As a church, we need to learn once again to become risk-takers, people who take risks for the Gospel, who take risks for Christ, who take risks in the service of God and one another. We have to take risks, in order to make the journey. We discover courage by doing courageous, God-like actions.
The General Synod of the Church of England, approved, without amendment, a resolution that approves engaging the rest of the Anglican Communion to adopt an Anglican Covenant.
Dean Colin Slee of Southwark says the Synod is being asked to give the Archbishops of Canterbury and York a “blank check” to remake the church in negotiations with other primates. He doesn’t think that is a very good idea. Meanwhile, Father Jake provides an overview.
Jonathan Petre, writing in the Telegraph, has news of coalition maneuvering in the Church of England prior to the beginning of General Synod: “Senior Church of England conservatives are plotting a new coalition to mount their biggest offensive yet against their liberal opponents over issues such as gay priests.”
The Church Times has an overview of various views held in the Church of England toward the question of whether an Anglican Covenant, as proposed by the Windsor Report, is warranted much less what it should address.
The Church of England does not have a full say in who gets to be bishop in each diocese. The involvement of the British government, however, may be reduced significantly as a result of a proposed constitutional change in which the Prime Minister will no longer be given a choice between two bishop candidates, of which only one could be formally nominated by the Queen.
Some clerics said that the removal of 10 Downing Street from the process of choosing bishops and deans could further concentrate power in the hands of a few senior prelates. If the church is not established should the polity be one where the laity and clergy have a large voice in the election of bishops and the provincial bishop as in the American model?
Gordon Brown: Establishment does not, however, justify the Prime Minister influencing senior church appointments, including bishops.
Grace, a new magazine for eleven to sixteen year old girls, is a mix of real-life stories, problem pages, campaigns, eco and ethical lifestyle tips, music, film and book reviews – with references to Christianity scattered throughout.
Sentamu and Williams urge, “something like a Covenant is a constructive path for the future, and why the hope has been expressed that the bishops attending the Lambeth Conference will be ready to work with the concept and with the proposals already outlined.”