Calvin Robinson: I was blocked from ordination
27 MAY 2022
Bishop of London suggests his views were immaterial
Calvin Robinson
A CONSERVATIVE media commentator, Calvin Robinson, has said that his
ordination in the Church of England was blocked, owing to his political views.
Mr Robinson was due to be ordained deacon
in the autumn. Without a title post, ordination cannot take place, and, in an
article for the Mail on Sunday, he alleges that the offer of a
part-time post as assistant curate of St Alban the Martyr, Holborn, in
London, was withdrawn, after several bishops had expressed concerns about his
outspoken views.
On Tuesday, the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally,
suggested that Mr Robinson’s views were immaterial: “I believe we are stronger
for the diversity of opinion we see in London,
and we should remain kind and respectful of one another’s views. While Calvin’s
anger at the experience saddens me, I wish him well in his future ministry.”
Mr Robinson has announced that, having left the C of E, he would instead
be ordained under the auspices of the conservative GAFCON network.
In a separate article in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Robinson
criticises the Bishop of Fulham, the Rt Revd Jonathan Baker,
who, as the bishop appointed to offer episcopal ministry to traditionalists in
London, had responsibility for finding him a title post. He is alleged to have
told Mr Robinson that the post at St Alban’s would be “likely to prove
problematic”.
A spokesperson for London diocese said: “We have a limited
number of curacies available,” which were “considered on a case-by-case basis.
. . In this instance, it is felt that there is no suitable option available
that London can currently offer.”
On Tuesday, Mr Robinson confirmed that, because of his opposition to
the ordination of women, he had been seeking
positions only in traditionalist parishes that were members of GAFCON.
Mr Robinson presents a show on the TV and radio channel GB News, and
is a regular contributor to the Daily Mail and The
Daily Telegraph. He is also a user of Twitter, which, he
says, caused concern among church leaders.
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One email, obtained by Mr Robinson “via data-protection rules”, shows an
exchange between the Area Bishop of Edmonton, the Rt Revd Rob
Wickham, and the Bishop to the Archbishops, Dr Emma Ineson.
Bishop Wickham tells Dr Ineson that Archbishop Welby “asked for some
examples of Calvin Robinson’s tweets”.
Among his recent Twitter posts, Mr Robinson describes “wokeness” as a
“spiritual virus”. Another, from 10 October last year, gives details of a
webinar on climate justice aimed at ordinands, including a session on “What are
the theological implications of climate change?” and writes: “The Church of
Woke . . . this is [sic] piffle is being directed at the next generation
of vicars.”
In another email obtained by Mr Robinson, Bishop Wickham writes:
“Calvin’s comments concern me about denying institutional racism in this
country.”
In February 2020, the Archbishop of Canterbury told the General Synod that the Church was still
“deeply institutionally racist” (News, 11 February 2020). Last April, the Archbishops
of Canterbury and York welcomed the report of the Anti-Racism Taskforce, and
pledged immediate action on five of its recommendations (News, 23 April 2021).
Mr Robinson, who is black, wrote on Sunday that he “fundamentally
disagreed with this approach”, and described it as “divisive and offensive”.
“I do not think the claim that either the Church, or wider society, is
institutionally racist has ever been supported by robust evidence,” he wrote.
Mr Robinson says that, in a meeting with Bishop Mullally, she said to
him: “Calvin, as a white woman, I can tell you that the Church is
institutionally racist.”
On Tuesday, Bishop Mullally said: “Much has been written about my
private conversations with Calvin during the discernment process, some of which
I do not recognise.
“While I believe it right to maintain the personal and confidential
nature of the process, I can be clear that, as with all applications for
ministry in this diocese, Calvin’s was considered irrespective of church
tradition or views on politics or race — as is the case for every candidate.”
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Robinson reflected that, in some ways, not being
in the C of E would be a “blessing”.
“Every day would have been a battle fighting against wokeness,” he said.
The Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns (CMEAC) said in a
statement to Church Times: that CMEAC “encourages
all who desire to test their vocation to serve God through the Church of
England. However, we do not comment on individual diocesan formation processes.
We are aware that testing one’s vocation is often difficult and challenging and
our prayers are with all candidates seeking ordination in the Church of England
or in another Church.’’
This is very stale news indeed.
ReplyDeleteMr Robinson left the Church of England in the spring of 2022, and joined the Free Church of England.
The Free Church of England (FCE) is an episcopal church based in England. The church was founded when a number of congregations separated from the established Church of England in the middle of the 19th century.
The doctrinal basis of the FCE, together with its episcopal structures, organisation, worship, ministry and ethos are recognisably "Anglican" although it is not a member of the Anglican Communion. Its worship style follows that of the Book of Common Prayer or conservative modern-language forms that belong to the Anglican tradition. Although predating it, the FCE is generally considered to be a part of the Continuing Anglican movement.
The Church of England acknowledges the FCE as a church with valid Orders and its canons permit a range of shared liturgical and ministerial activities.
Revd Robinson was ordained as a deacon on 25 June 2022 by Bishop Paul Hunt, and appointed Minister-in-Charge at Christ Church, Harlesden.
The Free Church of England is a member the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, a network of conservative Anglican Churches; its holy orders are recognised as valid by the Church of England.
Sources for the above - Wikipedia.
Revd Robinson has thus found a spiritual home in an Anglican church the validity of which is recognised by its mother church, and where his views on a variety of sexual matters will find acceptance.
The notion, promoted by the Mail on Sunday - with its sister paper the Daily Mail the most dishonest newspaper in Britain - that Revd Robinson is some sort of martyr is bollocks. He seems to be quite an unpleasant individual, but he is not alone among Anglican clergy in that respect.
Gene Vincent puffs up a year old non-story about a nonentity. Another epic fail for Gene Vincent, the Winnie the Pooh of journalism.
"The Church of England acknowledges the FCE as a church with valid Orders and its canons permit a range of shared liturgical and ministerial activities."
ReplyDeleteValid orders!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! The C of E itself does not have valid orders. Remember the break in Apostolic Succession? And please recall Pope Benedict XVI's statement that the Anglican Church has not legitimacy.
Not biting, Gene. No point in arguing with unresisting imbecility.
ReplyDelete"No point in arguing with unresisting imbecility."
ReplyDelete???? Pope Benedict XVI had the finest mind of his generation.
Which he used to protect paedophile priests in his archdiocese and the Vatican. Anyone who does that has blasphemed the love of God, and his opinions thereby invalid.
Delete"He (Calvin Robinson) seems to be quite an unpleasant individual, but he is not alone among Anglican clergy in that respect.
ReplyDeleteAu contraire he seems a pleasant and intelligent man. My prediction is that he will cross the Tiber.