Podcasts about Anglican Communion

The names of most of those who will help to decide the next Archbishop of Canterbury were announced this week: five representatives of the global Anglican Communion, along with those selected from among the central members elected by the General Synod for a five-year term. Previously, the Canterbury Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) has had only one representative of the Anglican Communion, but this was increased to five after a Synod vote in 2022. On the podcast this week, the editor, Sarah Meyrick, and staff writer, Francis Martin, talk about the composition of the Canterbury CNC: who the members are and how their views might influence the kind of person who is appointed. Will church tradition be a consideration? How likely is it that CNC members will vote for a woman to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury? And how does this protracted process compare to the election of a new pope? Photo credit: Neil Turner/Lambeth Palace Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to www.churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader

With the death of Pope Francis, today's bonus episode is a reflection on his ministry, particularly as it relates to Christian unity.Fr. Matthew Olver and Amber Noel chat with Fr. Martin Browne, who serves at the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Christian unity. Martin shares his first impressions of the pope and what it was like working for him. We discuss the pope's choices and charisms, his passion for shared leadership with other Christians, his inability and refusal to fit into a political box, and the fruit this has borne in personal relationships and the global scene, as well as some of the hype, frustration, and bewilderment in the wake of Francis' leadership style and its very public preference for the poor. We'll also chat a bit about the movie, Conclave, and what it might get right and wrong about how the new pope will be selected.The Rev. Martin Browne, OSB, is a Benedictine monk of Glenstal Abbey in Ireland. He currently lives at the Primatial Abbey of Sant' Anselmo in Rome, and serves as an official in the Western Section of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. In the Dicastery he is the desk officer for relations with the Anglican Communion and the World Methodist Council. He is also responsible, in collaboration with the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, for the preparation of the prayers and reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. He serves as the Catholic Co-Secretary of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commision for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM).A brief note on when we recorded this: it was just after the pope's death and before his funeral. So take any details or speculations about the funeral proceedings with a grain of salt.TLC Podcast: Dispatch from RomeArticle: "Pope Francis and the Power of the Symbolic"Give to support this podcast

Executive Director of TLC, the Rev. Dr. Matthew S.C. Olver, interviews the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Sean Rowe.Presiding Bishop Sean has been in office now for a few months. We talk about his priorities for his term, and what slimming down some of the structures and programs of the Episcopal church might look like. We also ask what he'd say to Episcopalians who disagree about same-sex marriage, what Christian unity means, and what he most wants the Anglican Communion and the Anglican Church in North America to know about him.From TREC to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, this conversation should perk the ears of Episcopalians, but will be of interest to anyone in the Anglican family, or any Christian curious about institutional work and hope in a divided Church.More about Presiding Bishop Sean Nairobi-Cairo Proposals and IASCUFOJoin a Living Church conferenceGive to support this podcast

pWotD Episode 2876: Saint Patrick's Day Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 556,467 views on Monday, 17 March 2025 our article of the day is Saint Patrick's Day.Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit. 'the Day of the Festival of Patrick'), is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385 – c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. Christians who belong to liturgical denominations also attend church services. Historically, the Lenten restrictions on fasting and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged the holiday's tradition of revelry.Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (for provincial government employees), and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated in places with a large Irish diaspora community, such as Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival. Modern celebrations have been greatly influenced by those of the Irish diaspora, particularly those that developed in North America. However, there has been criticism of Saint Patrick's Day celebrations for having become too commercialised and for fostering negative stereotypes of the Irish people.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 11:18 UTC on Tuesday, 18 March 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Saint Patrick's Day on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Kajal.

Please join us for the second Sunday in our series, The Hope of Glory, taught by Fr. Clint Wilson. This week, Fr. Clint highlights our work with the Anglican Communion and Dr. Christopher Wells in London.

Welcome to The Little Office on Catholic Spirit Radio, where we explore insightful conversations about life in the Church today. I'm your host, Will Anselm, and we're embarking on the first episode of a three-part series examining the prophetic encyclical, Casti Canubii, written by Pope Pius XI in 1930. This pivotal document elucidates the Church's enduring teachings on matrimony, the dignity of marriage, and the roles of men and women, emphasizing the Church's unwavering stance on topics like contraception. Throughout the series, we are joined by notable voices from the Catholic X community, including Dominique and Drago Dimitrev, to delve into the profound wisdom of Casti Canubii and assess its contemporary relevance. In today's episode, we discuss the historical context that necessitated this landmark encyclical, the theological ramifications of the Anglican Communion's 1930 Lambeth Conference decision to approve artificial contraception, and the implications of divorce and modern views on marriage. We invite you to join this enlightening exploration, examining how the encyclical's discussions on conjugal love and sexual ethics continue to hold significance in today's world. Sit back and enjoy the episode, filled with thoughtful insights, unexpected surprises, and a touch of Vatican satirical news!

The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, 2025) by Dr. Martyn Percy offers a bold and unsettling truth: the British Empire and Great Britain are primarily English constructions, and the Church of England benefited from English enterprise and exploitation, serving as the spiritual arm of the imperial project. English Anglicanism has cast itself as the lead character in its own ‘serious fiction'—the main religious player in a drama of Church and Empire. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, it is now trapped by historical amnesia. Dr. Percy examines the English interests concealed in appeals to Britishness, showing how slavery, exploitation, classism and racism upheld elitist and hierarchical worldviews that bolstered both Empire and Church. By viewing the rest of the world as lesser, both institutions have declined in global standing, now reduced to minor national players on the world stage. Religious, social and political imperialism thrived on deprecating others, but those once marginalised have fought for equality and independence. Today, the worldwide Anglican Communion faces a new era of moral reckoning. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, 2025) by Dr. Martyn Percy offers a bold and unsettling truth: the British Empire and Great Britain are primarily English constructions, and the Church of England benefited from English enterprise and exploitation, serving as the spiritual arm of the imperial project. English Anglicanism has cast itself as the lead character in its own ‘serious fiction'—the main religious player in a drama of Church and Empire. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, it is now trapped by historical amnesia. Dr. Percy examines the English interests concealed in appeals to Britishness, showing how slavery, exploitation, classism and racism upheld elitist and hierarchical worldviews that bolstered both Empire and Church. By viewing the rest of the world as lesser, both institutions have declined in global standing, now reduced to minor national players on the world stage. Religious, social and political imperialism thrived on deprecating others, but those once marginalised have fought for equality and independence. Today, the worldwide Anglican Communion faces a new era of moral reckoning. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Bishop Darryl and Deacon Adam have a discussion about different kinds of Anglican(ism)'s. This is a topic related to listener's questions. . Questions may be sent to darryl@ascensionwv.org

The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, 2025) by Dr. Martyn Percy offers a bold and unsettling truth: the British Empire and Great Britain are primarily English constructions, and the Church of England benefited from English enterprise and exploitation, serving as the spiritual arm of the imperial project. English Anglicanism has cast itself as the lead character in its own ‘serious fiction'—the main religious player in a drama of Church and Empire. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, it is now trapped by historical amnesia. Dr. Percy examines the English interests concealed in appeals to Britishness, showing how slavery, exploitation, classism and racism upheld elitist and hierarchical worldviews that bolstered both Empire and Church. By viewing the rest of the world as lesser, both institutions have declined in global standing, now reduced to minor national players on the world stage. Religious, social and political imperialism thrived on deprecating others, but those once marginalised have fought for equality and independence. Today, the worldwide Anglican Communion faces a new era of moral reckoning. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, 2025) by Dr. Martyn Percy offers a bold and unsettling truth: the British Empire and Great Britain are primarily English constructions, and the Church of England benefited from English enterprise and exploitation, serving as the spiritual arm of the imperial project. English Anglicanism has cast itself as the lead character in its own ‘serious fiction'—the main religious player in a drama of Church and Empire. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, it is now trapped by historical amnesia. Dr. Percy examines the English interests concealed in appeals to Britishness, showing how slavery, exploitation, classism and racism upheld elitist and hierarchical worldviews that bolstered both Empire and Church. By viewing the rest of the world as lesser, both institutions have declined in global standing, now reduced to minor national players on the world stage. Religious, social and political imperialism thrived on deprecating others, but those once marginalised have fought for equality and independence. Today, the worldwide Anglican Communion faces a new era of moral reckoning. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, 2025) by Dr. Martyn Percy offers a bold and unsettling truth: the British Empire and Great Britain are primarily English constructions, and the Church of England benefited from English enterprise and exploitation, serving as the spiritual arm of the imperial project. English Anglicanism has cast itself as the lead character in its own ‘serious fiction'—the main religious player in a drama of Church and Empire. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, it is now trapped by historical amnesia. Dr. Percy examines the English interests concealed in appeals to Britishness, showing how slavery, exploitation, classism and racism upheld elitist and hierarchical worldviews that bolstered both Empire and Church. By viewing the rest of the world as lesser, both institutions have declined in global standing, now reduced to minor national players on the world stage. Religious, social and political imperialism thrived on deprecating others, but those once marginalised have fought for equality and independence. Today, the worldwide Anglican Communion faces a new era of moral reckoning. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, 2025) by Dr. Martyn Percy offers a bold and unsettling truth: the British Empire and Great Britain are primarily English constructions, and the Church of England benefited from English enterprise and exploitation, serving as the spiritual arm of the imperial project. English Anglicanism has cast itself as the lead character in its own ‘serious fiction'—the main religious player in a drama of Church and Empire. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, it is now trapped by historical amnesia. Dr. Percy examines the English interests concealed in appeals to Britishness, showing how slavery, exploitation, classism and racism upheld elitist and hierarchical worldviews that bolstered both Empire and Church. By viewing the rest of the world as lesser, both institutions have declined in global standing, now reduced to minor national players on the world stage. Religious, social and political imperialism thrived on deprecating others, but those once marginalised have fought for equality and independence. Today, the worldwide Anglican Communion faces a new era of moral reckoning. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, 2025) by Dr. Martyn Percy offers a bold and unsettling truth: the British Empire and Great Britain are primarily English constructions, and the Church of England benefited from English enterprise and exploitation, serving as the spiritual arm of the imperial project. English Anglicanism has cast itself as the lead character in its own ‘serious fiction'—the main religious player in a drama of Church and Empire. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, it is now trapped by historical amnesia. Dr. Percy examines the English interests concealed in appeals to Britishness, showing how slavery, exploitation, classism and racism upheld elitist and hierarchical worldviews that bolstered both Empire and Church. By viewing the rest of the world as lesser, both institutions have declined in global standing, now reduced to minor national players on the world stage. Religious, social and political imperialism thrived on deprecating others, but those once marginalised have fought for equality and independence. Today, the worldwide Anglican Communion faces a new era of moral reckoning. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

The Crisis of Colonial Anglicanism: Empire, Slavery and Revolt in the Church of England (Hurst, 2025) by Dr. Martyn Percy offers a bold and unsettling truth: the British Empire and Great Britain are primarily English constructions, and the Church of England benefited from English enterprise and exploitation, serving as the spiritual arm of the imperial project. English Anglicanism has cast itself as the lead character in its own ‘serious fiction'—the main religious player in a drama of Church and Empire. Yet, in collusion with colonialism, it is now trapped by historical amnesia. Dr. Percy examines the English interests concealed in appeals to Britishness, showing how slavery, exploitation, classism and racism upheld elitist and hierarchical worldviews that bolstered both Empire and Church. By viewing the rest of the world as lesser, both institutions have declined in global standing, now reduced to minor national players on the world stage. Religious, social and political imperialism thrived on deprecating others, but those once marginalised have fought for equality and independence. Today, the worldwide Anglican Communion faces a new era of moral reckoning. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

pWotD Episode 2845: Valentine's Day Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 505,146 views on Friday, 14 February 2025 our article of the day is Valentine's Day.Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.There are a number of martyrdom stories associated with various Saint Valentines connected to February 14, including an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century. According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. Numerous later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love: tradition maintains that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor; an 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer's daughter a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell before his execution.The 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary recorded the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries, when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the "lovebirds" of early spring. In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion for couples to express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. In the 19th century, handmade cards gave way to mass-produced greetings. In Italy, Saint Valentine's keys are given to lovers "as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver's heart", as well as to children to ward off epilepsy (called Saint Valentine's Malady).It is a day of commemoration in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church. Many parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrate Saint Valentine's Day on July 6 in honor of Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and on July 30 in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni).This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:06 UTC on Saturday, 15 February 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Valentine's Day on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Russell.

