What is in Kelvin's Head?

C of E Border Crossing

Must admit I’m still grumpety about the C of E negotiating with the C of S without so much as a by your leave towards the Scottish Episcopal Church.

I know that promises have been given that we will have tripartite conversations on things in the future, but that still does not excuse this border-crossing behaviour by the C of E. The willingness of the Church of Scotland’s official ecumenical bods to ignore the Scottish Episcopal Church in all of this is no credit to them either.

One wonders where the C of E goes next with these kinds of talks. Into Ireland to negotiate with the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland on the grounds that it is a national church (well in part at least) with a parish-based territorial ministry, perhaps? Into Wales to do deals with the free churches?

Anyway, the report which was produced for debate at the General Assembly and the English Synod is available online. Note that the history is, well, a wee bit lacking.

The audio of the debate in York is also available, complete with warm applause for English Anglicans proclaiming that their right place in Scotland is within C of S parishes. I’d wish bon chance to any Church of Scotland congregations that attract them but that’s the kind of thing that makes piskies fizz, all the same.

AKMA has already had a bit of a blog about this – read what he said over here.

Comments

7 responses to “C of E Border Crossing”

  1. Eamonn Avatar
    Eamonn

    I’m fizzing too! It’s not helped, either, by those of our own members who refer to us as ‘the English Church’.

    Reply
  2. agatha Avatar
    agatha

    That is completely outrageous! Maybe the SEC should have talks with the Muslims and then we could declare Fatwas.

    Or is this the CoE’s off the wall attempt to solve the women bishops/gay bishops question by moving to nae bishops?

    Reply
  3. FrPaulB Avatar
    FrPaulB

    As an English Anglican I’m pretty embarrassed. So much for the “Anglican Communion” we’re supposed to be busy preserving by setting up covenants and writing letters.

    Reply
  4. Martin Ritchie Avatar
    Martin Ritchie

    Well, maybe this is a good thing for the SEC? At least we are not being lumped in as “Church of England” which is perhaps a step forward. The future for “state” churches in the UK seems to me to be shaky to say the least, so perhaps it’s to the benefit of the SEC to not be part of that! It is rather surprising that there is no mention of the SEC in the “history” part of the paper, other than a cursory reference to the continuing episcopalian element after 1690. Maybe all this means that we should feel completely free to reject the Anglican covenant as totally irrelevant and a hindrance to the mission of the SEC?

    Reply
  5. fr dougal Avatar
    fr dougal

    I’m heading for the West Port to saddle up! Bring back Clavers and the dragoons!

    Reply
  6. John Lindsay Avatar
    John Lindsay

    The CofE CofS meetings have been going on for a very long time as two national churches. The recent report is actually designed to include the SEC – check facts with ICRC or read the report itself!

    Reply
  7. kelvin Avatar
    kelvin

    Hi John, nice to hear from you.

    I’ve read the report and was not impressed by it. I suppose I am glad that the SEC is to be included next time, something that I acknowledged above that was to happen.

    I’m entirely unimpressed with the C of E appointing one of their bishops as an emissary to the C of S though. Very much border crossing. Very inappropriate.

    Reply

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