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Joshua Penduck writes: The following is a review and critique of Charlie Bell’s book Queer Holiness: The Gift of LGBTQI People to the Church. It will be divided into four blog posts (though a complete version of the review can be found here: Review-of-Charlie-Bell-Queer-Holiness). The first part is an introduction to Queer Holiness, plus the beginnings of … Continue Reading
Mike Starkey writes: In recent years drag has gone mainstream. Actually, it’s bigger than that. Drag has become all-conquering, ubiquitous, the performance art of the moment. The art of cross-dressing for entertainment has a long history, often confined to spaces frequented by consenting adults. By the late 20th century in Britain, drag was drawing an enthusiastic … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: Following my recent article on where we should be going on LLF I had a few brief exchanges with David Runcorn on my Facebook page. This made clear that he and I were viewing the current situation in quite different ways but, as he commented, “that needs a long conversation”. I was therefore … Continue Reading
Following on from the broo-ha-ha about Stephen Cottrell’s comments on the problems of calling God ‘Father‘, the latest episode in the debate about God’s sex and pronouns comes from Hereford Cathedral. Last Sunday, their main Communion service began with an Introit which re-writes Psalm 23 with God identified using female pronouns. The Lord is … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: This painful and contested situation cannot continue, for the sake of the proclamation of the Gospel in England and our own integrity and peace as a Church. These words particularly struck me in a surprisingly un-publicised but important public letter on the LLF process that was released last week. It came from … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: Twenty years ago, Archbishop Rowan began his presidential address to the July 2003 York General Synod by asking “Does the Church of England exist?”. He replied that “there are several different ‘Churches of England’” and we need “to find out what it is that makes these diverse ‘churches’ one” because “if we can’t … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: In this third part of three articles, I consider the use of Canon B2 for the proposing of the Prayers of Love and Faith. You can find Part One here, Part Two here, and a summary of the whole argument here. The place of General Synod Under the Church of England (Worship and … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: Part One of these three articles set out the process of commending prayers for use under canon B5 and the problems with the bishops’ proposal to introduce PLF by this means. Given these problems it may be better to look for formal approval of PLF by the alternative route of authorisation. Here a … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: As the Report of the House of Commons Privileges Committee makes clear, beneath the high drama of Boris Johnson’s recent resignation as an MP there lie important questions of principle about procedure and power. These can get lost in the soap opera focus on personalities but they are crucial. When there are questions … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: The proposed Prayers of Love and Faith, once finalised, will need to be given an official status and made available for use in the church by some particular legal route. The options for this (full texts available here) are laid out in Canons B2 (authorisation by General Synod), B4 (authorisation by Convocation, Archbishops, … Continue Reading
Why is the debate on sexuality and marriage in the Church of England (and other churches) such a big deal? Why can’t we just agree to disagree—to get on together and learn to live with difference? Two groups regularly say that to me. The first is those who want change in the Church’s teaching. Why … Continue Reading
Ian Paul: theologian, author, speaker, academic consultant. Associate Senior Research Fellow, Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham; Managing Editor, Grove Books; member of General Synod and Archbishops' Council. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo
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