Dinner with the Archbishop of CanterburyA Series in 17 parts, By Blacksheep. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. On Monday afternoon, a letter arrived at the vicarage that took Reverend Morris by surprise."I don't believe this!" He gasped, reading the letter out loud to Jenna. "It's from Bishop George. He says that Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury is planning to visit next week.""Whoa, " Jenna spluttered."Yup. You and I have been invited to dine at Bishop George's place. Apparently the Archbishop is visiting several dioceses, and parish churches, and for some bizarre reason, humble little St. Michael's church has caught his eye! Bishop George states that I'll be receiving a letter from the Archbishop over the next few days, outlining the reason for his visit.""Wow, what a tremendous honor for you, Simon!" Jenna smiled, flinging her arms around him. "Well you're the best vicar ever, so he obviously wants to give you some sort of award!""Hmm, maybe?" Reverend Morris re-read the letter. "This is totally unexpected, and a bit bizarre. I can't get my head round it.""I remember seeing Justin Welby give that speech when we were watching the Queen's funeral." Jenna said. "And to think, we're going to get to meet him! This is really exciting!""I wish I shared your optimism my love, but I can't help but thinking that there's a catch."A few days later, Reverend Morris' fears were confirmed when a second letter arrived."I don't believe this!" The vicar lamented as he read the Archbishop's letter. "It has come to the Archbishop's attention that there is a big plaque in St. Michael's church that commemorates a local man called Henry Barrington-Smythe, who died in 1695 and worshipped at the church. According to the covert research conducted by the Archbishop, Henry once owned a horse that he sold to someone whose second cousin twice removed, was involved in the slave trade.""I can see how that could be seen as quite triggering in this day and age," Jenna said. "But I'm sure the horse wasn't bothered."Reverend Morris slapped his forehead. "Oh this is a nightmare. The Archbishop recommends that the plaque is removed. It's not that simple though. It's actually carved into the wall, near the organ pipes. To remove it, would cause terrible damage to the wall! Our little church is so old, and we've worked so hard to fundraise to repair the roof."Jenna narrowed her eyes, seeing how distressed her husband was. This situation needed rectifying immediately."Simon, try not to worry. When we dine at Bishop George's place, you will have the chance to put your point across to the Archbishop. Has he made this information about the plaque public?""No," Reverend Morris replied. "To be honest, I know hardly anything about this Henry Barrington-Smythe chap. I Googled him once, and information was really scarce. Nothing on Wikipedia. A few obscure paragraphs on the parish register. He was vicar here during the 1670s and left a lot of money to the church in his will."Jenna smiled. "Oh good. So what we have here is a controlled situation.""For now. I expect he'll tweet all about it after the meeting."We'll see about that, Jenna thought to herself.The day of the meeting arrived. Reverend Morris anxiously fiddled with his clerical collar and kept checking his watch. Nearly time to set off to Bishop George's house.Presently, Jenna came breezing into the sitting room, where her husband stood, gazing out of the window at the front garden beyond. In a pale pink gown, pearl cross earrings, and her red hair swept back, she looked more suited to a red carpet event in Hollywood than a sober meal with the clergy."Do I look alright?" She asked, knowing full well what Reverend Morris' response would be."Oh my God, wow, you look absolutely beautiful as always, Jenna. Right well, we'd better get going.""Try not to worry, Simon." She said, kissing him. "It might not be as bad as it seems."He sighed. "St. Michael's church means so much to me. I treasure its heritage. You and I, we've both worked so hard to build up its congregation, raise money to restore the roof, the stained glass windows and to fix the dry rot in the vestry.""And we shall continue to treasure it. Don't you worry. Things might turn out alright. I'm sure an acceptable compromise can be reached.""I hope so."They headed to the car. A plan was forming in Jenna's mind. Justin Welby isn't the best-looking of men, she thought. Mind you, I don't plan on looking at his face,Bishop George was stood at the door of his home when Jenna and Reverend Morris arrived."Great to see you both!" He smiled. "Can't say I'm happy at what the Big Boss is proposing here.""You and me both, George," Simon sighed. Jenna winked at the bishop."Right, do go in, make yourself comfortable, there are refreshments waiting. Dinner shall be served at six. Bishop Finch was supposed to be here too, you remember him? Alas, he cried off. Dishonest and he drinks. Good bishops are so hard to find these days, eh?" Bishop George ushered him in. As Jenna walked past, he winked back at her."I've got your red lace panties on tonight," he whispered."A great choice!" Jenna whispered back.Reverend Morris sipped a sherry as he nervously awaited the Archbishop's arrival. Five minutes later, there was the sound of a car door being slammed shut, and Bishop George could be heard welcoming someone."He's coming," Reverend Morris gulped. "Why do I feel like a little kid about to be sent to detention?""God is with us," Jenna replied, patting his thigh.Bishop George entered the room. "It is a great pleasure to welcome our Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to dine with us this evening. Jenna and her husband stood up."Oh good, he's come alone," Jenna smiled, fearing that his wife might have accompanied him. He was clad in a grey jacket, with black shirt, black trousers, a clerical collar and a large cross round his neck.Everyone shook hands. "Ah, Reverend Morris," the Archbishop began. "The vicar of St. Michael's. Nice to meet you at last.""Thank you, Your Grace. And this is Jenna, my wife."Jenna was quick to offer her hand. "I've wanted to meet you for such a long time, Your Grace. You're sitting next to me at the table!"The vicar's young and stunning wife had certainly caused the Archbishop to raise an eyebrow. "Am I? Well lucky old me. I am very honored!" Privately, he was astonished that the mild-mannered vicar of St. Michael's had managed to pull such a gorgeous woman. He was normally immune to such things, but found himself rather shamefully gawping at Jenna's cleavage."What a mercy she wasn't at the Queen's funeral," he said to himself. "If she'd been sat in the crowd, I'd have struggled to concentrate."The pre-dinner conversation between Reverend Morris, Bishop George and the Archbishop remained cordial, if not a bit overly formal. While the three men spoke, Jenna was a constant figure at the Archbishop's side; laughing at his unfunny jokes, pretending to enjoy his boring stories of ministry in Africa, inquiring about Westminster Abbey, and generally hanging on his every word like an infatuated student with her tutor.Bishop George suggested his guests seat themselves at the table in preparation for the first course. The Archbishop took his seat. On his right was Jenna, and Reverend Morris was opposite him."Bishop George is such a good cook, Reverend Morris prattled nervously. "I've dined here before and his roast dinners are something to marvel at. I, I enjoy cooking too."Sensing her husband's discomfort, Jenna cut in. "He's a much better cook than I am. Most things I cook aren't suitable for human consumption."The Archbishop chuckled. "Let us say a prayer before we dine."The first course passed without incident, but Jenna was hungry for something else. The Archbishop had launched into a lengthy monologue about hurtful plaques and statues, and Jenna sensed it was time to act. Bishop George was in the kitchen and Reverend Morris excused himself as he needed to go to the bathroom. She was alone with the leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Now was the time for the vixen to catch her prey."You've done so many impressive things during your tenure, Your Grace. Words cannot explain how much I admire you," she continued, flattering him off the scale.""Why thank you Jenna. "I appreciate your kind words!"Jenna continued. "Your Grace, I ask you as a good Christian, would you not consider dropping this little investigation into this pesky old plaque in my husband's church? Your letter has caused him a great deal of worry, you have no idea how much, "The Archbishop adjusted his glasses. "Jenna, I have no wish to cause any distress to your husband. I am simply trying to ensure that our C of E churches are inclusive to all, and devoid of harmful imagery."He had been quietly sipping his soup. Suddenly, a strange sensation made him almost drop his spoon. Something was moving up his right leg and pushing his legs apart, the mystery thing continued to rise higher, now it was nudging his inner thigh, he realized it was Jenna's hand."Are you enjoying your soup?""Um, Jenna, what are you doing?""As I was saying, your letter has stressed my husband out so much, that he and I have been unable to make love all week. Can you imagine how upsetting that has been?" Jenna continued, furtively sliding her hand across his thigh and squeezing gently.The Archbishop glanced down and then at her. "Um, well I'm very sorry to hear that."She smiled back and began rubbing his inner thigh very gently. He cleared his throat and blushed. She said nothing, but continued gently rubbing, and moving closer to that treasure she wanted to touch most of all."Do you realize what you're doing? I am a married man!" He whispered."I do, but you pride yourself on having a liberal outlook, yes? Anyways, there is a holy place I would very much like to explore, if I may be permitted to do so, if I may be so bold as to request permission from Your Grace, ""You are, a rather naughty vicar's wife," he whispered back, feeling his cheeks flushing."You haven't granted permission, Your Grace."The Archbishop took a deep breath. Why was he giving in to temptation so easily? If he refused, would she kick up a fuss? Bishop George and the vicar could return at any moment."Mrs. Morris, you may do as you wish. I am yours to explore, "This was all the permission she required. Before the Archbishop could complete his sentence, Jenna reached across the startled man's lap and quickly unzipped his trousers. He could not believe the dexterity and speed at which his beautiful assailant nimbly accomplished the task. He shot an astonished wide-eyed glance at the temptress seated next to him. Guessing his thoughts, Jenna flashed a mischievous smile and said, "Your Grace. I heard that there's a name for a bishop's staff. It's called a crosier. Am I right?""Er, yes. That's right."Jenna swiftly freed the Archbishop's staff from his white boxer shorts. He may not have been the most handsome of men, but he had a gorgeous cock. It wasn't a monstrous length like Father Aiden's or thick like Gordon's, but it was impressive all the same. Definitely holy!The Archbishop's back stiffened and he caught his breath as he felt Jenna's soft, warm fingers wrap around his engorged fuck pole. The touch from this ravishing young beauty in the most sensual of spots sent chills throughout his body. He suppressed a gentle moan in the back of this throat as Jenna began to slowly run her hand up and down the shaft.She knew to vary the speed of her up and down motion, and could sense when the Archbishop was reaching peak ecstasy. Before he could achieve sexual release, Jenna slowed her pace or altered the movement in order to delay gratification. She wanted the Most Reverend's pleasure to extend for as long as possible. Jenna explored every feature along the length of her newest conquest's fleshy sceptre. Her delicate fingers rippled over the veiny surface, massaged the soft foreskin, and gently squeezed the head. When she reached the shaft's base, the eager filly worked her slender digits along the Archbishop's inner thigh and cupped his balls, juggling them with her fingertips."Your Grace, I beg of you. I want to go further and worship properly. However I cannot do this unless you agree to scrap your suggestion that St. Michael's remove its plaque to Henry Barrington-Smythe. Let him and his horse rest in peace, yes? Neither of them kept slaves. I'm sure Henry sold his horse in good faith and had no idea what links the buyer had. A few years ago I gave my old smartphone to a woman at work who turned out to be a massive fan of Cliff Richard. Some might say that was a crime against humanity."The Archbishop was desperate to come. Sweat had broken out on his forehead and his glasses were steaming up. "Okay, you have my word," he sighed. "I'll scrap the whole thing!""Thankyou, .dear Justin!" She said, using his Christian name for the first time. Carefully, Jenna removed one of her earrings. The Archbishop had to stifle a gasp as she slid out of her chair and under the table. "God," he murmured, almost incredulous at her conviction and boldness. Then with almost no hesitation, she dropped her head and closed her mouth around his throbbing shaft.The Most Reverend's breathing started to become more rapid and shallow, an indication Jenna recognized as signaling her oral exertions would soon be ending. Wanting to provide the head of the church with the greatest amount of pleasure possible, Jenna's grand finale was to deep throat his cock and vigorously jerk up and down on it. This motion had the desired effect within moments, as a muffled groan escaped the Archbishop's mouth. Jenna felt the holy rod in her mouth recoil as it shot a mighty stream of pearl-colored ejaculate down her throat. This first round was quickly followed by a second and then a third as the Most Reverend's balls unloaded their thick, milky contents. Jenna swallowed and savored every drop. It is a truth not universally acknowledged, that the taste of a man, especially a man of God, is the finest taste in the world, she thought. A final spurt missed its target and splashed down her cleavage.Only after the last discharge was launched and the Archbishop leaned back in his chair exhausted and sweaty, did Jenna finally withdraw.The Archbishop jolted in panic as Bishop George and Reverend Morris returned to the dining room. He quickly poured himself a glass of water and swallowed it. He wondered how to warn Jenna, but she'd already sensed it was time to return to her seat."I'm sorry I was so long," Reverend Morris mumbled. "Call of nature and all that.""And silly me, I forgot to turn the oven up, but worry not, the roast beef is nearly ready!" Bishop George replied."Understood," panted the Archbishop, wiping his glasses.Bishop George tilted his head at his Jenna's empty chair, and the movement under the table. He raised the tablecloth."Oh I say, Jenna. Have you lost something?""Just my pearl earring," she calmly replied. "But fortunately, I have now found it."Bishop George nodded and gave a wry smile. "So I see. And you seem to have gained a pearl necklace too!"A Ghost Appears at the Methodist Church"What are your thoughts on ghosts, Jen?" Reverend Morris said as he climbed into bed.Jenna reclined next to her husband, and ran a finger through his chest hair. "Hmm, never given them much thought. I keep an open mind. I've never seen one myself, but I'd like to! I wouldn't be scared. Just really fascinated.""I might get to see one tomorrow. I've just had a rather desperate email from Reverend Marsha Ewing over at the Oakwood Road Methodist Church. She's at her wits end. Says her church has been haunted by a persistent ghost ever since Halloween. She's tried walking around splashing holy water on the walls, saying a prayer of deliverance, but to no avail. The church has had to remain closed all week.""Whoa, that ghost must really like the Methodist church then!" Jenna said. "I haven't been in there since I was a little girl. My gran is a Methodist. I remember going to a few services. I remember it being light and airy inside, with the white balcony and pale yellow walls.""Well it's not just any old ghost that's taken up residence there. Reverend Ewing is adamant says that it's the ghost of John Wesley.""What, the John Wesley? The founder of Methodism?" Jenna blinked."Yes. That's the bit I find really hard to believe. Not saying that Reverend Ewing is lying of course. I just can't understand why John Wesley of all people, would choose to return to this earthly realm. I mean, he was a true servant of God, a good man, who preached to the masses and led a long, pious life. Why would his soul suddenly become restless and earthbound?"Jenna was fascinated. "Maybe he didn't choose to return. Maybe someone or something lured him back, and he's got trapped somehow? Don't they say on All Hallow's Eve, the barrier between the dead and the living is broken and the dead can pop back for a visit? Or something?""Good theory!" Reverend Morris replied. "Wesley did visit the site where the Oakwood church now stands. The church wasn't built until Victorian times, but he preached out in the open in the 1770s. The very spot where he stood is marked by a bronze statue of him. Anyways, Reverend Morris has decided to ask other members of the clergy for help. She's asked me to go along to the church tomorrow. Hopefully two vicars are better than one, and we can help John to return to the other side, so to speak.""Shouldn't Father Aiden be called along too? Like in the Exorcist?"Reverend Morris laughed. "I once watched that movie with some mates at university. I really regret eating at the time, it put me off soup for weeks. Bit different though. That was movie about demonic possession, not a haunting."Jenna thought for a while. "If you ask me, having John Wesley actually appear could be a fantastic tourism opportunity for the church. Think of the visitors it could attract. Maybe he just wanted to see one of his old worship spots again. I wish he could've brought his brother Charles along. You know how much I'm a fan of him. Did I ever tell you I once had an erotic dream about him?""No? Tell me more!""I was working as a tavern wench, when Charles arrived, weary after a long journey from Bristol. I led him to a bedchamber. He told me he was travelling to London, to visit his brother, John."Jenna rolled over and kissed him. The Reverend's tongue darted into her mouth, fondling hers. Her left arm stretched across his back with her hand resting between his shoulders. With her right hand, she reached down the front of his boxer shorts, slowly tracing up and down the length of his engorged cock with her palm."And, I helped Charles overcome his writer's block, so he was able to write Hark the Herald Angels Sing."She pulled down his boxers and rolled her tongue around the head of her husband's cock, trying to get every drop of precum."Oh, I'll never be able to think of that carol in the same way again!"Next morning, Reverend Morris headed to Oakwood Road Methodist Church. It was a small, solidly-built structure, sandwiched between a row of terraced houses, their brickwork still smoke-blackened from the days of the Industrial Revolution."This part of town never seems to change," Reverend Morris said to himself, as he parked the car. "They call it the Victorian Quarter."The vicar of Oakwood Road Methodist Church was Reverend Marsha Ewing, a jolly, middle-aged black woman. Originally from South Carolina, she'd emigrated nearly ten years ago, and put her heart and soul into running the church. Even the dismal British weather couldn't dampen her spirits. Now for the first time, she looked a little stressed."Thanks for coming, Simon," she said as he entered the church."Not at all," he replied. "Always happy to assist a fellow person of the cloth. A most unusual situation this. I've never been called upon to be a "deliverance minister" before. First time for everything I guess!""I've been going out of my mind with this. Ol' Mr. Wesley ain't for staying' quiet! I've tried everything to placate the guy but nothing works. I've tried prayer, singing hymns, talking to him. Went through the whole Ghostbusting routine. I asked Róisín, the vicar from the Living Earth Free Church to call round yesterday. She's only been in the role a few weeks, but very willing to help. We both prayed together, hoping John would find peace. But it didn't work and this morning, John appeared again, in the vestry. Took me by surprise. Started blowing papers around. And the church goes so darn cold when he appears. Actually saw him full-length today. I asked him directly, why is he so upset? He said he couldn't say why, but there's only one person who can help him. I pressed him further. He just said the person he needs lives in this town. Wouldn't say if they're male or female.""Blimey," Reverend Morris said, rubbing his chin. "That's a bit vague. It could be anyone. The population of this town is around 100,000 people! How are we ever going to find out who the right person is?""One of the wardens suggested I post something on the church's Facebook page, but I'd rather keep it all as quiet as possible. We've already had folks making hoax phone calls and posting memes and stuff on Twitter. It ain't funny. Most of my congregation are seniors. They don't want any fuss. Some of them think I'm making the whole thing up, as a sort of viral marketing campaign to increase attendance. Some of the comments online have been nasty."Reverend Morris sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that. Well, let's pray together and see if we can help John. Not sure if I'm the one he seeks, but there's only one way to find out!""Mm, hmm." Reverend Ewing nodded. "John Wesley is very dear to all of us here. He stood in the very spot where that statue is." She pointed to the bronze statue in the corner. "I don't want folks thinking I'm mocking his memory or anything. Must say I haven't experienced anything like this since the Orangeburg Incident of 1999.""The what?""Oh it was when I was back in the States. So, on the night of New Year's Eve 1999, Abraham Lincoln suddenly appeared in a branch of Walgreens. Many blamed it on drug-induced paranoia brought about by the hype of the coming Millennium.""Fascinating stuff," Reverend Morris replied. He walked over to the Wesley statue. On a table next to it, were three large, newly-lit candles."Tell me, does he look exactly like his portrait?""Oh yes. Long white hair. Dressed all in black and with preaching bands. He's a short stack too. Around five foot four? Slightly built. He looks so miserable though, like he needs a hug or something.""The state of the world right now, I think we all need a hug," Reverend Morris said. "Okay, well I'll try my best. If I fail, I'll have to give Father Aiden from St. Gregory's a call. Let's start by saying the Lord's Prayer."The flames on the candles, which had been steady, flared and writhed, drawn upward by a draft that the two of them couldn't feel. Salamanders of yellow light wriggled across the previously dark side of Reverend Ewing's face. When she looked at the candles, her eyes were as yellow as moons low on the horizon."He's coming."Quickly the candle flames subsided. The church chandeliers dimmed and brightened, dimmed and brightened, like the flickering lights in the classic old movie Gaslight. Reverend Morris felt a growing sense of fear. The temperature in the church had plummeted.He tried talking to the spirit directly. "The Lord be with you. Lift up your heart, John. I welcome to you to this place of worship. My name is Reverend Simon Morris and I, "From behind him came not a hand and not, as he might have expected, a blast of heat, but a hissing cold that first prickled the nape of his neck and then seemed to drill into the summit of his spine, through the base of his skull.Throughout all this, Reverend Ewing remained calm. "Simon," she whispered. "He's behind you."He didn't want to turn round, afraid of coming face to face with some eldritch abomination, but he summoned his courage. There, stood right behind him, as plain as day, was John Wesley himself. At first glance, he resembled any other living person, save for a faint aura of silver light surrounding him."Um, greetings to you, Mr. Wesley." The vicar stammered. He wondered why he was so afraid. Of all the dead persons one could meet, John Wesley was surely one of the nicest, most inoffensive ones.John's face relaxed into a smile. He put his hands together and bowed. "I thank you most sincerely. Soon, I shall experience salvation, for you are known to this person whom I seek. I hope you can bring her to me soon. I bid you a good day, "He bowed and vanished. Suddenly, in the space of thirty seconds, it was light and bright in the church. The lights stopped flickering and the gloom lifted. Outside, the clouds had rolled back from the sun. The building was suddenly and unexplainably warm too, as if the temperature had risen by about five degrees.Reverend Morris dared to exhale. "Oh! Well, that, wasn't too nerve-racking! He's a very polite ghost isn't he?""Simon, did you hear what he said? He said her. A female relative or friend of yours is the person he's seeking!""Wonder who it could be? Not my mum, surely. Could be Aunt Susan? I'm not seeing the connection here.""What about your wife?" Reverend Ewing suggested.He blinked. "Jenna? Oh of course! it must be her! Her grandma is a Methodist! That must be why John wants to see her!"To be continued.By Blacksheep, for Literotica.

Agnes of Rome is a virgin martyr, venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Anglican Communion and Lutheran Churches.

Following the enforced resignation of Justice Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury, numerous assessments have been made about his role in the post. Today, Gavin Ashenden is joined by an authoritative Anglican commentator from America, Canon George Conger. George is both an Episcopalian clergyman and a journalist. He is the author some 6,000 articles . His work has appeared in the Guardian, the Times, the Telegraph and the Washington Post. He was senior corespondent for the Church of England Newspaper for twenty years and a correspondent for the Jerusalem Post for nearly as long. He runs one of the most famous websites in the Anglican world,Anglican Ink, and has known personally most of the English Archbishops as well a the Primates of the Anglican Communion. Famous for his shrewd and perceptive assessments, he joins Merely Catholic today to make an assessment of Welby's tenure. Trigger warning; Not for the delicate.

