Churches partnering with conservation groups to connect better with nature

From Scotland-

Churches in Scotland are being encouraged to turn their grounds into wildlife habitats with the help of conservation groups.

The partnerships are being formed thanks to a new scheme launched last year by RSPB Scotland, Eco Congregation Scotland, the Church of Scotland, and the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Belhelvie Church in Aberdeenshire is one of the first churches to pilot the Faith Action for Nature project encouraging churches to engage with their natural surroundings.

Faith Action for Nature provides resources and advice to help churches establish links with local conservation groups.

As part of the project, members of the Belhelvie congregation have been working with the RSPB on how they can make their church grounds a home for birds and other wildlife. 

More here-

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches-partnering-with-conservation-groups-to-connect-better-with-nature/132073.htm

Aberdeen congregation splits from Scottish Episcopal Church over 'continued liberal trajectory'

From Scotland-

A congregation in Aberdeen is parting ways with the Scottish Episcopal Church because of concerns that biblical authority is being compromised.

Westhill Community Church is splitting with the SEC after 83 per cent of its members voted to leave.
Announcing its decision, the church said it was concerned about the 'continued liberal trajectory' of the SEC.

The Rector of Westhill, Canon Ian Ferguson, told the Anglican Communion News Service that the SEC had taken 'a number of decisions' that it 'could not accept'.

'Our church was not able to feel they could go on the trajectory that the SEC are going and they wanted to maintain their sense of biblical authority and their fellowship with the wider Anglican Communion which is being torn apart by decisions of some provinces,' he said.

More here-

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/aberdeen-congregation-splits-from-scottish-episcopal-church-over-continued-liberal-trajectory/131519.htm 

also here-

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Aberdeen-church-votes-to-leave-Scottish-Episcopal-Church-amid-continued-liberal-trajectory

Scottish Episcopal Church faces split after equal marriage row

From Pink News-

An Aberdeenshire church has voted to break away from the Scottish Episcopal Church, because of its teachings on equal marriage.

The Scottish Episcopal Church has been facing a backlash since a 2017 decision to embrace same-sex marriage, angering evangelicals and conservatives by becoming the first mainstream branch of Christianity in the UK to allow same-sex weddings
 The body faced a controversial ‘punishment’ from the global Anglican Communion, while a number of local churches have moved to break away to maintain their anti-gay marriage teachings and traditions.

The fallout continued this week, as Westhill Community Church in Westhill, Aberdeenshire overwhelmingly voted to break away from the Church.

More here-

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/01/20/scottish-episcopal-church-equal-marriage-split/

Edinburgh church votes to split from the Scottish Episcopal Church in early sign of schism at decision to support gay marriage

From The Telegraph-

One of the largest churches in Edinburgh has voted to split from the Scottish Episcopal Church amid tensions over its decision to become the first Anglican body in the UK to endorse gay marriage.
St Thomas’ is the latest evangelical parish to quit the official Anglican church in Scotland and back a rival splinter movement in reaction to the vote supporting gay marriage in June last year.

A number of other churches have either left or are considering leaving in the wake of the decision to change the Scottish Episcopal Church's (SEC) definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

St Thomas' is one of the largest Anglican churches in the capital and the move to split from the SEC will be seen as a major blow to Scottish bishops trying to hold together the deeply opposed factions over same-sex marriage.

More here-

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/04/edinburgh-church-votes-split-scottish-episcopal-church-early/

Gay cleric in running for Brechin position

From Scotland-

Jeffrey John was the first priest in an openly same-sex relationship to be nominated as a bishop in the Church of England.

Mr John, who is currently the dean of St Albans, has been up for seven previous diocese positions, but each role went to someone else, leading him to make claims of homophobia within the church.

Similarly to other candidates for the Brechin post, Mr John is not allowed to comment ahead of the selection. However, he has previously said his failure to be shortlisted for a Welsh post was “directly related to my homosexuality and/or civil partnership”.

He was favourite to be selected as bishop of Llandaff, but was subjected to a “number of homophobic remarks” during the appointment process before being rejected by bishops, he said.

Episcopalians are looking to replace Nigel Peyton, who retired as bishop of Brechin in July of last year. The church has seven dioceses with Brechin covering Angus and Dundee.

More here-

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/angus-mearns/663064/gay-cleric-in-running-for-brechin-position/

First female bishop to be consecrated by Scottish Episcopal Church

From Scotland-

Rev Canon Anne Dyer will become bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney in a service at St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen, that will also be livestreamed online.

