How Cardinal Pell Rose to Power, Trailed by a Cloud of Scandal

From The New York Times-


When more than a dozen sexual abuse victims from Cardinal George Pell’s hometown in Australia, Ballarat, flew to Rome to meet with him last year, they carried crushing stories of pain caused by local priests, and varied demands for Vatican action.

As they spoke, the victims said, Cardinal Pell remained stiff, eyes downcast. Then Andrew Collins, whose family had been close to Cardinal Pell for years, gave him a hug. The cardinal seemed to soften and later delivered an emotional statement promising to help.

“But that never happened,” Mr. Collins said. “I’ve had four survivors that I’ve known personally take their own lives this year.”

“That was part of what we were trying to get through to people in Rome,” he said. “We need help and assistance.”

This week, Cardinal Pell, 76, became the highest-ranking Roman Catholic prelate to be formally charged with sexual offenses, decades into a wide-reaching international abuse scandal.

More here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/30/world/australia/cardinal-george-pell-australia-scandal-catholic-church.html

Nigeria will Overcome Challenges, New Anglican Bishop Predicts

From Nigeria-

A new Bishop for Ekiti West Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev. Rufus Adepoju, was Friday enthroned, with a message that Nigeria will overcome her challenges and become stronger with unity of purpose.

Speaking at his enthronement at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Ijero-Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Adepoju predicted boom for the country in spite of her hydra headed social political and economic malaise.

Adepoju was installed by the Archbishop of Ondo Province, who also doubles as the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. George Latunji Lasebikan.

The new Bishop said the country would surmount all the challenges
facing her if Nigerians put their trust in God.

More here-

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/06/30/nigeria-will-overcome-challenges-new-anglican-bishop-predicts/

Sex misconduct revisits elite prep school already under fire

From AP-

An elite New Hampshire prep school is facing new revelations about another competition of sexual conquest two years after a student was convicted of sexually assaulting a freshman as part of a tradition called "Senior Salute."

Eight boys in a St. Paul's School dorm in Concord apparently competed to have their names put on a crown, according to the Concord Monitor, which first reported on the matter. The school it learned about the game from students just before the June 4 commencement and has hired an outside investigator.

"Kids will be disciplined in a swift and appropriate way should that investigation find any violation of our code of conduct. We take these things very seriously," Rector Michael Hirschfeld told The Associated Press on Friday.

Concord police said they learned of the conquest competition while investigating a report of a sexual assault on campus involving students. But police said the competition wasn't linked to their ongoing investigation at the school.

More here-

http://www.westfieldrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/2318339/Sex-misconduct-revisits-elite-prep-school-already-under-fire.html?isap=1&nav=5072

Episcopal Migration Ministries’ director responds to travel ban’s ‘relationship’ stipulation

From ENS-

The Rev. E. Mark Stevenson, director of Episcopal Migration Ministries, issued the following statement June 30 in response to the “relationship” stipulation in the Trump administration’s executive order banning the entry of foreign nationals. 

A Response to the Administration’s Decision on Relationships

The Reverend Canon E. Mark Stevenson

Director, Episcopal Migration Ministries

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court issued a decision regarding the litigation around the president’s executive order banning entry into this country of certain foreign nationals and halting for a time the welcoming of refugees. The Court seemed to stake out a position that the president has the right to do these two things but that he has to take a number of things – particularly relationships – into account when implementing policy. I wrote at the time that we would need to wait for the logistics to be sorted. Little did I expect that the sorting would become a tool to tear apart relationships, and to further propagate a false narrative about people who have fled violence and persecution.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/06/30/episcopal-migration-ministries-director-responds-to-travel-bans-relationships-stipulation/

A small church with a big voice | Glebe Episcopal Church played a role in inspiring the American Revolutionary War

From Virginia-

Glebe Episcopal Church, which was called Bennett’s Creek Church in the Colonial era, is located near the Driver neighborhood of North Suffolk, and is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year. Besides its extraordinary longevity, its history includes strong ties to the outbreak of revolution in America.

Early 1775 saw most of Great Britain’s American Colonies in turmoil.

In Richmond, Patrick Henry gave his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech. In Philadelphia, John Hancock was elected president of the Second Continental Congress. But one other event, largely obscured by the passage of time, also had a great impact, most certainly in Virginia.

