E I D Ideal places to S IN recharge your spiritual batteries this summer E4, E5, E6

THE SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2013 No: 6166 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Church U-turn welcomes development of GM crops

By Amaris Cole against allowing the trials of GM crops on beings and the environment, a covenant ple they mention – for adverse environ- their farmland. that should mirror God’s creative love’.” mental effects and human mortality pre- THE CHURCH of England has expressed However, the updated policy advises that He went on: “There is not one substanti- vention - would be much more effectively support for the development of genetically the cultivation of these modified crops on ated environmental or human health haz- utilised with organic farming where there modified crops, despite warning against land owned by the national investing bod- ard associated with the use of genetic are issues with both. As Mark Lynas said church land even being used for trials of ies should be limited to ‘well established engineering in crops in 30 years experi- in the 2013 farming conference: such products in 2000. GMOs that are broadly accepted in the ence. There is more genetic modification ‘You cannot call yourself a humanitarian The national investment bodies of the country concerned’. occurring in many systems used in other and be opposed to GM crops today’.” Church of England say they are beginning The policy states that companies devel- types of crop breeding. And the same tech- Mark Lynas is the environmental cam- to use their position as investors to encour- oping GM crops must monitor the environ- niques are used routinely in making the paigner who was cited as the leader of the age a ‘precautionary approach’ to genetic mental risks of the product, the health enzymes used in beer, wine and cheese anti-GM movement, but this year apolo- modification. impacts and potential problems, with a con- production, and the making of insulin gised for holding such a position. Due to the updated ethical investment tingency plan should any of these areas essential for the treatment of diabetics. He also said: “The first generation of GM policy on genetically modified organisms cause major concern, such as withdrawing “In the light of all the evidence – the crops were suspect, I believed then, but the (GMOs), the Ethical Investment Advisory a GM seed. Church’s Ethical Investment Advisory case for continued opposition to new gener- Group will now allow for investment in The government has expressed a wish to Group’s statement could be seen to be ations – which provide life-saving vitamins companies developing and marketing speed up the introduction of GM farming in extremely tentative, although clearly in the for starving people – is no longer justifi- GMOs, when the group are assured of the the UK, with Owen Paterson, Environment, right direction. The Precautionary Princi- able.” employment of ethical standards. Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, saying For the EAIG to invest, agricultural land such crops should be widely produced and and timberland will have to pass diligence sold. tests. But there are many who are against the James Featherby, Chair of the EIAG, idea of GMOs including Prince Charles Gary Price scales the spire said: “There is no single Christian perspec- who said these crops would ‘cause the tive on genetic modification. The EIAG biggest disaster environmentally of all recognises the potential benefits of respon- time’. Gary Price, Salisbury sibly conducted GM such as pest resist- The Christian Ecology Link warned this Cathedral’s new Clerk of ance, vitamin supply, and improved week of the effects of genetic modification, Works, fulfilled a lifetime’s resilience to drought, frost and saline con- saying not enough is known about the tox- ambition as he made his ditions. ins produced, designed to kill pests and first climb up the 123 “We are also conscious that genetic mod- weeds that limit the growth of traditional metres to the very top of ification represents a paradigm shift in crops. Britain’s tallest spire on a plant and animal breeding and that there But campaigns such as the Golden Rice sunny winter afternoon. remain uncertainties about the effects of Project claim GM crops can help people in His job was to inspect the the application of the technology. the world’s poorest countries. fixings and cable of the This is a rather controversial move, as The Golden Rice Project has developed existing wind speed meter the European Union continues to take a normal rice with added Vitamin A to count- (anemometer) in prepara- restrictive approach to GM crops, and er blindness and other illnesses in children tion for installing a new there is no commercial planting of these in the developing world. digital instrument later modified crops yet in the UK. The Philippines have decided to grow the this year. But the Church of England argues this crop, with Bangladesh and Indonesia indi- policy sets down detailed guidelines for cating they too will consider growing the decision-making and judging whether rice to save the lives of their people. organisations are operating ethically in A spokesperson for the Golden Rice Proj- their development of genetic modification. ect told us: “Technology, in this sense, is a In 2000, the EIAG even advised the response to God’s command to till and to Church Commissioners, who own a signifi- keep the land (cf. Gen 2:15) that he has cant amount of land in the UK, and also entrusted to humanity, and it must serve to other Church landowners such a Dioceses, reinforce the covenant between human

LETTERS 8 • JAMES CATFORD 9 • COMMENT 9 • CLERGY MOVES 12 • ANGLICAN LIFE 13 • SUNDAY 15 • PAUL RICHARDSON 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 3, 2013 News Inside... First woman Britain’ s leading evangelical newspaper ’s musical Dean installed inspiration in Wales THE PRIEST in whose parish part of the hit movie Les Misérables was filmed, has A FORMER nurse made history yesterday urged people to use it to learn about when she was installed as the first female God’s grace. Dean of Llandaff. The Rev Jonathan Meyer was The Rev Janet Henderson was installed approached a year ago to permit the film- by the after 20 years News ...... 1-7 ing of part of the movie in his parish, St in the ministry, most recently as Archdea- Your Church ...... 2 Mary the Virgin, Ewelme, in Oxford- con of Richmond and of Ripon UK News ...... 1-5 shire. Cathedral in the and World News ...... 6-7 He commented this week: “It is per- Leeds. haps the most significant part of the story Originally from Neath, Janet, 55, learned Comment that was to be represented at Ewelme. Welsh at secondary school and is a keen Letters ...... 8 The south porch was transformed into amateur musician. Leader ...... 9 the residence of the Bishop of Digne. With a first class degree in Theology James Catford ...... 9 The convict Jean Valjean emerges from from Durham, she was ordained in the that very door, singing the words ‘and in 1988. England on Sunday now let the story begin’. Announcing her appointment, the Arch- Holy places in Britain ...... E1 “We saw this on a crisp March day bishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, “I Andrew Carey ...... E2 repeated over and over again with numer- am delighted to appoint Janet as the new Whispering Gallery ...... E2 ous cameras, film crews, lights, gantries Dean of Llandaff. She has a wide experi- Ruth Gledhill ...... E3 and a churchyard full of sound techni- ence of city and Cathedral ministry and I Judy West ...... E3 cians lurking in temporary shelters. am sure she will make a huge contribution Summer retreats . . . . .E4, E5, E6 “On screen we saw the contorted face God is poured out, in such a way that Val- to the life and society of Llandaff – a place Arts & Media ...... E7 of Valjean rushing forward and the cam- jean’s life is transformed and transforms with which she is already very familiar.” Books ...... E7 era showing us our church digitised on to others,” he said. Janet said, “The Daily Service on Radio 4 Catherine Fox ...... E8 a promontory in Provence. What we saw “There is so much richness, themes of came from the cathedral on the day I Crossword ...... E8 was transformed, just as the story itself is grace and redemption and how that can arrived and I’d like to think that symbolis- about transformation.” be truly gained, themes of social justice es the fact we are here to worship God at The Record The film, which this week won three and the overarching and apparent con- all times and in all seasons and everyone is Lent series ...... 10 Oscars, including a Best Supporting flict between the justice and mercy of always welcome.” Classifieds ...... 11 Actress award for Anne Hathaway, even God. I await with interest to find out Janet has lectured in liturgy and worship Clergy Moves ...... 12 led the priest to plan his Lent course this whether people feel that Javert is irre- at St John’s College, Nottingham and for CMS ...... 13 year on the book and movie. deemable or bound to be damned. the Cambridge Theological Federation Reform ...... 13 “It was the nature of the film and Victor “Here is a tale that tells of the great and is one of the co-editors of a book of Fresh Expressions ...... 14 Hugo’s powerful narrative that attracted challenges of life, that speaks of God, infi- Pastoral Prayers. She has continued to Spiritual Director ...... 15 me and made me feel it would be highly nite and personal, that encourages us to contribute to theological education Sunday Service ...... 15 appropriate in the days leading up to Pas- ponder on our lives and to wonder how to through membership of St John’s College Alan Edwards ...... 15 sion Sunday. offer ourselves in the way that Jean Val- Council, Durham, where she is a member Paul Richardson ...... 16 “Most important to me was the knowl- jean does. And much of the media would of the steering group of CODEC, a Biblical People ...... 16 edge that this is the nub of the film. The have us believe that such thoughts are Literacy and Digital Space research proj- Milestones ...... 16 Bishop’s act of kindness like the grace of meaningless in the modern world.” ect. Currently, she teaches a worship mod- Next week’s news ...... 16 ule for York St John’s University. News from Your Church your diocese

Derby. The Derby Cathedral welcomed the Lon- hosted a question and answer session, “Pints of don Cantata Choir and organist Dr Roy Massey View” last week at Greystones Pub in Thornbridge. recently when they sang for the Cathedral services Dr Croft’s theme was “The Only Way is Ethics,” dis- on Sunday due to the Cathedral Choir being on half cussing whether ethics go together within a secular term. The choir was originally founded by Musical society. The goal of the event was to “get fairly local Director, Peter Moorse in 1974 and has since then people to talk on topical issues of interest to the sung regularly in some of the best English Cathe- people of Greystones and where a faith perspective drals. is allowable rather than being banned.” This event is part of Dr Croft’s discussion on attempting to Salisbury. The talented organist Cedric Bergelin make a ‘fairer and more equitable Sheffield.’ from the Cathedral in Salisbury’s twin town of Saintes will kick off Salisbury Cathedral’s organ York. Work has begun on the Whitby Churchyard recital series on 17 April. Musician Bergelin will to secure the East Cliff of St Mary’s Church. The begin his performance with a tribute to Mozart’s work started on 20 February after the landslide in classics, transition into music by Ermend Bonnal, December. Andy Borthwick of Alan Wood Engi- and finish off with his own version of Gershwin’s neers commented: “The churchyard is like a dish Rhapsody in Blue. Bergelin’s performance is some- collecting all the water from the surrounding land- thing to look forward to as the Assistant Director of scape and it forms the point where that water Music at Salisbury Cathedral has full confidence he drains down to the sea. This has meant that over will put on a great opening performance for the the years some soil and loose materials have 2013 recital series. Tickets are £8.00 and available slipped over the cliff, especially when there has online or at the door. been heavy rainfall.” It was then encouraged to take Cedric Bergelin action and help prevent any further landslides from Sheffield. The , Dr Steven Croft occurring.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Newp Ss 2day Ma3ch r u 10, r www.chs 3ch2ewpnane3.com r NEWS IN BRIEF Pop-up to promote fairtrade chocolate U-turn over place of Divine Chocolate is celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight (25 February-10 March) this year with its first Pop Up shop located in the buzzing Seven Dials shopping area by Covent Garden in London. Divine is showcasing two new products and the new Easter range, as well as introducing shoppers to two RE in school syllabus cocoa farmers over in the UK for the first time as ambas- sadors of their co-operative Kuapa Kokoo. Divine will also be hosting some free events in the AS A NEW GROUP OF MPS has been shop’s gallery basement. The Divine Pop-Up Shop is at formed to support the teaching of RE 71 Monmouth Street, WC2. Full details will be available in schools as priority, the Department at www.divinechocolate.com/Fortnight2013. of Education has backtracked on an earlier statement and said that RE will be included in a list of GSCE subjects used to rank school performance. Christian sit-com airs Following his decision to scrap the The UK’s first Christian sit- English Baccalaureate Certificate, the com, Grandpa Ted, will be Education Secretary, Michael Gove, broadcast from April to June announced that he will retain GCSEs 2013 on the Christian sta- but that they will be reformed. tion Trans World Radio UK. Schools will be marked according to measures that include a ranking according to the performance of stu- dents in eight GSCE subjects. The list Court case over banned adverts will include English and maths, three On Thursday 28 February the High Court was hearing from a list including sciences, maths, claims that Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and Chair languages, and history, and three important step to give RE a strong pens, the Academy must respond pos- of Transport for London, denied a Christian group the other subjects. This last group will profile among parliamentarians’. itively unless there are factors making freedom to express its views on the legitimacy of thera- include RE. Following concerns that RE was this unreasonable. py for those dealing with unwanted feelings of same-sex Although churches have welcomed being marginalised in Academies, the Following a ruling by the Informa- attraction. the news, the chair of the RE Council, Department of Education has pub- tion Commissioner, the Department Therapies that claim to provide an alternative to the John Keast, pointed out that RE lished the guidance it gives such of Education has also published homosexual lifestyle are deemed unacceptable and TfL remains marginalised because it is not schools on RE. details showing that 132 of the 517 are arguing that the controversial methods must be sup- counted as a humanities subject such This states that ‘the Funding Agree- applications to run free schools came pressed for the ‘protection of morals’. as geography or history. RE continues ment requires that Academies with a from faith groups. These included Core Issues Trust, a non-profit Christian ministry, to be excluded from EBacc, a per- religious designation provide reli- Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and was prohibited by the Mayor of London from running a formance measure at GSCE which gious education in accordance with Muslims. bus advertising campaign calling for respect for individ- records those students who gain a C the tenets of their faith and Academies The British Humanist Association uals with homosexual issues who do not identify as or above in five key subjects. that do not have a religious designa- welcomed the release of the statistics “gay” but see themselves as “ex-gay” or post-gay”, but Stephen Lloyd, who chairs the new tion must arrange for religious educa- but said it believed that they still the Trust will argue they were discriminated against. all-party group of MPs in support of tion to be given to all pupils in underestimated the number of faith RE, said the group would work to accordance with the requirements for groups involved in free schools. The  A recent survey by New statistics for 2012 stress the value of RE. agreed syllabuses. BHA said that the Government fig- the Evangelical show that the number of “In today’s world where our chil- “In other words, a curriculum which ures only showed schools with a for- Alliance shows that 43 young people (under the dren can be open to an enormous reflects that the religious traditions in mally designated religious character. per cent of Christians age of 30) accepted for amount of misleading information, I Great Britain are, in the main Chris- The figures do not include those with said they had made a training for the Church of believe it is absolutely essential they tian, while taking into account the a general religious ethos. If these decision to follow England ministry last year are taught about different cultures other principal religions represented schools are included, the BHA Christ due to the influ- was 113, 22 per cent of the and religions by trained, experienced in Great Britain.” claimed, the number probably rises ence of Christian total. This is the highest RE teachers, allowing children to Voluntary controlled schools with a from a third to 50 per cent of the total. friends who shared number in the past 20 make informed choices,” he told the religious description that convert to Up to now, the Government has their faith. years. BBC. Academies are supposed to teach the only published statistics of successful Faith groups and RE teachers have Agreed syllabus unless parents free school applications. One of four of welcomed the new group. John Keast request RE in accordance with the these schools have a faith back- Row over IVF changes said that the new group ‘represents an tenets of the school’s faith. If this hap- ground. New guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excel- Churches back move on carbon limits lence (NICE) suggest that IVF treatment on the NHS FIVE CHURCHES have called on the Government to pri- generation, create many more green jobs and help the UK should be offere d to same- oritise low carbon power. A statement from the Baptist to meet its commitments set out in the Climate Change Act sex couples as well as Union, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church, the to cut greenhouse gas emissions. women over the age of 40. United Reformed Church and the Quakers was published The groups behind this amendment to the Bill, say that These re commendations in the Financial Times. they are “united in the belief that a low-carbon power sec- are not mandatory, but a It read: “The Energy Bill represents a major opportunity tor is essential to secure the future wellbeing of our econo- spokesperson from the to put the UK firmly on track to becoming a world leading my”, arguing that the Energy Bill “represents a major Department of Health said: low-carbon economy boost employment and show genuine opportunity to put the UK firmly on track to becoming a “We believe that all PCTs [Primary Care Trusts] - and in leadership in the fight against dangerous climate change. world leading low-carbon economy, boost employment and the future, Clinical Commissioning Groups - should take Our organisations jointly call on Members of Parliament to show genuine leadership in the fight against dangerous cli- account of National Institute for Clinical Excellence seize this opportunity tot commit the UK in Energy Bill to mate change.” (NICE) guidelines for fertility treatment.” have a near carbon free power sector by 2030, in line with Operation Noah, a Christian charity working on climate Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Con- Committee on Climate Change. change, has already written to the Government concern- cern, said: “These proposals undermine the crucial role “We represent different parts of society but are united in ing the Energy Bill, and is now calling on MPs to back this played by fathers in the lives of their children, and will the belief that our low-carbon power sector is essential to amendment. lead to the wholescale restru cturing of society with seri- secure the wellbeing of our economy, our environment Dr Isabel Carter, Chair of Operation Noah, commented: ous repercussions for everyone. IVF is an expensive pro- and future generations.” “Just as the UK led the development of the industrial revo- cedure with a low success rate, and which results in The Energy Bill is currently going through parliament lution, so we have a historical and ethical rationale to lead millions of embryos being wasted. Embryos are not and an amendment, to include a decarbonisation target the way forward into a carbon free power sector by 2030. products, but human lives. Several human lives are lost during the report stage in early March, was put forward by “We are calling on Christians to write to their MPs to for every child born as a result of IVF. It’s time for the Tim Yeo MP and Barry Gardner MP last week. support this amendment. Now is a crucial time to reform cost and ethics of this procedure to be seriously consid- Supporters say this decarbonisation target would help to UK energy policy to ensure a low-carbon and sustainable ered.” ensure longer-term investment in low-carbon electricity future.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 4 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 3, 2013 News Backlash over plans to divert aid money to the military AID AGENCIES are opposed to the Prime Minister’s plan home to a third of the world’s poor. Although families in Christian Aid is part of the ‘Enough Food For Everyone to divert money from overseas aid and Christian Aid is Britain are being squeezed there is a desperate struggle IF…’ campaign which is calling for reform on tax avoid- urging the Government to help developing countries stop for survival in the areas in which the Leprosy Mission ance. tax avoidance by multinational countries. works. Meanwhile, Justin Byworth, Chief Executive of World In a statement the National Director of the Leprosy Mis- “David Cameron’s proposition of subsidising the UK Vision UK, said: “The British government leads the way sion, Peter Walker, criticised David Cameron’s proposals, defence budget at the expense of the world’s poorest peo- on good aid spending – and diverting more money to thought to have been made to curry favour with back- ple must be challenged.” peacekeeping operations could put that in jeopardy. bench MPs angered at cuts to the Defence budget. Christian Aid is also urging the Government to use next “The Prime Minister’s correct that security and peace “We were delighted when David Cameron promised to month’s budget to reveal tax-avoidance schemes that are essential, but long-term stability is about far more than protect Britain’s pledge to spend 0.7 per cent of national affect developing countries. peacekeeping. In reality, it’s a complex mix which includes income on overseas development,” said Mr Walker. Alex Pratt, who is the agency’s Principal Adviser on Eco- nutrition, health, education, and protecting vulnerable chil- “We are concerned, however, that he appears to be nomic Justice, said in a statement: “The Chancellor has dren, which all help to prevent conflict and empower peo- going back on that promise in a bid to compensate for promised action at the G8 and G20. He should use his ple to cope with challenging circumstances. defence cuts. power, under bilateral and multilateral treaties, to tell “Spending on peacekeeping from the aid pot is already “Money needs to be found for both development and for developing countries’ tax authorities about the schemes, limited by international standards. We’d be concerned if peacekeeping in war-torn countries. The Government has and help them recover taxes dodged by British multina- this statement means these standards are being chal- already stopped aid to India from 2015 -- a country that is tionals.” lenged.” Keith Weston – Inspirational Knighthood for the former Preacher and Pastor with a Constant Smile By Chris Sugden

