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(REFERRED TO AS 'THE COMMON DOCUMENT', FORMING THE BASIS FOR DISCUSSION BY ALL PARTNER CHURCHES INVOLVED IN THE SCHEME) 1 Area 1.1 Geographical The geographical area involved is situated in Cardiff East, including Cyncoed, Llanedeyrn, Pentwyn, Pontprennau and St Mellon's. 1.2 Congregations 1.2.1 The ecclesial units within the oversight of the Ecumenical Bishop shall include: Christ Church United Free Church, Llanedeyrn Cyncoed Methodist Church Pontprennau Community Church The Rectorial Benefice of Cyncoed (All Saints, Cyncoed, All Saints, Llanedeyrn, St David's, Pentwyn, St Edeyrn and the Anglican ministry in Pontprennau Community Church) [together forming the Cyncoed, Pentwyn, Llanedeyrn and Pontprennau Local Ecumenical Partnership] and The St Mellon's Local Ecumenical Partnership, centred on The Church of the Resurrection, St Mellon's. 1.2.2 Other congregations belonging to any of the partners within the Covenanted Churches in Wales within the geographical area may elect to come within the oversight of the Ecumenical Bishop in the future. 1.3 The area delineated at paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 above shall hereafter be referred to as 'the Mission Area'. The Ecumenical Bishop shall fulfil the following positions within each of the church / denominational structures presently involved in the scheme: 2.1 Within Churches of the Baptist faith and order, the Ecumenical Bishop shall exercise a ministry of oversight, working in full consultation with the General Superintendent with regard to pastoral need and ministerial appointments. 2.2 For the Church in Wales, the Ecumenical Bishop shall be a Bishop in full communion with the Church in Wales, given authority by the Church in Wales Diocesan Bishop to perform the functions which the Diocesan is enabled to discharge under the Local Ecumenical Projects Canon 1991. 2.3 The Methodist Church will initially enable the delegation of authority from the Cardiff Circuit to the Ecumenical Mission Council (constituted as in paragraphs 4.1-4.6 below), in the longer term creating a new circuit covering the Mission Area, of which the Ecumenical Bishop shall be superintendent. The Ecumenical Bishop shall work in consultation with the Chair of the South Wales District in respect of such matters as the stationing of ministers. 2.4 The United Reformed Church will constitute the Mission Area as an Area of Ecumenical Cooperation, the Ecumenical Bishop acting as chair thereof.
3 The Role of the Ecumenical Bishop The Ecumenical Bishop, acting in Council as noted in paragraph 4.4 below, shall: be a pioneer in mission and evangelism; preside and preach at worship; exercise a sacramental ministry in accordance with the requirements of the denominations / churches involved; exercise pastoral oversight and care of the churches and the ministers within the Mission Area; conduct joint confirmations on behalf of all the churches in the partnership; preside at ecumenical ordinations on request from the denominations / churches involved in the scheme; speak on behalf of, and represent, the Mission Area in other forums, as required; undertake such other duties as may be required, in consultation with the Ecumenical Mission Council; encourage and enable further theological exploration in the fields of ecumenism and mission.
4 The Ecumenical Mission Council 4.1 An Ecumenical Mission Council will be established, having the status of a local ecumenical synod, before the appointment of the Ecumenical Bishop, a temporary Chair for which shall be appointed by the leaders of the Covenanted Churches involved in the scheme. 4.2 The Ecumenical Mission Council shall consist of: representation from each of the national church / denominational structures involved in the scheme; lay and ordained representation from the congregations involved in the scheme. 4.3 On appointment, the Ecumenical Bishop shall become the Chair of the Ecumenical Mission Council. 4.4 The Ecumenical Bishop shall act 'in Council' with the Ecumenical Mission Council in all matters properly delegated to the Council, including: extension of ecumenical involvement; local fund-raising; management of human and material resources within the area; mission strategy within the area; theological reflection pertinent to the roles of the Bishop and the Council. 4.5 The Ecumenical Mission Council shall have no authority to bind the national churches and denominations involved in any matter of policy save those which those churches and denominations shall have expressly delegated to it. 4.6 The Ecumenical Mission Council shall be responsible in all pertinent matters to the Cardiff and the Vale Regional CYT'N as Sponsoring Authority.
