THE P
RTAL
Forward in Faith Assembly
December 2016 Page 11
Anglican News
A report on recent proceedings by The Revd Paul Benfield
On 19th November , members of Forward in Faith gathered at St Alban ’ s , Holborn for the National
Assembly . To the strains of ‘ Hail , Redeemer , King Divine ’ the entrance procession began . Led by a large number of servers from St Stephen ’ s House , there followed numerous deacons , the concelebrating priests and no fewer than fourteen mitred bishops . The principal celebrant was the Chairman of Forward in Faith , the Bishop of Wakefield , the Rt Revd Tony Robinson and the preacher was the Bishop of Chichester , Dr Martin Warner .
After some swift furniture moving , including the installation of a huge screen for video projection ( a first for St Alban ’ s ?) the business part of the Assembly began with the Angelus at noon . There then followed updates and reports from various people . First I , as Chairman of the Catholic Group in General Synod , reported on the Group ’ s activities since the last assembly when newly elected Synod members had been introduced . Since then Synod had met three times and the Group had held a 24-hour residential conference at Hinsley Hall , Leeds . I reported that the Group was in good heart and that some 20 of us would be going on pilgrimage to Walsingham the following week , which we had all kept free as it was a contingency week for a possible meeting of General Synod .
Anne Gray , Projects Officer for the Bishops of the Society under the Patronage of St Wilfrid and St Hilda , reported that 412 parishes had passed the new resolution under the House of Bishops ’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests . This was a considerable increase from the 363 parishes which had passed the old Resolution C under the Act of Synod and the total did not include some 50 evangelical parishes which had also passed the new resolution .
Dr Colin Podmore , Director of Forward in Faith , gave an explanation of the relationship between the Society and Forward and Faith . The Society is an ecclesial body , presided over by bishops and which recognises male priests ordained in the apostolic succession who have declared that they will not concelebrate with or receive communion from women priests . Forward in Faith remains a membership organisation with a subscription which services the work of the Society , rather as a Diocesan Board of Finance services the work of a diocese . Forward in Faith also supports the Catholic Group in General Synod
Fr Jeffrey Gainer , the new Chairman of Credo
Cymru , then gave an update on developments in the Church in Wales , including the election of a woman to be the next Bishop of St David ’ s , the first woman bishop in Wales .
After lunch Sir Philip Mawer , the Independent Reviewer appointed under the Resolution of Disputes Regulations , gave a keynote address about his appointment and work . In 2015 he had had two matters referred to him ( separate chrism masses for traditional Catholics , and a dispute concerning a parish in Cheltenham – his reports are available on the web ) but to date in 2016 he had received no grievances of matters of concern . He hoped that his low level of work meant that all were having proper regard to the Five Guiding Principles .
There followed brief presentations about vocations and a special Initial Ministerial Education course held annually at Walsingham for traditionalist catholic curates . Bishop Philip North , Bishop of Burnley , then led presentations and discussions on ‘ The Future of Catholic Life in the Church of England ’. This is ongoing work and when the documents are finalised I will no doubt return to this topic .
Newly elected members of the Council of Forward in Faith were introduced . These include a welcome increase in the number of women members and a good number of new clergy representatives .
After Benediction given by the Bishop of Richborough , with a meditation by the Revd Canon Deacon Rebecca Swyer , the delegates returned to their parishes in good heart . The Catholic movement in the Church of England is in good heart and has now moved off the battle field and on to the mission field , something for which Prebendary Sam Philpott , a retiring member of Council , had long hoped and prayed for .