OVER 300 people, many who worshipped at St Ebbe’s, Oxford, between 1964 and 1986, attended a Thanksgiving Service for their , Keith Weston, in St Mary’s Thame on Friday 22 February. It was a parish that once had no resident parishioners apart from the vicar’s family. Present were five bishops, leaders of development and mission agencies, two principals of Anglican Training Pro- grammes, a dean, serving vicars from Yorkshire, Devon, Essex, and at least three from Oxford, retired dons in medicine and physics, the former head of a Church of England Division and a former chair of the House of Laity. These and many other friends gathered, united not only by respect for an inspirational preacher and pastor, but by what he taught and modelled, faith in Jesus rooted and founded in the living Word of God. “Less of Keith, more of Christ” had been among Keith Weston’s notes for the service, which had included a long list of possible hymns, and clear directions as to how Romans 8:18-39 should be read – with an emphasis on “Hope” in verse 20 “since”, he wrote, “Christian hope is an absolute certainty because it is based on what God prom- ised and he cannot lie.” But there was plenty of Keith, especially recalled by eldest son, Canon Stephen Weston who noted his humour and sense of fun. The children’s aunt was once carried as she slept in a deck chair on to a 4- foot high sandcastle, and woke as the tide came in all around her. He noted that his father had a lifelong suspicion of yoghurt, which he called “offmilk”. The family was central to his life and ministry – writ- ing long hand letters back to “the mugwumps” recalling the sights and sounds of his journeys. Fun entered the visual aids for his sermons – including on 5 Novem- ber, texts being fired into the congregation from a firework. (No one remembered the sermon.) He always wanted people to leave thinking what a great saviour, not BISHOP NIGEL McCULLOCH, who retired in January, has become the first Bishop of Manchester to what a great preacher. For him faithful preaching and godly worship be honoured with a knighthood. At the end of last week the Queen invested him with his insignia as a went together. Casualness and irreverence made him wince. Knight Commander of the Victorian Order. Bishop Keith Sinclair of Birkenhead recalled how a smile hovered By convention clergy do not use the title ‘Sir’ when they are knighted but put the initials KCVO after round his face constantly, and he loved the life that the Lord had their name. saved him to enter and enjoy. Regular breakfast with the Weston fam- Bishop McCulloch, who is 71, was granted special permission to remain as Bishop of Manchester ily during his year as a “lay assistant” was formative for his own under- for a year beyond his 70th birthday. He became Bishop of Taunton in the Diocese of Bath and Wells in standing of being a husband and father. 1986 and was translated to Wakefield in 1992. He was appointed Bishop of Manchester in 2002 and Bishop Tom Wright expounded the passage that Keith had set from made history in 2009 when he became the first bishop in history to ordain his wife as a priest. Romans with his characteristic enthusiasm, giving a master class He served as Chair of the Legislative Group charged with bringing proposals to General Synod for overview of the whole book of Romans. women bishops and is National Chairman of the Council of Christians and Jews. Tea and cake followed with scores of people still catching up with In 1997 he was appointed Lord High Almoner to the Queen. each other two hours later.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Sunday March 3, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 5 Church hits out at plans to redefine definition of poverty

AS THE End Child Poverty claims almost four million chil- needs set by society’s standards. The Government’s pro- to replace or downplay the legally binding targets for dren in Britain – one in three – are living in poverty the posals include as measurements factors that should be key reducing child poverty by 2020. With the recent cuts in Church of England Mission and Public Affairs Council priorities in a child’s life but confusing all the information welfare, it is especially important to be able to monitor the (CMPAC) has come out against the Government’s propos- in a single measure of poverty risks confusing the causes impact on the number of children growing up in poverty.” al to redefine the way poverty in measured in the UK. and effects of poverty with poverty itself. As a result, the The Children’s Society, which like CMPAC is a member Up to now there have been different measures for child new way of measuring poverty will be difficult to explain or of the End Child Poverty Campaign, has issued a state- poverty but their main emphasis has been on income and interpret. ment from its Director of Policy, Ellen Broome, claiming material deprivation. The most common measure has CMPAC argues that the result of the new multidimen- that child poverty is getting worse and that Government defined a household as being in poverty if its net income is sional measure of poverty would be to emphasise the root plans to cap benefit increases for the next three years at a less than 60 per cent of the median household income after causes of poverty and give less priority to cash transfers rate below inflation will drive an additional 200,000 chil- adjusting for differences in household composition. designed to deal with immediate circumstances and lift dren into poverty. A Government report published in November sets out households above a particular level of income. “As local councils set their budgets and make decisions eight factors for use in measuring poverty: income and The , the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, who on which families will get help with council tax and emer- material deprivation; worklessness; unmanageable debt; has attacked the Government’s places to cap benefits, said gency support, they must put child poverty at the front and poor housing; parental skill level; access to quality educa- of the proposed new ways to measure child poverty: “The centre of every decision they make,” Broome argued. tion; family stability; and parental health. Responses to the real issue is commitment to, and resourcing, an effective Dr Sam Royton, Policy Adviser on child poverty at the report were requested by 15 February, 2013. long-term strategy to tackle child poverty, rather than find- Children’s Society, has created a map of child poverty In its response CMPAC says that poverty is about people ing alternative ways of measuring it. across the UK which can be seen online on the Society’s lacking the material resources to meet the minimum “It would be worrying if the Government were intending website. New to undertake a Journey of Prayer IT HAS BEEN a busy week for and more convinced of the cen- on the way. He will stay in the guided ‘lectio divina’ or prayer Archbishop Justin Welby who trality of 24/7 prayer because it cathedral praying and engag- with the scriptures, and silent was introduced in the House of chimes in with the spirit of the ing with those who go to see prayer in a chapel where the Lords as Archbishop of Canter- age. We are at God’s moment, him until 6.15pm, visiting dif- Blessed Sacrament in bury on Tuesday and who has all the idols have fallen, and the ferent stations or prayer cen- reserved. Members of reli- been speaking at Conference task is to bring people face to tres that will include a gious communities in the dio- at Coventry Cathedral. Now it face with Jesus. 24/7 Prayer children’s prayer space which cese will be available as has been announced that the does that for many.” schools will be invited to visit. chaplains. new Archbishop will make a Archbishop Welby will lead There will also be a tree In Coventry, where the Arch- pilgrimage around the prayer at the Forum, a commu- where people can leave their bishop was ordained as a , invit- nity building at the centre of prayer requests, a large screen priest, he will be greeted at ing as many people as possible Norwich, at 11.45am on 14 with rolling images of the dio- 9am in the City centre by the to join him on a ‘Journey of March. He will then walk to the cese and the Anglican Com- Lord Mayor before going in Prayer’. cathedral, handing out candles munion, a prayer labyrinth, a procession to the Cathedral. The Archbishop will visit one city each day of the journey from 14-15 March and spend that day in prayer and in meet- ing the people. Those who join      him with be able to pray in ways that reflect the broad tra- "' ! !2"#,#$'##"# ditions of Anglican spirituality. !!"#!$"##!,#"'.#!.# All ages are welcome. '##%)!',!#"&" There will be 24/7 prayer !#%"!!- ## !!)!)% zones in each of the cathedrals "'!%"%!!"- being visited on the following days: )   ' %) ! ', '!   4 )! • Thursday, 14 March – Nor- ),#""###!!"'!%, wich !)%"( "%##!,)%''!# •Friday, 15 March – Coventry - !!)!#)- !"(  •Saturday, 16 March – London %"&  %!!! %#)"!) and Southwark #!%"#!"- #!5 "","!#!, •Monday, 18 Monday – Truro #'##!6!8"#",#  %!" •Tuesday, 19 March – Chich- &!" "#" &! 032,111 ' '- !!) & ester " &) !/' " ! %"# 07996,  The Prayer Pilgrimage fol- "#"* lows a similar journey Arch- bishop Welby made when he #%"#%#&!)& took over from Tom Wright as !# ( ', ') # #!) #+ .# . During that !#,#)&&!!#)#)%!# prayer journey around the Dio- (#!!- cese of Durham, he stopped to pray under the iconic Angel of the North statue.   At the time of the Durham  !%!#!!$ "!""$#%%'&'&, journey he said: “I am more !&"#'''- !!)%#$&-

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 6 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 3, 2013 News Pope stands down Cardinal resigns over clergy claims

By Amaris Cole The 74-year-old was due to as Cardinals gather retire later this year. The most senior Catholic cleric It is reported these By Amaris Cole in Britain has resigned over the came forward to prevent the recent allegations of ‘inappropri- Roman Catholic leader taking POPE BENEDICT XVI has now ate behaviour’ towards three part in the conclave, though the officially left his post as leader of Catholic priests and one former allegations date back to the the Roman Catholic Church, fol- priest. 1980s. lowing his final Sunday blessing in Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who Others however point to the St Peter’s Square. was to be the only Catholic from Cardinal’s near retirement as Though his resignation has Britain to vote in the papal elec- reason the claims were only been overshadowed by revela- tions, is standing down to avoid now voiced. tions of child abuse and the claims the scandal from overshadow- He did not attend Sunday of Cardinal O’Brien’s ‘inappropri- ing the forthcoming procedure Mass in Edinburgh to mark ate behaviour’, many Catholics to select the next Pope. Pope Benedict XVI’s last Sun- across the world have expressed The leader of the Catholic day blessing as Pope, and Cardi- their sadness to see him leave. Church in Scotland denies the nal O’Brien has said he ‘cannot His resignation was announced claims of ‘improper acts’ not be saddened by the news’. earlier this month due to ill-health, towards the priests while they The Scottish Catholic Church but there have since been claims were training, but the Vatican is has revealed they are now seek- that corruption and the covering- investigating these revelations. ing legal advice. up of scandals within the Church were other factors that persuaded him to leave. Offering thanks in a number of languages, including English, he told thousands of pilgrims that he Archbishop of Westminster and the Lord lies at the heart of our life was not abandoning the Church at President of the Catholic Bishops’ of faith and that this relationship is this difficult time. Conference of England and Wales lived and fashioned within the He said he was following God’s (CBCEW), led Holy Mass for the community of the Church. wishes in deciding to abdicate, intentions of Pope Benedict XVI at “For these remaining days we saying: “The Lord is calling me to Westminster Cathedral on Sunday. cherish and love Our Holy Father climb the mountain - prayer is not During his homily Archbishop Pope Benedict. We thank him for an isolation from the world,” he Nichols said: “Today, at this Mass, all he has given us and we praise said. we pray especially for Pope Bene- God for the blessings of his Pontif- “I am not abandoning the dict XVI as he prepares to step icate. Church and shall continue to down from the Chair of St Peter “May the Lord bless and pre- serve it in a manner more adapted with astonishing courage and serve him. May the Lord bless his to my age and strength,“ through humility. holy Church.” prayer and meditation, he added. “He has constantly reminded us The conclave meets in March to The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, that our personal relationship with select the 266th Pope.

