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| The Right Rev Cherry Vann is enthroned as Bishop of Monmouth. Source: South Wales Argus |
In an extraordinary moment of candour as the Dean of Monmouth, Lister Tonge, welcomed visitors to Newport Cathedral for the enthronement of Cherry Vann as the 11th bishop of Monmouth he said, "Don't be overwhelmed by any of the solemnity, we're certainly tongue in cheek about certain parts of it."
All of it would have been more appropriate. It sums up the Church in Wales.
Poor old Sister Lister must be spitting feathers! All those Painful efforts to remove Bishop Richard and now they get a Cherry on top.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the views of contributors to those blog about the new role of (lay) 'worship leaders', currently being encouraged by the diocese of St Davids? Some churches are licensing as many of these as they can. They have minimal training and, though generally are decent, well meaning people, are still no substitute for professionally trained priests. Can the use of the laity be carried too far?
ReplyDeleteBob
What "professionally trained priests"?
DeleteThe Church in Wales hasn't produced any of those in decades since St. Michelle's in Llandaff became a school for right-on "woke" social workers.
Or before Exodus! The previous Bishop of Monmouth along with the Archbishop of Wales and the Bishop of St Asaph were at St. Michelle's in 1982-83 when a popular passtime for some was trouser chasing, now mainstream.
DeleteProctor
I've watched the 'Enthronement'. An utter dogs dinner. Cannot understand why all the ordained clergy were in albs and stoles - surely demonstrating disunity? Badly thought out. We'll wait and see how long the covern of Monmouth wait before striking again.
ReplyDeleteThe Diocese of St Davids is (to be blunt) an omnishambles. The lack of leadership from the top has now taken its toll - a bishop who seems to be omnipresent yet utterly invisible and lacking in being a leader; her Senior Leadership Team made up of NCOs (and even then, that would be generous), with one Archdeacon plotting their ascendance to the Episcopal Throne, and having a p**s-poor go at running a Cathedral (both beyond their mental capability and their jurisdictional remit), whilst those entrusted with that role are totally out of their depth. Patience and good will are running out. This is how problems develop - the cult of "does my bum look big in this", of rubbishing what has gone before without articulating and bringing along folk, and the (continual) problem of the CiW letting idiots run it.
From Randy Bong to the Heffer, Shirley and Darth (E-)Vader, the rot has crept through the ranks for decades. It's time to close the door on such a sh*t-show and let the idiots hang themselves: preferably after being squeezed by the Charity Commission and spending a couple of weeks at Her Majesty's pleasure. Of course, it won't happen - but one can only hope...
DewiResistance
Are you averring that the CinWs possesses no professionally trained and faithful priests? Hyperbolic, surely?
ReplyDeleteBob
Not at all - just very few (if any) in leadership, and none in the diocese of St Davids.
ReplyDeleteDewiResistance
Please clarify: no such priests in St Davids or none among the leaders?
DeleteBob
Has anyone noticed that on the list of places Ms Vann will be visiting as part of her 'getting to know you' exercise, Abergavenny's venue is TBC (to be confirmed)? Apparently, she is being denied access. Not a very good start if true.
ReplyDeleteLukas
PP. The Parish and Deanery of Abergavenny is about to go into an interegnum. So this is the reason the Archdeaconry visitation is TBC.
DeleteAnd can you guess why Abergavenny is about to go into an interregnum, and why its incumbent is going North?
DeleteI can't see that what you say is correct PP. The Incumbent in Abergavenny will still be in office on the 14th March. Even so, Tredegar is in an interregnum and Ms Vann is going there. These events are not 'visitations' but informal 'getting to know you' gatherings, which do not require the Incumbent to be there. I think something else is going on.
ReplyDeleteLukas
PP. Meaning that in the near future that Abergavenny will go into an interegnum.
ReplyDeleteIt seems a situation of double standards, the parish has Rowan an Visitor to the experimental community there, he ordained women. I thought that any bishop tainted with such action broke the apostolic line, as per previous threads in this blog discussions.
I would think Bishop Vann is capable of dealing with any clerical dispute. But ask yourself why, the Bishop of Burnley refused the nomination to the Monmouth see, and then suddenly accepts the Vicar of Abergavenny into his area.
The Alb and Stole for Clergy was a Sis Lister request so no decent intended.
I noticed one brave clergyman in surplice and stole. Cassock and surplice (whether with stole or scarf and hood) are the traditional garb of Anglican clergy; I wonder how many of those who wore albs had to buy or borrow them for the occasion. @PP: On what basis do you assert that Philip North refused the nomination to Monmouth?
DeletePP. @ Matthew, the election detail was mention on this blog and others. But does that now matter a Bishop has been appointed.
ReplyDeleteSister Lister has resigned. The plot thickens.
ReplyDeleteMartin
Yesterday, Dean Lister announced to the congregations at St Woolos’ Cathedral his intention to retire after Easter.
DeleteLister had agreed to stay in post until a new bishop was in position and then to make way for a new dean who could be involved in appointing a new residentiary canon. He says, 'new challenges face the Diocese and the Cathedral and the vision and leadership of Bishop Cherry can best be served by people recruited with these challenges in mind. I only wish I were ten years younger. I shall miss the warmth of people across the diocese and the privilege of daily encounter with our stunning Cathedral.'
In responding to Lister’s letter, Bishop Cherry says 'I shall be very sad to lose Lister from both the Cathedral and the Bishop's Staff Team. His wisdom, experience and insights are well recognised across the Diocese and the wider Church and I myself have already benefitted greatly from his input and perspective in the short time that I have been here.'
Lister’s final service will be on 26th April. Details of a farewell will be sent out in due course.
So, having created a monumental rumpus in Monmouth that has caused hurt and division that is likely to last for some time, Lister's disappearing into the sunset and leaving others to go round with the shovel. True to form.
DeleteFister Lister finds out the hard way of what shafting a member of the bench does for your career... sorry, vocation.
DeleteGwynllyw Milwr
PP. Well I'm sure the Bishop's mode operandi will find the truth and act accordingly.
ReplyDeleteThe Diocese has a new bishop, perhaps a surprise appointment to some, but the legalities are done, the throne is occupied, so time to move on and wait and see how the diocese shapes up. Negative criticism at this early stage can only serve to harm after the previous incumbent was toppled if reported details herein are to be believed as most of us do. Time for prayer, healing and revival.