5 Finance 5.1 The Ecumenical Bishop and the Ecumenical Mission Council will be financed by a combination of: contributions from the Covenanted Churches involved in the scheme, according to an agreed formula; contributions from the churches within the Mission Area towards the day to day expenses of the scheme. 5.2 Housing will be offered to the Ecumenical Bishop as part of the salary package. 5.3 The denomination from which the Ecumenical Bishop is chosen shall act as paymaster in terms of salary, expenses, pension arrangements and all other matters concerned with the financing of the person in post.
6.1 The initial appointment of an Ecumenical Bishop shall be for a period of seven years. After four years the ENFYS Commission shall review the initiative and its contribution to their shared mission and bring proposals to the Covenanted Churches regarding action beyond that initial period. Those proposals may include a recommendation that the scheme be discontinued. 6.2 The position of the Ecumenical Bishop shall in principle be open to any ordained minister of one of the Covenanted Church traditions involved in the scheme. 6.3 A nominee for appointment as Ecumenical Bishop shall be proposed by an Electing Committee, to be set up by the ENFYS Commission, in consultation with the Ecumenical Mission Council. 6.4 The Electing Committee shall include representatives nominated by the Covenanted Churches and the Ecumenical Mission Council, in equal proportion. 6.5 Each Covenanted Church involved in the scheme must agree, by means appropriate to its structure, to the appointment of the person nominated before that person can be consecrated as Ecumenical Bishop.
7.1 The Ecumenical Bishop shall be consecrated and inducted at a Service of Consecration and Induction the form of which shall have been agreed by the Covenanted Churches involved in the scheme and which is consonant with the rites and ceremonies of those Churches. The Consecration and induction shall take place within the context of the celebration of Holy Communion according to the Covenanted rite. 7.2 The consecration shall involve the laying-on of hands by representatives of all the Covenanted Churches involved in the scheme, including at least three bishops. 7.3 The consecration shall not involve the re-ordination, or anything suggesting the re-ordination, of the person involved. 8.1 Covenanted Churches Those Churches which are signatories to the Welsh Covenant and are therefore represented on the ENFYS Commission. These are: The Church in Wales The Covenanted Baptist Churches The Methodist Church (in Wales) The Presbyterian Church of Wales The United Reformed Church (National Synod of Wales) 8.2 'The Covenanted Churches involved in the scheme' This does not, at present, include the Presbyterian Church of Wales. APPENDICES Schedule A Ecumenical Bishop: financing arrangements Set out below is a list of the cost headings and provisional estimates, for the year 2002, with the underlying assumptions.
Assumptions underlying the estimates Notes: 1. A stipend of £19,000 was suggested at the consultation of 14 February 2000. 2. It is assumed that the person appointed would continue in the pension scheme in which they were participating prior to appointment 3. The following assumptions have been made in respect of accommodation: a. the dwelling would be a house; probably situated in the North-east of Cardiff, comprising: 4-5 bedrooms, 2-3 reception, study, kitchen, utility, garage, at an estimated cost in year 2002 of £200,000; b. the capital cost of the house may be financed by funds borrowed from denominational or market source(s) and recovered through an annual charge based on the equivalent of a repayment mortgage, i e, monthly repayments on £200,000 over 25 years, say, £18,000 a year. 4. These costs result from the nature of the post. 5. Car travel: a. the postholder provides own car; b. and travels, say, 6,000 miles a year at 45p a mile, i e, £2,700. 6. The postholder might 'buy in' secretarial assistance of, say, 20 hours a week for 50 weeks year at a cost of £8 an hour, i e, say, £8,000. 7. These would include all reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the post.
Schedule B Ecumenical Bishop: financing arrangements Suggested sharings of the estimated annual cost of the post of Ecumenical Bishop are set out below (with the current sharing of Enfys costs).
