Dysfunctional Church

Bishops of Llandaff and St Davids with mentor, former TEC presiding bishop          Source: Twitter

Is it any wonder that the Church in Wales is dysfunctional?

"Llandaff Diocese ✝️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿@LlandaffDio Feb 7, 2018

Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Communion’s first woman primate, visited the diocesan office while in the UK as part of the Bishop’s Training programme.She is acting as mentor to @BishopJuno and Bishop Joanna"

I wrote at the time: "Since we were led to expect so much from women bishops it is a bit of a mystery why they need mentoring". With hindsight they did but why choose Barry Morgan's heretical mentor? To hasten disaster? 

The Most Rev Katharine Jefferts Schori is credited by US observers as having brought The Episcopal Church to its knees, not in prayer but in its demise, sinking into oblivion as is the Church in Wales.

As the problem with the bishop of St Davids lingers on, Andy John, the senior bishop in the Church in Wales pending the election of the next Archbishop of Wales, apologises for her behaviour while the leader of the Anglican Communion Justin Welby is 'embarrassed' by bishop Penberthy’s twitter comments.

No matter. As she seeks to 'recuperate' from her relentless party political tweeting, bishop Penberthy is on sick leave for a month while rumours circulate of her being translated to Swansea and Brecon. Even if true would they want her?

As absurd as the rumours appear, simply moving the problem is not uncommon as previously witnessed by the habit of moving predatory clergy before the whole issue exploded with dire consequences for the Church.

In Llandaff rumours abound following the prolonged absence of the Dean:

• Bishop June, on the advice of the Greater Chapter, took action against Dean Gerwyn and lost. The Dean was exonerated.
• The Dean is now taking action against Bishop June. 
• Dean Gerwyn recruited Archbishop Barry Morgan in his defence which has not gone down well with bishop June. She regards the former archbishop as being disloyal and are now in open warfare. Morgan now regrets June Osborne landing in Llandaff.
• Head Verger Hoad was suspended on a minor (but unknown) charge, which is still being investigated. 
• The Cathedral has advertised for a Chief Executive Officer to work with the Greater Chapter. This is the de facto role of the Dean. This is being done whilst the Dean is still in post, but on extended leave.
• The numbers attending the cathedral and the giving have collapsed.

What are the facts? Silence serves only to generate more rumours and speculation. 

In the diocese of Monmouth the results of the Enquiry and Review announced in May 2020 into the departure of bishop Richard Pain is long overdue. It was hoped the Enquiry and Review would be completed within six months.

Meanwhile in Monmouth the Historic Episcopate has been further 'locally adapted' in the 'methods of its administration in the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church' to accommodate bishop Cherry and Wendy seen here at Holy Synod in the sanctuary of Brecon Cathedral:

Holy Synod Brecon Cathedral January 2020                                Original Source: Church in Wales

Apology of an Archbishop

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby                                                                 Source: Huff Post

Justin Welby, the forever apologising Archbishop of Canterbury, is ashamed. Ashamed that the Church of England is ‘deeply institutionally racist’.

A somewhat sweeping statement not fully supported by the BBC's recent Panorama programme which highlighted a few, probably the worst, cases of racism found in the C of E. 

The Archbishop of York  told the interviewer that BAME people were under represented in the structures of the Church but he did not believe that the Church was full of racists.

Some does not mean all but this has become a familiar pitch used by feminists and the gay lobby to gain more influence in the Anglican Church leading to secularisation.

Two recent entries on Twitter highlight differing perceptions. 

The Rev Jodie Stowell (Vicar @StMikesHarrow. Chair House of Clergy London. Feminist. Occasional Broadcaster. Unplaceable accent. Badly behaved. Challenging status quo since 1975) tweeted "Ask any woman, gay person, disabled person, any people who intersect across these personhoods will have no trouble recognising and believing what is being reported here about racism in the CofE @BBCPanorama  #IstheChurchRacist.

By contrast, Political adviser and Commentator Calvin Robinson tweeted "The Church is not institutionally racist. Many in its leadership are woke and out of touch, but it’s not a racist institution. 
Theology is the study of God. There is no 'Black Theology'. We don’t have a different God for each identity. Not in Christianity, anyway."

Precisely.

Clive Myrie, Panorama's presenter, complained that only 10% of those in training for the priesthood were from ethnic backgrounds ignoring the fact that 10% is broadly in line with their representation in the population.

But never mind the facts. Responding to the report From Lament to Action from the anti-racism taskforce set up by the archbishops of Canterbury and York following the death of George Floyd it has been decided that the Church of England must include at least one candidate from a minority ethnic background on shortlists for bishops and other senior roles in a drive to rid the church of “racial sin” and all governing bodies within the church, including parish councils, should have at least 15% of minority ethnic representation by 2030.

Myrie rounded off his criticism by quoting 'the Church':
"The Bible teaches that we're all made in God's image and all one in Christ so all God's people are welcome and can flourish in the Church."

The Rev Shirley Murphy who was born in Chennai and "the first priest of Indian origin to be chaplain to the bishop of St Davids" said that "she was pleasantly surprised at not facing any racism in Wales, considering she had in London."

With feminists firmly embedded, same sex couples about to be rewarded with same sex relationship blessings to compensate for their alleged persecution, and fast track privileges for clergy of colour regardless of merit, the only Anglicans not welcome in the Church appear to be those who strive to keep the faith as received, particularly in Wales.