CEEC: We need to pray for clergy
Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has called on en readers to join them in praying for vicars who are struggling to know how to navigate their Parochial Church Council (PCC) and congregations through the current phase of the Living in Love and Faith process and into the Alliance’s de facto parallel province.
John Dunnett, National Director, CEEC, said: readers will be aware of the ‘en Alliance’s call to construct the de facto parallel province. Were we to see hundreds, if not thousands, of churches using the Ephesian Fund (EF), requesting Alternative Spiritual Oversight (ASO) and sending their ordinands through the Alliance pipeline, this could very, very quickly become a reality. Such a significant expression of conscience would impact the bishops and bring them to the negotiation table. In reality, however, many incumbents are struggling to lead their churches into participation in this de facto province. Their commitment to orthodoxy is unquestioned but their situation makes this far from easy.’
Living in Love and Faith or Living Life Backwards?
It’s easy to get frustrated in Christian life and church ministry when our passion for the gospel and the local church is seemingly thwarted by opposition, disruption, relationship breakdown or just human error. Is that frustration wrong? Are we expecting too much?
As a member of the Church of England, it’s hard to make sense of the current state of play with the Living in Love and Faith process. It is an existential threat because it undermines Biblical teaching on marriage, but the process has been stalled by the misfiring appointment process for vacancy in Canterbury and the recent resignation of Martin Snow as chair of the steering group. It was supposed to be a period of discernment, but it is currently a period of suspended confusion.