Gender of the Ecumenical Bishop 1 The report 'Towards the Making of an Ecumenical Bishop in Wales' stated, (4.7), The Ecumenical Bishop will belong to each of our traditions in different ways. We endorse the view expressed in 'Ministry in a Uniting Church' that 'all ministries should be open equally to men and women', yet we recognise that as all our churches have not yet put this into practice, it will be necessary, in order to achieve that full communion with all our traditions which we desire, that the Ecumenical Bishop referred to in the current proposal shall be a man. 2 In responding positively to the proposal in 1998 all the churches recognised the need for further work and clarification on this matter before the final proposal was re-presented to each church for final decision. 3 Enfys has undertaken further consideration firstly within the panel which held conversations between the Church in Wales and the Methodist Church and which had participant observers from all traditions. In an exchange of letters in March 1999 the then Archbishop of Wales wrote to Eluned Williams: In the conversations between the Methodist Church and the Church in Wales both our churches have expressed support for the Enfys proposal for an Ecumenical Bishop. We appreciate and understand your concern that, at the earliest opportunity, the position of Ecumenical Bishop should be open to women and men. In 1996 the Church in Wales agreed to ordain women to the priesthood, but did not open the episcopate to them. It is inevitable, however, that this issue will eventually be raised, particularly when the value of the ministry of women will have come to be appreciated by the whole church. Normally it is only priests who have been in orders for seven years who are considered for posts of senior responsibility. We would not expect to consider this issue until at least seven years from January 1997 when the first women were ordained priests. Allowing for the fact that the Bench of Bishops at that time will have greatly changed from the present personnel, it is still highly likely that the question of women bishops will have been raised before a successor will have to be appointed to the first ecumenical bishop. Indeed it is possible that the necessary legislative process will have been initiated. 4 Mutual understanding has continued to develop between the churches and Enfys Leaders met with the Bench of Bishops in January 2001. Following a further meeting of the Bench of Bishops Archbishop Rowan wrote: Nothing formally has altered since Archbishop Alwyn's letter was written to Eluned Williams in 1999 - i.e. we are still constitutionally unable to admit women to the episcopate in this province, and we have no firm timetable for introducing the matter. However, it seems reasonable to us to say again that we should expect the question to begin constitutional consideration during the seven year period envisaged for the Ecumenical Bishop's (first?) term, and that we accept that, if this does not happen, our own commitment to the idea could properly be called into question. The recent decision of the Church of England to set up a working party in the synodical structure to look at the matter makes it clear that the Anglican Church in Britain is moving ahead, and it is likely that we shall let ourselves be guided to some extent by developments in England. This is, I realise, some way short of the commitment which some would wish for, but it is all I can properly say at present. 5 Within Enfys we are also aware that discussion as to the presence of women in senior positions in the life of the church should not be confined to the Church in Wales. While the other covenant partners may not place formal structural barriers there is still a marked proportionate lack of women in senior positions and our practice needs continual scrutiny. 6 Enfys thus brings the Ecumenical Bishop Proposal for final ratification by the covenant partners on the understanding that the first appointment will be of a man and that a subsequent appointment will be considered in the light of the then prevailing situation regarding the position being open to women. Further, while not wishing to predetermine discussion at the time of a second appointment, it is our understanding within Enfys that it is unlikely that we could proceed to a second appointment without the appointment being open to women and men.
SERVICE FOR THE CONSECRATION OF THE ECUMENICAL BISHOP As drafted by the ENFYS-BEM Panel and amended and accepted by the ENFYS Commission on 20 April 1999 together with corrections approved on 15 October 1999 PREFACE The act of worship which we are about to share is the fruit of 25 years of being together in the Covenant and growing together in unity. We have shared with each other the riches of our respective traditions. We have been built up in mutual trust. Now we feel called to do a new thing together which, while affirming our separate pasts, affirms all the more the common future into which God is leading us. The ministers who will preside throughout the service are representative of our several traditions. In their work and actions each represents all. In the same way, each part of the service, including the consecration and commissioning, should be seen not in isolation but in dynamic relationship to the whole. Like our ecumenical journey itself, the service is a creative process, a dramatic movement in the witness to the God 'who is able through the power which is at work among us to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus from generation to generation for evermore ! Amen.' (Ephesians 3.20f)
THE PRESIDING MINISTERS The Covenanted Baptist Churches
The Church in Wales The Methodist Church The United Reformed Church
THE PREPARATION 1 STAND Processional Hymn 2 The Chair of the Covenanted Baptist Churches We greet each other in faith: let our trust in one another mirror God's trust in us. We greet each other in hope: let us face the future together with anticipation. We greet each other in love: let our hearts be open to all God's people.
