Was Jesus Black Or White? How One Church Leader Just Changed The Debate

From Forbes-

What race was Jesus of Nazareth, one of the most consequential figures in the history of the world? Nobody can say for certain, but based on recent comments by the head of the Church of England, it is time to revisit whether or not Jesus should be portrayed as a white man.

In an interview with the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby addressed the question of how the western church portrays Jesus’s race. When asked by the interviewer if the way Jesus is represented through imagery, and whether it is time to “reimagine” the physical presentation, the Archbishop was candid.

"Yes, of course it does," Welby said, noting that in many locations of the Anglican church Jesus was already represented other than as a white man.

More here-

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/06/27/was-jesus-black-or-white/#4261eda348e5

When Churches Reopen You May Have to Get a Ticket to Attend Services

From England-

In a bid to maintain social distancing measures and avoid contributing to the pandemic ravaging the entire world, Anglican churches are looking into options to keep their congregations safe, including the possibility of ticketed services.

At the moment, churches are looking at July at the earliest before they can reopen, as laid out in the Prime Minister's lockdown exit strategy earlier this week, which groups religious services in with the hospitality industry and other public places. That's step three of the exit plan, with step 2 in June seeing the phased reopening of shops. Apparently pushing churches into the step 3 category hasn't gone down too well with some religious leaders, with the Catholic Bishop having a moan about that, and demanding that churches be open for private prayer as soon as possible:

More here-

https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/05/ticketed-church-services-post-lockdown/

Coronavirus: Churches may not be back to normal by end of year

From The BBC-

The Anglican Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, said churches might not return to normal services before the end of the year. 

Mosques, churches and temples in the UK have been closed for almost two months. 

The prime minister is due to make a statement about the lockdown restrictions later. 

It is not clear if the government will change its guidance for places of worship. 

But senior religious leaders have told the BBC that faith communities will have to endure long-term changes to their worship in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. 

Ibrahim Mogra, a senior imam in Leicester, warned the prime minister not to ease restrictions on places of worship before the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. 

"I am not convinced that we can maintain social distance," he said.

More here-

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52600707

British public turn to prayer as one in four tune in to religious services

From The Guardian-

A quarter of adults in the UK have watched or listened to a religious service since the coronavirus lockdown began, and one in 20 have started praying during the crisis, according to a new survey.

The findings of the poll reinforce indications of an increase in the numbers of people turning to faith for succour amid uncertainty and despair.

The Church of England has said that unexpectedly high numbers of people are tuning into online or broadcast services, and 6,000 people phoned a prayer hotline in its first 48 hours of operation. Other faiths have also reported surges in people engaging with online religious activities as places of worship have been closed during the lockdown.

The survey of more than 2,000 people, commissioned by the Christian aid agency Tearfund and carried out last weekend, found that a third of young adults aged between 18 and 34 had watched or listened to an online or broadcast religious service, compared with one in five adults over the age of 55.

More here-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/british-public-turn-to-prayer-as-one-in-four-tune-in-to-religious-services?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR3rhgPsd3Jx-E_fxh85lE6cxtugY-VZQsxSsj02xACNeFBcw4o0Q2m1qNE

Church of England to launch a 'Google Maps for graves' within five years enabling family historians to search for burial records and locations in an online database

From The Daily Mail-

Thousands of cemeteries across the UK will be imaged and mapped over the next five years to create a comprehensive database of British burial sites. 

The Church of England project hopes to immortalise the tombs of millions of people buried in Anglican graveyards as well as those interred on unconsecrated land.

Maps and photographs will be uploaded alongside burial records in a searchable database at some point before 2026. 

Volunteers from the Church of England have partnered with Historic England, which has injected £250,000 in funding, and private company Atlantic Geomatics is providing the technology and expertise.  

More here-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8068893/Church-England-launch-Google-Maps-graves-five-years.html

When Cathedrals get angry – they flip

From English Cathedrals-

It’s that time of year and many of our cathedrals are gearing up to get flipping for Shrove Tuesday and preparing to move into the Lenten season.

On Tuesday York Minster will raise the Lent and Easter Cross ready for Ash Wednesday. This wooden cross – six metres tall by three metres wide is made from wooden scaffolding boards in the Minster workshop – will be suspended from the Central Tower throughout the Lenten season.

In Winchester, 20 teams made up of clergy, choristers, councillors, charities, and mayors in full regalia will be tossing pancakes and raising money for charity at the same time thanks to Winchester Rotary at the inaugural Winchester Pancake race.

