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The Church of England announced that it is going to begin a formal “discernment and decision-making” process "about a way forward for the church" in regards to its teachings on sex, sexuality and marriage. Church leaders are aiming to come to a conclusion on the long-debated issues by 2022. The announcement came with the launch of the "Living in Love and Faith" resources, which more than 40 people, led by the Bishop of Coventry Christopher Cocksworth, worked on for three years to help people participate in honest discussions, listen to life stories and understand each other’s views. Part of the...

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York John Sentamu have apologized for a decree issued by the Church of England which said that only heterosexual married couples should have sex and that sex in gay or straight civil partnerships “falls short of God’s purpose for human beings according to scriptural teachings.” “We as Archbishops, alongside the bishops of the Church of England, apologize and take responsibility for releasing a statement last week which we acknowledge has jeopardised trust,” the archbishops said in a statement, according to Belfast Telegraph. “We are very sorry and recognize the division and hurt...

The Church of England has become embroiled in a row over whether it should publicly oppose Labour and Liberal Democrat plans to liberalize abortion laws. More than 400 members of the clergy wrote an open letter to senior figures complaining that the political shift would see fetuses classed as “no longer human beings” worthy of legal protection. The letter criticized bishops for not standing up for the church’s official teaching on abortion — that terminating pregnancies in most cases is wrong as the unborn child has the potential to “develop relationships, think, pray, choose and love”. It said members had...

Archbishop of Canterbury Hosts Muslim Gabfest as Peers Push Abortion on Northern Ireland Truant archbishop marks World Emoji Day as babies are slaughtered LONDON (ChurchMilitant.com) - The archbishop of Canterbury and his fellow bishops in the Church of England are being slammed for skipping the critical House of Lords vote that resulted in the imposition of abortion on Northern Ireland. None of the 26 bishops who serve as voting members of Parliament were present or voted during the debate on July 17 and 18

Songs of Praise has screened the show's first ever gay wedding as part of a drive to modernise the programme. Presenters of the BBC One show have vowed that they are “not afraid of controversy” as they broadcast a wedding which is currently banned in the Church of England. The Sunday afternoon show, which has been running since 1961, was traditionally a “sort of hymn sandwich”, presenter of more than three decades Pam Rhodes said. But now, which a magazine format an on screen cast which includes soprano Katherine Jenkins and JB Gill, the former frontman of boy-band JLS, the...

In part two of her two-part series on academic free speech and the LGBT agenda, Carys Moseley discusses the silence of UK theologians on the issue and urges theology departments across the country to start speaking the truth.Last week I looked at how academic freedom is being threatened by transgender awareness training given by the LGBT charity Stonewall in over 40 universities in the UK. As several of these universities have departments of theology which either train ordinands for Christian ministry or accredit such training by independent theological colleges, we need to discern what sort of effect this Stonewall training...

Newcastle Cathedral is being confronted over a weekend-long LGBT festival that includes a panel discussion on “Queering the Church”. Coinciding with the city’s pro-LGBT march, the Cathedral is hosting four panellists including a Church of England curate who identifies as ‘non-binary genderqueer transgender’. Colin Hart, The Christian Institute’s Director, said such festivals lead people away from the good news of the Gospel. Beyond toleranceBetween Friday 19 and Sunday 21 July, the Cathedral is hosting six LGBT events. These include a communion service with an LGBT emphasis, marching with others in the city centre and “LGBT History Telling”. The Pride Panel...

The Rev Andrew Foreshew-Cain had served as a vicar for around two decades until his fractious exit in 2017. His crime? Marrying his partner, Stephen, in 2014. While he kept his position at St Mary with All Souls, Kilburn, and St James’, West Hampstead, after his wedding, he says he was “blacklisted” from finding a new job. In 2017, he resigned, publicly condemning the church as “institutionally homophobic”. It was a bold statement, and one he knew would bar him from ever returning. While heterosexual priests can marry and have sex, gay clergy members are expected to remain unmarried and...

The Bishop of Liverpool has said he will attend an international summit of Anglican leaders without his wife next year, in protest at a bar on the partners of gay clergy. Rt Rev Paul Bayes described the decision to prevent same-sex partners of clergy from attending the 2020 Lambeth Conference as an "act of exclusion". In a message posted on Twitter, he said: "I deeply regret that, in the fractious complexities of our life as a worldwide people, this act of exclusion has taken its place. "It is a grief to me and to my wife, and to many others....

UNITED KINGDOM, December 11, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – While the Church of England – the largest Christian denomination in the United Kingdom – is stopping short of calling its newly instituted blessing for “transgenders” a second baptism, priests are being directed to offer baptism-style ceremonies for those announcing their new sexual identity. In a newly issued pastoral guidance, clergy are being told to call men by their new female names, and women by their new male names. The guidance declares, “For a trans person to be addressed liturgically by the minister for the first time by their chosen name may be...

