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Saturday, 14 January 2023

Anglican Bishops

Church in Wales new bishops consecration 2022                                                                                                                                           Source: Church in Wales


The election of the 73rd bishop of Llandaff commences on January 18 following the retirement of June Osborne who was appointed by the bench of bishops in 2017 after the failure of the electoral college to agree on a candidate.

A disaster waiting to happen, Osborne was tipped to be one of the first bishops in the Church of England. Instead she was appointed Dean of Salisbury. With a background in sociology Osborne was a prolific LGBTQ+ campaigner but suffered from allegations of bullying. She was found, on the balance of probability, to have a case to answer until the then Dean of Llandaff withdrew his allegations and resigned. 

The Vicar of Radyr also resigned as incumbent and Ministry Area Leader saying that she could no longer, with integrity, knowing the many things she knows, serve in the diocese where she believed a 'culture of fear' exists. A diocesan survey conducted after her initial exposure 'brought up the same results'. 

New bishop Joanna Penberthy in 2017    Pic: BBC
The 'best person to be a bishop', in the eyes of former archbishop Barry Morgan, has been another disaster. The bishop of St Davids has been on a second bout of sick leave since the end of August 2022 with no official updates which is reminiscent of the secrecy surrounding the extended absence of the former bishop of Monmouth. The only news is this report from a commentator under a previous entry:

"Yesterday at meeting of LMA's priests archdeacon updated us on Johanna La Loca. Her sick leave has been extended again - to end of February, as she is suffering from depression and anxiety. At present on half pay, her stipend will cease on 28 Feb. Is this the moment she resigns and diocese starts to recover? It was suggested that people ought to write to ++ Andy to pile on the pressure. Lovely thought if we can celebrate St David's day sede vacante."

'Affirming Love' Pride Eucharist with bishop
Cherry Vann . Source: Twitter
Joanna Penberthy along with the bishop of Llandaff, June Osborne, campaigned vigorously on secular matters while the bishop of Monmouth, Cherry Vann, is patron of Open Table

Following her appointment the Church in Wales tweeted:

"Find out more about the new Bishop of @MonmouthDCO @cherry_vann in an interview with her on @BBCWomensHour today from 10am."

I tuned in on catch up. There was nothing spiritual, just sex. See The Bishop of Monmouth and partner.

Contrary to biblical teaching, bishops in England and Wales are hellbent on conforming to the pattern of this world rather than being transformed.

In the Church of England there has been the predictable outcry from Women and the Church (WATCH) following the appointment of the Rt Rev Philip North to be the 10th Bishop of Blackburn:

Their Chair, the Rev Martine Oborne tweets under the heading 'Trying to lift the lid off the ongoing sexism & discrimination in the CofE & how this impacts women. Chair of WATCH but these tweets my own'. 

More apt would be Using the Church for self validation at the expense of others

Oborne said of the Bishop of Backburn appointment: "The appointment sadly reflects … institutional discrimination in the church and we are effectively told that we must just suck it up and get on with it."

This is a familiar feminist tune, regularly tweeted by the WATCH chair and well worn by bishop Joanna Penberthy. Disagreement is labelled discrimination regardless of facts. Integrity has been replaced by duplicity.

Inclusive Church said Bishop North's views made it "a painful appointment". 

So what is the problem with Bishop North's appointment? 

Simply it is because his beliefs are not based on false notions of equality but on biblical teaching and tradition along with the vast majority of Anglicans and the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Holy Catholic Church showing the 2% accepting the ordination of women (OW)

Provision was made in England and Wales for those who, in conscience, could not accept the sacramental ministry of women. WATCH has been picking at it ever since. In Wales Barry Morgan simply abandoned provision following the retirement and untimely death of the Provincial Assistant Bishop David Thomas.

Pray that the Electoral College meeting in Llandaff will follow the example of the Church of England and elect a holy man of God to be the next bishop of Llandaff, not leaving the appointment to a bench of bishops to appoint another in their image when they have clearly lost their way. 

64 comments:

  1. Llandaff Pewster14 January 2023 at 18:13

    Just remember that the last Llandaff Electoral College fell into disrepute over the failure to elect a new Bishop, leaks of the confidential goings on, the Jeffrey John scandal and publication of emails released under the Data Protection Act and Subject Access Requests and the revealed meddling of the disreputable Canon Phillip Masson over his email concerning his child's Godfather.

