Welcome to Affirming Catholicism’s latest email newsletter!

 

 

 

 

 

IN THIS NEWSLETTER: 

A Note from the Chair

Meet the Team: our Publications Officer –Mark Chapman

Establishment – a Day Conference Report

Convenors Day

Looking Ahead

Radical Christianity

 

Like some of you, I am just getting ready for next week’s C of E General Synod. (Apologies to those in other provinces for this letter’s parochial approach.) As we are not going to be discussing the legislation to allow women to be made bishop, we are discussing almost everything else – a whole raft of varied topics. Partly that’s so that there will be space on the agenda in July to do all that’s needed on women bishops so that the legislation (if it’s passed) can be sent out to diocesan synods for discussion.

In the meantime, we will be discussing a motion asking the archbishops to recognise the Anglican Church in North America (i.e. the coalition of various groups which have broken away from the existing Provinces of the Anglican Communion); we will be discussing pension provision in the context of the church’s ongoing financial situation – and discussing a motion to offer equal treatment with widows and widowers of clergy to surviving civil partners. We will be hearing a report on the Fresh Expressions initiative, attempting to evaluate its value for the Church – and many other things.

I hope that has convinced you that it’s really important that General Synod represents the whole range of opinions across the Church of England. Affirming Catholicism is part of the Inclusive Church General Synod Campaign Coalition 2010 (too many capital letters, surely?). The coalition has three aims for the elections of this summer: General Synod membership which has

-          At least a two thirds majority in both clergy and lay houses seeking to bring about the full inclusion of women in the Episcopate

-          A majority inclusive stance on all matters affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people

-          Double the present representation of black and minority ethnic people

The Campaign needs your help: in thinking about whether you might stand for Synod, in encouraging others, and in supporting the Campaign with your money. Affirming Catholicism nationally has contributed £1000 – could your group, or you yourself, help out? Please do think and pray about all of these things: it is really important that there is a full slate of inclusive candidates in every diocese and for every house of Synod.

For more on the Campaign, see http://www.inclusivechurch2.net/Synod-and-Events-a6eeacf.

 

 

 

There are lots of interesting plans in publishing for the next year or so – our Affirming Catholicism Series with Mowbrays goes from strength to strength: we now have four volumes and one already in press. Last year the New Testament scholar, Nicholas Taylor published a marvellous book on the theology of Lay Presidency which surveyed all the arguments for and against – it’s an approachable and readable book which should inform debates on this thorny topic. Don’t worry – his conclusions are perfectly sound, and Affirming Catholicism is not going to end up in Sydney. Coming out in the next few months is our next volume The Hope of Things to Come: Anglicanism and the Future, which is with the copy-editors at the moment. This book is a collection of essays by leading theologians on the past, present and future of Anglican theology in the context of the Lambeth Conference of 2008. The principal theological strands of the classical Anglican tradition (Scripture, Tradition and Reason) are assessed in original and creative ways which will promote further thought and encourage open debate within the Church of England and Anglicanism more broadly. Instead of on division, the emphasis is on conversation, dialogue and unity. The Book is divided into two parts. The essays in part one re-assess the sources of doctrine in Anglicanism in novel ways, all in dialogue with history, as well as with the theologies of other churches, and the experience in other religions. A conversation is promoted which continues through the chapters in Part Two, which engage in their different – and often original ways – with the ecumenical setting of theology, Anglo-Catholicism and the future, and the effects of the recent Lambeth Conference on the resolution of conflict and peacemaking across the Anglican Communion. Also planned for later in the year is another monograph, ‘I was glad’: Temple and Church in Christian Mission on the theme of the temple in Christian worship by Peter Doll, Canon Librarian at Norwich Cathedral, and a leading liturgical scholar and church historian. This promises to be a provocative and challenging book. Later in the year we also plan to publish the volume emerging out of the conference on Establishment held towards the end of 2009 – again this promises to be an exciting and stimulating read.

 

 

 

 

 

The various proposals for the reform of the House of Lords and possible amendments to the Act of Settlement have highlighted questions about the place, role and maintenance of the Established Church in British public life. To many, the sustenance of the existing polity has seemed self-evidently incongruous with the ethos of ‘Equality Britain’, an unjust privileging of one particular religious group in a plural society. So why do we retain Establishment?

 

Some answers to that question began to find expression at a day conference sponsored by Affirming Catholicism, held at St John’s College, Oxford, on 24 October. From philosophical, historical and sociological perspectives, contributors offered valuable reasons for believing that Establishment continued to play a significant role in nurturing the good society. As Professor Nigel Biggar (Christ Church, Oxford) indicated, if the nation were to excise its Christian structures, there remained questions as to whether the alternatives would be sufficiently able to nurture our public virtues of tolerance, reasonableness and fairness. The Anglican humanism that has been inherited, it was suggested, currently provides a space for the other, a willingness to engage in patient dialogue, and a understanding of political reasoning as an essentially social activity: all characteristics of a healthy democracy that are missing from the impatient and doctrinairetone encountered in secularist polities.

