The Archbishop of Canterbury is to be knighted

I think Welby the weakest wishy washy Archbish ever!

I can’t agree with you if you mean to continue with services,
prayer groups etc during Covid

Anniebach

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

John Wesley

I thoroughly agree with this sentiment and, having been brought up a Methodist, I try to live by it. But I can’t see how it is relevant to the Archbishop. He had a unique opportunity during the pandemic to do an amazing amount of good and had he done so, who knows, it might have resulted in a revival of the church. One of the simple things he could have done was to say loudly and repeatedly “The Lord says Be not afraid.” It is the phrase that occurs most often in the Bible and how good it would have been to hear it.

Wonder why he would do so. JC would not have got knighted, a sort of vanity.

M0nica

The AB of C is not responsible for closing churches, That has been going on for decades. My sister headed an organisation deputed with finding new uses for redundant churches back in the 1970s-90s.

Churches are closing because people do not go to church anymore. If nobody goes to church, no one is providing money to maintain them therefore they close.

I was talking about during the pandemic not the general decline of the C of E. But who else is to blame for that if not the man at the top?

Callistemon21

Ps Disestablishmentarianism is a moot subject.

(And good excuse to use that word, Granny23 😃)

It's a fantastic word

I see it as thanks for officiating at the Coronation, following the late Queen’s example. The Archbishop came to the ministry late in life after a high flying career, following the death of his child. He hasn’t trodden the traditional path and is unlike those of his predecessors who I can remember, but he has wide experience of life and that gives him valuable insight.

Ps Disestablishmentarianism is a moot subject.

(And good excuse to use that word, Granny23 😃)

Granny23

Once again I post with my Scottish Hat on. The moderator of the Church of Scotland, who is "elected" each year by the members of the Church for a one year term of office, has no special place in the Scottish Government. I have long objected to the Bishops of the Church of England, sitting in the Lords and deciding on matters for the whole of the UK. Nowadays when the vast majority of people have no connection whatsoever to the C of E, either being of another different Christian Church, another religion or no religion at all, it is ridiculous that the CofE has a special place in the parliament, making or changing laws which affect everyone in the UK.
If the monarch is only King and head of state when he has been crowned and anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, then is he King of us all or only of
C of E adherents?

The Church of England is established, other countries of the UK do not have an established church. The Church in Wales is not established.

The Monarch is Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England (which dates from Henry VIII) but it's separate from being Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth.

Charity work cannot be accepted as Christian work ?

I hadn't realised it was at the discretion of the Bishop of the diocese Anniel; how very sad.

maddyone

That’s a slightly different question. No priest or leader of religion should be offered a knighthood in my opinion. Religious life should not include material rewards or honours, other than normal needs being met such as housing, salary etc. If people desire such rewards they should go into business or run a charity --or become an MP.--

Spot on maddyone

If the King wanted to say thank you then it should have been in written format so that the document goes into the archives for historical reference thus recording the King's thanks.

I should have recalled it was the Bishop of London, never a very warm lady, who decreed that out Parish Priest had to retire. It was in the diocese rules. I have never forgotten what a warm and welcoming personality he brought to the job and his wife was the same. I realise that fewer and fewer people go to church. I mourn that fact.

He has rubbed the wrong way many on the Conservative Right, some pillars of the CofE, for being on the 'left', the side of the oppressed and the less well off, insisting Christian principles should be applied in RL, not just in Church and sermons. Not the first one, not the last either.

Anniebach

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

John Wesley

Yes, and you don't have to be Christian or religious at all to do so.

As for the Archbishop- if given for him as a person, man, friend, why not? I have no objection here.

Amen to that Annie.

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

John Wesley

That’s a slightly different question. No priest or leader of religion should be offered a knighthood in my opinion. Religious life should not include material rewards or honours, other than normal needs being met such as housing, salary etc. If people desire such rewards they should go into business or run a charity or become an MP.

A knighthood certainly shouldn’t be held by a person who should be setting an example to other Christians. I would leave that Church and look for another biblical based church if I lived there.

No Christian should accept a knighthood?

I’m sure you’re right Annie, but the fact remains that the teaching of our Lord didn’t include the giving and accepting of prestigious awards, gifts, or government. He set his example by being born in a stable into poverty, and spent the whole of his life in poverty. His reward was a crown of thorns, not a crown of gold. Priests should set an example to their congregations by living a simple life, Unrewarded by material wealth and prestige. That is the message of Christ.
Therefore a Knighthood does not fit with the message of Christ.

Can it not be the king didn’t see it as an award but a thank you?

I am sure a priest was needed with the troubles which have beset the royal family in the past 12 years , I am sure Queen Elizabeth found him a person she could turn to

Knighted? or given a peerage so that he can continue to contribute to debates in the House of Lords?

What presents Annie?

No, Jesus made very clear his opinions on religious leaders behaviour, and it didn’t include rewards of any kind, awards, presents, seats in the legislative house. Zilch. Nothing.

An award is not acceptable but loads of presents are