Church in Wales: Managed decline?

GB voting                                                                       Source: Church in Wales

 The Governing Body of the Church in Wales meets in September 2023.

From the Annual Report and Accounts 2022 of the Representative Body [Session 2, Agendum 9]:

Risk Management Policy

"3. Accelerated decline in church attendance

"The continuation of declining attendance and an increasing age profile would result in declining financial income for dioceses: this would lead to an inability to present established patterns of ministry to the whole of Wales. The Representative Body endeavours to maintain the highest financial support to dioceses possible. Also, a renewed focus on mission and evangelism, including additional financial resources being made available, aims to stimulate church growth."

News Posted: 23 August 2023

"The distribution of more than £137m to churches across Wales will be discussed at a key meeting of Church in Wales members next month.

"The money is being released from historic reserves over the next decade to help churches grow and serve their communities more effectively. Investment will be made in development of new ministries and initiatives, as well as in strengthening existing work."

'New ministries and initiatives'! No doubt awaited with eager anticipation. 

Religion of peace remains silent on violence against Christians

The aftermath of an arson attack in Jaranwala                          Source: ACNUK

Aid to the Church in Need reports: "Mass exodus as mob burns churches and homes in Pakistan. Mosques incited violence, causing a sense of terror and uncertainty among Christians.

"Up to 15 church buildings have been attacked and hundreds of Christian homes destroyed after extremists went on the rampage in Pakistan."

The response reported by Reuters: "Pakistani police arrest two Christians accused of blasphemy."

I have yet to hear any condemnation of these attacks on innocent people and their property, in particular from the Swansea Mosque and Community Centre which recently received a Community Cohesion grant of £300k from the Welsh Government.

The Welsh First Minister has since instructed his Ministers to find £900m cuts in public services. 

Some cohesion!

Postscripts 

[19.08.2023]

In Pakistan Muslims are now desecrating the graves of Christians. 

https://twitter.com/CatholicArena/status/1692832406477103610

In Nigeria Killings of Christians ‘going on and on’, with no arrests made.

"The world is refusing to help those who are being persecuted." More here.

[21.08.2023]

Community Cohesion! 

Muslim harasses elderly Christian, tries to provoke a confrontation but it is worse in Muslim majority countries while critics of this sort of behaviour are accused of Islamophobia!

[28.08.2023]

"Pakistan's Jaranwala violence: Gov't must root out cause of anti-Christian attacks" - A Pakistani Christian living in Australia writes: "History tells us that in a few weeks, the media will forget about this incident, the Pakistani government will forget its promises, the money allocated for the persecuted Christians' support will magically vanish, and these hapless people whose lives have been turned upside down will all be forgotten.  Little by little, on their own, they will start to rebuild their lives in the hopes of a better future – somewhere, somehow."

[02.09.2023]

Kidnappings and Murders of Christians Escalate in Nigeria’s Extremist Crisis

Caption corner 11 August, 2023

Source: Twitter

As usual publishable captions will appear as comments.

No honour among thieves

 

In This is not Dibley I referred to the MailOnline story: "Remind me, it is 2023, isn’t it?’: Why has the Cornish town Dawn French loves risked such an unholy row by refusing its own Vicar of Dibley?"

The report: 'Cornish church reverses ban on female vicars' has given church feminists and toadying MPs a field day.

These feminists have used the Church for their own political purposes, accusing, scheming and reneging. Promises and agreements that enabled them to reach their goal mean nothing.

Listen to the blatant misrepresentation by the chair of WATCH as she seeks help [to] bring "discrimination" in the Church of England  to an end. As did the recently retired bishop of St Davids, WATCH regard difference of opinion, even when based on fact, as discrimination and prejudice

There have also been attempts to redefine gender language used about God. In The Mother Church: Turning God Trans published in Crisis Magazine [a recommended read - AB] it is suggested that a disproportionate number of those pushing for change would appear to be 'left-wing female vicars'.

No honour from certain MPs either, including the the Father of the House, a self-declared WATCH supporter, who appear unable or unwilling to distinguish between equality and theology regardless of measures agreed to,

Anglicanism in this country is dying. The Church in Wales is leading the decline with their one-track strategy of inclusion and diversity which again uses the Church to advance a political cause at the expense of others. 

If only a fraction of the effort put into their latest 'outreach-social justice' drive had been devoted to the excluded things may have been different. St Davids diocese is watched with trepidation as they prepare to elect their new bishop. Scripture, reason and tradition must not again be sacrificed to secularism.

Despite denials the Roman Catholic Church is creeping in the same direction in proposing women deacons and Catholic LGBTQ+ advocates. This has arisen as a real possibility through the Synod on Synodality, which was launched by Pope Francis in October 2021.

This is a repeat of the push for Anglican women deacons. It was claimed that it did not mean that they would become priests if made deacons. As deacons they argued that it was discrimination if they could not be ordained to the priesthood followed by the threefold ministry argument that it would be discriminatory not to allow women bishops.

Now that they have achieved their aim and converted Anglicanism to conform with their own desires they want to get rid of anyone who does not share their warped ideas of equality.

There is no honour among thieves.