3 Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hidden; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. 4 SIT Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church for the consecration and commissioning of our brother N. as a Bishop in the Church of God, to work in this area of ecumenical co-operation and shared mission. 5 The governing bodies of the Covenanting Churches have assented to the designation of this area of ecumenical co-operation and the appointment of an ecumenical bishop. I therefore call upon their representatives to present their resolutions at the Lord's Table. The representatives present their written resolutions
6 KNEEL or SIT The Archbishop of Wales Let us pray. Eternal God, we thank you for the life, fellowship and rich inheritance of the Covenanted Churches in Wales, and for your grace in calling us to be your people. Llywydd y Gymanfa Forgive us for our apathy, mistrust and impoverished vision, and our obstinacy in denying our oneness in Christ. The Archbishop of Wales We thank you that you have drawn us together as one people to praise your holy name, and that your Spirit has led us to accept one another as co-workers in Christ. Llywydd y Gymanfa Forgive us for our histories of mutual hostility and indifference which dishonour your name, for perpetuating our divisions and for refusing to accept one another as Christ accepted us. Break the barriers that still divide us, heal the memories that burden us, strengthen the commitment that inspires us and release the gifts that equip us for witness and service. Llywydd y Gymanfa May what we are doing here today enable us to receive and embody more fully the unity which you give. May we and all your people grow in justice and love, and be a sign of your reconciling presence in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
7 STAND Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD 8 The Moderator of the National Synod of Wales Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us your gift of faith; that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Scriptures are read by representatives of the Local Ecumenical Area 9 SIT The Old Testament Reading - Numbers 27: 15-20, 22-23 Moses said to the LORD, 'Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over the community to go out and come in at their head, to lead them out and bring them home, so that the community of the LORD may not be like sheep without a shepherd.' The LORD answered, 'Take Joshua son of Nun, a man powerful in spirit; lay your hand on him and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the community. Give him his commission in their presence, and delegate some of your authority to him, so that the entire Israelite community will obey him.' Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, presented him to Eleazar the priest and the whole community, and laid his hands on him, and gave him his commission, as instructed by the LORD. 10 The New Testament Reading - 2 Corinthians 5: 14-20 For the love of Christ controls us once we have reached the conclusion that one man died for all and therefore all mankind has died. He died for all so that those who live should cease to live for themselves, and should live for him who for their sake died and was raised to life. With us therefore worldly standards have ceased to count in our estimate of anyone; even if once they counted in our understanding of Christ, they do so no longer. For anyone united to Christ, there is a new creation: the old order has gone; a new order has already begun. All this has been the work of God. He has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has enlisted us in this ministry of reconciliation; God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, no longer holding people's misdeeds against them, and has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors. It is as if God were appealing to you through us: we implore you in Christ's name, be reconciled to God! 11 STAND Hymn or Psalm 12 REMAIN The Gospel Reading - John 21: 15-17 STANDING After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others?' 'Yes, Lord,' he answered, 'you know that I love you.' 'Then feed my lambs,' he said. A second time he asked, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' 'Then tend my sheep.' A third time he said, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' 'Lord,' he said, 'you know everything; you know I love you.' Jesus said, 'Then feed my sheep.' 13 Diolch i ti, yr Hollalluog Dduw, Am yr Efengyl, Am yr Efengyl, Am yr Efengyl sanctaidd. Halelwia, Halelwia, Halelwia, Amen. Pan oeddem ni mewn carchar tywyll du, Rhoist in oleuni, Rhoist in oleuni, Rhoist in oleuni nefol. Halelwia, Halelwia, Halelwia, Amen. 0! aed, 0! aed yr hyfryd wawr ar led, Goleued ddaear, Goleued ddaear, Goleued ddaear Iydan. Halelwia, Halelwia, Halelwia, Amen. 14 SIT The Sermon - The preacher to be invited by the Commission 15 STAND The Nicene Creed - led by the preacher We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
THE CONSECRATION OF THE ECUMENICAL BISHOP The Presentation 16 SIT Those appointed by the Local Ecumenical Area present the bishop-elect to the Presiding Ministers We present to you N. to be consecrated as a bishop within the Church of God. We believe that he is called by God. He has been elected in accordance with the resolutions laid before us in this service. The bishop-elect is presented to the people by the Chair of the Covenanted Baptist Churches This is the person we propose to consecrate as a bishop. I therefore ask you to declare your assent to his consecration. Do you trust that, by God's grace, he is worthy to be consecrated? We trust that he is worthy. Will you uphold him in his ministry? We will uphold him.
