Tuesday, 12 December 2023

Part 188. Unsettled time. Bring it on!

Today I have posted two items on my Facebook page: John Hopkinson Theology Page. Both refer to serious discontent, one within the ranks of the Roman Catholic Church, the other within the Church of England.

The progressive direction of travel  established by Pope Francis has not been well received by many in the Church and in particular by a group of Bishops in the USA. Pope Francis has applied sanctions to them. The article I  posted is a vicious hatchet job, hardly indicative of Christian love.

The Church of England Evangelical Council  has established temporary arrangements for episcopal pastoral oversight to be available to clergy and congregations unwilling to support recent decisions by General Synod to authorise bishops to introduce inter alia, stand alone services of blessing for couples in same sex marriages.  The CEEC hopes to establish formal arrangements, presumably in like fashion to the 'flying bishops' following the ordination of women. The CEEC arrangements presumably will not be available in dioceses where the bishop opposed the blessings. It all smacks of schism. Is GAFCON calling?

One trusts that The Salvation Army will note the problems faced by both churches as it considers the rising tide of opposition with the lower ranks to the current homophobia in the Army in respect of soldiership and officership.



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