What does it mean to be faithful and creative in a world shaped by crisis? In this episode of the Future Christian Podcast, Martha Tatarnic welcomes the Reverend Dr. Jesse Zink, an Anglican priest, theologian, and author. Dr. Zink discusses his latest book, Faithful, Creative, Hopeful: 15 Theses for Christians in a Crisis-Shaped World, exploring how the church can navigate and respond to global and local crises with faith, creativity, and resilience. The conversation delves into themes of Christian formation, the impact of economic and social systems on faith communities, and the power of apocalyptic clarity to unveil and resist the dehumanizing forces at work in the world. Dr. Zink shares insights on finding hope amidst challenges, fostering intercultural relationships, and embracing the church's practices—like the Eucharist—as acts of resistance and renewal.   The Rev. Dr. Jesse Zink is an Anglican priest and also serves as canon theologian in the Diocese of Montreal. Born in Vancouver and raised in the United States, Jesse has also served in ministry in South Africa and England before his arrival in Montreal. Since 2017 Jesse, has been Principal of Montreal Diocesan Theological College, or, as it is widely known, “Dio.” Dio is an ecumenical theological college serving the Anglican and United Churches of Canada and is affiliated with McGill University. His latest book, published in fall 2024, is Faithful, Creative, Hopeful: Fifteen Theses for Christians in a Crisis-Shaped World. He is the author of four other books about Christian theology, Christian mission, and Christianity in the non-western world, including Backpacking through the Anglican Communion (2014) and Christianity and Catastrophe in South Sudan: Civil War, Migration, and the Rise of Dinka Anglicanism (2018).   Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.  Supporting Sponsors: Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!   Future Christian Team: Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer Dennis Sanders – Producer Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

“The Inbreaking of the Reign of God: Reflections on the History of the Festal Service of Lessons and Carols and its Various Lyrical Theologies” part 3Dr. David S. Pacini, Professor Emeritus of Historical and Philosophical Theology at the Candler School of Theology, presents a three part series on the history of the Festal Service of Lessons and Carols.The service is among the best-beloved services of the church year. Millions of people beyond the Anglican Communion listen to its annual worldwide broadcast from Kings College, Cambridge. Elegant in its simplicity, the service attests to the love of God around which its sequence of narratives and carols revolve.Notwithstanding the service's popularity, many remain unaware of its history, numerous versions, and differing lyrical theological emphases.In this series, we ask what the "true meaning" of the 1918 Kings College, Cambridge service and the 1880 Truro Cathedral service is. We will continually probe the contours of "true meaning" and conclude with reflections on its significance for the 2024 iteration of the Cathedral of St. Philip's Festal Service of Lessons and Carols.

Dinner with the Archbishop of Canterbury By Blacksheep. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. On Monday afternoon, a letter arrived at the vicarage that took Reverend Morris by surprise. "I don't believe this!" He gasped, reading the letter out loud to Jenna. "It's from Bishop George. He says that Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury is planning to visit next week." "Whoa, " Jenna spluttered. "Yup. You and I have been invited to dine at Bishop George's place. Apparently the Archbishop is visiting several dioceses, and parish churches, and for some bizarre reason, humble little St. Michael's church has caught his eye! Bishop George states that I'll be receiving a letter from the Archbishop over the next few days, outlining the reason for his visit.""Wow, what a tremendous honor for you, Simon!" Jenna smiled, flinging her arms around him. "Well you're the best vicar ever, so he obviously wants to give you some sort of award!" "Hmm, maybe?" Reverend Morris re-read the letter. "This is totally unexpected, and a bit bizarre. I can't get my head round it." "I remember seeing Justin Welby give that speech when we were watching the Queen's funeral." Jenna said. "And to think, we're going to get to meet him! This is really exciting!" "I wish I shared your optimism my love, but I can't help but thinking that there's a catch." A few days later, Reverend Morris' fears were confirmed when a second letter arrived. "I don't believe this!" The vicar lamented as he read the Archbishop's letter. "It has come to the Archbishop's attention that there is a big plaque in St. Michael's church that commemorates a local man called Henry Barrington-Smythe, who died in 1695 and worshipped at the church. According to the covert research conducted by the Archbishop, Henry once owned a horse that he sold to someone whose second cousin twice removed, was involved in the slave trade." "I can see how that could be seen as quite triggering in this day and age," Jenna said. "But I'm sure the horse wasn't bothered." Reverend Morris slapped his forehead. "Oh this is a nightmare. The Archbishop recommends that the plaque is removed. It's not that simple though. It's actually carved into the wall, near the organ pipes. To remove it, would cause terrible damage to the wall! Our little church is so old, and we've worked so hard to fundraise to repair the roof." Jenna narrowed her eyes, seeing how distressed her husband was. This situation needed rectifying immediately. "Simon, try not to worry. When we dine at Bishop George's place, you will have the chance to put your point across to the Archbishop. Has he made this information about the plaque public?" "No," Reverend Morris replied. "To be honest, I know hardly anything about this Henry Barrington-Smythe chap. I Googled him once, and information was really scarce. Nothing on Wikipedia. A few obscure paragraphs on the parish register. He was vicar here during the 1670s and left a lot of money to the church in his will." Jenna smiled. "Oh good. So what we have here is a controlled situation." "For now. I expect he'll tweet all about it after the meeting." We'll see about that, Jenna thought to herself. The day of the meeting arrived. Reverend Morris anxiously fiddled with his clerical collar and kept checking his watch. Nearly time to set off to Bishop George's house. Presently, Jenna came breezing into the sitting room, where her husband stood, gazing out of the window at the front garden beyond. In a pale pink gown, pearl cross earrings, and her red hair swept back, she looked more suited to a red carpet event in Hollywood than a sober meal with the clergy. "Do I look alright?" She asked, knowing full well what Reverend Morris' response would be. "Oh my God, wow, you look absolutely beautiful as always, Jenna. Right well, we'd better get going." "Try not to worry, Simon." She said, kissing him. "It might not be as bad as it seems." He sighed. "St. Michael's church means so much to me. I treasure its heritage. You and I, we've both worked so hard to build up its congregation, raise money to restore the roof, the stained glass windows and to fix the dry rot in the vestry." "And we shall continue to treasure it. Don't you worry. Things might turn out alright. I'm sure an acceptable compromise can be reached." "I hope so." They headed to the car. A plan was forming in Jenna's mind. Justin Welby isn't the best-looking of men, she thought. Mind you, I don't plan on looking at his face, Bishop George was stood at the door of his home when Jenna and Reverend Morris arrived. "Great to see you both!" He smiled. "Can't say I'm happy at what the Big Boss is proposing here." "You and me both, George," Simon sighed. Jenna winked at the bishop. "Right, do go in, make yourself comfortable, there are refreshments waiting. Dinner shall be served at six. Bishop Finch was supposed to be here too, you remember him? Alas, he cried off. Dishonest and he drinks. Good bishops are so hard to find these days, eh?" Bishop George ushered him in. As Jenna walked past, he winked back at her. "I've got your red lace panties on tonight," he whispered. "A great choice!" Jenna whispered back. Reverend Morris sipped a sherry as he nervously awaited the Archbishop's arrival. Five minutes later, there was the sound of a car door being slammed shut, and Bishop George could be heard welcoming someone. "He's coming," Reverend Morris gulped. "Why do I feel like a little kid about to be sent to detention?" "God is with us," Jenna replied, patting his thigh. Bishop George entered the room. "It is a great pleasure to welcome our Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to dine with us this evening. Jenna and her husband stood up. "Oh good, he's come alone," Jenna smiled, fearing that his wife might have accompanied him. He was clad in a grey jacket, with black shirt, black trousers, a clerical collar and a large cross round his neck. Everyone shook hands. "Ah, Reverend Morris," the Archbishop began. "The vicar of St. Michael's. Nice to meet you at last." "Thank you, Your Grace. And this is Jenna, my wife." Jenna was quick to offer her hand. "I've wanted to meet you for such a long time, Your Grace. You're sitting next to me at the table!" The vicar's young and stunning wife had certainly caused the Archbishop to raise an eyebrow. "Am I? Well lucky old me. I am very honored!" Privately, he was astonished that the mild-mannered vicar of St. Michael's had managed to pull such a gorgeous woman. He was normally immune to such things, but found himself rather shamefully gawping at Jenna's cleavage. "What a mercy she wasn't at the Queen's funeral," he said to himself. "If she'd been sat in the crowd, I'd have struggled to concentrate." The pre-dinner conversation between Reverend Morris, Bishop George and the Archbishop remained cordial, if not a bit overly formal. While the three men spoke, Jenna was a constant figure at the Archbishop's side; laughing at his unfunny jokes, pretending to enjoy his boring stories of ministry in Africa, inquiring about Westminster Abbey, and generally hanging on his every word like an infatuated student with her tutor. Bishop George suggested his guests seat themselves at the table in preparation for the first course. The Archbishop took his seat. On his right was Jenna, and Reverend Morris was opposite him. "Bishop George is such a good cook, Reverend Morris prattled nervously. "I've dined here before and his roast dinners are something to marvel at. I, I enjoy cooking too." Sensing her husband's discomfort, Jenna cut in. "He's a much better cook than I am. Most things I cook aren't suitable for human consumption." The Archbishop chuckled. "Let us say a prayer before we dine." The first course passed without incident, but Jenna was hungry for something else. The Archbishop had launched into a lengthy monologue about hurtful plaques and statues, and Jenna sensed it was time to act. Bishop George was in the kitchen and Reverend Morris excused himself as he needed to go to the bathroom. She was alone with the leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Now was the time for the vixen to catch her prey. "You've done so many impressive things during your tenure, Your Grace. Words cannot explain how much I admire you," she continued, flattering him off the scale." "Why thank you Jenna. "I appreciate your kind words!" Jenna continued. "Your Grace, I ask you as a good Christian, would you not consider dropping this little investigation into this pesky old plaque in my husband's church? Your letter has caused him a great deal of worry, you have no idea how much, " The Archbishop adjusted his glasses. "Jenna, I have no wish to cause any distress to your husband. I am simply trying to ensure that our C of E churches are inclusive to all, and devoid of harmful imagery." He had been quietly sipping his soup. Suddenly, a strange sensation made him almost drop his spoon. Something was moving up his right leg and pushing his legs apart, the mystery thing continued to rise higher, now it was nudging his inner thigh, he realized it was Jenna's hand. "Are you enjoying your soup?" "Um, Jenna, what are you doing?" "As I was saying, your letter has stressed my husband out so much, that he and I have been unable to make love all week. Can you imagine how upsetting that has been?" Jenna continued, furtively sliding her hand across his thigh and squeezing gently. The Archbishop glanced down and then at her. "Um, well I'm very sorry to hear that." She smiled back and began rubbing his inner thigh very gently. He cleared his throat and blushed. She said nothing, but continued gently rubbing, and moving closer to that treasure she wanted to touch most of all. "Do you realize what you're doing? I am a married man!" He whispered. "I do, but you pride yourself on having a liberal outlook, yes? Anyways, there is a holy place I would very much like to explore, if I may be permitted to do so, if I may be so bold as to request permission from Your Grace, " "You are, a rather naughty vicar's wife," he whispered back, feeling his cheeks flushing. "You haven't granted permission, Your Grace." The Archbishop took a deep breath. Why was he giving in to temptation so easily? If he refused, would she kick up a fuss? Bishop George and the vicar could return at any moment. "Mrs. Morris, you may do as you wish. I am yours to explore, " This was all the permission she required. Before the Archbishop could complete his sentence, Jenna reached across the startled man's lap and quickly unzipped his trousers. He could not believe the dexterity and speed at which his beautiful assailant nimbly accomplished the task. He shot an astonished wide-eyed glance at the temptress seated next to him. Guessing his thoughts, Jenna flashed a mischievous smile and said, "Your Grace. I heard that there's a name for a bishop's staff. It's called a crosier. Am I right?" "Er, yes. That's right." Jenna swiftly freed the Archbishop's staff from his white boxer shorts. He may not have been the most handsome of men, but he had a gorgeous cock. It wasn't a monstrous length like Father Aiden's or thick like Gordon's, but it was impressive all the same. Definitely holy! The Archbishop's back stiffened and he caught his breath as he felt Jenna's soft, warm fingers wrap around his engorged fuck pole. The touch from this ravishing young beauty in the most sensual of spots sent chills throughout his body. He suppressed a gentle moan in the back of this throat as Jenna began to slowly run her hand up and down the shaft. She knew to vary the speed of her up and down motion, and could sense when the Archbishop was reaching peak ecstasy. Before he could achieve sexual release, Jenna slowed her pace or altered the movement in order to delay gratification. She wanted the Most Reverend's pleasure to extend for as long as possible. Jenna explored every feature along the length of her newest conquest's fleshy sceptre. Her delicate fingers rippled over the veiny surface, massaged the soft foreskin, and gently squeezed the head. When she reached the shaft's base, the eager filly worked her slender digits along the Archbishop's inner thigh and cupped his balls, juggling them with her fingertips. "Your Grace, I beg of you. I want to go further and worship properly. However I cannot do this unless you agree to scrap your suggestion that St. Michael's remove its plaque to Henry Barrington-Smythe. Let him and his horse rest in peace, yes? Neither of them kept slaves. I'm sure Henry sold his horse in good faith and had no idea what links the buyer had. A few years ago I gave my old smartphone to a woman at work who turned out to be a massive fan of Cliff Richard. Some might say that was a crime against humanity." The Archbishop was desperate to come. Sweat had broken out on his forehead and his glasses were steaming up. "Okay, you have my word," he sighed. "I'll scrap the whole thing!" "Thankyou, .dear Justin!" She said, using his Christian name for the first time. Carefully, Jenna removed one of her earrings. The Archbishop had to stifle a gasp as she slid out of her chair and under the table. "God," he murmured, almost incredulous at her conviction and boldness. Then with almost no hesitation, she dropped her head and closed her mouth around his throbbing shaft. The Most Reverend's breathing started to become more rapid and shallow, an indication Jenna recognized as signaling her oral exertions would soon be ending. Wanting to provide the head of the church with the greatest amount of pleasure possible, Jenna's grand finale was to deep throat his cock and vigorously jerk up and down on it. This motion had the desired effect within moments, as a muffled groan escaped the Archbishop's mouth. Jenna felt the holy rod in her mouth recoil as it shot a mighty stream of pearl-colored ejaculate down her throat. This first round was quickly followed by a second and then a third as the Most Reverend's balls unloaded their thick, milky contents. Jenna swallowed and savored every drop. It is a truth not universally acknowledged, that the taste of a man, especially a man of God, is the finest taste in the world, she thought. A final spurt missed its target and splashed down her cleavage. Only after the last discharge was launched and the Archbishop leaned back in his chair exhausted and sweaty, did Jenna finally withdraw. The Archbishop jolted in panic as Bishop George and Reverend Morris returned to the dining room. He quickly poured himself a glass of water and swallowed it. He wondered how to warn Jenna, but she'd already sensed it was time to return to her seat. "I'm sorry I was so long," Reverend Morris mumbled. "Call of nature and all that." "And silly me, I forgot to turn the oven up, but worry not, the roast beef is nearly ready!" Bishop George replied. "Understood," panted the Archbishop, wiping his glasses. Bishop George tilted his head at his Jenna's empty chair, and the movement under the table. He raised the tablecloth. "Oh I say, Jenna. Have you lost something?" "Just my pearl earring," she calmly replied. "But fortunately, I have now found it." Bishop George nodded and gave a wry smile. "So I see. And you seem to have gained a pearl necklace too!" A Ghost Appears at the Methodist Church "What are your thoughts on ghosts, Jen?" Reverend Morris said as he climbed into bed. Jenna reclined next to her husband, and ran a finger through his chest hair. "Hmm, never given them much thought. I keep an open mind. I've never seen one myself, but I'd like to! I wouldn't be scared. Just really fascinated." "I might get to see one tomorrow. I've just had a rather desperate email from Reverend Marsha Ewing over at the Oakwood Road Methodist Church. She's at her wits end. Says her church has been haunted by a persistent ghost ever since Halloween. She's tried walking around splashing holy water on the walls, saying a prayer of deliverance, but to no avail. The church has had to remain closed all week." "Whoa, that ghost must really like the Methodist church then!" Jenna said. "I haven't been in there since I was a little girl. My gran is a Methodist. I remember going to a few services. I remember it being light and airy inside, with the white balcony and pale yellow walls." "Well it's not just any old ghost that's taken up residence there. Reverend Ewing is adamant says that it's the ghost of John Wesley." "What, the John Wesley? The founder of Methodism?" Jenna blinked. "Yes. That's the bit I find really hard to believe. Not saying that Reverend Ewing is lying of course. I just can't understand why John Wesley of all people, would choose to return to this earthly realm. I mean, he was a true servant of God, a good man, who preached to the masses and led a long, pious life. Why would his soul suddenly become restless and earthbound?" Jenna was fascinated. "Maybe he didn't choose to return. Maybe someone or something lured him back, and he's got trapped somehow? Don't they say on All Hallow's Eve, the barrier between the dead and the living is broken and the dead can pop back for a visit? Or something?" "Good theory!" Reverend Morris replied. "Wesley did visit the site where the Oakwood church now stands. The church wasn't built until Victorian times, but he preached out in the open in the 1770s. The very spot where he stood is marked by a bronze statue of him. Anyways, Reverend Morris has decided to ask other members of the clergy for help. She's asked me to go along to the church tomorrow. Hopefully two vicars are better than one, and we can help John to return to the other side, so to speak." "Shouldn't Father Aiden be called along too? Like in the Exorcist?" Reverend Morris laughed. "I once watched that movie with some mates at university. I really regret eating at the time, it put me off soup for weeks. Bit different though. That was movie about demonic possession, not a haunting." Jenna thought for a while. "If you ask me, having John Wesley actually appear could be a fantastic tourism opportunity for the church. Think of the visitors it could attract. Maybe he just wanted to see one of his old worship spots again. I wish he could've brought his brother Charles along. You know how much I'm a fan of him. Did I ever tell you I once had an erotic dream about him?" "No? Tell me more!" "I was working as a tavern wench, when Charles arrived, weary after a long journey from Bristol. I led him to a bedchamber. He told me he was travelling to London, to visit his brother, John." Jenna rolled over and kissed him. The Reverend's tongue darted into her mouth, fondling hers. Her left arm stretched across his back with her hand resting between his shoulders. With her right hand, she reached down the front of his boxer shorts, slowly tracing up and down the length of his engorged cock with her palm. "And, I helped Charles overcome his writer's block, so he was able to write Hark the Herald Angels Sing." She pulled down his boxers and rolled her tongue around the head of her husband's cock, trying to get every drop of precum. "Oh, I'll never be able to think of that carol in the same way again!" Next morning, Reverend Morris headed to Oakwood Road Methodist Church. It was a small, solidly-built structure, sandwiched between a row of terraced houses, their brickwork still smoke-blackened from the days of the Industrial Revolution. "This part of town never seems to change," Reverend Morris said to himself, as he parked the car. "They call it the Victorian Quarter." The vicar of Oakwood Road Methodist Church was Reverend Marsha Ewing, a jolly, middle-aged black woman. Originally from South Carolina, she'd emigrated nearly ten years ago, and put her heart and soul into running the church. Even the dismal British weather couldn't dampen her spirits. Now for the first time, she looked a little stressed. "Thanks for coming, Simon," she said as he entered the church. "Not at all," he replied. "Always happy to assist a fellow person of the cloth. A most unusual situation this. I've never been called upon to be a "deliverance minister" before. First time for everything I guess!" "I've been going out of my mind with this. Ol' Mr. Wesley ain't for staying' quiet! I've tried everything to placate the guy but nothing works. I've tried prayer, singing hymns, talking to him. Went through the whole Ghostbusting routine. I asked Róisín, the vicar from the Living Earth Free Church to call round yesterday. She's only been in the role a few weeks, but very willing to help. We both prayed together, hoping John would find peace. But it didn't work and this morning, John appeared again, in the vestry. Took me by surprise. Started blowing papers around. And the church goes so darn cold when he appears. Actually saw him full-length today. I asked him directly, why is he so upset? He said he couldn't say why, but there's only one person who can help him. I pressed him further. He just said the person he needs lives in this town. Wouldn't say if they're male or female." "Blimey," Reverend Morris said, rubbing his chin. "That's a bit vague. It could be anyone. The population of this town is around 100,000 people! How are we ever going to find out who the right person is?" "One of the wardens suggested I post something on the church's Facebook page, but I'd rather keep it all as quiet as possible. We've already had folks making hoax phone calls and posting memes and stuff on Twitter. It ain't funny. Most of my congregation are seniors. They don't want any fuss. Some of them think I'm making the whole thing up, as a sort of viral marketing campaign to increase attendance. Some of the comments online have been nasty." Reverend Morris sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that. Well, let's pray together and see if we can help John. Not sure if I'm the one he seeks, but there's only one way to find out!" "Mm, hmm." Reverend Ewing nodded. "John Wesley is very dear to all of us here. He stood in the very spot where that statue is." She pointed to the bronze statue in the corner. "I don't want folks thinking I'm mocking his memory or anything. Must say I haven't experienced anything like this since the Orangeburg Incident of 1999." "The what?" "Oh it was when I was back in the States. So, on the night of New Year's Eve 1999, Abraham Lincoln suddenly appeared in a branch of Walgreens. Many blamed it on drug-induced paranoia brought about by the hype of the coming Millennium." "Fascinating stuff," Reverend Morris replied. He walked over to the Wesley statue. On a table next to it, were three large, newly-lit candles. "Tell me, does he look exactly like his portrait?" "Oh yes. Long white hair. Dressed all in black and with preaching bands. He's a short stack too. Around five foot four? Slightly built. He looks so miserable though, like he needs a hug or something." "The state of the world right now, I think we all need a hug," Reverend Morris said. "Okay, well I'll try my best. If I fail, I'll have to give Father Aiden from St. Gregory's a call. Let's start by saying the Lord's Prayer." The flames on the candles, which had been steady, flared and writhed, drawn upward by a draft that the two of them couldn't feel. Salamanders of yellow light wriggled across the previously dark side of Reverend Ewing's face. When she looked at the candles, her eyes were as yellow as moons low on the horizon. "He's coming." Quickly the candle flames subsided. The church chandeliers dimmed and brightened, dimmed and brightened, like the flickering lights in the classic old movie Gaslight. Reverend Morris felt a growing sense of fear. The temperature in the church had plummeted. He tried talking to the spirit directly. "The Lord be with you. Lift up your heart, John. I welcome to you to this place of worship. My name is Reverend Simon Morris and I, " From behind him came not a hand and not, as he might have expected, a blast of heat, but a hissing cold that first prickled the nape of his neck and then seemed to drill into the summit of his spine, through the base of his skull. Throughout all this, Reverend Ewing remained calm. "Simon," she whispered. "He's behind you." He didn't want to turn round, afraid of coming face to face with some eldritch abomination, but he summoned his courage. There, stood right behind him, as plain as day, was John Wesley himself. At first glance, he resembled any other living person, save for a faint aura of silver light surrounding him. "Um, greetings to you, Mr. Wesley." The vicar stammered. He wondered why he was so afraid. Of all the dead persons one could meet, John Wesley was surely one of the nicest, most inoffensive ones. John's face relaxed into a smile. He put his hands together and bowed. "I thank you most sincerely. Soon, I shall experience salvation, for you are known to this person whom I seek. I hope you can bring her to me soon. I bid you a good day, " He bowed and vanished. Suddenly, in the space of thirty seconds, it was light and bright in the church. The lights stopped flickering and the gloom lifted. Outside, the clouds had rolled back from the sun. The building was suddenly and unexplainably warm too, as if the temperature had risen by about five degrees. Reverend Morris dared to exhale. "Oh! Well, that, wasn't too nerve-racking! He's a very polite ghost isn't he?" "Simon, did you hear what he said? He said her. A female relative or friend of yours is the person he's seeking!" "Wonder who it could be? Not my mum, surely. Could be Aunt Susan? I'm not seeing the connection here." "What about your wife?" Reverend Ewing suggested. He blinked. "Jenna? Oh of course! it must be her! Her grandma is a Methodist! That must be why John wants to see her!" To be continued. By Blacksheep, for Literotica.

