The Monmouth effect?

Archbishop high fiving    Source: HOLYWELLCOMMUNITY         Former Bishop of Monmouth  high fiving                         Source: Church in Wales                         

Following the announcement of the retirement of the Bishop of Monmouth, the Rt Revd Richard Pain, oversight of the mission and ministry of the Diocese continues under the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd John Davies, who appears keen to continue where the former bishop left off.

Whilst the Peace is not universally popular it is to be hoped that an already impoverished liturgy is not going to include the 'high five' as a sign of getting along to get on.

Postscript [23.06.2019]

This statement by the Archbishop of Wales should put an end to the rumours and misinformation that have been circulating during the bishop's absence.

STATEMENT BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF WALES AT A MEETING OF CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF MONMOUTH - 5TH JUNE 2019

A Happy Christmas to my Orthodox readers

I need no excuse to indulge myself in the glories of the Russian Orthodox Church but their celebration of Christmas on 7 January is an opportunity too good to miss.

In the above video the congregation, male and female, young and old, rich and poor, are engrossed in the liturgy. There is a sense of spirituality lost in some other churches. Contrast their piety with that of many Anglican congregations in Great Britain today where reverence has been replaced by the familiarity of  'Other Forms of Worship' in which the Altar is no longer the focus of attention.

It is hardly surprising that congregations have dwindled when there is no sense of otherness. We are 'of this world' but losing the other worldliness of mystery and awe exhibited by our Orthodox brothers and sisters is a great loss.

Oh well done girls!

Photo PA

From Christian Today (here): "Women and the Church (WATCH) had set its sights on seeing the Anglican Church welcome female bishops. Now that it's been agreed, it's time to look at which other structures prevent women flourishing and progressing within the Church. It's not enough to allow women to be church leaders, when there are much stronger, subliminal forces at work, argues Jody Stowell, vicar of St Michael's and All Angels Harrow and on the WATCH leadership team".

"Our liturgies are very male, our songs are male, there's lots of male language for God – and our language creates our world," says Stowell. "When women go into that situation, they are constantly imbibing the fact that God's male and it's not really a place for them."

And here: The General Synod meeting in York backed a proposal to allow clergy to "dress down" at services and exchange the robes and other vestments worn at Morning and Evening Prayer and Holy Communion for more casual clothing.

Having already observed some female creativity in the getting noticed department the mind boggles when our liturgies become very female, our songs are female and there's lots of female language for God.

In the micro world the Church of England now inhabits this is seen as being relevant to society. In the real world of mother Church, this is the reality: "The decision to ordain women, which the Church of England took in 1992, damaged the relationships between our Churches, and the introduction of female bishops has eliminated even a theoretical possibility for the Orthodox to recognize the existence of apostolic succession in the Anglican hierarchy" (here). 

Fond of asking rhetorical questions liberals like to ask what would Jesus have done if there is no biblical evidence to support their argument. Well there is here. More on Unity in the Church here.

Oh, very well done girls! 

Ancient and Modern

As we go into Lent arguments continue to rage in the Church of England about bringing the church into the 21st century. I know where I would rather be in this video but the Gospel message remains the same. It is a pity that liberal minded Anglicans cannot see the difference between updating the liturgy and reinterpreting the Gospel to their own advantage.