Years earlier, in 1754, John Agnew, a Glasgow-born Scot, was appointed rector of Bennett’s Creek Church by the Bishop of London (a British Crown appointment).

In time, he became a man of substantial property along the coast, and had the tendency to get into loud, public arguments with Virginia burgesses, as well as his own church’s leadership.


More here-

https://pilotonline.com/news/local/history/a-small-church-with-a-big-voice-glebe-episcopal-church/article_dff5aa5b-9c21-520a-a2ec-ea2522142802.html

Woman, 2 children seek sanctuary from deportation at Greensboro church

From Greensboro NC-

A Winston-Salem woman and her two youngest children took sanctuary at a Greensboro church on Thursday morning to avoid deportation, marking at least the second such case in North Carolina.

Minerva Garcia, an immigrant from Mexico, and her two youngest sons, ages 6 and 3, will be living at Congregational United Church of Christ until she can get a stay of removal from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would delay her deportation.

Garcia came from Mexico to the U.S. 17 years ago with her oldest son Eduardo, now 21, and her second oldest son who died of cancer in 2007. She moved to the U.S. to find better educational opportunities for Eduardo, who is blind.

In 2013, Garcia obtained a stay of removal from ICE because her oldest son depends on her. Every year since, she’s received a stay of removal, until this year. During Garcia’s annual check-in with ICE in May, she received a deportation order to leave the country by June 30.
Read more here:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article158835604.html#storylink=cpy

also here-

http://www.wral.com/woman-facing-deportation-finds-sanctuary-in-greensboro-church/16793814/

Good Shepherd Episcopal goes back to its roots with fresh approach

From California-

The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church has risen from the dead. Or the almost dead. The 127-year-old church, snug in the center of Cloverdale, has seen a recent resurrection in its congregation after it nearly died out.

“When I came, people kept getting older,” said Father Ed Howell, who has been with the church since 2006. “A bishop asked me to go up there and warned I might be doing a lot of funerals.”

By 2008, the congregation shrank to 15 members. Four years later, only three members remained.

“Meanwhile,” Father Ed said with hope, “More people were joining.”

Today, the church is at its highest population, with roughly 65 people calling Good Shepherd home. “It’s the largest our congregation has ever been,” Howell said.

More here-


http://www.sonomawest.com/cloverdale_reveille/news/good-shepherd-episcopal-goes-back-to-its-roots-with-fresh/article_0290fdc4-5c1f-11e7-9288-83fca02c7b75.html

Presiding Bishop places Partial Restriction on Bishop Bruno

From The Episcopal Church-

Today, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate, the Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, has placed a "Partial Restriction on the Ministry of a Bishop" on the Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Signed by the Presiding Bishop, the Partial Restriction is effective immediately and is a temporary measure only, to protect the integrity of the Church's disciplinary process, until it is concluded. This partial and temporary restriction does not “express any opinion about the merits of the pending Title IV proceeding.”

The text of the Partial Restriction follows:

Partial Restriction on the Ministry of a Bishop

In recent days, I have learned of actions that, in my view, may threaten the good order and welfare of the Church.  I have learned that, earlier this year, the Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno, Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, entered into a contract for sale of property (the “St. James property”) that is central to a disciplinary matter now pending under Title IV of the Canons of The Episcopal Church, in which Bishop Bruno is the Respondent. According to Bishop Bruno’s submissions in that disciplinary matter, the contract for sale of the St. James property sets the closing date as July 3, 2017.

More here-

http://publicaffairs.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/r/EC4BE17C2FD3F7532540EF23F30FEDED/DF13B0422099244738A555EB6E97B45B

From The LA Times-

http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-bishop-nosale-20170629-story.html

Sitting in a pew -- I'm the worst!

From Clergy Confidential-

Sitting in a pew -- I'm the worst!

I'm lousy at sitting in pews.

Of course as a "professional" church goer, I don't do it very often. On Sunday mornings I strut around the altar in fancy vestments, stand in the pulpit for 10-12 minutes, and sit only when other people are doing liturgical things -- like reading from the Bible or singing a choral anthem.

