Thinking Anglicans

Chris Brain trial: found guilty on 17 out of 37 charges

The trial of Chris Brain on multiple charges arising from the Nine O’Clock Service has led to the following outcomes:

  • Found guilty on 17 charges of indecent assault
  • Found not guilty on a further 15 charges of indecent assault
  • Jury failed to reach a verdict on 5 further charges, 1 of rape, 4 of indecent assault.

A further hearing is scheduled for 4 September, to determine if there are grounds for a retrial on any of the latter charges.

The Church of England has issued these statements: Statements following the trial of Chris Brain, the founder of the Nine O’Clock Service in Sheffield.

The Diocese of Sheffield has this: Statement from the Bishop of Sheffield following the trial of Chris Brain

South Yorkshire Police has: Former priest guilty of multiple sexual offences following SYP investigation.

26 Comments

Opinion – 20 August 2025

Augustine Tanner-Ihm ViaMedia.News Bleeding While Leading: A Theological and Leadership Reflection

Martin Sewell Surviving Church Parting Shots

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General Synod electronic voting results – July 2025 – part 2

Most of the electronic voting lists from last month’s meeting of General Synod were published online some weeks ago, and I linked to them here. These contain the names of voting members and how they voted.

The lists for two procedural motions were omitted, but they are now available. Both were motions ‘That the Synod do pass to the Next Business’ and both were carried. The effect of such a motion is that the substantive motion lapses, and the same (or a similar) question cannot be reconsidered in the remaining lifetime of the Synod without the permission of the Business Committee and the general consent of the Synod.

The first was during the debate on item 13 as amended by item 33 (see Order Paper III for Saturday afternoon).

That this Synod noting the wider discussions about the culture and governance of the House of Bishops
a) welcome the decision to undertake an independently led review as proposed in GS Misc 1412 and the importance in the proposed Terms of Reference of the section on Culture and Ways of Working and
b) request that the Report of the Review be published in full and that the cost of the Review be met by the Archbishops’ Council.”.

The second was at the end of Sunday’s debate on the Archbishops’ Council Annual Report. This prevented a debate on Martin Sewell’s following motion on the working of the Audit Committee (see item 35 on Order Paper V).

4 Comments

Opinion – 16 August 2025

Martin Sewell Surviving Church Resigning from General Synod

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love The Church of England’s absurd position on sex and marriage

Martyn Percy Meander Barnaclization in the Church of England

Helen King ViaMedia.News In the Beginning: Sex, AIDS, Judgment and the Church of England, 1986-1991

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Opinion – 13 August 2025

Jarel Robinson-Brown Modern Church Theologians in Real Life

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Russell T. Davies says Trump and Reform UK threaten gay rights

Marcus Walker The Critic First signs of an Anglican spring

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Opinion – 9 August 2025

Sarah Coakley Church Times Bring theology back to the parishes

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Full equality in ministry and relationships for LGBTQIA+ people — Unadulterated Love

Stephen Parsons Surviving Church Gratification and Power – A Problem for the Church

Helen King Premier Christianity I’m celebrating the UK’s first female archbishop. I don’t care that she is in a civil partnership

108 Comments

Opinion – 6 August 2025

Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Questions for Christianity and the Church of England

Savitri (Savi) Hensman ViaVedia.News Sexuality Issues and the Church’s Theology Problem

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Opinion – 2 August 2025

Tim Wyatt The Critical Friend Made in Sheffield
Also in this week’s newsletter is a piece on the Church in Wales and its new archbishop: Cleaning House

Theo Hobson What do liberal Anglicans want?

Ian Gomersall A Retired Rector’s Reflections Division at ordination

David Torrance House of Commons Library The relationship between church and state in the United Kingdom
A briefing paper on the relationship between church and state in the United Kingdom

73 Comments