Canon Dyer succeeds the Rt Rev Dr Robert Gillies, who retired as Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney in October 2016.

The church said the role of a Diocesan Bishop is to "oversee the spiritual and practical concerns of all the clergy and lay people within their diocese and to provide leadership in mission and ministry".

The consecration service will be attended by around 500 people including some from other faith communities across the UK and the Episcopal Church in the US.

The service will be led by the Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

He said: "It is a great privilege and honour to consecrate Anne as the new Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney and to welcome her to the College of Bishops.

"This will be a very special moment in the life of the Scottish Episcopal Church and it is heartening to hear of all the good wishes that people have expressed for the new stage of ministry and leadership that Anne now takes up in the Diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney."

More here-

https://www.premierchristianradio.com/News/UK/First-female-bishop-to-be-consecrated-by-Scottish-Episcopal-Church

Episcopal election makes it three firsts for Scotland’s first female bishop

From ACNS- (more links below)

Fourteen years after the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) formally opened the doors to the consecration of women to the episcopate, it has elected its first female bishop. Canon Anne Dyer, currently the Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Haddington, East Lothian, was elected as the new Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney by the Province’s Episcopal Synod. It is the third “first” for Canon Dyer: In 1987 she was amongst the first group of women to be ordained to the diaconate in the Church of England’s Diocese of Rochester; and also amongst the first group of women in Rochester to be ordained to the priesthood in 1994.

Prior to ordination Anne Dyer read Chemistry at St Anne’s College, Oxford and was a business systems analyst with Unilever before training for ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and studying theology at King’s College London.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2017/11/episcopal-election-makes-it-three-firsts-for-scotlands-first-female-bishop.aspx

and here-

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-41932224

and here-

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Scottish-Episcopal-Church-names-first-female-bishop

Anglican church faces punishment after making history with UK's first same-sex church wedding

From The Independent-

The first same-sex wedding in an Anglican church in the UK has gone ahead despite the threat of punitive sanctions against the church body that gave the ceremony the go-ahead.

Alistair Dinnie and Peter Matthews made history by becoming the first gay couple to tie the knot after the Scottish Episcopal Church, which runs St John’s Church in Edinburgh, voted to overturn rules stipulating that marriage must be between a man and woman.

In June, members of the Scottish Episcopal Church general synod voted overwhelmingly to allow its churches to hold same-sex ceremonies.

More here-

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anglican-church-same-sex-wedding-gay-marriage-alistair-dinnie-peter-matthews-st-johns-edinburgh-a7974151.html

First cathedral offers gay weddings

From Premier UK-

A Scottish cathedral has become the first Anglican cathedral in the country to offer weddings for homosexual couples, after a historic ruling.

St Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow is now taking bookings after the Scottish Episcopal Church's governing body, the General Synod, decided last month to let clergy conduct ceremonies for same-sex couples.

Provost of the Cathedral, the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth said: "It is hugely exciting to open up wedding services to all couples who want to get married.

"People at St Mary's were part of the campaign to allow gay and lesbian couples to get married in Scotland so it is not surprising that we would want to be able to offer such weddings in the cathedral itself."

More here-

https://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/First-cathedral-offers-gay-weddings

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/

Welby Rebukes GAFCON

From The Living Church-

The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned GAFCON against causing “disturbance and discords” by intervening in Britain, adding that “cross-border” intervention would “carry no weight in the Church of England.”

There is no need for a missionary bishop, he said, since there is enough space in the church to accommodate a range of views. The early Church’s First Council of Nicea in 325 condemned interventions and the “great disturbances and discords that occur” resulting from actions of this kind.

Jonathan Petre, religion reporter for The Mail on Sunday, has the knack of acquiring well-timed scoops and finding a fresh angle on well-worn stories. It has long been no secret that GAFCON, the conservative Anglican network, intended to parachute in the Rev. Canon Andy Lines as its bishop in the United Kingdom if Scottish Anglicans approved gay marriage.

More here-

http://livingchurch.org/2017/06/12/welby-rebukes-gafcon/?platform=hootsuite

Welby rebukes conservatives as Scots' gay marriage move opens way for others

From Christian Today-

The Archbishop of Canterbury has criticised conservatives for planting a 'missionary' bishop after Scotland's Anglicans approved gay marriage in church.

