When I was a young man, some forty plus years ago now, the evangelicals of the Church of England were, as a tribe, rather abstemious when it came to alcohol. My training incumbent was teetotal. He wasn't unusual. Lots of evangelicals might have had a half pint of shandy on a very hot day, or …
Category: Church of England
Mood Music – A Letter from Lichfield
There have been a variety of reactions to the letter from the bishops of Lichfield diocese to all clergy and licensed lay ministers entitled Welcoming and Honouring LGBT+ people. The letter can be read here. It is clearly intended to be a strongly positive statement affirming the place and role of LGBT+ people in the …
Indivisible Freedom and a Homophobic Church
Moving to Zaïre in 1987, among many cultural shocks encountered was the fact that a visa to travel there was a one-way ticket. There was no automatic freedom of movement out of the country once you had entered. You had to apply for an exit/re-entry visa when in situ. For someone used to their passport …
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Pemberton v Inwood: the end of the matter
This is a press release I have put out this morning as the Court of Appeal handed down judgment: The Court of Appeal has examined the issues in my claim against Bishop Richard Inwood and has dismissed them. I am grateful for the expertise of the Court, though naturally disappointed in the judgment. I have …
Letter to General Synod Members before the July Synod
Dear Synod Member, Thank you for your contribution to the life of our church. I do not underestimate the amount of time that it takes for you to prepare for a Synod meeting, and to give up time for what is a very intense few days. I know too, from my time as a Rural …
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Restoring Dignity in the Church of England
It is July. It is time for General Synod in York. This is the kick-back Synod. Time for sandals and open-necked shirts, strawberries and ice cream, and clergy not looking clerical, except for the ones who always do. But the external relaxedness masks some serious business. Three pieces of business around sexuality and gender issues …
From The Quire 