New Archbishop of Canterbury

[FuzzyPuffling]

The appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury has been announced today.

What do we think?

I hope it's a fresh beginning after all the mess of the past few years, and as an ex nurse, I hope she's got her head screwed on, snd a feeling for people. I'm glad it's a woman though. Apart from that, I don't know a massive amount about her.

Just watched this, on the possible schism of the wider Anglican Church.

I think in a way it'll be easier for her if they do break away.

@GentleSheep Thanks for your support, means a lot! ... I would normally avoid controversy but I'm old now and feel I must speak out sometimes.

God bless you abundantly for being a warrior. Our Lord spoke out! ...be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of His power.

I wonder where that leaves me, as a feminist born again Christian ? 😁😀 Thankfully safe in the arms of God and secure in my eternity, thanks to Jesus. That said I do feel some concern about her pro abortion and pro LGB marriage beliefs because I would worry she is supporting things against the bible. Race and gender are a non issue in God's kingdom in terms of salvation. But maybe she will see the light on LGB/abortion issues? None of us are perfect. I pray for God to guide her.

Yes safe in the arms of God! We are all being perfected as we travel through life with Christ, so we are 'works in progress'. The Holy Spirit will help us to get rid of any incorrect behaviours and beliefs if we ask Him and work with Him.

My pastor gave us a good book on the roles of men and women and I am just beginning to read it. It's 'Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood a response to evangelical feminism' edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem (Crossway).

My DD is an ordinand. She will be a marvellous priest and had definitely vern called to this position. I am very glad she has a role model to look up to. Much better than being lumped into the child care, tea making, hospitality, secretarial roles also available!

You must be very proud of her.

And God bless all who give their time to serving the Lord in any role, including child care, toilet cleaning, tea making ...Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain ...

Sure but isn't it great that there are no biblical restrictions on what careers or jobs women can have (unless something sinful like a thief or a sex worker). The only thing prohibited is being an elder .

Regarding the biblical womanhood thing most of it is cultural church doctrine not biblical. I've studied this topic biblically and using scripture and there are no new testament verses saying :

That all Christian women for all time must marry and or/bear children. Celibacy was allowed as an option. It's still allowed today . I'm not into males. Or females. I don't do the whole dating thing . I'm just a natural tomboy who isn't into lads. That's how God made me. some people are born as euncuchs , Jesus said. I'm content and love being single and having time to pursue my dreams goals and seek God more.

that a woman's salvation is linked to bring a wife and mother .

that a single woman can't work outside the home. How else is she supposed to live? Even in the old testament Ruth, a widow, provided for herself before marrying again. Lydia was a merchant.

That all women are under the authority of all men. It just says wives are under their husbands authority. The reason culturally father's were the heads of the household was because daughters married as children back in bible.times e.g. 14 years old or younger even wasn't unusual . I don't believe God minds am 18 year old girl moving out and seeking a job or a degree. It's not mentioned in the Torah part of the bible as women didn't work then because of ancient ME culture . the pagan cultures were the same .

Jesus has no issue with the above . I'm not an elder and have never wanted to be a church leader.

it doesn't matter to God as long as I'm using my gifts to glorify Him. So no I don't need to repent of my beliefs in this area (not saying I am without sin) but this is an non issue to me. i mean this kindly and I respect that other Christians may think differently on this. @Thegreatestoftheseislove @GentleSheep

My sister has authority over men, she teaches adult men English as a foreign language . She is in her 40 s and has no husband or any other "covering." She has Jesus as her head. Her church family are those she is accountable to. The church looks after " orphans" and someone who has a troubled relationship with their father would come under this .Even if we did get on with our father he is in his 70s now, almost 80. We wish him well and hope he is happy where he lives.

Haven't read that one yet but I have read the Beth Allinson Barr one on the same topic. It was very illuminating to me as someone who was brought up IFB, with the kind of Bill Gothard teachings that found their way across the pond to the UK. I'm glad my parents did at least encourage college and careers before marriage though . I will always be grateful that they were left wing enough for that even if they did have some kooky ideas about things like abuse being allowed and daughters belonging to their dad's etc. I'm no longer bitter against my family but I'm bitter against a church system that makes women believe that if they aren't into guys and wanting to settle down that they are going to hell. I have thankfully thrown out that doctrine now and refuse to believe Christians who are truly born again and walking in God's spirit can ever go there . If you're saved you have to walk away from God to become unsaved , the bible is clear that salvation is a gift !