But as Summer rolls around and vacation looms, I'll be spending a few weeks sitting in pews at some yet-to-be-determined churches. And I'll again realize just how easily annoyed I can be. Uncharitable thoughts inevitable arise. Like:

"I can't believe how many typos are in this bulletin. 'The Lard be with you?!' Come on!" 

"That is not the proper order in which to light the altar candles. What kind of liturgical yahoo trained this acolyte anyway?"  

"If this hymn was played any slower, I swear I'd fall asleep standing up." 

"Would it be rude to yell, 'I object!' in the middle of this vaguely heretical sermon?"

More here-

http://www.clergyconfidential.com/2017/06/sitting-in-pew-im-worst.html

Riding Shotgun: On Being the Clergy-Adjacent

From Mockingbird-

I was hauling a giant luggage container, the kind that attaches to a car roof, across my driveway with the woman who bought it from me on craigslist. It wasn’t heavy, but it was awkward and large, and we were having a bit of a hard time maneuvering it. It was dark outside, and we couldn’t really see what we were doing.

“Oh my god, this is like hauling a dead body by dark of night.”

I said it, and then I immediately wished I hadn’t said it. “I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just that my husband is clergy, and so death is…just…”

“Don’t sweat it,” my new friend said. “My husband is a funeral director. It’s a big family business. I was thinking the same thing.”

We laughed—hard—at the coincidence, as we wedged the empty container into the back of her large SUV. I wish I had kept her number, because it’s not every day that you meet another pilgrim on the highway of Husbands With Strange Careers, and who can haul a giant luggage container through a dark driveway.

More here-

http://www.mbird.com/2017/06/riding-shotgun-on-being-the-clergy-adjacent/

Peter Berger, Theologian Who Fought ‘God Is Dead’ Movement, Dies at 88

From The New York Times-

Peter L. Berger, an influential, and contrarian, Protestant theologian and sociologist who, in the face of the “God is dead” movement of the 1960s, argued that faith can indeed flourish in modern society if people learn to recognize the transcendent and supernatural in ordinary experiences, died on Tuesday at his home in Brookline, Mass. He was 88.

His death was announced by the Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs, which he founded at Boston University in 1985 and directed until 2009. His son Thomas said the cause was heart failure.

Professor Berger, who was born in Austria, was the author of a shelf-full of books. He was known for his work in what is called the sociology of knowledge — understanding how humans experience everyday reality.

One of his two dozen volumes, “The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge,” which he wrote in 1966 with Thomas Luckmann, was honored by the International Sociological Association as one of the 20th century’s five most influential sociology books.

More here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/29/us/obituary-peter-berger-dead-theologian-sociologist.html?hpw&rref=obituaries&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

GLOVES COME OFF IN BRUNO TRIAL

From The Living Church-

The attorney who is prosecuting disciplinary proceedings against Bishop J. Jon Bruno of Los Angeles has called for a forensic audit of a corporate entity controlled entirely by Bruno, whom he describes as “a rogue bishop.” It marks a sharp escalation of the battle over the imminent sale of a huge padlocked church near the Newport Beach waterfront.

A forensic audit is a rigorous examination of financial records conducted, among other reasons, to gather evidence of suspected fraud or embezzlement.

Jerry Coughlan, a local lawyer serving as Church Attorney on behalf of the Episcopal Church, wrote that Bruno’s “most recent conduct is simply one more manifestation of his arrogant belief that the Episcopal Church has no rights over him and Corp Sole.” Corp Sole, which holds title to the church in question, is a corporation allowed under California law that has only one officer and director: the incumbent Bishop of Los Angeles, currently Bruno.

Bruno’s counsel, Vice Chancellor Julie Dean Larsen, wrote this week that the “confidential sale of the NPB Property is not contrary to any order, representation, or understanding given by the Presiding Bishop, the Conference Panel or the Hearing Panel in this proceeding. … The Bishop and the staff of the [Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles] made no representation that the property would be maintained in ‘status quo.’”

More here-

http://livingchurch.org/2017/06/28/gloves-come-off-in-bruno-trial/?platform=hootsuite

Let us be the Church

From Patheos-

As the news spills out from every corner of the globe and as our capacity as a nation to respond seems to evaporate, I’ve found myself thinking about the church.

What is the church? How should the church respond? And why is it that too many Christians seem to be indistinguishable from their political counterparts in describing a way forward?