Dinner with the Archbishop of Canterbury By Blacksheep. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. On Monday afternoon, a letter arrived at the vicarage that took Reverend Morris by surprise. "I don't believe this!" He gasped, reading the letter out loud to Jenna. "It's from Bishop George. He says that Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury is planning to visit next week." "Whoa, " Jenna spluttered. "Yup. You and I have been invited to dine at Bishop George's place. Apparently the Archbishop is visiting several dioceses, and parish churches, and for some bizarre reason, humble little St. Michael's church has caught his eye! Bishop George states that I'll be receiving a letter from the Archbishop over the next few days, outlining the reason for his visit.""Wow, what a tremendous honor for you, Simon!" Jenna smiled, flinging her arms around him. "Well you're the best vicar ever, so he obviously wants to give you some sort of award!" "Hmm, maybe?" Reverend Morris re-read the letter. "This is totally unexpected, and a bit bizarre. I can't get my head round it." "I remember seeing Justin Welby give that speech when we were watching the Queen's funeral." Jenna said. "And to think, we're going to get to meet him! This is really exciting!" "I wish I shared your optimism my love, but I can't help but thinking that there's a catch." A few days later, Reverend Morris' fears were confirmed when a second letter arrived. "I don't believe this!" The vicar lamented as he read the Archbishop's letter. "It has come to the Archbishop's attention that there is a big plaque in St. Michael's church that commemorates a local man called Henry Barrington-Smythe, who died in 1695 and worshipped at the church. According to the covert research conducted by the Archbishop, Henry once owned a horse that he sold to someone whose second cousin twice removed, was involved in the slave trade." "I can see how that could be seen as quite triggering in this day and age," Jenna said. "But I'm sure the horse wasn't bothered." Reverend Morris slapped his forehead. "Oh this is a nightmare. The Archbishop recommends that the plaque is removed. It's not that simple though. It's actually carved into the wall, near the organ pipes. To remove it, would cause terrible damage to the wall! Our little church is so old, and we've worked so hard to fundraise to repair the roof." Jenna narrowed her eyes, seeing how distressed her husband was. This situation needed rectifying immediately. "Simon, try not to worry. When we dine at Bishop George's place, you will have the chance to put your point across to the Archbishop. Has he made this information about the plaque public?" "No," Reverend Morris replied. "To be honest, I know hardly anything about this Henry Barrington-Smythe chap. I Googled him once, and information was really scarce. Nothing on Wikipedia. A few obscure paragraphs on the parish register. He was vicar here during the 1670s and left a lot of money to the church in his will." Jenna smiled. "Oh good. So what we have here is a controlled situation." "For now. I expect he'll tweet all about it after the meeting." We'll see about that, Jenna thought to herself. The day of the meeting arrived. Reverend Morris anxiously fiddled with his clerical collar and kept checking his watch. Nearly time to set off to Bishop George's house. Presently, Jenna came breezing into the sitting room, where her husband stood, gazing out of the window at the front garden beyond. In a pale pink gown, pearl cross earrings, and her red hair swept back, she looked more suited to a red carpet event in Hollywood than a sober meal with the clergy. "Do I look alright?" She asked, knowing full well what Reverend Morris' response would be. "Oh my God, wow, you look absolutely beautiful as always, Jenna. Right well, we'd better get going." "Try not to worry, Simon." She said, kissing him. "It might not be as bad as it seems." He sighed. "St. Michael's church means so much to me. I treasure its heritage. You and I, we've both worked so hard to build up its congregation, raise money to restore the roof, the stained glass windows and to fix the dry rot in the vestry." "And we shall continue to treasure it. Don't you worry. Things might turn out alright. I'm sure an acceptable compromise can be reached." "I hope so." They headed to the car. A plan was forming in Jenna's mind. Justin Welby isn't the best-looking of men, she thought. Mind you, I don't plan on looking at his face, Bishop George was stood at the door of his home when Jenna and Reverend Morris arrived. "Great to see you both!" He smiled. "Can't say I'm happy at what the Big Boss is proposing here." "You and me both, George," Simon sighed. Jenna winked at the bishop. "Right, do go in, make yourself comfortable, there are refreshments waiting. Dinner shall be served at six. Bishop Finch was supposed to be here too, you remember him? Alas, he cried off. Dishonest and he drinks. Good bishops are so hard to find these days, eh?" Bishop George ushered him in. As Jenna walked past, he winked back at her. "I've got your red lace panties on tonight," he whispered. "A great choice!" Jenna whispered back. Reverend Morris sipped a sherry as he nervously awaited the Archbishop's arrival. Five minutes later, there was the sound of a car door being slammed shut, and Bishop George could be heard welcoming someone. "He's coming," Reverend Morris gulped. "Why do I feel like a little kid about to be sent to detention?" "God is with us," Jenna replied, patting his thigh. Bishop George entered the room. "It is a great pleasure to welcome our Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to dine with us this evening. Jenna and her husband stood up. "Oh good, he's come alone," Jenna smiled, fearing that his wife might have accompanied him. He was clad in a grey jacket, with black shirt, black trousers, a clerical collar and a large cross round his neck. Everyone shook hands. "Ah, Reverend Morris," the Archbishop began. "The vicar of St. Michael's. Nice to meet you at last." "Thank you, Your Grace. And this is Jenna, my wife." Jenna was quick to offer her hand. "I've wanted to meet you for such a long time, Your Grace. You're sitting next to me at the table!" The vicar's young and stunning wife had certainly caused the Archbishop to raise an eyebrow. "Am I? Well lucky old me. I am very honored!" Privately, he was astonished that the mild-mannered vicar of St. Michael's had managed to pull such a gorgeous woman. He was normally immune to such things, but found himself rather shamefully gawping at Jenna's cleavage. "What a mercy she wasn't at the Queen's funeral," he said to himself. "If she'd been sat in the crowd, I'd have struggled to concentrate." The pre-dinner conversation between Reverend Morris, Bishop George and the Archbishop remained cordial, if not a bit overly formal. While the three men spoke, Jenna was a constant figure at the Archbishop's side; laughing at his unfunny jokes, pretending to enjoy his boring stories of ministry in Africa, inquiring about Westminster Abbey, and generally hanging on his every word like an infatuated student with her tutor. Bishop George suggested his guests seat themselves at the table in preparation for the first course. The Archbishop took his seat. On his right was Jenna, and Reverend Morris was opposite him. "Bishop George is such a good cook, Reverend Morris prattled nervously. "I've dined here before and his roast dinners are something to marvel at. I, I enjoy cooking too." Sensing her husband's discomfort, Jenna cut in. "He's a much better cook than I am. Most things I cook aren't suitable for human consumption." The Archbishop chuckled. "Let us say a prayer before we dine." The first course passed without incident, but Jenna was hungry for something else. The Archbishop had launched into a lengthy monologue about hurtful plaques and statues, and Jenna sensed it was time to act. Bishop George was in the kitchen and Reverend Morris excused himself as he needed to go to the bathroom. She was alone with the leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Now was the time for the vixen to catch her prey. "You've done so many impressive things during your tenure, Your Grace. Words cannot explain how much I admire you," she continued, flattering him off the scale." "Why thank you Jenna. "I appreciate your kind words!" Jenna continued. "Your Grace, I ask you as a good Christian, would you not consider dropping this little investigation into this pesky old plaque in my husband's church? Your letter has caused him a great deal of worry, you have no idea how much, " The Archbishop adjusted his glasses. "Jenna, I have no wish to cause any distress to your husband. I am simply trying to ensure that our C of E churches are inclusive to all, and devoid of harmful imagery." He had been quietly sipping his soup. Suddenly, a strange sensation made him almost drop his spoon. Something was moving up his right leg and pushing his legs apart, the mystery thing continued to rise higher, now it was nudging his inner thigh, he realized it was Jenna's hand. "Are you enjoying your soup?" "Um, Jenna, what are you doing?" "As I was saying, your letter has stressed my husband out so much, that he and I have been unable to make love all week. Can you imagine how upsetting that has been?" Jenna continued, furtively sliding her hand across his thigh and squeezing gently. The Archbishop glanced down and then at her. "Um, well I'm very sorry to hear that." She smiled back and began rubbing his inner thigh very gently. He cleared his throat and blushed. She said nothing, but continued gently rubbing, and moving closer to that treasure she wanted to touch most of all. "Do you realize what you're doing? I am a married man!" He whispered. "I do, but you pride yourself on having a liberal outlook, yes? Anyways, there is a holy place I would very much like to explore, if I may be permitted to do so, if I may be so bold as to request permission from Your Grace, " "You are, a rather naughty vicar's wife," he whispered back, feeling his cheeks flushing. "You haven't granted permission, Your Grace." The Archbishop took a deep breath. Why was he giving in to temptation so easily? If he refused, would she kick up a fuss? Bishop George and the vicar could return at any moment. "Mrs. Morris, you may do as you wish. I am yours to explore, " This was all the permission she required. Before the Archbishop could complete his sentence, Jenna reached across the startled man's lap and quickly unzipped his trousers. He could not believe the dexterity and speed at which his beautiful assailant nimbly accomplished the task. He shot an astonished wide-eyed glance at the temptress seated next to him. Guessing his thoughts, Jenna flashed a mischievous smile and said, "Your Grace. I heard that there's a name for a bishop's staff. It's called a crosier. Am I right?" "Er, yes. That's right." Jenna swiftly freed the Archbishop's staff from his white boxer shorts. He may not have been the most handsome of men, but he had a gorgeous cock. It wasn't a monstrous length like Father Aiden's or thick like Gordon's, but it was impressive all the same. Definitely holy! The Archbishop's back stiffened and he caught his breath as he felt Jenna's soft, warm fingers wrap around his engorged fuck pole. The touch from this ravishing young beauty in the most sensual of spots sent chills throughout his body. He suppressed a gentle moan in the back of this throat as Jenna began to slowly run her hand up and down the shaft. She knew to vary the speed of her up and down motion, and could sense when the Archbishop was reaching peak ecstasy. Before he could achieve sexual release, Jenna slowed her pace or altered the movement in order to delay gratification. She wanted the Most Reverend's pleasure to extend for as long as possible. Jenna explored every feature along the length of her newest conquest's fleshy sceptre. Her delicate fingers rippled over the veiny surface, massaged the soft foreskin, and gently squeezed the head. When she reached the shaft's base, the eager filly worked her slender digits along the Archbishop's inner thigh and cupped his balls, juggling them with her fingertips. "Your Grace, I beg of you. I want to go further and worship properly. However I cannot do this unless you agree to scrap your suggestion that St. Michael's remove its plaque to Henry Barrington-Smythe. Let him and his horse rest in peace, yes? Neither of them kept slaves. I'm sure Henry sold his horse in good faith and had no idea what links the buyer had. A few years ago I gave my old smartphone to a woman at work who turned out to be a massive fan of Cliff Richard. Some might say that was a crime against humanity." The Archbishop was desperate to come. Sweat had broken out on his forehead and his glasses were steaming up. "Okay, you have my word," he sighed. "I'll scrap the whole thing!" "Thankyou, .dear Justin!" She said, using his Christian name for the first time. Carefully, Jenna removed one of her earrings. The Archbishop had to stifle a gasp as she slid out of her chair and under the table. "God," he murmured, almost incredulous at her conviction and boldness. Then with almost no hesitation, she dropped her head and closed her mouth around his throbbing shaft. The Most Reverend's breathing started to become more rapid and shallow, an indication Jenna recognized as signaling her oral exertions would soon be ending. Wanting to provide the head of the church with the greatest amount of pleasure possible, Jenna's grand finale was to deep throat his cock and vigorously jerk up and down on it. This motion had the desired effect within moments, as a muffled groan escaped the Archbishop's mouth. Jenna felt the holy rod in her mouth recoil as it shot a mighty stream of pearl-colored ejaculate down her throat. This first round was quickly followed by a second and then a third as the Most Reverend's balls unloaded their thick, milky contents. Jenna swallowed and savored every drop. It is a truth not universally acknowledged, that the taste of a man, especially a man of God, is the finest taste in the world, she thought. A final spurt missed its target and splashed down her cleavage. Only after the last discharge was launched and the Archbishop leaned back in his chair exhausted and sweaty, did Jenna finally withdraw. The Archbishop jolted in panic as Bishop George and Reverend Morris returned to the dining room. He quickly poured himself a glass of water and swallowed it. He wondered how to warn Jenna, but she'd already sensed it was time to return to her seat. "I'm sorry I was so long," Reverend Morris mumbled. "Call of nature and all that." "And silly me, I forgot to turn the oven up, but worry not, the roast beef is nearly ready!" Bishop George replied. "Understood," panted the Archbishop, wiping his glasses. Bishop George tilted his head at his Jenna's empty chair, and the movement under the table. He raised the tablecloth. "Oh I say, Jenna. Have you lost something?" "Just my pearl earring," she calmly replied. "But fortunately, I have now found it." Bishop George nodded and gave a wry smile. "So I see. And you seem to have gained a pearl necklace too!" A Ghost Appears at the Methodist Church "What are your thoughts on ghosts, Jen?" Reverend Morris said as he climbed into bed. Jenna reclined next to her husband, and ran a finger through his chest hair. "Hmm, never given them much thought. I keep an open mind. I've never seen one myself, but I'd like to! I wouldn't be scared. Just really fascinated." "I might get to see one tomorrow. I've just had a rather desperate email from Reverend Marsha Ewing over at the Oakwood Road Methodist Church. She's at her wits end. Says her church has been haunted by a persistent ghost ever since Halloween. She's tried walking around splashing holy water on the walls, saying a prayer of deliverance, but to no avail. The church has had to remain closed all week." "Whoa, that ghost must really like the Methodist church then!" Jenna said. "I haven't been in there since I was a little girl. My gran is a Methodist. I remember going to a few services. I remember it being light and airy inside, with the white balcony and pale yellow walls." "Well it's not just any old ghost that's taken up residence there. Reverend Ewing is adamant says that it's the ghost of John Wesley." "What, the John Wesley? The founder of Methodism?" Jenna blinked. "Yes. That's the bit I find really hard to believe. Not saying that Reverend Ewing is lying of course. I just can't understand why John Wesley of all people, would choose to return to this earthly realm. I mean, he was a true servant of God, a good man, who preached to the masses and led a long, pious life. Why would his soul suddenly become restless and earthbound?" Jenna was fascinated. "Maybe he didn't choose to return. Maybe someone or something lured him back, and he's got trapped somehow? Don't they say on All Hallow's Eve, the barrier between the dead and the living is broken and the dead can pop back for a visit? Or something?" "Good theory!" Reverend Morris replied. "Wesley did visit the site where the Oakwood church now stands. The church wasn't built until Victorian times, but he preached out in the open in the 1770s. The very spot where he stood is marked by a bronze statue of him. Anyways, Reverend Morris has decided to ask other members of the clergy for help. She's asked me to go along to the church tomorrow. Hopefully two vicars are better than one, and we can help John to return to the other side, so to speak." "Shouldn't Father Aiden be called along too? Like in the Exorcist?" Reverend Morris laughed. "I once watched that movie with some mates at university. I really regret eating at the time, it put me off soup for weeks. Bit different though. That was movie about demonic possession, not a haunting." Jenna thought for a while. "If you ask me, having John Wesley actually appear could be a fantastic tourism opportunity for the church. Think of the visitors it could attract. Maybe he just wanted to see one of his old worship spots again. I wish he could've brought his brother Charles along. You know how much I'm a fan of him. Did I ever tell you I once had an erotic dream about him?" "No? Tell me more!" "I was working as a tavern wench, when Charles arrived, weary after a long journey from Bristol. I led him to a bedchamber. He told me he was travelling to London, to visit his brother, John." Jenna rolled over and kissed him. The Reverend's tongue darted into her mouth, fondling hers. Her left arm stretched across his back with her hand resting between his shoulders. With her right hand, she reached down the front of his boxer shorts, slowly tracing up and down the length of his engorged cock with her palm. "And, I helped Charles overcome his writer's block, so he was able to write Hark the Herald Angels Sing." She pulled down his boxers and rolled her tongue around the head of her husband's cock, trying to get every drop of precum. "Oh, I'll never be able to think of that carol in the same way again!" Next morning, Reverend Morris headed to Oakwood Road Methodist Church. It was a small, solidly-built structure, sandwiched between a row of terraced houses, their brickwork still smoke-blackened from the days of the Industrial Revolution. "This part of town never seems to change," Reverend Morris said to himself, as he parked the car. "They call it the Victorian Quarter." The vicar of Oakwood Road Methodist Church was Reverend Marsha Ewing, a jolly, middle-aged black woman. Originally from South Carolina, she'd emigrated nearly ten years ago, and put her heart and soul into running the church. Even the dismal British weather couldn't dampen her spirits. Now for the first time, she looked a little stressed. "Thanks for coming, Simon," she said as he entered the church. "Not at all," he replied. "Always happy to assist a fellow person of the cloth. A most unusual situation this. I've never been called upon to be a "deliverance minister" before. First time for everything I guess!" "I've been going out of my mind with this. Ol' Mr. Wesley ain't for staying' quiet! I've tried everything to placate the guy but nothing works. I've tried prayer, singing hymns, talking to him. Went through the whole Ghostbusting routine. I asked Róisín, the vicar from the Living Earth Free Church to call round yesterday. She's only been in the role a few weeks, but very willing to help. We both prayed together, hoping John would find peace. But it didn't work and this morning, John appeared again, in the vestry. Took me by surprise. Started blowing papers around. And the church goes so darn cold when he appears. Actually saw him full-length today. I asked him directly, why is he so upset? He said he couldn't say why, but there's only one person who can help him. I pressed him further. He just said the person he needs lives in this town. Wouldn't say if they're male or female." "Blimey," Reverend Morris said, rubbing his chin. "That's a bit vague. It could be anyone. The population of this town is around 100,000 people! How are we ever going to find out who the right person is?" "One of the wardens suggested I post something on the church's Facebook page, but I'd rather keep it all as quiet as possible. We've already had folks making hoax phone calls and posting memes and stuff on Twitter. It ain't funny. Most of my congregation are seniors. They don't want any fuss. Some of them think I'm making the whole thing up, as a sort of viral marketing campaign to increase attendance. Some of the comments online have been nasty." Reverend Morris sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that. Well, let's pray together and see if we can help John. Not sure if I'm the one he seeks, but there's only one way to find out!" "Mm, hmm." Reverend Ewing nodded. "John Wesley is very dear to all of us here. He stood in the very spot where that statue is." She pointed to the bronze statue in the corner. "I don't want folks thinking I'm mocking his memory or anything. Must say I haven't experienced anything like this since the Orangeburg Incident of 1999." "The what?" "Oh it was when I was back in the States. So, on the night of New Year's Eve 1999, Abraham Lincoln suddenly appeared in a branch of Walgreens. Many blamed it on drug-induced paranoia brought about by the hype of the coming Millennium." "Fascinating stuff," Reverend Morris replied. He walked over to the Wesley statue. On a table next to it, were three large, newly-lit candles. "Tell me, does he look exactly like his portrait?" "Oh yes. Long white hair. Dressed all in black and with preaching bands. He's a short stack too. Around five foot four? Slightly built. He looks so miserable though, like he needs a hug or something." "The state of the world right now, I think we all need a hug," Reverend Morris said. "Okay, well I'll try my best. If I fail, I'll have to give Father Aiden from St. Gregory's a call. Let's start by saying the Lord's Prayer." The flames on the candles, which had been steady, flared and writhed, drawn upward by a draft that the two of them couldn't feel. Salamanders of yellow light wriggled across the previously dark side of Reverend Ewing's face. When she looked at the candles, her eyes were as yellow as moons low on the horizon. "He's coming." Quickly the candle flames subsided. The church chandeliers dimmed and brightened, dimmed and brightened, like the flickering lights in the classic old movie Gaslight. Reverend Morris felt a growing sense of fear. The temperature in the church had plummeted. He tried talking to the spirit directly. "The Lord be with you. Lift up your heart, John. I welcome to you to this place of worship. My name is Reverend Simon Morris and I, " From behind him came not a hand and not, as he might have expected, a blast of heat, but a hissing cold that first prickled the nape of his neck and then seemed to drill into the summit of his spine, through the base of his skull. Throughout all this, Reverend Ewing remained calm. "Simon," she whispered. "He's behind you." He didn't want to turn round, afraid of coming face to face with some eldritch abomination, but he summoned his courage. There, stood right behind him, as plain as day, was John Wesley himself. At first glance, he resembled any other living person, save for a faint aura of silver light surrounding him. "Um, greetings to you, Mr. Wesley." The vicar stammered. He wondered why he was so afraid. Of all the dead persons one could meet, John Wesley was surely one of the nicest, most inoffensive ones. John's face relaxed into a smile. He put his hands together and bowed. "I thank you most sincerely. Soon, I shall experience salvation, for you are known to this person whom I seek. I hope you can bring her to me soon. I bid you a good day, " He bowed and vanished. Suddenly, in the space of thirty seconds, it was light and bright in the church. The lights stopped flickering and the gloom lifted. Outside, the clouds had rolled back from the sun. The building was suddenly and unexplainably warm too, as if the temperature had risen by about five degrees. Reverend Morris dared to exhale. "Oh! Well, that, wasn't too nerve-racking! He's a very polite ghost isn't he?" "Simon, did you hear what he said? He said her. A female relative or friend of yours is the person he's seeking!" "Wonder who it could be? Not my mum, surely. Could be Aunt Susan? I'm not seeing the connection here." "What about your wife?" Reverend Ewing suggested. He blinked. "Jenna? Oh of course! it must be her! Her grandma is a Methodist! That must be why John wants to see her!" To be continued. By Blacksheep, for Literotica.

