Thinking Anglicans

Inclusive Church, One Year On

Inclusive Church has issued a newsletter, the full text of which is below the fold.

On Thursday 2 September, there will be a seminar entitled Inclusive Church – One Year On – details of this are listed at the end of the newsletter.

update
Posters advertising the seminar can be downloaded from:
Poster as a .jpg file here (100K)
Poster as a pdf file (60K)

Inclusive Church, One Year On. Thursday 2nd September

Dear Supporter

A year ago this month InclusiveChurch.net was launched at St Mary’s Putney; in February the petition, as it stood then, was delivered to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It has continued to grow, however. Up to this week we have collected over 9000 signatories on the petition. The ongoing interest, and the events that have unfolded since the summer of 03 have prompted us to continue our efforts.

The Lambeth Commission led by Archbishop Eames has been set up, Gene Robinson has been consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire, same sex marriage has been discussed seriously in both the USA and Canada and Jeffrey John has been appointed as Dean of St Albans. Little progress has been made towards the appointment of women to the episcopate. Inclusive Church Sunday was a welcome opportunity for many to explore inclusivity in the context of worship. All of this, and the reactions we have seen, have indicated that the perspective of Inclusive Church is of urgent value to the church.

A seminar has been planned, entitled: Inclusive Church – One Year On.
It will also be held at St Mary’s Putney, the details of which are below. It will feature Ched Myers, an excellent speaker and theologian, and will be a thought-provoking and exciting day. A poster to advertise this event can be downloaded from www.inclusivechurch.net.

In addition we are developing our web site so that it can provide more than simply a place to sign up on the petition. The petition will remain, but there will be more content and opportunities for discussion and interaction. With your support we hope to take these and other projects forward as we try to reclaim the broad inclusivity that has been our Anglican heritage.

Please try and come to the seminar. By then the new web site should be taking shape also. Please express your opinion and demonstrate your support by logging on and making use of it. A fuller newsletter will follow in September, and we hope to see you on 2nd September.

With regards
Giles Fraser and the Inclusive Church Executive.

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Inclusive Church – One Year On – A Day Seminar with Ched Myers (US Theologian and Peace Activist)

Inclusive Bible, Excluding Church

Also Lunchtime Eucharist

10.30/11am – 4.30pm on Thursday 2nd September at St. Mary’s Church, Putney
(Nearest tube: Putney Bridge on District Line or Putney Station for overland trains).

Cost £5
For further details contact Revd Richard Sewell T. 020 8785 3821
or by email: fieldsofgold@deodar15.fsnet.co.uk

Ched will give four addresses under the following titles:

1. “I will give the eunuchs a name better than sons or daughters…” (Is 56:4f) Second Isaiah’s radical vision of inclusion.

2. “Nothing from the outside can make you unclean.” (Mk 7:1-30) Jesus’ argument against cultural traditions of exclusion.

3. “Do you see her?” (Lk 7:36-50) Jesus’ assault on social labeling and the architecture of invisibility.

4. “…entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:19). Paul against the gatekeepers.