Only chaos can redeem the Church

Sep 16, 2021 by

Only chaos can redeem the Church

by Giles Fraser, UnHerd: […]  Unfortunately, the Church of England learned very little from its encounter with Occupy. Just this week it was unveiling a new plan for its future organisational structure, and it is a doubling down on the whole centralising tendency that has been going on for the last 30 or so years. Just as protest movements were out there “taking the knee”, Church leaders were poring over their spread-sheets and flow charts. Organisationally, the Church of England is a...

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C of E review proposes new body to take over (almost) every central church function

Sep 14, 2021 by

C of E review proposes new body to take over (almost) every central church function

by Ed Thornton, Church Times: Archbishops’ Council should be replaced; House of Bishops influence should be scaled back, says review A RADICAL shake-up of the Church of England’s central governance has been proposed by an official review group. The Governance Review Group’s proposals, released on Tuesday, include scaling back the powers of the House of Bishops to set national policy, and placing most of the activities currently overseen by the Church Commissioners and bodies such as the...

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Review group: Oh, and the General Synod needs reforming, too

Sep 14, 2021 by

Review group: Oh, and the General Synod needs reforming, too

by Ed Thornton, Church Times: THE Church of England should give “serious attention” to reforming the General Synod, says the Governance Review Group’s report, published on Tuesday. “The General Synod sets the budget of just one of the NCIs [National Church Institutions],” the report notes, “elects board members to some but not all of them, receives annual reports from some but not all of them, and can pass motions ‘calling upon’ any of them to do things which it cannot necessarily enforce....

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‘It’s not “religious” its real’ – The open air Prayer Station changing Crewe’s estates

Sep 8, 2021 by

‘It’s not “religious” its real’ – The open air Prayer Station changing Crewe’s estates

By Tony Cummings, Premier Christianity: I walk along Oxford Street. It seems deserted and though there are plenty of parked cars there are none moving down the road and no crowds of shoppers. In fact, there are no shops. For this is Oxford Street, Crewe, not London, on what the locals call the “Derby Docks” housing estate built in the 50s. It may be only 158 miles from the capital’s shopping epicentre but economically this Oxford Street is a million miles away. Around 70 per cent of the people...

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Whatever our faith, we all need rituals

Sep 5, 2021 by

Whatever our faith, we all need rituals

by Peter Mullen, TCW: CHESTERTON was once accused of being superstitious and he replied: ‘I love my religion and I particularly love those parts of it which are ignorantly described as superstitious.’I agree with him. I think we should have more priestcraft as well. For the priest does have a craft. I am a priest and I try my best to practise it. But really, why should someone living in our wonderfully progressed and modern 21st century stand gawping at relics or, worse still, kneeling in...

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‘A church without walls’: Anglicanism divided on shift away from tradition

Aug 31, 2021 by

‘A church without walls’: Anglicanism divided on shift away from tradition

by Harriet Sherwood, Guardian: Plan for new communities led by lay people in unconventional venues has prompted Save the Parish campaign. One Sunday afternoon in September, a small group will gather at the Whisby nature reserve near Lincoln to explore its trails and marvel at the wildlife. Before they set off on a two-hour hike, they may fortify themselves with a hot drink and a slice of cake from the cafe; they might apply sunscreen or don waterproofs. One thing they are certain to do is join...

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