Additionally, we have a meeting with the Presiding Catholic Bishop of Bulgaria in Sofia to cement relationships with him, followed by a meeting with the Roma Pastors in the Samakov region who are enquiring about joining OSL.

Finally Bishop David is going to be required to seek God’s wisdom for dealing with a sensitive issue in the Evangelical church in Sofia and would appreciate your prayers for guidance.

Blessings

Canon David Insull

A Letter on Marriage from the President and Vice-President of the Bishops’
Conference of England and Wales:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

This week the Coalition Government is expected to present its consultation paper on the proposed change in the legal definition of marriage so as to open the institution of marriage to same-sex partnerships.

Today we want to put before you the Catholic vision of marriage and the light it casts
on the importance of marriage for our society.The roots of the institution of marriage lie in our nature. Male and female we have been created, and written into our nature is this pattern of complementarity and fertility. This pattern is, of course, affirmed by many other religious traditions. Christian teaching fills out this pattern and reveals its deepest
meaning, but neither the Church nor the State has the power to change this fundamental understanding of marriage itself. Nor is this simply a matter of public opinion. Understood as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, and for the creation and upbringing of children, marriage is an expression of our fundamental humanity. Its status in law is the prudent fruit of experience, for the good of the spouses and the good of the family. In this way society esteems the married couple as the source and guardians of the next generation. As an institution marriage is at the foundation of our society.

There are many reasons why people get married. For most couples, there is an instinctive understanding that the stability of a marriage provides the best context for
the flourishing of their relationship and for bringing up their children.Society recognises marriage as an important institution for these same reasons: to enhance stability in society and to respect and support parents in the crucial task of having children and bringing them up as well as possible.

The Church starts from this appreciation that marriage is a natural institution, and indeed the Church recognises civil marriage. The Catholic understanding of marriage,
however, raises this to a new level. As the Catechism says: ‘The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, by its nature is ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptised persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.’ (para.1601)

These rather abstract words are reflected however imperfectly in the experience of married couples. We know that at the heart of a good marriage is a relationship of astonishing power and richness, for the couple, their children, their wider circle of friends and relations and society. As a Sacrament, this is a place where divine grace flows. Indeed, marriage is a sharing in the mystery of God’s own life: the unending and perfect flow of love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We know, too, that just as God’s love is creative, so too the love of husband and wife is creative of new life. It is open, in its essence, to welcoming new life,ready to love and nurture that life to its fullness, not only here on earth but also into eternity.

This is a high and noble vision, for marriage is a high and noble vocation. It is not easily followed. But we are sure that Christ is at the heart of marriage, for his presence is a sure gift of the God who is Love, who wants nothing more than for the love of husband and wife to find its fulfilment. So the daily effort that marriage requires, the many ways in which family living breaks and reshapes us, is a sharing in the mission of Christ, that of making visible in the world the creative and forgiving love of God.

In these ways we understand marriage to be a call to holiness for a husband and wife,
with children recognised and loved as the gift of God, with fidelity and permanence as the boundaries which create its sacred space. Marriage is also a crucial witness in our society, contributing to its stability, its capacity for compassion and forgiveness and its future, in a way that no other institution can.

In putting before you these thoughts about why marriage is so important, we also want to recognise the experience of those who have suffered the pain of bereavement or
relationship breakdown and their contribution to the Church and society. Many provide a remarkable example of courage and fidelity. Many strive to make the best out of difficult and complex situations. We hope that they are always welcomed and helped to feel valued members of our parish communities.

The reasons given by our government for wanting to change the definition of marriage are those of equality and discrimination. But our present law does not discriminate unjustly when it requires both a man and a woman for marriage. It simply recognises and protects the distinctive nature of marriage.

Changing the legal definition of marriage would be a profoundly radical step. Its consequences should be taken seriously now. The law helps to shape and form social and cultural values. A change in the law would gradually and inevitably transform society’s understanding of the purpose of marriage. It would reduce it just to the commitment of the two people involved. There would be no recognition of the complementarity of male and female or that marriage is intended for the procreation and education of children.

We have a duty to married people today, and to those who come after us, to do all we can to ensure that the true meaning of marriage is not lost for future generations.

