not too much

• Anglican Communion: why bother? (05 Jul 10)
  It's possible that Dr Jeffrey John may become the next Bishop of Southwark. Although Dr John the Dean of St Albans is understood to be celibate in line with Church ...

• A Canterbury Tale (26 Jun 10)
  Jane Kramer's long article in the New Yorker "A Canterbury Tale: The battle within the Church of England to allow women to be bishops." (26 Apr 10) offers insights into ...

• Unscientific criticisms in the name of science of a non-scientific theory (16 Jan 10)
  In Pope Benedict's address to those gathered in St. Peter's Square for the feast of the Epiphany he spoke of the wise men who came from the East to adore ...

• The Covenantal (pink) elephant (16 Jan 10)
  The Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia knows there is a large pink elephant in the room of the proposed Anglican Covennant. Responding to the draft before the ...

• Distracted by disagreement (12 Jan 10)
  A widely quoted report in Canada's Anglican journal (9 Jan 10) describes the observation by representatives of the Archbishop of Canterbury of pessimism among bishops of the Anglican Church of ...

• Abolishing sex talk and Santa (23 Dec 09)
  A friend of mine taught me that rather than "giving up" things for Lent it is better to add something—more quiet time more prayer. Similarly I suggest that Christmas be ...

• Celebrating a divine gift (11 Dec 09)
  A Theological Roundtable on Churches' Response to Human Sexuality jointly organized by the National Council of Churches in India and other Indian Christian bodies in Kolkota on 5-6th Dec 09 ...

• A fragmented, difficult, but preferable future? (11 Dec 09)
  In a piece published by Anglican Mainstream (11 Dec 09) Andrew Carey criticizes "liberal" Anglicans for "targeting the Archbishop of Canterbury in a vitriolic campaign aimed at deflecting attention from ...

• On episcopal elections and not quenching the Spirit (06 Dec 09)
  Ruth Gledhill comments in The Times (7 Dec 09) that the Archbishop of Canterbury was "impressive" and "characteristically human and erudite" when speaking in Rome recently on why there could ...

• Mad misogyny (28 Nov 09)
  The Age reports (28 Nob 09) that the Vatican has ordered Roman Catholic Bishop of Sandhurst Joe Grech to withdraw an offer to let Bendigo Anglican Bishop Andrew Curnow ordain ...

• Dan Savage on defining the institution of marriage and reading the Bible (13 Nov 09)
  ...

• Schools, religion, ethics and sex (30 Oct 09)
  The ACT Government has banned Focus on the Family from the ACT school system while it investigates allegations that the group has vilified homosexuals in the "No Apologies Impact" seminar ...

• Coming to a synod near you and not a good idea (01 Oct 09)
  A text for an Anglican Covenant will soon go to the many provinces of the Anglican Communion for consideration and possible adoption. The plan is that if a province breaches ...

• Fear in a church struggling with fear (27 Aug 09)
  In the Indianapolis Star (8 Aug 09) Tom Ehrich an Episcopal priest criticises the Archbishop of Canterbury's response to recent decisions by the Episcopal Church. I’m not sure that Dr ...

• Requirements for revival (24 Aug 09)
  The Modern Churchpeople's Union has published strongly critical reply Communion Covenant and our Anglican Future to the papers written by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Durham respectively ...

• Lamenting the loss of the prophet (31 Jul 09)
  There've been inumerable copmmentaries on Dr Rowan Williams's Communion Covenant and our Anglican Future: Reflections on the Episcopal Church's 2009 General Convention from the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Bishops ...

• An emphasis on the local (21 Jul 09)
  The decisions of the recent General Convention of the Episcopal Church on the place of LGBT people in the church reflect an "emphasis on the local"—subsidiarity to use the jargon. ...

• American church affirms and encourages, Australia does not condone (13 Jul 09)
  The Episcopal Church (of the USA) has passed the following resolution at its 2009 General Convention. The effect of this among other things is to unequivocally affirm the eligibility of ...

• Truth through voting? (26 May 09)
  Ekklesia (25 May 09):After more than three hours of debate the Church of Scotland's General Assembly meeting in Edinburgh has this evening avoided a confrontation on sexuality and ministry after ...

• Oz and the ACC (14 May 09)
  So what are the implications for Australia of the decisions of the Anglican Consultative Council on the two most contentious issues before it this month? The Council confirmed the concept ...