Church urged to help Bishop’s hopes for Boost for Trinity save the hedgehog THE CHURCH of England has been asked for Middle East peace College, Bristol their support on helping aid the British hedge- hog. The People’s Trust for Endangered By Amber Curtis By Amaris Cole Species (PTES) and British Hedgehog Preser- vation Society (BHPS) launched a new cam- CIVIL SOCIETY is the best way to unlock the peace in the Israel- TRINITY COLLEGE, Bristol, is celebrating a positive paign, Shrinking the Footprint, this past Palestine conflict, the has said. report for their quality of training and recent innova- month. The Rt Rev Peter Price, who just returned from Israel, the West tion and growth. The charities hope to home hedgehogs com- Bank and Gaza, expressed his views during a debate in the House of The Church of England’s Quality in Formation ing out of hibernation in the CofE’s 10,000 Lords. Panel, part of the Ministry Division, concluded that churchyards. “Civil society is key to unlocking peace, and peace is the prize that the college offers those training for ordination as According to a 10-year analysis done by the all must seek for the welfare of generations of children growing up priests a high quality of teaching. charity, the number of hedgehogs is decreas- against the backdrop of uncertainty and fear.” The pioneering Context-based Training Trinity has ing by three to five per cent annually. If housed Bishop Price, who has been a member of the House of Lords since offered in recent years, a mission-focussed training by the churchyards, the Hedgehog Hiberna- 2008, travelled for eight days with Christian Aid to promote peace and where future priests live and learn in small communi- tion survey could uncover behaviour patterns find out more about the conflict between the two areas. ties in Bristol, was commended. that would help save the animals. He returned to the UK by sharing insights from his journey. “The The Rev Canon George Kovoor, Principal of Trinity The Church of England will accept this call recent ceasefire between Israel and Gaza offers hope for some meas- College, Bristol, has said he is delighted with the for support and hopes this will help out the ure of peace. As has been said, the forthcoming visit by President results of the inspection. near-endangered species. Obama offers possibilities of non-violent approaches to conflict resolu- Canon Kovoor added: “Context-based training is a David Shreeve the CofE’s national environ- tion, not just between Israelis and Palestinians but for the region as a prime example of how Trinity is forming able leaders mental adviser, said: “Supporting this survey whole. What is hopeful is an increasing sense among the young that who are experienced in the challenges of today’s mis- underlines the Church’s commitment to caring this situation cannot last forever.” sion from the ground-up.” for creation, as spelled out in the Fifth Mark of While it was a difficult trip to make, the bishop was impressed of Trinity College is one of the largest theological col- Mission. Our 10,000 churchyards boast a how far some of the young people there have come after such trau- leges in Britain. It currently has 192 students, 84 of wealth of wildlife and are hopefully home to a matic events. Many still felt passionate about following their dreams in whom are training for ministry in the Church of Eng- good number of hedgehogs.” hopes of a better, future lifestyle. land. It also has an extensive post-graduate theology During the hedgehogs’ stay, surveys will Bishop Price also shared his stories this past week in the Lady programme, with students coming to study from continue to be studied in hopes of saving the Chapel at Wells Cathedral to address his concerns and encourage around the world. little creatures. those to help out.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Sunday March 3, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 7 Row breaks out in Tanzania over Archbishop election ALLEGATIONS of misconduct have been year term. In 2007 the synod elected the Bishop of Mpwapwa. Episcopal Church that was used to buy levelled following last week’s election of Bishop of Dar es Salaam, Valentino Moki- However, The Church of England News- votes. the Rt Rev Jacobo Chimeledya as Archbish- wa, who last year announced his intention paper has learned that a complaint has The Tanzanian Church has been divided op of Tanzania. to seek re-election. been drawn up that alleges eight constitu- into tribal factions, a split between Anglo- Supporters of Archbishop Valentino Unofficial reports of the meeting state tional violations in the election process Catholics and evangelicals, and a regional Mokiwa have claimed American money that after three rounds of voting Bishop including the casting of three more ballots divide between the coast and the interior. influenced the outcome of the election and Chimeledya secured a majority of the 129 in the election than the number of eligible Archbishop Mokiwa has been unable to allege the vote was marred by fraud. delegates’ votes. electors. consolidate his support among the House However, supporters of the archbishop- Born on 28 August 1957 in Zoisa, Kong- Supporters of Archbishop Mokiwa have of Bishops, several of whose members elect have denied the charges of miscon- wa province, Tanzania, Bishop Chimeledya accused the Episcopal Church of buying have voiced their unhappiness with his duct, claiming that it was Archbishop earned a degree in Health Administration the votes of some delegates and flipping leadership. Mokiwa who used foreign money to secure at Mzumbe University in 1992 and began the election to Bishop Chimeledya in order A returned missionary told CEN it is support from the electors. Archbishop his theological training at St Paul’s Theo- to pull the Tanzanian Church out of the likely that both sides accepted money from Mokiwa did not respond to request for logical College, Limuru, Kenya. He was global south coalition backing the Anglican American sources, but this would not likely comments while the archbishop-elect ordained a in 1996 and priest in Church in North America. change the outcome of the vote. “Tanzani- could not be reached as of our going to 1997, and in 2003 he received a Master’s However, the source of the American ans are generally cynical about money press. Degree in Theology from the Virginia The- Episcopal money has not been identified as from the West: take it if offered, but then Meeting in Dar es Salaam on 21 Febru- ological Seminary. having come from the national church go about your business as you think best.” ary a special synod was convened to elect At the time of his election as bishop- offices in New York. Several American dio- He added that in his opinion the dispute an archbishop and primate. Under the coadjutor of Mpwapwa in 2005, Bishop ceses and parishes have relations with the “probably doesn’t have much to do with Church’s constitution a Chimeledya was the Principal of St Philip’s Tanzania Church. Opponents of the arch- larger Communion issues, if at all.” who is less than 60 years of age may stand Theological College in Kongwa and Canon bishop, however, claim that he was the Barring legal action the new archbishop for election for the five-year position and if of All Saints Cathedral, Mpwapwa. In 2007 bearer of foreign cash donated by the will be installed in May at a service at the elected may be re-elected for a second five- he succeeded Bishop Simon Chiwanga as Anglican Church in North America and the Anglican Cathedral in Dodoma. New Zealand’s gay probe Zimbabwe court THE STANDING Committee quashes final appeal of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, By George Conger New Zealand and Polynesia has chartered a theological THE ZIMBABWE Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of the former commission to study gay bishop of Manicaland Elzon Jakazi, closing the last legal door on the Kunonga marriage. schism in Zimbabwe. Last week the committee In a ruling handed down last week Justice Vernanda Ziyambi dismissed the directed the Church’s provin- former bishop’s application for a rehearing of his case, stating the arguments cial secretary the Rev put forward were without merit. The decision now permits Bishop Julius Michael Hughes to write to Makoni and the diocese to begin eviction proceedings to remove the bishop the secretaries of the three and his supporters from the diocese’s cathedral, churches, schools and hospi- branches of the Church ask- tals. ing them “to consider and In October 2012 a three-judge panel of the Zimbabwe Supreme Court heard report” on the question “what seven appeals brought by the Church of the Province of Central Africa and the is a theological rationale for a breakaway bishops of Harare and Manicaland, Dr Nolbert Kunonga and Bish- Christian approach to the op Jakazi. The court dismissed five of the appeals and two cases concerning blessing and marriage of peo- Dr Kunonga and the Diocese of Harare were taken under advisement. ple in permanent, faithful Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba, sitting with Justices Vernanda Ziyambi same gender relationships and Yunus Omerjee struck Bishop Jakazi’s case from consideration finding he given the implications thereof had failed to comply with the rules of the court. on the ordination of people in On 19 May 2010 Mutare High Court Justice Chinembiri Bhunu held that as same gender relationships.” Bishop Jakazi had resigned his see to join Dr Kunonga to form the schismatic The three branches: Maori, Anglican Church of Zimbabwe, he was no longer Bishop of Manicaland. Pacific Islander and Euro- “What this means is that once [Bishop Jakazi]‘s resignation letter was peans/Asians, were asked to the issues surrounding Chris- possibilities for ways forward received by the Archbishop of the Central African Province of Central Africa, name three scholars to the tian ethics, human sexuality for our Three Tikanga he automatically ceased to be an employee or member of that church organi- commission who were asked and the blessing and ordina- Church”, the implications of zation without any further formalities.” to report back to the Stand- tion of people in same-sex the adoption of same-sex “Having ceased to be an employee or member of the church organisation he ing Committee by the end of relationships, including mis- blessings to the Church’s automatically stripped himself of any rights and privileges arising” from his the year. siological, doctrinal, canoni- relations to the wider Angli- office, Justice Bhunu concluded. However, a stay of execution of the order to The theological commis- cal, cultural and pastoral can Communion, and to vacate was entered pending appeal. sion’s work will also be used issues.” address the issue of “what While the legal fight to regain the properties may have ended with victory to inform the Commission on The Ma Whea Commission care and protection there for the Church of the Province of Central Africa, the dioceses of Harare and the Ordination and Blessing was also charged with finding would be for those who could Manicaland face considerable financial burdens in repairing their churches. of People in Same-Sex Rela- a way to overcome the veto be marginalized” by the After the diocese regained control of its Cathedral in November, the Harare tionships (Ma Whea Com- power to changes in church changes. City Council disconnected its water supply. The city has demanded payment mission) formed in doctrine granted to each of The Ma Whea Commission of over $55,000 in utility charges incurred by Dr Kunonga that were unpaid at November 2011 that was the three branches and exam- has been asked to report its the time of his eviction. The diocese has asked the city to seek payment from asked to provide a “summary ine “the principles of Angli- findings to the General Dr Kunonga for the debts. of the biblical and theological can ecclesiology and, in light Synod/te Hinota Whanui by A city council spokesman told The Zimbabwean: “It is not Kunonga who work done by our Church on of our diversity, the ecclesial 2014. owes us but the Anglican Cathedral. We do not mind who pays it but the bill has got to be settled.”

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Playing by the their throats are slit. This fact may appear A matter for equalisation for all clergy gruesome, barbaric and un-Christian to rules many, enough to make them refuse halal Sir, The 2013 Parochial Fees Measure is to be commended for equalising across all meat – if it were labelled. Under less strict Sir, I note another would-be ordinand from parishes fees for church weddings and funerals. This means there should be no differ- rules the animals are stunned before a church in Sheffield Diocese, which has ence between the amount a person pays for a funeral or wedding in any part of the slaughter. But how can we tell the differ- an impaired relationship with that Diocese, country, except for some extras for which it is possible to opt. ence? I am glad that my dinner had a happy took the highly irregular step of travelling There is, however, one glaring omission that is causing concern. It has been left to life, but I have a right to know how it died to Kenya to be ordained there this being individual dioceses to decide what proportion of a fee should be paid to retired clergy. and to choose or refuse to buy it. There is a facilitated by Reform, AMIE, GAFCON and The Archbishops’ Council’s advice to dioceses was a suggestion of remuneration of 80 parallel here with the discovery of horse Anglican Mainstream. Reading the website per cent of the fee for retired clergy. Its General Synod paper GS 989 states: “This meat in beef products. The furore and of the church in question, and the parent amount needs to be a reasonable remuneration bearing in mind that we rely on the enormous effort that is rightly being spent church, both claim to follow Anglican Doc- willing participation of such ministers in order to offer a universal ministry to the on this scandal is “all about labelling” as we trine but clearly this does not affect their nation.” are officially told, so that the public be not views on ordination. I wonder why they A number of dioceses such as York, Chester, Blackburn, Newcastle and Truro have deceived as to what they are eating. When insist on claiming Anglican status when acted on this suggestion. In fact, in a letter to his clergy, the has stat- are we going to insist that halal meat be they simply do what they wish in this ed: “We recognise what an important role all self-supporting and clergy with the Bish- clearly labelled, so that we all know what regard? op’s Permission to Officiate play in the diocese and we believe this is a small sign of the we are eating? The Rev Dr John Goddard, importance they have.” Elaine Bishop, Morden Unfortunately this small sign of such importance has been diminished in other dio- Chichester ceses. While, for example, Salisbury and Winchester have settled on retired clergy receiving two-thirds of a fee, my own diocese of Liverpool has gone down to 50 per Looking for love cent. Most retired clergy are not worried about the total amount of the fee they Sir, Thank you very much for the enthusi- receive, whether it is £20 or £200. When we take a crematorium funeral, for example, astic review of my book - Would Like To all the work for it is done by the minister and the funeral director. The diocese has no Meet: The Real Life Diary Of A 30-Some- input into it at all. So what is annoying is when a diocese says we want half of that thing Christian Woman Looking For Love money back. This is how much the task we want you to do costs, but you are only (BRF, £6.99) - in the College Street section worth half of it. This seems a somewhat immoral way of earning money. When a secu- of the 17 February issue of the newspaper. lar firm asks some of its experienced retired employees to help out in time of need, Your Tweets If readers would like to download a free 10- they pay the full rate for the particular job and sometimes more. So why do some dio- page sampler of the book, they can do so ceses act differently? @bbcbigquestions at www.brfonline.org.uk/hopefulgirl. They It is up to General Synod to set a national reimbursement figure for retired clergy To those who criticise us for can also connect with me at www.face- fees. This will mean that all retired clergy will be treated equally. debating hell or religious charities:- book.com/HopefulGirlUK and www.twit- Canon Michael Smout, We’re funded by BBC Religion & ter.com/HopefulGirlUK for news, Ormskirk, Lancs Ethics - that’s our remit. Amen discussion and alerts for Christian singles events around the country. @BradfordDiocese ‘HopefulGirl’ bly almost double the number of stipendi- to do the same. The job of the church is to create the via email ary clergy that it has today. There are dif- Many Christians are greatly concerned space in which people can find that ferent models at work in other Provinces of over the way the associated European they have been found by God. the Anglican Communion that might bear Court of Human Rights makes judgements Southwark clergy exploration. For instance in the Church of that sideline our faith. It seems to me that @ReverseTheory Sir, The Bishop of Southwark has recently Ireland Archdeacons are also incumbents this a case of Jeremiah 6:14, (“they say, @churchnewspaper announced that there will need to be a of parishes whilst in the Diocese of Polyne- “‘Peace, peace, when there is no peace”) @CofEPortsmouth @PeterOuld reduction of 30 stipendiary clergy in his sia Suffragan/Area Bishops are also Bishop Platten declines to discuss the @SouthwarkCofE I don’t think god diocese over the next five years. It interest- incumbents of parishes. lack of accountability within the EU and intended man to make love to man ing to note that he made the announce- Philip Johanson OBE, the power of the unelected – the Council of ment having first filled all his diocesan Bournemouth, Dorset Ministers, Commissioners and the above- @markrusselluk posts of Suffragan/Area Bishops and mentioned European Court of Human The poor, the unloved, the cripple; Archdeacons. Rights. Neither does the bishop discuss or they are Jesus in disguise - Mother The has recently refute the concerns, held by many people, Teresa appointed an additional Archdeacon to his EU membership of the very nature of the institution. Some staff and the is about to Sir, Bishop Platten’s assertion that we of these feel the organisation is Satanic. @Pontifex do the same whilst the Bishop of Chelms- should stay in the EU needs challenging. Colin Bricher, In these momentous days, I ask you ford is advertising for three additional Let me point out straight away that the to pray for me and for the Church, Archdeacons. For how long will the notion that the EU and Europe are synony- trusting as always in divine Church of England continue to place addi- mous is a myth. European countries like Providence. tional burdens on Parochial Clergy asking and Switzerland exist quite happi- Food labelling them to take responsibility for more parish- ly outside of the EU but active members of Sir, I always enjoy Janey Lee Grace’s col- @His_Grace es, without additional financial reward, EFTA. umn and I would like to take her advice Yes, there is indeed a hell. It’s the under the guise of vocation, whilst continu- Only one of the big four parties, UKIP, is (Sunday 17 February) to “grow your own interminable sound-bite theology of ing not only to maintain the same level of committed to leaving the EU. However, the [food]...buy from your local suppliers” etc. #bbctbq Diocesan Staff but to increase it. Currently Campaign for an Independent Britain, But some of us have to buy from our local there are 107 stipendiary Bishops and 115 which contains a great number of MPs in supermarket. This may do us no harm at @GeorgePitcher Stipendiary Archdeacons in the Church of both Labour and Conservative parties and all, as the packs of meat and poultry carry George Osborne loses triple-A England. in both Houses, is committed to withdraw- photos of the farmers and tell us all about rating. Ability, Aptitude, Authority The Diocese of Southwark is not unique al. There are many other groups such as their farms and the happy, healthy lives of in dioceses facing financial challenges that Better Off Out and the Freedom Associa- the creatures we are about to eat. @NicolasHayes1 have caused the Bishop to announce there tion who have similar aspirations The greater worry for many of us is that Guy buying coffee on the train “No will need to be a reduction in the number of With such a strong and varied political we know nothing about the deaths of these lid thanks” - “You have to its health stipendiary clergy. Is it not time for the opposition to the EU, why is a bishop so creatures. Are we aware of the vast quanti- & safety” - “I’ve just come back from Church of England to produce a workable outspoken on remaining in it? ties of halal meat that are sold to us un- Afghanistan, I’ll risk it” geographical strategy for ministry bearing There is also the question of putting faith labelled? Under the strictest form of sharia in mind the resources available today, and in a political organisation. Surely our spiri- animals must not be stunned prior to follow us not continuing to operate the same struc- tual leaders should be putting their faith in slaughter because they must hear the @churchnewspaper on Twitter ture as it had when the church had possi- the Lord Jesus Christ and encouraging us name of Allah pronounced over them as

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper The latest books and films reviewed: E6,7

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2013 Tracing Britain’s heritage

est way to spend a summer Btravelling? How about getting in touch with the Lord. One man dedicated himself to finding answers about faith. He spent five summers visiting the holiest places in Britain. Nick Mayhew Smith, former financial journalist, dedicated summer after summer visiting and researching the most known and unknown holy places in England, Scotland, and Wales. Britain’s Holiest Places: The all-new Guide to 500 Sacred Sites is an in-depth review of the best places to understand the faith in the UK. It works as a convenient guide for those spiritual heritage”, but realized quickly for their acceptance. landscape, so many stories and beliefs that hoping to discover more about the how “fragmented” the places had become Finally, he states some books that can embrace creation and the chaos of human background of worship. over the centuries. provide more information on a church or existence in all their glory. No one climbs Quickly after the book’s publication, the “Like a seam of gold, this heritage is not monument. a mountain or rows to an island to pray BBC and SC4 (Welsh Channel 4) merely a dazzling sight; it is a resource of Many of these churches, shrines, and today, but we show some extraordinary transformed the analysis of these sites into great value that is quietly being out to monuments will be noted in the program. places where our ancestors did just that. a BBC Four television series. The series work again.” Some of the favourites include shrine to “With a bit of imagination and a love of will run for six weeks, beginning 7 March To fully examine and understand each poet and glam rock singer Marc Bolan, natural wonder you can still use all these at 8:30pm. shrine, church, and Glasgow Cathedral, Lady Julian’s shrine, amazing holy sites for an unforgettable This six-part show will monument, each page of his and Buxton holy well. spiritual experience – as he himself not only cover some of book shares an array of six In remarking about the televisions series discovers again and again.” the most prestigious and items to explain each place’s and “finding” the faith, Smith cannot Smith currently resides in Wimbledon unheard of places in the importance in his journey. believe all he discovered and the true with his wife and five-year-old daughter, UK, but also boast There is a ranking system meanings behind it. and serves as a lay minister in the Church interviews with the right at the top of the page “So much is written about our beautiful of England. Archbishop of that states the religion the Westminster, Vincent monument would be most Nichols, and the Dean of significant to. It also St Albans, . remarks on the condition Smith, too, will also and access to the area. join the broadcasts for He reveals the insight. coordinates and directions “I avoided television to the places since many are interviews for the last “secluded” and difficult to book because of the locate. He discusses the inevitable requests to distance as well. broadcast in the buff,” Smith shares the said Nick. “But this time I difficulty of getting into was delighted to accept the invitation and some churches in his fourth item. “There will appear in the first programme where is no guarantee that any church will be we dip into the wonderful world of water open…” rituals and sacred bathing here in Britain. He also shares some information of the Marc Bolan Smith “set out to find traces of our saints of those churches and the reasons

