George Austin discerns the early undermining of episcopacy back in the Fifties Everything, especially within the Church, has the potential to move towards self-destruction. When the matter of episcopal appointments was delegated by Churchill to his patronage secretary, it [...]

Sam Philpott Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral and Vicar of St Peter’s, Plymouth, lays out the General Synod timetable for women bishops The present General Synod meets for the last time at York in July, and then we are into [...]

Communion Discipline This month is confirmation month in the parishes I serve. The last few sessions of preparation explore the implications of being a communicant member of the church. The sorts of questions asked are – how frequently should [...]

John Hunwicke a priest from Devon, reflects further on Pope Benedict’s theology I didn’t see the white smoke on the telly; we were admiring the birds and the seals near Land’s End. I had popped into the First and [...]

Paul Richardson, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, has read deeply in Cardinal Ratzinger’s writings and ponders his likely impact now that he is Pope Until the final months of John Paul’s life, Joseph Ratzinger was not widely considered to be [...]

Shame is low in the order of virtues, so low down on the list that it is easily disregarded. Too often it is only when faced with its deliberate rejection, in shamelessness, that we are reminded of its worth. Much [...]