News - April 2011
April Newsletter 2011 (Abridged):
Posted on 18 April 2011
Reform Newsletter, April 2011
Discussions on the Women Bishops Measure are starting to take place in earnest in deaneries and dioceses. We are now sending out briefing material to members who sit on diocesan synods via e-mail. It you would like to receive this briefing and are not currently doing so, please contact the Reform office (administrator@reform.org.uk).
We are holding four regional consultations over the next few months.
May 10th at St Stephen's Selly Park, Birmingham
May 16th at St Helen's Bishopsgate, London
May 27th at St Bart's, Bath
June 16th at St John's Houghton, Carlisle
These events are designed partly to keep members up-to-date with current developments and partly to provide an opportunity for members to understand better - and contribute to - the strategy the Council is following. This is a time when many of us feel that our ministry and witness is under threat within the Church of England, so it is important that we continue to stand together as we face the twin challenges of opposing the present draft legislation and standing for the gospel in an increasingly secularised environment. Our regional consultations will outline the plans we are making - whether the vote in the General Synod goes for or against us - and we will be wanting to report back to the Council on what your views are.
In the meantime we are:
- pressing ahead with two working groups - one looking at proposed amendments to the draft legislation that could be put to the House of Bishops, and another group looking at how the bishops of any future "Society" might operate and be selected
- introducing changes to the Reform Council so that new generations of Anglican evangelicals become more involved
- extending our network to see what more can be done to encourage those engaged in women's ministry and ministry in rural churches.