Statement on the Archbishop of York designate, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell
Statement on the Archbishop of York designate, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell”With reference to the recent statement from a pressure group, the accusations made against the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell are entirely without foundation. It is untrue that Bishop Stephen suggested to a governor of a Church of England School that his views on sexuality were not welcome and he could leave. Bishop Stephen made that clear at the time and subsequently in an Ad Clerum. It is also untrue that Bishop Stephen suggested to any other clergy that they should leave the Church of England. As he is said at his announcement, the Church of England is a Church for all people, welcoming everyone.
“He upholds the teaching of the Church of England that recognises marriage as being between one man and one woman.
“Bishop Stephen has not endorsed gender transitioning in and of itself for children but has pastoral concern for any child affected by gender dysphoria.
“He holds biblical truth as sacred and is in all matters guided by the gospel. Speaking at the press conference for his announcement he said ‘What binds us together is not our views on this issue or that issue, what binds us together is our faith in Jesus Christ. We say water is thicker than blood. It is our baptism and our belonging to each other that really matters’.”
Lies, d*mn lies, and statistics? This directly contradicts several quotes from the Bishop himself.
By comparison to the leadership of the CoE, statistics come across as fairly honest. The statistics tell them that their abandonment of Christianity is causing parishioners to leave their organization by tens of thousands annually.
No one even affixes their signature on this bit of insult and drivel. Some small elite group in the press office speaking as “The Church of England.” Who, exactly?
The Church of England appears to be on fire tonight as one of its most controversial cultural Marxists is handed the second most senior leadership role. The evidence for the beliefs and intentions of Stephen Cottrell is beyond denying or disguising. The above press release is almost beyond parody in terms of how not to convince anyone of anything. We’re way past taking anything from that source at face value.
But never fear: Jayne Ozanne is ‘thrilled’ and her endorsement means so much more to the people that matter than either the Church of England’s own doctrine or its witness to a nation which probably no longer has any idea about what it stands for beyond its obsession with the politics of sexual identity.
So the clergy of Chelmsford diocese who backed John Parker up are lying? I think I know who I believe.
I was told by a bishop from one diocese and an archdeacon from another outright that they wouldn’t want me in their diocese because I held one of the dual integrities on the ordination of women.
Tragically the church of England hierarchy will say anything to protect themselves, including lying. Welby has done the we playing down his links with Iwerne.
It’s despicable.
Look, all the major religions take themselves seriously. Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism and of course Christianity.
But of all the major religions only leaders within Christianity downplay, deride and denigrate the faith they claim to represent. They treat the faith not as provoking worship, trust and guidance for a fulfilled life; but as a platform on which to pontificate, pirouette and twirl in their robes and accoutrements.
As long as they have a stage on which perform they care not that the seats are empty, the audience is absent.
They are so arrogant and self absorbed they fail to notice that representatives of other faiths respect and honour their religion.
If he upholds the biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality why is Jayne ozanne so over the moon about his appointment?
Views on marriage, relationships, and human sexuality exist on a continuum rather than a dichotomy. The CofE teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman; the CofE has also maintained, even in its consultation with the government, that it supports civil partnerships for same-sex couples. There is a movement to expand that to include blessings for civil same-sex marriages while still keeping the canon law as it currently exists on marriage. It is possible that Bishop Stephen is fully supportive of civil partnerships and blessings for civil marriages and unions and that he does not think they need to amend the canon law on marriage.
Support for legally-recognised partnerships of same sex couples is very close to support of same-sex marriage. For those of us who (quite biblically) don’t regard marriage as a sacrament the two things are almost the same.
I support civil partnership for same sex couples. I do not and cannot and will not support blessings for same sex couples. They are two different things.
What an appalling exercise in dissembling. First betray the faith. Then lie about it. Shocking.
The CofE HQ statement is a disgrace and I hope it will be challenged vigorously as to matters of fact by those in a position to do so. The Rev Tinker’s essay is a helpful and sobering start. I know who I believe in this unholy row.
To start by stating “”With reference to the recent statement from a pressure group, the accusations made against the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell are entirely without foundation” is to demean the sterling work of Christian Concern and Andrea Williams. To describe CC and Andrea, a member of the General Synod, in such terms betrays the irritation, probably rage, of the hierarchy when they are confronted with inconvenient but biblical truths. CC is an example of true Christian faith in action.
Yes, we are bound together by our faith in Christ, but what Christ and what bonds? Did not Jesus say that if you love me you will obey my commands. Over the last 20years I have no doubt who has been more faithful to Christ’s teachings. And the fruits of the false leaders are ever more apparent. Shockingly so.
Cottrell’s ministry is doomed to fail, unless he repents. And in the meantime the CofE is stripped of its flock and of the ever smaller number of its clergy who adhere to its foundational doctrines. Cultural relevance leads inevitably to spiritual and missiological irrelevance.