It comes conservatives appointed Canon Andy Lines as missionary bishop, making him an alternative figurehead outside the official church structure and effectively prompting a split in the UK Anglican church.

Justin Welby's rebuke came in a blunt letter to leaders across the worldwide Anglican Communion accusing Lines and his colleagues of a 'cross-border intervention' and saying he would 'carry no weight' in the Church of England.

In an unusually direct intervention, Welby quoted one of Christianity's most formative edicts, from the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, condemning 'cross-border interventions' for the 'great disturbances and discords' they cause.

More here-

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/welby.rebukes.conservatives.as.scots.gay.marriage.move.opens.way.for.others/109929.htm

Welby goes to war over ‘anti-gay’ bishop plot by traditionalists after historic marriage vote in Scotland

From The Daily Mail-

The Archbishop of Canterbury has hit out at traditionalists who are planting a ‘missionary’ bishop in the UK after last week’s historic vote by Scottish Anglicans to approve gay marriage.

The rebuke from Justin Welby is his latest attempt to avert a damaging permanent split in the worldwide Anglican Communion over homosexuality.

As this newspaper revealed earlier this year, conservative archbishops, led by the Archbishop of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh, are to consecrate Canon Andy Lines at a meeting in America this month after warning that Western churches are abandoning biblical teaching on the issue.

These archbishops say the new missionary bishop would support disaffected Anglicans who quit in protest at the Scottish Episcopal Church’s decision on Thursday to become the first Anglican body in the UK to allow same-sex marriage in its churches.


More here-


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4592386/Welby-war-anti-gay-bishop-plot-traditionalists.html

Unity in diversity

From Scotland-

In response to a statement from Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion (which can be read here), The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church says:

“The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion has issued a statement commenting on Thursday’s decision by the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church to amend its Canons to permit same-sex marriage. The statement recognises that the Provinces of the Anglican Communion can each take these decisions within their own life. But I think it is important that I should comment on some other aspects of what the statement says and their implications for the continuing life of the Anglican Communion.

“The classic understanding of the position of Provinces of the Anglican Communion is that they do indeed have autonomy. But that autonomy is exercised in tension with a balancing sensitivity to the interdependence of provinces within the Communion. We, in common with other provinces, did not feel that the Anglican Covenant could successfully meet this need. The statement implies that the Primates’ Meeting will now fulfil this role. But such a role is not within their remit or authority. For the Primates’ Meeting was called together originally by Archbishop Coggan for ‘leisurely thought, deep prayer and consultation’.

- See more at:

http://www.scotland.anglican.org/unity-in-diversity/#sthash.QYPMYsUa.dpuf

The Scottish Episcopal Church votes to allow same-sex couples to be married in church

More on the Scottish Vote- (Starting with The Daily Mail)

The Scottish Episcopal Church today voted to allow same-sex couples to be married in church.
A proposal to amend canon law to permit clerics to conduct weddings for gay couples was backed at the annual meeting of the church's General Synod in Edinburgh.

Under the terms of the vote, clergy who do not wish to preside over same-sex weddings will not be compelled to do so 'against their conscience'.

The historic decision makes the Scottish Episcopal Church the first branch of the Anglican faith in the UK to allow same-sex marriage.

In approving the proposal, church members voted to remove the doctrinal clause which stated that marriage is a 'union of one man and one woman'.
It was replaced with a 'conscience clause' which states: 'In the light of the fact that there are differing understandings of the nature of marriage in this church, no cleric of this church shall be obliged to conduct any marriage against their conscience.'

More here-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4585382/The-Scottish-Episcopal-Church-backs-sex-marriage.html

Christian Post-

http://www.christianpost.com/news/scottish-episcopal-church-approves-gay-marriage-opponents-broken-by-move-that-harms-unity-187162/

Tablet-

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/7258/0/scottish-episcopal-church-permits-gay-marriage-in-historic-vote

Belfast-

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/episcopalian-move-on-gay-weddings-rapped-35805256.html

Scottish Vote Roundup

From The Mirror (more links below)

The Scottish Episcopal Church has voted to allow same-sex couples to be married in church.

A proposal to amend canon law to permit clerics to conduct weddings for gay couples was backed on Thursday at the annual meeting of the church's General Synod in Edinburgh.

Under the terms of the vote, clergy who do not wish to preside over same-sex weddings will not be compelled to do so "against their conscience".

The historic decision makes the SEC the first branch of the Anglican faith in the UK to allow same-sex marriage.