ANDREW CAREY E2 • WHISPERING GALLERY E2 • RUTH GLEDHILL E3 • ARTS E7 • BOOKS E7 • CROSSWORD E8 • CATHERINE FOX E8 E2 www.englandonsunday.com Sunday March 3, 2013

opinion on how great a proportion of wealth should be taken off the rich in the form of tax- ation before it becomes robbery. It’s probably until the pips squeak. On his blog, the , , criticises the government’s benefit uprating bill in passionate terms arguing that by limiting the rate at which most key benefits and tax credits are increased to one per cent for the next three years will have a dispropor- Andrew Carey: tionate effect on families with children (www.nickbaines.wordpress.com). Though this is not a ‘cut’, he is right to say that amid rising living costs, families will cer- tainly be very much worse off under the upratings bill, including many hard-pressed fami- lies. I have no idea about whether this particular government’s limit to welfare spending is View from the Pew better or not than other policies that might have been enacted but most of us understand that welfare cannot be immune from cuts. Given the fact that Britain’s triple-A credit rating has been downgraded because the gov- ernment wasn’t cutting public expenditure as far and as fast as it needed to be cut, I have a suggestion for Church leaders. From now on if they venture into the controversial terrain of Steadfast against cuts attacking specific spending cuts they should provide counter-examples of what they would cut instead. I have come to realise that the leadership tiatives on which the church prides itself of the Church of England will never rec- on rely on state and local authority fund- oncile itself to cuts in government expen- ing. And in the topsy-turvy world of char- The message of the Daleks for today diture. ity funding some Christian charities We all had the ‘Doctor’ of our childhood. the Doctor’s anti-hero origins upside down Never mind the fact that the Church is receive public funds and promptly spend Mine was the unparalleled Tom Baker and I and imbued him with super-heroic, semi- supposed to be against ‘debt’, especially the money to lobby the very public remember my mother knitting me a long divine qualities. of the obscene kind we have today that authorities that have disbursed the scarf so I could imitate him better. This is in keeping with the nauseating even our children will probably never be funds. Let us hope that the news of the death of superiority that seems to infect modern able to pay off. The fact is that churches That being said, there is always an ele- Denis Healey, inventor of the Daleks, society. and Christian charities themselves have ment of hypocrisy in any campaign and reminds the current makers of Doctor Who We constantly seem to imagine we are an unhealthy reliance on the state’s the Church is probably no guiltier than of the very origins of the series. For all the better than those who have gone before us. largesse. The Church of England relies any other interested party. The fact is poor special effects, the Daleks were effec- Back in the 1960s and 1970s when Doctor on the state to top-up the salaries and that the Church of England has bought tive because they were so inhuman, alien Who was first made we had no illusions stipends of poorly paid clergy and church into a consensus of many decades that and all-powerful. The success of Doctor about the ‘goodness’ of our world. Daleks, workers in the form of benefits and tax state spending is a virtue that will bring Who was due to the fact that the Doctor and neatly described as Nazis on casters, were credits to the extent that this is widely about a better society for us all. Conse- his companions, imperfect though they able to scare us so dreadfully with their evil considered part of the Church’s remu- quently, if spending is an unalloyed good, were, triumphed repeatedly against all the because they reminded us of the industri- neration package. so too is taxation. Morally, I have never odds. In contrast, the producers and writers alised genocide within recent memory of A large number of the social action ini- heard church leaders venture a moral of recent series of Doctor Who have turned many of the television audience. Poets in search of God Finding a good cup of returned to St Paul’s Cathedral for the first time since his resig- nation to appear on Question Time last week. It wasn’t a very scintillating tea performance from any of the panellists with the 80-year-old Michael Hesel- tine easily the most feisty and Peter Hitchens the most ready to defy the con- sensus. Despite the setting, there were no questions on faith and morals. It can be very hard to find afternoon tea in central London. Some hotels have a Those who went to the Churches Together in Barnes Lent Course on Poets six-month waiting list and charge high rates. International coffee chains like and the Search for God last Wednesday to hear Mark Oakley, Chancellor of Starbucks have made the traditional fare of Earl Grey and scones hard to find. St Paul’s, lecture on were treated to a more stimulating perform- One CEN contributor, who has been known to complain that eating lunch spoils ance. Oakley, 44, is gaining a high reputation as a speaker and preacher. The a good afternoon tea, has been visiting cathedrals around the country and former poet laureate, , is among his admirers. He managed in reporting on them for Whispering Gallery. After travelling far afield to Salisbury his lecture to be both entertaining and scholarly. Among those he quoted and Norwich he has now checked out the new Cellarium in , were Quentin Crisp saying: “If at first you don’t succeed, failure may be your opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in October, 2012. Service is slow but the fare style,” and Pontius Pilate who is supposed to have said about the creed that provided is of good quality, the price is reasonable and the ambience is superb. ‘he was grateful to get a mention’. Praising poetry as the ideal medium in You can get a quicker and cheaper cuppa around the corner at the Methodist which to talk about a mysterious but loving God, Oakley referred to ‘a food Central Hall but the Abbey Cellarium wins on quality and atmosphere. Just a which makes you feel more hungry’ and faith ‘which doesn’t answer ques- word of warning. If you plan to follow tea with Evensong at 5.00pm, allow plenty tions but questions answers’. He reminded his audience that just about the of time. The service is friendly but unhurried. Definitely a place to visit for only part of the old St Paul’s Cathedral not destroyed in the Great Fire was refreshment on a visit to central London and for lucky CEN hacks it’s just the statue to John Donne which still graces Wren’s masterpiece. Future around the doorstep from their office. treats in the Barnes Lent Course include Bishop Richard Harries on TS Eliot. The Whispering Gallery Bring Back Sunday Papal stakes Half Hour Peter Turkson and Angelo Scola were the clear favourites for Pope on Paddy Power at the start of the week. Much further down the list was Cardinal Ravasi The campaign to restore Sunday Half Hour to its Sunday evening slot is gain- but insiders point out that he had a chance to strut his stuff when conducting ing support. The number who have signed a petition now runs into thou- the Vatican’s Lenten retreat. Ravasi, who heads the Pontifical Council for Cul- sands. The programme has been moved from 8.30pm on a Sunday evening to ture, is an attractive candidate who shows courage and ability in reaching out in 6am on Sunday morning where it has been extended by 30 minutes. Hymn dialogue to non-believers. By current standards he is considered moderate. requests show the programme is popular with older listeners who are unable Turkson’s cause will not have been helped by all the media attention he has to travel to church. For many younger listeners it used to bring a sense of received but although there is widespread eagerness for a non-European Pope uplift and peace before the hustle and bustle of Monday morning. The BBC’s there is also anxiety at Turkson’s conservative views on such issues as response to critics that people can listen to the programme on BBC iPlayer HIV/Aids and interfaith relations. Like the rest of the media, ‘Whispering whenever they want shows how out of touch it is with ordinary life. The Gallery’ didn’t have much success in predicting the Canterbury Stakes but this BBC’s own news programme has recently carried a story of a rural commu- doesn’t stop us declaring a preference. At 16/1 Cardinal Schonborn of Vienna nity in N Lancashire that has had to raise its own funds to install broadband. is not a favourite. A student of Ratzinger who was responsible for the Cate- Even where broadband is theoretically available, it is often too slow and unre- chism, Schonborn was once known as a conservative but dialogue with ‘We are liable for the BBC iPlayer. In any case, as Quentin Letts has put it, the change the church’ dissidents in Austria and experience of the abuse crisis has led him of time ignores the programme’s aesthetic fit with eventide and the Anglican to modify his position. In Austria he has gained the reputation of a crisis man- tradition of Evensong. Readers can sign the petition at ager. Just one problem: are the Cardinals ready to elect another German-speak- www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-sunday-half-hour er even if he comes from an Austrian noble family and was born in Bohemia? S3nwa. Ma,ch dr s01d y y y 2enolanwung3nwa. 2cum Ed

heads together, combined with an ambi- the practice of implementing the liturgi- tion for reconciliation and a particular cal reform, born in a vision of the Coun- ability to execute it, seems likely to cil outside of its own key vision of faith. make his a newsworthy archiepiscopate “And it was so, also, in the matter of for all the right reason. His is the kind of Scripture: Scripture is a book, historical, drive needed to reorient the Church to treat historically and nothing else, from the obsessions with gender and and so on. Ruth Gledhill sexuality that have done its mission so “And we know that this Council of the much damage. If Rome can effect a sim- media was accessible to all. So, domi- View from Fleet Street ilar accomplishment in the choice of nant, more efficient, this Council creat- successor to Benedict XVI, we could ed many calamities, so many problems, perhaps begin to witness the kind of so much misery, in reality: seminaries spiritually inspired transformation closed, convents closed, liturgy trivi- aspired to by so many past Popes and alised... and the true Council has strug- Archbishops but not yet quite achieved. gled to materialise, to be realised: the virtual Council was stronger than the Leadership challenges ahead he Pope, at the end of his impor- real Council.” tant address to the clergy in Rome One contact suggested to me I should s we arguably have a catholic evangeli- whose principal job was to facilitate hitting Tlast week, delivered a stinging take this personally, even though I was cal as Archbishop of Canterbury, per- the King’s enemies over the head with large rebuke to the media. Referring to the just two years old when the Second Vati- Ahaps it is not too much to hope that an blunt instruments, or failing the arrival of a Second Vatican Council, he said: “There can Council began. Occasionally, people evangelical Catholic will be elected Pope. convenient enemy, anyone else. were those who sought a decentralisa- do wonder if I am against the Church, What a team they would be and perhaps, “And then there were the scholars, from tion of the Church, power for the bish- and I believe that perception is a func- aided by the Ordinariate inlet, the Thames the Reformation, or at least the Restoration, ops and then, through the Word for the tion of the sad fact that for many years might then flow once more into the Tiber, a onwards. From time to time you get throw- people of God, the power of the people, my job has been to chronicle institu- new influence, though perhaps not as large a backs, like Michael Ramsey, who was a saint, the laity. tions in decline. Alex Gibney, director of tributary as the Rhine for much of the last as well as a scholar. In me, you also have a “There was this triple issue: the the new film about clerical child abuse, century. throwback, but unfortunately to the second power of the Pope, then transferred to Mea Maxima Culpa, was asked by a Last March, when he was doubtless still period.” the power of the bishops and then the journalist if he was anti-Catholic. He planning a long future as Bishop of Durham, So there we have it. A new Wolsey at Can- power of all... popular sovereignty. Natu- responded that he was anti-crime, not Archbishop Justin addressed the House of terbury, one who will defend the Queen rally they saw this as the part to be anti-Catholic. In fact, he said, he was pro Bishops of The Episcopal Church at Camp against her enemies. But in the same speech, approved, to promulgate, to help. the Church, which he defined as the Allen in Texas. He said: “Looking at this he says, referring to complex issues in Africa: “This was the case for the liturgy: people within it, because in highlighting group, I feel like a rather mangy lion in a den “There remains the evil legacy of colonial there was no interest in the liturgy as an deficiencies he was actually helping of rather formidable Daniels. Thank you for power, which has poisoned the ground on act of faith, but as a something to be these people. your welcome, especially for the privilege of which to sow the seeds of reconciliation.” made understandable, similar to a com- Nothing would please me more than speaking. A Nigerian saying, guests are like Last week he appointed Canon David Porter munity activity, something profane.” an Archbishop and a Pope who can re- fish, they rot after three days, and I have been as Director for Reconciliation at Lambeth The place of the sacred in worship invigorate their ecclesial communities. I here five. Palace, to work part time on his personal was not valued, he said. “Sacredness would happily be the purveyor of such “Bishops of Durham come in three sorts. staff, seconded by Coventry cathedral where ended up as profanity even in worship: good news about the sacred. Even post- First there were the saints and evangelists, he remains Canon Director for Reconciliation worship is not worship but an act that Leveson, however, no journalist will be who were around more or less until the late Ministry. Archbishop Justin himself has con- brings people together, communal par- able to create such news where it does 9th century. Secondly, for roughly the next tinued his own interest in reconciliation work ticipation and thus participation as activ- not exist. This era has the feel of an 700 years or so were the cousins of the King from his own time at Coventry. The determi- ity. And these translations, trivialising exciting new dawn. I pray that feeling or those bourgeois upstarts like Wolsey nation of a man, like Wolsey, unafraid to bang the idea of the Council, were virulent in proves to be real.

Church Typos Judy West’s Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say “hell” to someone who doesn’t care much about you. What I am anx- ious to see in Christian believers is a beautiful para- dox. I want to see in them the joy of finding God while at the same time they are blessedly pur- suing him. I want to see in them Notes, Quotes & Anecdotes the great joy of having God yet always wanting him. AW Tozer Gladys’s self- were still growing, she had stopped. She was about four feet ten inches tall. Urban Myths But when at last she reached the As physics professor at Adelaide University in acceptance country to which God had called her to Australia, Sir Kerr Grant used to illustrate the Elizabeth Elliot, in her book Let Me Be be a missionary, she stood on the time of descent of a free-falling body by allow- Getting the a Woman, records the story of Gladys wharf in Shanghai and looked around at ing a heavy ball suspended from the lecture- Aylward unable to accept the looks the people to whom God had called her. theatre roof trusses to fall some 30 feet and be message God had given her. “Every single one of them” she said, caught in a sand bucket. Ms. Aylward told how when she was “had black hair. And every one of them Each year the bucket was lined up meticu- across? a child she had two great sorrows. had stopped growing when I did.” lously to catch the ball — and each year stu- One, that while all her friends had She was able to look to God and dents secretly moved the bucket to one side, beautiful golden hair, hers was black. exclaim, “Lord God, you know what so that the ball crashed thunderously to the The other, that while her friends you’re doing!” floor. Tiring of this rather stale joke, the professor traced a chalk line around the bucket. It makes you think… The students moved the bucket as usual, A sculptor had ruined a huge piece of beautiful Carrara marble. It was left in traced a chalk mark around the new position, the courtyard of the cathedral in Florence, Italy, for almost a hundred years. rubbed it out and replaced the bucket in its Artisans thought it was beyond repair. original spot. But in 1505, a young sculptor by the name of Michelangelo was asked if he “Aha!” the professor explained, seeing the thought anything could be done with “The Giant.” faint outline of the erased chalk mark. He He measured the block and carefully noted the imperfections caused by the moved the bucket over it and released the ball bungling workman of an earlier day. To his mind came the image of the young — which thundered to the floor as usual. shepherd boy David. So he carefully made a sketch of that biblical character as he envisioned him. For three years he worked steadily, his chisel skilfully shaping the marble. Finally, when one of his students was allowed to view the towering figure, 18 feet high and weighing nine tons, he exclaimed, “Master, it lacks only one Do you have a funny story, quotable quote or sermon illustration? Send thing, and that is speech!” them to The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX or email [email protected] E4 www.englandonsunday.com Sunday March 3, 2013 A Gospel message like I had never seen in my life! 

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was in the main session one evening and the talk came to an end. Alan Scott then asked the host if he could have a few more minutes, and asked someone Ifor a £20 note. To the surprise of the gathering he then asked if anyone needed '''"67(2)1(*806"*"8 £20. The feeling in the room was one of intrigue as someone came to the front to take the money. Another person came and gave more money, and again Alan $1/210/2)0&&2/1/'321)20+3*2('#,2.1/,1,2' (2/3*/3'*, asked who needed it. &3',32,33210/2.3-,+*321/21 *'*20,2-#21 321/23'+&2' (2.32' This continued until there seemed to be lots of people going back and forth to ,3 (2#102'2/1/'3 the stage giving and receiving money. I have never seen anything like it in my life. It was like a cross between the feeding of the 5,000 and a Saturday night game 6&/4 4  4444444.+27&/467(2)1(*8066+6"*"8 show! I watched on amazed as people ran to the stage and skipped away with money that the Lord was providing for them. Alan continued to give away and receive £20 notes and the pile was growing in 65,62504  his hands when he stopped and said that he felt there was someone in need of money for a mortgage. I felt a quickening in my heart and wondered if it could be me. I remember speaking this out very quietly and the man sitting next to me who It was like a had prayed for me before said, “It’s you! Go and get cross between it.” the feeding of As I looked around I saw many people from my home the 5,000 and a church and for a few sec- onds struggled with worry- Saturday night ing about what they would game show! think of me, but I knew deep in my heart that the Lord had heard and was answering my prayer. I made my way to the front. I had no idea how much money there was but I knew what we needed. When I reached the front Alan handed me the money and said, “God wants to bless you with this”. The man next to me asked me how much I needed and would he like me to count it so I replied, “About £1,000,” and he took the money from me and began to count. There was £1,115 in all! I can’t begin to understand why this happened to me and I guess there were lots of other people in the room who were facing similar financial issues. I do believe that the Lord had heard and was answer- ing the prayer of my heart, and as I pressed into him he blessed our family in the most amazing way.

Rosie Seamark, delegate at Central & South West Summer Conference 2012

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Sunday March 3, 2013 www.englandonsunday.com E5 What are you looking forward to?