We are equally at war with one another. We are armed with the same capacity for vulgarity and name-calling. The only thing that often differs is a thin veneer of churchy language.

There are undoubtedly a number of explanations for this state of affairs: It is easy to become caught up in the same anxiety, anger and fear that roils our world. It is comforting to wrap the language of partisans around us and find strength in numbers. In difficult times, the emotional satisfaction that lies in nuking our neighbor can lend a sense of moral superiority to yet another day of complex calculations. It is easy to lose a sense of vocation to the proclaiming the foolishness of the cross in a complex world. And the desire to be relevant is among life’s greatest seductions.

More here-

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/whatgodwantsforyourlife/2017/06/let-us-church/

‘Here we are all the same’

From Aeon-

The US Constitution guaranteed freedom of religion, but the fight for religious equality was only just beginning.


The age of revolution brought an enlightened political ideology to the modern world. Among its many achievements, none faces greater global challenges than freedom of religion. Today, it seems almost unthinkable that any deeply religious people, whether in the Middle East or the United States, would create constitutions, bills of rights and statutes that would not only guarantee their own freedom of conscience, but also the religious faith of others. Why, we wonder, and how, did revolutionary-era Americans choose to adopt a radical regime of religious freedom?

Their reasons did not rely on any idealistic consensus that religion must be separate from politics and instead owed everything to their deep suspicion of power in the hands of flawed humanity. Informed by centuries of European history, revolutionary-era Americans believed that governments empowered to coerce belief – long the common European practice – became tyrannical. History proved that, where religion was concerned, governments resorted to coercion. Consequently, to provide a barrier against tyranny, key American patriots believed that protecting religious freedom was vital.

More here-

https://aeon.co/essays/the-true-story-of-the-fight-for-religious-equality-in-the-us

Australian Cardinal and Aide to Pope Is Charged With Sexual Assault

From The New York Times-

 Australia’s senior Roman Catholic prelate, and one of Pope Francis’ top advisers, has been charged with sexual assault, the police in the Australian state of Victoria said on Thursday.

The prelate, Cardinal George Pell, became the highest-ranking Vatican official in recent years to face criminal charges involving accusations of sexual offenses. The case will test the credibility of Francis’ initiatives to foster greater accountability after abuse scandals that have shaken the church around the world.

“Cardinal Pell has been charged on summons, and he is required to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court” on July 18, Shane Patton, the deputy police commissioner, said at a news conference.

The charges were served on the cardinal’s legal representatives in Melbourne. Commissioner Patton said there were multiple complainants but refused to provide further details about them, including their ages.

More here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/28/world/australia/cardinal-george-pell-charged-sexual-abuse.html?smid=fb-share

Why "The Jesus Movement" movement does not always ring true.

From Mark Harris-

The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has made "The Jesus Movement" a rallying point and a touchstone for an important effort to focus in on a way to see the work of the Episcopal Church as a continuation of the work to which Jesus calls us, a call presented in the Gospels and the writings of the early church.  That "Jesus Movement," explores, meditates upon, and acts on, the core message of the Gospel, by a "drilling  down" to find strategies and agendas for this day. It is immediately and eternally important to the life of any Christian community.

I am thankful that the Presiding Bishop has so clearly announced that he and this church of ours need to cling to the movement that Jesus proclaims by his words and actions, and by his death and resurrection.  So something like The Jesus Movement is indeed at the core of our life together in Christ.

More here-

http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2017/06/why-jesus-movement-movement-does-not.html?spref=fb

Poll shows a dramatic generational divide in white evangelical attitudes on gay marriage

From The Washington Post-

A new survey shows a dramatic shift in attitudes toward favoring gay marriage among a younger generation of white evangelicals, a group considered to be one of the most conservative on the issue.

Just a decade ago, the gap between younger evangelicals and older evangelicals on the issue was not wide, according to the Pew Research Center. But a new survey suggests that the generational divide has grown much wider, with about half of evangelicals born after 1964 now favoring gay marriage.

According to Pew, 47 percent of Generation X/millennial evangelicals (those born after 1964) favor gay marriage, compared with 26 percent of boomer and older evangelicals (those born between 1928 and 1964).

