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Bishops' Statement on General Synod Vote

14/7/2014

Statement from the Council of Bishops Many in the Church of England are celebrating today, following final approval of the legislation to permit women to be ordained as bishops. While recognizing this, we deeply regret the further obstacle that this decision places in the path to the full, visible unity of the whole Church. We do, however, welcome the provision that has been made in the House of Bishops’ Declaration. It recognizes that our theological convictions about ministry and ordination remain within the spectrum of Anglican teaching and tradition. It assures us that bishops will continue to be consecrated within the Church of England who can provide episcopal ministry that accords with those theological convictions. It makes provision for parishes to gain access to that episcopal ministry by passing resolutions. This gives us confidence in our future as catholics who are called to live out our Christian vocation in the Church of England. For this we give thanks to God.

On behalf of the Council of Bishops
+ TONY PONTEFRACT
Rt Revd Tony Robinson
Bishop of Pontefract Chairman

Baroness Eaton elected as Walsingham Guardian

1/7/2014

Baroness Eaton of Cottingley, DBE, DL has been elected as a Guardian of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk. The Guardians look after the governance of the Shrine, which attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors from all over the country every year.

Margaret Eaton has worshipped at St Chad's, Manningham for over forty years. She said today: "My faith has been important to me from a very early age and that is why accepting this role at Walsingham means a great deal to me." She added: "I am delighted to have been elected to serve as a Guardian at Walsingham and look forward to sharing fully in the life of the Shrine in whatever way I am able to do in the years ahead."

On hearing the news, Bishop Tony Robinson, the Bishop of the Society for the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales congratulated Baroness Eaton, saying, "I am absolutely delighted to hear that Baroness Eaton has been elected a Guardian of the Shrine or Our Lady of Walsingham. It is a very special place for Catholic Anglicans." Baroness Eaton joins Fr Brian Bell, Fr John Gribben CR and Richard Mantle from our diocese who currently serve as Guardians at the shrine. Bishop Tony is the Shrine’s Visitor.

Baroness Eaton is a Conservative Party life peer in the House of Lords, with a distinguished political career. She has been a Councillor with Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council since 1986 and was chair of the Local Government Association until June 2011. In recognition of her many services she was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003 and made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours. She was also presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws of the University of Bradford in December 2012.

During her career, Baroness Eaton has served as Leader of Conservative Group, Council Leader, chair of Bradford Local Strategic Partnership Board and Bradford Cultural Consortium, co-chair of Bradford Safer Communities Partnership, director of Bradford Centre Regeneration Company and Leeds Bradford International Airport and has been Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire since 2008.

Her affiliations include appointments as chair and trustee of Near Neighbours, a national registered charity, an ambassador for the Angelus Foundation, a national registered charity for drugs education and trustee of Cottingley Town Hall in Bradford.

Master of the Guardians, the Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner said today: "Baroness Eaton will bring particular skills and a great deal of wisdom to the proceedings of the Guardians and I am delighted that she has accepted our approach for her to serve the Church in this way.

We will remember them

1/7/2014

The Revd Paul Cartwright, Vicar of St Peter's, Barnsley in the Wakefield Episcopal Area, travelled to France with the West Yorkshire Police Band for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day In the July issue of New Directions he reflects upon it - see page 13.

In the same issue Br Steven Haws of the Community of the Resurrection in the Huddersfield Episcopal Area, reminds us of state of The Episcopal Church of the USA - see page 28.

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Bishops' Statement on General Synod Vote

Baroness Eaton elected as Walsingham Guardian

We will remember them

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