An Anglican-Methodist reunion is on the cards after a Church of England general synod overwhelmingly backed plans to reunite the two churches. Although some synod members consider the moves as being controversial and threatening to the fundamentals of the Church of England, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York both backed the proposals for an Anglican-Methodist Read more
The Pope’s personal preacher has praised the “theological and spiritual enrichment” of the Reformation. Fr Raniero Cantalamessa also told an Anglican synod in London that what is needed in relations between churches is a “qualitative leap forward”. Fr Cantalamessa, who has been Preacher to the Papal Household since 1980, was preaching at a service at Read more
The Church of England has decided to change its rules to allow full funerals for people who died by suicide. The church’s General Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of the change, by 262 votes to 5, with six abstentions. Church officials said the reform will bring ecclesiastical law into line with the 1961 Suicide Act Read more
The Presbyterian Church in the United States has voted to allow their clergy to perform same-sex marriages in states where this is legal. The General Synod of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted 76-24 on June 19 in favour of the move. It also approved new language in its constitution, changing references to “a man and Read more
The bishops of the Church of England have declared they are determined to enable women to be ordained bishops. Following a meeting to consider the rejection of women bishops at the recent general synod, they “acknowledged the profound and widespread sense of anger, grief and disappointment felt by so many” and expressed their commitment to Read more
Both the Archbishop of Canterbury and his newly-appointed successor are dismayed at the defeat of a proposal to ordain women as bishops in the Church of England. After hours of debate, the proposal for women bishops won the required two-thirds majority from the general synod’s house of bishops and house of clergy, but was four Read more