http://www.thejournal.co.uk/northumberland-priest-set-become-second-8916640
Alison and her husband Frank are both constituents and are very involved in day to day life in Northumberland. Alison will be an outstanding Bishop and the people of Hull are very lucky to have her as their new Bishop. There is no doubt in my mind that the changes brought in by the Church of England to allow the elevation of women Bishops is a force for good and a revitalising influence on the church. Clearly the proof will be in the pudding but all the evidence is that this is a sensible evolution not revolution.
Showing posts with label Women Bishops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Women Bishops. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Thursday, 16 October 2014
Women Bishops are a big step to a modern church and long overdue - totally agree with Justin Welby
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/north-east-analysis/analysis-news/archbishop-canterbury-hails-decision-permit-7939400
The long march for women Bishops is almost over and appointments will happen soon.
As anyone who goes to church knows one of the biggest improvements in the last few years has been the presence and leadership of some ground breaking and hardworking female vicars. Two outstanding local Christian examples I know very well spring readily to mind:
- Dagmar Winter is the new rector of Hexham Abbey: http://www.newcastle.anglican.org/news-and-events/news-article.aspx?id=1929
- and Bellingham Deanery is led by the inspirational and hard working Susan Ramsaran - see her blog here: http://northumberlandrector.blogspot.co.uk/
And in the House of Commons we have the Speakers Chaplain, the Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who is wonderful:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/the-speaker/supporting-the-speaker/speakers-chaplain/
This is a very welcome move.
The long march for women Bishops is almost over and appointments will happen soon.
As anyone who goes to church knows one of the biggest improvements in the last few years has been the presence and leadership of some ground breaking and hardworking female vicars. Two outstanding local Christian examples I know very well spring readily to mind:
- Dagmar Winter is the new rector of Hexham Abbey: http://www.newcastle.anglican.org/news-and-events/news-article.aspx?id=1929
- and Bellingham Deanery is led by the inspirational and hard working Susan Ramsaran - see her blog here: http://northumberlandrector.blogspot.co.uk/
And in the House of Commons we have the Speakers Chaplain, the Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who is wonderful:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/the-speaker/supporting-the-speaker/speakers-chaplain/
This is a very welcome move.
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Women Bishops and Assisted Dying see the Synod, Parliament and 2 Archbishops debating
Justin Welby is the greatest churchman I have ever met, and an outstanding Archbishop of Canterbury. When you meet him you are genuinely moved. If any Churchman has an aura he has it.
He has two very large issues to confront over the next week: I am strongly behind him on one [women bishops] and against him on the second [assisted dying].
- on Monday the Church of England General Synod debates the thorny issue of Women Bishops, with a great prospect of success at last. I am in no doubt that the presence of female vicars has re galvanised the Anglican faith. I see it regularly both in the churches in Tynedale and daily in the House of Commons, where our vicar is female. The Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin has made a huge difference in parliament. My strong hope is that the Synod will change their view on women bishops.
- on Friday the House of Lords begins the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill. I am told there are over 100 speakers in their Lordships debate. This means they will debate through the night. Justin Welby has made his position clear in today's Times. I also have to acknowledge that this Bill is highly unlikely to succeed in parliament, until one of the political parties has the courage to back it. Single member or Private Member Bills rarely ever pass as they are blocked, are subject to lengthy filibuster or talked out.
However, Saturday's announcement by former Archbishop Carey is a true ground breaker: put simply, Carey has changed his mind. His views are in all the papers - he argues that it is not true Christianity to ignore agony and suffering. As he puts it:
"In strictly observing the sanctity of life the church could now actually be sanctioning anguish and pain, the very opposite of the Christian message of hope."
For those who oppose this Bill I would urge you to read it before coming to a judgement.
The BBC report is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28274531
My speeches and blogs on this issue are easily found: the House of Commons last debated this issue in March 2012: the debate moved me immensely. Read the speech of Paul Blomfield, who is a Sheffield Labour MP, and friend and colleague of mine: his is an amazing speech. Mine is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-03-27a.1373.0&s=%28%28assisted+suicide%29%29+speaker%3A24962#g1432.1
He has two very large issues to confront over the next week: I am strongly behind him on one [women bishops] and against him on the second [assisted dying].
- on Monday the Church of England General Synod debates the thorny issue of Women Bishops, with a great prospect of success at last. I am in no doubt that the presence of female vicars has re galvanised the Anglican faith. I see it regularly both in the churches in Tynedale and daily in the House of Commons, where our vicar is female. The Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin has made a huge difference in parliament. My strong hope is that the Synod will change their view on women bishops.
- on Friday the House of Lords begins the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill. I am told there are over 100 speakers in their Lordships debate. This means they will debate through the night. Justin Welby has made his position clear in today's Times. I also have to acknowledge that this Bill is highly unlikely to succeed in parliament, until one of the political parties has the courage to back it. Single member or Private Member Bills rarely ever pass as they are blocked, are subject to lengthy filibuster or talked out.
However, Saturday's announcement by former Archbishop Carey is a true ground breaker: put simply, Carey has changed his mind. His views are in all the papers - he argues that it is not true Christianity to ignore agony and suffering. As he puts it:
"In strictly observing the sanctity of life the church could now actually be sanctioning anguish and pain, the very opposite of the Christian message of hope."
For those who oppose this Bill I would urge you to read it before coming to a judgement.
The BBC report is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28274531
My speeches and blogs on this issue are easily found: the House of Commons last debated this issue in March 2012: the debate moved me immensely. Read the speech of Paul Blomfield, who is a Sheffield Labour MP, and friend and colleague of mine: his is an amazing speech. Mine is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-03-27a.1373.0&s=%28%28assisted+suicide%29%29+speaker%3A24962#g1432.1
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
Women Bishops will happen in 2014
I rasied this issue recently with the Minister: I am fully supportive of women becoming Bishops. It will happen in 2014
Guy Opperman (Hexham, Conservative)
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she has taken to support the Church of England's General Synod on the subject of women bishops.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 18 December 2013, c672W)
Helen Grant (The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Maidstone and The Weald, Conservative)
I strongly support the Synod in the progress that it has made this year towards enabling women to become bishops. It is widely acknowledged that women already do a tremendous job within the Church of England and the time has come to take the final step of enabling women to become bishops. I understand that the Synod hopes their legislative process to enable the appointment of women bishops will be completed by the end of 2014. It is important to note, that decisions about the Church of England's internal structure and organisation are matters for the Church itself and not Government.
Guy Opperman (Hexham, Conservative)
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she has taken to support the Church of England's General Synod on the subject of women bishops.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 18 December 2013, c672W)
Helen Grant (The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Maidstone and The Weald, Conservative)
I strongly support the Synod in the progress that it has made this year towards enabling women to become bishops. It is widely acknowledged that women already do a tremendous job within the Church of England and the time has come to take the final step of enabling women to become bishops. I understand that the Synod hopes their legislative process to enable the appointment of women bishops will be completed by the end of 2014. It is important to note, that decisions about the Church of England's internal structure and organisation are matters for the Church itself and not Government.
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