“I think a shift is inevitable. It’s just a matter of how long,” said Julie Rodgers, a lesbian who once worked for evangelical Wheaton College (Ill.).

More here-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/06/27/there-is-now-a-dramatic-generational-divide-over-white-evangelical-attitudes-on-gay-marriage/?tid=ss_fb&utm_term=.5871c77013f4

Methodist Church may get bishops for the first time in UK in mutual recognition pact with Anglicans

From Christian Today-

Methodists and Anglicans are embarking on a process of consultation of towards historic proposals that could  recognise the ministers, priests and bishops of both churches for the first time since they split in the late 18th century.

And for the first time ever, the proposals, if agreed, would  give Methodists in the UK some bishop of their own.

The person elected annually as president as the Methodist Conference would take  the title 'President-Bishop' instead of just 'president' and would  be ordained by at least three bishops including bishops from the Church of England.

The Methodist church in the United States already has bishops but the church in the UK has never adapted to the episcopal model before.

A report being disussed at the Methodist Conference in Birmingham this weeked says that the main proposals, if implemented, 'will enable an interchange of presbyteral ministries between our churches that has not been possible since the parting of the ways between Anglicans and Methodists in the late eighteenth century.'

More here-

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/methodist.church.to.get.bishops.for.the.first.time.in.uk.in.mutual.recognition.pact.with.anglicans/110222.htm

also here-

http://livingchurch.org/2017/06/27/toward-greater-unity/?platform=hootsuite

Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness elected Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church

From Scotland-

Bishop Mark (56 ), who will now be referred to as The Most Rev Mark Strange,  is the youngest member of the College of Bishops and was consecrated Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness in 2007. Bishop Mark succeeds the Most Rev David Chillingworth.

Brought up in Aberdeen, where he was both a choirboy and server at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Bishop Mark studied Divinity at the University of Aberdeen, attended Theological College in Lincoln and has served in both the Diocese of Worcester and in the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness. For a number of years Bishop Mark was also Convener of the church’s Youth Committee and ran the annual summer youth camps at Glenalmond.

More here-

http://www.scotland.anglican.org/bishop-moray-ross-caithness-elected-primus-scottish-episcopal-church/

What the Continued Crucifying Of Rob Bell Says About Modern Christianity

From Relevant-

Rob Bell’s “sin”, was that he didn’t stick to the script. He deviated. He dared to ask questions. He challenged the status quo. He moved against the grain. He went rogue and everything went South, (or rather, went to Hell).

The relationship turned toxic when Bell wrote a book called Love Wins, in which he challenged the idea of Hell; a seemingly untouchable, immoveable pillar of the Christian worldview. In the book, Bell asked some questions about reconciling eternal punishment with a loving God, and he examined matters of life and faith that had become foregone conclusions to most believers.

In the now infamous and pivotal volume that caused the Church to break-up with him, Bell didn’t give many answers. He only asked people to ask the questions. He set a table for a conversation. He invited inquisition.

More here-

https://relevantmagazine.com/god/what-continued-crucifying-rob-bell-says-about-modern-christianity

Black rector at white church: 'What we see are people of God, not color'

From Maryland-

Before the current rector took over at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the last time someone came from England to lead the congregation, Virginia was still a colony.

The Rev. Leonard “Lee” Gandiya may share a similar—and charming—British accent with those who helped organize the King George County parish that dates back to 1667. But there is one aspect of history that puts him and his predecessors on different sides.

Had Gandiya attended services in the days of George Washington, a visitor to St. Paul’s, Gandiya would have had to climb—not the white steps of the raised pulpit to stand against a backdrop of red velvet, but those leading to the stark balcony where slaves sat.

Gandiya is black, and he leads a congregation that’s white.

More here-

http://www.fredericksburg.com/features/black-rector-at-white-church-what-we-see-are-people/article_372f226f-f064-597d-a743-dbe24650099a.html

THE DEMOCRATS’ REAL RELIGION PROBLEM, AND ALL OF OURS

From Religion Dispatches-

Hand to God, every mainstream commentator on religion and politics has a liturgy—a catechism—they must learn before they are allowed to publish in a big-ticket outlet. It goes like this:

Q: Who promulgated Rerum Novarum?
A: Pope Leo XIII promulgated Rerum Novarum, placing the Catholic church on the side of labor.

