DOCSLIB.ORG

1 FORWARD in FAITH 2014 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY St Alban's

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
1 FORWARD in FAITH 2014 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY St Alban's FORWARD IN FAITH 2014 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY St Alban’s, Holborn, 15 November 2014 ADDRESS by the Rt Revd Jonathan Baker, Bishop of Fulham The Clerical Vice-Chairman of Forward in Faith, Fr Ross Northing, expressed the thanks of the Assembly to the outgoing Chairman, Bishop Jonathan Baker, for his contribution to the work of Forward in Faith. Bishop Jonathan then addressed the Assembly. May I begin by thanking Fr Ross for his very kind words, and for this gift? They, and it, are very much appreciated. A speech such as this one is very much about saying ‘thank you.’ Fr Ross, first as National Secretary, and latterly as clerical Vice-Chairman, you have been an absolutely loyal and resolute right-hand man, full of wisdom, and with a sure touch in communicating the mood and insights of the grass roots. I am delighted, Father, that you have been re-elected unopposed to your present office in Forward in Faith. I am equally delighted that Dr Lindsay Newcombe continues as Lay Vice-Chairman. Lindsay, you too have been unfailingly supportive. You never seek to dominate a meeting, but your counsel and contributions are always hugely valuable, carefully thought-through and born of a deep faith and commitment to the Gospel. With priests and lay people like this to lead, Forward in Faith is very blessed. I want to put on record my thanks to both Fr Ross and Lindsay not only for professional support, but also for personal friendship. I would like, with them, to couple the names of all members of the Executive Committee, past and present. Will you please give them a round of applause? When I was elected as Chairman of Forward in Faith, it was not the easiest time to take on leadership of this organisation: an organisation of which I have been a member, member of Council and national officer for many years. Four years ago, much of an entire generation of Forward in Faith’s leadership was on its way to new ecclesial pastures, among them the long- serving, colourful and media-friendly former Chairman, Bishop John Broadhurst, who by personality and conviction had towered over the traditionalist landscape for so long. I knew I could not be another John Broadhurst; who could be? But new challenges were on the horizon in any case, and a huge amount of work needed to be done. There were challenges of structures, membership and money. I knew that it would not be long before Stephen Parkinson would retire as Director, leaving a huge gap which would have to be filled by someone really capable and committed if Forward in Faith were to have any future at all. Above all, the political landscape at that time looked bleak. Not only was a Measure to admit women to the episcopate making its way through General Synod, but it was one which we could not in any way support, as it failed so completely to give us what we needed. Well, it will be for others to judge the achievements of the last four years, but I would hope that anyone making those judgements will reflect on this. We have appointed an outstanding new Director, who continues to bring a wealth of skills and experience to the post, whose command of detail is second to none, and who, crucially, is able to work across the Movement, with bishops, clergy and lay people, not only in explaining and interpreting the 1 new situation, but also in keeping us focussed on the big picture and a positive agenda. We have begun to put our finances in order, though there is a very long way to go. We have begun to attract major new donors, surely a sign that an organisation is taken seriously and that people ‘out there’ wish for its success – as well as being a spur to us to keep focussed on what really matters and not to become distracted. We are beginning to refresh our membership. We have streamlined our structures and are in the process of making our constitution fit for purpose. In the midst of all this, we have continued to publish one of the very best ecclesiastical journals from any stable in the Church of England, one which we know is read and respected across the board. We have done everything possible to foster an ethos of mission, evangelisation and the nurture of vocations, so that Christ may be made better known among the people of England. Above all, we have worked tirelessly, and successfully, for the defeat of bad legislation; and we have then played our part in bringing to birth the present arrangements which are so much better, and which offer us so many possibilities for the future – a future which, under God, is in our hands. One comment about the old Measure, and one about the new. What a lot of flak we received when the old Measure was defeated in the General synod of November 2012. But then, lo and behold, all sorts of people started piling in to say that, actually, they agreed that that Measure was no good, and that they were pleased that it had gone down. Funnily enough, they had not said so at the time. What it is to be prophetic! And so to the arrangements as they now