Fulcrum Conference Islington Inciting Insight: The Holy Spirit Friday 29th April 2005 The Holy Spirit in the Church Tom Wright Bishop of Durham I am delighted to be speaking at this first Fulcrum conference, and am very grateful to Francis Bridger and his colleagues for inviting me, and to Graham Kings and the staff here … Continue Reading
In St Peter’s Square, Holy smoke and a shy smile Of Bavarian piety and curial power. Funeral oration, Conclave sermon, Acceptance address: Momentous momentum. A hard act to follow, They chose a hard man. In thinking, penetrative; In doctrine, conservative; In power, effective; In discipline, pressive: Continuity reigns. Enforcer becomes caretaker To take care of … Continue Reading
Open a page at random in any one of that stream of Encyclical Letters that poured out from the Vatican during John-Paul’s papacy, and what do you see? Chances are you will light first on a discussion of Scripture – not quoted as a proof but teased out as a way of framing a question … Continue Reading
In St Peter’s Square, Presidents and Prime Ministers, Princes and people gather. A simple cypress-wood coffin Is surmounted by the gospel book. He said he lived his life Under the word of God. The ruffling wind of the Spirit Bears witness, turning its pages. A previous Pope, John the Twenty-Third, The great caretaker, In surprising … Continue Reading
Dear Fulcrum Friend, ‘The way to Easter is Good Friday. The victory of resurrection requires the vulnerability of crucifixion.’ Walter Brueggemann The Easter message proclaims the triumph of resurrection over death. But, as Walter Brueggemann has noted, there can be no Easter Day without Good Friday, no resurrection without crucifixion. This is a truth the … Continue Reading
Article for the Good Friday 2005 edition of the Highbury & Islington Express ‘I don’t think I have ever read such unmixed admiration and affection across so many very long obituaries. They painted a portrait of a man who made the very best of his gifts by constant application.’ Andrew Brown of the Church Times, … Continue Reading
March 2005 Brakes and Breaks The Covenant Statement from ECUSA’s House of Bishops meeting in Texas applies the brakes to avoid breaks. For fifteen months, till the General Convention in June 2006, a moratorium has been declared on consecrating any bishops, not just those who live in a sexual relationship outside of marriage. The bishops … Continue Reading
Sin, sex and skullduggery. That is what this Report, and this debate, are not about. When the Lambeth Commission began work a year ago, it was not asked to discuss the presenting issues which, in late 2003, had begun to pull the Anglican Communion apart. It was asked, rather, to report on unity and communion … Continue Reading
The Primates’ Statement, like the Windsor Report, manifests long term solutions, rather than precipitous dissolution, for the Anglican Communion. We welcome their statement which builds on the profound theological insights of the Windsor Report, provides sensible provision for voluntary discipline in terms of a 3 year withdrawal of the provinces of ECUSA and Canada from … Continue Reading
Discussion Paper by Ven Judith Rose In July 2000 as a member of General Synod, I presented a Private Members Motion asking for a theological report from the House of Bishops outlining the issues to be addressed in preparation for the debate of women in the episcopate. (The current debate is about the Church of … Continue Reading