• Bishop-elect Robinson on prayer, Palestine, politics and ordination of gays and lesbians (13 Jan 09)
  Once again without comment; that comes later perhaps.Bishop sees prayer guiding Govt to do the right thing by Graham Downie Religion reporter Canberra Times (13 Jan 09) Israel's high level ...

• Newsweek's sermon (29 Dec 08)
  Newsweek's coverage of religious responses to same-sex marriage caused some huffing and puffing. As a set of arguments the article werer rather weak; but a news magazine is not a ...

• Vatican equivocates on decriminalisation (05 Dec 08)
  The Vatican has since been forced to hastily "clarifiy" its position stating that the Roman Catholic Church does not oppose efforts to decriminalize homosexuality despite its opposition against a U.N. ...

• The Celts get it right, again (19 Sep 08)
  More than once I've remarked on the common sense of the leaders of the Anglican Communion's Celtic members the Church of Ireland the Episcopal Church of Scotland and the Church ...

• Gently, adroitly, yet unmistakably coercing (29 Aug 08)
  Over and over my appreciation of Dr Rowan Williams as theologian and preacher is enhanced but my view of Archbishop Rowan Williams as a leader worsens. This from Jim Naugton ...

• Newman's bones (29 Aug 08)
  Among other papers The Independent reports that the Roman Catholic church is under pressure to abandon the allegedly "homophobic" exhumation and reburial of the body of Cardinal John Henry Newman ...

• This is what he wrote . . . (Williams on same sex relationships) (20 Aug 08)
  Amid the fuss about publication of the Archbishop of Canterbury's private correspondence about same-sex couples an article (16 Aug 08) by Martin Shipton in The Western Mail a newspaper from ...

• Separate now or learn to live together despite disagreement (08 Aug 08)
  The Economist of 7 Aug 08 has no less than three perceptive items following on from the Lambeth Conference. While arguing that "The writhings of worldwide Anglicanism are another reason ...

• Thanks for the media disaster (01 Aug 08)
  The draft of the Lambeth Conference's 'reflection' on questions of sexuality is widely available. Nick Baines Bishop of Croydon said: "Anyway Sex Day was a bit of a disappointment for ...

• An utterly reprehensible prohibition (15 Jul 08)
  World Youth Day is a day for rejoicing and gladness. But the Pope's presence in Australia not only invites praise for his church's many acts of godliness and compassion but ...

• Morgan of Wales willing to consecrate a gay bishop (13 Jul 08)
  The Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan has told the Sunday Telegraph that partnered homosexuals should not be barred from becoming bishops. He said that conservative Anglicans are being "exclusive" ...

• GAFCON's unfaithfulness (06 Jul 08)
  In an interview with the Church Times published on 2 May Bishop Gene Robinson said "It would be arrogant of me to judge the Archbishop of Canterbury and his actions. ...

• If the cause is not good, then neither is unity. (29 Jun 08)
  Over the past half century civil society in many parts of the world including ours has broken free from the long tradition of hostility and discrimination against gay people--and both ...

• Was the Spirit at St. Bart's on 31 May? (28 Jun 08)
  Was the Holy Spirit absent from the blessing at St. Bart's? Under the heading "Let no man put asunder" Church Times editorialised on 20 Jun 08 that the English Archbishops ...

• Celebration of love in the presence of God (19 Jun 08)
  Why I blessed gay clergymen's relationship By Martin Dudley (New Statesman 17 Jun 08) The rector of St Bartholomew the Great in the City of London in the eye of ...

• A command to bless (29 May 08)
  Dr Patricia Brennan pioneering former president of the Movement for the Ordination of Women was interviewed on the ABC's Religion Report on 28 May 08. This extract from what she ...

• Jesus' teaching is earthed in his practical example (26 May 08)
  I have argued that to be truly biblical we have to imitate Jesus' teaching and his example his deeds as well as his words. Jesus' demanding ethical teaching cannot be ...

• The self-appointed role of gatekeepers. (26 May 08)
  With Lambeth happening soon the idea of an Anglican Covenant persists sadly. I still agree with Frederick Quinn's critique published in Episcopal Life (14 Apr 07). "Covenant" is a word ...

• Kenyan asks: How sad it is that the Church should be so obsessed? (22 May 08)
  In Kenya's Daily Nation (22 May 08) Mr Charles Njonjo former Attorney-General of Kenya and "staunch" Anglican criticises as cowardly those bishops of the Kenyan church who have declined to ...