Equal-rights campaigners were quick to welcome the decision.

However, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said the vote puts the Scottish Episcopal Church at odds with the majority stance within the Anglican Communion.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gay-couples-allowed-marry-anglican-10587024

The Independent-

http://www.independent.co.uk/News/uk/home-news/scottish-church-same-sex-marriage-support-vote-episcopal-a7779691.html 

The Guardian-

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/08/scottish-episcopal-church-votes-to-allow-same-sex-weddings 

From The BBC-

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40190204 

The Scotsman-

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-episcopal-church-votes-to-allow-same-sex-marriage-1-4469886 

US News-

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-06-08/scottish-episcopal-church-to-allow-same-sex-weddings

Time-

http://time.com/4812103/scottish-episcopal-church-same-sex-marriage/

The Telegraph-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/08/scottish-episcopal-church-historic-decision-backing-gay-marriage/

Daily Mail-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-4585610/Scottish-church-Britain-allow-sex-marriages.html

Scottish Episcopal Church to vote on gay marriage in church

From The BBC-

The Scottish Episcopal Church will hold a historic vote later on whether to allow gay couples to marry in church.

If the vote is passed, it will become the first mainstream Christian organisation in the UK to allow same-sex marriage.

However, it will also leave the Church at odds with most of the rest of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The motion to change canon law on marriage will be debated at the Church's General Synod in Edinburgh.

The proposal would remove the doctrinal clause stating that marriage is between a man and a woman.
It will only be accepted if it receives the backing of at least two thirds of each house of Bishops, Clergy and Laity.

More here-

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40190204

Scottish Anglicans will decide this week about same-sex weddings

From The Church Times-

THE Scottish Episcopal Church reaches a landmark moment this week as its General Synod prepares to vote on whether to allow clergy to conduct marriages for same-sex couples in church.

While welcoming same-sex marriage may be the “easier” option, the Church will face challenges whatever the result, the Primus, the Most Revd David Chillingworth, has warned.

“If the vote is approved, we face all the challenges of operating the guidelines which we have drawn up to manage the diversity [of views on marriage],” he said on Monday. “If the vote doesn’t go through, there will be deep distress on the side of those who have been strong advocates of the change.”

Bishop Chillingworth was speaking ahead of the Synod, which is due to gather in St Paul’s & St George’s, Edinburgh, on Thursday. The first session will centre on a second reading of a revised Canon 31 on the solemnisation of holy matrimony, which was produced two years ago by the Faith and Order Board at the request of the Synod (News, 13 June 2015).

More here-

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/9-june/news/uk/scottish-anglicans-will-decide-this-week-about-same-sex-weddings

Scottish Episcopal Church Expected to Begin Officiating Same-Sex Weddings by Fall

From Scotland-

Same-sex couples will likely be able to wed in the The Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) by this fall, less than a year after church leaders voted to remove a clause in its law stating that marriage is a union of a man and a woman.

According to the Herald Scotland, the SEC is expected to become the first major denomination to take the controversial step after its General Synod backed a motion to officiate gay marriages.
Last year, synod members voted to delete the first clause of canon 31, which states: "The doctrine of this church is that marriage is a physical, spiritual and mystical union of one man and one woman." In March, six of the seven synods voted in favor of a proposal to amend canon law to allow clerics to conduct marriages for same-sex couples in church.

More here-

http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/70769/20170601/scottish-episcopal-church-expected-begin-officiating-same-sex-weddings-fall.htm

and here-

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15323615.Scott_Rennie_welcomes_marriage_moves_within_Episcopal_church/

and here-

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gay-wedding-opponents-will-need-pastoral-care-tbqgx3n6x

Church of Scotland to Allow Gay Marriage?

From Christian Post-

A leader of the Church of Scotland, who convenes the church's Theological Forum, told the General Assembly there is no theological reason to oppose same-sex marriages in the Church, as he presented a report that proposes the governing body approve a detailed study of how such ceremonies could be allowed.

"We see this as permissive rather than directive," the Very Rev. Iain Torrance told the assembly, according to BBC. "We say that after reflection we can see no sufficient theological reason for the Church now not to authorize specific ministers to officiate at same-sex weddings, if doing so does not prejudice the position of those who decline to do so for reasons of conscience."


Read more at

http://www.christianpost.com/news/church-of-scotland-to-allow-gay-marriage-185372/#VZ15opr1zSiDC2vo.99