More here-

https://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/latest-news/cathedral-pancake-day/?fbclid=IwAR0GEQiFTSEDSeSjdJJoeKyNhKg90q_tNYHBTRiQ00g9xEX8dttn8Q7K0Zc

Report: C of E's right to 26 seats in Lords should be repealed

From The Guardian-

The Church of England’s automatic right to appoint 26 bishops to the House of Lords should be repealed, a report by a group representing more than 100 parliamentarians will recommend this week.

An all-party caucus of humanist MPs and peers says reform of the way parliament works must include removing the guarantee of seats in the upper house for Anglican bishops.

The All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG), comprised of 115 MPs and members of the Lords, point out that the only other country where senior clerics must have seats in a parliament is Iran.

The APPHG report will be published on Tuesday.

More here-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/24/report-c-of-es-right-to-26-seats-in-lords-should-be-repealed

Your chance to find a Newman pew

From The Tablet

An Anglican church in Oxford is urgently looking for takers for Victorian pews installed by St John Henry Newman. Due to a major refurbishment of the church he founded, St Mary and St Nicholas in Littlemore, sixteen oak pews face the scrap heap unless a new home is found quickly.

The pews are being replaced by modern stackable seating.

Local historian Dr Philip Salmon, who is closely involved with the refurbishment, is charged with finding them new owners.

He said: “I have been trying to find suitable homes, ideally in a proper religious setting where Newman’s legacy and vision is appreciated. This has been complicated though by the fact that one end of each pew is roughly carved, where it used to butt up against a wall. So a little carpentry is required on each, but it’s not difficult to fix.”

More here-

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/12496/your-chance-to-find-a-newman-pew

Anglican leader admits Church of England's racism

From Daily Sabah-

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called the Church of England "deeply institutionally racist" and apologized for Britain's treatment of black people and other minorities since World War II.

Anglican clerics adopted a motion late Tuesday seeking forgiveness from the so-called Windrush generation that moved to Britain from former Caribbean colonies since 1948. The mass migration was promoted by the government to help rebuild the U.K. from the ruins of war. Yet none received documents confirming their U.K. citizenship and the Caribbean countries' subsequent independence saw many denied basic rights. Dozens were also wrongly deported in a scandal that rocked the government of former Prime Minister Theresa May.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the highest-ranking cleric in the Anglican communion, told the General Synod there was "no doubt" the Church of England was still "deeply institutionally racist." "We did not do justice in the past, we do not do justice now, and unless we are radical and decisive in this area in the future, we will still be having this conversation in 20 years' time," the archbishop said.

More here-

https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2020/02/12/anglican-leader-admits-church-of-englands-racism

Church of England apologizes for saying only married straight people should have sex

From Christian Post-

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York
John Sentamu have apologized for a decree issued by the Church of England which said that only heterosexual married couples should have sex and that sex in gay or straight civil partnerships “falls short of God’s purpose for human beings.”

“We as Archbishops, alongside the bishops of the Church of England, apologize and take responsibility for releasing a statement last week which we acknowledge has jeopardised trust,” the archbishops said in a statement, according to Belfast Telegraph. “We are very sorry and recognize the division and hurt this has caused.”

The House of Bishops of the Church of England last week issued a pastoral guidance, which said, “For Christians, marriage — that is, the lifelong union between a man and a woman, contracted with the making of vows — remains the proper context for sexual activity.”

More here-

https://www.christianpost.com/news/church-of-england-apologizes-for-saying-only-married-straight-people-should-have-sex.html

Church of England launches first global index aligned to the Paris accord in push to address ‘climate emergency’

From Ontario-

The Church of England Pension Board, overseer of the £2.8bn retirement savings pot for the Anglican clergy, will on Thursday launch a passive index aligned with the Paris climate goals on the London Stock Exchange.

The church will invest an initial £600m in the FTSE TPI Climate Transition Index which follows calls from Mark Carney, the outgoing governor of the Bank of England, for pension funds to tackle the financial risk of climate change.

Through its £12bn endowment and investment funds, the Church of England has become a powerful international advocate for sustainable investment and better governance standards. It immediately sold its shares in Brazilian miner Vale after a dam collapse in Brazil that killed more than 200 people, while also ridding its investment portfolio of thermal coal and tar sands.
 
Starting in 2023, the church will also sell shares in other fossil fuel companies that are slow to respond to global warming.

