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Do you know what a woman is? If so, you’re a ways ahead of the Church of England.During this month’s General Synod, Senior Bishop Rt Rev Robert Innes was asked by lay member Adam Kendry to clear any confusion:“What is the Church of England’s definition of a woman?”It turns out church officials were previously making mere assumptions. And the question isn’t any longer so simple.Courtesy of The Telegraph, the bishop’s written response:“There is no official definition, which reflects the fact that until fairly recently definitions of this kind were thought to be self-evident, as reflected in the marriage liturgy.”He called...

For same-sex couples, being gay and being a Christian doesn’t always fit together easily, especially when they are making plans for their wedding day. They may be welcomed week-after-week to worship within the Church of England, but it is a welcome that is not extended to hosting their marriage ceremony. But one vicar, who is part of the team leading a project reviewing the church’s position on same-sex relationships says he believes the church has reached a point where change in some form is now inevitable. It means the church could be closer than ever to allowing gay couples to...

The Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested that Jesus would get vaccinated against Covid. The Most Rev Justin Welby urged people to get jabbed, saying it is a moral issue. He also issued a thinly-veiled criticism of No10 saying he felt ‘real disappointment and sadness’ at seeing photos of Downing Street staff eating cheese and drinking wine during the first lockdown. In an interview with ITV News At Ten, the archbishop said getting vaccinated ‘is not about me and my rights’. ‘It’s about how I love my neighbour. Vaccination reduces my chances of getting ill and reducing my chances of getting...

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said being vaccinated against coronavirus is a moral issue. The Most Rev Justin Welby said that getting the jab reduces the chances of illness being spread and that 'it's not about me and my rights to choose - it's about how I love my neighbour'. His comments come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that people could go ahead with their Christmas plans but there is 'continuing uncertainty' about the severity of the fast-spreading Omicron variant and hospital admission rates.

The Church of Ireland is to complete its divestment from companies that extract fossil fuels by the end of this year. Companies where more than 10 percent of turnover is derived from fossil fuel extraction will be excluded from investments made by the Representative Church Body (RCB). […] The Church of Ireland said through its climate change policy, the RCB seeks to mitigate and lower the climate change impact within its investment portfolios and “has taken several steps in this regard over the past number of years”. This includes collaborative engagement, investments in wind and solar energy and forestry, the...

One of the most famous Kings in the world has to be Henry VIII of England. He is most known today for the fact he had 6 wives, and the fact he ordered the execution of 2 of these, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Henry VIII's love life certainly was turbulent, and it caused chaos across the country. After being refused a divorce for his first wife Catherine of Aragon, he split from Rome becoming the Supreme Head of the Church of England. This began the English Reformation, which changed the face of religion forever.We know much about Henry's wives,...

The Church of England may institute a quota on black and minority ethnic clergy within its ranks as well as institute anti-racism training, according to a report leaked Saturday. The Spectator obtained a copy of a report set to be turned into the Archbishops’ Council next week by the Church of England’s anti-racism task force, which was established after Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby apologized for the denomination’s racist past last year. The British magazine reports that the title of the document, slated to be released to the public on April 22, is “From Lament to Action: Report of the...

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...