By David Baker

ould you like to be looking forward to a good holiday? Perhaps you would like to be looking forward to a boost for your Christian life as Wwell. In 2013 you can have both of those things – while still looking forward to something even more important than either of them. For, as the man who inspired the spectacular Bible By The Beach weekend of Christian worship and teaching explains: “Our theme for 2013 is the hope of Christ’s glorious return. The certainty of this ought to have a profound effect on us, on our joy and determination to live each day for our Saviour,” says recently retired , Wallace Benn. “We live for him and long for his return when we will see him face to face.” And so, Bishop Benn says: “We invite individuals, families and church group parties to join in a weekend of life-changing Bible teaching, with mind- stretching seminars, spiritual refreshment through praise and fellowship and lively, fun children’s activities. Come and be blessed, encouraged and refreshed to continue God’s work. We look forward to seeing you there.” Bible By The Beach has rapidly acquired a reputation as the flagship week- end event for providing some of the best Bible teaching, music and inspira- tion anywhere in the south of England. The Congress Theatre and Winter Gardens in Eastbourne on the edge of ‘A weekend of life-changing Bible the South Downs National Park provide the venue for an extraordinary line- teaching, with mind-stretching up of speakers including Hugh Palmer, the Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, Richard Coekin, the director of the Co-Mission churches, best-selling seminars, spiritual refreshment through author and former journalist Adrian Holloway, OM director Peter Maiden, praise and fellowship and lively, fun FIEC national director John Stevens, Oak Hill College principal Mike Ovey, and Revelation Church’s dynamic writer and speaker Ruth Valerio. Then children’s activities’ there’s acclaimed singer and songwriter Stuart Townend and his folk band too. All this – and more – comes with the financial flexibility to suit as many pockets as possible in these economically-straitened times, thanks to the unique way the whole package is put together. The Rev David Bourne, vicar of St Mary’s, Hailsham, who heads up the event leadership team, says: “Because we are not a site-based event offering board and lodging as one take-it-or-leave-it package, it gives people great flex- ibility to arrange the kind of accommodation they would most like, according to taste and budget, thus enabling them to make the most of the fellowship, joy and learning of the weekend,” he says. “The area has a wide range of qual- ity accommodation to suit all budgets and preferences.” The event takes place over the 3-6 May weekend. Bookings can be made via The Good Book Company on 0333 123 0880. Discounted rates have been negotiated on all hotel and guesthouse bookings by Eastbourne Accommoda- tion Bureau. For details of accommodation and the rates available, please go BIBLE BY THE BEACH to the following website: conferenceeastbourne.com/Bible2013. Alternative- ly, telephone or email Liz Attwell at the Eastbourne Accommodation Bureau for assistance via [email protected] or 01323 647130. LivingLivvingg And 3-6 MAYMAY 20132 LONGING CONGRESS THEATRE EASTBOURNE

SPEAKERSSPEAKERRS plus

Stuart Townend 07590 047061 | [email protected] www.biblebythebeach.org E6 www.englandonsunday.com Sunday March 3, 2013 Take your pick of this summer’s festivals

Soul Survivor More information: Big Church Day Out When/Where: http://www.soulsurvivor.com/uk/ When/Where: 25 & 26 May, Winston House, West Sussex 26 - 30 July, Stafford Showground Momentum Cost: £46 with early bird specials until the end of February. 13 - 17 August Bath When/Where: 23-17 August, Bath & West & West Showground, To Know: People and families come to worship, participate, Showground sing, and grab tea with a Chamber Orchestra. Some 20,000 18 - 22 August Bath Cost: £112. Discounted prices for attended last year to learn more about their faith and introduce & West booking early. their friends. Showground To Know: Have fun with do-it- Best for: Families or friends who want to become closer with Cost: £112 after 30 yourself workshops, sports with themselves and the Lord. April. Discounted prices start at £89 for early bird friends, and grabbing a bite with a stranger. There More Information: http://www.bigchurchdayout.com/ online booking. are many seminars helping young people to relate to adulthood, concerts which encourage singing, and To Know: Special performances and guest speakers now even chairs to take a break. Greenbelt are booked, with an estimated 11,000 teens expected. When/Where: 23 – 26 August, Cheltenham Football, basketball, and skateboarding are just Best for: Young people who have grown out of Soul Racecourse, Gloucestershire some of the fun activities open. Survivor, and night birds, since there are plenty of events happening late at night. Cost: £109 before 30 Best for: Relaxation and chill time to make friends April. and hang at a café. More information: http://momentum.soulsurvivor.com/home To Know: Malian Grammy-winners, Amadou & Mariam will headline on the WEC Camps Greenbelt .%*+!#*&+%'+$%*+!%'+ When/Where: Mainstage. Two- 0+-,+0%-$$%0.-!('#%$-030* Warrior Camp – Beer, Devon time Brit award- 18 July – 19 August, running winner Lemar is continuous weeks also booked.   Teen Camp – Charmouth, Best for: Music .-,+*-)*-('*&+%'+$%#*"!*  Dorset Amadou lovers since popular musicians are playing 332310/.-,+0+!%*&+%'+$%* 18 July – 10 August, running & Mariam throughout the entire event. -!+#%*%-*- continuous weeks 20*-.)('&0%+$0*#."!#0"$ 0 )0'' More information: $('01 Cost: £145 per week for Warrior http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/festival/2013/ 3230/.)0+-#"*-) Camp. £165 per week for Teen -!%+,$%"+*'$+'*$%-$.% Camp. "$ 0 )0$0-0*."0+$)0 20'$0+!*&+%'+$%** To Know: Both camps boast fun Keswick Convention +'+,* $-' activities, like swimming in the New Wine When/Where: (%+0'$+'* -- * -'#" "$ 0 ) sea, which bring teens together. When/Where: 13 – 19 July $!-!*'%('*"+%-! 1 This allows for students to get 27 July – 2 August, Royal 20 – 26 July personal attention to help them Bath and West Showground, 27 July – 2 August &*'+%'+$%# &*&+%'+$%# expand their faith. Shepton Mallet Keswick, Cumbria 20-("0''.0$#,+0 320/.)0$"!%"!*-'*$"'$* 3 – 9 August, Newark & 230$* + * "-#*1 '$+'*1 Best for: Teens who wish to Nottinghamshire County Cost: Free! Donations are 30")000&0$"!%"!*-' make personal connections with Showground, Newark welcomed. $"'$**'$+' 1 others. 4 – 10 August, Royal Bath and West Showground, Shepton To Know: International More information: Mallet speakers share encouraging      http://www.weccamps.org/ stories throughout the Cost: £152 for adult. £125 for convention. Many group $" 03 10300000000000000000000 0#% $')# ()+#$-& teens. Discounted prices activities and prayer to find ()+#$-& available before April. strength in numbers.

To Know: Seminars and Best for: Adventures since worship all day to get deeper there is mountain climbing, with God. Outgoing people sailing, or shopping in the will enjoy comedy, quizzes, market all close by. and even speed dating after Perfect venues for 9pm. More information: http://www.keswickministrie your small group, too. Best for: Families and eager s.org/ For more information visit: faith learners since seminars www.cct.org.uk/groups or call: 0300 111 4444 are running all day. More information: THE HAYES HIGH LEIGH BELSEY BRIDGE http://www.new- Swanwick, Hoddesdon, Ditchingham, Derbyshire Hertfordshire East Anglia wine.org/summer

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Sunday March 3, 2013 www.englandonsunday.com E7 Morality and religion today

What Makes Us Moral? Christian thinking that continues to influence him. cant omission. Not surprisingly all the contributors agree Craig Hovey But to show the philosophical shortcomings of the New that the same God is understood differently but most point SPCK, pb, £9.99 Atheists is probably the easiest and least important ele- out that differences also occur within the faiths themselves ment in an effective response to them. Many people con- between different schools of theology. Amy Plantinga Do We Worship The tinue to listen to them because they fear religion is a Pauw speaks for many when she says that when she reads Same God? source of violence and conflict in the modern world. portrayals of God by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins she Miroslav Wolf (ed) This is why books like those edited by Wolf and Marshall has difficulty in recognising it is the same God she wor- Eerdmans, pb, £12.99 are so important. Both are good but the volume edited by ships. Wolf contains some outstanding essays. In his contribution If inter-faith dialogue can help the followers of the Science and Religion: Christian and to Do We Worship the Same God?, Christoph Schwobel world’s religions to deepen their understanding not only of Muslim Perspectives criticises those who undertake inter-religious dialogue in other faiths but of their own faith as well, can the same be David Marshall the hope of reaching some kind of consensus between the said of dialogue with science? Although the New Atheists Georgetown University Press, pb, religions. Instead he sees such dialogue as a way of discov- deny it, there is little doubt that the relationship between £17.25 ering more about the riches of our traditions and for find- science and religion has not been one of simple hostility. ing in our own traditions reasons for being tolerant of Some Christians go to the opposite extreme and claim others. there would have been no modern science without Christi- t first glance Craig Hovey’s critical The other essays in this collection show how inter-reli- anity, but, as John Hedley Brooke argues in Science and analysis of Sam Harries’ attempt to gious dialogue can assist us to reach a deeper understand- Religion, ‘there is a wonderful richness and diversity in the Adivorce morality from religion and ing of our own faith. Denys Turner offers a stimulating relations between different sciences and different reli- base it entirely on reason and science may seem to have account of the Trinity that takes into account Muslim gious traditions’. few points of contact with two books concerned with the objections; Amy Plantinga Pauw argues that the Christian Bookes gives an overview of the relation between Chris- inter-religious dialogue. But as Hovey makes clear, one of belief in the generosity of God should lead us to approach tianity and science and in the same volume Ahmad Dallal the motives behind Harries’ work is a deep suspicion of Muslim and Jewish theological claims and practice with looks at the history of relations between Islam and science Islam following the events of 9/11. While Dawkins is driv- ‘humility, generosity and hopefulness’; Alon Goshen- although he stops short of examining recent develop- en by hatred of Christian fundamentalists and their opposi- Gottstein examines the Jewish teaching that Christians ments. In the same volume there are a number of impor- tion to evolution, Harries considers Islam such a threat worship ‘foreign gods’ to find reasons in the tradition why tant Christian and Muslim texts on religion and science that he supported the Iraq War and advocates racial profil- this might not be the final word; and Reza Shah-Kazemi from Genesis to Charles Darwin and John Paul II and com- ing at airports. finds teaching in the Qur’an and examples from the life of mentaries on them. Hovey has no difficulty in demonstrating the philosophi- the Prophet that suggest Christians and Muslims do wor- These three books, although very different in style and cal weaknesses of Harries’ work. Harries wants to base his ship the same God. subject matter, are important resources in attempting to ethics on the importance of seeking the well-being of oth- Although the Jewish contributor comes to a conclusion understand the role religion can play in the modern world. ers but he is unable to offer a ‘scientific’ basis for his value about Christians and Jews, nothing is said from the Jewish system. He never acknowledges the inheritance of Judaeo- perspective about Jews and Muslims and that is a signifi- Paul Richardson Two movies and two views

couple of new arthouse films snapshot of the time and place – the novel’s Affleck) and Marina (Olga Kurylenko) live has a dalliance with carpenter Charles (watched back-to-back at Manches- “dark room” title relates to photographs in France with Marina’s daughter Tatiana (Charles Baker) who’s wooed her with a Ater’s Cornerhouse) give us one telling their own story. Saskia Rosendahl’s (Tatiana Chiline), but move to Neil’s native gift of an Aeolian harp (as you would) the where the storyline is vital, and another performance is key, as Lore juggles her USA, to an unidentified town. American dreariness of the motel room rather jars where the image is nearly all. Nazi mindset with the pictorial evidence of locations were in Malick’s native Oklaho- with the beauty of the gift. Lore (German, English subtitles, cert. the death camps, and it’s a stunning film ma, where he had family ties, suggesting The images are often stunning, and the 15) treads fairly unfamiliar territory – an debut. an element of autobiography. exploration of characters is largely by the Australian-German film about the after- Neil refuses to commit to marriage, images - the only way we understand any- math of World War Two. Lore (Saskia Terence Malick’s To the Wonder (cert. 12A) Marina’s visa expires, and she returns to thing of Neil is in his expressions and body Rosendahl) is the eldest child of a Sturm- is of course cinematically beautiful, as well France. This gives Neil a chance to recon- language. Even allowing for dealing with bannführer (major) in the SS (Hans-Jochen as linguistically challenging - in English, nect with friend Jane from his youth fractured relationships, the film contains its Wagner), as he and his wife (Ursina Lardi) but lots in French, Spanish and Italian with (Rachel McAdams). own diagnosis: it lacks the gift of joy. start preparing for their fate. English subtitles. Letting the pictures tell In a secondary strand, Marina’s Catholic Steve Parish Lore finds herself left with her siblings, the story means you don’t always get the priest in the States is struggling with his Günther (André Frid), Liesel (Nele Trebs), full story – you can’t turn the volume up in vocation. Javier Bardem as Father Quin- Jürgen (Mika Seidel), and baby Peter the cinema to be sure you hear the whis- tana (after playing the baddie in Skyfall) (Nick Holaschke), trying to reach their pers that reveal some of the details (the tries to relate his sermons to the people he Subscribe to grandmother’s house at the other end of subtitles help). meets – not least the old lady who’s praying the country in Hamburg, with no trains The bare bones are that Neil (Ben for him to find the gift of joy. the print available and allied forces patrolling the His sexton (Tony O’Gans) is a black Pen- roads. Avoiding the Russians’ occupied tecostalist advocating speaking in tongues edition for zone is the priority. (“The Devil don’t know what I’m saying”) Stopped by one patrol, they are helped by but Quintana has his own way through his £17.50 a young man with a yellow star in his iden- doubts. He prays St Patrick’s Breastplate in tity papers. Thomas (Kai Malina) tells the voiceover (in Spanish), “Christ before me, American soldiers that they are his siblings Christ behind me, Christ in every ear that and have lost their papers. hears me”. Being rescued by a Jew is a conflict for Voiceover of the characters’ thoughts is Lore, imbued with hatred and prejudice more prevalent than audible dialogue, but against “parasites”. Their journey together Marina’s Italian friend Anna (Romina Mon- prefigures the journey of ordinary Ger- dello) gets a chance for a lively rant about mans to come to terms with things done in the town and its dull inhabitants (which their name, and dealing with complicity. was presumably not what the Oklahoma The story comes from the middle section Film and Music Office was hoping for of The Dark Room, a prize-winning 2001 when granting the film permits). Paris and That’s right, you can debut novel by Rachel Seiffert, born in Mont Saint-Michel come out better. subscribe to the print edition and have it sent to you by post every week for three 1971 to a German father and Australian Jane in a red dress in a field of golden months for just £17.50. mother. Director Kate Shortland is Aus- corn, and watching bison up close, are the tralian and the film was entered by Aus- sort of images that might compensate for Email [email protected] tralia as their foreign-language film for an suggestions that life in the American “west or telephone 020 7222 8663 Oscar®. south central” is mind-numbing, but Neil’s In addition to the print edition you will also Inevitably merely sketching the tensions job of investigating petro-chemical environ- get full access to our dealt with at depth in the novel, Lore is a mental pollution is a downer. When Marina website at www.churchnewspaper.com E8 www.englandonsunday.com Sunday March 3, 2013

arating you from the party! Fortunately, the other thing about tents is how temporary those canvas walls are, the way you can open them wide, cram more people in. For most of us in the First World tents are recreational. They are about fun and festivities. And of course, they are Catherine Fox temporary. We can all go home afterwards. But for millions of refugees, a tent is their only shelter. It is home. And in a way, our spiritual roots are in tents, not temples. Our faith A novel view of the week comes down from a pilgrim people on the move in the wilderness. We are still on that long journey from the gar- den to the city.

Close Encounters—A Church in a Tent in a Church The other Sunday I bunked off choral evensong in Liver- pool cathedral and went to church in a tent instead. I didn’t have to go far. I can see the venue from my kitchen window, though I can’t see the tent itself, because it’s inside a The joy of tents... church — in St James’ Toxteth. A few years ago the diocese reacquired this redundant church from the Churches Con- found myself thinking about tents recently. A nostal- Scottish braes, and once on a wide grassy verge beside a servation Trust. There was a bold vision for redevelop- gic mood must have come upon me, now those epic busy A road. It was all quiet and very late at night when ment. The plan was not to turn it into student Imale-bonding camping trips are finally over for us. I we arrived. My father didn’t realise. I still remember the accommodation, or a supermarket, or retail units, but into a say us. Them. I never went. I would have ruined every- lorries rocketing by and tooting at us over breakfast. church. A mad scheme, surely, in the face of declining thing by fretting about sheep ticks and salmonella. The But on other mornings I remember the dreamy brood- attendance. Why take on yet another crumbling church vulcanised cuisine of that era is still remembered wistful- ing of wood pigeons, the song of larks, the smell of gorse building? ly by my sons. Sometimes I recreate it by sticking a tray blossom, of juniper, of bacon frying in the open air, and of Except… except… Have you heard that little experimen- of pine nuts under the grill to roast, then recklessly turn- meths from the Primus stove. I even enjoyed camping at tal trill before dawn yet, when the first blackbird of spring is ing my back on them to unload the dishwasher. ‘Oh look! Greenbelt as a teenager. Sort of. I date my deep inner tuning up? That is what we are hearing now. The first whis- I’ve made some “camping” pine nuts!’ I say, as I waft the resistance to camping from my mid-20s. I still retain a per of spring. Church attendance figures across both the choking black fumes away with a tea towel before they great affection for tents, mind you. The canvassy smell, Liverpool and London dioceses are up. It’s so long since set off the smoke alarm. the tiny portable home-ness of them. Or at the other end we’ve had good news it’s hard to take it in. Camping! What’s not to like? Well now. (Pulls out of the scale, the huge celebratory extravaganza of mar- It felt did feel a bit like a mad business, standing in a mar- notepad and licks pencil) Where shall I start? Trying to quees — jazz bands and weddings, big tops and revival- quee inside a half-derelict church, worshipping God with get comfortable on a 1cm thick layer of foam. Lying ism! these pilgrim people. I may even have had a bit of an out of awake on a 1cm thick layer of foam asking yourself if you The thing about tents is the way they instantly create body experience. For a second I saw myself looking back need a wee. Asking yourself how badly. Wondering if an inside and an outside. In here is home, or the party, on that service from 15 years in the future, when the multi- there are any dock leaves handy if your nether parts the prayer meeting. Outside is everything else. The rest million pound Heritage-led development is complete, and encounter a patch of nettles. Deciding you can hold on of the world. But the walls are nothing but canvas. Per- everyone is saying fondly, ‘You remember when we used to till morning. Drifting… off… WHAT WAS THAT? Lying haps you have a distant furtive memory of getting up to meet in a tent?’ An empty building, then a building with a rigid in terror. THERE’S SOMETHING OUT THERE! no good in a tent? Of course you don’t! So you won’t handful of people in a 6mx6m tent, now a congregation of Feeling your heart gallop as the THING tramples closer, remember how thin those tent walls were. Or how at any some 65 adults and 15 children in a 10mx12m tent. And in closer, breathing with great monstrous whooshes. Wish- moment you might hear the dreaded ZZZZZZZIP! of the future? Who knows? But take heart: Faith in the City is ing you’d never watched The Blair Witch Project. someone else letting themselves in to see what you’re up alive and well. He who has called us is faithful: he will do it. You won’t believe me when I tell you that when I was a to. But if you have ever been camping in a thunderstorm, Visit their website http://www.stjamesinthecity.org.uk/ little girl I genuinely loved our family camping trips. We you will definitely remember how thin those walls were. for flavour of the kind of project this is: ‘A new church with had three tiny ridge tents and used to pitch them in the Or maybe you’ve been outside a tent when others are a focus on social action and making a difference to the com- middle of nowhere, on moorlands, on Welsh hillsides, on inside having fun — how tantalisingly thin the walls sep- munities in which we operate’.