The Charge 17 Llywydd y Gymanfa The Church is the People of God, the Body of Christ, and the Temple of the Holy Spirit, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. Ail who are baptized are called to be living stones built into a holy temple of God in the Spirit, and to be his instruments in renewing the world. Within the ministry of all God' s people you are now being set apart for the office and work of a bishop in the Church of God. You will be a bishop in council, exercising leadership and working in partnership with representatives of the churches. You are called to be a focus of unity and continuity in the church, a teacher of the faith and a pioneer in mission, a pastor to the people in your care and a leader to the ministers in your charge. Your office and ministry will contain within itself the fullness of the ordained ministry of the Church. You are to preach the Gospel, preside at the sacraments, and share in the confirmation of the baptized and in the ordination of new ministers. You will speak for the churches as an advocate of ecumenism and a prophet of peace and justice.
The Examination 18 The Moderator of the National Synod of Wales In order that we may know your willingness to receive this ministry of Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit, and so that you may be strengthened in your resolve to undertake it, we ask you these questions: Do you trust that you are truly called by God to the office and work of a bishop in his Church? Answer: I do so trust. Do you accept the Holy Scriptures as containing all things necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? Answer: I do so accept them. Do you believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ found in Holy Scripture to which the creeds of the ancient church and other historic confessions bear witness? Answer: I do so believe. Will you be a diligent minister of the Word of God, proclaiming the Gospel and teaching the Christian Faith Answer: By the help of God, I will. Will you faithfully administer the sacraments to the glory of God and the sanctification of his people? Answer: By the help of God, I will. As bishop in council, will you care for God's people, and nourish them from the riches of his grace? Answer: By the help of God, I will. Will you devote yourself to prayer and study, that you may grow in the knowledge and love of God in Jesus Christ? Answer: By the help of God, I will. Will you order your life in accordance with the teachings of Christ, so that you may be an example to your people? Answer: By the help of God, I will. Will you be gentle and merciful to all for Christ's sake, show compassion to the poor, confront the oppressor, and defend those who have no helper? Answer: By the help of God, I will. May the Lord who has given you the will to undertake this work, give you also the strength and power to perform it. The Prayers 19 KNEEL or SIT The Chair of the Covenanted Baptist Churches offers prayers for the world, the Church, the bishop-elect and the sphere of work in which he will be engaged 20 Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire; thou the anointing Spirit art who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart. Thy blessed unction from above is comfort, life, and fire of love; enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight. Anoint and cheer our soiled face with the abundance of thy grace: keep far our foes, give peace at home; where thou art guide no ill can come. Teach us to know the Father, Son, and thee, of both, to be but one; that through the ages all along this may be our endless song, 'Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.' The Consecration and Commissioning 21 The bishop-elect kneels. Then follows the laying on of hands in prayerful silence by fourgroups representing the Covenanted Churches involved in the scheme and including at least three bishops. The Archbishop of Wales prays with hands extended We praise and glorify you, almighty Father, because you have formed throughout the world a holy people for your own possession a royal priesthood, a universal Church. We praise and glorify you, because you have given us your only Son Jesus Christ to be the Apostle and High Priest of our faith, and the Shepherd of our souls. We thank you that by his death he has overcome death; and that, having ascended into heaven he has given his gifts abundantly to your people, making some, apostles; some, prophets; some, evangelists; some, pastors and teachers; to equip them for the work of ministry and to build up his body, the Church. And now we give you thanks that you have called N. to share in the ministry entrusted to your Church. Send down your Holy Spirit upon your servant N. for the office and work of a bishop in your Church. May he glorify you in the midst of your people and offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 22 SIT Representatives of the Covenanted Churches come forward to give the hand of fellowship. The Bishop of Monmouth In the name of Jesus Christ, we welcome you to this ministry of oversight to which you have been called. May the Lord watch over you and bless your service among his people here, that together we may proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. The Team Leader if the Baptist Union of Great Britain in Wales In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, in the name of these churches and in the name of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, I declare N. duly inducted to this ministry. The President of the Methodist Conference On behalf of the Methodist Church I welcome you to this ministry of oversight. We will work with you and pray for you. The URC Moderator of the National Synod of Wales Representing the South Wales District Council, acting on behalf of the United Reformed Church (in the United Kingdom), in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I declare N. to be inducted to the ministry of ecumenical bishop for the Cardiff East ecumenical area. 23 Representatives of the Local Ecumenical Area present to the Bishop a cross, a stole, a ring, a staff and a Bible with appropriate words. (The stole as a symbol of ecumenical ministry; the ring as a symbol of fidelity; the staff as a symbol of the pastoral office.) 24 The Convener of the Ecumenical Council welcomes the Ecumenical Bishop On behalf of the Ecumenical Council for Cardiff East I welcome you. We look forward to your presidency of the Council, your exercise of leadership in this, and your oversight of the life, ministry and mission of the churches. We will pray regularly for you that the Lord may watch over you, protect and guide you, and bless you richly among us. The Convener of the Ecumenical Council addresses the congregation I invite you to greet your Bishop. Applause
