ALTERNATIVES to diocesan chrism eucharists are being organised this 12 months at the side of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), as a part of a “de facto parallel province” for opponents of the introduction of church blessings for same-sex couples.
In an email to supporters, the CEEC’s national director, Canon John Dunnett, wrote: “With their ongoing concerns on the subject of Living in Love and Faith, we all know that many clergy across the country feel in good conscience unable to attend the normal Chrism Mass service of their diocese. So we’re offering two alternative services, in line with the Alliance’s construction of the de facto parallel province.”
The Alliance, which comprises members of Evangelical in addition to traditional Catholic groups within the C of E, warned last summer that they’d create a “de facto parallel province” with “pastoral oversight from bishops who remain faithful to orthodox teaching on marriage and sexuality” (News, 28 June 2024).
“The challenge is that the chrism mass expresses a level of unity between clergy and bishops which for a lot of is problematic right now,” Canon Dunnett told the Church Times on Tuesday.
The services were “a likelihood for clergy to reaffirm their call to ordained ministry, their commitment to the people God has called them to serve, and their identity as Anglicans”, he said:
“We hope and pray that this provision will help keep people on ‘the nice ship’ C of E whilst the choppy waters of impaired fellowship swirl around.”
The director of the Charismatic-renewal organisation ReSource, the Revd Dr Christopher Landau, nonetheless, wrote on social media that he felt a “deep sadness” in regards to the services.
“They are one other sign that we fail to provide the fostering of loving unity throughout the church the priority it deserves. And it seems like the holiest week of the 12 months is becoming unnecessarily politicised,” he wrote.
Alternative chrism masses have taken place for several many years as a part of arrangements for Catholic clergy with objections to the ordination of girls.
The CEEC held a small online service last 12 months as an alternative choice to diocesan chrism eucharists, but that is being scaled up this 12 months, with a service also being held in person in London, at St James the Less, Pimlico.
An online service on Tuesday 12 April will probably be led by the Rt Revd Julian Henderson, formerly Bishop of Blackburn, and the Rt Revd Keith Sinclair, formerly Bishop of Birkenhead.
The next day, the Rt Revd Pete Broadbent, formerly Bishop of Willesden, will lead the service in Pimlico, which is being coordinated by the London Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship — a regional grouping of the CEEC.
This service will probably be public, and clergy across the country, not only those based in London, are invited to attend.