    A right shambles all around.
    Long may it continue and the Llandaff Diocese collapse under the weight of its own corruption.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anglican Bishops in Wales.
    About as much use as a chocolate teapot. Especially the one in Bangor. 😂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are Anglican bishops in Wales?
      Where?
      🤣 🤣

      Delete
  3. Who will be elected the next Bishop of Llandaff, perhaps a gender neutral? I’m not Theologically qualified to suggest who should be elected, however as someone who sits on a Pew and have done so for over 55 years I feel qualified to do so. As such a member of the Pews, in the first instance I refer to the Book I was brought up into believing, KJV. This is the cornerstone of the Christian belief in the Anglican Church, the Representative Body of the Church in Wales being a member. When as a member I understood that certain relationships were forbidden by the Church as they were written in the Prayer Book stating who a man or a woman were able or had permission to marry. The Prayer Book also contained Passages stating a man should not lie with a man as a woman. Both the Bible and Prayer Book are the Cornerstone of our Christian Belief which all who are Ordained swear by. As such surely we have a Bench where half should resign their Orders. We certainly have a Diocese in South East Wales that should be declared Vacant.

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    Replies
    1. I quite agree QP.
      However, Cherry is not a Christian neither does she have any morals.
      DodoJo in West Wales is just as bad and the rest of them are rotten apples too.
      Guaranteed they will be sure to arrange for the appointment of another queer to support the new Dean on The Green.

      Delete
    2. I could not possibly care any less about who will be the next Bishop of Llandaff and 99.99% of the population in Wales don't either, so it is a bit of a surprise that there's enough gullible pew sitters left willing to form an Electoral College.

      Delete
    3. The plankers can't even provide a definition of "woman" much less preach Biblical truths.

      Delete
    4. Never never never trust a Bishop15 January 2023 at 09:18

      It is long overdue for disastrous DodoJo to push off.

      Delete
  4. https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/13-january/news/uk/king-accepts-resignation-of-dean-of-wells

    The Dean of Wells cathedral resigns following reports of a culture of "unhappiness and fear" for the staff.
    Sound familiar?

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  5. 'Provision was made in England and Wales for those who, in conscience, could not accept the sacramental ministry of women.'

    Indeed it was. Personally, back at that time in the 1990s, I thought that the provision offered was genuine and well-intended.

    But I was also wholly convinced that it couldn't, and therefore wouldn't, work. Both theologically and psychologically! So I left Anglicanism.

    And, of course, it hasn't worked - quite predictably, and on both of the counts that I posited..

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  6. Is a certain type of non empirical sociology now regarded as equivalent or as a replacement to theology in the formation of anglican clerics?

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  7. May I suggest Rev Bingo Allison as the next Bishop of Llandaff. Gender queer (tick), been on tv (tick) sparkly eye shadow (tick) nervous (tick).

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    Replies
    1. Very good Jon 😂 😂
      But it could turn into a right b*tch fest as almost certainly the LGBTQIA+- prize-winning "hero" (not" heroine"!) Canon Sarah Jones will be up for consideration too.
      https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-06-30/support-in-wales-has-been-tremendous-meet-the-transgender-priest-tackling-myths-about-the-church
      The cult in Wales has plenty of weirdos in-house from which to choose the next irrelevance to inhabit Llys Esgob.

      Delete
  8. I have no privileged access to information about the forthcoming Electoral College and what follows is based on no more than reliable and informed secondary sources.

    I understand that the process will begin with 15 names that need to be whittled down to 5. Who they are - or where they have come from, I do not know. The 5 candidates to emerge will then be required to preach a sermon to the electoral college. That could be excrutiatingly painful or highly revealing. One thing is certain, if much of the emphasis is being placed on the quality of the content of the sermon, the current Archbishop will not score highly (if he is allowing himself to be a candidate).

    One can only hope that those who have the Diocese of Llandaff's best interests at heart will have been tireless in seeking a credible alternative candidate to the Archbishop. To say that, if translated (either to Llandaff or St Davids), he will leave the Diocese of Bangor in complete disarray, is a monumental understatement. If he was in any way accountable, he would have been asked to resign long ago as lacking competence for the role. My sources tell me that, when the late Bishop Anthony Crockett died in office, the diocese was in good heart, with a critical mass of able and experienced clergy, many of whom had come into the diocese and learnt the Welsh language. Within five years of Andy John's appointment, the Diocese had become Anglicized beyond all recognition and the 'brain drain' had become a torrent of people seeking to get out. Significantly, most of them went to prestigious posts in the Church of England.

    I am not holding my breath, but one can only hope that lessons have been learned and disaster will be averted. But it is honestly difficult to see who has the necessary learning, experience and capacity to lead the Diocese of Llandaff out of the trajectory of decline. And, before anyone asks, No. Throwing £100m of the Church's reserves at the situation will not make the slightest bit of difference.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On what text are the sermons to be preached and who gets to set the text?

      Delete
    2. One thinks "They forsook him but took the salary anyway" might be a bit nearer the mark.

