I am pleased to announce that I will serve as assistant curate at Manchester Cathedral after my diaconal ordination next Petertide (𝘋𝘝).
I will need the help of all your prayers, and I know I will not count upon them in vain.
@DioManchester
@ManCathedral
@CoRMirfield
If
#Anglican
sainthood is a thing our chair for the
#LLF
debate, Geoffrey Tattersall, is a living example. Impartial, patient, with a side of excellent humour
@synod
@churchofengland
@StMikes_Exeter
If you are Anglo Catholic how do you have women officiating? Are you Anglo-Catholic or not? Or are you confirmed as liberal Catholic now? This would be useful to know.
I had the honour of preaching (in Cantonese) at my placement, St Stephen’s Church, Bonham Road today.
St Stephen’s is the oldest Cantonese speaking Anglican parish (est 1865) in Hong Kong.
From the Archbishops' Council's annual report: leaving LGBTQIA+ inclusion out of diversity-including its goal of achieving 'representative leadership'. I'm not a token for the Church's diversity-we will not be a diverse church until we can be proud to include all-gay or straight.
It has finally been announced that I am serving on one of these
#LLF
work groups
@churchofengland
. Please pray for our work this weekend in Leicester; for perseverance in discerning the will of God, and for generosity when we scrutinise each others' proposals and ideas.
The groups will spend three days together, staying in a hotel in Leicester. The following weekend, the House of Bishops will meet to decide what recommendations to take forward to a meeting of the College of Bishops in June
My maiden speech
@synod
, supporting new ways of funding training lay and ordained ministry
@churchofengland
. I speak as an ethnic minority
#ordinand
@DioManchester
@Westcott_House
, hoping future funding will allow people like me to feel supported and able to rest their vocation.
Welcoming my parents to
@CoRMirfield
and
@CR_Mirfield
today.
My mum has decided to show up as colourful as possible to contrast with the Mirfield style.
Knowing NT Greek unfortunately doesn’t really help with travelling to Greece nowadays because Jesus never ordered a lamb kebab with orangeade with his disciples…
Following a Holy and Honourable tradition
@CoRMirfield
, I have passed my driving test at the Heckmondwike test centre in Lent.
Our current principal initiated that tradition some forty years ago.
I echo the praise of many, and thank
@bishopSarahM
for her moving closing speech and the sheer perseverance and dedication she has shown in the whole process.
@churchofengland
Powerful words from
@BishopSarah
in her closing speech this afternoon at the end of the
#Synod
#LLF
debate
I think it was the most memorable and moving speech I have heard from a bishop in years.
I remain grateful to her for all that she has done in leading us through the
At Clem’s ordination today. A real pleasure to have met (and chauffeured)
@AliceGoodman17
for the first time today, and to see
@TheOutsider40
at his first ordination as Bishop of Edmonton.
I spoke today
@synod
about inadequate theological education on Racial Justice in
@churchofengland
. I’m grateful for the contributions and trust from the UKME ordinands and curates who gave me a broader and crucial perspective on this issue.
Today I accompanied a friend to their stage 2 panel in Woking. On our way there, we stopped at St Alban’s to visit Anna’s grave, and prayed by the shrine of St Alban.
We have not conceded a thousand steps in the process and deeply hurt thousands of lives only for them to do as they wish, as they have always done.
Surely we can have Equal Marriage now.
I wonder whether the people who organised this will be given the same heavy handed treatment meted out to PCCs wanting to avoid the rectories being sold or their parishes being merged? I somehow doubt it.
I've seen many infant baptisms where the family has never been to the Church b4 & never came back. The asylum seekers who sought baptism were the ones who stayed, they are still there to greet me when I return
@StChrys
There’re 3 ‘UK Global Majority reps’ among the 27 signatories. They’ve not consulted the GM members
@synod
, nor the co-opted GM members of which I am one.
They do NOT speak for me or other GM members. It’s pure contempt to use their GM status to sign a letter like that.
Leaders of 11 C of E organisations have written to the College of Bishops, arguing that it is “unlawful, unconstitutional, and illegitimate” for the Bishops to commend blessings for same-sex couples
The ABC said,
@synod
, that our decisions are 'about people who will die, women who will be raped, children who will be tortured.' So where is that leading voice of morality when things like this happens literally in the name of Christ?
I’m back. (Greggs as proof)
The immigration asked what’s my job. ‘Training to be a vicar,’ I said.
‘It’s not really a job but a vocation, isn’t it,’ he said.