Brass Neck Barry

Archbishop Barry Morgan at the 900th anniversary celebration of the Papal decree that two trips to St Davids were the equivalent of one to Rome.  Source: Twitter

On Saturday, 22nd July 2023, St Davids diocese held an Extraordinary Diocesan Conference (EDC) to "canvass LMAs' opinions on the qualities they would like to see in the person elected as the new Bishop of St Davids".

Those qualities would been regarded as obvious based on faith and tradition before politics divided the Church in Wales.

The man regarded by many as responsible for the mess the Church in Wales finds itself in is archbishop Barry Morgan who is suspected of trying to influence opinion long after his retirement.

With the election of a new bishop approaching and a reputation for creating division Morgan made an ill-judged appearance at the special service to mark the 900th anniversary of the Papal decree that two trips to St Davids were the equivalent of one to Rome, something I would have thought would have meant little to him as a protestant.

Following his manoeuvring, St Davids was the first diocese in the Church in Wales to elect a woman bishop which would have been anathema to any pope. 

Joanna Penberthy's episcopacy has been a disaster from her mean minded attempt to get rid of elderly male clergy to her political posturing which culminated in her “Never, never, never trust a Tory” comment which attracted widespread derision. 

Described by Barry Morgan as the best person to be a bishop, she is another divisive figure who has advanced feminism over faith. She is reported by the archbishop to be "in good heart" as she prepares to retire to Cornwall following extensive periods of sick leave. 

The retirement of Provincial Assistant Bishop David Thomas, author of  'A Noble Task', gave archbishop Morgan the opportunity to decree that there would be further provision over his dead body for faithful Anglicans who, on grounds of conscience, were unable to receive the sacramental ministry of women, thus reversing assurances which led to the ordination of women and their elevation to the episcopacy in the Church in Wales.

I am not clear what message the archbishop was trying to convey in his presidential address to the EDC other than a facilitator would be listening to the views of people in St Davids diocese. 

Hopefully the errors of the past will be heeded by putting faith before politics. To that end, all Anglican views must be heard, including those excluded Anglicans who, in the words of St David, Keep the Faith.

Holiday hunger

 

Donate: FareShare Cost of Living Crisis Appeal

"Up to 3 million children are at risk of going hungry over the school holidays. We urgently need your food." - FareShare

Atheist First Minister Encourages Spread of Islam with £300K of Tax Payers Money

New mosque and community centre opened by First Minister, Mark Drakeford        Source: Wales Online (Image: John Myers)

From Wales Online: 

 "A new mosque and community centre has opened in Swansea. On Friday, Sketty Mosque and Community Centre held its official inauguration ceremony. First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford presided over the event with guests such as the Lord Lieutenant, the Lord Mayor and other civil and uniformed dignitaries.

"The historic Bethel United Reformed Church has been transformed into the Sketty Mosque and Community Centre. The revitalisation project was funded by £400k raised with the Swansea Muslim community in just three weeks and supplemented by a £300k Community Cohesion matching fund from the Welsh Government."

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford, an atheist, opened the Centre with representatives of Church and State present. 

The Lord Lieutenant and other civil and uniformed dignitaries.                           Source: Wales Online (Image: John Myers)

A far cry from Islamic countries which forbid the building of Christian churches and those countries Where Christianity Is Illegal 2023.

It does not appear to occur to some people that their presence is sharing in a political ideology that is responsible for the persecution of Christians and many atrocities around the world in the name of Islam.

In April 2023 Release International reported on Nigeria's Growing Christian Genocide:

"Since 2009, 52,250 Christians have been killed by jihadists, including Boko Haram and Fulani militants. According to Intersociety, militants have attacked:

18,000 churches

2,200 Christian schools

800 Christian communities

[The report] claims: ‘The number of Christians killed in the country… between July 2009 and April 2023 has risen to 52,250 [and] 14m Christians have been uprooted and forced to flee their homes.

[It] adds, ‘No fewer than 800 Christian communities have been seized or taken over; with many of them renamed and Islamised by the Jihadists since 2009’."

For a first hand account of the misery people face in Nigeria simply for being a Christian read how Mary Finds Peace After Escaping Kidnappers. 

In Pakistan blasphemy laws carry a potential death sentence for anyone who insults Islam. "Critics say they have been used to persecute minority faiths and unfairly target minorities." 

Read Christian nurse Tabitha Nazir Gill's account after escaping 'perilous danger' in Pakistan over blasphemy charges. "She was accused of insulting the prophet of Islam, breaking 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which carries the death sentence."

Much more is reported almost daily. See here and here.

While Christianity wanes in Great Britain cultural jihad is allowed to spread Islamic culture, often with the aid of the Anglican Church whose bishops are preoccupied in feminist diversity.

Satisfied clerics?                          Source: Wales Online (Image: John Myers)

This alien political ideology has just cost hard pressed British tax payers £300K!

Postscripts

[20.07.2023]

Western Telegraph: "No more Welsh Government holiday meal money for struggling families."

Wales Online: "Second Welsh council agrees to fund free school meals during the summer holidays

Powys Council has agreed to spend £280,000 to help prevent "holiday hunger" among children during the six week break."

[21.07.2023]

The 'Religion of Peace' - At least 51 Christian converts arrested in Iran in state security clampdown

[25.07.2023]

Being a Christian in a Muslim majority country: 

"Thousands of Christians in the Sargodha district of Punjab in Pakistan have fled their homes after mosque calls for Muslims to protest over an alleged blasphemy." - Release International