In the US, as United Church of Christ takes on race and LGBTQ issues, consensus reigns
RNS When the United Church of Christ kicks off its General Synod on Sunday, Rev Traci Blackmon isn’t worried about fractious votes, conservative insurgencies or to-do’s over high-level resignations – or calls for the same. The UCC, in short, is no Southern Baptist Convention, which endured all of the above at its annual meeting last […]
Proposals aim to end Church of England inaction over racism
London AP A report aiming to tackle racism in the Church of England has recommended dozens of proposals to end decades of inaction, including the requirement that at least one ethnic minority candidate be included in shortlists for senior clergy roles. The church’s Anti-Racism Taskforce was set up last year after the Archbishop of Canterbury, […]
In the US, UCC General Synod endorses Green New Deal
RNS The United Church of Christ has signed on for the Green New Deal. It may be the first Christian body to endorse the environmental protection legislation sponsored in the US House of Representatives by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York. Climate change activists holding signs join in on a rally supporting the “Green New […]
Church of England’s synod takes on Brexit divisions as zero hour approaches
London RNS The Church of England’s most senior leaders are expected to rebuke Britain’s political leaders over their handling of Brexit at the church’s General Synod this week. In a special motion at synod, just weeks before the Brexit deadline, the archbishops of Canterbury and York will urge politicians to do more to heal divisions […]
Australia’s Anglican primate expresses “deep concern” over refugee policy in synod address
The head of Australia’s Anglican Church, Archbishop Philip Freier, has expressed his “deep concern” over Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s recent cuts to welfare services to about 100 asylum seekers originally brought to Australia from offshore detention for medical treatment. In his opening address to the church’s three-yearly General Synod being held in Maroochydore, on […]
CLERGY: IT’S NO LONGER SUNDAY BEST FOR THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
CATHERINE PEPINSTER, of Religion News Service, reports on a move to allow Anglican clergy to wear lay garments, against the backdrop of the changing religious landscape in the UK…