Four priests in the Diocese of Toronto have pleaded with the Anglican Church of Canada’s House of Bishops to preserve clarity about the church’s doctrine of marriage. The priests are: The Rev. Canon Murray Henderson, honorary assistant at the Church of St. Mary and Martha, Toronto; The Rev. Canon F. Dean Mercer, incumbent at St. Paul’s, L’Amoreaux, Scarborough, Ontario; … [Read more...] about Priests Appeal to Bishops in Canada
General Synod
Synod Relaxes Rule on Service Frequency
English church law has required since 1603 that every parish church hold a weekly Sunday service and Holy Communion at some time each week. Now that is set to change. There are rural clusters of parishes (benefices) with a solitary priest serving as many as 20 parish churches, which makes it impossible to fulfill the law. General Synod has now relaxed the requirement. … [Read more...] about Synod Relaxes Rule on Service Frequency
‘The Synod for Evangelism’
By Zachary Guiliano The Archbishop of Canterbury and others frequently dubbed the General Synod’s late February sessions “the Synod for evangelism.” It is easy to see why: three motions touched directly on the topic; two other motions on the Church of England’s ministry were indirectly related or took on a new note as a result of context; and the addresses from Anglican … [Read more...] about ‘The Synod for Evangelism’
Synod Takes Up Poverty
By Zachary Guiliano Deliberations at the Church of England’s General Synod turned toward poverty on Feb. 21, as members discussed homelessness and the effect of church fees on the poor. “I would like you to come with me on a journey. It began over three years ago in June 2015,” said Andrew Gray as he introduced a motion calling for the church to set up a new Homelessness … [Read more...] about Synod Takes Up Poverty
Synod Discusses Transgender Guidance
By Zachary Guiliano The first day of General Synod was dominated by three matters: routine business, addresses on evangelism, and the church’s recently released “guidance for the affirmation of baptismal faith in the context of gender transition.” The Synod engaged in its usual, staid debates about setting its current agenda and future dates, with a little fire and light on the … [Read more...] about Synod Discusses Transgender Guidance
Consternation on Transgender Guidance
By Zachary Guiliano In the lead-up to the Church of England’s General Synod on Feb. 20-23, a debate stirred about pastoral guidance related to welcoming transgender people in English parishes. On December 11, Church House announced the release of “Pastoral Guidance for use in conjunction with the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith in the context of gender transition.” The … [Read more...] about Consternation on Transgender Guidance
General Synod to Discuss (Cough) Evangelism
“Small behavioral changes” are needed among the million or so people who regularly attend Church of England parishes, says a new report on evangelism to be discussed at the General Synod. The church, the report says, needs to move on “from a narrative of continual decline” and become a community of “advocates and apprentices who are outward-looking and confident.” The … [Read more...] about General Synod to Discuss (Cough) Evangelism
Abuse Claims Explode
The Church of England’s spending on claims of sexual abuse has risen fivefold since 2014. General Synod heard last week that the church is dealt with an eye-watering 3,300-plus allegations last year. These figures emerged as the church braces itself to face even more intense scrutiny as the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse begins to receive evidence in … [Read more...] about Abuse Claims Explode