Croeso Autumn 2015 Same Sex Marriage - Let’S Talk
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Autumn 2015 | Esgobaeth Llandaf | Diocese of Llandaff Hello to our Schools Goodbye to new special Philip officers Page 10 Pages 6 & 7 Page 11 refugees who join Welsh communities; • Collecting and distributing essential items for refugees who arrive with nothing; • Sign petitions for the UK to take its fair share of refugees and adequately resource initiative to help them; The Refugee Crisis: • Assess if there is any available church property which could be offered to agencies as suitable shelter or accommodation for refugees. “We are grateful that Anglican congregations across Europe, alongside other churches, are offering hope and practical help to refugees, especially in Mediterranean how you can help countries. Christian Aid and others are at the forefront of life- saving action in war zones and refugee camps, whilst some Congregations throughout the Llandaff Diocese are refugee crisis we felt that we should make a start to try and church groups in Wales are already preparing to support new arrivals.” being called upon to offer prayer and practical do something practical to help as the local churches and the community. Several people have expressed interest and are support to refugees joining their communities. For more details on how to help visit The call from the Welsh bishops, led by the Archbishop of prepared to help even if it is only in a small way and I would urge anyone else who wants to get involved.” http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/news/2015/09/refugee Wales, Dr Barry Morgan,comes as churches in the Vale of -crisis-how-to-help/ Glamorgan set up a help group to support and advise In a joint statement, the Welsh refugees on accommodation and other needs, such as bishops have appealed to churches to money, language, health and education. “show hospitality to strangers” and to Those wishing to help throughout the Diocese are being help refugee agencies and charities advised by The Church in Wales to work with existing welcome displaced families and humanitarian charities and local authorities and to donate individuals who have had to flee their money to charities such as Christian Aid and the Red Cross homes with nothing. who are working with refugees. The Bishops have also called on the An emergency motion recognising the enormity of the UK to accept its fair share of refugees refugee crisis and affirming the Church’s solidarity with all and to protect those most in danger of those fleeing conflict, war and destruction was passed by persecution. members of the Governing Body at their last meeting. “Christians are called by God to show The motion, which called on the UK government to accept hospitality to strangers and to extend its fair share of refugees, also advocated a practical response help to those who are vulnerable, based on hospitality and generosity and for people to homeless, and victims of injustice, so we continue to commit the situation and all affected by it to their now ask our congregations to join us in prayers. prayer for all displaced and persecuted The help group set up by churches in the Vale has held minorities and refugees and also in two packed public meetings at St Mary’s Church, Barry. It is practical action,” says the statement. called the Aylan Group, after the Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi This includes: whose body was washed up on a Turkish beach. • Making a donation to charities, such as The Rector, Father Ben Andrews, said, “Having seen the Christian Aid, directly involved with Pic credit: Fekete Dániel/HIA- horrific pictures in the news and following the events of the humanitarian work; Hungary/ACT Alliance • Organising welcoming groups for Sharing with foodbanks at Harvest Churches are appealing for donations to foodbanks at today that need is seen very starkly in the rise of foodbanks. their Harvest festivals this year. “I am so glad, however, that churches are at the forefront Packets of mashed potato, instant noodles, tinned fish and of supplying emergency parcels to those who otherwise long life milk are among the items they are asking people to would be going hungry. donate at the traditional Harvest services of thanksgiving. “Churches are focal points for the community and people The donations will be packaged up and distributed by are keen to put their faith into action by working with the volunteers at church-run foodbanks into emergency food aid Trussell Trust and local authorities to help those most in for those in most need. need. The volunteers at St Luke’s have got their foodbank Kathy Sharp, a volunteer at the Pontypridd Foodbank at St down to a fine art – I have been most impressed at how well Luke’s Church, Rhydyfelin, said an increasing number of run and organised the food collection, storage and people being referred to the foodbank for parcels meant distribution is.” more donations were urgently needed. The foodbank at St Luke’s Church was set up four years Kathy, who is also a sub-warden at St Luke’s, said, “This ago and is now open every weekday. Run by a team of 40 year, we’re devoting our Harvest appeal at St Luke’s to the volunteers, it operates by receiving donations of non- foodbank and inviting others to do the same. perishable food from schools, churches, businesses and “Donations of tinned and packed food are always individuals, while supermarket collections are held twice a welcome but we particularly need long life fruit juice and year. milk, tinned fruit, meat and fish, sugar and instant food, such Kathy said, “We have a great team of volunteers who as noodles, for those without cooking facilities.” come from all sorts of backgrounds – other churches in the The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, praised the area, students from the university, people who have a few work of the Pontypridd Foodbank on a recent visit. spare free hours a week. People are so willing to help and He said, “Harvest is a time when we give thanks for our I’m sure we’ll have a good response to our Harvest appeal.” food and traditionally people bring food to services in The photo shows the Archbishop with the Revd Michael churches and schools for distribution to those in need. Sadly, Gable, the area dean of Pontypridd. 2 croeso Autumn 2015 Same sex marriage - let’s talk By Archdeacon stage, because that might just Philip Morris rip the Church apart and lead to the acrimony that has been It was one of the longest absent from this debate." debates in Governing Body Archbishop Barry, in his history, with some thirty four Presidential Address, revisited people speaking, expressing the question of an the divergence of opinion that Archiepiscopal See , which has exists in the Church in Wales been the subject of report and on the subject of same sex debate many times over the marriages. At the end of the years. He stressed that the debate, a secret straw poll juggling of two very demanding was conducted, with the roles – Archbishop of Wales and result showing that there was bishop of a diocese – is not not the two-thirds support for easy, and of the need for the same sex marriages that archbishop to be based in would result in a formal Bill Cardiff. Archbishop Barry being passed. suggested that the Diocese of Members of the Church in Llandaff should have two Wales Governing Body, meeting bishops, each with his or her at the University of Wales Trinity own territorial jurisdiction, but St David, Lampeter, on 16th and with the bishops administering 17th September, had three the diocese in partnership. The options to consider: archbishop could have Option 1: No change to the jurisdiction over Llandaff and Church’s current teaching and Cardiff Deaneries, and another practice on marriage and bishop, with the status of a partnerships; diocesan, elected to the rest of the refugee crisis, such as The Governing Body was developments with the Option 2: To allow same sex the diocese. This would make Christian Aid and the Disasters addressed by the Most proposed Theological Education unions to be blessed in the Llandaff a collegial diocese, a Emergency Committee. Reverend Dr Josiah Idowu- Institute which will bring together Church in Wales; single unit for administration, but Sir John Houghton, a leading Fearon, the Secretary General of non-residential and residential Option 3: To enable same sex with two bishops each with an environmental scientist, brought the Anglican Communion. In a training for lay and ordained couples to marry in the Church area of jurisdiction and pastoral to the Governing Body’s powerful speech, Archbishop ministries in the Church in in Wales. care. attention a key challenge facing Josiah told Governing Body that Wales. One bishop, twenty-one clergy There were two other humanity in the 21st century – his vision is that in spite of The membership and finance and twenty-eight laity indicated significant debates at the climate change. He graphically differences, the Anglican Church statistics for 2014 were their preference for option 1; two Governing Body. An emergency showed the effect of carbon is vibrant, has a future, and presented, which show that bishops, one clergy and six laity motion called for solidarity with dioxide from the burning of fossil those on either side of there are some signs of for option 2; and three bishops, all those who are presently fuels being caught in the earth’s contentious issues must learn to increased attendance and twenty-six clergy and thirty-two fleeing conflict, war and atmosphere – Arctic ice live together with a good participation in the life of the laity for option 3.