BLESSING: A Scriptural and Theological Reflection (Part II) by Ephraim Radner, Wycliffe College part II of V (read part I) 3. Blessing God Now: this is the blessing of God, from God to us. What does it mean for a human being to “bless” in his or her turn? The first thing to be said … Continue Reading
Fulcrum Response to TEC General Convention 2009 Resolution C056: official promotion of a process to develop liturgies for the blessing of same-sex unions (see also our response to resolution D025) To evaluate C056 it is necessary to trace some of the recent history in relation to same-sex blessings in order to be clear what the … Continue Reading
copublished, with permission, with The Times, 15 July 2009 In the slow-moving train crash of international Anglicanism, a decision taken in California has finally brought a large coach off the rails altogether. The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church (TEC) in the United States has voted decisively to allow in principle the appointment, to … Continue Reading
BLESSING: A Scriptural and Theological Reflection by Ephraim Radner, Wycliffe College The following paper was presented to the clergy conference of the Diocese of Ontario on June 16, 2009 In May, 2007 the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada issued a Pastoral Statement on same-sex blessings. At the end of the statement, … Continue Reading
As someone brought up in the Church of Scotland (the Presbyterian established church, not to be confused with the Scottish Episcopal Church), it is distressing to see that denomination heading rapidly into the sort of conflict and division that has marked the Anglican Communion over homosexuality. It has also been intriguing to see in the … Continue Reading
Gay Marriage Would Undermine a Sacred Institution republished, with permission, from Comment is Free Belief, Guardian Online, 1 May 2009 by Andrew Goddard Why are the overwhelming majority of Christians opposed to "gay marriage"? Is this just homophobia? While homophobia sometimes plays a part, it would be unwise and unfair – perhaps even ignorant and … Continue Reading
The Reading Church Scriptural Authority in Practice a lecture given at St Mary Islington, 27 April 2009, at the launch of his book ‘A Conversation Waiting to Begin: the Churches and the Gay Controversy’ (SCM Press, 2009) an extract was copublished in the Church Times, 1 May 2009 by The Revd Professor Oliver O’Donovan FBA … Continue Reading
Self Control and Lust A sermon on Proverbs chapter 9 and Mark chapter 7 at St Mary Islington on 22 February 2009 by Toby Hole Introduction As we are looking through our pairings of the wisdom of Proverbs and the Fruit of the Spirit, we come now to that rather contentious subject of self-control, and … Continue Reading
Listening and Mission A Response to Dr Ephraim Radner Truthful Language and Orderly Separation Phil Groves The Facilitator for the Listening Process in the Anglican Communion In his paper Truthful Language and Orderly Separation Dr Radner has offered the Anglican Communion a long reflection in the post Lambeth Conference context. In it he urges us … Continue Reading
The Faulty Orientation Argument of Anglican Archbishop Harper of Ireland by Robert A J Gagnon Archbishop Alan Harper, Anglican Primate of Ireland, has produced a paper that misreads the rejection of homosexual practice in Romans 1:24-27 in an effort to promote a “revisionist” interpretation favorable to committed homosexual unions. The paper is entitled, “Holy Scripture … Continue Reading