“The Inbreaking of the Reign of God: Reflections on the History of the Festal Service of Lessons and Carols and its Various Lyrical Theologies” part 2Dr. David S. Pacini, Professor Emeritus of Historical and Philosophical Theology at the Candler School of Theology, presents a three part series on the history of the Festal Service of Lessons and Carols.The service is among the best-beloved services of the church year. Millions of people beyond the Anglican Communion listen to its annual worldwide broadcast from Kings College, Cambridge. Elegant in its simplicity, the service attests to the love of God around which its sequence of narratives and carols revolve.Notwithstanding the service's popularity, many remain unaware of its history, numerous versions, and differing lyrical theological emphases.In this series, we ask what the "true meaning" of the 1918 Kings College, Cambridge service and the 1880 Truro Cathedral service is. We will continually probe the contours of "true meaning" and conclude with reflections on its significance for the 2024 iteration of the Cathedral of St. Philip's Festal Service of Lessons and Carols.

“The Inbreaking of the Reign of God: Reflections on the History of the Festal Service of Lessons and Carols and its Various Lyrical Theologies” part 1Dr. David S. Pacini, Professor Emeritus of Historical and Philosophical Theology at the Candler School of Theology, presents a three part series on the history of the Festal Service of Lessons and Carols.The service is among the best-beloved services of the church year. Millions of people beyond the Anglican Communion listen to its annual worldwide broadcast from Kings College, Cambridge. Elegant in its simplicity, the service attests to the love of God around which its sequence of narratives and carols revolve.Notwithstanding the service's popularity, many remain unaware of its history, numerous versions, and differing lyrical theological emphases.In this series, we ask what the "true meaning" of the 1918 Kings College, Cambridge service and the 1880 Truro Cathedral service is. We will continually probe the contours of "true meaning" and conclude with reflections on its significance for the 2024 iteration of the Cathedral of St. Philip's Festal Service of Lessons and Carols.

On today's program, the wife of slain missionary Beau Shroyer has been arrested in connection with his death—investigators suspect she hired the man she was having an affair with to kill her husband. We'll have details. And, a Pennsylvania church trying to disassociate from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has been charged for sharing information with MinistryWatch. We'll take a look. Plus, South Carolina pastor John-Paul Miller—whose wife Mica Miller died by suicide earlier this year—has been hit with an assault charge just days after FBI raided his house. But first, the Church of England head Justice Welby has resigned over his handling of a sexual abuse case. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, resigned Tuesday. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Danica Kirka, Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Marissa Greene, Shannon Cuthrell, and Brittany Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

Top headlines for Wednesday, November 13, 2024In this episode, we delve into President-elect Donald Trump's decision to appoint Rep. Elise Stefanik as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, examining potential implications for international relations. Next, we discuss the unexpected resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual head of the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion, and what this means for the future of the church. We then turn our attention to the political landscape in the United States, where the Republican Party has secured a majority in the House of Representatives, solidifying their control over the White House and Senate. Finally, we highlight Netflix's upcoming release, taking audiences on a captivating journey back to ancient Judea with a fresh perspective on the Nativity story. Subscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercast⠀Follow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTube⠀Get the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for Android⠀Subscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!⠀Links to the NewsTrump to appoint Rep. Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador | PoliticsKamala Harris campaign over $20 million in debt: report | PoliticsArchbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigning | WorldRepublicans maintain control of the US House of Representatives | PoliticsCounselor asks Supreme Court to block gay conversion therapy ban | PoliticsState Dept. offered therapy for employees after Trump victory | PoliticsNetflix releases trailer for biblical epic ‘Mary' | Entertainment

The head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion has resigned amid a child abuse scandal. Justin Welby stepped down after an investigation found that he failed to inform police about serial physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps as soon as he became aware of it more than ten years ago.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned after an investigation found he failed to tell police about sexual abuse by a Christian camp volunteer. Plus, addressing modern slavery in Australia, and a look into the brutal side of Japan's work culture.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned after an investigation found that he failed to tell police about sexual abuse by a volunteer at a Christian camp. So what happens next for the Church of England?

