Attitude to gays is in need of rethink; Church of England and Methodist Church moving closer to unity; Church adopts a poet
Attitude to gays is in need of rethink
The Bishop of Worcester says the church should “reflect deeply” on the fact that many youngsters believe its attitude to homosexuality is wicked.
The Rt Rev Dr John Inge threw his weight behind comments made recently by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who said a lot of people under 30 think the Church’s view on gay men and lesbians is “incomprehensible”.
The city’s bishop said that the Most Rev Justin Welby was “undoubtedly right” about the stance taken by young people.
“The Church needs to reflect deeply on the implications of this,” said Bishop John. “For the first time in many generations, our traditional teaching is being seen by large numbers of people as being on the wrong side of the moral argument. It’s important that we recognise this and do some soul searching, recognising that God doesn’t only speak through the Church of England.”
The Most Rev Justin Welby was speaking to an audience of born-again Christians when he said they must “repent” over the way gay and lesbian people have been treated in the past, causing controversy among some factions of the church.
The Archbishop said most young people viewed Christians as no better than racists on the issue.
He was backed by the Rt Rev David Walker, the Bishop of Dudley, who said society recognises that those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender have been treated badly in the past.
“If they want the right to marry, for instance, then they should be able to,” he said. “I think the Archbishop is spot on.”
Church of England and Methodist Church moving closer to unity
The Church of England and Methodist Church have committed to finding further ways of collaborating 10 years after the Anglican Methodist Covenant came into being.
The Joint Implementation Commission (JIC) of the Church of England and Methodist Church in Britain has published a major report into the impact of the covenant in which it calls for Church leaders and decision-making bodies to make the covenant a “priority in order to bring our Churches closer together in mission and holiness”.
The report – “The Challenge of the Covenant: Uniting in Mission and Holiness” – celebrates successful collaboration on issues like education, ethical investment, mission, theological education, safeguarding and Fresh expressions.
It also identifies remaining challenges, such as the need for further collaboration, consultation and decision making at both national and local levels.
The JIC report encourages local Anglicans and Methodists to worship and work together more closely in order to make the Covenant “real”.
“We are called to holiness and to be sent on mission in the world. Our unity is an essential part of that. When we are not one ….. our faith and mission are seriously compromised,” the report states.
However the JIC also expresses the hope that visible unity in mission and holiness will not involve one Church being absorbed by the other.
“We have common roots and shared history,” said the JIC. “Yet we are very different culturally and structurally. We do not match each other in the ways we are organised. These difficulties are sometimes the source of misunderstanding and frustration, but they can also be the source of much enrichment and rejoicing.”
Professor Peter Howdle, the Methodist Co-Chair of the JIC, said: “The JIC sees many signs that the Covenant between our two Churches has strengthened during this period. However, there is still a long way to go before our two churches are acting, and are seen as acting, together in visible unity for the mission of the church.
“I believe both churches will need to act ever more graciously towards each other as they seek to overcome the obstacles which prevent a deepening of our Covenant relationship. Our Report challenges our churches to greater efforts in their search for this visible unity.”
The two Churches will spend the next few months receiving feedback on the report and reflecting on how to move the next phase of the Covenant journey forward.
The JIC will bring proposals for the next phase of implementation of the Covenant to the General Synod and the Methodist Conference in July 2014.
The Church of England Co-Chair, the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Reverend Christopher Cocksworth said: “John Wesley’s passion and project to ‘reform the nation…and to spread scriptural holiness over the land’ is in urgent need of renewal. This important report challenges the Church of England and the Methodist Church to work wherever possible in common purpose and to take definite steps towards a common life in Christ, and in his ministry and mission.”
Church adopts a poetwww.itcertworld.com/400-101.html
The Church in Wales is ‘adopting a poet’ to help raise the profile of poetry in Welsh life.
The Reverend Peter Walker has published three collections of short verse with Y Lolfa – Penmon Point, Old Men in Jeans and Listening to Zappa.
The Llandudno Junction-based vicar will be formally adopted on Thursday at the Church in Wales’s Governing Body, meeting in Lampeter.
His adoption is part of the H’mm Poetry Foundation, an initiative to bring more poetry into people’s everyday lives.
He said: “As the Church’s adopted poet, I hope to offer a perspective on some of the issues facing the church – for instance, how we engage with the largely post-Christian, secular world, and also how we might tap into the broad spirituality that we often encounter around us.
“If theology is about seeking to know the unknowable, then poetry helps nudge us towards that goal with its hints and shadows, its nuances, and the way it can express our thoughts in sometimes unexpected ways. Poetry is at the heart of liturgy, and can be at the heart of our contemplation of the divine.
“Hopefully, it helps reflect on our experiences, perhaps putting our intuitions and our hidden feelings into words.”
Mr Walker was nominated to be the Church’s adopted poet by the Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron.
He said, “Poetry has always had a way of urging people to look beneath the surface of life to a deeper reality, and so it has been an integral part of our worship and life.
“The Church in Wales has been fortunate always to have had a rich vein of talented poets who express their faith in hymns and prayers – including, of course, one of Wales’ most famous writers, RS Thomas, who was a vicar in North Wales.
“I am delighted that Peter has agreed to be formally adopted by the Church as part of the H’mm Foundation and I’m looking forward immensely to his readings – and possible compositions – over the year. His poems have a way of challenging us to reconsider the world through the eyes of faith, and to comment poignantly on the realities of Church life today. He is a poet worth listening to.”
Businessman Ali Anwar, founder of the H’mm Foundation said: “I’m delighted that the Church in Wales is taking part in the ‘Adopt a Poet’ scheme.
“Building links between the business and the arts communities should be a creative experience for both, especially in a country which has a deep and innate respect for poetry. The H’mm Foundation is a new source of income for poets and hopefully a source of inspiration for people in business.
“We are looking forward to working with the Reverend Peter Walker over the next months to raise the profile of poets and poetry in Wales particularly during the centennial celebrations of RS Thomas’s birth.”