Boris pouring petrol on divided Britain, says Anglican primate

From Australia-

The Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, has rebuked Boris Johnson, warning the British Prime Minister that the use of “inflammatory” language risks pouring “petrol” on Britain’s ­divisions over Brexit.

Justin Welby said Britain had become consumed by “an abusive and binary approach to political decisions” in which Brexit rivals treated their opponents as “my total enemy”.

The archbishop warned that social media meant it had become “extraordinarily dangerous to use careless comments” in a society that was “polarised and volatile”. He was “shocked” by Mr Johnson’s recent dismissal of warnings about extreme language encouraging death threats against politicians as “humbug”.

More here-

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/boris-pouring-petrol-on-divided-britain-says-anglican-primate/news-story/50f6de31a29c88076f32e6ef81b94132

Bishops highlight Church’s responsibility to show support and pray amid Brexit anxiety

From Premier-

Anglican Church leaders in Exeter have made an appeal for churches be supportive to their communities amid the uncertainty of how the UK will leave the European Union.

Rt Rev Robert Atwell Bishop of Exeter, and the two Suffragan Bishops of Plymouth and Crediton, the Rt Rev Nick McKinnel and the Rr Rev Jackie Searle, have written to all the churches in about their responsibility to respond to Brexit anxiety in their local area.

The bishops said the letter was in response to the worries of many in the county, particularly in the farming community, and their “concern at the deep divisions in our nation”.

More here-

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Bishops-highlight-Church-s-responsibility-to-show-support-and-pray-amid-Brexit-anxiety

Anglican bishops: Hostility in Brexit debate ‘not worthy of our country’

From England-

The bishops of the Church of England have issued a call for respect on all sides amid growing acrimony over the debate on Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union.

A joint statement issued on behalf of the Church of England’s College of Bishops has called for a new tone of listening and respect in debates and describes the use of language in some cases as “unacceptable”.

It urged for the 2016 referendum to be honoured and for the rule of law and impartiality of the courts to be upheld.

 “We should speak to others with respect. And we should also listen. We should do this especially with the poor, with the marginalised, and with those whose voices are often not heard in our national conversation,” it reads.

More here-

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Anglican-bishops-Hostility-in-Brexit-debate-not-worthy-of-our-country

The Church of England needs to speak out about Brexit – here’s why

From England-

Central to the Church of England’s understanding of itself as the established church is its vocation to be a “church of the nation” – a public institution ready to bring a theological voice to the national debates of the day. The trauma of Brexit confronts the four nations of the United Kingdom in different ways but – given the centrality to the debate of a resurgent English nationalism – it is most painful for England, which is where the Church of England’s mission is primarily directed.

Since 2016, several individual bishops, some in their capacity as “Lords Spiritual” have sought to contribute to this debate, often with balance and insight. Yet – unlike both the (Anglican) Scottish Episcopal Church and the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland – the Church of England has so far been unable to bring any authoritative collective voice to the national conversation.

No debate on Brexit has taken place in General Synod (the Church of England’s governing body), either before or since the 2016 referendum. While the House of Bishops was able in 2015 to produce an unusually substantial statement before the general election – Who is my Neighbour? – it has so far delivered no formal public statement on Brexit at all.

More here-

http://theconversation.com/the-church-of-england-needs-to-speak-out-about-brexit-heres-why-120384

Brexit shines light on Church of England rift between leadership and Anglican majority

From The Conversation-

Two recent statements from the leader of the Anglican church, Justin Welby, reflect a growing division in the church between a charismatic-evangelical party and a more mainstream majority. The latter are stronger in numbers but the former are now in power.

Welby’s first statement, issued jointly with his number two, the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, called for a “fresh and uniting vision for all in our country”. It came amid increasingly heated debate over Brexit and their much more neutral stance contrasts with the fervour with which both archbishops backed Remain at the time of the referendum.

The second statement was more theological. Welby told a Christian radio channel that he prays in tongues every morning. Like a masonic handshake, this identified Welby to his fellow charismatic Christians as one of them. Both archbishops are part of this revivalist form of Christianity, which identifies the gift of tongues (praying in a language they believe is given to them by God) as a sign of possession by the Holy Spirit and of being “born again”.

More here-

http://theconversation.com/brexit-shines-light-on-church-of-england-rift-between-leadership-and-anglican-majority-110471 

and here-

https://menafn.com/1098040758/Brexitsupporting-Church-of-England-at-odds-with-tonguesspeaking-archbishop

Justin Welby: No-deal Brexit would be 'moral failure'

From Premier-

The Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested a second referendum may be required on the Brexit debate.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Justin Welby also said it would a moral failure should the UK leave the European Union without a deal.

The Anglican leader was taking part in a debate in the upper chamber as MPs continued talks in the Commons next door ahead of a vote on the Prime Minister's plan next Tuesday.

Welby said: "There has to be an agreement in which all accept the need to deliver the will of the people, which was expressed in the referendum. While also recognising that when it was expressed in such a close result there is a duty to build in compromise, an inevitability, albeit unwelcome to some.

"If not there will by default be a no-deal Brexit. That outcome would be not only be a political and practical failure but a moral one, equally as serious as ignoring the result of the referendum entirely.

More here-

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Justin-Welby-No-deal-Brexit-would-be-moral-failure

Brexit debate needs a change of tone, Anglican bishops say

From AP-

The Brexit debate needs a change of tone, the Church of England's bishops said Saturday, calling for national unity following a week of divisive discussions around Britain's efforts to leave the European Union.

The Anglican leaders urged politicians and the public to insert civility into the debate amid intense discussions over Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal. Amid turmoil, the bishops offered prayer.

"We urge everyone - our political leaders and all of us - to bring magnanimity, respect and reconciliation to our national debate," the bishops said. "There is now an urgent need for the United Kingdom to recover a shared vision and identity to help us find a way through the immediate challenges."

More here-

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Anglican-bishops-appeal-for-change-of-tone-in-13468607.php

Welby condemns media reaction to Brexit ruling

From The Church Times-

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has said that he was “horrified” by the abuse directed at three High Court judges on social media last week, after they ruled that the Prime Minister must take Article 50, which would begin the process of leaving the European Union, to a parliamentary vote.

Theresa May had argued that MPs did not need to vote on the legislation, given the majority result of the referendum on membership of the EU in June (News, 1 July 2016). But the panel of judges unanimously agreed with campaigners that the move would be unconstitutional. The Government is appealing against the decision in the Supreme Court.

The judges were subject to abuse and “trolling” on social media, after making the front page of national newspapers last Friday. The headline on the front page of The Daily Telegraph read: “The judges versus the people”; the Daily Mail chose “Enemies of the people”.

More here-

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2016/11-november/news/uk/welby-condemns-media-reaction-to-brexit-ruling