stand, on the verge of coming into force. As I said at a meeting of Fulham clergy last week, had you told me that the doctrine of Reception was going to be enshrined in a House of Bishops’ Declaration, attached to a Canon which could only be altered by a two-thirds majority in each House of the General Synod, I would not have believed you. Everywhere in the new arrangements we read of a commitment to our flourishing, as those whose convictions are fully within the spectrum of Anglican teaching and tradition. This is a huge achievement – and we should all be very proud of ourselves. We should give ourselves a round of applause. May I thank you, as I come to a conclusion, for your good wishes? Please pray for me, as I do for you. To repeat what I said a few moments ago: this organisation has been a significant part of my life for many years. I will always want to support Forward in Faith, and do what I can to help it, and all of you. I ask you to give all the support in the world to Bishop Tony and his team, old and new, and especially of course to Colin and David, his new assistant in the office, in their vital work. It has been a privilege, and I look for all future success. I pray dear friends above all that we may love one another; for without love, all our doings are nothing worth. Thank you so much. 2 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • St Stephen's House 2 0 1 7 / 2 0
    2017 / 2018 ST STEPHEN’S HOUSE NEWS 2 St Stephen’s House News 2017/2018 2017/2018 St Stephen’s House News 3 Principal’s welcome Contents News in brief elcome to the National Lottery funding WCollege On the cover The College has been awarded a grant Save the dates! Newsletter for Carved from the National Lottery Heritage Lottery • Friday 15th June 2018 – College 2017/18. This stonework details Fund, following an application made in Garden Party – all alumni, their guests has been a very from a doorway support of the heritage associated with the and families are welcome. successful year for situated in the College’s former monastic site. The project volunteers. Anyone interested in taking part • Friday 14th September 2018 – College the College, with 13 North aisle of the will focus on the site’s First World War or contributing memories, photographs etc Alumni Gaudy – all alumni and guests, candidates ordained deacon at Petertide, 5 A tale of two students 14 Sport at the College College Church heritage, and involve local schools and should email [email protected]. and members of the 1876 Society 11 PGCE students qualifying at teachers, welcome. and 29 students successfully completing News in brief ............................................................3 A perfect fifth .........................................................18 • Saturday 15th September 2018 – graduate degrees or diplomas in Theology, A tale of two students ..............................................5 Non Angli, sed Anglicani ........................................19 College Alumni Reunion – all alumni, Education, Oriental Studies and Byzantine Fundraising update ...................................................8 Fact File: Choral Institute at Oxford ........................20 their guests and families are welcome. Studies. We wish them all well as they leave Obituary: The Rt Revd Dr Geoffrey Rowell ..............9 Where are they now? .............................................21 us to pursue their future work.
    [Show full text]
  • Anic Newsletter 22 November 2010
    ANiC Newsletter 22 November 2010 Handle with prayer News – ANiC and AEN Welcome Mill Bay church plant! Christ Church of the Valley (Mill Bay, BC) is ANiC’s 40 th official church plant/parish. The new congregation is lead by the Rev Andrew Hewlett – one of our Morning Prayer preachers at Synod. BC Court of Appeal gives mixed decision The BC Court of Appeal issued its decision from the September 13-16 hearing, agreeing with four Vancouver area ANiC parishes on issues of law, but still dismissing their appeal. The parishes, St John’s (Vancouver), St Matthews (Abbotsford), Good Shepherd (Vancouver), and St Matthias & St Luke’s (Vancouver), had appealed a 25 November 2009 decision of Mr Justice Stephen Kelleher awarding beneficial ownership of church properties to the Diocese of New Westminster in the case involving the split in the Anglican Church. The Diocese of New Westminster’s counter appeal of Mr Justice Kelleher’s decision granting a bequest (worth approx. $2M) to the ANiC congregation of the Church of the Good Shepherd was also dismissed. Special Counsel Cheryl Chang says: “In my view, the court did not give due consideration to some critical evidence on issues of doctrine, Anglican hierarchy and authority. Mdm Justice Newbury states (at para 75), “it is antithetical to the nature of Anglicanism to contemplate “Anglican ministry” in a parish that has withdrawn from the authority of its diocese and bishop”. However, this ignores the Windsor Report which stated clearly and unequivocally, in reference to this diocese and bishop, that it was more antithetical to Anglicanism for a bishop and diocese to act “unilaterally… in breach of the legitimate application of the Christian faith as the churches of the Anglican Communion have received it ”.
