A letter has been written and signed by clergy that includes the following:
It is with sadness that we conclude that, should the Church of England indeed go ahead with the ordination of women to the episcopate, without at the same time making provision which offers us real ecclesial integrity and security, many of us will be thinking very hard about the way ahead. We will inevitably be asking whether we can, in conscience, continue to minister as bishops, priests and deacons in the Church of England which has been our home. We do not write this in a spirit of making threats or throwing down gauntlets. Rather, we believe that the time has come to make our concerns plain, so that the possible consequences of a failure to make provision which allows us to flourish and to grow are clear. Your Graces will know that the cost of such a choice would be both spiritual and material.
It has been signed by many clergy. If you wonder whether your vicar has signed it, click here and open the letter
Groups like Watch won't worry about the leavers. GRAS don't want dissenters to have provision either. I don't think I've made my mind up yet, the 'Christian' me wants Anglicanism to embrace people with different views on secondary issues but I can also see how the protection, if offered, seems to undermine the authority (difficult word theologically speaking butanyway)of Women in ministry. I wonder how men would feel if the 'boot were on the other foot'. I'll keep reading around the issue. I invite you to persuade me one way or the other with your postings.
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A little background reading so we might mutually flourish when there are different opinions
6 comments:
Hi, Rachel. Love your blog. I think you'll find that it is a different John Richardson who has signed, not the NSM who works in Ugley. As far as I can see, none of the leading clergy in Reform has signed the list. Which is not surprising, as they plan to destabilize the C of E and then take it over, rather than leave it. They have been playing a very long game and we are about in the middle. The real issue is going to be who wins the endgame.
You're right Madeline, it's John Richardson in name only. Thanks for pointing this out to me, it could have been rather embarrassing! I'm glad you're enjoying the blog.
I think you're right about Reform: that's certainly the impression I get from their Website and the videostream of Richard Turnbull at the Reform Conference which I've posted onto my site on the 9th June at http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-6503205096436563217
Is your name a pseudonym because Madeline Bassett is a recurring character in the Jeeves stories by English comic writer P. G. Wodehouse? Or am I just enjoying being a detective just a wee bit too much and perhaps going quite mad.
Am I right in thinking we've blogged together on Complegalitarian when I posted as HRHT, the Damsel is another character from the comic writer - yes? If so I'm a housewife and mother too (my children are 3 and 6). We must have loads in common if I'm right. Nice, getting to know you.
Hi Rachel, yes, it is a pseudonyn, and no, it wasn't me on the other blog. I use the name because I have had a really terrible time from the church, and I'm not in a place where I can post as myself at the moment. I hope you understand. All this stuff about Gafcon makes me profoundly depressed and distressed. This is not the Church I was born into nor which I have lived in all these years. So sad. The savage Gospel of Reform is not the Gospel I know.
Thanks for this Madeline. As you know, I was under a pseudonym until the church caught me posting my letters about Paul and his inclusive gospel on the congregation's windscreens, on CCTV. It was then not worth dialoguing in disguise. If you want to tell me a little more about your story, you can always contact me on my private email at hrhtimport@gmail.com and then you won't worry about other people reading your comments. If you send me your email details to this account, I can then tell you my story. I've sent my story to quite a few people who have helped me. CPAS, GRAS and Cheryl at Strivetoenter in America have helped me hugely. Lots of love Rachel.
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