Cast Out the Slave-girl and her Son Galatians 4:12-5:1 by William Klock I have a non-Christian—or it would be better to say, anti-Christian—relative who, I've observed, is very uncomfortable with me being a preacher.  At one point she just came out and said it: As far as she's concerned, preachers are just moralising, kill-joy demagogues who glory in lording their authority over people and pontificating to them what they can and cannot do.  People like this think of God as a kill-joy in the sky and the preacher as his sour and spiteful earthly representative.  She has no clue that the preacher is the intermediary between the loving God who has given his word to make himself known and his people, filled with his Spirit, who desire to hear his word that they might know him and love him in return.  They have no idea that both the Bible and preaching sit at the intersection of God's love for his people and his people's love for him.  But it's not just non-Christians.  Even people in the church forget that God speaks—and he tells us what he expects of us—out of love and they forget that the preacher preaches that word out of love, too.  And so they get angry when they hear things they don't like.  Sometimes they get angry with God and leave the church entirely.  Sometimes they just shoot the messenger—the preacher.  And that's where Paul is at as we come to the middle of Galatians 4.  Paul knew the people in the Galatian churches well.  He loved them as brothers and sisters in the Lord.  And he's deeply troubled by what he's heard has been going on there ever since these agitators had arrived.  This is why he's writing to them.  And so far he's mostly been talking theology—explaining why these people urging them back into torah are undermining the gospel, the good news about Jesus.  And he's been building this argument as he's walked them through the biblical story, walked them through God's covenants with his people, walked them through the significance of what Jesus did when he died and rose again.  And he's about to finally make the point he's been working toward.  He's about to tell them what they need to do in light of all this.  But in verses 11-20 he pauses and he takes a breath and he reminds them who he is.  He reminds that he's not only their friend, but that he's their brother in the Lord who loves them—and that that's why he's taking the trouble to say all of this.  Look at Chapter 4, beginning at verse 12. Brothers [and Sisters], become like me!  Because I became like you.  You did me no wrong.  No, you know that it was through bodily weakness that I announced the gospel to you in the first place.  You didn't despise or scorn me, even though my condition was quite a test for you, but you welcomed me as if I were God's angel, as if I were Messiah Jesus!  What's happened to the blessing you had then?  Yes, I can testify that you would have torn out your eyes, if you'd been able to, and given them to me.  So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?   Become like me, because I became like you.  These Christians were mostly gentiles.  Paul was a Jew.  But as he would later write to the Corinthians, he has become like all things to everyone.  Knowing that the gospel unified them as one in Jesus and the Spirit, Paul came and fellowshipped with them—he prayed and sang and worshipped and ate with them, despite their ethnic differences—which is something that can't be said of these false teachers.  And Paul reminds them of when he first arrived.  We don't know exactly what the problem was, but it sounds very much like he arrived in Galatia bloody and beaten after preaching the good news in some neighbouring city.  This might be what he was referring to when he said the brutality of the cross had been shown to them.  He'd stumbled into their fellowship having very nearly shared Jesus' crucifixion—and they welcomed him.  That would have been a dangerous thing to do.  Harbouring a man who had been in trouble another town over could have brought the local authorities down on them.  It sure wouldn't have looked good to the community around them.  But they welcomed Paul and took care of him as he regained his strength.  In the meantime, he proclaimed Jesus and the good news in his weakness.  And they received Paul and his message as if he were an angel, a messenger from God—practically as if he'd been Jesus himself. “So now,” Paul asks, “what's happened to that welcome?  Back then you knew my love for you and you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me if you'd thought it would help.  But now I've told you the truth—because I love you—and you're treating me like an enemy.”  Now he goes on in verse 17: Those other folks are zealous for you, but it's not in a good cause. False teachers are often full of zeal.  Enough so that they con good Christians into thinking that they've got the truth.  And then those conned Christians lash out when the pastor who loves them comes along to show them how the false teachers are wrong.  It happens over and over and over.  Paul says: They want to shut you out, so that you will then be zealous for them. Paul has the temple in mind, with its segregated courts.  Jews could go into the temple court, but gentiles were stuck outside.  They couldn't go in.  And these agitators, these false teachers are trying to make the Galatian churches like that.  The Jewish believers can come into church, they can eat at the Lord's Table, but the gentiles are stuck outside until they get circumcised and start living according to torah.  So Paul says, Well, it's always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I'm there with you.  My children, I seem to be in labour with you all over again, until the Messiah is fully formed in you.  I wish I were there with you right now, and could change me tone of voice.  I really am at a loss about you.   Paul knew all about being zealous.  He'd been zealous for torah and he'd been zealous for persecuting Christians.  And then he'd met the risen Jesus and now he's zealous for the gospel.  Zeal isn't the point.  You can be zealous for anything.  So don't be taken in by the zealousness of false teachers and a false gospel.  And we get a sense of how Paul loves these people and, because of that, how he's so exasperated.  He thought they knew all of this.  He'd laboured over the gospel with them before, but now it feels like he's got to labour with them over the gospel all over again, because it's obvious they weren't as mature in the gospel—in the Messiah—as he had thought. It happens.  Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses knock on the door and they've got carefully worked out arguments that fool far too many Christians.  Prosperity hucksters will tell you they've got the “full gospel” and they'll back it up with great zeal.  In our own day we've got various Messianic groups or the Adventists with a false gospel rooted in the same errors Paul confronted in Galatia.  They dupe Christians into their false teaching and, apart from praying for such people, all we can really do is confront false teaching with gospel truth.  That's what Paul does here.  Look at verse 21: So you want to live under the law, do you?  All right, tell me this: are you prepared to hear what the law says?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl and one by the free woman.  Now the child of the slave-girl was born according to the flesh, while the child of the free woman was born according to promise.   Do you recognise the story Paul's talking about?  He's going back to Genesis 16.  This is after God's promise to Abraham, but before the birth of Isaac.  Abraham and Sarah trusted the Lord.  They believed he would provide a son to inherit the promise, but from their perspective a natural heir was impossible.  Sarah was an elderly woman and elderly women past their child-bearing years don't bear children.  So they followed the custom of the day.  Abraham took Sarah's slave-girl, Hagar, as his concubine and had a child by her.  Because she was Sarah's slave, the child was legally hers. But, if you know the story, you know the plan backfired.  When Hagar became pregnant, she lorded it over Sarah.  In their culture, for a woman to be barren was a great shame and Hagar made sure that Sarah felt that shame.  Sarah, of course, wasn't going to stand for that, so she mistreated Hagar.  Hagar ran away, but in the wilderness the Lord met her and sent her back and she gave birth to Ishmael.  Years later—as if the Lord was really, really wanting to make a point to Abraham and Sarah that with him anything was possible—years later, when Sarah was even more elderly, she became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac.  Sarah became jealous of Ishmael and we have a cryptic text about Ishmael abusing Isaac, so Sarah banished Hagar and her son from the camp.  Ishmael would become the father of the Arabian tribes and Isaac would became the father of Jacob, who became the father of the Hebrew tribes—of Israel. It's possible Paul brings this up because the false teachers might have been telling this story in their own way, as if to say, “See…Abraham has two families.  You gentiles might have believed the gospel, but since the Jews are the free children of Abraham, you're like Ishmael and his sons.  If you want to really be part of Abraham's family, you're going to have to get circumcised and become a Jew.  Paul has heard this before and says, “No.  You've got it backwards and here's why.  Let's suppose that Abraham does have two families.  How can you tell which one is the slave family and which one is the free family?  Well, look at the story.  Ishmael was born according to the flesh.  He was the result of Abraham taking matters into his own hands.  Isacc, on the other hand, was born miraculously and in fulfilment of the Lord's promise. And now we see why Paul has been talking so much about covenants and inheritances and heirs all this time.  This is where he's been going with it.  In verse 24 he goes on: Think of this allegorically—as picture-language.  These two women stand for two covenants: one comes from Mount Sinai and gives birth to slave children—that's Hagar.  (Sinai, you see, is a mountain in Arabia, and it corresponds, in the picture, to the present Jerusalem, since she is in slavery with her children.)  But the Jerusalem which is above is free—and she is our mother.   All you have to do is follow the theme of promise through the story.  Well, that and you have to recognise that the story is ongoing.  The false teachers were telling the story as if it stopped with Abraham—or maybe with Moses—but Paul has been showing how the Abraham story, the story of a promise and a family and an inheritance that encompasses the whole world—Paul has been showing how that story is still going on.  So they were right to see the promise back in the story of the birth of Isaac, but now Paul's sort of urging them on: Yes, yes.  You've got that part right, but keep following the promise through the rest of the story.  Because Jesus changes everything.  And so, sure, Isaac was the child of God's promise and so were his children and their children and eventually the whole people of Israel.  But before his little break to remind them that he's not their enemy, Paul was also pointing out how the law, how torah was only meant to serve the promise family for a time—between Moses and the Messiah.  Remember, the human race is sick.  Israel had the same sickness, but the law held the sickness at bay until the promise could be fulfilled.  Or, Paul used the illustration of a babysitter, keeping the promise family out of trouble until the promise to them could be fulfilled.  And, that means, Paul has said, that as much as the law was a good thing given by God for a time, it kept the Israelites as slaves until the Messiah came.  So the law, he's saying here, the law if left to itself can never set people free.  The law, ironically, makes Ishmael children, not Isaac children. And then Paul adds this sort of parenthetical statement: For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia.  And his point is that—using this allegorical or picture language—the law of Moses, which was given on Mount Sinai, now represents the people, the family on the outside in the original picture.  As much as the Lord's promise once led his people to Mount Sinai where he gave them his law, the story has moved on in Jesus the Messiah and so Hagar—the mother of Abraham's son according to the flesh—Hagar now corresponds to Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai represents the law, torah, that the false teachers are saying the gentile believers have to keep. So Isaac represents the promise and freedom.  Ishmael represents the flesh, slavery…none of which would have been controversial, but now Paul has also shown that Ishmael also represents Mount Sinai and the law.  Again, we've got to follow the promise all the way through the story to Jesus and then to the present.  The law was part of God's provision for his people during the present evil age, but the Messiah has inaugurated the age to come.  So Paul's now ready to bring the false teachers into this.  They've been appealing to some authority figures in Jerusalem—maybe James, but we really don't know—just that they're in Jerusalem.  And Paul, in verses 25 and 26 is saying, “Okay, but they're talking about the present Jerusalem, not the heavenly Jerusalem, not the “Jerusalem above”, which is the home of all real believers and the true people of the promise.  To make his point he quotes Isaiah 54:1 which is addressed to Jerusalem herself: For it is written: Celebrate, childless one, who never gave birth! Go wild and shout, girl that never had pains! The barren woman has many more children Than the one who has a husband!   In Isaiah's day, Jerusalem was laid waste, but through the prophet the Lord gave hope to his people.  One day Jerusalem would be restored.  He put it in terms of a barren woman—like Sarah—finally knowing the joy of bearing children and having a family.  By Paul's day this had become an image of the age to come, when the Lord would return to his people and the heavenly city would come with him, heaven and earth would be rejoined, and his new age would dawn.  So the Jerusalem above—the promise of God's new age—it was barren, but now through the Messiah it's bearing children.  The promises are being fulfilled.  In contrast, the present Jerusalem—the city the false teachers are appealing to as their authority—it's got children, yes, but they're in slavery.  In fact, the earthly Jerusalem is slated for judgement and destruction.  So now Paul goes on in verse 28: Now you, my brothers [and sisters], are children of promise, in the line of Isaac. Follow the promise.  It has passed from Isaac to Jesus and now to these people—even though they're gentiles—because they have trusted in the Messiah.  Jesus-believers, uncircumcised as they may be, are Sarah-children, new-Jerusalem people, Isaac-people, promise-people.  But, Paul goes on: But things now are like they were then.  The one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the spirit.   Genesis doesn't elaborate on what Ishmael did to Isaac, only that he abused him in some way, and Paul's point here is that this is how the children of the flesh are always liable to treat the children of the promise.  It sounds as though the unbelieving Jews were actively persecuting the Christians in Galatia—angry at them because they claimed the “Jewish exemption” from pagan worship, but didn't live as Jews.  But Paul lumps the false teachers, these people who say they believe in Jesus the Messiah, but also insist on the gentiles being circumcised—Paul lumps that in with the abuse of the unbelieving Jewish community.  The false teachers stand in sharp contrast to Paul.  Even though Paul has had some sometimes harsh words for the Galatians, he loves them like a father.  He's speaking gospel truth.  The false teachers, for all their zeal, don't really love the Galatians—not if they're trying to drag them back into slavery under the law.  And with that, Paul's ready to drive his point home, he's ready to tell them what they have to do.  Look at verse 30: But what does scripture say?  “Throw out the slave-girl and her son!  For the son of the slave-girl will not inherit with the son of the free.”  So my brothers [and sisters], we are not children of the slave-girl, but of the free.   Do what Sarah did: cast out the slave girl and her son.  In other words, cast out the false teachers before they drag you away from Jesus and the promise and back into slavery.  At this point there's a chapter break, but I really think Paul meant for verse 1 of Chapter 5 to be the close of this paragraph, because it's not easy to cast out false teachers.  And so Paul continues there: The Messiah set us free so that we could enjoy freedom!  So stand firm, and don't get yourselves tied down by the chains of slavery.   Stand firm and don't let anyone take you back into slavery with a false gospel, because Brothers and Sisters, Jesus has set us free.  Paul doesn't mess around with false teachers.  Jesus died and he rose again, he is Lord, and he has fulfilled all of God's promises.  Paul saw the promise fulfilled as the gentiles were forgiven, filled with the Spirit, and swept up into this great story of God and his people and he was outraged at the idea that anyone might come along and drag these people back into slavery. In contrast, how often is our tendency to be wishy-washing about false teaching.  People come in the name of Jesus, but end up proclaiming false gospels—or things that undermine the gospel.  They'll say, for example, that there are other ways to God and other ways to be good and other ways to enter the age to come and in doing that they undermine the work of Jesus and the Spirit no less than the false teaching in Galatia did by trying to add torah to the gospel.  Others come into the church and tell us that Jesus isn't enough and that we've got to do something extra to receive the Spirit.  Others these days come preaching post-modern ideas of identity that undermine our identity in the Messiah and our unity in him.  And we equivocate on what to do about them.  Instead of dealing with the false teachers we quibble with each other over whether or not the false teachers are truly believers or not—as if we need to treat them differently if the false teaching isn't so bad as to rule them out as real Christians.  Paul does the opposite here.  The false teachers in Galatia believed in Jesus.  They believed in his death and resurrection.  But they added something that ultimately undermined that good news.  And so Paul says to cast them out.  Get them out of the church.  Just as he did with the man sleeping with his step-mother in Corinth.  Get them out.  Maybe that will get them thinking hard about what they've done or what they're teaching and they'll repent and come back, but that's not the first priority.  Get them out, because their teaching undermines the gospel itself and if it's allowed to fester, the church will cease to be the church.  The promise will be lost.  The false teaching will make us slaves again.  If the Anglican Communion had cast out the false teachers a hundred years ago, our generation wouldn't have had to face the difficulties we have.  The church can't fool around with false teachers and false gospel.  But the flip side of this imperative is that we as Jesus' people need to work hard for unity with our brothers and sisters who do believe the good news about Jesus.  This was the vision of Bp. Cummins when he called together the men and women who would found the Reformed Episcopal Church.  All baptised and believing Jesus-followers are, in fact, one family and we need to do our best, despite our various differences on other things, to live as the one family that Jesus has made us.  I think Galatians has something to say about how we distinguish which of our differences are demand separation and which don't.  Does the message being preaching point forward to the age to come, or like the Galatian heresy, does it drag us back to the darkness of the old evil age?  If it undermines or undoes what has been accomplished by God in Jesus and the Spirit, we must cast it out.  Standing firm against false gospels while standing just as firm for the unity of God's gospel people is no easy task—especially as things are today—but Brothers and Sisters it is our calling.  It is what honours God, it is what honours Jesus and the Spirit, and it is what witnesses to the world the new creation that has been born in us. Let's pray: Heavenly Father, make us mature in the Messiah so that we will be able to discern truth from error, and fill us with zeal for your gospel truth, so that we will stand firm—not afraid to cast out false teachers and false teaching, but also zealous for the unity that Jesus and the Spirit bring to your church, that we might be effective witnesses of the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen, and of his kingdom, the new Jerusalem.  Through him we pray.  Amen.

Jack Palmer-White is Senior Director at the Good Faith Partnership, an organisation that seeks to bridge some of the gaps between different sectors and, in so doing, find some innovative solutions for some of society's more difficult problems. Before this, Jack was the Anglican Communion's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and senior advisor to the Archbishop of Canterbury on social and public affairs.With over a decade of experience of working with charities, faith-based organisations, and social movements to help bring about change at the local, national and global level – Jack talks with Belle and Justin about the nature of politics and, ultimately, how we can re-enchant what it means to love our neighbour.For more from Good Faith Partnership: https://goodfaith.org.uk/For Re-Enchanting: https://www.seenandunseen.com/podcastThere's more to life than the world we can see. Re-Enchanting is a podcast from Seen & Unseen recorded at Lambeth Palace Library, the home of the Centre for Cultural Witness. Justin Brierley and Belle Tindall engage faith and spirituality with leading figures in science, history, politics, art and education. Can our culture be re-enchanted by the vision of Christianity? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Daniel King talks to Carrie Headington, an Episcopal evangelist serving the Anglican community in Dallas, Texas. They discuss Carrie's work equipping churches and everyday believers for evangelism, with a focus on raising up female evangelists. She shares lessons she learned from the late evangelist Michael Green, including the importance of having an “audience of one” in Jesus, persevering through spiritual warfare, and seeing how the Holy Spirit can revive even the most dormant churches when they engage in mission. We highlight the need for more bold, Spirit-filled evangelists, both men and women, to share the good news of Jesus in the world today.

TRADCAST EXPRESS - Episode 196 Topics covered: Northern Irish diocese of Clogher doubles number of seminarians in six years - from one to two. Novus Ordo 'missionary' priest Yann Vagneux participates in Hindu 'Sraddha' ritual. How 'Pope' Francis wants to neutralize the ecumenical 'obstacle' of papal primacy. Links: J.-P. Mauro, "Northern Irish priests keep hope as vocations slowly rise", Aleteia (Aug. 30, 2024) Yann Vagneux, "Hinduism: The journey of the dead", La Croix International (Sep. 3, 2024) "Vatican Issues Ecumenical ‘Study Document' Downgrading the Papacy to Appeal to Non-Catholics", Novus Ordo Watch (June 13, 2024) Antipope Francis, Address to Participants in the Assembly of Primates of the Anglican Communion, Vatican.va (May 2, 2024) Fr. Henry Denzinger, ed., The Sources of Catholic Dogma (1954 ed.) Sign up to be notified of new episode releases automatically at tradcast.org. Produced by NOVUSORDOWATCH.org Support us by making a tax-deductible contribution at NovusOrdoWatch.org/donate/

What is Christian Communion? And who cares? If you listen to this podcast, you probably do. Today we're not talking about the Lord's supper, but the longing for and practical work toward Christian unity. What does this have to do with the average Christian? Or the average pastor trying to focus on local ministry? How do Anglicans care about (and struggle with) Christian unity especially? What the heck is a Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral?Joining us to discuss is Dr. Christopher Wells. Christopher is Director of Unity, Faith and Order for the Anglican Communion. He oversees the Communion's ecumenical relations and serves as secretary of the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO). For 13 years, Christopher was executive director and publisher of the Living Church Foundation.Here are some key terms we'll learn about today, answering some of our questions above:The ecumenical movement or ecumenism The Lambeth Conference Lambeth Conference 1920 Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral Vatican II Primate Today we'll learn how any ecumenical work must serve the life of the average Christian, or it's no good. We'll find out why ecumenical work is putting Christopher more in touch with his evangelical side. And we'll ponder why "Anglican" exists in the first place. Is it to tickle our "via media" fancies, or to become another religious option? Or might we learn to serve Christian unity so well that one day, maybe, Anglicans work themselves out of a job?We hope you enjoy the conversation. Read the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral.A few other cool documents on Christian unity: http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/news/2024/2024-06-13-il-vescovo-di-roma-nuovo-documento-dpuc.htmlhttps://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2024/06/13/bishop-rome-study-document-dicastery-promoting-christian-unity-248153https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-06/rethinking-the-primacy-in-an-ecumenical-sense.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2RbXk-L3mXpkT9WZKyqQF3HbsPaG-nKdSsWQosOMSe18VOSpCazmy3u1o_aem_p7a_pInr-MDXSnjpgtFhJARegister for the Human Pilgrimage conference.

