Church leaders respond to Supreme Court Decision, General Convention and Lambeth Conference preparations, property disputes and more; it’s our weekend roundup of news from across the church.
Episcopal Church
Immediate reactions from church leaders after Friday’s Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade. https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/06/24/us-supreme-court-ruling-ends-constitutional-protection-for-womens-right-to-abortion/
For lovers of meetings and committees, here is the official site for all things General Convention. https://www.generalconvention.org
Diocese of Long Island awards to descendants of enslaved persons. https://www.wshu.org/long-island-news/2022-06-20/episcopal-diocese-awards-scholarships-to-long-island-students-descended-from-slaves
Next steps for full-communion agreements with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sweden to be sent to General Convention for review. https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/06/21/committees-actions-send-full-communion-agreements-other-ecumenical-matters-to-general-convention-defer-another-until-2024/
Conflict in Chicago between diocese and cathedral over potential sale of diocesan offices.
From the Cathedral https://www.saintjamescathedral.org/news/2022/06/22/update-regarding-sale-65-e-huron
From Crain’s Chicago Business https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/st-james-cathedral-opposes-terms-potential-sale-episcopal-diocese-chicagos
North Texas votes to reunite with Diocese of Texas, planned merger now goes to General Convention for approval.
Episcopal Journal
Star-Telegram
ENS
St Stephen’s shooting
Response from the parish. https://www.ssechurch.org/response
Other related articles. USA Today Churchgoers return after shooting and WRBC TV Leader of nearby church where another shooting occurred offers some reflections on what might come next
Bishop’s Corner
Diocese of Utah Bishop-elect Phyllis Spiegel has received the required majority of consents. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/diocese-of-utah-notified-of-successful-canonical-consent-process-for-next-bishop/
Bishop of Missouri, the Rt Rev Deon Johnson in a great interview with local NPR station. https://news.stlpublicradio.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2022-06-06/episcopal-bishop-deon-johnson-ive-always-wanted-to-be-in-a-place-to-help-people
Anglican Communion
War in Ukraine negatively impacting Anglican development programs in Africa. https://tma.melbourneanglican.org.au/2022/06/anglican-efforts-in-africa-weakened-by-ukraine-crisis/
Archbishop of Canterbury calls church to unity, not unanimity as three African primates decline invitation. https://anglicanjournal.com/we-will-sing-hallelujah-and-welcome-them-warmly-welby-says-he-still-hopes-to-see-reluctant-african-primates-at-lambeth/
If General Convention doesn’t satisfy your love of all things institutional, the General Synod of the Church of England is also coming up in July and you can read all the official papers here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/general-synod/general-synod-july-2022
Other things worth your time
The Spirituality of Slow Fashion. https://www.christiancentury.org/article/first-person/spirituality-slow-fashion
This one is hard to write a pithy headline for, but it’s a hopeful story about overcoming bureaucratic obstacles in the Church of England allowing a gifted minister to be ordained (full disclosure, Andy and I went to Credo together). https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/24-june/news/uk/exception-granted-for-ordination?fbclid=IwAR0AmTaWgkJg8_jNNXDbL6O9DyUXBiAgn7d-d3GXSY4svkKTp7x81x6wzL0
For serious liturgical music lovers, Westminster Cathedral will premier a new mass setting, composed by Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan on the Feast of St Peter at the 5:00pm mass. https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-news/new-mass-setting-to-premiere-on-st-peter-s-day
image: Episcopal Church in North Texas in convention to vote on reuniting with Diocese of Texas
