Chelmsford can expect some trouble over the next few months.
I quite agree. Then again, feelings trumps will in the CofE these days. It is no longer not my will but Thy will, but rather My will, not Thy will be done.
Bishop Stephen and John Parker both agree that their latest exchange was in September of 2018. Parker states that there was “correspondence” in December of 2018, which could mean that he wrote the bishop.
Parker says that the bishop said that Parker “could” leave the church. Bishop Stephen says that he never “asked or implied that Parker should” leave the church.
I’m not sure what word games are going on either side.
Both sides are playing games and sadly some evangelical commentators have decided to side with Parker rather than with the truth.
The recent history of the diocese would seem to support the Rev. Parker’s interpretation of events and while I could accept that he is not quoting the bishop verbatim, that it is clear that orthodox clergy and congregations are not only being denied support in their ministry, but that the bishop is actively working to subvert orthodox teaching in the diocese.
There have been several reports on Anglican Ink over the last few years on the diocese (do a search for “Chelmsford” in the search bar to the right of “staff” on the AI masthead above). Among those are recorded conflicts between the diocese and parishes, as well as various statements by the bishop on the changes he is attempting to make to the doctrines of the Church of England. Note particularly the stories about 2 parishes in Essex voting “no confidence” in the bishop, and another about one of the parishes withdrawing from diocesan training because the training itself was contrary to Biblical teaching and traditional scriptural interpretation.
This is a very poor reply indeed. Who is the mysterious “pressure group”? It strikes me that Mermaids is also a pressure group and having read the transcript quite closed minded. Also, the bishop plays into the hands of Identity Politics by focusing only on the “safety” of one individual (the child) when the issue in hand was surely about how none of us totally owns our own identity. What about the safety of the other children who want to know that the normal rules of decorum are not going to jettisoned for a political cause and dysphoria?
“But I am distraught that because of the way this story has played out a vulnerable child and their family are hurting more than they need to be.” Bishop Stephen Cottrell
Let’s just back up here and reflect on the adoption of Equal Opportunities legislation by the Church of England in 2010
I took the following from the Diocese of St. Albans website,
“The Diocese of St Albans wholeheartedly supports the principle of equality of opportunity in employment and aims to ensure that recruitment, selection, training, consideration for promotion and treatment at work for those who are employed in a paid or voluntary capacity within our organisation access to membership of our councils, committees and other groups
access to benefits, facilities and services we provide are available to all without discrimination and that no-one is disadvantaged in any of these matters by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable.
It is recognised that there are currently some differences in conditions surrounding service between those who are lay or ordained, and also that some lay posts may nevertheless give rise to a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder has a commitment to the Christian faith. However, the Diocese will work to ensure that there is no discrimination on grounds of race, colour, nationality – including citizenship – or ethnic or national origins, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religious or political affiliation, lay or ordained status, or any other respect which cannot be shown to be a necessary requirement of the job or office concerned.” (The Equal Opportunities Policy was approved by Diocesan Synod on 10 June 2010. The Diocese has approved separate policies on Preventing Bullying & Harassment and Race Equality.)
I believe that it was the adoption of this humanistic legislation which has led to many of the problems currently destroying the Church of England and leading it deeper into apostasy.
Matthew 6:24 (KJV)
24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Bishop Cottrell, this situation with Rev’d John Parker would not have arisen if the Church of England had remained a true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and not adopted policies and values which have no Biblical basis.
Equal Opportunity is NOT a tenet of Christianity. Gender fluidity is NOT a part of the Gospel, The LGBT+ movement is NOT recognised as a legitimate part of the Church according to Scripture. Turning to ‘Stonewall’ for advice on how to teach sexuality in Church of England schools was not a smart move; it was to aid and abet a programme of indoctrination, corruption and confusion of young minds.
We recognise that God loves all men, but the essence of Christianity is not to make people feel good about themselves or to “affirm difference”. Rather it is to live and preach the Gospel of repentance and reconciliation so that all who will respond may be saved and have eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Chelmsford can expect some trouble over the next few months.
