Church News from 03/10/21

• Link to the Young People page of this website for Resources for Families
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• Link to the "Live the Word" page
• Where to find Past Services, Curate Ordination and Charity Videos, and link to YouTube
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Access to Other Pages is to be found via the live links at the top and bottom of this page.

You will also find a link to our Benefice Facebook page and a link to the St Mary's and St Stephen's YouTube page for all past services. Choir Recordings are to be found at the bottom of this page.  

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In St Stephen's on Monday 1st November at 7pm we are having our annual All Souls service, THOSE WE LOVE BUT SEE NO LONGER. During the quiet and reflective service we will read the names of all for whom we have conducted funerals, interments or memorials this year. There will also be a Book of Remembrance at the entrance to the church in which you can write the names of those you'd like read out, too. You will have the chance to light a candle, and there will be space to remember. Do tell others you know, all are welcome. We are still observing Covid caution, so please bring a mask.

On November Wednesdays at 7.30pm in St Stephen's (and the first in December) we are running the course illustrated above, 'Living in Love and Faith'. The Archbishops have asked all churches in England to run it in order that we may feed back our thoughts and reflections to them via Deanery, Diocesan and General Synod (the church's 'parliament'). We shall be joined by folk from St Swithin's, Bathford, St Michael's Within and Langridge.

It is an important course and I urge you to attend. (There will be a Zoom one in the new year.) As you know, the current position of the Church of England is to uphold the traditional view that same sex attraction is permitted, but relationships and marriage are not allowed. Nor is it possible for a same sex couple to have their partnership or marriage blessed in a church. Many churches will not allow ss couples to hold positions of responsibility within the life and worship of the church, and some make it difficult for them to be members at all. Such churches hold that the Bible is clear on the matter, and that Scripture is the most important source of teaching on morality and ethics for Christians.

The Bath clergy (Bath Deanery) are currently engaged in discussions, and views and feelings are split roughly down the middle.

We are Inclusive Churches, and so our clergy team agree with the half of Deanery that have a more inclusive view. (I know that not everyone in our benefice agrees with that, but are content to be a part of our churches and differ on this matter.) We hold the Anglican principle that Scripture needs to be balanced with tradition and experience/reason. Even so, we feel that the Scriptural passages in question, read in context, are not at all clear.

For me, this is not about polarising argument, nor about trying to persuade people to come on to one side or the other. It's about unity and generosity. I utterly respect all my clergy colleagues and their right to read Scripture and come to different conclusion from mine. I have begun conversations with them where we can explain our thoughts and views and listen openly to the other.

What I would like is for both positions to be allowed under the aegis of the CofE, as is the case with women priests/bishops. That the more traditional and conservative churches can continue as they are, but there is also the provision for same sex couples to receive God's blessing and be able to use their gifts and talents within the church, to play a full part in the life and worship of their church families. And for us to stay united at all costs.

The course is designed to be able to hear all views, and to discuss them with one another. There are many films in which we can hear the experiences and views of a wide range of folk in the spectrum of ideas and lifestyles. It enables us to have more informed local conversations in order to play our part in the diocesan and national ones.

There is information here:

https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/living-love-and-faith

As ever, do get in touch if you'd like to know more.

Blessings, and love -

philip