On 3 December 1977, three women were ordained to the priesthood: Rev. Jean Brookes, Rev. Wendy Cranston, and Rev. Heather Brunton. They were the first women to be ordained priests in New Zealand. This was the fourth Anglican province to allow women to be ordained to the priesthood. This year, Sunday 3 December is hence
40th Anniversary of Women’s Ordination to the Priesthood Read More »
This post will only interest those following the debate in NZ Anglicanism around holding together those of different persuasions in relation to blessing committed same-sex couples. General Synod Te Hinota Whanui has moved from trying to come to theological agreement to enabling a structure in which these differences can be held within one church. The
Submission on Blessing Same-Sex Couples Read More »
I had a fascinating discussion recently with someone I deeply respect who kept pressing me to deeper clarification about what actually happens at baptism. What difference does it actually make? I have this conversation in mind with the news of the consecration of Auckland’s Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral. What actually happens when a church building
Many Anglicans say they believe things, but they don’t. They believe the opposite of what they say. Anglicans in positions of responsibility (eg. bishops, others ordained,…) even sign that they believe stuff that they don’t. I will illustrate. Let’s just start on any random day in, say, 1970. The doctrine of NZ Anglicanism (at that
Do We Really Believe What We Say We Believe? Read More »
Let’s not let facts get in the way of our prejudices… Ian Paul presses for the protestantisation of Anglicanism at his Psephizo site – this time urging bishops to throw away their mitres. Without any historical justification, The Rev. Dr Paul contends that the bishop’s mitre derives from the headgear of the High Priest! And
The Bishop’s Mitre Read More »
Anglican orders should not be written off by Roman Catholics as “invalid” stresses a new book by Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts. He calls into question Pope Leo XIII’s 1896 papal bull that Anglican orders are “absolutely null and utterly void.” There’s already plenty of heat in response to
Anglican Orders Not Invalid Read More »
I keep seeing reference to being “ordained to the Transitional Diaconate” or being “ordained to the Vocational Diaconate”. As if the Transitional Diaconate and the Vocational Diaconate are different orders. I would not be surprised if in the Anglican Church of Or there are examples where the ordination services for those two were actually different.
Transitional Priest – Vocational Bishop Read More »
On Sunday it was the 25th anniversary of my ordination as priest, and the local parish, St Michael and All Angels, invited me to preside and preach. The Priest in Charge (Canon Craufurd Murray – the vicar is away on Study Leave) was the one who presented me 25 years ago, and was my training
Advent Celebration and Sermon Read More »