• Shunning of Robinson is cowardly and a disgrace. (01 May 08)
  Episcopal Café states that Archbishop Williams will not allow Bishop Gene Robinson to function as a priest in England during the Lambeth Conference. Thinking Anglicans says that "In the Church ...

• Look what they did to Him. (30 Apr 08)
  In commenting on the fuss caused by the staging in Sydney during Mardi Gras of Terrence McNally's play Corpus Christi in which Jesus and some of the disciples are portrayed ...

• A place to start (22 Apr 08)
  "In light of the hatred mockery loathing fear and rejection directed at homosexuals in our society -- and in our churches -- I hope to God that I am not ...

• Benedict XVI at three years (21 Apr 08)
  In its Editorial "This surprising Pope" of 19 April 2008 The Tablet saysBenedict XVI who has just celebrated the third anniversary of his election as Pope has surprised those who ...

• Archbishop supports equality at archaic school mating ritual (15 Apr 08)
  The primate of the Anglican Church of Australia the Most Revd Dr Philip Aspinall has backed students taking same-sex partners to school formals. Archbishop Phillip Aspinall yesterday said he had ...

• Kay Goldsworthy to be Bishop (12 Apr 08)
  I am delighted that the Archbishop of Perth The Most Revd Roger Herft has announced yesterday (11 Apr 08) the appointment of the Venerable Kay Goldsworthy Australia's first woman bishop. ...

• God calls us to something new (01 Apr 08)
  Some months ago in The Guardian (19 Jan 08) Theo Hobson argued that "The Church of England's "gay crisis" makes clear that that liberal Anglicanism is finished.This year Anglicanism will ...

• Islam has no single view on sexuality (31 Mar 08)
  In a lecture on 3 March 2008 in Brisbane Professor Tariq Ramadan senior research fellow at St Antony's College Oxford said that the mainstream Muslims are reformists. [T]he 'Islamic' universal ...

• Changing Attitude calls on the Church of Nigeria to condemn attacks (27 Mar 08)
  Changing Attitude England and Nigeria : Press Release : 21 March 2008 Changing Attitude Nigeria leader narrowly escapes death: Changing Attitude calls on the Primate and bishops of the Church ...

• The non-invitation of Gene (21 Mar 08)
  Even American bishops who opposed his consecration have supported Bishop Gene Robinson's full participation in the Lambeth Conference. The bishops of The Episcopal Church agree that "Even though we did ...

• Discerning the essential (15 Mar 08)
  Decades ago friend of mine a budding theology student cautioned me on the dangers of 'Biblioatry'. At the time I scarcely understood what he meant. The endless troubles of the ...

• George, Graham and GAFCON : a Canberran perspective (10 Mar 08)
  The Rt Revd George Browning recently retired as Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn. He has been my Bishop for the whole of my 15 years or so of formal membership ...

• The inclusiveness of Most Holy Redeemer (03 Mar 08)
  Donal Godfrey SJ is Executive Director University Ministry at The University of San Francisco. He is author of Gays and Grays: the story of the inclusion of the gay community ...

• The failure of celibacy (01 Mar 08)
  Noting the collapse in vocations to the Roman Catholic priesthood in many parts of the world The Tablet the requirement for priestly celibacy in "A self-inflicted wound" its Editorial of ...

• Blasphemous, silly, or orthodox? (21 Feb 08)
  Corpus Christi is a passion play by Terrence McNally dramatizing the story of Jesus and his disciples depicting them as gay men living in modern day Texas. The play shows ...

• The joy and transformation for those free to love (15 Feb 08)
  In a recent article (14 Feb 08) Mark Vernon notes the contrast between James Jones the Bishop of Liverpool and Michael Scott-Joynt the Bishop of Winchester. Bishop Jones an otherwise ...

• 100 revs of irony (07 Feb 08)
  A group of Australian Christian leaders has apologised to the gay and lesbian bisexual and transgender communities for excluding them from church activities. The '100 Revs' will march in next ...

• Not utterly intractable. (06 Feb 08)
  The Guardian (5 Feb 08) reports that the Bishop of Liverpool the Rt Revd James Jones has apologised for his objection some time ago to the proposed appointment as a ...

• Seduced by grace (04 Feb 08)
  In Eureka Street (1 Feb 08) there is a review by Terry Monagle of new book Seduced by Grace: Contemporary spirituality Gay experience and Christian faith by Michael Bernard Kelly. ...

