The first 'Bishop's Mission Order' was officially 'signed' last weekend in Exeter. This, if I understand correctly, creates the first new CofE church to exist outside the parish system (do correct me if I've missed some other example). The church in question is Exeter Network Church, and there is an article about it on the Fresh Expressions website: First Bishop's Mission Order creates new church in Exeter

This Bishop's Mission Order is the first to be signed for a 'fresh expression' or new form of church in the country. Mission orders were only approved by General Synod last year and each one will be different, written according to the particular requirements and goals of the fresh expression of church. As the name implies, Exeter Network Church (ENC) is based on networks of relationships, usually social, which stretch across the city. Through these networks leaders of the ENC, Jon and Jo Soper, aim to love and serve the people they connect with, reaching out to people who would not normally connect with parish churches.

I note from the Fresh Expressions site that the organisation is humble enough to admit that its initiatives don't always work. See for example 308 Nailsea, where Steve Tilley (writer of one of the best clergy blogs) explains why the Nailsea 308 service didn't work as planned:

Sadly, despite working really hard on our publicity, we never penetrated our target constituency. Maybe there wasn't enough personal invitation by word of mouth? Maybe the idea was flawed from the start? Perhaps it simply wasn't God's will for now. There will be many reasons why 3.08 at Kingshill didn’t work as we hoped.

Two documents have been published this morning by the Vatican giving details of the 'Personal Ordinariates' for ex-Anglicans seeking to become Roman Catholics. They are too long to post in full here, so you're best clicking through to the Vatican site itself:

1. Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus providing for Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans Entering into Full Communion with the Catholic Church

2. Complementary Norms for the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus

[Update: Everything now seems to be on one page now.]

There is a press release:

On October 20, 2009, Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, announced a new provision responding to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion with the Catholic Church.

The Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus which is published today introduces a canonical structure that provides for such corporate reunion by establishing Personal Ordinariates, which will allow the above mentioned groups to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony. At the same time, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is publishing a set of Complementary Norms which will guide the implementation of this provision.

This Apostolic Constitution opens a new avenue for the promotion of Christian unity while, at the same time, granting legitimate diversity in the expression of our common faith. It represents not an initiative on the part of the Holy See, but a generous response from the Holy Father to the legitimate aspirations of these Anglican groups. The provision of this new structure is consistent with the commitment to ecumenical dialogue, which continues to be a priority for the Catholic Church.

The possibility envisioned by the Apostolic Constitution for some married clergy within the Personal Ordinariates does not signify any change in the Church’s discipline of clerical celibacy. According to the Second Vatican Council, priestly celibacy is a sign and a stimulus for pastoral charity and radiantly proclaims the reign of God (Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1579).

The Bishop of Guildford has responded: Apostolic Constitution - Bishop of Guildford responds

Responding to today's publication of the Apostolic Constitution and its complementary norms by the Vatican, the Rt Revd Christopher Hill, Bishop of Guildford and Chairman of the Church of England's Council for Christian Unity, said:

“We note the publication of the text of the Apostolic Constitution and its complementary norms today. It will now be for those who have requested and at this point feel impelled to seek full communion with the Roman Catholic Church to study the Apostolic Constitution carefully in the near future and to consider their options.

The Vatican response to certain requests from individuals and groups across the world does not deflect us from either the continuing mission of the Church of England in its parishes and dioceses throughout the land, or its longstanding commitment to seeking the unity of all the Churches, including the Roman Catholic Church.”

Some reactions:

• Graham Kings: The pope's Anglican division
• Simon and Peter at Thinking Anglicans will be slaving over their computers giving you every response and news report you could possibly need: Thinking Anglicans
• A blog post by Simon at Parishlife: Apostolic Constitution for (Certain) Anglicans: Anglicanorum coetibus

As an aside - I notice that the Vatican site gives the dates of these documents as November 4, 2009. This is, one assumes, the amount of time it takes to publish things on the Vatican website. As someone who has been scaring the cats this morning with exclamations of displeasure at his various computers I sympathise entirely.

Some earlier content from the Church Times:

• News: Pope’s offer provokes mixed reactions among Anglicans
• Comment by John Hind: Is the Pope’s move really reform or rupture?
• Letters: Rome or Canterbury? The Vatican’s new provision for ex-Anglicans

I'm fully aware that popularity is the last reason that he does what he does, but I couldn't fail to be inspired when I chanced upon a Facebook group in support of a Christian youth worker I worked alongside a few years ago, and from there discovered that thousands of young people have set up numerous Facebook groups in his honour.

Wayne Dixon is the Scripture Union Schools worker in Windsor, Slough and Maidenhead (Page on SU website: Wayne Dixon). Here are just a few of the Facebook groups singing his praises (you'll need to be on Facebook to see them, they contain strong language):

• We love WAYNE DIXON (4461 members)
• Wayne Dixon Is A Legend! (836 members)
• I Will Vote If Wayne Dixon Goes On The X Factor (2511 members)

...and some of the comments on those groups, many of them from former pupils who remember his assemblies:

"do you reckon we can sneak into a school assembly to see him?"

"Doesn't matter if you were christian or not, this guy is and always will be AWESOME"

"YES YES YES A THOUSAND TIMES YES!!!!! Omg this man did the best assemblies on the planet LIVING LEGEND love you Wayne :D xxx"

See below to see Wayne doing his famed Zach rap:

Scripture Union has been going through a difficult time recently (Church Times, 18 September: Scripture Union to lose 25 staff) - this is a good reminder of the value of their work and the impact a good schools worker can have.

[Whilst I'm on the subject of youth work: The Youthwork Conference takes place in Eastbourne in a couple of weeks time (November 20-22, http://www.youthworkconference.co.uk/ ). I'm planning to be there - do let me know if you're going.]