With every
blessing

Most
Reverend V. Nichols, Most Reverend P. Smith

Bishop David wishes to encourage all members of OSL to stand with our Catholic brothers in challenging the Government on this issue. You can read all the latest articles on the subject on http://www.christian.org.uk/news/sentamu-don%e2%80%99t-force-the-redefinition-of-marriage/ , and details of the consultation and how to make your views known to the Government will be isued once the consultation paper goes ahead.

In the meantime please sign the petition on c4m.org.uk

The intention is to deliver inspiration to key groups of churches and significant leaders in strategic cities, providing the key to succesful engagemnt with our local communities, whilst delivering the Gospel in a relevant and contemporary way through healthy and vibrant church displaying unity of purpose.

If you are able to bring together a strategic group of leaders to host such an event in your location, then please contact Canon David Insull on dinsull@renewalcc.com to discuss.

He leaves behind his wife Jackie and a son Luke, and we would ask that your prayers be with them at this most difficult of times and also for the congregation at His Place. Bishop David will be taking the funeral service in Curraghboy on Friday.

On the 11th February 2012, Archbishop David Carr commissioned the creation of the Community of St.Leonard Kenya, under the oversight of Bishop Isaac Wawire, Companion of the Order of St.Leonard in front of an invited audience of 114 Archbishops, Bishops and Overseers representing over 5000 churches and 1.7 million followers of Christ.

Bishop Isaac was presented with a Crozier and made Abbott of the Community. In addition there was representation from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo and arrangements are already in hand to create communities there.

The Community will operate as a separate legal entity in Kenya, being self governing, but with spiritual oversight from the UK. They will promote the same values of Christian education, promotion of the Gospel, oneness in Christ and the alleviation of poverty. Whilst travelling, Archbishop David and Canon David Insull visited schools and orphanages run and funded by the local churches.

We anticipate there will be future opportunities for OSL members to support mission and provide man power and resources to assist the work in East Africa and those wishing to register an interest should contact Canon David Insull.

Finally, we want to give glory to God by reporting that a woman prayed for during the conference was certified by her Doctor to be cured of HIV aids after 15 years with the condition -Praise the Lord!

We hope to publish some photos of the trip shortly.

Canon David Insull OSL

On the 5th February, Bishop David Carr and Canon David Insull travel to Western Kenya to welcome 20 Bishops and their churches into relationship with the Order of St.Leonard. They will be governed by a select board headed by Bishop Isaakah Wawire with a remit to pursue the Doctrine and lifestyle of OSL in creating unity between their denominations and churches for the furtherance of the Gospel, the alleviation of poverty and Christian Education.

Please pray for protection and travelling mercies and the Lord’s blessing on what promises to be an exciting move forward in the promotion of oneness through the auspices of the Order. We hope that in the future this relationship will provide mission and ministry opportunities for members  of OSL in the UK who have so much in the way of resource to offer our African Brothers.

Please watch out for a report and pictures following our return.

Canon David Insull OSL

Bishop Isaac Wawire, who is on our Board of Companions, will be creating a community in Western Kenya for the Order of St.Leonard, which will be governed locally by a board of at least 7 Bishops, including Bishop Raphael, and Overseers representing well over 600 churches.

Bishop David Carr and myself will be visiting in February of next year to impart the vision for the Order and commission the Board, so please pray that the arrangements will go smoothly and we will see a fruitful unity develop with our Brothers and Sisters in Kenya.

Canon Dave

Welcome to the new OSL web site, which I believe brings a contemporary twist to our ability to be in fellowship with one another, creating the means by which we can share thoughts and resources, benefitting both ourselves and the Kingdom.

Please take time to familiarise yourself with the site (see mandy’s user guide) and make any suggestions for improvement/additions which would enhance your experience as a user as we want to ensure visiting the site continually adds value.

I’ll be endeavouring to keep you up to date on a regular basis with developments of note, but please use the site to make other members aware of what you and your church or organisation are doing as not only a source of encouragement, but perhaps an opportunity to engage in that activity.

We really do live in an age where you can get from Jerusalem to Warwick in an instant (albeit electronically) so how much more should we be able to achieve than our forbears who relied on messengers taking days or weeks by foot or horse?

So let me have your ideas, post favourite prayers and forum threads for discussion to bring the site alive.

Every blessing

Canon Dave