• Welcome, Brian (29 Jan 08)
  The Revd Dr Brian Douglas was inducted as rector of St. Paul’s Manuka here in Canberra less than a week ago. He will also lecture at St Mark's on sacramental ...

• Getting it together at Christmas (14 Jan 08)
  I enjoy Christmas but no so much these days from family doings parties or presents. I enjoy it as a celebration of the birth and life of Jesus. I enjoy ...

• Chicago Consultation celebrates contributions of gay Christians (13 Dec 07)
  This from Episcopal Life online (12 Dec 07).International Anglican group initiates 'strategy of inclusion' : Chicago Consultation celebrates contributions of gay Christians calls homophobia 'a sin whose end time is ...

• The trouble, from Williams' perspective (20 Nov 07)
  The picture is of a sacred moment and the chair of St. Augustine. Yet this comment on Archbishops Rowan's see is more of an opportunity for a cartoon. "Falling off ...

• Faith requires freedom and tolerance (19 Nov 07)
  In an article (SMH 19 Nov 06) based on his recent Griffith Lecture Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia observes that "Freedom of religion does not have ...

• Norwegians accept that unity does not require uniformity (17 Nov 07)
  Associated Press reports that Norway's state Lutheran church has lifted an outright ban on allowing those living in homosexual partnerships to serve in the clergy but will leave it up ...

• Exactly similar rights and responsibilities (17 Nov 07)
  None of this is spectacularly new but it is important and comes from an authoritative source.Royal College of Psychiatrists: submission to the Church of England's Listening Exercise on Human Sexuality. ...

• The work of reconciliation that makes us church (04 Nov 07)
  This editorial from the National Catholic Reporter (2 Nov 07) has wisdom for Anglicans as well.Closing the door on ourselves When the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" first opened on ...

• In a generation from now, it won't be important (30 Oct 07)
  Canada's National Post (21 Oct 07) quotes the Revd Alan Perry a priest at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Montreal and acknowledged expert in canon law concerning recent decisions by ...

• Just one small part (27 Oct 07)
  Much of superb value happened at this week's General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia. This is just one small part of it. In March 2006 the Standing Committee ...

• General Synod to work out a collective response to the Americans (19 Oct 07)
  Hidden away in this piece by Jill Rowbotham in The Australian 19 Oct 07 is the statement that one of the tasks of the General Synod of the Anglican Church ...

• Chapman's dilemna (19 Oct 07)
  Archbishop Fred Hiltz primate of the Anglican Church of Canada has said that "due process was followed" by the diocese of Ottawa when a majority of its synod members approved ...

• Itching ears or an open question? (13 Oct 07)
  In Christianity Today online (12 Oct 07) Collin Hansen casts an eye over the Human Rights Campaign's website Out In Scripture. He notes the HRC's explanation that "This Human Rights ...

• A letter from +Gene (10 Oct 07)
  An Open Letter to the LGBT Community from Bishop Gene Robinson http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/dojustice/j517.html 9 October 2007 Now that the Church has had some time to absorb and consider the recent meeting ...

• Dr Jensen and biblical unfaithfulness (08 Oct 07)
  The Most Revd Dr Peter Jensen Archbishop of Sydney has published a response to the United States House of Bishops' New Orleans statement that replied to the Primates concerning its ...

• A hugely expensive jolly (28 Sep 07)
  In my previous post I expressed some gratitude to the US Episcopal church for at least doing what it has done to support full inclusion of gay and lesbian people ...

• Let them do as they please (27 Sep 07)
  I am too weary of the whole business to bother saying much about the US Episcopal House of Bishops' recent response to the demands by the Primates' meeting that the ...

• Good news from Canberra and Goulburn (10 Sep 07)
  Yesterday at its annual session held in Goulburn the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn of which I am a member adopted without dissent (i.e. no 'No' ...

• Statements and warnings (27 Aug 07)
  There has been much discussion about "A most agonising journey towards Lambeth" a long recent letter from Archbishop Peter Akinola Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) to bishops ...

• English bishops out of communion? (28 Jul 07)
  The Church of Ireland Gazette reports remarks by the Bishop of Winchester that six out of ten senior Church of England bishops could boycott next year’s Lambeth Conference if the ...

• Sexuality not the touchstone (21 Jul 07)
  The July issue of Vanity Fair (p.96) includes this exchange between Brad Pitt and former Archbishop of South Africa Desmond Tutu:Brad Pitt: So certainly discrimination has no place in Christianity. ...

