I recognise that some take a more institutional view of Anglican unity, and also that others are pursuing different strategies to contend for the authority of scripture. Whilst we may differ about some views and approaches, our underlining unity continues to be in the truth of the gospel, summarised in the Jerusalem Declaration 2008.

In his opening remarks on Friday, Dr Mike Davidson, chairman of the International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC ), which organised the conference, said there was a need to engage with the prevailing discourse in the Church around "celibacy versus transformation".

His comments were in reference to the position of a section of the Church that believes it is possible to identify as Christian and gay, while remaining faithful to the teachings of the Bible on marriage and sexuality by committing to lifelong celibacy.

Of course, Joseph pointed out, we all hear that there's "still so much more that unites us than divides us" -- a platitude that Guinness called outright "rubbish." "There's a huge difference in the culture, say, of California and the culture of Alabama. And as many people point out, the only unity is Home Depot. But that isn't what once united you. America as the world's first new modern nation [adopted the] motto 'E pluribus unum.' You had to have a 'unum' because you had such incredible diversity." Remember, he explained, the European nations already had linguistic or ethnic homogeneity.

Bishop Iker may have had serious theological differences with the Episcopal Church over women's ordination and engaged in a decade-long battle over buildings, but that does not negate the three-plus decades of sacerdotal faithfulness serving in Episcopal Church trenches.

But Bishop Iker's predecessor Bishop Clarence Pope was not forgotten in death by the Episcopal Church, even though he had the shortest episcopal reign in Fort Worth history (8 years) and had left the Episcopal Church a time or two waffling between the Episcopal Church and the Church of Rome.

Lennox wrote in response that he found himself to be a moral being and his heart cried out for justice.

"Atheism might seem to offer a solution by removing God from the equation, but in doing so, it removes all hope," wrote Lennox. "Without God, there is no ultimate justice, no life beyond death. Atheism is a hopeless faith."

Lennox said he had visited the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz many times "and each time I've wept." He understood why people become atheists in the face of such suffering. He also concurred that the issue of suffering itself is complicated.

He then said, What the Archbishop of York and I, and the bishops, by a majority, by no means unanimous, and the church is deeply split over this. Where we've come to is to say that all sexual activity should be within a committed relationship and whether it's straight or gay. In other words, we're not giving up on the idea that sex is within marriage or civil partnership.

Now the ACoC is rapidly dying, and his message is unlikely to change anything as the exiting Bishop of the Arctic Joey Royal noted this week when he said; "Isn't it strange that the more the ACoC faces its own extinction, the more its leadership speaks in increasingly abstract terms? Last General Synod [2023], we approved five 'transformational aspirations' with very little understanding of what any of it is supposed to accomplish. The main problem with the ACoC is that for decades it has been 'reimagining' itself into the image of the prevailing culture, and not the gospel.

In 2026, the two dioceses will then become "The Diocese of Susquehanna". At this stage, both bishops will continue to serve, one as bishop diocesan, and the other as assistant. Also, during the transition nine committees will be at work dealing with Constitutions, Finances, Diocesan Staff, Commissions on ministry, Convocations, and other departments.

The result is an interesting patchwork of many different colours. Not only are the works reviewed different in nature and content, but the styles and expectations of the reviewers also vary. This leades to a mixture of biography, theological reflections, academic analysis, or an easy, direct style of writing. The chosen presentations and their reviews should, therefore, not necessarily be taken as being representative of the writings of their country, or as giving an overall picture of the situation in that country.

Bishop Dyer always denied the allegations of bullying and previously claimed she had faced "significant bullying and harassment" since taking up the role in 2018.

Her suspension has now been lifted and, in a statement, she said she believed justice had been served.

In a document outlining his reasons for the decision, Paul Reid KC said: "It has become apparent that the prospect of giving evidence, and in particular facing cross-examination in a public forum, is a source of anxiety for a number of potential witnesses."

Justice Melissa Hart authored the majority opinion, arguing that Scardina's discrimination claim was not properly processed before the lawsuit against Phillips was filed.

"Could the district court properly consider the claims of discrimination presented here? In light of this dispute's procedural journey, it could not," wrote Hart.

Hart noted that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Colorado Civil Rights Division had previously agreed to "dismiss Scardina's administrative complaint against Masterpiece and Phillips" but "without participation by Scardina."