I wish more priests and bishops would think that too.
CofE: we lament and repent of the failure of the Church to be welcoming to LGBTQI+ people and the harm that LGBTQI+ people have experienced and continue to
experience in the life of the Church
CofE: 0 queer people on board making decisions about queers
From the annual
@CoRMirfield
#ShroveTuesday
pancake run/walk earlier today.
I’m pleased to say that I came last, and thus, according to Matt 20:16, I have in fact won the race. (The first shall be last, etc etc)
I have raised this many times, I am a GMH Anglican FOR
#EqualMarriage
. People inside and outside
@synod
really ought to have a word with me before roping me into anything other than fully supporting that.
Weary of seeing GMH views in the Anglican Communion scapegoated as a voice against
#EqualMarriage
. There is extraordinary variance and a spectrum of differences among UKME/ GMH people (including silenced
#LGBTQI
+ voices around the Global South) on
#sexuality
.
#LLF
#Synod
#PLF
Safely arrived at Leicester for the
#LLF
work group residential weekend. I attended the midday Eucharist
@LeicsCathedral
@leicestercofe
before the programme officially began; the sermon at Mass invited us to embrace uncertainty and see waiting for God as our vocation.
End of an era: today I have passed on the Precentor’s file and the key to the precentor’s office to Stuart,
@CoRMirfield
’s new Precentor for the coming academic year. I’ll assume the post of sacristan instead.
It was wonderful to be back at my sending parish
@StChrys
, ahead of a difficult week full of anniversaries and memories of farewells. Giving thanks that I’m in a much better place now
@DioManchester
How many times do I have to say 'Global Majority Rep' is not a thing
@synod
. Not in my name it isn't.
A desperate move revealing the 'bad logic' of conservatives-'it isn't about who's got more people on their side'. Also them: let's appeal to the 80million people outside England.
Extremely irresponsible journalism
@guardian
. Not what the Archbishop was saying, taken completely out of context, & undermines the passion for reconciliation & healing which underpinned the ABY’s address
@CottrellStephen
@synod
I visited St John’s Cathedral this afternoon and met with the Dean to discuss my placement with him in a week’s time. An incredible privilege to learn from and serve alongside the clergy of this historic cathedral.
My ‘second’ contribution
@synod
today. It’s been a privilege to be involved in the LLF process, & to be heard and listened to. At the same time, there are many more voices that are still missing in the conversation-may we not forget them as we move forward
@churchofengland
Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s have no more structural differentiation, & let’s acknowledge the other as trying to interpret and express the gospel they have received faithfully and with integrity.
@synod
(sporting, once again, the badge of
@CoRMirfield
)
Of the services offered by
@CR_Mirfield
, I’m always very moved by the Resurrection Vigil (every Saturday through the year).
We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!
This morning I had the great honour of preaching at St John’s Cathedral, the mother Church of the Anglican Church in HK. Here’s a very happy Dean and
@CoRMirfield
ordinand after Mass.
This also marks the end of all my summer placement this year!
I’m very excited to be able to go back to my hometown after FOUR years. Besides seeing my family and friends after this excruciating hiatus, I will also be on placement there, learning from the Anglican Church in Hong Kong.
I'm writing a lay ref for someone I know going through the discernment process
@churchofengland
Disappointed they've taken out the Q about honesty and integrity of the candidate, instead I'm asked about his ability to problem solve. Are we looking for priests or branch directors?
Very grateful for the opportunity to preach
@smitf_london
this afternoon in their regular Sunday Cantonese service. I’m indebted to Rev Harry, their associate vicar for international ministry, for his friendship and guidance through my discernment process and beyond.
Today I accompanied a friend to their stage 2 panel in Woking. On our way there, we stopped at St Alban’s to visit Anna’s grave, and prayed by the shrine of St Alban.
According to the National Clergy Register, Rev Thomas is assistant curate at St Andrew, Wimbledon. Why in this video he is down as ‘Pastor’ at ‘Dundonald Church’, whose website makes no mentioning of any connection with
@churchofengland
? So much for being an
#Anglican
!
Many, many people in the Church of England and around the Anglican Communion are dismayed by this reading of scripture that seems to be more informed by the culture than the bible.
Structural differentiation/good differentiation may be best way forward for all.
@BishGloucester
I won’t comment on Robert’s posts. But the pain felt by people who are harmed by the church is real. If there is no sense of progress, and no real accountability from people who have been given power, the pain is bound to surface in other ways.