Across 2 Ham, to Noah [Gen] (3) 4 Religious organization; an apt ana- 1 Eldest son of Ham [Gen] (4) gram of 'O, my rival, Satan' (9,4) PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 838 by Axe 3 'Won't you first sit down and ------the 5 'Arrange them -- --- stacks, six in each cost...?' [Luke/NIV] (8) stack...' [Lev/NIV] (2,3) 9 Samaritan persistent in opposing the 6 Christian creed that believes the sec- rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls [Neh] ond coming of Christ is imminent (9) (9) 7 'To the east they occupied the 10 'When anyone went to a wine --- to land...that ------to the Euphrates draw fifty measures, there were only River...' [1 Chr/NIV] (7) twenty' [Hag/NIV] (3) 8 '...a day of trumpet and ------cry against 11 'It catches the ----- of 8 from afar...' the fortified cities...' [Zeph/NIV] (6) [Job/NIV] (5) 12 Sacrament of the Last Supper (9) 13 Saint, abbot of Iona from 697 and 14 'They attacked the Hamites...and biographer of St Columba; an apt ana- completely destroyed them, as is ------gram of 'Madonna' (7) to this day' [1Chr/NIV] (7) 14 Clergy or other people in religious 15 Angel of the first order (6) orders (13) 17 '...and the first...deceased...having no - 16 Modern-day nationality of the Medes ----, left his wife unto his brother' and Elamites, for instance (7) [Matt/KJV] (5) 18 Recipient of a letter from 19 'But as for me, I am poor and -----' Paul (5) [Ps/NIV] (5) 20 Teacher of Samuel [1 Sam] (3) 22 'I tell you, --- worldly wealth to gain 21 Writing that is regarded as sacred by friends for yourselves...'[Luke/NIV] a religious group (9) (3) 23 'Like a foe he has slain all who were Solutions to last week’s crossword pleasing ------' [Lam/NIV] (2,3,3) 24 'Whosoever wants to be my disciple Across: 3 Prodigal Son, 7 Anoint, 8 In debt, 9 East- must ---- themselves and take up their er, 10 Boaz, 11 Olaf, 13 Martyr, 17 Statue, cross and follow me' [Mark/NIV] (4) 18 En Gedi, 19 Lamentation.

Down Down: 1 Holies, 2 Used to, 3 Pentecostal, 4/14 In the arena, 5 Asia, 6 Nebuzaradan, 12 1 'They offered... ----- of wine from Izal...' Autumn, 15 Tigris, 16 Dean. [Ezek/NIV] (5) The first correct entry drawn will win a book of the Editor’s choice. Send your entry to Crossword Number 838, The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX by next Friday SCRIBBLE PAD STAIRLIFTS FROM £995 Name NEW OR REFURBISHED FOR AN INFORMATION PACK CALL Address Telephone FREE on Post Code 0800 007 6959 www.castlecomfortstairlifts.com See our notice on page 11 for Clergy disount Leader & Comment Sunday March 3, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 9 Comment Archbishop Welby’s agenda for Moving the agenda reconciliation

Lambeth Palace announced the appointment of Canon David Porter as Director for Reconciliation, a member of the Archbishop’s personal staff, and said ‘his initial focus will be on supporting creative ways for on for Christians renewing conversations and relationships around deeply held differ- ences within the Church of England and the Anglican Communion’. Canon Porter will be part time at Lambeth as he will retain his full time Research suggests that the average age that Ice- role in reconciliation ministry at Coventry Cathedral. This appoint- land’s children first see pornography is 11 and the ment seems to signal an important theme for the new Archbishop’s nature of that pornography is increasingly turning ministry, that of trying to be peace to the intra Anglican dissension James violent. over sexual ethics which still plagues the Church and has absorbed a Christians could be known as the most enthusias- vast amount of energy and resources over the past decade. tic supporters of a ban on the printing or distribu- It is clearly a most worthy enterprise, and Canon Porter has deep Catford tion of porn. If the move were brought to the UK it experience of working for reconciliation in Northern Ireland by seek- would be a worthy cause to mobilise our forces ing to reach out and establish trust and good relations with opposing behind. As one psychologist has said: “The internet parties. In fact this kind of approach, akin to political rapprochement is fuelling more extreme fantasies and the danger is and peace building, was used at the last Lambeth Conference with its that they could be played out in real life.” indaba groups, an open-ended mode of group conversation designed Another cause Christians could support is the just for sharing and listening, not deciding or resolving. IF… campaign, which includes several Christian This development comes at the same time as the Roman Catholic aid and development agencies in the UK. The sim- Church in England is being urged to consider widening participation MPs of all parties have been telling me recently ple claim of IF… is that there is enough food for in its upper echelons of authority, notably by a letter to The Times from about the size of their mail bags on gay marriage. If everyone on this planet IF…. That is, IF crops are some important Roman Catholic laymen. They wish to see a higher the pages of The Church of England Newspaper are grown as food, not to fuel cars in the West. IF peo- grade of episcopal leadership in their Church and a more open form of anything to go by, then everyone’s talking about it, ple are helped to feed themselves and not depend selection, including some voting from the laity. The present ‘pray, pay and one at least one political party has reported on handouts. IF the British government sticks to its and obey’ message to the laity tends in effect to infantilise and patron- widespread resignations over the issue. commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national ise the people, rather than gaining their important contribution for the Whether or not Britain decides to reform its mar- income on foreign aid. Church in today’s context. The English Roman Catholic Church at the riage laws in 2013, the church has become inextri- For the church to fully commit to this main- moment has no cardinal and so no vote in the upcoming papal election. cably embroiled in one of the most contentious stream campaign, which is supported by many of The conservative reaction to the request for more openness and matters to face the country in recent years. The the most respectable relief organisations, would democracy in choosing English Roman Catholic bishops is to say that Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill for England and enhance our reputation. Our organisational abilities this is a secular model and would lead to ‘campaigning’ for posts in an Wales is forever going to be seen as a big concern would be used to great effect and our good stand- unspiritual way. for Christians. ing in the eyes of the government would be boost- Archbishops of Canterbury are chosen, it has to be admitted, in a ed. rather closed fashion and hardly open to the democratic process. Or how about the church supporting the crack- Rome however has no General Synod and its permanent state of ‘cam- down promised by the G20 countries in tax avoid- paigning’ on liberal changes does have a deeply draining effect on ance by multinationals? The practice of shifting church life and morale. Roman line management totally avoids that. profits to low tax rate tax regimes is harming both Canon Porter’s role is to apply some balm to the battered state of the developing world and the British economy. The Anglican disagreement. But we may ask, surely the differences over world is labouring under a global taxation system sexual ethics are not to be smoothed away by nice meetings, they that was established by the League of Nations back involve serious questions of truth about the very well being of humani- in the 1920s and reformed very little since then. ty? Yet the failure of the Covenant means that we do not even have the- Churches that boycott the worst offending multi- ological criteria on which to agree or disagree. In the New Testament nationals would be making a positive effort to ease ‘reconciliation’ concerns reconciliation with the holy God by sinners, poverty and promote justice. Copies of the Poverty through the sacrifice of Christ, not simply political processes to and Justice Bible highlight over 2,000 verses that achieve harmony, a truth we do well to ponder during Lent. speak directly on these issues. A campaign to apply the Bible to current commercial practice would make a big impact on the lives of the poorest in our The Church of England Newspaper world. with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week Another option would be to join the national Published by Religious Intelligence Ltd. debate on happiness; what it is and how to increase Company Number: 3176742 it. Is it possible, we could ask, to lead a happy life Publisher: Keith Young MBE without leading a virtuous life? Can one be found without the other? Everyone wants to live the good life, so what would it look like if churches become Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY 020 7222 8004 centres of excellence on living life well? Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 Need I go on? There’s no limit to the issues and Reporter: AMARIS COLE 020 7222 8700 causes that the church could get behind when our attention moves from the gay marriage debate. The Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 need to support stable families through the tax and Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 benefits system, is now accepted across the political spectrum. Keeping the health service focussed on Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 8663 care and the dignity of the individual, rather than Graphic Designer: PETER MAY 020 7222 8700 other priorities, could become a national crusade. So what happens after the bill is either passed or And lending our considerable collective weight to The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate rejected by Parliament? How will Christians move the ongoing challenge of assisted suicides could endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication on from this controversy and what will we be prove to be a significant tipping point in an other- are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper known for in the weeks and months after the deci- wise closely balanced public debate. does not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. sion is made? Each of these and many more deserve to pick up Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), Christianity is more than a single-issue faith. How where Christians concerns over gay marriage leave Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, we frame our engagement with contemporary off. Ours is not a one-issue religion and we would Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Peter Brown, The Rev Cindy Kent issues will drive the way we are seen by the rest of do well not to allow ourselves to be portrayed as society. Once the matter has been settled, there are such. Now is the time to be thinking and planning The Church of England Newspaper, a number of important concerns ready to take cen- where we will turn our attention next, and how we Religious Intelligence Ltd tre stage both in the church and in the wider com- will support our new Archbishop of Canterbury as 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX munity. Here are some of them. he leads us. Editorial e-mail: [email protected] is the unlikely place to find a new initia- Advertising e-mail: [email protected] tive in limiting the harmful effects of porn. Follow- James Catford is Group Chief Executive of Bible Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] ing a nationwide consultation, the government Society. Email him at there is looking at ways to ban pornography. [email protected] Website: www.churchnewspaper.com

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 10 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 3, 2013 Feature A FIVE WEEK COURSE FOR LENT GROUPS

And, at the heart of that experience of suffering, he has Week 4: The God who shares our pain also known what it is to put himself into the hands of his heavenly Father. ‘Not my will, but yours’ is probably the most difficult prayer of all to pray. But for us, as for Jesus, it GLIMPSES OF GOD – Hope for today’s world Gethsemane and Calvary. can be the prayer that unlocks the floodgates of faith.

The garden of tears There is a BOOKLET and CD to accompany these notes. A FIVE WEEK COURSE FOR LENT GROUPS After the ‘last supper’ which the disciples shared with The CD contains five 14-minute radio-style starters for By Canon David Winter Jesus, he led them to the Garden of Gethsemane, which group discussion featuring Baroness Shirley Williams, they had often used as a place of prayer. He ‘threw himself Bishop Stephen Cottrell, the Rev Prof David Wilkinson and on the ground’, wept bitterly, and prayed a simple but the Rev Lucy Winkett. Dr David Hope introduces the course. This week we consider one of the most poignant scenes in painful prayer. ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possi- Booklet: £3.90 (£3.40 each for orders of five or more) the whole Bible. Jesus’ betrayal in the Garden of Gethse- ble; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but CD: £10.99 (£8.99 each for two or more) mane (Mark 14:43-46) reveals this amazing truth: our God what you want’ (Mark 14:36). This prayer, from a troubled Transcript of CD/audiotape: £4.99 (£3.10 each for two or not only understands our pain and suffering - but actually heart, is the clearest example in the Gospels of the inner more) shares it. battle that the Son of God had to face. Was there not, he TASTER PACK (1 CD, 1 booklet, 1 transcript) £17.65 – Life inevitably includes the experience of injustice, pain, was asking, some other way? Did it have to be the cross? saves £2.23 sorrow and sickness. How can the God who is Creator of Yet he instantly added the words that we find hardest to Free 2nd class p&p in the UK; add £2 for 1st class post. the Universe understand what it is like to be human, to be add, particularly in times of desperate need: ‘Yet, not what Subsidised postage overseas. weak and vulnerable, to be let down by friends, to feel I want, but what you want.’ He knew he was not addressing Buy online and save at www.yorkcourses.co.uk frightened and misunderstood, to be wracked with pain, or a remote, grim God who was looking to punish him or Credit/debit cards accepted. Tel: 01904 466516. to face death? That question was answered in two places: cause him pain, but the one he called ‘Abba, Father’. Cheques with order to: ‘York Courses’, PO Box 343 York Jesus prayed, while his disciples - sadly - dozed off. So YO19 5YB, UK the great inner battle of trust was faced and won alone. He Email: [email protected] rose from the ground strengthened, ready to face Judas www.yorkcourses.co.uk QUOTATIONS from the course CD and the temple guard, and all the dark consequences on Canon David Winter was Head of Religious Broadcasting at the following day. The offering was finally made on Calvary the BBC. He is a prolific author and broadcaster, well known (the hill of the skull) but it seems that the real battle had from his contributions to Radio 4’s Thought for the Day. The Rt Hon Professor been won the previous evening - in the Garden of Gethse- SHIRLEY WILLIAMS mane. There’s quite a lot to be said QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS for the discipline of attending ‘For God so loved the world …’ church - I do go to church My Song is Love Unknown is one of my favourite hymns, BIBLE READING: Hebrews 4:14-16 and 12:1-3 pretty well every week … I but I simply can’t accept one line in it: ‘Joyful he to suffer- On the course CD Shirley Williams talks of prayerful might describe myself as an ing goes’. There’s nothing ‘joyful’ about that desperate meditation during tough times, and of being an ‘unmethodical pray-er’ - prayer in Gethsemane. In that moment the Son of God ‘unmethodical pray-er’ - as well as falling asleep! Can praying in a situation which knelt and shared exactly the same burden of fear, anxiety, you relate to any or all of these? elicits prayer. pain and longing that we feel in extremis. Someone dear to Read Hebrews 12:2-3. All of us have experienced us is ill or dying. We have just been given some terrible suffering – whether physical or emotional. Did the news - an accident, perhaps, or even a suicide. We are in knowledge that the Son of God has also suffered turmoil. ‘Oh God, why?’ we cry to the heavens. We know bring comfort to you at those times? If so, how? BISHOP STEPHEN we should add those words of Jesus, but we just can’t: ‘yet, Read John 10:11-15. The Good Shepherd lays down COTTRELL not my will but yours’. his life for the sheep. Reflect upon Good Friday and There’s no way of avoiding It is when we are in that situation that the Jesus of Geth- the way you like to spend it. Share the significance of suffering and conflict in this semane becomes so precious. God knows exactly how the death of Jesus to you personally. life. And if you think being a we’re feeling, because in his beloved Son he’s been there Read Psalm 10:1 and Psalm 13. We talk to God; how Christian will make you before us. Faced with betrayal, rank injustice, abuse and do we know God is listening? Some psalms are more immune from it - well, I’d then the most appalling and cruel death, Jesus could pray, turbulent than Psalm 23: they express bewilderment, simply suggest you read the ‘Not my will, but yours be done,’ (Luke 22:42). even anger, as well as hope and faith. How honest do Gospels again. They will tell The clue to that faith is surely in that one word ‘Abba’. you feel you can be with God in prayer - telling him you a very different story. The prayer of Jesus was not addressed to a cosmic source just ‘how it is’ for you? of power, the Lord of Hosts or the King of Glory (though Have you had a Gethsemane moment, when you God is all of those) but to ‘Abba’, the homely, intimate Ara- faced a huge decision – or faced your own personal The Rev Prof DR DAVID maic word for ‘father’. It is the word a child would use, demons? How did your faith ‘work’ on that occasion? WILKINSON climbing on to a father’s lap. Suffering sometimes drives people away from God. The God I see suffering on But quite often it turns people towards God. Why do the cross remains the God of Infinite agony; infinite love you think this is? And can you illustrate from people Love, whose love forgives It was to the God of infinite love that Jesus addressed his you’ve met? those who are crucifying him. prayer of infinite agony, in the utter certainty that whatever The Jesus of Gethsemane is also the Jesus of the Whose love eventually will be the response to that prayer might be, it would be motivated empty tomb. Discuss the elements you want in your triumphant in resurrection. by the supremacy of love. It was for love that Jesus was to own funeral service. How might you emphasise your Now that is the thing that die - love of God’s fallen creatures. It was for love of us that Christian belief in heaven? sustains and inspires me. God gave his Son: ‘God so loved the world that he gave ...’ Jesus prayed alone, and went to Calvary alone. (John 3:16). And it was in the hands of that love that Jesus Have you ever experienced deep loneliness? As indi- would walk the via dolorosa (path of sorrows) and go to viduals, or as a group or church, how might you iden- The Rev LUCY WINKETT the hill of the skull to die. tify and help those who are lonely? When isolation and shame There is, of course, a profound truth about God and Read Luke 22:54-62. The New Testament is remark- are at their profoundest, that human need in the events of that evening and the following ably frank in recording that the disciples failed Jesus. is the very moment that God day. Just about every aspect of human sorrow was experi- Does their weakness depress or reassure you – or a is with you in the mess. enced by Jesus. He was betrayed by a close companion, bit of both? When you have no idea what deserted by his male friends (who all ‘forsook him and Shirley Williams says that ‘suicide is always wrong’, to say, what to pray, even fled’), unjustly condemned for crimes of which he was while David Wilkinson says ‘I wouldn’t want to say it’s whether you want to have innocent, abused and flogged by men who knew nothing a sin’. This might be too painful for some groups, who anything to do with such a about him, and led out to public humiliation and execution. may prefer to discuss assisted dying. Where do you God; God is not elsewhere. It’s very natural for us, in a situation of despair, to say to stand on these issues? How does your Christian faith God is here. God, ‘You can’t know what it’s like.’ He can. He’s been inform your judgement? there. The incarnate Son has known what it is to suffer.

