As you see,  IC has changed!  We have a new and improved visual identity,  new staff and great hopes for the future.

(This is the first newsletter in the new format.  Welcome.  If you have unsubscribed previously and are receiving this again,  our apologies. Please visit the Inclusive Church website - www.inclusivechurch.net - and send us an e-mail via "Contact us". We now have the ability to amend and remove e-mails much more simply.)

Please pray for Clare Herbert and Brenda Harrison as they prepare to begin to work for IC (in a paid capacity!) from 7th October as Coordinator and Administrator.

There are places left for Celebrating Anglican Diversity in Manchester this Saturday 29th Sept from 11.30 to 3.30. It could hardly be a more important time to hear and speak with not one but TWO Primates, both passionate about classical Anglicanism and our mission in the world.

The Most Revd Dr Idris Jones, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church says: "It was very obvious at the recent meeting of Anglican Primates that the vast majority wish to stay with an Anglican church that is open and welcoming and prepared to live with difference. This is Anglican mainstream and we have to make it clear that it represents majority opinion among church leaders. Attempts to try to turn the Communion into something that is controlled from the centre, with expulsion the result of disagreement, will fail." You can hear more from him on Saturday -

And please don't forget to book for Drenched in Grace! If it's anything like "Renewing Our Vision" last Saturday, it's going to be excellent. The workshops are taking shape now - from penal policy to including transgendered people and from inclusive hymnody to Christianity and war. We hope too that Davis Mac-Iyalla from Nigeria and Scott Gunn from the US will both be there to report back on international things.... special rate of £80 for stipendiary curates and residential ordinands.

We have a brand new website as well. We are very grateful indeed to SQN Solutions who have brought it into being and given the necessary support and training to make it happen. 

www.inclusivechurch.net

It's very much in development and we would value feedback and suggestions of articles,  news,  and links for inclusion. 

The Petition signatories are no longer visible as it seems to us that the Petition has made its point.   If you would like your church to be included in the Directory,  please click on "churches"  and follow the links to send us a request. 

We do not at present have a Forum as we do not have the resources to moderate it:  our forum previously was continuously receiving unconstructive comments.  We hope to have a forum again once the resources are there to be sure it's useful! 

Please let us have your thoughts, suggestions and comments

Archbishop Carlos is now with us. "Renewing Our Vision" - the one day seminar on Saturday - was very good indeed. Around 60 people crowded into the conference centre at St Matthew's Westminster to hear Archbishop Carlos, Dr Joe Cassidy and Rev. Clare Herbert.

The Archbishop spoke about the history of the Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico and about the Anglican Church in Latin America. In nearly all the Provinces (apart from the Southern Cone) the Anglican Church is distinguished by its breadth and openness; it is one of the very few voices of moderate Christianity in Latin America. The "Global Centre" of which the Archbishop is a founder member very clearly and deliberately sets out to recognise the bonds of love which transcend areas of disagreement. For instance, two bishops who disagree very profoundly about the consecration of Gene Robinson have no hesitation in taking Communion together. A good example for the rest of the Communion.

Joe Cassidy gave a profound and challenging talk on the current debates. In particular he asked whether now is the right time to be looking at a Covenant, because the marks of the Spirit seem to be few and far between at the moment in our discussions. We should spend more time speaking to and listening to each other before rushing into something which is being put forward in a time of crisis.

Clare Herbert spoke powerfully about life in an inclusive parish in Central London; the challenges and the joys. She recognised that there are costs to being inclusive - some people leave and it's always hard work - but she has no doubt that the ministry at St Anne's is touched by God.

All their talks will be on the wesbite very soon.

The Statement issued by the House of Bishops in the US can be seen at Thinking Anglicans' site. It seems to me and to those I've spoken to that TEC has done a good thing with this statement. They have gone the extra mile to try to meet ++Rowan's desire to hold the Communion together and to keep talking. Clearly the moratorium continues and that's a big price to pay - clearly the ministry of LGBT clergy cannot yet be fully affirmed and that's a huge price too. And clearly same sex blessings are not yet to become routine parts of the ministry of local churches although I welcome the recognition that local pastoral needs must be recognised.

But under the Statement discussion and dialogue can continue. That's the important thing, conclaves and councils in Pittsburgh notwithstanding! It may be that there is a splintering, and a few churches in the US decide to go their own way under the Southern Cone or wherever else. If t'were done, tis well t'were done quickly. The result of that would be that the many who remain are committed to working TOGETHER and trying to understand each other.    We hope and pray the the Lambeth Conference (including +Gene Robinson) will be a place of real listening,  dialogue and encounter.   If you haven't read "Exclusion and Embrace" by Miroslav Volf,  and have a spare few days - it's highly recommended.   

I'm very pleased that the Goddard 2 Goddard correspondence has begun again. Those who follow the news about Wycliffe will know a little about the situation there and will know that Andrew and Lis no longer teach there. Prayers for them and for Wycliffe would be appreciated. It's good that Andrew has found time to answer my letter from March. You can read his at "gay and lesbian" under "areas of work"  on our site or at the Fulcrum site.  The rest of the correspondence will be back up very soon

The good news on donations is that you are still being very generous. Even better news is that you can now give by credit card. Simply follow the links under "Donate to IC".  Thank you for your support - we have raised around £30k but still need more so that we can fulfil your hopes and enable the Church of England and the Communion to move towards full inclusion. And so that we can pay for stationery for Clare and Brenda!

Giles Goddard

Chair,  IC

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