Synod | Jotup

The Anglican Communion has deep differences over homosexuality – but a process of dialogue, known as ‘via media,’ has helped hold contradictory beliefs together

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Martedì, Aprile 23, 2024

In the past six months, hundreds of congregations voted to leave the United Methodist Church over same-sex marriage and whether LGBTQ+ people should be clergy.

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In the past six months, hundreds of congregations voted to leave the United Methodist Church over same-sex marriage and whether LGBTQ+ people should be clergy.
With over 80 million believers in 160 countries, the Anglican Communion has been grappling with LGBTQ+ issues since the 1970s.
It is a long-standing process for navigating disputes called the “via media,” or middle way, which has thus far succeeded in holding together people with contradictory beliefs.

Controversies in the Anglican Communion

For decades, diverging points of view over homosexuality and rumors of schism have both confused and polarized believers in the global Anglican Communion.
This is part of a larger struggle within the Anglican Communion to renegotiate imbalances of power and authority left over from the colonial era of the British Empire.
In the 21st century, these churches still have most of the money in the Anglican Communion, but congregational numbers are dwindling.
That is the orthodox Anglican position.” Views like these carry great weight in the Anglican Communion, even today.

But they remain within the Anglican Communion.
The Episcopal Church in the U.S. has ordained openly gay bishops – most controversially Gene Robinson, former Bishop of New Hampshire, in 2003.
In 2016, the primates – the most senior leaders of the Anglican Communion – voted to suspend the Episcopal Church from decision-making on Anglican governance and policy for three years.

The via media

Despite such heated conflicts, the Anglican Communion holds together through the via media.
Via media was first mentioned by English reformers who broke from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century.
It is this Church of England that eventually spread globally with the British Empire to become the Anglican Communion.
In the 19th century, via media became a way of thinking about internal, rather than external, challenges, such as resolving debates over how to interpret scripture.

Holding together

It is this understanding of via media, I argue, that is holding the Anglican Communion together thus far.
Instead, it seeks to include people with deeply held but contrary beliefs within the same church through common worship and life.
The Church of England, for example, made plans for negotiations between people holding differing viewpoints before the Synod meets again in July 2024.

Lisa McClain is affiliated with her local Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Idaho. She is a professor of Gender Studies and a member of the international think tank The Inclusion Crowd as a gender expert.

Santa Clara University Leaders Visit the Vatican

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Martedì, Marzo 19, 2024

Also on Monday morning, March 18, University President Julie Sullivan had a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis.

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Also on Monday morning, March 18, University President Julie Sullivan had a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis.
Dicastery leaders sought Santa Clara’s insight and partnership for initiatives to better equip K-12 Catholic school educators with AI literacy guidelines, and to convene thought leaders to explore the ethical and humanistic dimensions of AI.
On Tuesday, the delegation is expected to further explore the vision in Impact 2030 for Santa Clara to become a University that better serves the world.
Rector of the Santa Clara Jesuit Community Luis Calero, S.J.

Catholics for Choice Statement on the Conclusion of the First Meeting of the Synod on Synodality

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Lunedì, Ottobre 30, 2023

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Catholics for Choice, which uplifts and amplifies the voices of the majority of Catholics who believe in reproductive freedom, issued the following statement upon the conclusion of the first meeting of Pope Francis's Synod on Synodality on October 29, noting the historic discussion of many hot-button issues, but expressing concern about the continued omission of abortion.

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The church cannot be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit on some issues while silencing conversation on others."
"The church's harmful teachings on gender and LGBTQIA+ people have profound intersections with its position on reproductive health and rights.
That's why I went to Rome to share the stories of Catholics for Choice who have had abortion care.
Catholics for Choice was turned away on our first attempt, but Jamie returned a week later and successfully completed the delivery.

Catholics for Choice Brings Abortion Stories to the Vatican

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Giovedì, Ottobre 5, 2023

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ROME, Oct. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In a powerful and dramatic pair of actions, Catholics for Choice President Jamie L. Manson, M.Div., unfurled a massive banner off the Ponte Sant'Angelo — with St. Peter's Basilica in the background — boldly proclaiming that "Faithful Catholics have abortions." Immediately after the banner drop, Manson ceremonially processed to the synod office with a booklet of stories collected from faithful Catholics who've had abortions.

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Today Catholics for Choice, which uplifts and amplifies the voices of the majority of Catholics who believe in reproductive freedom, brought the topic of abortion — and the stories of faithful Catholics who've had abortions — to the doorstep of Pope Francis's Synod on Synodality.
Immediately after the banner drop, Manson ceremonially processed to the synod office with a booklet of stories collected from faithful Catholics who've had abortions.
"The abortion stories I delivered today... represent the stories of millions Catholics all around the world who receive abortion care.
"The abortion stories I delivered today are courageous, heartbreaking, empowering, and faithful — and they represent the stories of millions Catholics all around the world who receive abortion care.