    [Show full text]
  • Bishop of Fulham to Remarry
    THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 Archbishop’s apology Why is THE everyone to Black Churches, obsessed p10 with CHURCHOF Russell Brand? ENGLAND P9 Newspaper NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 No: 6252 Bishop of Fulham to remarry By Jordanna May Fr Kirk commented in 2010: cy – and would defend and “The doctrine of matrimony is explain it to anyone who came Bishop THE BISHOP OF Fulham, the closely associated with ecclesi- to me for advice.” Jonathan Rt Rev Jonathan Baker, ology and so it would seem The Bishop told us this week: Baker announced last week that he is utterly unacceptable that “I wrote to clergy last week to to remarry. divorce and remarriage be part inform them that, having He immediately wrote to his of the regimen of those who received the consent of the clergy, affirming his support are called to represent and Bishop of London, I will remar- for those of his clergy who effect the unity of the Church.” ry in the spring of next year. oppose the remarriage of He added: “Promoting “I reached this decision after divorcees, saying that he will divorced bishops is a far more a great deal of thought and continue to support them in serious matter than homosexu- prayer. I fully respect and their stance. al bishops because it is under- understand the position of cler- In a letter that was sent to all mining one of the fundamental gy who exercise their right not his clergy, Bishop Baker, who teachings of scripture.” to conduct further marriages is also chairman of Forward in Fr Kirk has since moved to in church and will support Faith, said that he had received the Catholic Ordinariate but as them in continuing to adopt permission from the Bishop of then founder and national sec- such a policy.” London and the Archbishop of retary, representing FiF, it’s Concerning his role in For- Canterbury.
    [Show full text]
  • Porvoo Prayer Diary 2021
    PORVOO PRAYER DIARY 2021 The Porvoo Declaration commits the churches which have signed it ‘to share a common life’ and ‘to pray for and with one another’. An important way of doing this is to pray through the year for the Porvoo churches and their Dioceses. The Prayer Diary is a list of Porvoo Communion Dioceses or churches covering each Sunday of the year, mindful of the many calls upon compilers of intercessions, and the environmental and production costs of printing a more elaborate list. Those using the calendar are invited to choose one day each week on which they will pray for the Porvoo churches. It is hoped that individuals and parishes, cathedrals and religious orders will make use of the Calendar in their own cycle of prayer week by week. In addition to the churches which have approved the Porvoo Declaration, we continue to pray for churches with observer status. Observers attend all the meetings held under the Agreement. The Calendar may be freely copied or emailed for wider circulation. The Prayer Diary is updated once a year. For corrections and updates, please contact Ecumenical Officer, Maria Bergstrand, Ms., Stockholm Diocese, Church of Sweden, E-mail: [email protected] JANUARY 3/1 Church of England: Diocese of London, Bishop Sarah Mullally, Bishop Graham Tomlin, Bishop Pete Broadbent, Bishop Rob Wickham, Bishop Jonathan Baker, Bishop Ric Thorpe, Bishop Joanne Grenfell. Church of Norway: Diocese of Nidaros/ New see and Trondheim, Presiding Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, Bishop Herborg Oline Finnset 10/1 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland: Diocese of Oulu, Bishop Jukka Keskitalo Church of Norway: Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland (Bodø), Bishop Ann-Helen Fjeldstad Jusnes Church of England: Diocese of Coventry, Bishop Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop John Stroyan.
