Bishop Colin Beat the INSIDE Bennetts toxic remembered alerts, p5 p12 THE SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2013 No: 6186 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 CHURCH OF ENGLAND THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Synod vote ‘encouraging’ TRADITIONALISTS are still assessing gested that the amendments proposed in Jonathan Baker, as chairman, and by Dr endorse even the drafting on that basis. what happened at the York General Synod. the debate drew enough support to be Lindsay Newcombe, as Vice Chairman, The logical conclusion is that to do so Although they all expressed disappoint- taken seriously by the Committee. also welcomed the decision that the Steer- would result in a repeat of last November’s ment that amendments they proposed “Space has now been created for those ing Committee should be ‘representative of failure.” failed to pass, they drew strength from the who are concerned that those with tradi- a broad spectrum of opinion and should The Forward in Faith statement reiterat- fact that significant minorities did vote for tional understandings of church order in draft legislation to which all can subscribe’. ed that it had no desire to prevent women secure provision for those who cannot ministry to flourish in the church and “We note the preference expressed by 40 becoming bishops but reiterates its opposi- accept the ordination of women. engage with the process of framing legisla- per cent of the House of Laity and over 30 tion to any legislation which fails to offer In a report to the American Anglican tion,” he wrote. “The final draft presented per cent of the Synod as a whole for provi- the minority a ‘greater sense of security’ Council, Canon Chris Sugden said the to synod will depend on the agreement of sion made by Measure or by regulations than the previous draft Measure. small groups that met before the debate all parties.” under Canon,” the statement said. Forward in Faith also questioned the were valuable in helping Synod members He argued that senior Anglo-Catholic, “In later votes,” the statement continued, proposal to end the right of parishes to pass to understand each other better. evangelical and central church incumbents “even larger minorities, especially in the Resolutions A and B, a proposal that was He thought it significant that the Steer- who want to secure a place for traditional- House of Laity, rejected key elements of also criticised by Mrs Margaret Brown of ing Committee charged with the task of ists all saw the outcome as ‘encouraging, the approach preferred by the House of the Third Province Movement. She called producing legislation was increased in size hopeful and a breakthrough’. Bishops and by the most uncompromising for retention of the three existing PEVs and from eight to 15 to include representatives A statement from Forward in Faith, supporters of women bishops. In the end, the appointment of an additional evangeli- of all the different points of view and sug- signed by the Bishop of Fulham, the Rt Rev 25 per cent of the Synod declined to cal PEV. Lindisfarne celebration MORE THAN 2,000 Christians gathered in the included the Rt Rev Frank White, Assistant ruins of the Priory on Holy Island last Saturday Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Rev Seamus Cun- to give thanks for the Lindisfarne Gospels at a ningham, RC Bishop of Hexham and Newcas- special open-air service. tle, and the Archdeacon of Sunderland, the Ven The service was organised by six Christian Stuart Bain. denominations to celebrate the return of the Many pilgrims took advantage of the warm 8th-century Lindisfarne Gospels to the North weather and the receding tide to walk to Holy East for exhibition in Durham throughout the Island across the sands rather than use the summer. road. A facsimile of the Lindisfarne Gospels The address was given by the Rev Ruth Gee, book was carried in procession through the pri- President of the Methodist Conference, who ory during the service together with several spoke of the centuries of light brought to the banner-sized reproductions of the title pages of North East by the Gospels and music was pro- the four Gospels. vided by the choirs of Newcastle Cathedral, At the end of the service every pilgrim was pre- Hexham Abbey and the New Life Christian sented with a DVD commissioned by the Centre in Morpeth. Churches of the North East about the signifi- Church leaders taking part in the service cance of the Lindisfarne Gospels. ALAN STORKEY 7 • COMMENT 7 • LETTERS 8 • ANGLICAN LIFE 13 • CLERGY MOVES 14 • SUNDAY 15 • PAUL RICHARDSON 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday July 21, 2013 News Inside... Religious freedoms highlighted The original Church newspaper By Amaris Cole work of Baroness Berridge, hoping the their religion and beliefs. group would continue to work to ‘name and