More here-

https://windsorstar.com/financial-times/church-of-england-launches-first-global-index-aligned-to-the-paris-accord-in-push-to-address-climate-emergency/wcm/becc5512-1870-48c8-90bb-29593ec964c1

CoE Archbishops: Sorry for saying sex is only for married heterosexuals

From Episcopal Cafe-

Thursday evening, Archbishops Welby and Sentamu issued an apology of sorts for the timing of the recent statement on sex outside heterosexual marriage. That statement, however, was not withdrawn. The timing has drawn criticism because it came during a review of the C of E’s position on sexuality – a review forced upon Welby by General Synod against a similar statement.

The Church Times reports:

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have apologised for the release of last week’s pastoral statement on civil partnerships, acknowledging that it “jeopardised trust”. The statement will not be withdrawn, however, after the College of Bishops voted against a proposal to do so. Issued on Thursday evening, at the end of a two-day meeting of the College, the Archbishops’ statement recognised “the division and hurt” the statement had caused.

More here-

https://www.episcopalcafe.com/coe-archbishops-sorry-for-saying-sex-is-only-for-married-heterosexuals/?fbclid=IwAR2AVaC7nZ40uSbr5C5ph2lEmcG14to9PZuELMCXeo4a-UfuznMmbgVnDuY 

and here-

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/church-of-england-apologizes-for-saying-sex-only-for-heterosexual-married-couples

Church of England stance on sex and marriage is staggeringly stupid

From The Guardian-

I am a lifelong member of the Anglican communion. My current situation in life is that I am happily married – have been for over 30 years – to a woman who is also a lifelong member of the Anglican communion. However, in 2014 I transitioned, and changed from my birth gender, as a man, to my present gender, as a woman.

Just for clarity, then, I would be interested to know whether the Church of England’s latest teaching (New C of E statement on sex in civil partnerships condemned as confused, 24 January) says that my marital relationship with my wife is problematic because we are both women? Or whether it says that I am “not really a woman”, and so my marital relationship at any rate is quite unproblematic?
To put it another way, I am wondering whether the church’s attitude to me now is essentially one of homophobia, or transphobia. I look forward to its pastoral guidance on this difficult question.

More here-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/27/church-of-england-stance-on-sex-and-marriage-is-staggeringly-stupid

New Bishop of Monmouth Cherry Vann can help "unify" Church

From The BBC-

More than 400 people saw Cherry Vann become only the 11th person to hold the position, since the diocese was formed in 1921.

The 60-year-old former Archdeacon of Rochdale replaces the Right Reverend Richard Pain who retired last year.

The Rev Robert Lawrence said Bishop Vann could be a "point of unity" at a time of disunity within the church.

A piano and violin graduate at the Royal College of Music, Bishop Vann has spent the last 11 years in the diocese of Manchester.

She previously said the challenges facing churches in south east Wales were similar to those in the north west of England.

More here-

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-51252909

Sex is for male-female marriage only, Church of England confirms

From Christianity Today-

Sex only belongs in heterosexual marriage, a new statement from the Church of England's House of Bishops has declared.


In a document responding to the introduction of mixed-sex civil partnerships, the Bishops say: "For Christians, marriage – that is the lifelong union between a man and a woman, contracted with the making of vows – remains the proper context for sexual activity.

But they also add: "In its approach to civil partnerships the Church seeks to uphold that standard, to affirm the value of committed, sexually abstinent friendships and to minister sensitively and pastorally to those Christians who conscientiously decide to order their lives differently."

The statement affirms: "Sexual relationships outside heterosexual marriage are regarded as falling short of God's purposes for human beings. The introduction of same sex marriage... has not changed the church's teaching on marriage or same sex relationships."

More here-

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/sex-is-for-male-female-marriage-only-church-of-england-confirms/134075.htm

Walk with Bishop Michael

From England-

People are being invited to join the Bishop of Lichfield on a walk which will call at ten churches in rural mid-Staffordshire on 8 and 9 February.

The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave will cover 30 miles in the two-day walk around the Mid-Trent Benefice. Walkers will call at Sandon, Salt, Hopton, Burston and Milwich on Saturday 8 February followed by Gayton, Weston, Hixon, Stowe-by-Chartley and Fradswell the following day, finishing with a Team Service at All Saints Church, Sandon, at 6pm on Sunday 9 February.