• A hundred Anglican flowers (20 Jul 07)
  In agreeing that the blessing of same-sex unions is a 'matter indifferent ' the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada would appear to have approved blessing despite efforts ...

• The burden of false certainty (18 Jul 07)
  The cure of some aspects of the Church's present malaise must be discovered in Winston Churchill's words: in "blood toil tears and sweat" They must cultivate sophistication in what pertains ...

• Worthy of affirmation (10 Jul 07)
  On 6 June 2007 Australian Jewish news reported that the Union for Progressive Judaism's rabbinical council (Moetzah) for Australia and New Zealand has decided to allow rabbis to officiate at ...

• Iona welcomes (02 Jul 07)
  " An inclusive church reaps ever greater rewards for all" by Kathy Galloway of the Iona Community in a Credo column The Times 30 Jun 07.The current furore about religion ...

• Lawful but not expedient (25 Jun 07)
  The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada has agreed "That this General Synod resolves that the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine ...

• Argle-bargle (17 May 07)
  Here's another from a Boston Globe writer; this time Alex Beam ("Meanwhile: I still haven't found what I'm looking for" IHT 16 May 07)It is abhorrent of course to make ...

• Safe in Australia? (06 Apr 07)
  Anglican Church 'not safe' for gay Christians by Benedict Brook Sydney Star Observer (861 5 Apr 07) The Anglican Church in Australia has admitted it may "not be a safe ...

• Gays among the victims of Iraq's extremists (02 Apr 07)
  Peter Tatchell says that Islamist death squads are systematically targeting gay people for execution in Iraq "in a reign of terror that could soon affect all Iraqis. Mr Thatchell is ...

• Nigerian church condemned by its own words (28 Mar 07)
  In its recently published statement to the Anglican Communion listening process -- a statement approved by its Primate the Most Revd Peter Akinola The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) says ...

• The Listening Process in Australia (28 Mar 07)
  Anglican Communion News Service has announced that "Listening Process Summaries" are now available online.The culmination of months of work on what is known as "The Listening Process " a process ...

• Sweden celebrates faithfulness and companionship and Canada decides to attempt to decide (19 Mar 07)
  Associated Press and Swedish English language newspaper The Local report (16 Mar 07) that the Church of Sweden's leaders are willing to allow gay people to marry in church on ...

• A new Exodus? (18 Mar 07)
  In a press release Davis Mac-Iyalla Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria is warning other countries that the passage of Nigeria's anti-gay legislation could cause significant problems for other countries.The restrictions ...

• Anglicans must unequivocally support human rights and freedoms (10 Mar 07)
  I share *Christopher's strong concern at the failure of the leadership of the Anglican / Episcopal churches to say anything about the likely passage by the Nigerian parliament of appalling ...

• The international community must speak out against this poisonous legislation (08 Mar 07)
  Editorial -- Denying Rights in Nigeria New York Times (8 Mar 07)A poisonous piece of legislation is quickly making its way through the Nigerian National Assembly. Billed as an anti-gay-marriage ...

• Sense from Scotland (08 Mar 07)
  As usual the Scots say what needs to be said in a few words sensibly and courteously.Statement from Changing Attitude Scotland Published March 6th 2007 Changing Attitude Scotland welcomes the ...

• Dialogue without fear (01 Mar 07)
  Members of the General Synod of the Church of England be congratulated on the civility and quality of their debates on 28th February (my birthday) the Synod's first extended debates ...

• Davis appeals for our help (27 Feb 07)
  This is a message sent to the lgbtanglicans mailing list of Changing Attitude from Mr Davis Mac-Iyalla Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria. Davis asks for every possible means of publicity ...

• Does the communiqué communicate to the Communion? (21 Feb 07)
  The Anglican primates' communiqué following their meeting in Dar es Salaam is (too) long and difficult satisfies no one and and seems capable of opposing interpretations. Grateful that unity had ...

• Manufactured crisis? (18 Feb 07)
  In his latest column in The Guardian (17 Feb 07) Giles Fraser argues that rather than the current row over gay bishops threatening to shatter the Anglican Communion "almost the ...

• Sanity prevails (16 Feb 07)
  Amidst all the to-ing and fro-ing of the Primates Conference well catalogued by Thinking Anglicans and others regular press briefings are being given by the Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate ...

• Not without hope (14 Feb 07)
  The Archbishop of Sydney the Most Rev. Dr Peter Jensen has written a gracious and challenging piece in the Sydney Morning Herald in the lead up to the primates meeting ...