> Dean Scott: The decision of Gordon Brown to 'give up his historic right
to choose Bishops' is a gross misnomer.
The PM recommends a nomination to the Sovereign AFTER discussions
with Church leaders and the Crown Appointments Commission. The Queen is
involved too tho 'soto voce'.
The Sovereign alone (who is a devout woman) names the prelate.
It is then sent to the relevant
cathedral Chapter with what is called a 'conge d elir' (e.g. vote for
this one and this one only).
Historically a failure on the part of the Chapter so to do was a
treasonous act. Gordon Brown is no fool. Unlike his predecessor (The
Vicar of Cool Brittania he was once called) Brown takes religion just a
little more seriously.
He knows
that as a member of the Kirk he is ill qualified to name Bishops in
nomination (The Kirk is a National Church and not Established-the Queen
sends a High Commissioner to their General Assembly in Edinburgh where
they meet interestingly enough in a building owned by the Free Church of
Scotland on the Mound(a fine building it is-the Socttish Parliament met
there initially).
She does NOT
become a Calvinist when she crosses the Border and has never attended
(to my knowledge) the Presbyterian Lord's Supper. Not even when she was
acclaimed Queen in Edinburgh in 1952 at the High Kirk of Scotland (St
Giles adjacent to the Parliament Building)
Interestingly enough in the old days the brothels in the
Royal Mile near the Synod venue reported landrush business during the
time the elders were in session.
I am not a supporter of New Labour (The Liberal Democrats for the
moment under Sir Menzies Campbell Kt. is where I sit and would support
were I voting in Islington) they are just 'Tory Lite' but I think Brown
will surprise many. He is a thinking man and NOT a lawyer-a refreshing
change.
Blessings. GDVW+
Is there an Antidisestablishmentarianist in the house?
>
> I've never seen that word in print, but if there is
> such a thing as Antidisestablishmentarianism, there
> logically should be an Antidisestablishmentarianist.
>
> An English teacher from the last millenium said that
> Antidisestablishmentarianism was the longest word in
> the English language.
>
> At long last, the C of E is shedding more of the
> embarassing ties to the state, not due to any nobility
> on the part of the Church, but because the new prime
> minister sees the relationship as being improper if
> not unholy.
>
> Charles+
> "--------------------------------
>
> LONDON: Brown to give up power to pick Church leaders
>
> By Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor
> Sunday Telegraph
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/10/nbrown210.xml
> 6/10/2007
>
> Gordon Brown is preparing to give up the prime
> minister's historic right to choose the Archbishop of
> Canterbury - and other Church of England bishops.
>
> The move to grant "operational independence" to the
> Church will represent one of the biggest changes to
> its relationship with the state for centuries. It is
> just one of a swathe of "royal prerogative" powers,
> held by the prime minister, which Mr Brown is planning
> to do away with once he takes over at Number 10 later
> this month.
>
> In a move he has already announced, he will also give
> up his prerogative power to declare war without the
> consent of parliament. Military action, such as the
> invasion of Iraq, will in future have to be approved
> in advance by MPs.
>
> Mr Brown, whose father was a minister in the Church of
> Scotland, is determined that the Church of England
> will make up its own mind on who should succeed Rowan
> Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual
> head of 70 million Anglicans worldwide. He was
> appointed in 2002.
>
> The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that the prime
> minister-in-waiting has asked officials and senior
> politicians with close links to the Church to
> investigate the best way that he can renounce the
> "power of patronage".
>
> At the moment, the Crown Nominations Commission,
> considers candidates for vacancies for diocesan
> bishops, as well as the archbishops of Canterbury and
> York, whenever they arise.
>
> A list of two names, often in order of precedence, is
> then put to the prime minister who can select either
> name or ask the commission to provide a further name
> or names.
>
> However, a leading supporter of the Chancellor said:
> "Gordon does not believe that the PM should be
> involved with the selection of the head of the Church
> - or any other clergy. He is actively seeking ways of
> ending this power of patronage."
>
> One possible way forward would be for archbishops and
> bishops simply to be selected by the commission,
> without any input from Number 10, or by the General
> Synod of the Church of England, a body about
> 500-strong which includes clergy and lay members. The
> next meeting of the synod, scheduled for next month,
> may discuss the role of the prime minister in Church
> appointments.
>
> A papal-style "election" of the Archbishop of
> Canterbury by leading church figures is another
> possibility, but is not thought particularly likely to
> be introduced.
>
> Mr Brown wants his government to be seen as
> representing "all faiths and all cultures," and not
> tied significantly to the Church of England. His
> proposals raise the possibility that he might take
> steps to remove the right of bishops to take their
> seats in the House of Lords.
>
> Chris Bryant, the Labour MP and a former vicar, said:
> "I think it would be far better if the Church was
> independent of the power of the prime minister."
>
> Church insiders have confirmed they are aware of Mr
> Brown's proposals. A source added: "We would need to
> look carefully at any proposal which is put forward to
> establish whether any legislative or other changes
> were needed."
>
> Other prerogative powers held by the prime minister
> include the right to appoint and dismiss ministers,
> the decision on when to call a general election, the
> declaration of a state of emergency and even decisions
> on the creation of new universities.
>
> --
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