Media Musings

Following my participation yesterday on the BBC Radio Wales programme, I have been listening to others and how they get the message across. I must say how impressed I was with the Bishop of Fulham on the 'Hardtalk' interview which he gave earlier in the year. It has great relevance for the events taking place now. Bp. John gives clear and concise leadership. You can listen to it here

Second Reformation

Who can doubt that we are in the midst of a second Reformation as Anglicans? The committee or synod now decides all matters, even theological, without heeding the advice of Bishops. But here in Wales it is worse. Our own six Bishops have at a stroke taken away Sacramental and pastoral care; they have done so by refusing to replace our Bishop, the Provincial Assistant Bishop. Women and men whose only wish is to live out the faith of their Baptism as received from the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church to which they faithfully witness are abandoned and orphaned. They cannot continue to worship faithfully when the promises they were given in 1991 in England and in 1996 here in Wales have been so flagrantly broken by those who should know how to behave better. To keep a promise is a moral imperative. That Christian people especially when in a majority including Bishops can blatantly break these promises is no less than a scandal and also an abuse. Of course we are divided over the issues, but where is the tolerance and love and pastoral care that ensures those with whom you disagree with are cared for? Not only women and men scattered throughout the Provinces but to Priests and their wives, their mothers, their daughters and their sons? They know very well that there are many who in all conscience cannot accept the innovations devised by the committee led church which has now taken over the Anglican Church. It is, or was until now, both Catholic and Reformed. This is a sad descent into Congregationalism. We pray for those who in all conscience will have to leave the church of their Baptism and especially those priests and the women in their families who will have no stipend, no pension rights and no roof over their heads. Of course the Lord will provide and there is, praise God, a far more generous, loving and caring home for them to go to presided over by a chief Bishop who will really love them, lead them and allow them to practice and flourish in that same catholic faith of their tradition. His name is the successor of Peter, the rock from which we were hewn, Benedict XVI. May he pray for us and those whom we know, who are in need of much love, guidance and care at this time. The second Reformation begins, let us 'be joyful and keep the faith!' That the Apostles were all men determined by Jesus Christ cannot be disputed; the Bishops are their successors in unbroken line. We do not believe that our branch of the Christian Church has the authority to change things on our own, simple as that. By the way let's just remember that there are millions of women who hold this view too. That's what I would have liked to say on the Radio programme which I was on this morning! But this here at the 2hr.45mins into the programme on the marker slide is what I was able to say in the limited time and format available. It is good that the BBC gives us a hearing at least, even if our own Bishops turn a deaf ear!

General Synod of C of E

I have been asked to take part in the Radio Wales 'Good Morning Wales' programme live tomorrow morning after 8 am. This is to be on the subject of revisiting the question of the ordination of women as Bishops in the Church in Wales in the light of today's events at General Synod. This is, I understand, a live broadcast and will not be edited. I will let you have the link to the recorded version when I get back in the morning. I am not sure why I've been asked other than I was a signatory to the letter by 100 clergy to The Times some time ago. I'll do my best to get across the message of those of us who don't accept that the Anglican Church has the authority to change the nature of the threefold ministry it has shared and inherited from wider Christendom and that we should not be a modern day sect making up our own rules..we'll see. Blessed Stephen and Lawrence pray for me an unworthy Deacon and an inheritor of your tradition and your Holy Orders.

Patronal Festival

Last weeks events to celebrate our Blessed Patron culminated in a festival Solemn Mass followed by an al fresco shared meal under perfect skies in the 'piazza' (we are leaning towards all things continental!) created for the day in the space between the 9th.cent. churchyard wall and the 19th.cent former village school part of which is now used for the Sunday School and community events. During Mass I was pleased that the children who had been preparing their depictions of the life of St. Arvan acquitted themselves brilliantly. His symbol is a coracle as he was a hermit and fisherman in the finest tradition of Apostles and the coracle made and decorated with ivy for the occasion by the children was processed and blessed at the offertory. They also gave a dramatic presentation of the story of the slaying of Eli the Deacon in front of the altar here in the 1300's when Sanctuary was desecrated Thomas a Becket-style but more of this and our search for the identity of Arvan in another post when we explore the church mentioned in the Llandaff Charter of 955AD which refers to our dedication as the church of SS Febric and Iarmen. If we can find out more detail we'll let you know!

Ordination Anniversaries

Congratulations are given to all those celebrating their anniversaries at this time. Some will be in higher figures than others! ALL are a sign and a cause for celebration and thanksgiving. From London Pilmlico, St Gabriel for Fr. Luke's 10 yrs (preacher Fr. Jeremy Winston of Abergavenny 30 yrs) and secondly from Cardiff, St. Martin Roath for Fr. Irving's 25 yrs ( preacher Fr. Richard Williams 27 yrs of Hay-on-Wye...see his dog Jimmy at the altar rail!) Here are some souvenir photos and happy times and joyous Masses of thanksgiving I have recently had the joy to attend. So important to engage with and support all Anglican traditionalist clergy at this time in prayer presence and solidarity. Thanks be to God for these and all our vocations and for the grace to follow the sometimes uncertain path of life and faith. In the hope that we will never give up on the day to day tasks that need to be achieved in the name of Jesus Christ who is our witness and knows what we do and what we do not do. May we follow his example and strive not to BE served  but to serve.