Do you see the Pilgrims as folksy people in funny hats? The true story of the Pilgrims’ great journey to America was one of courageous faith, daring escape, and tenuous survival. Theirs is the story of refugees who fled intense religious persecution. Bible Gateway interviewed Jay Milbrandt (@JayMilbrandt) about his book, They Came for Freedom: The Forgotten, Epic Adventure of the Pilgrims (Thomas Nelson, 2017).As a lawyer and historian, how have you joined those two elements in writing this book?Jay Milbrandt: A lawyer is a storyteller. It’s our job to understand and explain the facts. I see my role as...

The Church of England has joined the war on plastic as vicars buy cassocks made from recycled bottles. A clerical clothing manufacturer has launched the first-ever plastic cassock in a bid to make priestly clothing more eco-friendly. Butler & Butler has begun selling a men's cassock made from 100 per cent recycled polyester made from reclaimed PET bottles. The company, which specialises in fair trade and organic clerical outfits, first began selling the clothing a fortnight ago and Mr Butler says it has been popular with ethically-minded clergy. Director of the company the Rev Simon Butler said it had come...

London's Southwark Cathedral hosted its second annual "Grand Iftar Service" on Sunday evening, marking the anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack last year. In addition to the 11 a.m. Eucharist service, the church also held a 3 p.m. Service of Commemoration for the attack, and an 8 p.m. service to celebrate the Muslim service. The Iftar service stood out, however, as it marked the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It has not yet been reported whether or not the prayers associated with Ramadan were performed inside the cathedral, which would be a serious violation of Christian holy space. Hosting...

Transgender people are being encouraged to become Church of England vicars as bishops launch a diversity drive. Bishops in the diocese of Lichfield have issued new guidance to parishioners and clergy reminding them that LGBT people "can be called to roles of leadership and service in the local church". The guidance, titled "welcoming and honouring LGBT+ people", warns that the church's reputation as being unwelcoming towards gay and transgender people is stopping young people attending. "We very much hope that they, like everyone else, feel encouraged to serve on PCCs, or as churchwardens and worship leaders, for instance, and are...

* The Archbishop of Wales, John Davies, has been accused of ‘sowing confusion’* He said it was ‘terribly hard’ for people to grasp the idea of a bodily resurrection* The Archbishop, 65 was elected in September to head the Church in WalesOne of Britain’s leading Anglican clerics has sparked controversy by casting doubts over the Resurrection of Jesus – just days before Easter. The Archbishop of Wales, John Davies, has been accused of ‘sowing confusion’ over the biblical story that will be celebrated by millions around the world today. Asked in an interview about the New Testament account of Jesus...

Cardinal George Pell's barrister: loud, socially progressive and an avowed atheist (The Age cannot be posted.)

The Church of England is facing as many as 3,300 potential sex abuse cases in the form of concerns and allegations, as revealed by the Church's lead bishop on safeguarding issues. The Times reported on Thursday that Peter Hancock, bishop of Bath and Wells, shared the latest figures, which concern sex abuse against children and vulnerable adults reaching up to 2016, during a three-day meeting of the General Synod in London. Hancock did not make it clear whether all the complaints are new or a combination with longstanding ones, but even if a fraction of them are upheld, the CofE...

The Church of England has rejected a proposal for a new service to mark a congregant’s sex change – but has given the nod to using an existing ‘reaffirmation’ baptism service, instead. The decision by the Anglican House of Bishops to reject proposals for the development of a new special service to mark gender transitions was criticised by LGBT activists within the church. The ruling, revealed on Sunday, comes after the General Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of introducing such church services in July. Though the House of Bishops rejects the writing of a new service, it advises clergy that...

Church of England schools have announced they plan to hand out forms allowing students and teachers to report homophobic and transgender bullying. The Daily Mail reports that the forms will be given to 5,000 schools in efforts to allow students to report teachers or any other adults who are perceived to be bullying. A template form gives school staff 11 boxes in which to identify the kind of bullying they say they have seen or suffered -- and identify the perpetrator. Options available include "gender identity - transphobic;" "gender - sexist bullying;" "sexual orientation - homophobic;" "sexual orientation - biphobic,"...

Former nurse appointed to third highest position in C of E says she respects those who object to appointment of a womanA woman has been appointed as the bishop of London, the third position in the Church of England, in a move that delighted campaigners for gender equality but is likely to dismay conservatives in the church. Sarah Mullally, the bishop of Crediton, has been appointed the 133rd bishop of London, Downing Street announced. She will automatically take a seat in the House of Lords and the post-holder is traditionally dean of the royal chapels. At a press conference at...