Synod to discuss woman bishops

The governing body of the Church of England is to open a meeting which will consider how to introduce women bishops to the Church.
The decision to ordain women as bishops has already been made in principle, but the Synod will consider specific plans.
This will include a system of male alternatives for parishes which reject oversight from a woman.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster is also to address members on relations between the two churches.
The Synod decided last summer to press ahead with the ordination of women bishops, angering traditionalists by denying them the legal right to opt out of the control of a woman bishop and into special dioceses headed by male alternatives.
However, a draft law to be discussed this week would provide for male "complementary" bishops, to look after parishes unwilling to accept a woman.
Some traditionalist clergy say they will join the Catholic Church if they are not given sufficient exemptions from serving under women bishops.
When he addresses the Synod, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, is expected to express his regret about divisions in the Church of England.
The cardinal is expected to say that Catholics need a united Anglican Church to work for shared Christian aims in Britain.

www.bridgnorth-anglican.org

Church response to the recession

The Church of England General Synod is preparing for a special debate next week on the causes and the impact of the recession. Many parishes have seen a big increase in people looking for help.

Already churches are including the growing levels of unemployment in their weekly and daily prayers.
The subject is mentioned in sermons. It will not be long when every one of us will know a friend, relative or neighbour whose life would be devastated by the impact of the recession.

Is the church becoming a greater focal point in these recessional times?
It might be the loss of employment, the lack of income from savings or even the total loss of savings altogether.
So what are we to do?
We need to be vigilant
Churches are well placed both geographically and socially, in the communities where they exist, to get to know fairly quickly who and how local people have been affected.
Their response is critically important.
A great deal more emphasis on pastoral care and support by both lay and ordained members of churches needs to be put into action; ready to visit, listen, advise and help those badly affected.
The age of proclamation has gone.

It is out on the street that the Pastors can really make a difference
The new imperative for churches of all dominations, is to engage in incarnational ministry; the kind of ministry established by Christ Himself.
By going to where the people are, in the market places, the workplace, hospitals, schools etc; church members will find plenty of individuals in need of support and help.