New DIRECTIONS
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acted upon the advice of her Chancellor, to
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veto the election of the Revd Mark Lawrence
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F
ifteen months after Civil Partnerships
became law, the first figures are out in
the public domain. And we can answer as Bishop of South Carolina. The reason stated
subscription email
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the question: is the proportion of Church of for this action – the first of its kind for over
editor
England clergy in a CP higher or lower than seventy years – was irregularity in the form
nd.editor@forwardinfaith.com
that of the English population at large? After of consents given, some of which had been
all other enquiries
the tenor of the recent Synod debate, one received electronically and therefore without
nd@forwardinfaith.com
might be surprised to learn that proportionally the signatures required by Canon.
CPs are ten times more popular among CofE Reaction to the veto has been predictably
Editorial
clergy than among the ordinary populace. sharp. Fr Lawrence himself, in an interview for
Editor: Nicholas Turner
Ten times. This is an impressive figure. And a Washington DC newspaper summed up the
Assistant Editors: Geoffrey
Kirk, Jonathan Baker,
surprisingly encouraging. views of many: ‘A curtain has been drawn back
Kathleen McCully, Simon
That single clergy are taking advantage of on the stage of the Episcopal Church,’ he said,
Heans, Owen Higgs,
the provision of the law to establish mutual ‘and everyone can now look into what I would
Thomas Seville CR, support with a friend, in terms of pensions, call the theatre of the absurd – that those of us
William Davage, Len Black
inheritance tax, and so on, is a sign of care and who uphold the trustworthiness of Scripture
Contributing Editors: Andy
responsibility. The 2004 Act says absolutely and the traditional teachings of the Church are
Hawes, Francis Gardom,
nothing explicitly about sexual activity in a repeatedly put in a position of having to justify
Arthur Middleton, Gerry
civil partnership. There is no reason (other our beliefs.’
O’Brien, Barry Orford,
John Richardson
than interference by gay activists) for the In our view the course of action for the dio-
church to be bothered about them one way or cese of South Carolina is clear. They must re-
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the other, so long as it maintains its adherence elect Fr Lawrence and submit his name once
New Directions is sent free
to scriptural teaching (for heterosexuals every again to the bishops and standing committees
of charge to all members of
bit as much as for homosexuals). whose approval is required. One of the strong-
Forward in Faith. Individual
What the Act does instead is create a climate est arguments for the confirmation of the elec-
copies are sold at £2∙50. implicitly by the complexity of its provisions. tion of Gene Robinson to the diocese of New
All subscription enquiries It is this fundamental dishonesty that has been Hampshire was that the diocese had a right to
should be addressed to FiF UK
so consistently condemned by New Direc- the bishop it had chosen. If the polity of The
Office at the address above.
tions. It is the government and not individu- Episcopal Church supports that argument
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als who must receive the condemnation. Sadly (which effectively renders the process of gain-
£25 (United Kingdom/EEC),
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too much of church discussion, in General ing consents superfluous) then it must apply as
Priests from Anglican
Synod or among members of the House of well in South Carolina as in New Hampshire;
Provinces in Third World
Bishops, diverts attention towards the private as well for traditionalists as for revisionists.
countries and students in
life of individuals and thus colludes with the Failure to confirm Fr Lawrence’s election
theological training in the government’s subterfuge. a second time would surely be a significant
Anglican Communion will
A similar dishonesty with the Sexual moment for American Anglicanism. In the
receive a free subscription.
Orientation Regulations also threatens the eyes of the Communion the determination
integrity of the church. There is no Christian of its liberal majority to persecute and outlaw
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foundation for discrimination against anyone those in disagreement with it would have been
Mike Silver
on the basis of their sexual orientation, but highlighted in a dramatic way. The House
57 Century Road,
this is not what these regulations are about. of Bishops has already rejected the propos-
Rainham, Kent ME8 0BQ
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Without proper parliamentary debate, without als of the Primates for a Pastoral Council
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a published Bill, without open consultation, a and Primatial Vicar to care for parishes and
email m.silver@breathe.com
collection of implicitly dishonest regulations dioceses disaffected by prevailing attitudes on
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is being cobbled together by a Minister just in human sexuality – proposals which in essence
one month (up to 50 words) time to become the law of the land this month. originated in the American Church itself. To
£32 for two months
If tolerance is to be legislated out of exist- deny an orthodox diocese the right to the min-
£32 for three months
ence, that is a serious step. In such a context, istry of a bishop of its own choosing, sharing
Series of advertisements in
the present process of ill-thought-out fiat is its own theological stance, would be to declare
excess of three months will
utterly shabby and totally disgraceful. But we open war on all those who dissent from deci-
also be charged at £16 per
month with every third month
must remember that it is the government and sions of the General Convention.
free. Additional words will
not individuals who stand condemned. The Episcopal Church is, in origins and con-
be charged at 50 pence for
stitution, a federation of dioceses, which are
one month, £1 each for themselves federations of parishes. However
two or three months etc
A
s the House of Bishops of The Episco- unsatisfactory this may be in terms of Catholic
pal Church began its meeting in Texas ecclesiology, it is an undeniable historical fact.
to discuss the Dar es Salaam Commu- The Episcopal Church is much given to
The next issue of newdirections
niqué of the Primates of the Anglican Com- proclaiming its own ‘graciousness’. It needs to
is published on 4 May
munion, it was revealed that Presiding Bishop demonstrate by its actions that those are not
Katherine Jefferts Schori had accepted and empty words.
ND
April 2007
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newdirections
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