Lindsay Urwin
Encyclopedia
Lindsay Goodall Urwin OGS
(born 13 March 1956) is an Australian-born bishop
of the Church of England
(Anglican Communion
). Urwin was the suffragan Bishop of Horsham
in the Diocese of Chichester
, in southern England
, from 1993 to 2009 and was also the principal organiser of the annual Caister Conference
s. In 2009 he became the Administrator of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
.
and attended Camberwell Grammar School in Melbourne. He came to England and decided he wanted to be a priest
when he was working as a barman and a customer said "I f.....g hate priests." He studied theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon
and later received a MA degree in liturgy in 2003 from Heythrop College
, University of London
.
Urwin was ordained deacon in 1980 and priest in 1981. After being the curate of St Peter's Walworth (1980-83) he was then the vicar of St Faith's North Dulwich (1983-88).
Urwin was a diocesan missioner in the Chichester
diocese
from 1988 to 1993 before being asked by the then Bishop of Chichester
, Eric Kemp, to be the Bishop of Horsham
in West Sussex
in 1993 at the age of 39. He became a member of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd
(OGS) in 1991 and served as its United Kingdom provincial (head) from 1996 to 2005. OGS is an international religious society of priests and laymen bound together by a common rule and discipline, including a requirement of celibacy.
On 14 August 2008 it was announced that Urwin had accepted a new appointment as Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. As a result, he tendered his resignation as Bishop of Horsham on 28 February 2009. He began his new ministry in early 2009.
. It is possible that Urwin signed the letter because of his opposition to the ordination of women, but he has given no explanation beyond the letter itself. The letter praised "the courageous decision of the Diocesan Convention of San Joaquin to take leave of The Episcopal Church and to align with the Province of the Southern Cone" as a "decision for the faith once delivered to the saints". In his response, Bishop Schofield said that the realignment was "conditional until such time as The Episcopal Church repents of those decisions and actions that have caused a rift in the wider Anglican Communion". The action in question was the consecration of an openly gay priest as a bishop. Condemnation of homosexual relationships was the key issue emphasised by Bishop Schofield in his pastoral letter of November 2007.
Urwin has stated his personal position on homosexuality
as follows:
During a discussion about sexuality at a residential bishop's council meeting of the Chichester diocese in 2005, Lindsay, who is theologically conservative, spoke passionately against the homophobia he considered was still evident in the church. He made it clear that vacant parishes in his region in search of a new priest could not state a preference for a married priest and that he did not allow prurient questioning of candidates. The key question he said was to be found in the ordinal, 'Will you model your life, and that of your household according to the mind of Christ?' The response, 'I will do so the Lord being my helper' reflected both the candidates best intentions and his or her clear need for grace. He said that he encouraged single clergy not to live alone but to form a household and develop Godly friendships. He also said that he knew the risks and the raised eyebrows this sometimes raised from his own experience as an unmarried priest and bishop. He went on to say that in the experience of many single priests and bishops, some of whom who are of homosexual orientation, the embracing of celibacy either as a spiritual gift or in obedience to what the church asks of them, still does not seem to be enough.'
.
Urwin is opposed to the ordination of women, although his sister is a priest.
In 2007 Urwin was reported as criticising the practice of praying while seated instead of kneeling during public services.
Urwin's interview by Ali G
was ranked second in Channel 4's "100 Greatest Funny Moments". He later said that he realised he was being set up before the end of the interview and used it to his advantage.
Urwin has close ties with the conservative Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and its bishop, Jack Iker. This has included appearing at conferences organised to promote traditional beliefs (including no ordination of women or active homosexuals), leading trainings in youth work for the Diocese of Fort Worth and leading diocesan retreats for the clergy of the diocese.
Oratory of the Good Shepherd
The Oratory of the Good Shepherd is a dispersed international community of Anglicans, ordained and lay, bound by a common rule of celibate chastity, responsible spending, and direction of life.The OGS Rule calls members of the Oratory to daily Communion, Private Prayer, and the Office...
(born 13 March 1956) is an Australian-born bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
(Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
). Urwin was the suffragan Bishop of Horsham
Bishop of Horsham
The Bishop of Horsham is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester, in the Province of Canterbury, England...
in the Diocese of Chichester
Diocese of Chichester
The Diocese of Chichester is a Church of England diocese based in Chichester, covering Sussex. It was created in 1075 to replace the old Diocese of Selsey, which was based at Selsey Abbey from 681. The cathedral is Chichester Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Chichester...
, in southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, from 1993 to 2009 and was also the principal organiser of the annual Caister Conference
Caister (Retreat Conference)
thumb|Logo of the 2007 Caister eventThe Caister Retreat Conference was a residential Christian revival event held in East Anglia, England, shortly after Easter on an almost annual basis from 1996 to 2008...
s. In 2009 he became the Administrator of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
Our Lady of Walsingham
Our Lady of Walsingham is a title used for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The title derives from the belief that Mary appeared in a vision to Richeldis de Faverches, a devout Saxon noblewoman, in 1061 in the village of Walsingham in Norfolk, England...
.
Life and career
Urwin was born in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and attended Camberwell Grammar School in Melbourne. He came to England and decided he wanted to be a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
when he was working as a barman and a customer said "I f.....g hate priests." He studied theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon is a Church of England theological college in Cuddesdon, a village outside Oxford, England.-History:Ripon College Cuddesdon was formed from an amalgamation in 1975 of Cuddesdon College and Ripon Hall...
and later received a MA degree in liturgy in 2003 from Heythrop College
Heythrop College
Heythrop College is the specialist philosophy and theology constituent college of the University of London situated in Kensington Square, Kensington, London. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in philosophy, theology and psychology, as well as research in related fields.It was founded...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
Urwin was ordained deacon in 1980 and priest in 1981. After being the curate of St Peter's Walworth (1980-83) he was then the vicar of St Faith's North Dulwich (1983-88).