@TheQueenOfSpades I do not recognise much of what you have said here about the role of women. 🤷

I know what you mean about being single and wanting to serve God as a woman. People can desire to do as they want in terms of relationships, staying single or getting married etc. It is not a judgement of how well God loves us, what we are doing with our relationships. I will say though as someone who was also a tomboy growing up and not wanting to meet a significant other now I get what you meant. Women in the Old Testatment could be conscreated to God so not carnal for Holy service, I believe like Esther and there are more. God also asked this from males Jeremiah the prophet.
I also loved what Paul wrote about single women like to make themselves Holy to serve God. Well, the single person may have more time in their lives to do this-
"The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband" (1 Corinthians 7).
I love about shorn hair too myself, but I wouldn't expect this from anyone else. I am not better at all than someone who is married like my sister, God has given her blessings and hers was four children and to have a husband and become a mature Christian.

I think may not really get the walk with Jesus, like someone could be out of the law a bit and he take them they could change. So if they embrace people outside they know the walk continues until the end of their life hopefully. We need more people like this.

Above I meant to write that some not may get the walk with Jesus.......I wasn't replying to the poster I was quoting but some of the general discussion here.

@TheQueenOfSpades I agree with @Thegreatestoftheseislove that I don't recognise most of those 'teachings' about the roles of women. My pastor, who is very conservative, would not agree with any of that. His wife has a PhD (that's how they met). Yes she is a housewife now as she has 2 ASD sons and home schools them, but he wouldn't restrict her from working if that wasn't the case. Being a wife and mother isn't salvific (I'm doomed if it is!). Not all women will marry and that's fine, ditto for men, we aren't all called to it.

Women are only under their husband's authority and even that isn't as draconian as many would like to make out.

My sister has authority over men, she teaches adult men English as a foreign language

I don't believe the Bible is referring to that type of teaching when it talks about women, it is referring to teaching of Christian doctrine to men, that women are not to exercise authority directly over men in the Church. Other types of teaching are fine.

Good post @TheQueenOfSpades lots to think about in there.

It’s just people who suddenly identify as Christians behaving in a very unchristian way

Edit: Doh! Wrong thread! don’t know how that happened!!😱

Now we are all wondering which thread you meant to post this on 😂

The graffiti art in the Canterbury Cathedral ☺️

I think that we shouldn’t try and separate ourselves too much in Christian church’s and remember that Christ is the head of the Church. He puts people in their spiritual roles in these church’s. I have been to a range of church’s and God’s spirit has been in them all.
Most issues people have with church that Christ is talking about happen in private services and perhaps those desiring like lavishing lifestyles or deceitful people with no passion with the job just trying to drive fear through the congregation.Abuse scandals come into this to which can happen in any church. Some may target vulnerable people and especially with false prophets and that can be an issue to.

Christ told us to judge others still in James and I am a wary person on this ." Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law.

I know someone who is a Christian and a Mormon and she loves her church. I pray for that if it is not Christian that God can direct her and her spirit. She has been with them for years and I think that Christ is with her. I haven’t looked them up as I do not like to cast my eye like that. I take her as a fiend and try and help her.Remember this is a debate and not a formed opinion- I looked briefly at their guide and whilst I believe in the Trinity-I think they may possibly be able get away with on their beliefs of the Godhead which is very similar to the Trinity. As for Joseph Smith I do not know and say nothing other than I know there are prophets in the Bible to but Jesus was the last prophet in terms of Biblical revelation and then we went to the gifts of the Holy Spirit which is different. I don’t know if he had the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Seventh day Adventist...I am not sure what the issue is there. Again this Ellen White though is she using the gifts of the Holy Spirit as prophet. From my study days it does not make someone unlawful to worship on Saturday or Sunday but I do worship on Sunday and have stuck to that all my life as that is my belief.
Sarah Mullaey seems like a very good candidate to me. My point was although we should be careful of false ministers that we be careful of undermining others faith by taking apart where they worship with good reason and that means it is unbiblical. You can be a fundamentalist, protestant, conservative or more liberal if you believe in the Bible and that is fine with me to and its fine with Christ to.

Although debate is important and is true to Jesus' teaching and he wants his true church and no false ministers. God took does not whispering about people-he was not pleased when they did this about Aaron and Moses "Numbers 14:27" " How long shall I bear with this evil congreation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which the murmur against me?" When we are unjust about God's word through ministers it too can be about whispering about God.

GAFCON have split

Not everyone will agree but good for them! About time!

Thank you for the link @Troubledwords

... Please pray that we will lead our Communion in prayerful submission to the Holy Spirit as we hear the voice of Jesus in his wondrous Scriptures, to the glory of God.
Yours in Christ,
The Most Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda

🙏

I didn't think they'd do it until after their big meeting in the spring. However I guess this was too big for them to wait that long.