The worldwide consultations for the global synod reflect Pope Francis' efforts toward building a more inclusive Catholic Church

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Mercoledì, Ottobre 4, 2023

The Synod of Bishops was established by Pope Paul VI in 1965 as a permanent body in the Catholic Church, although its members do not meet on a regular schedule.

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The Synod of Bishops was established by Pope Paul VI in 1965 as a permanent body in the Catholic Church, although its members do not meet on a regular schedule.
It specifically refers to a meeting of selected bishops from around the world to advise the pope on matters of governance.
Paul VI instituted the Synod of Bishops as a way for Catholic bishops to exercise this authority.

A more open church?

The pope can also call an extraordinary meeting to discuss a more pressing topic and problem.
Catholics from around the world were invited to meet in their local dioceses, pray together and discuss questions about their church.
This meeting is therefore significant because it pictures the Catholic Church not as a top-down hierarchy but rather as an open conversation.
As Francis himself puts it, the synod offers an opportunity “of moving not occasionally but structurally towards a synodal church, an open square where all can feel at home and participate.”

Working document

This number will include representatives of religious orders and other Catholic organizations, as well as theologians from Catholic universities.
Those gathered in Rome will meet in both large sessions known as “general congregations” and small working groups, divided by the synod’s official languages – Italian, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.
The working document outlines four broad areas of discussion: synodality, communion, mission and participation.

Francis’ leadership style

This Synod of Bishops reflects Francis’ style of leadership and his vision of the Catholic Church for the future.
Francis himself has modeled a different version of the papal office by rejecting many customs that he associates with clericalism.
For example, he has continued to live in a modest apartment rather than in the Vatican palace.

Jesuit School of Theology Dean A.E. Orobator, S.J., Attending Synod on Synodality in Rome Oct. 4-29

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Martedì, Ottobre 3, 2023

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Agbonkhianmeghe E. (“Bator”) Orobator, S.J., the new dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University (JST-SCU), will be among the 364 voting members at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops meeting this month in Rome.

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Agbonkhianmeghe E. (“Bator”) Orobator, S.J., the new dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University (JST-SCU), will be among the 364 voting members at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops meeting this month in Rome.
View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231003589463/en/
The dean of Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, A.E.
Orobator, S.J., giving a homily at Santa Clara University's Mission Church.
The members will meet this month and in October 2024, after which they will provide suggestions to Pope Francis for a possible papal publication on synod findings.

Koskie Minsky LLP Announces a Proposed Settlement in Ralph Rowe Class Action

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Martedì, Agosto 8, 2023

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Koskie Minsky LLP announces that a proposed settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Keewatin and Scouts Canada on behalf of survivors of abuse committed by Ralph Rowe, a former priest and scout leader.

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Koskie Minsky LLP announces that a proposed settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Keewatin and Scouts Canada on behalf of survivors of abuse committed by Ralph Rowe, a former priest and scout leader.
Jonathan Ptak, a partner at Koskie Minsky LLP, the firm representing the class members, has stated: "the settlement will provide real compensation for a vulnerable class through a trauma-informed claims process.
The court will decide whether to approve the proposed settlement and counsel fees at a hearing scheduled for October 27, 2023.
The lawyers acting for the class are Koskie Minsky LLP.

BREAKING: Karen Georgia Thompson Becomes First Woman to Lead United Church of Christ

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Lunedì, Luglio 3, 2023

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Karen Georgia Thompson as the first woman, and the first Black woman, to lead the denomination as General Minister and President.

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Karen Georgia Thompson as the first woman, and the first Black woman, to lead the denomination as General Minister and President.
Thompson is the third woman nominated for the post , after the Revs.
“Today, United Church of Christ, we created a first together,” she said after the vote.
Thompson has been serving as Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries since 2019.

LB Water Announces New Board Members

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Mercoledì, Marzo 15, 2023

SELINSGROVE, Pa., March 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LB Water, a regional leader in water, wastewater, and stormwater solutions, has announced that Tim Apple and Malena Moore Gittler will join the company's Board of Directors.

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SELINSGROVE, Pa., March 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LB Water, a regional leader in water, wastewater, and stormwater solutions, has announced that Tim Apple and Malena Moore Gittler will join the company's Board of Directors.
Currently working for Contrast, a regional provider of communication and IT solutions and services, Tim has an extensive background in business.
Malena worked briefly with LB Water to establish a foundation for a new training program.
"The hard work and integrity everyone at LB Water demonstrates are impressive.

Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Announces Results of 2022 Director Election

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Giovedì, Ottobre 27, 2022

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CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) today announced the results of its 2022 Director Election.

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CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) today announced the results of its 2022 Director Election.
Members elected two directors from Illinois, one director from Wisconsin, and one public interest independent director who ran unopposed.
Since 2010, Ms. Johnson has been a director on the boards of the bank and holding company.
Mr. Newell has served on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Community Advisory Council since 2019.