In this video published on Nov 8, 2018 the Bishop of St Davids, Joanna Penberthy, was the first to testify in a series of videos that describe how senior members of the St Davids diocesan clergy "came to discover the faith that sustains them."
When Penberthy was elected the former Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan said of the 'election', “This is an historic moment for the Church in Wales as it hasn’t been possible to elect a woman bishop until now. But what is really important to stress is that Joanna wasn’t elected because she was a woman but because she was deemed to be the best person to be a bishop. She has considerable gifts – she is an excellent preacher and communicator, can relate to all sections of the community, is a warm, charismatic, caring priest and someone who is full of joy."
The election was widely regarded as a political fix.
The election was widely regarded as a political fix.
In her December 2018 Ad Clerum bishop Penberthy wrote:
"We are not called to persuade people of the truth of our particular religious
opinions so as to feel better as we surround ourselves with those who agree with us. We
are called to be communities of flawed people, open to the healing love of God that we
might live that truthful open-eyed healing love admidst [sic] “the present form of this world
that is passing away.” (I Cor 7:31)."
The bishops have certainly surrounded themselves with people who agree with them - to the exclusion of faithful Anglicans who were promised an honoured place in the Church but abandoned after archbishop Morgan and his bench sitters achieved their objective of turning the Church in Wales into a club for liberal, like minded people.
Contrary to what bishop Penberthy claims, there is only one way to the Father, through Jesus Christ, not through other gods, paganism and witchcraft.
Jesus charged His disciples, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Today, Anglican bishops write their own version of the Gospel message.
The bishops have certainly surrounded themselves with people who agree with them - to the exclusion of faithful Anglicans who were promised an honoured place in the Church but abandoned after archbishop Morgan and his bench sitters achieved their objective of turning the Church in Wales into a club for liberal, like minded people.
Contrary to what bishop Penberthy claims, there is only one way to the Father, through Jesus Christ, not through other gods, paganism and witchcraft.
Jesus charged His disciples, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Today, Anglican bishops write their own version of the Gospel message.
Postscript [09/01/2019]
Church of England bishops out of touch with clergy:
Oxford diocese in meltdown as clergy reject bishops' view on sexuality
If you take away the PC views - chiefly the promotion of female ministry and pro -gay and trans sexual propaganda - together with a bias against 80+ clerics and a perverse stubbornness, there is a nice woman under those episcopal toys she vainly tries to use. Yet, such is the damage she is doing that I never wish to meet her again. And I enjoy speaking to women!
ReplyDeleteRob
My word, they must have some balmy weather on the St. David's peninsular in January - blue skies and leaves on the trees. Obviously the diocese of St. David's in the place to be.
ReplyDeleteIf the faith one has found in Wales doesn't include priestesses or bishopettes, what then?
ReplyDeleteThank you, AB, for alerting us to this mess.
ReplyDeleteCould it possibly be the first hopeful sign that the worms are finally turning, or am I being too optimistic?
I followed the links to the Bishops’ original statement, the letter from the clergy and laity, and the Bishops’ response. I would encourage everyone to read the letter from the clergy. It was clear, thoughtful and honest.
In their response the Oxford bishops re-iterate “the significant sense of hurt and exclusion felt by LGBTI+ Christians and their families.” How many are there and where are they? The diocese in which I live had the first LGBTI+ chaplain in Wales and our small congregation would love the chance to welcome any L, G, B, T or I who came. So far, no luck.
The bishops also say “there is no desire on our part to diminish support for those who are seeking to uphold and live within the Church of England’s current teaching.” After my experience in the Church in Wales I wish I could believe them.
Anglican Misfit
As Gavin Ashenden said on Anglican Unscripted, mutual flourishing is a chimera and has proved utterly false. Words to this effect are cheap and utterly untrustworthy. Maybe an Ark can be built for the faithful to embark where our missionary, evangelical and catholic faith can be sustained, believed and practised. Lets hope Anglican Essentials Wales can prove to be an effective counter to the illiberal-liberal agenda that dominates.
ReplyDeleteIf "mutual flourishing" is anything other than a fantasy, I look forward to a Traditionalist being appointed as the next Bishop of Hereford.
ReplyDeleteFurther to the post script there is now an admirable letter on the Oxford site from Canon Michael Green, another cleric who, unlike the bishops, ignores political correctness and knows of what he speaks. Well worth reading.
ReplyDeleteAnglican Misfit
What Oxford has got - and St Davids hasn't - is big money. With the exception of St Michael's, Aberystwyth, there are no large evangelical churches (we're not allowed to call them parishes anymore, are we?) in the St Davids Diocese, and therefore no real financial clout when it comes to expressing disapproval with the thin gruel that is Joanna's stock-n-trade. On the other hand, Oxford has a critical mass of churches with plenty in the bank, where giving is at realistic and sacrificial levels, and their failure to pay the quota makes an immediate and significant difference. They threatened it when Jeffrey John was in the frame to be bishop of Reading, and it looks like they could do it again. In the end, money always wins the argument, sadly.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're all listening in Monmouth - and keeping abreast of developments?
So Joanna had a few funny feelings in her teens that have never left. Is this seriously offered as evidence of conversion to Jesus Christ? No conviction of sin? No repentance?
ReplyDeletePostie
Postie, do you honestly expect a bishop in the CiW to talk about sin and repentance? Welsh bishops gave up on sin and repentance years ago. If you want to wear a mitre in Welsh Anglican Church you have to be a humanist. Salvation through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ is OK for the gullible. Bishops are far too enlightened to believe or expound anything like that. If you want to watch a Welsh bishop become tongue-tied, just ask them about salvation through the merits of Jesus Christ.
DeleteSeymour
What Oxford has, which we are sadly lacking in Wales, is a large number of clergy with a good grounding in theology and a willingness to actually mention awkward subjects like sin and repentance.
ReplyDeleteAnglican Misfit
The Lord's Prayer - Jesus himself - says 'lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil' and yet we hear nothing of this from the Anglican Church and barely a mention of sin and repentance. The Church needs to find its purpose again.
ReplyDeleteEvermoore