    [Show full text]
  • Ordination to the Priesthood of Reverend John Broadhurst Reverend Andrew Burnham Reverend Keith Newton
    Ordination to the Priesthood of Reverend John Broadhurst Reverend Andrew Burnham Reverend Keith Newton Saturday 15 January 2011 HOMILY Many ordinations have taken place in this Cathedral during the 100 years of its history. But none quite like this. Today is a unique occasion marking a new step in the life and history of the Catholic Church. This morning the establishment of the first Personal Ordinariate under the provision of the Apostolic Constitution ‘Anglicanorum Coetibus’ has been announced in our hearing. So I too salute John Broadhurst, Andrew Burnham and Keith Newton who are to be the first priests of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. In particular I offer my prayers and best wishes to Keith, chosen by the Holy Father to be its first Ordinary. This is indeed an historic moment. In these opening words I welcome you warmly, Keith, Andrew and John. You have distinguished pasts, full of real achievements. Now, ahead of you, you have an important and demanding future! In welcoming you I recognise fully the demands of the journey you have made together with your families, with its many years of thought and prayer, painful misunderstandings, conflict and uncertainty. I want, in particular, to recognise your dedication as priests and bishops of the Church of England and affirm the fruitfulness of your ministry. I thank so many in the Church of England who have recognised your sincerity and integrity in making this journey and who have assured you of their prayers and good wishes. First among these is Rowan, Archbishop of Canterbury, with his characteristic insight, and generosity of heart and spirit.
    [Show full text]
  • General Synod
    GS 1708-09Y GENERAL SYNOD DRAFT BISHOPS AND PRIESTS (CONSECRATION AND ORDINATION OF WOMEN) MEASURE DRAFT AMENDING CANON No. 30 ILLUSTRATIVE DRAFT CODE OF PRACTICE REVISION COMMITTEE Chair: The Ven Clive Mansell (Rochester) Ex officio members (Steering Committee): The Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, (Bishop of Manchester) (Chair) The Very Revd Vivienne Faull (Dean of Leicester) Dr Paula Gooder (Birmingham) The Ven Ian Jagger (Durham) (from 26 September 2009) The Ven Alastair Magowan (Salisbury) (until 25 September 2009) The Revd Canon Anne Stevens (Southwark) Mrs Margaret Swinson (Liverpool) Mr Geoffrey Tattersall QC (Manchester) The Rt Revd Trevor Willmott (Bishop of Dover) Appointed members: Mrs April Alexander (Southwark) Mrs Lorna Ashworth (Chichester) The Revd Dr Jonathan Baker (Oxford) The Rt Revd Pete Broadbent (Southern Suffragans) The Ven Christine Hardman (Southwark) The Revd Canon Dr Alan Hargrave (Ely) The Rt Revd Martyn Jarrett (Northern Suffragans) The Revd Canon Simon Killwick (Manchester) The Revd Angus MacLeay (Rochester) Mrs Caroline Spencer (Canterbury) Consultants: Diocesan Secretaries: Mrs Jane Easton (Diocesan Secretary of Leicester) Diocesan Registrars: Mr Lionel Lennox (Diocesan Registrar of York) The Revd Canon John Rees (Diocesan Registrar of Oxford) 1 CONTENTS Page Number Glossary 3 Preface 5 Part 1: How the journey began 8 Part 2: How the journey unfolded 15 Part 3: How the journey was completed – the Committee‟s clause by clause consideration of the draft legislation A. The draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure 32 B. Draft Amending Canon No. 30 69 Part 4: Signposts for what lies ahead 77 Appendix 1: Proposals for amendment and submissions 83 Appendix 2: Summary of proposals and submissions received which raised points of substance and the Committee‟s consideration thereof Part 1.
