Well obviously the majority will tell them to get lost, you might think. For why should an institution agree to such bifurcation?
One answer is that Anglicans have sort of gaslighted themselves into a funny approach to unity. If this bifurcation keeps the conservatives 'in the Church', then it's seen a good thing, a virtuous attempt to live with diversity, to preserve a sort of unity.
Read moreBut is the Church up to task? Well, not really. Although the C of E does have an internal democracy of a kind, the decisions on appointments of senior positions such as bishops are reserved for technocrats rather than the laity and the clergy. The result, unsurprisingly, is that the vested interests of the State and the elites within the Church tend to lead to appointments in their own image.
Read more"Campaigners had raised concerns about Bishop North's views on the ordination of women, which he has said is an area on which the Church of England should not be at variance with the wider Church (News, 15 September 2017).
"A submission by the campaign group Women and the Church (WATCH) centred on concerns about how having a bishop who does not ordain women could undermine clergy in the diocese and the diocesan bishop's function as a figure of unity..."
Read moreBecause of a lack of maintenance, a chunk of the east wall has fallen away. If anyone buys it there will be hundreds of thousands of pounds needed to shore up the crumbling masonry.
St. Wistan's isn't alone. Several of the churches around where I live in Leicestershire have already been decommissioned, or are in the process of being sold off. You can buy one here if you like.
Read moreThe religious elites of his day also came, but he was vitriolic in his denunciation of their hypocrisy. 'You brood of vipers', he railed, but fortunately for him there were no Hate Speech laws in those days otherwise he would undoubtedly have been prosecuted. Nevertheless he spoke fearlessly against King Herod, and this led to his downfall.
Read moreSuch thinkers will point to a 'blocking minority' in the House of Laity, the numerical decline in liberal congregations relative to other traditions, a Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) that (depending on the local representatives) can weed out the worst episcopal candidates, the availability of funding for church planting and revitalisation, the absence of change in liturgy and, arguably, doctrine, "winning" the next Synod elections, local civic functions, an OK (or better) diocesan bishop
Read moreIt was obvious from his article Justin was greatly moved on his trip to Ghana in 2023 but adopting a newer trinity of "Diversity, Equality and Inclusion" is in my opinion modern identity politics and will do nothing to change history.
Read moreMohammed El Sharif, one of the co-founders and organisers of the Grand Iftar, told Bristol24/7: "The Iftar aims to bring people from all walks of life together, to celebrate, social richness, cohesion and cultural diversity of our community and our city in the spirit of Ramadan."
Read moreBut a new survey of the Church's 42 dioceses has revealed the extent of the staffing crisis faced by the institution amid warnings that volunteers have been "taken for granted for too long".
Read moreThe introduction and job description run for more than 2,500 words, as well as the Racial Justice Charter, which is attached. I shall try to boil it down.
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