Church of England synod moves forward with a test of prayers for same-sex couples
London, UKRNS The Church of England will test-run stand-alone services for blessing same-sex couples after its ruling body, the General Synod, voted to move ahead with implementing special prayers of thanks and dedication for gay couples. The vote to go ahead with the pilot program followed hours of emotionally charged debate about the church’s pastoral […]
Church of England to draft pastoral guidance on same-sex couple blessings
London, UKReuters The Church of England will work towards drafting new pastoral guidance and other material needed to allow same-sex couples to receive blessings from priests over the next few months, it said on Saturday. The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, speaks during the Service of Prayer and Reflection at St Paul’s Cathedral, following the […]
Divided Church of England to debate blessings for same-sex unions
London, UKReuters The Church of England’s governing body will deliberate on how priests could carry out blessings for same-sex couples when it gathers in the cathedral city of York for a five-day meeting on Friday. The assembly of bishops, clergy and laity – called the General Synod – is also due to discuss on Saturday […]
Some Anglican bishops reject leader Welby over gay marriage
London, UKAP Several Anglican bishops from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific said Monday that they no longer recognize Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as their leader, deepening a rift within the global Anglican Communion over gay marriage. Some bishops who belong to the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches said they no longer consider Welby […]
“We cannot walk with you unless you repent,” African archbishops tell Church of England
Nairobi, Kenya RNS Conservative Anglican archbishops in Africa are challenging a decision by the Church of England to allow clergy to bless same sex couples’ marriages, warning that the move puts the worldwide Anglican Communion in further jeopardy. The leaders are reacting to the 9th February vote at the Church of England’s General Synod to permit the […]
Church of England allows blessings for same-sex couples
London, UKAP The Church of England’s national assembly on Thursday voted to let priests bless same-sex marriages and civil partnerships, while continuing to ban church weddings for the same couples. Bishops proposed the compromise measure after five years of discussions about the church’s position on sexuality. It was approved by the church’s General Synod, which […]
Church of England explores gender neutral God
London, UKReuters The Church of England will look into the use of gender neutral terms to refer to God in prayers, but the centuries-old institution said on Wednesday there were no plans to abolish current services. The issue reflects growing global awareness about the assumed usage of pronouns causing offence or upset to those who […]
Future planning: Looking for radical solutions to decline, Church of England debates lay-led house churches
CATHERINE PEPINSTER, writing for Religion News Service, reports on the push for change within the Church of England…
In the US, as United Church of Christ takes on race and LGBTQ issues, consensus reigns
RNS When the United Church of Christ kicks off its General Synod on Sunday, Rev Traci Blackmon isn’t worried about fractious votes, conservative insurgencies or to-do’s over high-level resignations – or calls for the same. The UCC, in short, is no Southern Baptist Convention, which endured all of the above at its annual meeting last […]
Proposals aim to end Church of England inaction over racism
LondonAP A report aiming to tackle racism in the Church of England has recommended dozens of proposals to end decades of inaction, including the requirement that at least one ethnic minority candidate be included in shortlists for senior clergy roles. The church’s Anti-Racism Taskforce was set up last year after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin […]