Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire has not been banned from pulpits in the Church of England according to a spokesman for the Archbishop of Canterbury, who denied press speculation that the Archbishop Rowan Williams was attempting to silence Bishop Robinson.
A press officer confirmed on May 2 that Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams had not issued Bishop Robinson a license to officiate in the Province of Canterbury. However, Church of England canon law does not grant the archbishop the authority to ban preachers, the spokesman noted.
In other words, they can tolerate a heretic in the pulpit but not at the altar.
[size=1][color=red][url=http://resurrectioncommunitypersonal.blogspot.com/]The Rabbit[/url][/color][color=gray].[/color][/size]
[i]However, Church of England canon law does not grant the archbishop the authority to ban preachers, the spokesman noted.[/i]
American canon law doesn’t give the PB the authority to try to nix diocesan convention guests, either, but that doesn’t stop anyone.
We have to put up with Jeremiah Wright, the Brits can stand to hear the blathering of VGR. Good for practicing the stiff upper lip.
But VGR said he’d never do it without permission! Ya’ll don’t believe it?
Me neither. The cameras will be there too.
dwstroudmd…
Wouldn’t he need to have permission to preach in a pulpit other than his? (I’m assuming his pulpits are all in New Hampshire)That’s how it works around here.
I don’t think Bishop Robinson should complain too much. He’s allowed in the building. The Wesleys and Whitefield had to preach outdoors.
Nor should those who hear him complain because they will at least have the opportunity to sit during the message. Charles Simeon’s parish locked the pews in an attempt to get rid of the undesirable preacher and those who came to hear him.
I think we may be missing something here.
Laypeople are, I believe, allowed to preach in COE churches, just as they are here in TEC.
Precisely the point Sarah. The Wesleys and Whitefield were considered to be under orders when they were sent outdoors. They were expected to obey the local bishop and not preach.
Robinson preaches inside but does not celebrate the Eucharist because he is not considered to be under orders and the local diocesan has no objections to his preaching. He would be outside with the TV cameras if the local bishop said no.
Canon B18 para. 2
According the Church of England Canon Law laity need diocesan permission to preach.
I guess Gene can preach anywhere if allowed. I don’t have to stay and listen do I?? Hear again the story of the person who complained to a policeman of what he heard from a soapbox preacher in Hyde Park. “Sir, nothing prevents you from standing on your own soapbox”!