January 2015 News

Welcoming the first New Year – new of Huddersfield Education Director Inauguration for Bishop marks a Richard Noake has been ap- new start for the region pointed as the first Director of Education for the whole More than 350 people gath- Dewsbury . diocese. It follows his second- ered in Dewsbury Minster Bishop Jonathan ‘s first ment in 2014, from his role last month to give the first sermon as bishop was on the of Head of the Department of Bishop of Huddersfield, the theme of hope. He said, “As I Theology and Religious Stud- take up this wonderful new role as Bishop of Hudders- field in the Diocese of West York- shire and the Dales, ies at York St John University I pledge to be Chief Education Officer myself to for Bradford and Ripon & working Leeds dioceses. with you, Rt Revd Dr Jonathan Gibbs here in Kirklees and Calder- As Diocesan Director of and his wife, Toni, a big warm dale and across the Diocese, Education, he will now lead a Yorkshire welcome. to build up the life of the team across the whole of the In an Inauguration Service Church and to serve the cause diocese responsible for 250 led by Bishop , of the coming of God’s reign church schools with 54,000 the couple were welcomed of justice and wholeness and pupils - making it the second by civic leaders and faith peace.” largest diocese in the country representatives from across Prayers were led by members for church schools, after the region, including the Lord of the Saturday Gathering, a Oxford. Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Fresh Expressions of church Dr Ingrid Roscoe, the Mayor born out of the town’s ecu- Richard said he was delighted of Kirklees, and the Deputy menical Food Bank and Drop to have been appointed. “It’s Mayor of Calderdale. There a great privilege to be given were messages of hope from the opportunity to be involved young people and representa- in the work of education in tives from across the Episco- a brand new diocese – to be pal Area including the vicar of there at the beginning, to be Huddersfield, a local solicitor able to input into the vision and an Islamic scholar from and mission of the diocese

I Happy Bishop Nick New Year! meets asylum Bishop Toby seekers LEEDS Bishop Nick has After all the build up to visited a drop-in run by Posi- Christmas, it can feel as though tive Action for Refugees and there’s not much to look for- Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS) at ward to in the New Year except St Aidan’s, Harehills, where dreary cold and the end of the they had brought with them. I destitute refugees and asylum school holidays. But January am looking forward from this seekers are offered emer- takes us, with the Church’s January to travelling around the gency humanitarian aid and calendar, into the season of Bradford Episcopal Area and longer term support. He said, Epiphany. This is when we getting to know new people, “The rhetoric surrounding celebrate the visit of the Magi places and congregations. As asylum has to do with num- from the East who recognised I do so, I want to pay atten- bers; here you meet people in the birth of a little baby in tion so that I am open, like and hear their stories”. Bethlehem an event of signifi- Van Gogh and the Magi, to the cance for the whole world. significance and gift in Christ PAFRAS Trustee, John Taylor, of the people I meet and the places I visit.

An ‘epiphany’ is a striking reali- sation, a moment in which we catch a glimpse of the bigger If the season of Epiphany is picture or the deeper meaning about paying attention, it is behind something that may also about sharing with others have looked quite ordinary. As the richer, brighter colours says, “About 140 people (from a family we have always been that Jesus brings to our lives 50 dif­fer­ent coun­tries) arrive drawn to the person and the when we live them with him. every week for food, cloth­ing paintings of Vincent van Gogh. As we become more open to and warmth. We also offer He wrote in his letters about recognising the work that God case­work and men­tal health the importance of ‘paying is doing in us and those we sup­port and give out small attention’ to his surroundings. encounter, let’s not be afraid amounts of money for essen­ What he then revealed through to speak about what we see so tial expenses. It was a real his art was an often breathtak- that we ourselves become signs boost to many of our clients ing intensity and beauty. Just pointing to Christ. to know that the bishop has think of his picture, ‘Starry an interest in their well be- Night’. +Toby ing.”

