3rd April 2008

Inclusive Church (IC) is disappointed by the Church in Wales' decision not to allow women to be bishops. But we are pleased that the Church in Wales resisted pressure for any arrangements which would have discriminated against women and which would have destroyed the unity and integrity of its episcopate.

Christina Rees, Chair of WATCH (Women and the Church) and member of IC's Executive Committee said, "I applaud the leadership shown by Archbishop Barry Morgan and the Welsh bishops' resolute decision not to compromise the principle of having women as bishops on the same basis as men are bishops.”... to read more click on the header above

Please ask your PCC or vestry to endorse the statement "Celebrating the Gift of Communion". You can reach it by clicking on the header. Instructions are included.

Short version: we want to present a pile of endorsements to the bishops gathered at the Lambeth Conference, to show that there are many more Communion-friendly congregations than there are secessionists out there. This statement says that the Communion means more to your congregation than a good fight; it does not mean that you agree with any particular point of moral theology.

You can help the effort by encouraging your colleagues to get their vestries or PCCs to endorse this. Share this widely with lay and clerical church friends. Post it on websites and blogs. Stitch it onto the front of your mitre, if you're a bishop.

.....As you say, 'we have to start engaging with the more crunchy issue, which is, of course, the place of sexual expression of love within same-gender relationships'. Your sentence at the end of that paragraph is I think the one that has kept haunting me ever since I first read it - 'I think at the moment the place that I part company with the Church is that whereas I see their sexual expression as integral to the relationship's godliness the Church sees it as inimical'......

We are a network of individuals and organisations whose make-up reflects the breadth and scope of the Church of England and beyond.

We come from differing traditions and differing locations but we are united in one aim: to celebrate and maintain the traditional inclusivity and diversity of the Anglican Communion. We are committed to ensuring that those who are excluded because of their poverty, different abilities,  ethnic origin or any other reason can play their full part in the Gospel of Jesus Christ's unconditional love.

As Archbishop Tutu said -  "Christ,  when he was lifted up,  did not say 'I draw some people to myself.'  He said 'I draw all,  all, ALL!'

We are very concerned that the Church of England is seen by many as withdrawing from its historic commitment to serve the whole community,  and becoming more like a membership "club"  which accepts people only on its own terms. 

We are working to break down the barriers to full inclusion at all levels of the Anglican Communion.  This means that it is essential that women can be bishops and that lesbian and gay people - both in relationships and single can be ministers.    As part of full inclusion,  we believe the Church should be offering services of thanksgiving and blessing to those entering Civil Partnerships.

Find out more About Us; our Areas of Work; Conferences & Events and find a Inclusive Church near You. 

 

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