Peter Owen's Journal

Rowdiness and name-calling in the Church of England

Buffoon, Judas character, degraded parasitical tool - just some of the name-calling in this story of a disappointed candidate for ordination in today’s Guardian.

By the way, it dates back to 1818.

Sex wars in church

You’ve probably seen that headline over more articles than you want to read, but don’t overlook Alison Webster’s article in today’s Guardian. A couple of quotes:

Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, for instance, who wrote a vitriolic piece attacking lesbians, gay men and their supporters in Church Times last July, is often assumed (incorrectly) by Christians in the UK to speak for the whole African continent.

When putting together the post-apartheid constitution for South Africa, the ANC recognised that justice is indivisible, and outlawed discrimination on grounds of race, gender and sexuality.

Ms Webster is social responsibility adviser for the Oxford diocese.

Go to church and park for free?

The Liverpool Daily Post reports that Sefton councillors are finding it diffifult to decide whether to allow free parking on Sunday mornings in Southport. The potential beneficiaries are churchgoers and drinkers.

It is not clear from the article whether or not these are two separate categories of people.

Clergy on the Catwalk

The Great Northern Christian Resources Exhibition in Manchester later this month includes on the opening day (Wednesday 24 September) Clergy on the Catwalk - a display of church vestments and leisurewear modelled by clergy. They have managed to recruit one deacon from the Liverpool diocese who had a part in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and this has attracted more press attention than other recent stories from the diocese.

Vogue
Liverpool Echo
Yahoo News
Newindpress India
Anglican Communion News Service

Rather surprisingly, given the reason for the press interest, only one of these stories has a picture, although there is another one on the web site of the parish where she now serves.

Church is in line to buy up schools

The Liverpool Daily Post reports that the children at Manor High and Ainsdale High have been told of plans to convert their schools into church schools. Supportive comments from a parent governor and a sixth former are included.