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Accepting Evangelicals


Newsletter - July/August 2010

Dear Friends

Possible parish opening ...

for an accepting evangelical Church of England priest, following the retirement in September of the Rev George Day.

The parish of St Barnabas, Joydens Wood, in Rochester Diocese, on the London/Kent boundary, will very soon be seeking a new vicar, when I retire in September. The church is accepting of gay relationships, and indeed has two lesbian couples, one couple in positions of leadership, and the other couple recently confirmed, and so the PCC is looking for a new vicar who will continue this approach. As regards churchmanship, the draft job/person spec says “we have enjoyed open evangelical-style ministry for the past five years but would be open to some difference in style of churchmanship so long as we have a pastor who will inspire us and foster gifts in the congregation.” My own hope is that an open evangelical can be found for this vacancy, rather than finding any need to have too much “difference in style of churchmanship”, and that is why I am making this known through the Accepting Evangelicals newsletter.

The church is set on a mainly owner-occupied housing estate from the 1960s, with a more recently built estate also within the parish, again mainly owner-occupied, but both areas with some social housing. There is an excellent multi-purpose church building. The church has grown over the last 5 years and the average age has dropped considerably. So, there is now a thriving congregation, average number on Sundays about 55-60. There is plenty of potential for growth, numerically and spiritually.

We have the support of our excellent archdeacon in trying to find somebody who fits the situation here, but he is aware of the fact that accepting evangelical clergy are limited in number. The patron is the Bishop of Rochester, the post currently vacant, although we now have a bishop designate in James Langstaff.

The PCC has drawn up a draft parish profile and job/person spec. and the members of the PCC are anxious to do all that is possible to keep the length of interregnum to the minimum. So, although there is considerable limitation on what can be done prior to the start of the interregnum, if any member of AE is interested in finding out more, please email me at revgeorgeday@ntlworld.com, and I will be very happy to give some more information, or to ask the churchwardens to send you a copy of the draft profile.

More information about the church is also available on our website www.joydenswoodchurch.webeden.co.uk

Christians Together at Pride ...

Over 150 Christians came together at London Pride earlier this month wearing T-shirts proclaiming "Christian and Proud". The group also had a stall in Leicester Square with information about Christian groups who promote a more accepting and affirming approach to LGBT Christians (including Accepting Evangelicals).

The marchers sang Christian songs and with hooters and whistles, chanted "Je-sus!" through the streets of London. They were warmly received by many spectators, especially around the more negative Christian protesters at the bottom of Regent Street.

A number of members of Accepting Evangelicals took part in the march.

For reports and photos go to www.christiansatpride.com

To read Benny Hazlehurst's reflections on the day, go to his blog, benny2010.blogspot.com.

Canada chooses the middle way ...

The Anglican Church in Canada has chosen neither to endorse, nor to condemn same-sex blessings at its recent meeting of General Synod.

Despite considerable pressure to clarify its position in the light of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Pentecost letter, the church declined to take a definitive view, as it continues in "walking together, protecting our common life."

The resolution adopted recognized that some dioceses offer same-sex blessings and others do not, but stood fast in saying that they would continue to listen to one another rather than be drawn into confrontation.

Worry over new bishops ...

Conservative Anglicans in England are becoming increasingly alarmed at a new openness among Bishops to acknowledge that the Church of England's position on Gay relationships might change.

In his blog, "The Ugley Vicar", Rev John Richardson names an increasing number of 'wobblers' who are being far more open to the idea that the status quo may not last.

In his list of 'wobblers' he includes the Bishops of Liverpool, Gloucester, Chelmsford, Manchester, Lichfield and Stafford, before saying "but doubtless more could be included."

In particular, he expresses great concern at the openness of the new bishop-elect of Stafford, Geoffrey Annas, in an interview with the Church of England Newspaper,

    "My feelings about openly gay clergy — I personally have no issues with that at all, but I think again like the ordination of women to the episcopate it’s something where there needs to be enormous sensitivity. I’m not somebody who will overthrow rules and regulations for the sake of it, because I think if you do that you get chaos and anarchy, but I am somebody who will work to build a consensus to change rules and regulations and I would hope that in the future at some point people could be allowed to be true to themselves." (Geoffrey Annas, Church of England Newspaper, 11 June 2010)".

But more worrying for John Richardson is the fact that this reflects badly on Geoffrey Annas's new boss, the Diocesan Bishop of Lichfield, of whom he says " I have hitherto admired as an evangelical". The implication seems to be that even evangelicals who are open to dialogue are not now to be trusted.

If this is true, then John Richardson's world of 'acceptable evangelicals' must be shrinking at an alarming rate!

Rev John Richardson , whose blog appears on the Anglican Mainstream website, is on the steering group of Chelmsford Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans.

You can read his full blog at http://ugleyvicar.blogspot.com.

Speaking Engagements ...

Benny Hazlehurst will be speaking about Accepting Evangelicals at:

If you would like Benny to come and speak at a service or meeting, and can provide travel expenses from Dorset, please email him at benny@acceptingevangelicals.org

God Bless and Keep you All

Accepting Evangelicals


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