Two words that are significant for me are “Covenant” and “Transfiguration.” Covenant in scripture is a binding vow of love, God’s promise to Abraham continuing through the Jewish Bible and coming to fulfilment in Christ Jesus. The history of our Church belongs in that covenant, the unfailing promise of love. Quite simply, God is in Read more
Four Napier churches have been celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Covenant. 30 years ago an ecumenical covenant was established between four inner-city churches of Napier to forge a stronger Christian church for the city through working together. The churches involve St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Trinity Methodist Church, and the Waiapu Read more
A new Vatican document has affirmed that the Catholic Church does not support any institutional mission to convert Jews. Marking 50 years of Catholic-Jewish dialogue since Vatican II, the Pontifical Council for Religious Relations with Jews has published “The Gifts and Calling of God are Irrevocable”. The document states that Catholics are called to witness Read more
A proposed “Covenant” aimed at ensuring unity across the worldwide Anglican Communion appears to have failed, leaving the world’s third-largest Christian body facing an uncertain and likely fragmented future.
The covenant, born of an idea in 2004 to try to set boundaries in belief and practice for the Communion’s 40 members churches, appears dead after a majority of dioceses within the Church of England voted to reject it.
With results still being counted, supporters of the Covenant effectively lost their battle within the Church of England when the Diocese of Lincoln cast the 23rd vote against it last week.
“The covenant is either buried or disabled,” said Simon Barrow, co-director of the independent British think tank Ekklesia, in the aftermath of the decision.
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More Church of England diocesan synods are voting against the Anglican Covenant. After last weekend the vote stands 20-12 against the “Anglican Covenant”. There are 12 more dioceses to meet and vote. If two more vote against the “Covenant” then it cannot be presented again at General Synod.
Whatever now happens, there is no way that anyone can say that the “Anglican Covenant” is regarded in the Church of England as some sort of consensus document. Even if the necessary majority is now found, and the Church of England General Synod passes the “Anglican Covenant” as a leaving present for Archbishop Rowan, the document clearly does not have the clout that its backers must realise that it needs.
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