This post makes little sense unless you are aware of the common NZ Anglican practice of having a lay person “lead the first half of the Eucharist”. [Such a “lay worship leader” is often called a “liturgist” sic!] The practice appears to have developed from the union of three different trends The desire to give
Framed by moving, excellent, regular worship, and with a healthy, positive, central focus on our response to the earthquake, the Christchurch Anglican diocesan synod debated some important liturgical issues. I spoke against our diocese giving assent to “authorise” (scare quotes essential) Ashes to Fire, a confused and confusing statute coming to us from General Synod
More than 300 RC priests in Austria have joined Aufruf zum Ungehorsam (Call to Disobedience) The Call speaks of “the Roman refusal of a long-overdue Church reform and the inaction of bishops.” The priests agree to pray for Church reform at every liturgy, since “in the presence of God there is freedom of speech” not
RC priest initiative Read More »
The suggestion that the orders of ordained gays may be invalid, motions from at least two dioceses with new bishops asking about the rumour of a moratorium on ordaining gays, and pressure from St Matthew in the City, Auckland, are amongst reasons why General Synod Standing Committee meeting in Fiji last week passed the following
blessing and ordaining gays? Read More »
Last week there was the latest episcopal ordination in New Zealand. Charles Drennan was ordained in the wonderful cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North. Bishop Charles is Coadjutor Bishop of Palmerston North. He will take over from Bishop Peter Cullinane as Bishop of Palmerston North upon Bishop Peter’s retirement, probably later this year. I
Bishop Charles Drennan Read More »
A New Zealand Anglican bishop has waded into the murky waters of the Anglican gay debate and released an oil spill threatening extensive environmental damage. This post has been updated June 14 Astonishingly, Bishop Philip Richardson, a self-professed “white, straight male” states: I believe that General Synod needs to reach an agreed position on these
Gay ordinations invalid? Read More »
I have written about lay presidency of the Eucharist previously. You can find one of my blog posts about lay presidency here. The publication of Sydney Anglican The Lord’s Supper in Human Hands – Epilogue (click to download PDF) makes a revisit possibly worthwhile. If you haven’t read my earlier post, that background may be
lay presidency – again Read More »
Roman Catholic canon law requires all its clergy, married or not, to abstain from sex. Canon 277 has long been ignored but suddenly is hitting the blogosphere. This is relevant not only to the tens of thousands of married Roman Catholic deacons, but to clergy in the Anglican Ordinariates. More than a year ago, through
No sex please, we’re clergy Read More »