www.yorkcourses.co.uk There is a BOOKLET and CD to accompany these notes Tel: 01904 466516 Follow us on Facebook /churchnewspaper 12 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 3, 2013 Register

The Rev Simon White, APPOINTMENTS Rector, West Hallam and Mapperley with ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER Stanley (Derby): to be Vicar, Tideswell New Lord High Almoner of England (same diocese). The Rt Rev John Inge, Sunday 03 March. Lent 3. Psalm 94:14-19, Job 36:22-33. Matlosane (formerly The Rev Susan Williams, (Worcester): to be Klerksdorp) - (Southern Africa): The Rt Rev Stephen Diseko Warden of Readers and Pastoral Assistants; also Lord High Almoner of England. and Vice-Principal, Lancashire and Cum- Monday 04 March. Psalm 55:1-8, Jms. 4:1-12. Mbaise - (Owerri, Nigeria): The Rt bria Theological Partnership (Blackburn): New Archdeacon of York Rev Chamberlain Chinedu Ogunedo to be Vicar, Balderstone, Mellor and Sam- The Rev Canon , lesbury (same diocese). Rector, Whalley Range St Edmund and Tuesday 05 March. Psalm 119:33-40. Jms. 4:13-5:6. Mbale - (Uganda): The Rt Rev Moss Side St James with St Clement; and Patrick Gidudu Bishop’s Adviser for Women’s Ministry; RETIREMENTS & and Area Dean, Hulme Deanery (Man- Wednesday 06 March. Psalm 102:1-8, Job 37:1-13. Mbamili - (Niger, Nigeria): The chester): to be Archdeacon of York (York). Rt Rev Henry Okeke RESIGNATIONS

The Rev Catherine Beaumont, Thursday 07 March. Psalm 102:23-28, Job 37:14-20. Mbeere - (Kenya): The Rt Rev The Rev Patricia Belshaw, NSM (Assistant Priest), Clopton with Moses Nthuka NSM (Assistant ), Darwen St Peter Otley, Swilland and Ashbocking (St (Blackburn): has retired with effect from Edmundsbury and Ipswich): is now also Friday 08 March. Psalm 86:1-7, Job 37:21-24. Mbhashe - (Southern Africa): The Rt 17 February 2013. NSM (Assistant Priest), Boulge with Rev Elliot Williams The Rev Albert Brian Davies, Burgh, Grundisburgh and Hasketon (same Assistant Chaplain, Aquitaine (France, diocese). Saturday 09 March. Psalm 77:1-15, Job 38:1-15. Meath & Kildare - (Dublin, Ireland): Europe): has retired with effect from 1 Jan- The Rev Shaun Baldwin, The Most Rev Dr Richard Lionel Clarke uary 2013. Priest-in-Charge, Waterside Parishes of The Rev David Gaskell, Hambleton, Old Rawcliffe and Preesall; Vicar, Copp with Inskip (Blackburn): to and Assistant Curate, Stalmine with Pilling The Rev Carole Garner, Gorsley with Cliffords Mesne (Glouces- retire with effect from 31 March 2013. St John the Baptist (Blackburn): is now NSM (Assistant Curate), Oswaldtwistle ter): to be NSM (Associate Priest). The Rev Canon Dr Robin Greenwood, Vicar to both Benefices. (Blackburn): to be NSM (Associate The Rev David Maudlin, Vicar, Monkseaton (Newcastle): to retire The Rev Liam Beadle, Priest). Retired: to be NSM (Priest-in-Charge), with effect from 30 June 2013. Assistant Curate, Enfield St Andrew (Lon- The Rev Ruth Goatly, Leicester St Mary (Leicester). The Rev Canon Dr Charlotte Methuen, don): to be Vicar, Honleyl (Wakefield). NSM (Assistant Curate), Boxmoor St John The Rev Catherine McClure, NSM (Hon Curate), Bottrop; and Canon The Rev David Bowler, (St Albans): to be NSM (Associate Priest), Chaplain, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Theologian, Gloucester Cathedral Chaplain, Northgate and Prudhoe NHS St Albans St Mary Marshalswick (same Foundation Trust (Gloucester): to be (Gloucester): to resign with effect from 30 Trust; and Chaplain, Northumberland, diocese). Chaplain, The Cheltenham Ladies’ College June 2013. Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust The Rev Jennifer Gray, (same diocese). The Rev Martin Thompson, (Newcastle): to be Vicar, Delaval (same Assistant Curate, Welwyn Garden City (St The Rev Carollyn McDonald, Vicar, Twigworth, Down Hatherley, Nor- diocese). Albans): to be Priest-in-Charge, Bramfield, Assistant Curate, Sawley (Derby): to be ton, The Leigh, Evington, Sandhurst and The Rev Alan Byrom, Stapleford, Waterford and Watton-at-Stone Assistant Curate (Associate Priest), Ash- Staverton with Boddington (Gloucester): Priest-in-Charge, Blackpool Christ Church (same diocese). bourne with Mappleton; and Assistant to retire with effect from 31 May 2013. with All Saints (Blackburn): to be Vicar. The Rev Ian Greenwood, Curate (Associate Priest), Ashbourne St The Rev Tracy Charnock, Assistant Curate, Burscough Bridge (Liv- John; and Assistant Curate (Associate Priest-in-Charge, Shore Holy Trinity; and erpool): to be Priest-in-Charge, Aigburth Priest), Clifton; and Assistant Curate Priest-in-Charge, Shore St Peter (Black- (same diocese). (Associate Priest), Norbury with Snelston THE 2013 burn): is now Vicar to both Benefices. The Rev Elizabeth Honey, (same diocese). BIBLE CHALLENGE The Rev Paskal Clement, Assistant Curate, Furze Platt (Oxford): to The Rev Canon Julia Peaty, Assistant Curate (Associate Minister), be Pioneer Minister, Derwent Ward of NSM, East Grinstead St Swithun; and Rural Oadby (Leicester): to be Priest-in-Charge, Derby (Derby). Dean, Grinstead Deanery (Chichester): to Day 62 Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read Leicester Resurrection (same diocese).. The Rev John Paul Hoskins, be Dean of Women’s Ministry (same dio- aloud in church The Rev Daniel Connolly, Bishop’s Chaplain, cese). Day 63 Numbers 36, Psalm 52, Luke 10 Priest-in-Charge, Blackpool St John (Black- (Gloucester): to be also Minor Canon, The Rev Rachel Squires, Day 64 Deuteronomy 1-3, Psalm 53, Luke burn): to be Vicar. Gloucester Cathedral (same diocese). (Newcastle): to be Assistant Curate, 11 The Rev Thomas Donaghey, The Rev Stephen Johnson, Monkseaton St Peter (same diocese). Day 65 Deuteronomy 4-6, Psalm 54, Luke Assistant Curate, Whittle-le-Woods (Black- Vicar, Preston Emmanuel; and Chaplain, The Rev David Stevenson, 12 burn): to be Vicar, Baxenden (same dio- Central Lancashire University (Black- Priest-in-Charge, Watford St John (St Day 66 Deuteronomy 7-9, Psalm 55, Luke cese). burn): is now Priest-in-Charge, Walton-le- Albans): to be Vicar. 13 The Rev Michele du Saire, Dale St Leonard; and Priest-in-Charge, The Rev Philippa Wetherell, Day 67 Deuteronomy 10-12, Psalm 56, Assistant Curate, Leavesden All Saints (St Bamber Bridge St Aidan (Blackburn). Assistant Curate, West Derby St Mary and Luke 14 Albans): to be Rector, Sarratt and Chipper- The Rev Kenneth Madden, St James (Liverpool): to be Team Vicar, Day 68 Deuteronomy 13-15, Psalm 57, field (same diocese). NSM (Assistant Curate), Newent and Kirkby (same diocese). Luke 15 Wine of the Week 3/4 of the way through and Tesco Finest Swartland CCooookk tthhiiss!! open them out. Chenin Blanc 2012 Place a sheet of cling film Tesco £6.00 (promotion, until 26 March) over each breast and bash Method them out gently with a Chenin Blanc, a white wine grape originating in Chicken kiev rolling pin. You don't want to France’s Loire valley (think Vouvray) has been planted First make the filling my make them really thin so be for sometime in South Africa, and is now being very Serves 4 mixing the butter, garlic, gentle! well-regarded. This bottle comes from a district which parsley and tarragon (if Pack 1/4 of the butter mix- also has advanced in reputation, Swartland. I know no using) together in a bowl ture into the centre of each Afrikaans, but I’d guess that means “black land”, so, Ingredients season to your liking and set chicken breast then roll in the “Rainbow Nation” of today’s South Africa, fit- aside. them tightly around the fill- tingly, white and black have teamed up together. 4 Large chicken ing. Make sure the butter is The vineyards are to the north of Cape Town, on breasts, well secured inside, you the Spice Route. Water-clear, with just a hint of 120g butter, don't want your lovely butter gold in the glass, on the nose there are light fruit to leak out! notes, hinting of peaches. As often with some 2 Cloves of garlic Finally the Kievs need to white wines, there are two tasting experiences crushed to a paste, be breadcrumbed, take one according to chill. At the first sip from the chilled 2 tsp Parsley, finely of your chicken breasted and bottle, held in a light refreshing body, first chopped, dust it with flour, then dip it encounter sharper notes. Let it breathe: the dry- 1 tsp Tarragon, finely in the beaten egg and finally ness continues, but on the palate in come balanc- chopped (optional), in the breadcrumbs making ing notes of fruit, a touch of citrus followed by sure it is well coated. 1 egg lightly beaten, apple and guava. There’s also a very faint touch of Repeat with the rest, place oak, from a brief time fermenting in barrel. Plain flour for Preheat your oven to Gas them on an oven proof tray There’s a good, crisp finish. Alcohol by Vol. is dusting, 5/190c/375f and bake until golden brown 12.5%. Good with smoked haddock, other fish 2 Cups of Slice through the chicken and the meat feels firm to with a cream sauce or Chicken Kiev. breadcrumbs. breasts horizontally about the touch (around 45mins) Graham Gendall Norton Anglican Life Sunday March 3, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 13 A bear, a chair and a decade of care Just over 10 years ago, Alison Fletcher, a physiotherapist When the teenagers at the Afaayo club started complain- visit Mike, one of the first to move from the teen clinic into from Nottingham, did a very unfashionable thing. She ing that they didn’t like their group activities, I knew we the main adult clinic. We have witnessed his immense committed to long-term mission work in Uganda with the were making inroads – previously they were too shy, with- physical and emotional suffering over the years. Church Mission Society. Last year that decade of work was drawn or anxious to give an opinion. recognised by her peers when she received the Distin- We have seen real growth in these teenagers though More than meets the eye guished Service Award from the Chartered Society of challenges remain, particularly for those who feel very Mike lives alone with very few supportive family members Physiotherapy. Here she reflects on 10 years living and much alone. nearby – this is unusual for rural Uganda. He has a plot of working with the Kiwoko Hospital community, building up land where he grows food to eat, and the only furniture in the physio department and integrating care for children A place to be free the main room of his house is a chair and a wooden bench. and teens living with HIV. It is not, she says, “just another At a monthly clinic, as well as individual clinical consulta- It would be understandable to look at him and his home story of poverty that requires help and gifts.” tions and collecting medicine, they usually have a time for and feel quite miserable, feel sorry for Mike and his diffi- health education, as well as a time for discussion on a more cult life, and think it just another story of poverty that oung Charles was acutely malnourished and really social issue, perhaps how to get on with others at school, requires help and gifts. very sick. He lay in his bed doing But there is more to it than that. Yabsolutely nothing. When William and I visited a few years ago, he didn’t Noticing that he had nothing to do I have any furniture in the room, was struggling to work out took a little teddy to his bed and chatted what to do with his life and saw little hope in the future. to him briefly; the next day though... no Today, he is a trained carpenter and is slowly finding work, change. But the day after, his mum said and this gives him the resources to look after himself. that he had been talking to his teddy The chair was made by his own hands and I was delight- and pretending to tuck the bear up in ed to have the honour of sitting on it! When I think of him, bed. I don’t think of poverty requiring help, but of a young man Each day after that was an eye-opener to be proud of, with a future despite the problems he has to me, seeing Charles gain energy and faced. This is something to celebrate. noting how play seemed to give him I have not been exempt from transformation as I have reasons to move around. skills today that I certainly didn’t have 10 years ago! This one little boy inadvertently It has been stimulating and challenging, but it has changed the shape of the physio work pushed me to the absolute limits of my abilities – some- and represented one of the most endur- times to the point of not having a clue what the next step is ing changes I made. We started a daily and scrambling to come up with a solution. playtime, later moving this to the newly finished physiotherapy department. My life transformed Living and working within one community makes it virtu- Young lives transformed ally impossible to have a ‘work’ and a ‘home’ persona and I Over the years I have witnessed many have learned the value of one flowing into the other. young lives transformed through play – This hasn’t been easy – there have been countless occa- I’ve seen eyes open up, smiles beam, sions where self-control has been difficult to find and at arms and legs gain strength, and per- Physiotherapy for an how to deal with stigma, how to disclose to others times I have felt under pressure to maintain a character of haps most significantly, relationships extremely young baby their HIV-positive status. integrity, patience and tolerance, particularly when I know cemented between the children and I hope that one of my lasting contributions to that I am being watched. their carers. Kiwoko will be that these children and young people have But living in such a community has its benefits. Our focus was very much on building up the relationship a place to come for advice, support, friendship and medical My neighbours have come in to catch bats and kill between child and mum, auntie, dad or granny, and I do care, and where they are free of judgement. snakes, given overnight accommodation to a succession of believe that where we were successful, the child’s life was So often I have been reduced to tears around these kids, chickens which I’d been given and couldn’t bear to have markedly improved. seeing them laughing and smiling when I know that for squawking in my home, noticed when they’ve not seen One group who will be forever special is the Afaayo kids many of them, their home lives are nothing to smile about me for a few days and given me much enjoyment and club – children who are HIV-positive. My first contact with at all. laughter. them came back in 2003, when I was asked to go and talk These teenagers have humbled and challenged me, real- By the wider community I have been protected on to their carers about the value and importance of play. ising the degree of loss they live with every single day, and numerous occasions from patients asking me to pay their We quickly ended up with a full-on kids club day, first knowing the struggle for survival some of them face. But hospital bills, rescued from car disasters and encouraged once a quarter then monthly, for up to 70 eager children in the midst of this there is an incredible resource of in times of uncertainty. and young teenagers, with structured activities, games, strength and of hope. The benefits definitely outweigh the challenges and I am crafts and stories. Shortly before I left, I went with my colleague William to so grateful for the opportunity to learn this firsthand. The heartbeat of the Articles

By Mike Smith, adept at loading twin shotguns and firing own ancient path. Why do we accept the and polity are only acceptable insofar as Reform them simultaneously and repeatedly into creeds? Because “they may be proved by they are “agreeable” or not “repugnant to both feet. most certain warrants of holy Scripture” the Word of God” (Canons A2-A6). The hen a merger with Methodism was Where, then, should we turn? “This is (Article 8). What is the Church? A congre- Church is the servant of the Word. on the cards a few years ago, our what the LORD says,” according to Jeremi- gation of the faithful “in which the pure If we are to “seek in penitence and broth- Wdeanery synod was discussing the ah 6:16, “Stand at the crossroads and look; Word of God is preached” (Article 19). In erly charity to heal … divisions” within the possible effect on the 39 Articles. The ask for the ancient paths, ask where the matters of controversy, “it is not lawful for Church – as Canon A8 bids us – then we Rural Dean casually asked, “Is there any- good way is, and walk in it, and you will find the Church to ordain any thing that is con- need a deep and renewed humility before one here who actually believes all the Arti- rest for your souls.” trary to God’s Word written”. For the rela- the Word of God. Articles and Canons will cles?” When I said I did, it was no real When so much of our time and energy is tionship of the Church to the Bible is not not save us, but they are a faithful sign at surprise that the response was nervous taken up with addressing the insistent and that of an author or even a revising editor, the crossroads of contemporary, divided laughter and genuine amazement. I might fluctuating demands of our culture, it is a but “a witness and a keeper” (Article 20). . We will only find true unity as as well have confessed faith in the literal good question to ask. And if “General Councils … may err, and the Spirit of truth unites us in humble sub- tooth fairy! Cranmer taught us to pray, “that all they sometimes have erred, even in things per- mission beneath the Word of truth. This is the structural weakness of the that do confess thy holy Name may agree taining unto God” (Article 21), then surely Our re-founding fathers paid in blood to Church of England: we have a biblical and in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in General Synod cannot be relied upon to re-establish the supremacy of God’s Word blood-bought doctrinal foundation com- unity, and godly love.” This would con- reveal the mind of God. Only Scripture can within Christ’s Church. Until we commit bined with a widespread refusal to build found the cynics – if we lived in unity and do that. ourselves to the same goal, perhaps also at upon it. It is not surprising that we provide godly love, the world would know that we The Canons reflect this attitude in their great cost, our contemporary Church will such constant raw material to our critics. were Christ’s disciples and perhaps would treatment of the Articles, which may be be unable to speak with power or live in When the Radio 4 cynic tells us that “The take him more seriously. But Cranmer also received in good conscience only because harmony. The people in Jeremiah’s day Church of England was invented to stop understood in framing that prayer that they “are agreeable to the Word of God” declared, “We will not walk in [the good people taking religion seriously”, it’s hard unity and love are the fruit of agreement in (Canon A2). Indeed, five of the eight foun- way].” Will we make a different choice? to refute. One of the largest folders on my – that is, under – the Word of God. dation canons explicitly insist that all true The Rev Mike Smith is Vicar of Hartford PC is entitled “Anglican Crises”. We seem This is the heartbeat of the Articles, our Anglicanism is biblical – our formularies and member of Reform Council 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 3, 2013 Feature ‘Walking’ church in Belfast Chris Bennett, a chaplain at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, oversees The Dock. A year ago this was ‘the church with no building’ but now The Dock has a new café base and Dock Walks - an intentional way of doing church, on foot, in the midst of the Quarter

