By admin on 2 April 2012
“No pain, no gain” – The Primus’s Easter Reflection
An Easter reflection from the Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
People sometimes say ‘No pain, no gain.’ It’s a way of saying that anything which is worth having will come at a cost – and the cost is part of the value.
This is the season when Christians tell again the story of the crucifixion of Jesus and the power of the resurrection. Jesus approached suffering and death with quiet dignity. He believed that this was what God asked of him. It is from the seed-bed of this suffering that hope and new life come into the world.
My friend Archbishop Nathaniel of the Anglican Church of Japan writes about what it is like to care for people in the suffering which followed the tsunami, just over a year ago. He describes the helplessness and the sadness of lives destroyed. Then he shares the story of how faith in the risen Christ changed the lives of Jesus’ followers then and changes it now, saying: “The resurrection of Jesus revealed to them that the Lord would never desert them, and from that they stood up together to make a world where every human being is brought together with the bond of love.”
News from Boards of the General Synod
Continue reading “April 2012 – inspires online news”
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By admin on 11 March 2012
John Armes is Bishop-elect for Edinburgh
The Very Rev Dr John Armes has been elected as the new Bishop for the Diocese of Edinburgh. Dr Armes succeeds the Rt Rev Brian Smith who retired in August 2011.
Dr Armes is presently rector of St John the Evangelist Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh and Dean of the Diocese of Edinburgh. Before moving to Edinburgh in 1998, he was Area Dean of Rossendale and Priest in Charge of Goodshaw and Crawshawbooth in the Diocese of Manchester. His biography is detailed below.
On hearing the news of his election the Bishop-elect said “I am both delighted and honoured to be elected the new Bishop of Edinburgh, especially as those who have elected me are people who know me and have worked with me over a number of years. I see this as an exciting challenge and look forward to working with my colleagues as we continue to develop the work and life of the Diocese of Edinburgh.
“There are obvious gains and losses and one of the difficult things will be to leave St John’s Church, which has been the most rewarding place I’ve ever worked. Everything I’ve learned at St John’s will strengthen me as I enter this new phase of ministry”.
The election of the new Bishop was carried out by the Electoral Synod (comprising representatives of clergy and lay church members from the Diocese of Edinburgh), which was chaired by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev David Chillingworth who says “I congratulate John on his election and am delighted to welcome him to leadership in the Diocese of Edinburgh and to share in the life of the College of Bishops. John has had a distinctive ministry as Rector of St John’s Church, Princes Street and has placed the ministry of the Scottish Episcopal Church at the heart of the City of Edinburgh. He now has the opportunity of exercising a wider leadership role in the Diocese of Edinburgh.”
Dr Armes is married to Clare; they have four children (youngest is 19; oldest is 25). His interests include theatre, cinema, walking, reading novels, watching sport, travel and humour.
Growing faith and national pride
Scottish Episcopalians are recovering a sense of identity, says David Chillingworth
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By admin on 9 January 2012
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By admin on 6 December 2011
Please find below an extra couple of pieces of inspires online news for December 2011.
The first of these is some information about the Faith and Order Board’s response to the current Scottish Government Consultation on Civil Partnerships and Same-Sex Marriage. The full response is available as a pdf file.
Individual members of the church can make their own response to this Consultation. One of the ways of doing this is by using the online response form from the Scottish Government. The closing date for this consultation is just a couple of days away on 9 December 2011. Responses can also be emailed to familylaw@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
The second piece of news below is the Primus’s Christmas Message which will be circulated to the media in the run up to Christmas.
Best regards
KELVIN
The Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth
Convener, Information and Communication Board
Scottish Government Consultation on Civil Partnerships and Same-Sex Marriage
The Scottish Episcopal Church has today submitted its response to the Scottish Government’s consultation document on the registration of civil partnerships and same sex marriage through the Faith and Order Board of its General Synod.
In submitting its response, the Scottish Episcopal Church has stated that its General Synod expresses the mind of the Church through its Canons. The Canon on Marriage currently states that marriage is a ‘physical, spiritual and mystical union of one man and one woman created by their mutual consent of heart, mind and will thereto, and as a holy and lifelong estate instituted of God’.
The Rt Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness and Convener of the Faith & Order Board’s working group on the consultation explains “The Canon on Marriage is clear in its wording and that has given the working group set up by the Faith and Order Board a common basis on which to discuss the issues raised in the Government’s Paper. The Church’s current position is that marriage is a union between a man and a woman and this clarity allows us the space to listen to the many differing views held by the members of our Church.
“The general issues raised by the consultation document are matters which are already the subject of ongoing discussion within both the Anglican and Porvoo Communions, and in which the Scottish Episcopal Church plays its part. Our written submission is offered in the knowledge of these ongoing discussions, it is placed within the Government’s time frame and has therefore sought to indicate our canonical position without pre-empting any debate we as a Church are or could be engaged in.
“The working group thanks those who offered advice and those who offered prayer and I thank the working party for the generous way we worked with each other.”
