By Rosie Dawson Correspondent Dioceses in the Church of England will have their “feet held to the fire” as the Archbishops’ Commission on Racial Justice tours the country to examine their racial justice work. The commission, set up in response to the report From Lament to Action (published April 2021), will review all aspects of the church’s work on racial justice. It is … [Read more...] about ‘Holding Feet to the Fire’ on Racial Justice in C of E
Church of England
C of E Synod: Financial Woes, Safeguarding & Boilers
By Mark Michael Financial worries, varied progress on safeguarding and evangelism, and new specs for church boilers dominated conversation at the February session of the Church of England’s General Synod, held February 8-10 at Church House in London. A testy exchange over the hiring of the church’s new appointments secretary, Stephen Knott, provided a rare moment of drama in … [Read more...] about C of E Synod: Financial Woes, Safeguarding & Boilers
‘Fiercely Contested’ Church of England Synod Gathers
By Rosie Dawson Correspondent The Church of England’s General Synod began its new five-year term in November after the most fiercely contested elections in its 50-year history. It was the first time since 1970 that the Queen was absent from the opening of a new synod. She was represented by her son Prince Edward, the Duke of Wessex, who read a message from her commending the … [Read more...] about ‘Fiercely Contested’ Church of England Synod Gathers
Church of England Code Silences Victims, Critics Say
By Rosie Dawson Pressure is mounting on the Church of England’s Clergy Discipline Commission to revisit amendments to a code of practice that critics say will have the effect of silencing survivors of abuse and victims of bullying or miscarriages of justice. The code supplements the Clergy Discipline Measure (2003), which lays out the processes for dealing with cases of … [Read more...] about Church of England Code Silences Victims, Critics Say
C of E Debates Parish System, Unity, Clergy Discipline
By Mark Michael Anxiety about the future of the Church of England’s parish system, unity across differences over the ordination of women, and the adequacy of its clergy discipline system featured prominently in the latest semiannual session of its General Synod, held online July 9-12. Parish System In his opening presidential address, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell … [Read more...] about C of E Debates Parish System, Unity, Clergy Discipline
Plan for 10,000 New Churches Roils C of E
By Mark Michael An ambitious target of planting 10,000 new, predominantly lay-led churches by 2030 headlines the recommendations of a briefing paper issued by the Church of England’s Vision and Strategy group in late June. The church-planting initiative’s leader, the Rev. Canon John McGinley of New Wine, touched off a firestorm of criticism when he labeled stipendiary clergy, … [Read more...] about Plan for 10,000 New Churches Roils C of E
Plan for 10,000 New Churches Roils C of E
By Mark Michael An ambitious target of planting 10,000 new, predominantly lay-led churches by 2030 headlines the recommendations of a briefing paper issued by the Church of England’s Vision and Strategy group in late June. The church-planting initiative’s leader, the Rev. Canon John McGinley of New Wine, touched off a firestorm of criticism when he labeled stipendiary … [Read more...] about Plan for 10,000 New Churches Roils C of E
Facing Revolt, Senior C of E Bishop “Steps Back”
By Kirk Petersen One of the five most-senior bishops in the Church of England is "stepping back" from his duties as Bishop of Winchester for a six-week period, in the face of a threatened no-confidence vote at the next diocesan synod, according to the Church Times (paywall). The Rt. Rev. Dr. Tim Dakin, 63, who has served as the XCVII Bishop of Winchester since 2011, … [Read more...] about Facing Revolt, Senior C of E Bishop “Steps Back”