Week Ending 04/03/17

Church in Wales Rejects Formal Complaint in Llandaff Bishop Row

The complaint lodged against the unsuccessful election of a bishop in the see of Llandaff has been rejected by the Legal Committee of the Church of Wales.  The committee found the charge without merit and that the Bench of Bishops in Wales can go forward with choosing a new bishop.  The charges had been filed by three different groups after none of the candidates reached the super majority necessary for election. The groups were five members of the body that held the original election, four members of the Llandaff standing committee, and area deans.  Comments made during the first election about the homosexuality of one of the candidates, Jeffrey John had prompted the complaint and a general controversy. Update covered the filing of the complaint here.  The full finding by the Legal Committee is here.

Episcopal Refugee Resettlement Scales Back

The Episcopal Church's Migration Ministries has announced that for fiscal year 2018 (October 2017-August 2018) it will drop six of the thirty one affiliates it works with in resettling refugees in the U.S. because of the immigration policies of the new administration.  The funding they count on from federal sources is not forthcoming, and the number of refugees to be admitted beginning in the new fiscal year has been cut in half.  Migration ministries is trying to restructure itself so that it will continue provide safe and welcoming places for new refugees.  They intend to focus on areas where there are existing communities of refugees to provide support and where costs of resettlement are lower. 

Fargo Parish Dedicates New Window to Integrity and LGBTQ

A new stained glass window depicting a rainbow and the Baptismal Vow to respect and seek justice for every human being  has been dedicated at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Fargo. The parish named the window the "Integrity Window" and says it illustrates their commitment to reach out to all within the community.  Local news covered the event. 

Barna Group Releases Two Fascinating Studies

The Barna Group is a research group with an evangelical focus that does serious research on American religious behavior.  On International Women's Day (March 8) it released a study on the acceptance of women as leaders in the church.  For that study they interviewed by a large swatch the public and over 900 clergy from different denominations. That research showed a wide acceptance of women as leaders in secular and religious roles across different groups, but also a much lower acceptance of women as clergy among evangelicals.  This last week they released the first part of a study they did on those individuals who did not attend church but who saw themselves as religious or spiritual.  The first part focused on those who "love Jesus, but not the Church."  These are individuals that continue to see themselves as Christian, but have rejected the institutional church. The group is largely white, female and drawn from the Generation X and Millenials.  The research shows they hold relatively conventional and orthodox beliefs about God and Jesus, and even pray nearly as much as Church attenders. The second part looking at those who consider themselves "spiritual but not religious" is due to come out soon.  

Anglican Church in Peru Calls for Help in Responding to Mudslide and Flood Victims

The Anglican Church in Peru believes it is organized and ready to provide relief to those whose lives have been devastated by the floods and mudslides in that country.  Initial disaster relief is not providing for the longer term needs of people who have lost everything and have needs for food, shelter and clean water as they begin rebuilding.  The church has asked for financial help to implement its plan of action to support the many small communities badly hurt by the recent weather events. The church estimates that it will cost about $10,000 to provide to months of support to a community of 75 individuals.  There are hundreds of such communities.

Bruno and St. James the Great Begin the Wait for Hearing Panel Findings

Update published a special posting on days two and three of the Hearing Panel "trial" of Bishop Bruno on charges filed by members of St. James the Great in Newport Beach.  The panel, headed by Bishop Hollerith has no set date for when it will issue its report and findings.  In the meantime, the parish remains locked out of the building that they wish to occupy and Bishop Bruno continues his activities as bishop.  Bruno is in the process of  retiring and has a bishop co-adjutor in place already.