The Anglican Communion will have a greater say in choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury, after the General Synod approved a motion on Saturday to increase from one to five its representation on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for Canterbury.

The balance of representation on the CNC has long been suggested as unreflective of the current nature of the role of the Archbishop, whose responsibilities are closely bound with those of the Communion. A background paper presented to Synod suggested the position was rooted in the colonial history of England: “The Church of England and the Communion cannot escape asking why a British cleric should always be primus inter pares” [first among equals].

Moving the motion, Dr Jamie Harris (Durham) welcomed the acceptance of others into the discernment process. Given that the average Anglican was a woman under 40, and living in sub-Saharan Africa, the Archbishop of Canterbury had “a particular concern for who she is and where she is. . . The Archbishop remains a central focus for unity,” he said. This had increased over time.

There were detractors during what was a long debate on the motion, which the chair, Canon Professor Joyce Hill, had warned Synod at the outset might be “procedurally a little bit complicated”, with issues in the several amendments not easily separated.

Read it all.

The Anglican Communion will have a greater say in choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury, after the General Synod approved a motion on Saturday to increase from one to five its representation on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for Canterburyhttps://t.co/B8XaiRvYJk

— Church Times (@ChurchTimes) July 14, 2022

The Episcopal Church has voted to approve the merger of two dioceses in Texas, one of which lost its property, name and assets in court to a…[group of Anglicans who hold to what the majority of Anglicans worldwide believe about anthropology and marriage].

The Episcopal Church in North Texas (ECNTX), formerly known as the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, has been seeking to merge with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

At the mainline denomination’s 80th General Convention, the House of Deputies approved a resolution for the merger last Saturday, while the House of Bishops approved it on Monday.

Bishop Scott Mayer, bishop provisional of North Texas, spoke at the General Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, explaining that he was “looking forward to a wonderful future.”

Read it all.

The publication of the report of the public inquiry into child sex abuse in Telford, demands a response from all organisations working with children and young people. Over a thousand girls, across decades, were subject to Child Sexual Exploitation. Not only were signs ignored, but victims went unheard and were often themselves blamed.

Church leaders and representatives can be reluctant to comment publicly on the safeguarding shortcomings of other institutions, quite simply because of the Church’s own failures to protect those who are vulnerable or to respond well to survivors and victims. But we must speak up.

There is no doubt that victims and survivors were badly failed and we should all be asking what we can learn from this important inquiry and how we can better protect children and young people in our communities.

Read it all.

Statement on Telford Inquiry report https://t.co/RfNkLo86M3

— Canterbury Diocese (@CanterburyDio) July 14, 2022

Pray for St. John’s, John’s Island This Sunday

We’re asking all our churches to include St. John’s in their “Prayers of the People” this Sunday. July 17 is their first Sunday meeting at Haut Gap Middle School.

A standing room only crowd filled St. John’s Walton Hall for their July 10 service, the final one held on the historic campus and the day they said farewell to their beloved rector the Rev. Dr. Greg Snyder (who had served the parish for 20 years) and his wife, Beth. Fr. Greg preached, acknowledging his own grief, admitting “I don’t like this,” and encouraging those present to admit their feelings, “When you stand before a loving God be honest about how you feel.” He didn’t stay in that posture though and told them, “When God’s people have been willing to sacrifice, great things happen… on the other side of this you are going to see marvelous things.” Listen to the sermon. View a video and photo album.

Read it all.

In Aug, The Rev. Dr. Greg Snyder, Rector, St. John’s, Johns Island & his wife, Beth Snyder, Assistant to the Bishop & Event Coordinator for the Diocese, will be moving to Knoxville, TN, where Greg has accepted a position at the University of TN. They will be sorely missed! #ADOSC pic.twitter.com/RZVVTfflSY

— Anglican Diocese of SC (@anglican_sc) June 8, 2022

Americans’ confidence in U.S. public schools remains low, with 28% saying they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the institution, similar to 32% last year. Both figures are down from 41% in 2020, reflecting a brief surge in the early months of the pandemic after registering 29% in 2019.

While all political party groups expressed more confidence than usual in public schools in 2020, Republicans’ confidence has since plunged, while independents’ has dipped and Democrats’ has remained near their pandemic high.

The percentage of Republicans having a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in public schools fell from 34% in 2020 to 20% in 2021 and 14% today. Since 2020, independents’ confidence has declined nine percentage points to 29% and Democrats’ has remained fairly high — currently 43%, versus 48% in 2020.

Today’s 29-point gap between Republican and Democratic confidence in public schools contrasts with an average seven points since the start of Gallup’s Confidence in Institutions trend in 1973.

Read it all.

Americans’ confidence in U.S. public schools remains low — 28% say they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the institution, similar to 32% last year. https://t.co/fIMcRmol5w

— GallupNews (@GallupNews) July 14, 2022

Almighty God, who didst give to thy servant Argula von Grumbach a spirit of wisdom and power to love thy Word and to boldly draw others unto its truth: Pour out that same spirit upon us, so that we, knowing and loving thy Holy Word, may be unashamed of Christ and may not sin against the Holy Spirit that is within us, Amen.

The Episcopal Church also commemorates Argula von Grumbach, Scholar & Church Reformer, c.1554 https://t.co/BMcyTAJKVO

A C16th reformist Protestant writer, she is best known for her 1523 letter to the University of Ingolstadt's faculty challenging the arrest of a Lutheran student pic.twitter.com/5vIyhPxybA

— The Anglican Church in St Petersburg (@anglicanspb) July 14, 2022

O eternal and glorious Trinity, deeper than the deepest sea, and the abyss of love for whom we thirst and long; let us forever desire your light, forever seek your face and forever wrap ourselves in the robe of your glory; world without end. Amen.

As we move through the summer, keep an eye out for mulberry trees bearing fruit. You might see them in older gardens. In 1607 King James I ordered the nobility to plant them in the hope they’d attract silkworms and start a British silk industry.

Photo: Chastleton, Oxfordshire. pic.twitter.com/xrPJHp4IbK

— National Trust (@nationaltrust) July 14, 2022

Do not forsake me, O Lord!
O my God, be not far from me!
Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!

–Psalm 38:21-22

Good Thursday morning! #SunsetBeach @EdPiotrowski @medwick @ChrissyKohler @WXIIJackie @Em_I_Am @JustinMcKeeWx @LeeHaywoodWX @ramelcarpenter @marioncaldwx @RealSaltLife @StarboardRail @StormHour @ThePhotoHour @Christina4casts @AndrewWMBF @CMorganWX @donnagregorytv pic.twitter.com/z9Up8I1UQl

— Mark Moore (@MMoore_hoops) July 14, 2022