      Delete
  9. @ Althelstan Riley

    I wish I had the current 'stats' to support your line, but certainly when four years ago the very popular Rev. John Matthews quit the Diocese of Bangor (in despair) to relocate as far away as possible from the chronic-failure +Andrew to New Zealand (where he is now appointed archdeacon in the North Island), he was the 47th to throw in the towel. Others (including three at least archdeacons) are in similar if not more senior roles in the CoE; the former Manchester sub-Dean who came to Bangor is still suffering the jitters after quitting to neighbouring St. Asaph. But 47 desertions - and surely far higher now - is a damnable account of Andrew John's inadequacies and mismanagement.

    I recall from the 1970's when Sir Maurice Oldfield was head of MI6 with specific task to sort out intelligence and security matters in Northern Ireland. One of his worried looking senior intelligence officers knocked on his door: "Sir, may I have a quick word with you ..."

    Sir Maurice looked up and answered: "Are you bringing me another problem ... or perhaps you ARE the damn'd problem!"

    Problem is that Andrew John is both the problem and the answer to it. He just hasn't the intelligence necessary to twig it!

    Old Bill



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  10. @ Ruth

    Subject of sermon to be addressed by Llandaff candidates "How quickly and to what new depths can I finally collapse the C-in-W and how many millions of pounds I intend spending to do it ..."

    Old Bill

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  11. Reminder: Commentators are reminded that 'Anonymous' comments for publication must include a pseudonym.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Baptist Trainfan16 January 2023 at 06:34

    So - judging by the pie-chart - you do not consider the numerous Free Churches, from Baptist, Methodist and Reformed to Pentecostal and Brethren, many of which not only ordain women but have done so for a century or more, to be part of the Holy Catholic Church even though in many parts of the world they are (or are rapidly becoming) the dominant expression of Christianity?

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  13. My apologies if the brevity of the caption under the pie chart has caused confusion. The chart was lifted from a earlier entry, ' A sense of proportion' which clarifies. https://ancientbritonpetros.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-sense-of-proportion.html
    Interestingly the Church in Wales describes itself as "a fellowship of dioceses within the Holy Catholic Church" in its formal statement of faith. https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/faith/formal-statements-faith/

    ReplyDelete
  14. Baptist Trainfan16 January 2023 at 11:39

    Thank you and apology of course accepted. We Free Church people are sometimes a bit touchy when we feel that we are being written off as "not proper Churches" by Catholic/Orthodox/Anglicans.

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    Replies
    1. Vatican II would suggest that like the C of E you are "ecclesial communities".

      Delete
  15. What's the bets - - Randy Andy for Llandaff and - Mary for Bangor ?

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    Replies
    1. Subversive Canon16 January 2023 at 18:58

      The ears in the walls report that Randy Pandy is not for Llandaff.
      Mary, on the other hand...

      Delete
    2. Perhaps the sub-dean of Bangor might throw his Cappello romano (with tassels) into the ring?

      Capello

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  16. I said as much in a previous post, Ron. 😀 Has there been a change to the constitution regarding elections to vacant Welsh Sees? Who actually Whittles the list down to 15 names that will be presented to the Electors' at the College? In previous Times, God, The Holy Spirit, could choose anyone, over the age 33. Now, it seems as though he is limited to 15 candidates. How odd !

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    Replies
    1. Do you honestly think that either God or the Holy Ghost have had any input to proceedings in Llandaff over the last seventy five years, do you?

      Delete
  17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64289461
    Metropolitan Plod admits to being a serial rapist over two decades.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64293158
      800 more Plod also under investigation.
      Anyone may be forgiven for thinking Plod aren't fit for purpose.

      Delete
    2. The SNP aren't fit for purpose either. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64288757
      So pleased to see that Sturgeon is being put firmly in her place and some common sense seems to be breaking out at long last.

      Delete
    3. Sacked but about twenty years too late.
      https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64302608
      In fact, if the vetting procedures actually worked he would never have been employed by the Met in the first place.
      Pathetic Plod again.

      Delete
    4. Just like so many "Priests" in the Church of England.

      Bewildered

      Delete
    5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64321188

      One less paedophile Plod to worry about.

      Delete
    6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-64350101

      One less paedophile Priest to worry about.

      Delete
  18. Simple Simon. Of course I don't 😂. It's a self perpetuating hirearchy That's why I've left the Cult. It's all about sex now, and totally inept 'priests' - there are of course, a few notable exceptions who will never be formally recognised. Now happy to play the organ in THE Church.

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  19. @ Ron

    Llandaff would receive the full blessings of all in the Diocese of Bangor if they were foolish enough to agree Andrew John as bishop. I remember when he was first appointed here in Bangor and the glee of some that Bangor had a nice young Bishop. I reminded some that our somewhat unpopular chief constable Richard Brunstrom was also young and that if he proved inept, we'd be stuck with him for years. Prediction was borne true. He applied for umpteen other posts but no other Force would employ him : the North Wales Mad Mullah reputation went ahead of him.