It's Wednesday, July 10th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Indonesian officials stop wedding and ban church On Sunday, June 30th, local officials in Indonesia stopped a wedding ceremony and banned the church from further worship meetings at the site, reports Morning Star News. Village head Eko Santoso halted the wedding at the Pentecostal Church in Indonesia and banned them from meeting, claiming the congregation lacked a building permit and that area residents opposed their church. A video by the Hagios Legal Aid Institute shows Pastor Setiawan telling the officials that they might first ban the prostitution taking place in front of the village head office.  According to Open Doors, Indonesia is the 42nd most difficult country worldwide in which to be a Christian. In John 15:18, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.” Church of England endorses sexual perversion The Church of England voted to move forward with authorizing blessing services for homosexual couples this week. The Alliance network of conservative Anglicans is already prepared to create their own “parallel Province” within the Church of England if such services are approved. Rev. John Dunnett is the National Director of the Church of England Evangelical Council. He said, “The leaders of the Church of England seem intent on leading the church away from the Biblical teaching and doctrine passed down through the centuries and shared by millions of Christians in the Anglican Communion today.”  780,000 German church members left Over 400,000 people left the Roman Catholic Church in Germany in 2023. And 380,000 people left Protestant churches in the country last year as well.  Meanwhile, those who identify with no religion are rising in Germany, making up about 40 percent of the population.  However, young Germans are pushing back against those trends. A recent survey by a German-based research firm found 11 percent of Gen Zers read the Bible daily, compared to two percent of all Germans. Gen Z is also more like to believe in God than the general population and more likely to attend church than their grandparents.  New Republican Party Platform's 20 promises As The Worldview reported on Tuesday, the National Republican Party released its new platform on Monday. Former President Donald Trump backed the policy document. The party made 20 promises, including these:  Seal the border and stop the migrant invasion.  Defend our … fundamental freedoms, including … freedom of religion. End the weaponization of government against the American people. Cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children. The platform stated, “Today and together, with love for our country, faith in our people, and trust in God's good grace, we will make America great again!”  Tony Perkins not pleased with new GOP Platform However, the new Republican platform is soft on abortion and faux homosexual marriage.  For the first time in 40 years, the party is no longer calling for a federal abortion ban. Republicans also removed their definition of marriage, as being between one man and one woman.  Tony Perkins is the President of the Family Research Council and a member of the Republican platform committee. He has opposed recent changes, saying, “America can't be great until it's morally good. It has to have that foundation.”  Micah 6:8 reminds us, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Military chaplains needed ASAP Right now, there is a 50% vacancy in the chaplain positions in the Oregon Air National Guard. Sadly, it's indicative of the absence of military chaplains nationwide. As Kevin Swanson travels and speaks abroad, I guest host for him today on Generations Radio. I interview Brigadier General David Unruh, a regular listener to Generations Radio and the commander of 2,400 Airmen in Oregon. He sees a great opportunity for ministry.  He hopes Worldview listeners who are pastors will prayerfully consider serving one weekend per month in the Oregon Air National Guard -- or the National Guard of their home state -- as a chaplain. UNRUH: “I need ministers in the military to serve as chaplains to meet those spiritual needs, to help instruct the members of my military organization in the nature of what they believe is morally, ethically right in those foundations of liberty that we stand for. “And today in the Oregon Air National Guard, I'm short of Chaplains. I'm not just hiring chaplains that are like Pastor Jonas Clarke. I hire all sorts of chaplains. But his specific events in history are really the genesis of the email that are reached out to you that those heroic type of pastors are the kinds of pastors we need today more than ever.” Listen to my 39-minute interview with Brigadier General David Unruh who commands 2,400 airmen in the Oregon Air National Guard. Just go to Generations.org/radio. That's Generations.org/radio. 1,500-year-old ivory relic depicts Moses receiving 10 Commandments And finally, archaeologists recently announced their discovery of a 1,500-year-old relic in Austria, reports The Christian Post. Experts from the Innsbruck University discovered the ancient reliquary box made of ivory in a previously unknown church. They believe it depicts Moses receiving the Ten Commandments as well as Christ's ascension.  Archaeologist Gerard Grabherr said, “We know of around 40 ivory boxes of this kind worldwide and, as far as I know, the last time one of these was found during excavations was around 100 years ago.”    Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, July 10th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Join me, Adam McManus, and my two sons, Honor and Valor, at the Colorado Father-Son retreat Thursday, August 15th through Sunday, August 18th. Go to ColoradoFatherSon.com. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Dan Wilt is an author, speaker, worship leader, song writer, and student of the Holy Spirit. He is part of both the Anglican Communion and the Vineyard Church and has taught in conferences, university settings, seminaries, and churches across streams of the Body of Christ. He is part of the Seedbed and New Room families and has published several books through them, the latest of which is all about the Holy Spirit. Receive the Holy Spirit is more than a book. It is a primer and a spiritual guide — a 70-day practice of Scripture reading, prayer, and reflection that spans the first moments of creation all the way to today.

Roadmap for a reset communion - with Paul Donison and Glenn Davies The chair of Gafcon Laurent Mbunda and chair of Global South Justin Badi Arama are to meet to work out a roadmap for the resetting of the Anglican Communion. Global South Anglicans have endorsed the Former Sydney Archbishop Glenn Davies call for the communion to be reset on biblical foundations.  The Global South have called on their Primates to work with the GAFCON Primates Council and other Orthodox leaders to reset the communion on its biblical foundations as a matter of urgency.In other Anglican news. The Church of England General Synod is meeting in York.  They are considering whether to press go to move towards the next stage of endorsing their bishops' proposals for same sex blessing.  Orthodox Anglicans united under a banner called The Alliance are calling for structural differentiation in England (essentially a new province).  The Bishop of Oxford has hit back telling The Alliance to take a running jump. Orthodox Anglicans from across Australasia gathered in Brisbane last week. New daughter churches are being planted within the fledging diocese of the Southern Cross. A new Archbishop appointed to lead the Anglican Church of North America. Steve Wood will replace Foley Beach. A collective meeting of orthodox leaders in Cairo has met for a week on ways that faithful christians might be able to reset the Communion. The Global South Anglicans met in Cairo the week before that and voted to call for the chair of the Global South Justin Badi Arama to work with the chair of Gafcon to reset the communion. Our guests are new General Secretary of Gafcon Paul Donison and new Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern Cross (and former Archbishop of Sydney) Glenn Davies. Support the Show.--Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

Church of England revs with a difference Daniel French and Jamie Franklin are back to talk about the biggest issues in church and state. This time:Is the decline of Christianity linked to the decline of Englishness?Anglican primates attempt to decolonise the Anglican Communion apparently by giving the Archbishop of Canterbury more power than before. We ask what is the issue behind the issue.And we check in with Russell Brand to find out how his first week being a Christian has gone.That and much much more as always.Please Support!Support us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/irreverend) or Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend). Subscribe to Jamie's Blog here: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comLinks:Rod Dreher: What is England? What is a nation: https://roddreher.substack.com/p/what-is-england-what-is-a-nation?r=bgzv3&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=truePaul Kingsnorth: And did those feet?: https://paulkingsnorth.substack.com/p/and-did-those-feet?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=emailAnglican Primate Meeting: https://www.anglicanfutures.org/post/primates-24-justin-welby-left-spinninghttps://www.e-n.org.uk/2024/05/world-news/the-calm-after-the-storm-what-difference-does-the-anglican-primates-meeting-make/57634/Russell Brand Christianity update: https://twitter.com/rustyrockets/status/1787478968720826859Notices:Find me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and ways to support us at https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.comJamie's Good Things Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comSupport the Show.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, her son Prince Charles became King at the age of 73. He inherited the many titles that his mother carried throughout her 70-year reign, one of which is the “Defender of the Faith”. That refers to his role as the supreme governor of the Church of England. In 2009, the Church of England stated it had over 26 million baptised members accounting for nearly half of the population of England. It is also the mother church of the international Anglican Communion which is present around the world, particularly in Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia and South Africa. The British monarch's role as Defender of the Faith is mostly symbolic; in practice he has limited powers. What is the monarch's role as head of the Church of England? How was the Church of England born? What is the Church of England religion like? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Why is black associated with grief? Should you sleep with socks on? How can I get the most out of daytime napping? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast: 26/10/2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Canon Phil talks with the Rev. Philip DeGray Warter of the Anglican Network in England. How do we partner together within the Anglican Communion to preach Christ faithfully to the nations, and what might it look like for Gafcon and the Global South Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GSFA) to work together? How we answer these questions at a global level affects our life at the local level within our Anglican churches.

It is almost D day in the Anglican Communion.Today we give the background for two highly significant meetings. One to take place next week in Rome.  The second in June in Cairo.The Rome gathering has been called by the rejected Canterbury leadership.  The Cairo gathering has been called by the leadership of the Global South.As background, The Church of England, the historic mother church of the Anglican Communion, under the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury formally abandoned the historic Christian faith when the English General Synod voted to follow Archbishop Welby and his house of bishops in voting for same sex blessings.In reaction, the majority theologically orthodox have drawn a line in the sand and parted company with The church of England.The Global South Churches said in their important Ash Wednesday 23 statement that the Church of England has disqualified herself from leading the Anglican communion.Gafcon said the Archbishop of Canterbury's leadership has been irreparably damaged.We speak with  the chair of the Global South Archbishop Justin Badi Arama of South Sudan and the new General Secretary of Gafcon Bishop Paul Donison.Support the show--Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

On this Episode of FACTS, Stephen and Tyler will share their long journey that put them on the path to join the Anglican Communion. This was the most requested episode in the last survey, and we hope you enjoy both Stephen and Tyler sharing their perspective of the Christian faith and how God shaped it over the years. For more in-depth discussions on Baptism and Eucharist, there are videos we have done on these subjects already. For Baptism: https://www.youtube.com/live/pMlHrXJrC0Q?si=bpDgmG7y6BNikuN5For Eucharist:https://www.youtube.com/live/7Tks44Q-1y4?si=a0ERn8ZJQdsRi1yD

In which the vicars take a winter break on the sunny Caribbean Island of St Marie, investigate a murder, and discover the real meaning of Epiphany. Featuring: an embarrassment in pink, Poirot the Priest, and ministry overseas. This week, the vicars watched S6 E8 of Death in Paradise - 'Murder in the Polls' (2017) In this episode we touch on the wider issues surrounding the Anglican Communion and colonialism/post-colonialism, but recognise that we are not equipped to have a truly informed discussion. The following reading has been suggested: 'Ancestral Feeling: Postcolonial Thoughts on Western Christian Heritage' by Renie Chow Chow (SCM Press 2021, ISBN 9780334060901) 'The Anglican Tradition from a Postcolonial Perspective' by Kwok Pui-Lan (Seabury Books 2023, ISBN 9781640656307) https://www.patheos.com/library/anglican/historical-development/exploration-conquest-empire ‘Much Beloved Daughter: The Chinese Christian who became the first woman Anglican Priest' by Florence Li Tim Oi with Ted Harrison (DLT 1985, ISBN 0232516324) We are the Vicars Watch Dibley - three real priests who talk about pop culture and what it's taught us about life, faith and the church. We've watched Dibley, and now we're watching everything else! ------- Follow us: Instagram @vicarswatchdibley | Twitter / X @VicarsWatch | Facebook @VicarsWatchDibley Contact us by email at vicarswatchdibley@gmail.com ------- Hosts: Revd Ruthi Gibbons (Instagram @ruthigibbons) Revd Ross Meikle (X @meikle_treacle, Instagram @storytellerross) Revd Cate Thomson (Instagram @revdcate) Producer + music and editing by Revd Natalie Gibbons. ------ Any opinions expressed in this episode are our own and do not necessarily represent those of the Church of England or any other organisations with which we are affiliated. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vicars-watch/message

