Kenya ordination for Sheffield pastor
The minister adds that this move is an expression of Gospel partnership between the churches in Sheffield and Kenya.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Sheffield said: “We are still clarifying what happened and once we have the full picture we will be able to reflect on this development further.”
In 2011, Lambeth Palace condemned a similar announcement that Anglican Mainstream had enabled the ordination of three ministers from Southwark.
This was described as a ‘game-changer’.
In this case, it was thought the parish disagreed with the stance ANGLICAN MAINSTREAM has announced their ‘gratefulness’ that the founding minister of Christ Church Walkley, Sheffield, has been ordained as a deacon in the Anglican Church of Kenya.
The church was formed as part of the Fresh Expressions movement 10 years ago, but the Diocese and church plant distanced themselves from one another later, meaning Pete Jackson, who was an associate minister at the parent church, Christ Church Central, was not eligible for a Church of England ordination.
“Although recommended by the Reform Panel of Reference and trained at Oakhill Theological College, Pete had not been ordained since Christ Church Central was not part of Sheffield Diocese. Concern that his ministry and that of the new church should be appropriately recognised led us to consult the leadership of the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE), who subsequently wrote to the GAFCON Primates’ Council with a request that they should facilitate Pete’s ordination,” a press release distributed by Anglican Mainstream but written by Christ Church Central’s Senior Minister, Tim Davies, stated.
Tim Davies said: “We are immensely grateful for the leadership of the Archbishop of Kenya, Eliud Wabukala, as chairman of the GAFCON Primates’ Council, and to the Bishop of Kitui, Josephat Mule, who ordained Pete as a deacon in the Anglican Church of Kenya on Saturday 9 February.” of the Bishop of Southwark, but as the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Rev Steven Croft, is evangelical, it is unclear as yet why such a decision to send Tim Jackson to Kenya was made.
Many within the Church of England are viewing this African ordination as highly controversial, believing it goes outside of the Canons of the Church of England.
The ‘ecclesiastical commentator’ the Rev Peter Ould commented on Twitter that he found the issue ‘disturbing’, while others suggested this may be the first area of concern for the newly appointed Director of Reconciliation at Lambeth Palace, Canon David Porter.