Comments on: Chelmsford ordination protest

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:42:32 +0000

Re: 5 Put your hand up when the banns are read, but explain you were just stretching

We were a small but select band at church on Sunday evening. 20 of us, in a circle, round the temporary altar. Opposite me in the circle were the future bride and groom. Their banns of marriage were read out…

I WAS SOOOOO TEMPTED!!!!!!!

By: Mark Bennet

Mark Bennet — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:31:23 +0000

Protest loudly by using the wrong version of the Lord’s Prayer in an assertive voice – trad in a modern service and vice versa.

And more seriously – out of the Arian controversy came not only creeds and doctrines, but canons of Church order too – out of the experience of division and heresy – which rather discouraged people from choosing their own bishop. And that was reflecting back on a situation where there were Arian bishops with whom “orthodox” priests would rightly have disagreed.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:15:31 +0000

I’m thinking party poppers might be a good way of showing appreciation during a sermon if they say something really groovy, like about childrens rights or something (I heard a sermon on Tuesday on this subject and was disappointed not to have any party poppers on me)

However, my protest at church was to leave church and go to the Quakers instead – less wrangling.

By: Clare

Clare — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:32:15 +0000

Gosh, I just read that letter of protest and my first thoughts were that I’d never read anything quite so ungracious. (But actually I probably have.) I’m still struggling to find anything of the love and grace of God in it however. And as for making it public…..

I tell you – all these shennanigans just add weight to making me not only want to leave the church but also seriously to question my faith. After all if those who profess to love and serve God can behave like this …. Hardly a good evangelistic tool then.

By: jody

jody — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 07:24:26 +0000

I disagree with +Gladwin, although I think he should be allowed to explore the issues surrounding sexuality, as we all should, without being questioned on ‘soundness’. I understand that +Gladwin’s thoughts have gone beyond exploration, but then this is what thinking will do for you.

I also disagree with Mr Wood for all the reasons rehearsed here.

By: Peter Kirk

Peter Kirk — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:07:50 +0000

I get the impression that the extent to which people don’t agree with what Richard Wood has done is proportional to the extent to which they don’t disagree with what John Gladwin is doing.

Not true of me, John. In my opinion, Bishop Gladwin should not be supporting an organisation whose aims are wrong. But that does not excuse Richard Wood and others who refuse to have communion with them, because Article 26 of the 39 makes it clear that the bishop’s personal actions should not be a barrier to communion.

By: Iconoclast

Iconoclast — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:50:30 +0000

Dave,
You mention at the beginning of this thread that its ‘been a long while since you have had a go at Reform”. Are there any other groups you love to have a go at? Any others whose consciences are worth kicking?

Iconclast

By: John Richardson

John Richardson — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:47:12 +0000

Joe, you probably won’t tell me, but I’d be happy to hear, since I’ve apparently got it wrong.

By: joe

joe — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:31:54 +0000

I don’t think anywhere is the place for this conversation if you are going to make snap judgements about what I think before I’ve actually told you.

By: John Richardson

John Richardson — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:12:09 +0000

Hi Joe

Basically you don’t agree with my position vis a vis +John Gladwin’s position, so you won’t agree with Richard Wood’s actions either. We’ve had lots of conversations with him over this, but basically got nowhere.

If you’re cool with his position on this, fair enough.

On the poor, justice, etc, my trip to Kenya gave me a few ideas. Have a listen to my third talk, if you want to know about whether I’m prepared to do that engagement. You might also read this post, though you probably won’t like it!

Sorry if you feel a cartoon blog isn’t the place for this discussion. I hope that I’m not wasting my time. I do find myself wondering, though, why everyone seems so tense and ratty all the time (not just me!).