• 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.

5 responses to “Yesterday”

  1. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    I do like ‘try to wind everyone as far up the candlestick of joy as I dare’. St Mary’s does have natural advantages, which let it succeed as it does. However, I really do not think other churchs need to make so much of their natural disadvantages…

  2. jaye richards-hill Avatar

    …And don’t forget Evensong, which for me (as you’d expect) was even more glorious. I even felt moved to blog about it in the first of a ‘Guilty Pleasures’ series! http://mimanifesto.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/guilty-pleasures-1/

    It was particularly wonderful for the Boston choir to be singing Frikki’s great setting of Newman’s poem/hymn ‘Lead Kindly Light’

    A fabulous end to a remarkable day in the Cathedral. Truly uplifting.

  3. Marion Avatar
    Marion

    Sounds as if everybody had great time. On occasions, such as this, I wish you could record the whole service, as you do with the Sermon, for people to watch on line.

  4. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    The prayer at the end – pretty good.
    Our congregation recently decided to introduce an Evensong service once a month so I’m looking forward to that.

  5. Bro David Avatar
    Bro David

    I went looking and I found the evidence. Who is that there listening intently in the bottom right corner?

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iH_gvqP-uik/UT2JPcJ0PKI/AAAAAAAABB0/OuXAMY9KbBA/s1600/IMG_8332.JPG

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