Q: Who wrote The Social Gospel?
A: Walter Rauschenbusch wrote the Social Gospel, paving the way for Christian involvement in liberal social reform?

Q: Who twice appeared on the cover of Time magazine?
A: Reinhold Niebuhr twice appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Why doesn’t anyone talk about Reinhold Niebuhr anymore?

Q: Who is the great and only prophet of black liberation in America?
A: Martin Luther King is the great and only prophet.

Q: Who marched with King?
A: Abraham Heschel marched with King.

More here-

http://religiondispatches.org/the-democrats-real-religion-problem-and-all-of-ours/

Abp. Carey Resigns

From The Living Church-

The Rt. Rev. Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, has announced the resignation of former Archbishop George Carey, which follows a recommendation by Carey’s successor, the Most Rev. Justin Welby:

I have met with Lord Carey following the Archbishop’s letter to him. In light of Dame Moira Gibb’s review into the Peter Ball case, Lord Carey has resigned from his role as honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Oxford. Lord Carey has accepted the criticisms made of him in the Gibb review and has apologized to the victims of Peter Ball.

He said in his statement on Thursday: “I accept the criticisms made of me. I apologize to the victims of Peter Ball. I believed Peter Ball’s protestations and gave too little credence to the vulnerable young men and boys behind those allegations. I regret that after Peter Ball was cautioned I did not place his name on the Lambeth list.”

More here-

http://livingchurch.org/2017/06/26/abp-carey-resigns/?platform=hootsuite

and here-

https://www.episcopalcafe.com/bishop-carey-to-resign-over-his-neglect-in-the-ball-abuse-case/

and here-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/26/george-carey-resigns-honorary-oxford-bishop-anglican-sex-abuse-scandal

From The Standing Committee of San Diego

From San Diego-

June 26, 2017
   
To All the Faithful of Our Diocese:

We are excited to announce the selection of the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori as our assisting bishop. Bishop Jefferts Schori will begin her tenure with us on August 13. She will serve three-quarters time performing episcopal functions such as visitations, confirmations, ordinations, and receptions. She will share with the standing committee the task of providing leadership and vision for the diocese and shall generally perform the functions of a diocesan bishop as delegated to her by the standing committee in its capacity as the ecclesiastical authority during the transition. She will work closely with the executive council as well.

More here-

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Standing-Committee-News--4.html?soid=1101649887417&aid=pUU9UldvApE

Justin Welby calls for cross-party Brexit talks, says future of country is not ‘winner takes all’

From iNews-

The Archbishop of Canterbury has waded into the Brexit debate by calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to set up a cross-party commission to advise her on withdrawal negotiations.

The Rt Rev Justin Welby urged the move as he compared the current situation to the two world wars when Britain was run by coalitions.

The Anglican leader contrasted the inspiring “spirit of Grenfell” with the divisive “zero-sum, winner takes all” Brexit rows in Westminster, adding that a cross-party approach to Brexit talks would “draw much of the poison from the debate”.

Writing in the Mail On Sunday, he said: “We need the politicians to find a way of neutralising the temptation to take minor advantage domestically from these great events.

More here-

https://inews.co.uk/essentials/justin-welby-calls-cross-party-talks-brexit/

When Millenials Get Married

From Patheos-

Complaining is one of my most obvious spiritual gifts, my special charism, if you will. And two of the things I like to complain about most are first, the state of evangelicalism in America, and second, weddings.

Now, in principle, I am for weddings. It’s an idea I can get behind. Two people in love, beautiful dress, gorgeous flowers, a lovely party with friends–a wedding is not one of those dark moments of life, like trudging through the grocery aisle trying to decide what to cook because everyone has to eat…again. So, in theory, I am for weddings.

In practice, though, they can be kind of overwhelming. Especially when they pile themselves up in front of you. Every wedding we do at Good Shepherd involves six hours of pre marriage ‘counseling,’ but really more a mixture of biblical instruction and making sure the couple is walking in the right direction. Then there’s the rehearsal, and the service, and the party, and eventually you find me wandering around the nave with my shoes off, watering the plants, and explaining to various people to whom I haven’t been properly introduced, who therefore don’t know why I’m chattering at them, that I really, when it comes down to it, prefer a funeral.