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, December 19th, 2023. Pub Membership Plug: Public Houses, or Pubs, are not just places to drink beer, wine, cider or even something a little stronger. It is also a unique social centre, very often the focus of community life in villages, towns and cities throughout the length and breadth of the world. We here at CrossPolitic hope to emulate that for you and yours. That’s why you should grab yourself a pub membership at fightlaughfeast.com… we need you on this ride with us. So pull up a chair, grab a pint, and join us on this ride at fightlaughfeast.com - that’s fightlaughfeast.com. https://www.foxnews.com/media/navy-vet-defends-beheading-iowa-capitols-satanic-baphomet-statue-christian-civil-disobedience Navy vet defends beheading Iowa capitol's satanic Baphomet statue: 'Christian civil disobedience' A Mississippi Navy reserve pilot instructor who admitted to beheading a statue of the satanic half-man, half-goat Baphomet inside the Iowa State Capitol told Fox News he was simply engaging in "Christian civil disobedience." Michael Cassidy said he decided "spur of the moment" to travel north to Des Moines and take action against the statue, which had been permitted to be erected not far from the rotunda's Nativity display for Christmas. He told "Jesse Watters Primetime" he wrecked the statue then went straight to Capitol security to tell them what he did. "I wasn't running away or anything like that. I told them what I did," he said, thanking law enforcement for their professionalism following the incident. He was cited for criminal mischief in the fourth degree and released. "I saw that this was going on, I was surprised that the legislature allowed it up and that they didn't do anything to take it down," Cassidy added. He said he wasn't sure what to expect when he came upon the Capitol, citing a prior incident in Springfield, Ill., where groups were chanting after a 2021 erection of a satanic statue in the Illinois State House. In a Tuesday statement, Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said she found the statue "absolutely objectionable," but that the best response to objectionable speech is more speech and prayer. After he was charged, several conservative figures rallied to Cassidy's defense, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and conservative commentator Matt Walsh. DeSantis promised to "chip in" for Cassidy's legal fees, writing on X, formerly Twitter, that "Satan has no place in our society and should not be recognized as a ‘religion’ by the federal government." Walsh similarly tweeted he will contribute to Cassidy's defense. Host Jesse Watters noted the contrast between reaction to Cassidy's act and the dozens of protests in recent years that featured left-wing activists tearing down statues of Confederate officers, former U.S. presidents and historical figures like Christopher Columbus. He pointed to then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., dismissal of the crowd in her home neighborhood of Little Italy, Baltimore, who leveled the Columbus statue and tossed it in the Patapsco River. "People will do what they do," Pelosi said at a July 2020 press conference. The city of Richmond, Va., in recent years removed an entire street's worth of statuary dedicated to Confederate Gens. A. P. Hill, "Stonewall" Jackson and J. E. B. Stuart, all of which lined the former Confederate capital's "Monument Avenue" for decades. Left-wing protesters notably failed to topple the statue of Andrew Jackson, the first Democratic president, near the White House in 2020 after being rebuffed by law enforcement. In that respect, Watters said there appears to be a dichotomy between what statuary destruction causes mainstream or left-wing outrage. Cassidy's attorney, Davis Younts, said his client's case is a question of good versus evil, and that he and those who have come to his defense will continue to stand by him to make sure he gets equal protection under law. He also said there has not yet been a First Amendment suit in case law that has found Satanism to be considered a religion under the Constitution, and that anti-blasphemy laws still exist in the United States. https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/12/17/church-of-england-blesses-same-sex-couples-for-the-first-time/ Church of England Blesses Same-Sex Couples For the First Time Church of England priests offered officially sanctioned blessings of same-sex partnerships for the first time on Sunday, though a ban on church weddings for gay couples remains in place amid deep divisions within global Anglicanism over marriage and sexuality. In one of the first ceremonies, the Rev. Catherine Bond and the Rev. Jane Pearce had their union blessed at St John the Baptist church, in Felixstowe, eastern England, where both are associate priests. The couple knelt in front of Canon Andrew Dotchin, who held their heads as he gave “thanks for Catherine and Jane, to the love and friendship they share, and their commitment to one another as they come before you on this day.” The church´s national assembly voted in February to allow clergy to bless the unions of same-sex couples who have had civil weddings or partnerships. The words used for the blessings, known as prayers of love and faith, were approved by the church´s House of Bishops on Tuesday and used for the first time on Sunday. The compromise was struck following five years of discussions about the church´s position on sexuality. Church leaders offered an apology for the church´s failure to welcome LGBTQ people, but also endorsed the doctrine that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Clergy won´t be required to perform same-sex blessings if they disagree with them. The blessings can be used in regular church services. The church´s governing body has also drawn up a plan for separate “services of prayer and dedication” for same-sex couples that would resemble weddings, but it has not yet been formally approved. Public opinion surveys consistently show that a majority of people in England support same-sex marriage, which has been legal since 2013. The church didn´t alter its teaching on marriage when the law changed. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said he won´t personally bless any same-sex couples because it´s his job to unify the world’s 85 million Anglicans. Welby is the spiritual leader of both the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion of which it is a member. Several Anglican bishops from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific said after the February decision that they no longer recognize Welby as their leader. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/12/18/poll-54-of-democrat-voters-want-to-replace-joe-biden-as-2024-nominee/ Poll: 54% of Democrat Voters Want to Replace Joe Biden as 2024 Nominee Democrat party voters are unhappy President Joe Biden, 81, is the presumptive Democrat nominee to likely challenge former President Donald Trump, Fox News polling revealed Sunday. The poll highlights the disconnect and discord inflicting the Democrat party after Biden refused to step aside and allow a different Democrat to lead the party. The survey showed: 54 percent of Democrat primary voters prefer an alternative to Biden. Just 43 percent of Democrat primary voters want to keep Biden. The polling showed a slight uptick in negative sentiment against the president: October: 53 percent prefer an alternative, while 45 want to keep Biden March: 52 percent prefer an alternative, while 44 want to keep Biden Biden previously told reporters in December he must run for reelection after prominent Democrats implored him to reconsider a second bid against Trump. “Would you be running if Trump wasn’t running?” a reporter asked Biden. “I expect so,” Biden replied. “But he is running, and — I just — I have to run.” Biden’s comment came on the same day he told donors he probably would not run if Trump was not running. “If Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I’d be running,” Biden said, adding that Democrats “cannot let him [Trump] win.” National and battleground state polling shows Biden losing to Trump: Morning Consult: Trump leads Biden in six of seven crucial swing states. NBC News: Trump leads Biden by two points. Fox News: Trump trounces Biden by four points. The poll surveyed 1,0007 registered voters from December 10-13 with a 4.5 point margin of error. https://thepostmillennial.com/eric-adams-admits-biden-admin-will-not-help-nyc-with-illegal-immigrant-crisis?utm_campaign=64487 Eric Adams admits Biden admin will not help NYC with illegal immigrant crisis On Sunday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that Democrats "underestimated" the impact that illegal immigration would have on their cities, and warned New Yorkers to brace for "extremely painful" budget cuts to pay back the debt created by it. In an interview with WPIX-TV, Adams said, that a low for the city in 2023 was "150,000 migrants and asylum seekers that put a real bump in the road of our recovery effort in the city." https://twitter.com/i/status/1736507664308277364 - Play Video https://twitter.com/i/status/1736512831963430927 - Play Video Combine these videos After a meeting with the congressional leaders of the Biden administration earlier this month, Adams said he was not optimistic about getting help from the federal government to deal with the illegal immigrant crisis plaguing New York City. Adams was forced to cut the budget for the New York City Police Department last month, taking the department below 30,000 personnel. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/aaron-rodgers-likely-cleared-return-ruptured-achilles-next-week-report Aaron Rodgers likely to be cleared for return from ruptured Achilles next week Aaron Rodgers' bold prediction is apparently about to play out. The four-time MVP ruptured his Achilles Sept. 11 on just his fourth snap as a New York Jet. Four days later, he shocked the world when he said, "Give me your doubts,then watch what I do." At that time, Rodgers did not rule out a return this season, saying that "anything is possible." Most doubted, but it may actually become a reality. According to ESPN, the 40-year-old is likely to be medically cleared to return next week. Rodgers returned to practice Nov. 29, roughly seven weeks since his injury. It was an unprecedented time frame to practice after such an injury. However, Rodgers said he underwent "innovative" surgery in his best effort to get back on the field this season. Rodgers has said he wanted a return on Christmas Eve. The Jets have until Wednesday to decide whether to activate Rodgers from injured reserve. Otherwise, he would miss the rest of the season. Rodgers has wowed just about everyone in the organization with how quickly he has progressed. Earlier this week, he even lined up as a linebacker for the scout team and made a one-handed interception. However, being cleared isn't exactly a guarantee Rodgers would play. The quarterback and the Jets have said the team's playoff chances will play a role in whether he returns. He likely would not return if they are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, which could happen this weekend. Rodgers recently said there are hardly any risks in taking the field this season. "My thing is, what’s the worst that can happen?" he told reporters shortly after returning to practice. "Something unfortunate again, and then you just slow the rehab down. I think by my own timetable that if you take the rehab slower and a little more deliberate — five months, six months max — is probably the length to get back to 100% if you really take it slow. So, in my opinion, there's not like a downside to coming back and reinjuring it." The Jets face the Washington Commanders on Christmas Eve.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, December 19th, 2023. Pub Membership Plug: Public Houses, or Pubs, are not just places to drink beer, wine, cider or even something a little stronger. It is also a unique social centre, very often the focus of community life in villages, towns and cities throughout the length and breadth of the world. We here at CrossPolitic hope to emulate that for you and yours. That’s why you should grab yourself a pub membership at fightlaughfeast.com… we need you on this ride with us. So pull up a chair, grab a pint, and join us on this ride at fightlaughfeast.com - that’s fightlaughfeast.com. https://www.foxnews.com/media/navy-vet-defends-beheading-iowa-capitols-satanic-baphomet-statue-christian-civil-disobedience Navy vet defends beheading Iowa capitol's satanic Baphomet statue: 'Christian civil disobedience' A Mississippi Navy reserve pilot instructor who admitted to beheading a statue of the satanic half-man, half-goat Baphomet inside the Iowa State Capitol told Fox News he was simply engaging in "Christian civil disobedience." Michael Cassidy said he decided "spur of the moment" to travel north to Des Moines and take action against the statue, which had been permitted to be erected not far from the rotunda's Nativity display for Christmas. He told "Jesse Watters Primetime" he wrecked the statue then went straight to Capitol security to tell them what he did. "I wasn't running away or anything like that. I told them what I did," he said, thanking law enforcement for their professionalism following the incident. He was cited for criminal mischief in the fourth degree and released. "I saw that this was going on, I was surprised that the legislature allowed it up and that they didn't do anything to take it down," Cassidy added. He said he wasn't sure what to expect when he came upon the Capitol, citing a prior incident in Springfield, Ill., where groups were chanting after a 2021 erection of a satanic statue in the Illinois State House. In a Tuesday statement, Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said she found the statue "absolutely objectionable," but that the best response to objectionable speech is more speech and prayer. After he was charged, several conservative figures rallied to Cassidy's defense, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and conservative commentator Matt Walsh. DeSantis promised to "chip in" for Cassidy's legal fees, writing on X, formerly Twitter, that "Satan has no place in our society and should not be recognized as a ‘religion’ by the federal government." Walsh similarly tweeted he will contribute to Cassidy's defense. Host Jesse Watters noted the contrast between reaction to Cassidy's act and the dozens of protests in recent years that featured left-wing activists tearing down statues of Confederate officers, former U.S. presidents and historical figures like Christopher Columbus. He pointed to then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., dismissal of the crowd in her home neighborhood of Little Italy, Baltimore, who leveled the Columbus statue and tossed it in the Patapsco River. "People will do what they do," Pelosi said at a July 2020 press conference. The city of Richmond, Va., in recent years removed an entire street's worth of statuary dedicated to Confederate Gens. A. P. Hill, "Stonewall" Jackson and J. E. B. Stuart, all of which lined the former Confederate capital's "Monument Avenue" for decades. Left-wing protesters notably failed to topple the statue of Andrew Jackson, the first Democratic president, near the White House in 2020 after being rebuffed by law enforcement. In that respect, Watters said there appears to be a dichotomy between what statuary destruction causes mainstream or left-wing outrage. Cassidy's attorney, Davis Younts, said his client's case is a question of good versus evil, and that he and those who have come to his defense will continue to stand by him to make sure he gets equal protection under law. He also said there has not yet been a First Amendment suit in case law that has found Satanism to be considered a religion under the Constitution, and that anti-blasphemy laws still exist in the United States. https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/12/17/church-of-england-blesses-same-sex-couples-for-the-first-time/ Church of England Blesses Same-Sex Couples For the First Time Church of England priests offered officially sanctioned blessings of same-sex partnerships for the first time on Sunday, though a ban on church weddings for gay couples remains in place amid deep divisions within global Anglicanism over marriage and sexuality. In one of the first ceremonies, the Rev. Catherine Bond and the Rev. Jane Pearce had their union blessed at St John the Baptist church, in Felixstowe, eastern England, where both are associate priests. The couple knelt in front of Canon Andrew Dotchin, who held their heads as he gave “thanks for Catherine and Jane, to the love and friendship they share, and their commitment to one another as they come before you on this day.” The church´s national assembly voted in February to allow clergy to bless the unions of same-sex couples who have had civil weddings or partnerships. The words used for the blessings, known as prayers of love and faith, were approved by the church´s House of Bishops on Tuesday and used for the first time on Sunday. The compromise was struck following five years of discussions about the church´s position on sexuality. Church leaders offered an apology for the church´s failure to welcome LGBTQ people, but also endorsed the doctrine that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Clergy won´t be required to perform same-sex blessings if they disagree with them. The blessings can be used in regular church services. The church´s governing body has also drawn up a plan for separate “services of prayer and dedication” for same-sex couples that would resemble weddings, but it has not yet been formally approved. Public opinion surveys consistently show that a majority of people in England support same-sex marriage, which has been legal since 2013. The church didn´t alter its teaching on marriage when the law changed. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said he won´t personally bless any same-sex couples because it´s his job to unify the world’s 85 million Anglicans. Welby is the spiritual leader of both the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion of which it is a member. Several Anglican bishops from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific said after the February decision that they no longer recognize Welby as their leader. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/12/18/poll-54-of-democrat-voters-want-to-replace-joe-biden-as-2024-nominee/ Poll: 54% of Democrat Voters Want to Replace Joe Biden as 2024 Nominee Democrat party voters are unhappy President Joe Biden, 81, is the presumptive Democrat nominee to likely challenge former President Donald Trump, Fox News polling revealed Sunday. The poll highlights the disconnect and discord inflicting the Democrat party after Biden refused to step aside and allow a different Democrat to lead the party. The survey showed: 54 percent of Democrat primary voters prefer an alternative to Biden. Just 43 percent of Democrat primary voters want to keep Biden. The polling showed a slight uptick in negative sentiment against the president: October: 53 percent prefer an alternative, while 45 want to keep Biden March: 52 percent prefer an alternative, while 44 want to keep Biden Biden previously told reporters in December he must run for reelection after prominent Democrats implored him to reconsider a second bid against Trump. “Would you be running if Trump wasn’t running?” a reporter asked Biden. “I expect so,” Biden replied. “But he is running, and — I just — I have to run.” Biden’s comment came on the same day he told donors he probably would not run if Trump was not running. “If Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I’d be running,” Biden said, adding that Democrats “cannot let him [Trump] win.” National and battleground state polling shows Biden losing to Trump: Morning Consult: Trump leads Biden in six of seven crucial swing states. NBC News: Trump leads Biden by two points. Fox News: Trump trounces Biden by four points. The poll surveyed 1,0007 registered voters from December 10-13 with a 4.5 point margin of error. https://thepostmillennial.com/eric-adams-admits-biden-admin-will-not-help-nyc-with-illegal-immigrant-crisis?utm_campaign=64487 Eric Adams admits Biden admin will not help NYC with illegal immigrant crisis On Sunday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that Democrats "underestimated" the impact that illegal immigration would have on their cities, and warned New Yorkers to brace for "extremely painful" budget cuts to pay back the debt created by it. In an interview with WPIX-TV, Adams said, that a low for the city in 2023 was "150,000 migrants and asylum seekers that put a real bump in the road of our recovery effort in the city." https://twitter.com/i/status/1736507664308277364 - Play Video https://twitter.com/i/status/1736512831963430927 - Play Video Combine these videos After a meeting with the congressional leaders of the Biden administration earlier this month, Adams said he was not optimistic about getting help from the federal government to deal with the illegal immigrant crisis plaguing New York City. Adams was forced to cut the budget for the New York City Police Department last month, taking the department below 30,000 personnel. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/aaron-rodgers-likely-cleared-return-ruptured-achilles-next-week-report Aaron Rodgers likely to be cleared for return from ruptured Achilles next week Aaron Rodgers' bold prediction is apparently about to play out. The four-time MVP ruptured his Achilles Sept. 11 on just his fourth snap as a New York Jet. Four days later, he shocked the world when he said, "Give me your doubts,then watch what I do." At that time, Rodgers did not rule out a return this season, saying that "anything is possible." Most doubted, but it may actually become a reality. According to ESPN, the 40-year-old is likely to be medically cleared to return next week. Rodgers returned to practice Nov. 29, roughly seven weeks since his injury. It was an unprecedented time frame to practice after such an injury. However, Rodgers said he underwent "innovative" surgery in his best effort to get back on the field this season. Rodgers has said he wanted a return on Christmas Eve. The Jets have until Wednesday to decide whether to activate Rodgers from injured reserve. Otherwise, he would miss the rest of the season. Rodgers has wowed just about everyone in the organization with how quickly he has progressed. Earlier this week, he even lined up as a linebacker for the scout team and made a one-handed interception. However, being cleared isn't exactly a guarantee Rodgers would play. The quarterback and the Jets have said the team's playoff chances will play a role in whether he returns. He likely would not return if they are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, which could happen this weekend. Rodgers recently said there are hardly any risks in taking the field this season. "My thing is, what’s the worst that can happen?" he told reporters shortly after returning to practice. "Something unfortunate again, and then you just slow the rehab down. I think by my own timetable that if you take the rehab slower and a little more deliberate — five months, six months max — is probably the length to get back to 100% if you really take it slow. So, in my opinion, there's not like a downside to coming back and reinjuring it." The Jets face the Washington Commanders on Christmas Eve.

The Church of England prohibits same-sex relations. Even so, the debate on this position – in the UK and the worldwide Anglican Communion - continues. Should the Church allow and conduct LGBT blessings, and even marriages? And can the Church ever sanction sexual relations between two people who are not husband and wife, man and woman? These are the questions Anglicans tussle with. Most recently, bishops in England made a proposal that same-sex couples should be welcomed in church for a blessing. Opposition from conservative, Anglican groups has been noisy, including from some same-sex attracted Christians. Ahead of the General Synod, the Church of England's regular gathering of bishops, and elected clergy and laity, Heart and Soul explores the most divisive and explosive issue facing Anglicans. Linda Pressly meets Christians who both accept, and struggle with, the Church's teachings on sexuality. Producer/presenter: Linda Pressly Editor: Helen Grady Production co-ordinator: Mica Nepomuceno (Photo: Esther and Victoria were married in September, 2019 in Old Saint Paul's Church in Edinburgh. The Scottish Episcopal Church is a member of the world-wide Anglican Communion, but it has allowed same-sex marriage since 2017. Credit: Marta Kacala)

The U.S. Episcopal Church and by extension the worldwide Anglican Communion was rocked by the selection of the first out gay bishop twenty years ago this week. We'll take you back to the victorious consecration ceremony for the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson at the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore Center in Durham, November 2, 2003. And in NewsWrap: Jamaica's Supreme Court leaves the nation stuck with its British colonial-era anti-queer sex laws, Hungary's far-right government bars youth from the World Press Photo Exhibition because of five pictures of elderly queers, Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te joins an estimated 180,000 celebrants at the Taipei Pride March, Johannesburg Pride dedicates their parade to LGBTQ+ Ugandans and all Africans who “cannot march for themselves,” the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals puts Idaho's school bathroom bill on hold again, new Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson is a far right white Christian nationalist with a wealth of anti-queer skeletons in his closet, gay U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg dares House Speaker Johnson to come home with him for dinner, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Michael LeBeau and Melanie Keller (produced by Brian DeShazor).  All this on the November 6, 2023 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

In this episode, host Kelly Wolfe is joined by Episcopal priest -- and former rector of Kelly's local parish church -- Rev. Catherine Thompson to explore various aspects of the Episcopal church like:The origins of the Church of England, the Anglican Communion, and the Episcopal Church in the USThe differences between the Episcopal Church and the ACNA (Anglican Church in North America)The theological beliefs and practices in the categories of: God, mankind (LGBTQIA+ affirmation, egalitarianism, social justice issues, etc.), sin/salvation, heaven/hell, prayer, church polity/governance, sacraments & gatherings, the Bible, and more!To watch/listen to Mother Catherine's first appearance on the Let It Matter Blog during the Women of Valor series where we discuss Priscilla (and Paul/women in ministry): https://youtu.be/19skhNT4-cETo become a Patreon Partner with the podcast, go to Patreon.com/letitmatterpod and join us for as little as $4/mo (USD)!Guest Bio: The Rev. Catherine Thompson serves as the Priest-in-Charge of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Frederick, Maryland, a community of believers dedicated to growing in their love of God and love of their neighbors. She finds joy in learning and discovering new things, particularly in the area of congregational development. She also enjoys reading, traveling and spending time in nature. She holds degrees from Vassar College and Virginia Theological Seminary. She is married to Mark. They have two adult children and a 19-year-old poodle, named Mia, who offers daily lessons on the nature of unconditional love.