaging contemporary artists to reach out to young people
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/special-features/church-wales-uses-double-mobo-17573992
CoE Investment body seeks to move companies they invest in towards net zero carbon emissions
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/24-january/news/uk/church-sets-2050-net-zero-target-for-companies
Anglican Communion
Jerusalem’s St George college celebrating 100 years of ministry
https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2020/01/st-georges-college-in-jerusalem-celebrates-a-centenary-of-service-in-the-holy-land.aspx
image: Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham