According to the Ordinal, the biblical DNA of ministerial responsibility diverges between presbyters and bishops at this particular point. The Apostle Paul's instruction to Timothy - 'what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also' (2 Timothy 2:2 - RSV) - would therefore apply to the bishop rather than to the presbyter.
Read moreGavin: Yes, it is ironic. But the irony can partly be explained by the fact that while the DNA of the monarchy is Christian, the country is not. The monarchy faces difficulties as it prepares for the coronation of Prince Charles at the sad moment when our present Queen dies. Secularism will try to rubbish the highly potent Christian content of the coronation; and Islam is likely to claim that it wants to be recognised within it in some way.
Read moreSurveys show that the laity in our churches don't feel equipped for whole life discipleship and witness in the world. 'Clericalism' is identified as a major problem in the C of E's culture, for example it is commonly assumed that ordination is the 'next step' as part of an upward progression in the journey of discipleship, rather than a calling to a specific ministry.
Read moreThe House of Bishops will tomorrow discuss proposals to overhaul the system so homosexuals will not be asked about their private lives when they join the church.
But Ben Bradshaw, a Labour MP who is in a civil partnership, criticised the policy for shrouding homosexuality in secrecy as clergy would still be expected to be celibate.
Read morePhoney Tony and Chillax Dave are to blame. Tony Blair, the once consummate PR man, took it upon himself to apologise for the slave trade and the Irish potato famine (though not for the Iraq war). Dave tallied up an even more mouth-watering selection--for the economic crisis no less, Section 28, Bloody Sunday, the Hillsborough victims and the Amritsar massacre in India of 1919.
Read moreMany will also remember the lasting damage done five centuries ago to the unity of the Church, in defiance of the clear command of Jesus Christ to unity in love. Those turbulent years saw Christian people pitted against each other, such that many suffered persecution and even death at the hands of others claiming to know the same Lord...
Remembering the Reformation should also lead us to repent of our part in perpetuating divisions...
Read moreThe move was ridiculed by former Conservative Minister Ann Widdecombe, an Anglican who converted to Catholicism.
'These gestures are pointless. The Archbishop has not put anyone to death, as far as I know,' she said.
'Modern Christians are not responsible for what happened in the Reformation.
'You might as well expect the Italians to apologise for Pontius Pilate.'
Read moreChris Curtis, the CEO of Youthscape, said: "This report is more a sober warning from a doctor than an autopsy of a dead body. Youth and children's work in churches isn't dead, but we're badly out of shape and a change of lifestyle is urgently required."
Losing Heart claims the majority of the churches "never" discuss the subjects of pornography, same-sex attraction, other world faiths and drugs and addiction with their young people.
Read moreIn the resulting "visitation charge", a legal document published today, Bishop Donald Allister says the redundancies were "necessary" along with some property sales. And he warns that more "tough decisions" lie ahead.
He also warns that the current independence enjoyed by England's 42 cathedrals poses "serious risks" to the reputation of the entire Church of England.
Read moreAs the scandal of the bell-ringers remains unresolved and after every effort by the Dean and Chapter to recruit bell-ringers from outside York Minster to ring the bells at Christmas failed, CAWTE initiated an online petition calling for the removal of the Dean of York.
VOL: Hope you had a great Christmas--despite the bells of York Minster being silent for the first time since the 14th century! Am I right?
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