The Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) reports that a Welsh television drama advisor is to become Director of Formation for Licensed Ministry for St Padarn’s Institute, the dumbed-down training arm of the Church in Wales.
The Revd Canon Dr Manon Ceridwen James worked as adviser on S4C’s drama Parch "a popular television drama about a female vicar in rural Wales", as if the Vicar of Dibley hasn't already done enough damage. She has been appointed to oversee the training of all licensed ministers in the country.
Canon James is the author of Women, Identity and Religion in Wales, a book on Welsh feminist theology which must be music to the ears of the bench sitters.
She described her new role as “an exceptional opportunity for me to play a part in growing lay and ordained ministers who will equip our churches to serve our communities and share the good news of Jesus Christ with them.”
What feminism has to do with the good news of Jesus Christ is unlikely to be discussed. Just taken as a given.
You must be a very bitter person to give such a one-sided write-up of a very capable theologian and priest. If you feel so compelled to use this blog to use armchair theology (and worse - much worse) to debate the position of women priests at least have the decency to provide a balanced account of the people you deign to write about from the security of your anonymity. 'Bully boy Bazza' has got nothing on you - someone who enjoys name-calling from a safe distance. Methinks you must be a very jealous failed priest. LS
ReplyDeleteReally surprised you haven't drawn up a negative blog about the other news article on the Church in Wales website, namely the first native Indian woman to be ordained. Such an ideal opportunity for you to have combined your misogyny with a little racism. You missed a trick there AB.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason I can think that you haven't penned an entry on that news is that she's not a lesbian; you must have been so disappointed to read that she's married with children! Had she have been a convert from Islam, that would have further enabled you to bring in your Islamophobia.
Instead, you pen some cheap article focussing on an insignificant fact that Manon once advised the BBC for a one-off drama about a priest. You ignore the years of faithful ministry, the recent PhD, the book launch and the fact that here we have a down to earth priest, a fluent welsh speaker and a person who could teach you the very basics of christ-like compassion and kindness.
If she's that good why wasn't she appointed as Bishop of St Davids?
DeleteCheerforManon, just as cheap as the Church in Wales.
DeleteFrom the Church in Wales provincial press release: "A vicar who worked as an adviser on a popular television drama series is to oversee the training of all licensed ministers in the Church in Wales."
From a diocesan press release on 16 March 2017: "A keen poet, comedy fan and fervent supporter of Wales at international football matches is to be installed as an honorary canon of St Asaph Cathedral."
Also from the diocesan press release: "In 2015 she was awarded a PhD in Practical Theology from Birmingham University for her research into the effect of religion on the identity of Welsh women. A book based on her work is due to be published this year by the University of Wales Press."
The problem with feminist theology is that it focuses on the advancement of some women to the detriment of very many more by whatever means including distorting the facts.
You clearly do not have any knowledge in detail of the C.V. of this person CheerforManon. Best that you remain silent on the subjects of her marital status and parochial track record or you may well score an own goal. She is not remembered for the compassion and kindness which you allude to. We all carry some "baggage" on our journey through life but there is a great difference between baggage and wreckage.
DeleteContributors to this blog have nothing to learn from this person.
I have experienced her kindness and compassion first hand in her parochial ministry (I was a parishioner from her former parish). As for the marital status, I wasn't aware that re-marriage was an issue for readers of this blog? It's been possible to re-marry in the Church in Wales for some years now and I would have thought that the painful experience of marital breakdown and the joy of re-marriage would make someone accessible to the rest of us as we deal with the inevitable demands of being broken and fagile human beings. Do readers count themselves amongst the broken too?
DeleteAre there any parish priests left or are they all 'titled' busybodies?
ReplyDeleteDPM. The esteemed new Formations leader, is certainly a coup for the Church in Wales, at last we have a talented, able cleric who knows the playing field very well indeed. Perhaps at long last, we might see some serious drive and commitment to vocations across the spectrum that is Anglicanism. A brilliant appointment for once and about time.
ReplyDeleteSome hope!
ReplyDeleteBob
The Welsh bishopettes resemble small girls playing with dolls and pretending to be grown up mothers, except that in their case they are playing with croziers and mitres. The sight of them blessing the faithful as they process is more ludicrous than anything on tv. Give them a minute amount of authority and they are sure to abuse it.
ReplyDeleteRob
Report in todays paper says there is an increasing incidence of physical attacks on clergy, partly because it has lost its status in society and because there are more women priests(can't quite see the connection here). Seeing women Bishops regaled in what has always been male attire like mitres etc certainly doesn't help the credibility and authority of the Church.
ReplyDeleteSomersetman.
Violence is violence, whatever it is dressed in. And yes, the Welsh bench sitters look ridiculous Rob, whether male or female.
DeleteDPM. The odd ball question that rings true, yes the women bishops look out of sink in the male attire of the office mitres do not sit well with unkempt locks. So why has no designer come up with something more suitable. Mitres and copes were only a late entry into the church largely ordered in the 19th century with the rise of High Church. The Roche and Chamire do look acceptable. But dressing in the male attire is very unbecoming and flattering.
ReplyDeleteWomen have a place in the episcopal office, due to the acceptance vote and legislation (if CofE )' So they are an immovable presence. But, surely the time has come for those in such offices, to come up with and agree a more suitable feminine attire.
On the contrary, they look out of place because they are out of place. They are masquerading in a role that is not theirs. Democratic votes do not justify their ridiculous posturing. God alone can choose and call. The evidence of their ministries lends little confidence that this is so.
ReplyDeleteRob
"A coup for the Church in Wales... a talented, able cleric who knows the playing field very well indeed." Well, I won't embarrass Ms James and DPM by disclosing here what I know of Ms James's ability to 'play the field.' Suffice to say, before we get too carried away with the alleged merits of this appointment, discerning and attentive readers of this blog will recall that St Asaph advertised two Archdeacon vacancies recently. Guess who one of the people not to have made the shortlist was? Yes, that's right. And, yes, before you ask, this is a case of throwing toys out prams - especially in the light of the fact that another "talented, able [female] cleric" from St Asaph has become an Archdeacon in the neighbouring diocese. And, yes, yes, the field of applicants for the St Padarn's vacancy was not so much fallow as infertile. So it's good to see St Padarn's is going from strength to strength!
ReplyDeleteSalvation by sexuality alone?
ReplyDeleteTerrence the Tortoise