(A Statement issued yesterday on behalf of the Bishop of Chichester, the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, the Bishop of Beverley, the Bishop of Burnley, the Bishop of Edmonton, the Bishop of Horsham, the Bishop of Plymouth, the Bishop of Pontefract, Bishop Lindsay Urwin OGS and others.)
Anglican Catholic bishops have announced that in addition to the provision of an Ordinariate offered recently by Pope Benedict there is to be a new Society [of St Wilfrid and St Hilda] for bishops, clergy, religious and laity in order to provide a place within the Church of England where catholics can worship and minister with integrity without accepting innovations that further distance the Church of England from the greater churches of the East and West.
At two upbeat gatherings this week of over 600 clergy and religious from the northern and southern provinces of the Church of England, there was unanimous condemnation of proposed legislation to allow the ordination of women as bishops that will soon go to the dioceses for discussion, debate and approval.
The unveiling of The Missionary Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda reflects a determination not to accept a Code of Practice as currently suggested by the General Synod but to work for and create a more realistic approach which allows the integrity of those who cannot accept this innovation to be preserved, to flourish and grow within the Church of England. This development represents a constructive initiative on the part of those who cannot accept the innovations proposed in legislation and who are hurt and frustrated by the General Synod’s inability to provide for their theological position.
Sounds good, and how nice to see a female saint included.
At best doomed and at worst a puppet for the mainstream C of E, one that eventually will go ‘Affirming’. A playhouse in a liberal Protestant denomination – also true of Anglo-Catholic congregationalism – or a place for gay æsthetes to witter about liturgy and art.
An Anglican is somebody whose bishop is invited to Lambeth. Of course classic Anglo-Catholics say they alone get Anglican tradition right but ‘Anglican tradition’ makes me think of the black scarf, the Black Rubric and quarterly Communion services.
Did you get out of the wrong side of bed young fogey?
No, it’s just frustrating to see a big part of what in many ways is a good culture worth keeping go to waste.
Its about time!
The anglo-catholic bishops have almost given the impression of late that they do no more than wring their hands and continually whine “Oh woe, oh woe is me…!”
As an evangelical, I’m glad to see the ACs *fighting* for orthodoxy in the CofE. The more at the barricades, the better. This is going to be a long fight…
[Comment deleted by Elf – comments instructing, suggesting or encouraging others to leave or join particular churches are against comment policy on T19]