More here-

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/preventingrace/2017/06/25/millenials-get-married/

A cassock: Work clothes, not a dress uniform

From Aleteia-

The first day he put on a cassock, a seminarian got a letter from a friend, a few years his senior. This is what he learned about his cassock:

A cassock. Today in your eyes it is more beautiful than a bride’s dress. You are truly and rightfully happy wearing it; after all, you have been waiting for it since the time you entered the seminary.

I can only hope that you will be equally happy when it has come to be what its color implies, i.e. a deadly shroud and a dying uniform. Today it is a bride’s dress you enthuse over, along with your family and friends. Be as enthusiastic about it when it starts to be your solitary confinement, cage and furnace where God will melt and purify you, an uncomfortable hermitage.

More here-

https://aleteia.org/2017/06/25/a-cassock-work-clothes-not-a-dress-uniform/

Study finds the nonreligious can be more close-minded than the religious

From Psypost-

New research indicates that religious believers can be better at perceiving and integrating different perspectives than atheists in Western Europe.

“The main message of the study is that closed-mindedness is not necessarily found only among the religious,” the study’s corresponding author, Filip Uzarevic of the Catholic University of Louvain, told PsyPost.

The research was published April 27, 2017, in the peer-reviewed journal Personality and Individual Differences.

“The idea started through noticing that, in public discourse, despite both the conservative/religious groups and liberal/secular groups showing strong animosity towards the opposite ideological side, somehow it was mostly the former who were often labeled as ‘closed-minded’,” Uzarevic explained. “Moreover, such view of the secular being more tolerant and open seemed to be dominant in the psychological literature. Being interested in this topic, we started to discuss whether this is necessarily and always the case: Are the religious indeed generally more closed-minded, or would it perhaps be worthy of investigating the different aspects of closed-mindedness and their relationship with (non)religion. ”

More here-

http://www.psypost.org/2017/06/study-finds-nonreligious-can-close-minded-religious-49182

Archbishop of Canterbury backs cross-party Brexit commission to 'draw poison' out of negotiations

From The Telegraph-

The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged Theresa May to set up a cross-party commission to advise her on Brexit to “draw much of the poison” from negotiations.

The Rt Rev Justin Welby said talks over the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union will be “fierce”, that differences in what should be aimed for “divide our politicians and our society” and that a hung Parliament will almost inevitably bring about an “understandable temptation for every difference to become a vote of confidence”.

But he warned that it would be a “disaster” if the UK’s negotiators went into bat against the “united determination of the EU” without having the “confidence” that they have the full backing of Britain.

More here-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/25/archbishop-canterbury-backs-cross-party-brexit-commission-draw/

Alleged abuse victims demand apology from Anglican Church Trust

From New Zealand-

Two people who claim they were abused in Anglican-run state care are demanding an apology for what they say are systemic failures.

Rachel Smith* and Ernie Parore were placed in foster homes run by the Anglican Trust for Women and Children during the 1970s and 1980s. The Trust is part of the Anglican Church's social services network.

Both say they suffered physical abuse that caused psychological scars they still wear today. 

The Anglican Trust says it needs to meet with the pair and check their claims before it can apologise to them – but Smith and Parore say the Trust has rebuffed their efforts to talk.

More here-

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/93294837/alleged-abuse-victims-demand-apology-from-anglican-church-trust

The Sin of Tolerance

From Christianity Today-

This article originally appeared in the February 2, 1959 issue of Christianity Today.

Billy Graham's ministry to the big cities, widened in its outreach by radio and television, is one of the outstanding contributions to the resurgence of evangelical Christianity in our generation. His radio message on "The Sin of Tolerance" has been especially blessed. Reprints are available from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Minneapolis.

One of the pet words of this age is "tolerance." It is a good word, but we have tried to stretch it over too great an area of life. We have applied it too often where it does not belong. The word "tolerant" means "liberal," "broad-minded," "willing to put up with beliefs opposed to one's convictions," and "the allowance of something not wholly approved."

Tolerance, in one sense, implies the compromise of one's convictions, a yielding of ground upon important issues. Hence, over-tolerance in moral issues has made us soft, flabby and devoid of conviction.

More here-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/octoberweb-only/graham-sermon-sin-of-tolerance.html