• A Welcome Forest of Deans

    Last weekend an open letter emerged from within the Church of England which asked the two archbishops in England to take a message to the Primates’ Conference acknowledging that the Church has failed in its duty of care to LGBTI members of the Body of Christ worldwide and calling for repentance.

    The whole letter is here: https://lettertoarchbishops.wordpress.com/

    Others were asked to sign it to show their support and my name was one of the first to be added on Sunday morning when I heard about it. (It was addressed to Our Archbishops which was a bit problematic but sometimes you just have to go with the spirit rather than the letter of the law).

    I was particularly encouraged to see that this letter originated from a couple of people from within the Evangelical tradition in the church.

    I was also encouraged to see how many Deans of Cathedrals in England had signed the letter.

    Here’s a map showing in green those deans who have signed.

    There may be errors to correct or amendments to make – please let me know in the comments below. Nothing should be presumed about the red dots other than that there doesn’t seem to be a record of a dean there who has signed. Some cathedrals may be looking for a dean and some deans may be out of contact and not have heard about it. Some names may yet be added.

    I believe that Durham has no dean in post at present so have marked that in a different colour. I’ll change any others that are like that if anyone lets me know in the comments below.

    There are two cathedrals in London which seem to be on top of one another on the map – both of them are marked in green.

    Rather encouraging to see the green shoots of inclusion springing up, I think and to see leadership coming from England’s cathedrals.

    [google_maps id=”14812″]

    UPDATES
    Worcester added (missed off in original list)
    Wells and Durham marked as vacant.
    Southwell marked as vacant.
    Rochester marked as vacant.

One response to “Odd”

  1.  Avatar
    Kelvin

    Re: Odd
    Hi,

    I happened by because I was googling o­n the word “thurible”.  I'm a US Episcopalian, and I'm currently in the Inquiry process about becoming a vocational Deacon… which, as you know, is supposedly a lay ministry. 

    But I know what you mean… we do a commissioning sort of a thing every year for our vestry and teachers, but it's all ad hoc and out of various slightly suspect books of supplemental rites.  It would be niceto have an approved liturgy for blessing a Lay Eucharistic Minister, for example.

    If you don't mind, I'll be about again… feel free to look at my blog, http://www.livejournal.com/users/lirazel/.

    I'm 50, with a lot of younger friends due to interests in Japanese animation and science fiction and such… so please pardon us of some of the language is even more opaque than is commonly the case when people from the British Isles and Amurrrricans try to understand each other.

    Regards (how appropriate for viewing someone's blog!)
    Lirazel

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