 

The nourishment of our common life at the grassroots level was a theme valuably explored by Professor Elaine Graham (University of Chester). The recent gains of the British National Party had underlined a wider sense of democratic deficit in British public life that has been interpreted by many as the result of politicians ‘forgetting’ certain corners of our society. Often, it was the parish church alone that remained when other community organizations moved on. If disestablishment dismantled the parochial system, the wider society – already feeling the effects of a constricted welfare state – would soon feel the loss.

 

What might Establishment offer to the Church, however? Since the Great Reform Act, there have been influential voices, from John Keble through to Valerie Pitt, who have queried the integrity of the Church as a result of Establishment, as Revd Dr Mark Chapman (Ripon College Cuddesdon) and Dr Matthew Grimley (Merton College, Oxford) illustrated in their historical surveys of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Notwithstanding these dissenting voices, however, the majority on both sides valued the opportunities afforded by Establishment for Christian witness in national and local life. Moreover, as Canon Dr Judith Maltby (Corpus Christi College, Oxford) showed in her paper on how the House of Commons had routinely demanded legislation enabling women bishops, the Church could not easily ignore the wider public; Establishment encouraged a sensitivity to context in the Church’s public theology that ought to be cherished.

 

Whether the Established Church will indeed be cherished in the impending constitutional reforms remains to be seen. Nonetheless, this day conference offered strong evidence, were it needed, that there continues to be theological coherence and concrete social value to retaining this bond between Church and Nation. Its conclusions deserve a wider audience.

 

 

 

 

On Saturday the 5^th December convenors came from as far afield as Truro and York to gather at Derby Cathedral Centre for a fantastic day of information sharing, worship, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

 

We began reviewing and discussing a new draft of the ‘Guidelines for Christian Living’ – one of our founding documents which we all found very helpful and exciting as we move into a new phase of our life. This was followed by a Eucharist in the beautiful, peaceful setting of the ancient Bridge Chapel and a delicious lunch. In the afternoon we reviewed the events and initiatives planned for the next two years and heard what the Diocesan Groups were up to. We reflected on the developments in the wider church and spoke of the importance of the 2010 General Synod Elections and the need for all of us to think seriously about nominations and perhaps even standing for election ourselves! The afternoon was rounded off by a visit to the new website and our Secretary, David Thunder spoke of the exciting new resources that are planned for the future.

 

All those who attended said what a truly helpful day it had been but perhaps more importantly what an inspiring day it had been! One member remarked that he had been put back in touch with what he called, ‘Real church for real people!’ Others spoke of being reminded of the importance of such a day to remind them once again of the crucial role Affirming Catholicism plays in providing an intelligent and informed catholic voice in the church today. 

 

This year our meeting will be on Saturday 4^th December, once again in Derby. Please make sure this date is in your diary if you are a Convenor or, if you haven’t got a group that meets regularly in your Diocese, why not think of becoming yourself and being a conduit of information for others in your Diocese? Contact Elaine Jones, the Diocesan Group liaison person, on 01332 341201 for further information. Lunch and travel expenses (please book early) will be paid.

 

2010 should be an exciting year for Affirming Catholicism. Full details of all our events will follow inb due course, but please note them in your diaries now!

 

From 4^th to 6^th June, we will be holding a National Retreat at Pleshey in the Essex countryside. Led by Bishop Stephen Conway, it will; be called The Heart of Christ for the World. Full details are available by following the link from our home page at www.affirmingcatholicism.org.uk.

 

Our annual Vocations Conference is scheduled for St. Chad’s Durham from 3^rd to 5^th September. Please contact the Rev’d Sally Wright at sallywright29@yahoo.co.uk or go to our website and select ‘Vocations’.

 

We are holding a day conference on Hymn Writing at St. Peter’s, Eaton Square (near Victoria Station) on 9^th September. This will be of interest both to those who have tried their hand at writing hymns and to those who have not yet taken the plunge. Full details in the next newsletter.

 

A day conference on Ecumenism is planned for 13th November in Oxford, and our annual meeting of Diocesan Convenors for 4^th December in Derby (see Elaine’s article above)

 

On January 29^th 2011 we are staging an exciting day conference on Lay Empowerment with Paula Gooder as our principal speaker. Outline plans for later next year include events on Climate Change at which the Bishop of London will speak, an event on Parish Mission featuring Tim Sledge and others, and a Residential Conference in late June. Watch this space for further details as they become available!

 

Also watch out soon for the relaunch of our short pamphlet ‘Guidelines for Christian Living’ which we hope will be an important resource for many people in helping others to share something of our vision for the Church and the world.