Everyone is welcome to cover the whole route – which is mostly on field paths, tracks and quiet roads – or for just one or two sections. There will be refreshments at all of the churches for walkers and non-walkers. There is no charge and families, community groups and walking groups are all invited to join in. There will be brief prayers at each church and time to learn more about the buildings. Toilets are available at Sandon, Salt, Burston, Milwich, Weston and Hixon churches.

More here-

https://www.lichfield.anglican.org/news/2020/01/20/walk-bishop-michael/

Holy Smoke podcast: has the Church of England surrendered to ‘soft socialism’?

From Holy Smoke (with video)-

Just before Christmas, Dr Gavin Ashenden, a former Chaplain to the Queen, converted to Catholicism. But that’s not the main subject of my interview with him in the first Holy Smoke episode of 2020. In it, he deplores the Church of England’s surrender to secularism under Archbishop Justin Welby, who won’t enjoy his former colleague’s assessment of his talents.

Dr Ashenden may not be Anglican any more, but he does think that the Established Church has a historic mission – and that its ‘middle managers’ have betrayed it in favour of ‘soft socialism’. To which I reply that Pope Francis is busy hoisting the white flag, or perhaps a red one, on the other side of the Tiber. At which point our conversation takes an unexpected turn. Don’t miss it!

https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2020/01/holy-smoke-podcast-has-the-church-of-england-surrendered-to-soft-socialism/

Force For Change Rose Hudson-Wilkin On Becoming Britain’s First Black Female Bishop

From British Vogue-

On 23 April 1994, approximately a month after it became possible for women to do so, I was ordained as a priest in Lichfield Cathedral. I remember it clearly. It was a bittersweet day. We left the ceremony through the great west doors, and I can still see the image of the other women in attendance, those who had given a lifetime of ministry, but, because of their age, had now missed their own opportunity to join the priesthood. That day, I felt the same emotions that surround giving birth: you’ve gone to the hospital, made it through labour, and there you are in a room with a beautiful baby, overjoyed, and yet very aware that in the next room or cubicle there may be a woman who has lost hers.

Faith is who we are. It’s not a coat or a hat – something that we put on and take off depending on the weather. I was 14 years old and living in Montego Bay, Jamaica, when I first had a sense that I was being called to ministry. For me, the vocation was about leadership, pastorally caring for people and guiding in the liturgy. It was quite strange, given that no women were allowed to occupy such roles then, to feel called to something that didn’t exist.

More here-

https://www.vogue.co.uk/news/article/rose-hudson-wilkin-first-black-female-bishop-uk?fbclid=IwAR1RJtHXdr0mK-iqpw9splFU4UbK-5hdI8stOXBxjfwF3tRZwZ79JTYoB-o

Bishop Stephen Cottrell to become the next Archbishop of York

From England-

The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, has been nominated by Her Majesty the Queen as the new Archbishop of York in succession to the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu. 

Bishop Stephen said:

I am humbled and excited at the prospect of becoming the 98th Archbishop of York. 
“I will receive the baton from Archbishop Sentamu. These aren’t just big shoes to fill, but a big heart and a big vision. 

“However I am not daunted. Archbishop Sentamu and I have worked together in mission on many occasions and I hope to build on the work he has pioneered.

“Working alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, I hope to help the church be more joyful and more effective in sharing the gospel and bringing hope and unity to our nation.

“Although I was born and grew up in Essex, I lived and served in Huddersfield for nine years. I know and love the north of England. Two of our children were born there.

More here-

https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/news/article/bishop-stephen-aby98

Anglican Bishop and Queen’s Chaplain Converts to Catholicism

From Church Militant-

An internationally renowned Anglican bishop and former chaplain to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is leaving the Anglican Church to become a Catholic. 

Bishop Gavin Ashenden will be received into full communion by Shrewsbury's Bp. Mark Davies on the fourth Sunday of Advent at Shrewsbury Cathedral, England.

The outspoken prelate became a global media celebrity after he objected to the reading of the Koran at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Koranic chapter on Mary, read from the lectern at the service of Holy Communion, on the Feast of the Epiphany 2017, explicitly denied the divinity of Jesus. 

Under pressure from Buckingham Palace, Dr. Ashenden resigned his royal chaplaincy in order to be free to challenge the rising tide of apostasy in the Church of England. 

More here-

https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/anglican-bishop-and-queens-chaplain-converts-to-catholicism

Also here-

https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/12/17/former-queens-chaplain-to-become-catholic/