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By admin on 2 December 2011
Please find below the news for December 2011 – there may be a further mailing of news later this month
Souls of our Shoes
“Souls of Our Shoes” is an exhibition being held in St Mungo Museum, High Street, Glasgow from Friday 25th November until Christmas. Put together by the Scottish Inter Faith group (the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Mothers’ Union are represented), who are working together to tackle domestic abuse. It is an exhibition of shoes which speak on behalf of abused individuals who suffer and some who die at the hands of their partner. Other comments come from those who journey with them. Their reflections represent a faith perspective. Further information from Hilary.moran@btinternet.com
Just Peace
An Ecumenical Call to Just Peace: prepared for the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation. “Guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79)
This call is a concerted Christian voice addressed primarily to the worldwide Christian community. Inspired by the example of Jesus of Nazareth, it invites Christians to commit themselves to the
Way of Just Peace. Aware that the promise of peace is a core value of all religions, it reaches out to all who seek peace according to their own religious traditions and commitments. The call is received by the
Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and commended for study, reflection, collaboration and common action. It is issued in response to a WCC Assembly recommendation in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 2006, and builds on insights gained in the course of the ecumenical “Decade to Overcome Violence, 2001-2010: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace.”
Just Peace embodies a fundamental shift in ethical practice. It implies a different framework of analysis and criteria for action. This call signals the shift and indicates some of the implications for the life and witness of the churches. A resource document, the Just Peace Companion, presents more developed biblical, theological and ethical considerations, proposals for further exploration and examples of good practice.
It is hoped that these materials, together with the commitments arising from the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica, in May 2011, under the theme “Glory to God and Peace on Earth,” will assist the forthcoming Assembly of the WCC to reach a new ecumenical consensus on justice and peace.
Further information from www.overcomingviolence.org
Occupy Edinburgh movement
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church Continue reading “December inspires online news”
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By admin on 5 October 2011
The next edition of inspires online will be published on 11 October, to allow coverage of the installation of the new Bishop of Brechin.
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By admin on 7 July 2011
Preached at the opening Eucharist
Download File
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By admin on 13 May 2011
Brechin Episcopal Election
Five candidates have been short-listed for the Office of Bishop of Brechin which became vacant in October 2010 following the early retirement of the late Rt Rev Dr John Mantle who had served the Diocese of Brechin since 2005. Dr Mantle died in November 2010.
The five candidates have been selected by a Preparatory Committee (chaired by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church) consisting of clergy and lay church members who represent the Diocese of Brechin and the wider Church. The next stage in the selection process is a meeting of each of the candidates with members of an Electoral Synod (representatives of clergy and lay church members from the Diocese of Brechin only). That meeting will take place on Saturday 7 May, with the election of the new Bishop taking place on Wednesday 18 May.
The candidates are: Continue reading “May 2011: News”
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By admin on 1 April 2011
Churches unite to launch election website
Scotland’s most senior Christian figures have come together to urge the country to vote in May’s elections. Church leaders are encouraging the public and politicians to examine their faith as they prepare to vote in the Scottish Elections. Churches and Christian organisations have produced a shared election resources website: www.churchesvote.org to inform potential voters about Parliamentary and election processes; to collate information about party policies and inspire Christians of all political persuasions to participate in the debate.
The website is a joint initiative between the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office, Catholic Parliamentary Office, CARE for Scotland, Evangelical Alliance and Christians Count, and is supported by the Baptist Union of Scotland, CARE for Scotland, Christians Count, Church of Scotland, Congregational Federation, Destiny Church Network, Evangelical Alliance, Free Church of Scotland, Methodist Church in Scotland, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Roman Catholic Church, The Salvation Army, Scottish Episcopal Church, United Free Church of Scotland and United Reformed Church.
The full statement issued on behalf of all the Church Leaders: Continue reading “April 2011: News”
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By admin on 1 March 2011
Primus elected as member of the Primates’ Standing Committee
At the recent Primates’ Meeting in Dublin, The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church was elected to serve on the Primates’ Standing Committee (for a period of three years) and says “I am honoured to have been elected to the Standing Committee of the Primates’ Meeting and of the Anglican Communion. Following the recent meeting in Dublin, it is envisaged that the Standing Committee of the Primates’ Meeting will for the first time meet as a separate entity. I believe that this represents an important development of the role of the Primates’ Meeting as one of the four Instruments of Communion.”
The full list of members of the Primates’ Standing Committee is available from the Anglican Communion website:
Thinking the Nicene Creed: Incarnation
The 7th Grosvenor Essay Thinking the Nicene Creed: Incarnation is now available. Based around the Nicene Creed, a fundamental part of the Eucharistic Liturgy of the Scottish Episcopal Church, it explores central issues in the life, thought and worship of the church today, and looks towards the future. Incarnation is a concept at the heart of the Creed, and the key to the salvation which it promises to humanity. Why incarnation? Would it not be a good idea to free ourselves from some of these ancient formulations in the 21st century? This is a very fair question, and not a new one. To answer it Grosvenor Essay 7 looks at incarnation in the tradition and the contemporary life of our church.
The Essay is in 3 parts: discussing The Virgin Birth, “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave”, Incarnation and Gender, In Favour of Materialism?, Incarnation and Art, Incarnation and Eucharist, Incarnation and Sacrament
Copies cost £3 and can be obtained through the General Synod Office at 21 Grosvenor Crescent Edinburgh or by emailing reception@scotland.anglican.org
Concert for Christchurch
St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow hosted a fundraising concert for Christchurch, New Zealand on 28 February 2011 in response to the recent earthquake there. Christchurch Cathedral and St Mary’s were both designed by the same architect (Sir George Gilbert Scott) within a few years of one another. Pictures of the damaged Christchurch Cathedral prompted local musician Michael Bawtree to organise a major fundraising concert. This was subsequently reported through various media including the Scotsman, Daybreak television, Scotland at Six and on Good Morning Scotland. It is expected the the footage will also be shown on New Zealand TV. Continue reading “March 2011: news”
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