The Ecumenical Bishop presides over the Ministry of the Sacrament 25 STAND We are the Body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. 26 Hymn 27 The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise. Therefore with all your creation in heaven and on earth we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you, and saying: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. We praise you, Almighty Father, for creating all things and for making us in your own image. We thank you that while we were yet sinners you gave your only Son, Jesus Christ, to live as one of us, to suffer death on the Cross and to rise again for our salvation. On the night he was betrayed he took bread and, after giving thanks to you, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take, eat; this is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, he took the cup after supper, saying, 'Drink from this, all of you; this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.' Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. Therefore, heavenly Father, as we now proclaim his death, resurrection and ascension we offer to you these your gifts of bread and wine and ask you to accept our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. We pray that your Holy Spirit may come upon us and upon these gifts that we, receiving them, may share the body and blood of our Lord and be united in peace and love with all your faithful people, through the same Jesus Christ, by whom, in whom and with whom in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen. 28 KNEEL or SIT As our Saviour taught us, so we pray, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. 29 The Bishop breaks the bread and says The bread which we break is it not a communion in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body for we all partake of the one bread. The Bishop lifts the cup and says The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion in the blood of Christ? 30 The Bishop and other communicants share and receive the sacramental bread and wine, with these words The body of Christ, the Bread of Life. The blood of Christ, the True Vine. Each communicant responds Amen. 31 Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory . May we who share Christ's body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to others. Keep us in this hope that we have grasped; so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen. 32 STAND Hymn 33 The blessing of God Almighty, the Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen. 34 Go in peace and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Judgement by the Moderator elect of the General Assembly I have been asked to judge whether the resolution from the Synod of Wales regarding the United Reformed Church's involvement in the appointment of an Ecumenical Bishop for Cardiff East is in order. Assembly standing orders state that it shall not be in order to move a motion or amendment which 'contravenes any part of the Basis of Union '. They also state that the decision of the Moderator on this Standing Order shall be final. Paragraph 25 of the Basis says, inter alia, 'in the United Reformed Church all ministries shall be open to both men and women'. It is clearly written in paragraph 1 of Appendix 2 to the proposal that 'the Ecumenical Bishop referred to in the current proposal shall be a man'. It is on that ground that the legitimacy of the resolution from the Synod of Wales has been challenged. The Assembly, as all the councils of the Church, must respect the Basis of Union because, with the Structure, it defines the identity of the United Reformed Church. An important part of our identity, and the identity of the traditions that came together to form the United Reformed Church in 1972, 1981 and 2000, is that all ministries shall be open to both men and women. Our practice may not follow our principle in all cases, but that is all the more reason for holding on to the principle. Paragraph 6.2 of the proposals clearly states, 'The position of the Ecumenical Bishop shall in principle be open to any ordained minister of one of the Covenanted Church traditions involved in the scheme'. That unambiguous statement of principle certainly accords with the Basis of Union. I take that as the significant fact in judging this question. However, whilst our principle is that any pastorate or ministerial post is open to all ministers, there are sometimes good pastoral, theological, or ecumenical reasons why in a particular instance restrictions of various kinds should be applied. These are judged by those responsible for the call or the appointment. I believe it to be good practice that any restrictions, and the reasons for them, are openly discussed and made known. It seems to me that paragraph 1 of Appendix 2 can be seen as the judgement of those who have to deal with the particularities of the first appointment. As such it parallels a practice common in the United Reformed Church. It is important to me that, in open debate, the Synod of Wales has been unanimous in accepting the reasons for a particular restriction on the first appointment. It is also important in my assessment of the case that paragraph 6.1 provides for a review of the initiative after four years and says of any proposals resulting from the review, 'those proposals may include a recommendation that the scheme be discontinued'. It seems to me that a future Moderator might well judge a resolution to continue the initiative with a second appointment limited to men as out of order, because there would be a prima facie case that Appendix 2 rather than paragraph 6.2 had become the guiding principle. The length of these comments should indicate that I have not found this an easy judgement to make. However, my conclusion is that the resolution from the Synod of Wales is in order. John Waller Moderator elect of the General Assembly 21 March 2002 |
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