Urwin was a diocesan missioner in the Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
from 1988 to 1993 before being asked by the then Bishop of Chichester
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
, Eric Kemp, to be the Bishop of Horsham
Bishop of Horsham
The Bishop of Horsham is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester, in the Province of Canterbury, England...
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
in 1993 at the age of 39. He became a member of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd
Oratory of the Good Shepherd
The Oratory of the Good Shepherd is a dispersed international community of Anglicans, ordained and lay, bound by a common rule of celibate chastity, responsible spending, and direction of life.The OGS Rule calls members of the Oratory to daily Communion, Private Prayer, and the Office...
(OGS) in 1991 and served as its United Kingdom provincial (head) from 1996 to 2005. OGS is an international religious society of priests and laymen bound together by a common rule and discipline, including a requirement of celibacy.
On 14 August 2008 it was announced that Urwin had accepted a new appointment as Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. As a result, he tendered his resignation as Bishop of Horsham on 28 February 2009. He began his new ministry in early 2009.
Controversy
In January 2008 Urwin signed a letter of support for the controversial decision by the Bishop of San Joaquin, California, to take his diocese out of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. One of the Bishop of San Joaquin's main objections to the Episcopal Church was its consecration of a gay bishop, Gene RobinsonGene Robinson
Vicki Gene Robinson is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Robinson was elected bishop in 2003 and entered office in March 2004...
. It is possible that Urwin signed the letter because of his opposition to the ordination of women, but he has given no explanation beyond the letter itself. The letter praised "the courageous decision of the Diocesan Convention of San Joaquin to take leave of The Episcopal Church and to align with the Province of the Southern Cone" as a "decision for the faith once delivered to the saints". In his response, Bishop Schofield said that the realignment was "conditional until such time as The Episcopal Church repents of those decisions and actions that have caused a rift in the wider Anglican Communion". The action in question was the consecration of an openly gay priest as a bishop. Condemnation of homosexual relationships was the key issue emphasised by Bishop Schofield in his pastoral letter of November 2007.
Urwin has stated his personal position on homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
as follows:
- "I'm a celibate bishop - there is no other option. Whether heterosexual or homosexual or the grey in between, a bishop has no choice. The Church has a right to expect that he will be an example to the flock.
- He may have all the compassion in the world for others; be sympathetic, tolerant and respectful to those who feel unable to embrace the Church's teaching, and number them among his dearest friends. In his own mind he may even wonder about the current stand of the Church on marriage or homosexuality, but if he accepts the gift of episcopacy, his personal duty is clear. Whatever the wonderings and wanderings of his former life, for which he must repent, as a bishop he must embrace the discipline of chastity as a gift."
During a discussion about sexuality at a residential bishop's council meeting of the Chichester diocese in 2005, Lindsay, who is theologically conservative, spoke passionately against the homophobia he considered was still evident in the church. He made it clear that vacant parishes in his region in search of a new priest could not state a preference for a married priest and that he did not allow prurient questioning of candidates. The key question he said was to be found in the ordinal, 'Will you model your life, and that of your household according to the mind of Christ?' The response, 'I will do so the Lord being my helper' reflected both the candidates best intentions and his or her clear need for grace. He said that he encouraged single clergy not to live alone but to form a household and develop Godly friendships. He also said that he knew the risks and the raised eyebrows this sometimes raised from his own experience as an unmarried priest and bishop. He went on to say that in the experience of many single priests and bishops, some of whom who are of homosexual orientation, the embracing of celibacy either as a spiritual gift or in obedience to what the church asks of them, still does not seem to be enough.'
Beliefs and opinions
Urwin has a particular interest in youth ministry and has encouraged people to remember Jesus as an adolescent, "breaking voice, hormones and all". He was co-presenter of the "Youthful Spirit" youth ministry presentation to the 1998 international Lambeth Conference of bishops, with Bishop (later Archbishop) David MoxonDavid Moxon
David Moxon is the Bishop of Waikato, Senior Bishop of the New Zealand Dioceses, Co-presiding Bishop and Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.-Education:...
.
Urwin is opposed to the ordination of women, although his sister is a priest.
In 2007 Urwin was reported as criticising the practice of praying while seated instead of kneeling during public services.
Urwin's interview by Ali G
Ali G
Ali G is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Originally appearing on Channel 4's Eleven O'Clock show, Ali G is the title character of Channel 4's Da Ali G Show, original episodes of which aired in 2000 and on HBO in 2003–2004, and is the...
was ranked second in Channel 4's "100 Greatest Funny Moments". He later said that he realised he was being set up before the end of the interview and used it to his advantage.
Urwin has close ties with the conservative Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and its bishop, Jack Iker. This has included appearing at conferences organised to promote traditional beliefs (including no ordination of women or active homosexuals), leading trainings in youth work for the Diocese of Fort Worth and leading diocesan retreats for the clergy of the diocese.
Publications
- Youthful Spirit (1999)
- Credo: a course for the curious (1997)
- Mission-shaped Youth: Rethinking Young People and Church by Lindsay Urwin, Tim Sudworth, Graham Cray, and Chris Russell (May 2007)
External links
Sources
- New Directions interview, February 1998, online at http://trushare.com/33FEB98/FE98URWI.HTM
- 'Second annual Fort Worth Festival of Faith' http://listserv.episcopalian.org/wa.exe?A2=ind0202a&L=virtuosity&H=1&P=4047
- Who's Who (2007 edition)
- Crockford's Clerical Directory