I quite agree. Then again, feelings trumps will in the CofE these days. It is no longer not my will but Thy will, but rather My will, not Thy will be done.
Bishop Stephen and John Parker both agree that their latest exchange was in September of 2018. Parker states that there was “correspondence” in December of 2018, which could mean that he wrote the bishop.
Parker says that the bishop said that Parker “could” leave the church. Bishop Stephen says that he never “asked or implied that Parker should” leave the church.
I’m not sure what word games are going on either side.
Both sides are playing games and sadly some evangelical commentators have decided to side with Parker rather than with the truth.
The recent history of the diocese would seem to support the Rev. Parker’s interpretation of events and while I could accept that he is not quoting the bishop verbatim, that it is clear that orthodox clergy and congregations are not only being denied support in their ministry, but that the bishop is actively working to subvert orthodox teaching in the diocese.
There have been several reports on Anglican Ink over the last few years on the diocese (do a search for “Chelmsford” in the search bar to the right of “staff” on the AI masthead above). Among those are recorded conflicts between the diocese and parishes, as well as various statements by the bishop on the changes he is attempting to make to the doctrines of the Church of England. Note particularly the stories about 2 parishes in Essex voting “no confidence” in the bishop, and another about one of the parishes withdrawing from diocesan training because the training itself was contrary to Biblical teaching and traditional scriptural interpretation.
This is a very poor reply indeed. Who is the mysterious “pressure group”? It strikes me that Mermaids is also a pressure group and having read the transcript quite closed minded. Also, the bishop plays into the hands of Identity Politics by focusing only on the “safety” of one individual (the child) when the issue in hand was surely about how none of us totally owns our own identity. What about the safety of the other children who want to know that the normal rules of decorum are not going to jettisoned for a political cause and dysphoria?
“But I am distraught that because of the way this story has played out a vulnerable child and their family are hurting more than they need to be.” Bishop Stephen Cottrell
Let’s just back up here and reflect on the adoption of Equal Opportunities legislation by the Church of England in 2010
I took the following from the Diocese of St. Albans website,
“The Diocese of St Albans wholeheartedly supports the principle of equality of opportunity in employment and aims to ensure that recruitment, selection, training, consideration for promotion and treatment at work for those who are employed in a paid or voluntary capacity within our organisation access to membership of our councils, committees and other groups
access to benefits, facilities and services we provide are available to all without discrimination and that no-one is disadvantaged in any of these matters by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable.
It is recognised that there are currently some differences in conditions surrounding service between those who are lay or ordained, and also that some lay posts may nevertheless give rise to a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder has a commitment to the Christian faith. However, the Diocese will work to ensure that there is no discrimination on grounds of race, colour, nationality – including citizenship – or ethnic or national origins, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religious or political affiliation, lay or ordained status, or any other respect which cannot be shown to be a necessary requirement of the job or office concerned.”
(The Equal Opportunities Policy was approved by Diocesan Synod on 10 June 2010. The Diocese has approved separate policies on Preventing Bullying & Harassment and Race Equality.)
I believe that it was the adoption of this humanistic legislation which has led to many of the problems currently destroying the Church of England and leading it deeper into apostasy.
Matthew 6:24 (KJV)
24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Bishop Cottrell, this situation with Rev’d John Parker would not have arisen if the Church of England had remained a true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and not adopted policies and values which have no Biblical basis.
Equal Opportunity is NOT a tenet of Christianity. Gender fluidity is NOT a part of the Gospel, The LGBT+ movement is NOT recognised as a legitimate part of the Church according to Scripture. Turning to ‘Stonewall’ for advice on how to teach sexuality in Church of England schools was not a smart move; it was to aid and abet a programme of indoctrination, corruption and confusion of young minds.
We recognise that God loves all men, but the essence of Christianity is not to make people feel good about themselves or to “affirm difference”. Rather it is to live and preach the Gospel of repentance and reconciliation so that all who will respond may be saved and have eternal life in Christ Jesus.