Anglicans

The Church of England will not allow civil partnerships for people of the same sex to be registered on their premises despite the passage of a new law in England and Wales that gives the church and other religious premises the opportunity to do so.

Announcing their decision on Thursday, the Church of England made their stance clear through a written statement from the Secretary General, William Fittall.

“No Church of England religious premises may become ‘approved premises’ for the registration of civil partnerships without there having been a formal decision by the General Synod to that effect.” more >>

The Episcopal Church has decided to clear the charges leveled at a bishop who spoke critically of the church’s stance on homosexuality.

The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, was cleared of charges that he was planning to break with The Episcopal Church.

“[L]et me express my heartfelt gratitude for the innumerable letters, emails and spoken words of encouragement I have received from so many within the diocese,” wrote Lawrence in a letter to diocese members. more >>

The Anglican Mission in the Americas (the Anglican Mission), a conservative group trying to keep the outward focus and missionary tradition of the Anglican Church alive in the United States and Canada, is in the midst of significant transitions.

Motivated by a new archbishop in Rwanda, the resignation of Bishop Terrell Glenn and Anglican Mission Leader Chuck Murphy’s retirement announcement, church leaders are considering their next steps as an organization.

Bishop T.J. Johnston, rector at St. Peter’s Church in Mount Pleasant, S.C., released a letter Friday regarding the changes. He said he wanted to address the recent resignation and the church’s relationship with Rwanda. more >>

WHEATON, Ill. – Under the slated skylight and within the clean, airy white walls of College Church on the Wheaton College campus, more than 600 people gathered Friday to remember and be inspired by the life of John Stott – the English Anglican clergyman who helped define and drive the global evangelical movement in the 20th century.

One by one, speakers eloquently, but with much sincerity and humor, recalled the humble, intellectual giant of the evangelical community who astounded and touched Christians around the world with his clear and authoritative exegesis of the Bible, and with the way he lived his life.

“He (John Stott) truly was, in some ways, the first person who spoke the word of God to me through his literature and I also heard him in person,” proclaimed Tim Keller, senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and whom Newsweek magazine described as a “C.S. Lewis for the twenty-first century.” more >>

The ban on gay ceremonies in religious institutions in England is set to be lifted. According to reports, liberal MP Lynne Featherstone will make the announcement later today. However, the removal of the ban will not be official until Dec. 5.

Members of the Church of England have already voiced opposition to the idea of having gay ceremonies in their house of worship. The Church of England has stated that it has “no intention” of hosting civil ceremonies within their churches.

However, British Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone stated that "no religious group will be forced to host a civil partnership registration, but for those who wish to do so this is an important step forward.” more >>

Although at one time a large and influential religious denomination in North America, a fact sheet published by The Episcopal Church shows that its membership has dipped below two million members.

The survey of membership trends noted that in 2006 there were over 2.1 million “Active Baptized Members” in the church. By 2010, however, the number decreased to less than 1.96 million.

Jeff Walton, communications manager for the Institute on Religion and Democracy and staff member of the IRD’s “Anglican Action” program, believes that many factors have contributed to this decline. more >>