The first bishop appointed to a senior role who did not agree with
women's ordination -- since the Church voted to allow women to become
bishops in November 2014 -- has decided to withdraw.
The new Bishop of Sheffield is to withdraw from the post after attacks from
members of his new diocese over his view that women should not become
priests. The Rt Revd Philip North, 50, is currently Bishop of Burnley, but had
been promoted to the new role as a diocesan bishop and was due to take
on the role later this year.
In a statement he said: "The news of my nomination has elicited a
strong reaction within the diocese and some areas of the wider Church. "It is clear that the level of feeling is such that my arrival would
be counter-productive in terms of the mission of the Church in South
Yorkshire and that my leadership would not be acceptable to many." He added: "There is clearly much to be done on what it means to
disagree well and to live with theological difference in the Church of
England.
This will be the second position he has withdrawn from in the face of loud opposition and personal attacks. Apparently the only things you can disagree with as an Anglican are the Trinity, the incarnation, the Virgin birth, the atonement, the miracles of Jesus, the historicity of New and Old Testament figures and events, and the resurrection of the dead. But not the ordination of women. This is sacred. So sad. The Church of England has given birth to some of the most profound choral pieces in Christianity, some of the most eloquent writings (think the Cranmer collects), and some of the most profound thinkers. . . but it has effectively killed off the faith itself. Christianity may live as a felicitous inconsistency within a moribund and lifeless structure that appeals to fewer and fewer people. Wonderful buildings and a great ceremonial cannot rescue a church that refuses to believe in the catholic and apostolic faith. Like Sweden next door, this tree is rotting from the top down.
7 comments:
My compliments to this erstwile bishop with all the right enemies. For his own sake I hope he's orthodox ; DV GAFCON will pick him up should he prove so to be.
"Like Sweden next door, this tree is rotting from the top down."
Another episcopal polity failure story in the quincentennial year celebrating Martin Luther's recognition of the episcopal polity and other failures of the Antichrist.
Pastor Peters said, "The Rt Revd Philip North, 50, is currently Bishop of Burnley, but had been promoted to the new role as a diocesan bishop and was due to take on the role later this year."
This makes it sound like +North is not currently a diocesan bishop, but I think he is. My understanding is that Sheffield is simply a bigger, more prominent diocese, so he was to be translated there from his current see in Burnley.
Sadly, there are other sacred cows in the CoE besides women's ordination. It is an article of faith that abortion on demand is a sacrament, and that mass immigration is a universal, God-given right.
The lack of leadership is particularly glaring when, in the present situation, both the Apbs of Canterbury and York simply defer any comment to some government investigator. They missed a golden opportunity to come out of the closet and be Christians, but they could not stand the sun shine.
The CoE is done; stick a fork in it.
Fr.D+
Continuing Anglican Priest
Christians must bear the burden of one another...............
Luke 9:60.
Burnley is not a diocesan see, but a suffragan see within the diocese of Blackburn.
Also, see this on the "North affair:"
https://ignatiushisconclave.org/2017/03/11/deja-vu/
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