    [Show full text]
  • STEPHEN BELLION Colourful Illustrations and Fun Facts Help to the World and Make Changes
    content regulars Vol 23 No 290 May 2020 13 GHOSTLy cOUNSEL ANDy HAWES 20 Views, reviews & previews on the importance of church 3 LEAD STORy Was it ever thus? ART : Owen Higgs on Titian 15 VIERGES NOIRES 12 Ian McCormack considers what we might learn from the past BOOKS: William Davage on Notre Dame EDITORIAL 16 Lois Day on e Mior BISHOPS Of THE SOcIETy 31 4 Time to sow in the North and e Light A report on Catholic growth in the John Twisleton on e Northern Province City is my Monastery 17 THE WAy WE LIVE NOW Trevor Jones on e Joy of cHRISTOPHER SmITH 5 Keeping up appearances God remembers Geoffrey Kirk SImON mORRIS Jessica Bayon and Maicie reads some episcopal Harrison review books 23 LOcKDOWN DIARy correspondence for Easter THURIfER is staying in 6 How the Ox’s bellow was 24 Gospel Writer heard around the world JOHN GAyfORD 26 LETTER TO THE EDITOR JAcK ALLEN St Mahew studies more than Aquinas 30 TOUcHING PLAcE 27 Tyberton S. Michael and All Angels, Kerry, 8 Her majesty The Queen’s SImON cOTTON Powys Easter message considers the eighteenth century 9 A Giant in the Land 31 Tariro UK STEPHEN PARKINSON Hope for Youth in Zimbabwe offers personal memories of Geoffrey Kirk 11 St Stephen’s Lewisham AILSA TEmPLE remembers Geoffrey Kirk as parish priest 12 ‘I confess that I have always been fascinated by the nature of story’ JONATHAN BAKER on the though and theology of Geoffrey Kirk 14 francis Wagstaffe remembered E R E The Easter Garden at All G V A Saints Notting Hill O M I C Articles are published in New Directions because they are thought likely to be of interest to Fr Sam McNally-Cross blesses his parish from the roof readers.
    [Show full text]
  • This 2008 Letter
    The Most Reverend and Right Hon the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury & The Most Reverend and Right Hon the Lord Archbishop of York July, 2008 Most Reverend Fathers in God, We write as bishops, priests and deacons of the Provinces of Canterbury and York, who have sought, by God’s grace, in our various ministries, to celebrate the Sacraments and preach the Word faithfully; to form, nurture and catechise new Christians; to pastor the people of God entrusted to our care; and, through the work of our dioceses, parishes and institutions, to build up the Kingdom and to further God’s mission to the world in this land. Our theological convictions, grounded in obedience to Scripture and Tradition, and attentive to the need to discern the mind of the whole Church Catholic in matters touching on Faith and Order, lead us to doubt the sacramental ministry of those women ordained to the priesthood by the Church of England since 1994. Having said that, we have engaged with the life of the Church of England in a myriad of ways, nationally and locally, and have made sincere efforts to work courteously and carefully with those with whom we disagree. In the midst of this disagreement over Holy Order, we have, we believe, borne particular witness to the cause of Christian unity, and to the imperative of Our Lord’s command that ‘all may be one.’ We include those who have given many years service to the Church in the ordained ministry, and others who are very newly ordained. We believe that we demonstrate the vitality of the tradition which we represent and which has formed us in our discipleship and ministry – a tradition which, we believe, constitutes an essential and invaluable part of the life and character of the Church of England, without which it would be deeply impoverished.
    [Show full text]
  • INTRODUCTION It Is Possible to Wonder What More There Is to Say
    INTRODUCTION It is possible to wonder what more there is to say about whether the Church of England should have women bishops. The Church of England has already been blessed by a series of substantial reports – notably the Rochester Report in 2004, and the series of documents that went to General Synod in 2006 from the Guildford Group, the Bishops of Guildford and Gloucester, and the Faith & Order Advisory Group. This Report, nevertheless, breaks new ground and is of a different character from what has gone before. The task that the General Synod gave us in July 2006 was to prepare possible legislation, consistent with the Synod’s view that the time had come to explore in some detail what the practical implications would be of admitting women to the episcopate. This report, therefore, seeks to move the debate on from the ‘whether’ to the ‘how’. In so doing it sets out some key options, with illustrative legal material. Our hope is that this Report will now enable Synod members to make an informed choice as to how to proceed. While the Report essentially focuses on practicalities, the Group has throughout been engaged on the theological and ecclesiological implications of different ways of proceeding. Within the Group, as within the Synod, there has been a wide range of views and we have not seen it as our task to strain for consensus. We have, however, engaged with one another with great courtesy, united in a shared commitment to a common task, and been nurtured by much prayer and fellowship together.