Christine Majid, who set up PAFRAS 11 years ago, said, As the Magi paid attention to “We used to have two drop- the star, and to the Bethlehem ins a week, but can only afford child, they found in Jesus a gift to run one now, and yet the more precious than any gold, need is huge – they’re really frankincense or myrrh that packed in to the church hall. The cut backs in legal aid

II Resurrecting bikes in Harrogate A growing fund for the homeless

RIPON A new social enter- but demand has been in- A homeless fund prise project, Resurrection creasing and the project has set up by churches in the Bikes, has been launched in outgrown John’s home. Barnsley Deanery has begun Harrogate to raise money for operations, after convert- charity by recycling and selling Now with the help of volun- ing the gifts of £100 to each old, donated bikes. teers, Lottery funding and a church made last year by the local church , space has been former Bishop of Wakerfield What found in the began as a basement of hobby for the Westcliffe local cycling Hall, on Har- enthusiast, low Terrace John Rowe near Cold (pictured Bath Road, a (right) with Lottery bid as- volunteer sembled and into thousands of pounds to James For- Resurrection help those in need in the com- rest), reached the point this Bikes has been formed – as munity. Nearly every church year where garage space a community of the pioneer in the deanery has pledged to wasn’t enough. Over the past Kairos Church. grow their £100 into £1,000 four years John has fixed up “Initially the workshop and pool their resources to several hundred bikes with will be operating a couple build up a crisis fund. Now the the proceeds going to charity of afternoons a week with Barnsley Deanery Homeless Bishop Toby sets out mission Saying BRADFORD Bishop Toby “We will be planning a rolling Thank-You has announced that during programme of missions” said the first half of 2015 he plans Bishop Toby, “where I might HUDDERSFIELD Christians To- to spend come as gether Calderdale have hosted a week the bishop a special dinner for more than living and spend a sixty Christian leaders from in each week in the churches, charities and busi- deanery deanery for nesses to say a big thank you to get the purpose for all that they do. to know of having an The event called Gratitude people evangelistic was initiated by one of the churches outreach op- trustees, Catherine Binns, and areas portunity.” who wanted to recognize better. At the same Christians who work quietly At a meeting in the background supporting large gathering of Deanery four new office holders were a wide range of local people Synod members in Bradford commissioned - Mark Wad- through food banks, help for Cathedral, he said that over dington (second from right) is asylum seekers, those in debt, a longer period he would also the new interim Church in the or those who provide living like to lead deanery missions. World Officer for an 18 month accommodation for people III News...... News.....News.....News.....News.....NewsWest Yorkshire & the Dales news Historic first Synod strikes a positive note as

Nearly 300 clergy and lay sion while centrally a single Tom Butler, said there was a leaders members from across Main Board would address projected shortfall for 2015 of the former dioceses met for strategy, policy and priorities £770,000 - a figure based on the first time as a joint Dioc- and would be accountable to a 100% Share collection rate. esan Synod in Harrogate last the Synod. Synod approved A more realistic expectation of month,to take key decisions further work on the plans be 90% would result in an added continued. shortfall of £1.5million. Transi- Synod size. Church tion costs are also estimated rules state that a dioce- at £1.2 million although there san synod must number was confidence that £1 million between 100 and could be forthcoming from 270. With nearly 400 the Church Commissioners. members of the present “These shortfalls,” he said, combined Synod, a “can be covered from healthy radical reduction was reserves. But the simple truth inevitable atnext year’s is that the diocese is living elections but Synod beyond its means and a radi- on the running of the diocese. opted for the largest possible cal re-examination of the way Debates covered a range of representation. we raise money to fund our subjects from budgets and fi- Names of . At present ministry must be given the nance, the structures needed the Area Bishops for Ripon highest priority in 2015.” to run the new diocese, the and Wakefield are called titles given to area bishops, to ‘Knaresborough’ and the size of the new Synod and ‘Pontefract’. Synod appointments to key roles. members gave over- In his opening Presidential whelming consent to a address, Bishop Nick Baines change of the names to announced that Chief Officers, match the name of the Ashley Ellis and Debbie Child areas and for Bishop have been appointed as joint Nick to petition Her acting Diocesan Secretar- Majesty -via General ies following the decision of Synod in February. Mr John Tuckett to leave the Finance. Members diocese and his posts as Pro- agreed to the proposed West Yorkshire & the Dales gramme Manager and acting Budget for 2015 after a News Diocesan Secretary. lively debate - parishes will be Governance. The biggest asked to increase their Parish The interim editions debate of the day focused Share contributions by 1.75%, are being distributed to on proposals for the running mainly to cover a 2% rise in churches across the diocese. of the new diocese. Under clergy stipends to keep pace A new publication for the a ‘streamlined’ plan, Area with national levels. whole diocese is being Bishops would work with an Acting Chair of the Diocesan planned for the near future. Area Team developing mis- Board of Finance, Bishop © Diocese of Leeds, 2014

Events, moves and appointments - www.westyorkshiredales.anglican.org

IV