It’s wonderful to be back in my sending parish
@StChrys
@DioManchester
. Serving alongside Fr Ian and Andrew the churchwarden this morning, and resurrecting an old high Mass set.
I felt thoroughly nourished by the Word and Sacrament today
@StBartholomews
: eastward facing Mass in traditional language with an abundance of smoke and bells. Just what I needed before
@synod
resumes this afternoon.
The Lunar New Year, which starts today, will be celebrated by billions of people around the world.
Rev Aggy Palairet, from
@CofE_Cov
and
@theteahouse_uk
, shares the Lord's Prayer in Cantonese.
#LunarNewYear
Today I begin my second placement in Hong Kong at St John’s Cathedral, attending their Saturday Evening Eucharist (anticipating Tenth Sunday after Trinity).
@DioManchester
@CoRMirfield
@churchofengland
Today I had the great honour and pleasure to participate in the Cantonese Eucharist
@smitf_london
, marking the sixtieth anniversary of their Cantonese speaking congregation.
Today I also welcomed Fr James Shakespeare, who was my placement supervisor at St John’s Hills Road, Cambridge. He’s visiting
@CR_Mirfield
for a short retreat before attending a DDO conference.
Praying before the Blessed Sacrament on this feast of
#CorpusChristi
and as part of
#Adorate2023
’s 50+hrs of devotion. Praying especially for all who will be ordained deacon and priests this Petertide.
@CoRMirfield
Why do children poverty and this country’s continued reliance on food banks not attract the same level of anger and passionate engagement from those who have been very vocal in their opposition towards including LGBT folks?
Absolutely shocking that
@churchofengland
@synod
chamber is so sparsely attended whilst we discuss foodbanks and food poverty. People sod off to do what
@ChurchTimes
? whilst the rest passionately participate in what it fundamentally means to be a Christian.
#poverty
I have received the (provisional!) confirmation that my (second!) masters dissertation is moderately readable and makes some sense, at least to two people on earth. According to one reader, it is 'fluently and at times stylishly written'.
@CoRMirfield
Congratulations to
@mthr_jo
, my personal tutor
@CoRMirfield
. Might we be the first TEI tutor-tutee pair
@synod
? Anyways, I look forward to seeing her contributions in the chamber later this week.
This morning I worshipped at St Stephen’s Church, Bonham Road on Hong Kong Island. This will be my placement church for the coming three weeks. I look forward to learning about Anglican ministry from her clergy and congregation.
This morning I joined the brethren
@CR_Mirfield
who are visiting Trier for a tour of the Abbey. We were shown the treasures kept in the Monastery, including this impressive relics of the True Cross.
The use of ‘safe space’ here is insensitive & provocative. The Church has failed to be a ‘safe space’ for so many precisely because she refused to acknowledge & honour the lived experience of many, & now
@ceecuk
wants us to do exactly that for them. ‘Tis hypocrisy at its finest.
Given the decision of the General Synod to depart from our biblical foundations, the Church of England now needs to provide safe space for faithfulness to a biblical doctrine of sex and marriage.
John Dunnett explains why we need to take action to ensure this happens. 👇
Today began with the Diocesan Eucharist. From the Diocesan bishop to the janitor who works at the church, we all joined in this act of worship before we start our work. The Eucharist was celebrated by an assistant priest of my placement.
Today’s Feast has been celebrated in style here at the Cathedral, with a Sung High Mass (Bryd’s Mass for Five voices), and Howell’s Salve Regina as communion anthem. Complete with bells and smell.
On the train home to
@CoRMirfield
after a very intense week
@synod
. I think I’ll see 25 members standing in my dreams for weeks to come and perhaps mumble ‘for the members in the Church House, please vote using your…’. I’ll definitely jump if someone shouts ‘point of order!’
I was very moved when the senior choir at my placement church sang ‘The Lord bless you and keep you’ (by Lutkin) to me this afternoon as I prepare to leave HK for
@CoRMirfield
next week.
Watching the livestream of my friend Adam’s priestly ordination in Hong Kong. He’s been such a great friend and companion in my vocation journey.
Please pray for him and his ministry.
What a pleasure it was to play the organ
@GreatStMarys
this evening. A wonderfully loud instrument; I had great fun improvising on the theme of ‘
#SalveRegina
’ at the end of the service.
@Westcott_House
This evening I’m accompanying a member of
@LArcheManc
to attend evening Mass at the Holy Name Church, Manchester. A church I’ve visited many times when I was a student, & I’ve played the organ here a few times for masses. An ecumenical outing!