    [Show full text]
  • Anglican Bishop Announces He Will Resign, Join Catholic Ordinariate
    Anglican bishop announces he will resign, join Catholic ordinariate LONDON – The bishop who leads the largest Anglo-Catholic group in the Church of England said he plans to resign by the end of the year and join a personal ordinariate when it is established in England and Wales. “I am not retiring, I am resigning,” Bishop John Broadhurst of Fulham told an Oct. 15 meeting of Forward in Faith, the traditionalist group of which he is chairman. He added to applause that he expects to “enter the ordinariate.” Bishop Broadhurst told Catholic News Service in an Oct. 18 telephone interview that he was “absolutely, absolutely” certain that a personal ordinariate would soon come into existence in England but did not know exactly when. Pope Benedict XVI established the mechanisms to create personal ordinariates last November through his apostolic constitution “Anglicanorum Coetibus” (“Groups of Anglicans”) in response to repeated requests for a means of group reception from disaffected Anglican bishops around the world. The structures will resemble military dioceses and allow former Anglican communities to retain their distinctive patrimony and practices, including married priests. “If the pope makes you an offer, you can’t ignore it,” Bishop Broadhurst told CNS. He decided to enter the Catholic faith after the General Synod of the Church of England voted in July to ordain women as bishops by 2014 without provisions to satisfy Anglicans who objected. “The Church of England has been saying to conservative Anglicans like me that ‘we can’t give you jurisdiction and living space because it wouldn’t be catholic,’ but Rome has said ‘we can give you that.’ It is very interesting,” he said.
    [Show full text]
  • Over 3,500 Adults Received Into the Church in England and Wales
    Over 3,500 adults received into the Church in England and Wales Members of the Croydon ordinariate group with Mgr John Broadhurst More than 3,500 adults were received into the Catholic Church in England and Wales last week. They included 1,397 catechumens, who had prepared to be baptised, and 1,843 candidates, who had already baptised in another Christian tradition. The largest numbers were in the dioceses of Westminster (734), Southwark (481), Brentwood (333), Birmingham (255) and Portsmouth (206). The total of 3,695 also included those who had joined the ordinariate. Easter is the traditional time for reception of new members of the Church through the Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the liturgical and catechetical process for adults joining the Church. Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton, chairman of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said many of those who went through the RCIA said they first became interested in the Catholic Church through a family member or friend. “So we should bear that in mind always in our dealings with people,” the bishop said. “We are all sowers of the seed. If we show ourselves to be happy, optimistic, humble and generous, then it’s more likely we will draw people to God and be signs of the Kingdom.” The figures are down on last year, when 3,931 adults were received into the Church, in addition to the 795 who joined the then new Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. Last week around 250 former Anglicans were accepted into the ordinariate in a “second wave” of growth.
    [Show full text]
  • Feast of St. Joseph 2021 Dear Friends, Tuesday 23 March Will Mark the First Anniversary of the National Lockdown. It Will Be
    Feast of St. Joseph 2021 Dear Friends, Tuesday 23 March will mark the first anniversary of the National Lockdown. It will be a day for remembrance and lament for us as Christians as we reflect on the terrible damage that the Covid-19 pandemic has wrought across our nation and our world. We as Christians will pray for the repose of the souls of over 125,000 people who have died in the UK alone after testing positive for Covid-19, and so many more world-wide, each one a beloved and precious child of God, mourned by family and friends. We offer our devotional video on praying for the dead [link] as a support and a comfort to those who grieve (1). We will also pray for those who have fallen ill to this disease, especially those with the chronic symptoms of long Covid. We will pray for those who face financial ruin or debt because of the loss of jobs or businesses. We will pray for deprived urban communities, many served by Society parishes, who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and those families who are coping with hunger and destitution. We will pray for the professionals in health, education, social care, local government and other walks of life who have endured such a stressful and challenging year. And we will pray for our churches and for Christians who have felt again and again the desolate pain of being denied access to the sacraments of life. Christians are often tempted to reach too soon for easy answers to complex problems or contrive shallow ‘good news stories’ out of the gloom.
    [Show full text]