Bishop resigns from CofE Living in Love and Faith process as the church continues to fracture
The Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, has resigned as one of the co-chairs of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process on same sex relationships in the church. Her resignation stems from serious concerns regarding the appointment of a theological adviser to the House of Bishops. In November last year, the general synod agreed to introduce standalone services for blessing same sex couples for a trial period, and in December, prayers of blessing for same sex couples within existing church services were given the go head. But the changes faced strong opposition, mainly from evangelicals. The adviser is the Rev Dr Thomas Woolford, a tutor at Emmanuel Theological College and a council member of the evangelical group, the Church Society. In 2019, he wrote an article for the Church Society saying it would be “desperately wicked if the Church were to prepare blessings for things we must not bless, alter the canons to accommodate worldly thinking, give up the standard of chastity for ordained office-holders, or sanction false teaching.” Despite the significance of the issue in the life of the church, neither Dr Hartley nor the other co-chair, the Bishop of Leicester Martyn Snow, were consulted on the appointment. Bishop Martyn has issued a statement saying he is staying but only under certain conditions, including the appointment of a second theological adviser. Church Times article here
Attempts to placate warring factions in CofE is “betrayal”
Bishop Helen-Ann said the adviser’s appointment had a critically negative impact on their work, as they had been trying to negotiate a path forward to keep the church united. The bishops had suggested a “re-set”, reported to involve delaying pastoral guidance until terms of a settlement with opponents had been reached, one option being a separate structure of bishops for those in disagreement. But 130 members of the general synod have written to bishops objecting to the re-set, saying it fails to honour decisions already taken by the synod. The Archdeacon of Liverpool, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, said on Twitter/X that she was one of the signatories, expressing her dismay: “Absolutely gutting and a huge sense of betrayal that after two gruelling 8-9 hour debates in synod (on top of a decade or more of debate and conversation) this gets casually thrown out”.
“Nine O’Clock Service” vicar facing 34 historical charges of sex assault
South Yorkshire police have issued a statement saying the Rev Christopher Brain, who led the “Nine O’Clock Service”, a nightclub style worship in a church in Sheffield between 1986 and 1995, has been charged on multiple counts of non-recent sexual offences against women who had joined the movement. The statement says: “Brain, now 66, of Park Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, is facing one count of rape and 33 counts of indecent assault, alleged to have been committed between 1981 and 1995. He has been summonsed to attend Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 18 March”. It says the police investigation was launched in 2020 when a number of victims came forward to report the allegations.
Ireland’s church leaders pledge support for restored devolved institutions
The Church Leaders group in Ireland has issued a statement pledging support for politicians after agreement was reached which will restore devolved power in Northern Ireland. The archbishops of the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church, joined with leaders of the Presbyterians, Methodists and the Irish Council of Churches to confirm they had told the political leaders of their willingness to “step up to the mark and play their part in restored institutions”. The statement says that a re-established Executive and Assembly are steps towards re-establishing hope and a vision for the future. It requires a commitment to focus on the common good, prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised and transforming public services, “many of which are close to breaking point”.
Christian Voice director convicted after protesting in abortion clinic buffer zone
Stephen Green, director of the campaign group Christian Voice, has been convicted of breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order near an abortion clinic in Ealing, after standing nearby with a sign showing words of Psalm 139: 13 “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb”. The buffer zone outside the clinic was the first to be created in the UK. The judgment delivered at Uxbridge Magistrates Court said he had included the words as an act of protest. Green, from Camarthen, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £2,426 in costs and compensation. His lawyer said he will appeal.
World Hijab Day observed in 150 countries
Women from 150 countries took part in a virtual conference yesterday for World Hijab Day. Founded by Nazma Khan in New York, the campaign aims to invite all women to wear the hijab for a day, to foster understanding and challenge discrimination and Islamophobia. The hijab is worn by women police officers, engineers and athletes. Campaigners explain it is a mark of liberation rather than oppression, and there is no compulsion to wear it.
Museum in Thetford granted £200k for Sikh exhibtion
Ancient House Museum in Thetford, Norfolk, has been awarded £200,000 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to mount displays of the life of the last Sikh emperor of the Punjab, Maharajah Duleep Singh. He was removed from the throne by the British in 1849 and exiled to Elveden Hall in Suffolk, where his family remained for 100 years. His son Prince Frederick Duleep Singh gave the museum to Thetford in 1924 and the curators aim to tell the story of the family through personal items and historical accounts.
Super Pope cartoonist illustrates Pope’s Lenten message for 2024
The Italian street artist Maupal, Mauro Pallotta, who has depicted Pope Francis as a cartoon “Super Pope”, has designed a series of posters to illustrate Francis’ 2024 Lenten message, urging the faithful to let go of hopelessness and find inner freedom. The posters will be released weekly and the first came out yesterday showing the Pope walking through a desert field of upturned nails, hauling a wheelbarrow with a heavy sack named “Faith”, portraying a message that the path to freedom is through the desert. Maupal’s “Super Pope” image appeared on buildings of the Borgo Pio neighbourhood near the Vatican, but he has been brought into the fold and appeared yesterday at a Vatican press conference seated next to one of the Pope’s closest advisers.