    And ditto with +Andrew. Accept him to Llandaff and you have him until he's 70. I doubt if anyone else would want him. But Mary as his replacement??? Nice woman I'm sure but hardly of 'purple' stock or vestock.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You might try praying. And invoking appropriate saints (e.g Ss Peter & Paul, Dyfrig, Teilo and Euddogwy the patrons of the cathedral, as well as the Holy Mother of God so beautifully portrayed in her chapel therein). In the Orthodox calendar 18 January is the feast of Ss Athanasius & Cyril of Alexandria, defenders of the True Faith.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's one of the odd anomalies of Christian history that Cyril of Alexandra proved to be correct around his Christological doctrine - a millennium and a half of subsequent near-universal consensus seems to verify that contention - while simultaneously being one of the most unpleasant, vicious and unscrupulous Christian controversialists of his era.

      Such things have always bewildered me, and still to a degree do!

      Delete
  21. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64306691
    One for the Remainiacs.
    Thank God the majority voted for Brexit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A quick glance suggests that the only difference between him and Boris Johnson is that Johnson's not been interviewed under caution.

      Yet!

      Delete
  22. Would you invoke the skull of St. Teilo which is allegedly female?
    🤣 🤣 🤣

    ReplyDelete
  23. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64309628
    Looks like the little troll might be behind bars for a while.
    No loss to humanity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://youtu.be/JKIOSnKX96E

      Here's something to keep Greta smiling while she's dirtying her wellies with German mud.

      Delete
  24. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64313367
    Church of England bishops refuse to back gay marriage.
    Hallelujah, hurrah and Amen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In the last hour on Radio 4's 'Today' programme I listened to, first, the bishop of Oxford - who is a recent protagonist in favour of the church offering some service of prayer and blessing to single sex couples seeking such an endorsement of their union - and then to the archbishop of York who attempted to explain and defend the position which the English bishops have decided that they'll submit to the C of E's general synod.

      Neither of their two positions seemed to me to carry credible coherence, but, more importantly, neither bishop appeared to make any concerted effort to ground their argument firmly on the faith and belief of the Church. The bishop of Oxford's thesis seemed to be based on the need to 'move in response to contemporary thinking' while the archbishop of York's appeared to be shaped around attempting to achieve some sort of viable political compromise on which all sides, even if dissatisfied, might, hopefully, be persuaded to agree.

      I Corinthians 14:7ff seems apposite.

      Delete
  25. Baptist Trainfan18 January 2023 at 10:22

    CofE press release: https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Prayers-of-Love-and-Faith-18.1.23.pdf

    ReplyDelete
  26. Day Three of Llandaff deliberations. Any news from anyone as to how those ridiculous 'audition' sermons are going or which candidate has come up with the fattest-stuffed brown-envelope back-hander? Not necessarily slush-funds, but rather platitudes and false promises sort of bribes.

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    Replies
    1. It’s day 1 !!! Llechryd

      Delete
    2. Day 1, not day 3.
      RB

      Delete
  27. Ooops. Sorry all. I thought it began on Monday (not that its likely to have any affect whatsoever on anyone outside the self-important 'plankers').

    ReplyDelete
  28. No leaks from the Electoral College yet?
    No leaked emails from Canon Masson?
    Who cares either way?

    ReplyDelete
  29. The sub-dean of Bangor has indeed thrown his Cappello romano (with tassels) into the ring. He preaches a good sermon.

    Capello

    ReplyDelete
  30. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64321652
    After all the cheap publicity, the ears in the walls report that Greta is still in the running to be the next Bishopette of Llandaff.
    🤣

    ReplyDelete
  31. Please don't let it go to The Plankers, again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What difference would it make?
      We all know that it will be a fix in any case.

      Delete
    2. Caiaphas must go!19 January 2023 at 15:32

      Naturally.. How else did DodoJo, Caiaphas and Cherry get their jobs?
      It certainly wasn't merit!

      Delete
  32. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64336530

    Two Met Plod now charged with kiddy fiddling.
    Quelle surprise.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congratulations, you have a new bishop 'Llandaffians' and you don't even need her to be consecrated since Mary is already a Bishop! Wonder who the next Assistant Bishop in Bangor will be?

    WHAMAB

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    1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    2. You may have a theological point of view which I respect, but a bit harsh calling her that don't you think?

      WHAMAB.

      Delete
  34. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64396513

    Met Schools Safety Officer pleads guilty to child sex offences.

    If you call 999 for assistance you'll have no idea what type of person you might be letting into your home.

    ReplyDelete