The ‘catalogue of abuse’ the report’s sum- THE ALL PARTY Parliament Group on shame those in religion and politics who mary states, covers Shia Muslims in International Religious Freedom released a abuse religious freedom’. Bahrain, Baha’is and Zoroastrians in Iran, report this month discussing Article 18 to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Christians across much of the Middle East ‘highlight the situation of millions of people Human Rights states that everyone has the and Sufi Muslims from the Sunni tradition around the world who face persecution or right to freedom of thought, conscience and in Somalia, amongst others. discrimination because of their religion or religion; this right included freedom to The recommendations in this publication, beliefs’. change his religion or belief, and freedom, range from complex to ‘really simple’, its At the launch of Article 18: an orphaned either alone or in community with others endorsers say. right, in the House of Lords, Baroness and in public or private, to manifest his reli- The Government is being asked to con- Berridge, the chairman of the group, said gion or belief in teaching, practice, worship sider appointing an Ambassadorial-level the DNA of the group was ‘about all faiths and observance. focal point on the issue, to ‘spearhead the and those who have thoughtfully decided This benchmark is not being met though, implementation of mainstreaming, country not to have a faith’. the group asserts, in many parts of the and thematic work within the FCO and The group that produced this report was world, in places like Egypt, as highlighted across relevant departments, and to assist drawn from not only all political parties, but by Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox the FCO in projection and implementation also of the various faiths represented in the Church, which is a stakeholder in the of its strategies’. Houses of Parliament. APPG. Calling on DfID to identify freedom of The authors, too, were from a variety of Unlike many human rights, there is no religion and belief as a new priority in its News . .1-6 religious backgrounds. United Nations Convention directly work is another recommendation, as is the Your Church . .2 “The point of this report is not to gather addressing the subject of freedom of reli- formation of a sub-group of the Human UK News . .1-4 dust,” the chairwoman said. “This is a prop- gion and belief. Rights Advisory group to focus on this World News . .6 er human right.” While treaties have been drawn to ensure issue. The Baroness added: “It’s clear from what the goal of universal religious freedom is Baroness Berridge concluded: “We hope Comment we have been monitoring that the issue of assured, it has become somewhat of a this report will achieve its aim of raising Leader . .7 the basis of persecution of belief is unfortu- ‘residual’ right. awareness of the urgent need to promote Alan Storkey . .7 nately increasing in profile.” Figures show almost 75 per cent of the ‘Religious Freedom for All’.” Letters . .8 Lord Singh, another member of the world’s population live in countries with For more information, please visit Andrew Carey . .9 group, commended the report, and the high levels of government restrictions of www.anorphanedright.net . Whispering Gallery . .9 Fresh Expressions . .10 Arts and Media . .11 Diocesan reorganisation plans approved by Synod Books and Media . .11 Janey Lee Grace . .12 By Amaris Cole scheme, welcomed the decision of the during the reshuffle, with existing archdea- Crossword . .12 Synod. “Synod’s historic decision confirms conries and deaneries being reorganised. THE GENERAL Synod approved the draft the Commission’s judgement that the radi- The Bishop of Wakefield said after the reorganisation scheme to see the creation cal creation of a new diocese centred on vote: “I am grateful for the generous and The Record of a new Diocese of Leeds, serving West Leeds offered the best way of meeting the understanding debate today in General Anglican Life . .13 Yorkshire and The Dales. mission challenges facing the Church in Synod, and thank all those who spoke. Clergy Moves . .14 The vote means that the current Dioceses West Yorkshire.” “Wakefield Diocese will work together Spiritual Director . .15 of Bradford, Ripon & Leeds and Wakefield The new Diocese will be served by the with Ripon & Leeds and Bradford to make Sunday Service . .15 will be replaced, which will come into force Bishop of Leeds and four area bishops of sure of a good outcome, despite our reser- Bob Mayo . .15 once the Queen has confirmed the scheme Bradford, Huddersfield, Ripon and Wake- vations before the vote. Paul Richardson . .16 through an Order in Council. field, and include the Cathedrals of Brad- “Please pray for the people and clergy of People . .16 Professor Michael Clarke, chair of the ford, Ripon and Wakefield.