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| Rebel vicar starts his own church A vicar who has clashed with his Bishop over views on homosexual priests has said he will start his own church. The Reverend Charles Raven, vicar of St John the Baptist, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, said Christ Church would cater for those wanting "biblical, orthodox Anglican ministry." It follows an argument between Mr Raven, who opposes the ordination of gay priests, and the Bishop of Worcester, The Right Reverend Dr Peter Selby. Dr Selby refused to sign the 1998 Lambeth resolution denying legitimacy to same-sex unions. Mr Raven's licence to minister at St John's comes to an end on Thursday. He said he took his decision after the congregation asked him to stay on as their priest, even though Church rules governing his contract would forbid this. In a statement, the vicar said: "In normal circumstances, I would be willing to move on, but we do not live in normal times. "Many at St John's cannot in conscience accept the spiritual oversight of a bishop who is willing to set aside the teaching of the Bible, but they have no voice. "In these circumstances, if I were simply to leave St John's in the normal way, those in the congregation wanting biblical, orthodox Anglican ministry would be effectively abandoned. "We have no wish to secede from the Church of England, but do not wish to precipitate an undignified skirmish in the parish church by trying to stay. "So if we cannot be faithful Anglicans at St John's, then we must find somewhere else. "The irony of course is that we have no quarrel with the teaching and beliefs of the Church of England, but find ourselves forced out by those who do not uphold its teaching." Mr Raven said Christ Church Kidderminster would be structured in the normal Anglican way, with an elected Church Council and a Council of Reference. He warned that unless the Church resisted the current "anything-goes" culture there would be many more similar cases in years to come. The move is the latest twist in a long-standing dispute that has divided the parish. The District Church Council for St John's had originally backed Mr Raven's stance against homosexuals in the church. But in September last year, it repealed its resolution calling for Dr Selby to denounce the ordination of gay priests. A spokeswoman for Dr Selby's office said he would be making a statement after Mr Raven's licence expired. The spokeswoman said that under Church rules, Mr Raven would have to apply to the Bishop for a licence to practise as a Church of England Priest. Without a licence he could still practise, but communions he conducted would be deemed "irregular." He would also be unable to perform a legitimate marriage ceremony. 27th January 2002 |
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