The Dock began 2012 as just a group of people with a vision for a shared church for the Titanic Quarter, this fantastic, vibrant new part of Belfast. We were walking (our Dock Walks are a new way of doing church, on foot, and they still take place every week); we were praying; we were meeting the neighbours - thanks to the permission of Titanic Quarter Ltd we were allowed occasional use of a vacant shop unit for pop-up coffee morn- ings, barbeques and community events. We were also open to whatever God was going to do with us which turned out to be more than we could have asked or Wordlive multimedia resources’ podcast. We then walk for imagined. another 10-15minutes to chat about what we’ve heard The Titanic Quarter developers agreed before stopping again to draw together all our thoughts. to enter Belfast’s first ‘Meanwhile Con- After that we will listen to the reading again because I tract’ on that vacant shop unit - allowing believe we can get so much out of it second time around. permission for The Dock to use it for a peppercorn rent as There is a core of about 10 people who regularly come to Onwards again for a while and then we stop to share per- a base of operations, a coffee shop, an art gallery and a the Dock Walk on Sundays. We always have others dipping sonal thoughts and discuss the opportunities or chal- chaplaincy centre - in the “meanwhile” time before a com- in to find out what it’s all about and, in lenges we get from the reading. mercial tenant could be found for it. recent times, we have welcomed walk- By then we’ll have walked The Dock Café has now been running for several ers who have never had any previous through the Quarter and areas months and the time has passed in a blur of answered links with church at all. I find that around it; that’s when we stop to prayer, conversation, laughter and life. The Honesty Box - very interesting because it’s impossi- listen to some worship music. At which replaces a price list for every single cuppa, sand- ble to come to us and ‘hide’ in a seat at that stage we make the return trip wich, scone and bowl of soup that is served in the cafe - the back; it’s a bit more demanding and head to the Café for a coffee has provoked countless conversations. The volunteer than that because you simply can’t be and more time together. All is con- team has grown month-on-month, so we are now able to a ‘spectator’ on a Dock Walk! stantly subject to change due to open six days a week. Students, residents, tourists and In saying that, no one is put on the weather, people and what is hap- businesspeople have all found a safe haven and a warm spot, made to speak or pray out loud - pening in the Titanic Quarter. The welcome - a “local” for a new community. and we don’t sing, or preach, or walk whole thing takes about an hour I work alongside my Methodist co–chaplain, Karen around with sandwich boards. I find it and a half. Spence. We’re hoping to see further working partnerships really encouraging that people with- Sadly, Belfast has been hitting develop in future. out any church links feel able to pitch the headlines again with bad The Dock Walks are still our intentional way of doing in with their thoughts and discus- things going on rather than good church, on foot, in the midst of the Quarter. Everything sions and I like to think that it’s but The Dock is now making con- else that happens through The Dock is focusing on build- because we make everyone feel wel- nections with all of the churches in ing community and seeing what develops. It’s wonderful to come and part of what’s happening. I the city and I believe it’s one of our now have a physical space at the Dock Café because I think there is something very funda- goals at The Dock to show the know we could use it for all sort of things. Those who mental and natural about going for a other side of Belfast’s story here. struggled to understand the vision of the Dock, or what we walk that releases people to be a lot more personal and to The Dock Church meant about encouraging and sustaining a new form of share their opinions with each other. It’s also not weird or http://www.thedockchurch.org/ church through the Dock Walks, see the Cafe as being awkward to have a time of quiet when you are walking. Fresh Expressions what it’s all about. That’s not the case because, although We start off by walking for about 25 minutes, during www.freshexpressions.org.uk it’s brilliant to have the premises, The Dock involves a lot which time we just chat to each other. Then, about half an more than that! hour in, we stop and listen to the reading from the

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‘Destroy this temple and in three days I will and images that we know and understand raise it up.’ (John 2:19) so that God can reveal himself to us. Ulti- THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR mately he became one of us and the Word The temple was sacred to the Jews of became flesh. But we also have to hold on Jesus’ day. It symbolised everything that to the mystery that is God otherwise we was important about their identity and the By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare risk being blinded by our determination to faith that gave them that identity. It is hard shrink God to something that we can for us to grasp just how shocking Jesus’ domesticate. The familiar can be the place words must have been to those who heard words and believed both the scripture and who comes to live among his creation and of revelation or it can blind us to the truth. him utter them. It is also hard for us to the words he had spoken. die? How can we begin to speak of the Jesus was revealing something that was grasp the significance of Jesus’ words So far Jesus has hinted that his disciples immensity of the God who is beyond our totally new to his hearers. His body was the when we have read them over and over so will see great things (ch1: 51) and he has comprehension? The Jews were scan- new temple, the place where God himself many times. We instinctively know and performed his first sign that pointed to the dalised at his reference to the temple. dwelled and where his power to save would understand that he was speaking about his new thing that God was doing through his Their indignation got stuck at the literal be made manifest. Something familiar was death and resurrection and so it is easy to son. Now John gives us Jesus’ first direct words they heard and they could not hear being completely re-interpreted with far- read and move swiftly on to the next scene reference to his death and resurrection, what Jesus was telling them. reaching implications. How will you allow in the Gospel narrative. Yet they were so the glory that will be revealed when his As we try to understand and speak of something familiar to shock you into a new important that the author of this Gospel hour comes. All these things are spoken of things that are too marvellous for us we realisation of God today? explains exactly what Jesus meant and he by way of image and metaphor and we need to hold fast to two seemingly opposite implies that at the time the disciples did need this kind of speech to grasp what is so poles at once. On the one hand God longs The Rev Dr Liz Hoare (nee Culling) is tutor not understand either for it was when he wonderfully ungraspable. How can we talk for us to know him and so has made him- in prayer, spirituality and mission at had been raised that they remembered his sense about the Creator of the universe self known. God’s word is full of pictures Wycliffe Hall

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Sunday Readings for 10 March 2013 ‘Sing as we go’ Lent 4 - Year C

Rorke’s Drift and its defenders, who short- Joshua 5:9-12 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1– 3, 11b– 32 Alan Edwards ly after were renamed The South Wales Borderers. In ‘Zulu’ they were shown Israel was a tiny nation compared to its neighbours, enslaved in Egypt and surrounded singing ‘Men of Harlech’ - a geographically by pagan nations both in the wildern ess and in the Promised Land itself. It would have This month I’ll be singing more loudly than inappropriate song for would-be South been all too easy for such a small nation to have become assimilated into the population usual. With a voice tuned by ‘singing Walians. Not surprising. Most of the heroes and into the paganism of its neighbours. Their existence was maintained by the pre- Sankey’, plus chanting for AFC Wimble- of Rorke’s Drift were English not Welsh, cious marks of their identity as the nation chosen uniquely by God to receive his law, don, that’s ear-shatteringly loud. their regimental march ‘The Warwickshire and to bear witness to him among the nations of the earth. During the long journey Singing to celebrate Justin’s enthrone- Lads.’ from Egypt a new generation was born, and the first action taken by Joshua upon their ment at Canterbury on the 21st? No need. Comprehension and toleration of differ- arrival in their new home was to circumcise all those who had hitherto re mained He’s been tweeting away himself from the ences has been the reason for the success unmarked in this way, thus identifying them as Israelites. Crossing the Jordan river is day he was elected. of the United Kingdom - and the Church of itself an act of purification, as well as marking the boundary between their former The vocals are for St David and St England. world, and the new and holy land that God has given to them. The years of living in Patrick’s Days, 1 and 17 March. I’ll accom- Since it asserted its independence from shame among an unclean nation have been “rolled away” by the Lord at Gilgal. It is pos- pany hymning David with Cardiff-brewed Rome, the Church of England has been a sible now to celebrate the Passover in their own land, eating its produce, and from that Reverend James Bitter, and Patrick with comprehensive, national church, not a nar- moment the manna, the emergency measure provided by God in the desert, ceases to Cork’s Murphy’s Stout, in tribute to Cork’s rowly based body. However, its varying appear. Israel has arrived home. Fr Mathew, Apostle of Temperance. Must voices, evangelical, central and Catholic The events at Gilgal underline in a tangible way the distinction that is to be made put Pioneer badge under my lapel. have, until recently, sung from the same between the people of God, those who have faith in him and trust in him for their des- Then it’s April. Wales’ ‘Calon Lan’ and hymn sheets - the Articles and the Book of tiny, and those who do not know God, failing to worship him or worse, worshipping Ireland’s ‘Wearing of the Green’ - or ‘The Common Prayer. idols. Abraham’s faith and that of his descendants re lies upon the word of God, who is Sash’, mustn’t be sectarian - replaced by Different pitches, but one key, in tune at work through Israel to re concile sinful humanity to himself, a plan which finds its ful- ‘There’ll Always be an England’ for St with the fact that the national church in filment in his Son. Jesus began his ministry by passing through the Jordan, cleansing George’s Day. In November, ‘Scotland the these foundation documents claimed to be our human nature with water, and proclaiming re pentance for the forg iveness of sins. Brave.’ the local expression of Catholic Christiani- He accomplished our salvation by bearing in his own person on the cross the weight Songs from four nations united in one ty, in fundamental beliefs and ministry. and burden of our sins, shedding his blood for our purification. In this way God is re c- kingdom must be louder In 1992 the acceptance onciling the world to himself, by so uniting us with Christ that we who were without this year when there’s a The consecration of of female ordination righteousness might now become part of a re newed creation in which we bear the danger that history’s most opened a breach with righteousness of Christ himself. Accordingly Paul and the other apostles and all who successful nation state is women bishops is Orthodoxy and deep- bear witness to Christ are ambassadors to all the nations for God’s message of re concil- becoming less united. A inevitable, but ened division from iation which lies at the heart of the atonement: his longing for us to be restored to unity year hence, the referen- Rome. Sadly at the very with our Creator. dum on Scottish independ- eventual acceptance time when many Roman The parable of the prodigal son expresses in sublime literary form the principles ence. The independence of this departure from scholars were accepting which have been re corded in scripture, in the history of God’s dealings with fallen vote boosted by the proba- that a defective knowl- humanity, the outworking of his choice of Israel as the bearer of his self re velation, and bility that an independent apostolicity is not edge of liturgical history ultimately in the most costly of all gifts in the person of his own Son. Whatever the Scotland wouldn’t be had produced Leo XIII’s depths to which we sink in our re jection of God he re mains faithful. However mon- immediately welcomed into the EU, the condemnation of Anglican orders. strous our crimes against God and against humanity, he longs for us to come to our ruination of Scottish fishing. Therefore the 1992 decision was accom- senses and to re turn home. No matter what idols or ideologies we espouse in the Disunity also from the diversity in serv- panied by a statement that the church course of our tortuous journey through this life, or pride, or godlessness or shame, God ice provision, depending upon which side would enter a period of reception to see if is waiting for us to re pent with a father’s anxious heart, re ady in an instant to set aside of the borders you live. Free prescriptions its breach with tradition gained continuing the many tragedies and calamities of our own devising and adoption, and to see in us in Wales, no university fees in Scotland; nei- acceptance. When the Church has rushed only the shining radiance of the righteousness of his Son, who has borne our sins and ther benefit in England. decisions it has had cause to rue them. The carried our sorrows on the Cross. Consequences of the devolution disaster Great Ejection, forcing out moderate as The Rev Stephen Trott set in motion by Tony Blair, who having well as extreme Puritans, was too rapid a made this chaos, now spends much time revenge for the Cromwellian attack on outside the UK, making money. Sorry! Pre- Anglicanism. The hasty episcopal disap- venting chaos in the Middle East. Seeming- proval of Methodist ‘enthusiasm’, and John HYMN SELECTION ly with the same success as he achieved in Wesley’s equally hasty uncanonical ordina- his native land. tions, the rush to criminalise 19th century Hymns for Lent 4 There have always been tensions and ritualists, are further examples. For the healing of the nations teasings between the UK’s nations - think The consecration of women bishops is Make me a channel of your peace of the ‘There was an Englishman, Scots- inevitable, but eventual acceptance of this Firmly I believe and truly man and Irishman’ jokes, or sports field departure from apostolicity is not. Those in Lord, Jesus Christ clashes of ‘auld enemies.‘ Yet Jocks, Taffs today’s majority wanting to leave no room Take my life, and let it be and mere English stood shoulder to shoul- for the minority who cannot accept the Praise to the holiest in the height der in 1914 and 1939. There’s a British rejection of tradition, should recall that Ari- Peace is flowing like a river eccentricity in that today, the Argyll and anism was once in the majority, and intoler- Sing we of the blessed mother Sutherland Highlanders are based in Can- ant in its exercise of power. God is love: his the care terbury, ‘Mater Angliae’. Also think back to That power faded. Caveat victor. From heaven you came Milestones

Pope Benedict XVI has this week become the first Pope since the mid- dle ages to officially stand down from the role, also clos- ing down the revo- lutionary Twitter account, which was followed by 1.5 mil- lion people, that was opened by the leader in Decem-

ber... The Church of England has ques- tioned the Government’s proposals to redefine the way child poverty is measured in the UK, as the End Child Poverty campaign reveals that almost half of children in one parliamentary con- PAUL stituency are living in poverty... Thursday 28 Feb-

ruary saw the High Court hear the claims that RICHARDSON Boris Johnson, Chair of Transport for London denied a Christian group the freedom to express its views on the legitimacy of therapy for those Church and World dealing with unwanted feelings of same-sex attraction... MP Fiona Bruce has launched a Par- liamentary Inquiry into the law on abortion for disabilities, with a ‘ particular emphasis on whether or not it is discriminatory, as currently abortions for disability are permitted up until The lessons of birth under Ground E of the Abortion Act 1967 and a legal limit of 24 weeks stands for abortions on other grounds... “I am more and more appeasement convinced of the centrality of 24/7 prayer Learning lessons from history is a he managed to persuade a sceptical because it chimes in with complex procedure. In particular, it Obama of the advantages of top- the spirit of the age. We is dangerous to imagine that policy pling Gaddafi. Cameron showed are at God’s moment, all that was mistaken in one situation the same pragmatism in his willing- the idols have fallen, and will prove to be equally mistaken in ness to assist the French in Mali. the task is to bring a situation that may be subtly differ- This time Obama was even more people face to face with ent. reluctant to get involved with the Jesus. 24/7 Prayer does The wrong lessons have often Americans initially wanting to that for many.” been drawn from appeasement. For charge the French for the use of example, Chamberlain’s failure to their refuelling aircraft in the opera- hesitate to start some kind of a dialogue with The Most Rev Justin stand up to Hitler was quoted as a tion. the Moscow Patriarchate over the best ways Welby reason for attacking Saddam Hus- When it comes to Syria both to bring peace to Syria and safeguard the posi- Archbishop of sein although the threat Saddam Britain and France have favoured tion of the Christian minority. There is evi- Canterbury represented was of a totally differ- arming the rebels, both as a way of dence that this is an issue on which Putin is ent order from the one posed by influencing them and also in order ready to listen to the Church. Hitler. to increase the pressure on Assad Afghanistan is a different question. People Now the war in Iraq and the diffi- and his government. Finding a way Cameron shares Obama’s desire to get the culty of establishing democratic forward in Syria is not easy. The troops back as quickly as possible. There is ‘The Bishop of Sheffield has confirmed that the government there is being quoted rebels are making slow progress. impatience with the corrupt government in , the Rt Rev Glyn Webster, is as a reason for not getting involved The longer the civil war lasts, the Kabul and a feeling that ultimately conces- to be an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Dio- in Syria and for a speedy withdraw- more likely it is that extremist sions will have to be made to the Taliban. Les- cese, having been ordained as bishop by the Arch- al from Afghanistan. Nation build- Islamist forces will grow in influ- sons are being drawn from Iraq where the bishop of York last month to work with ing is a difficult if not impossible ence. There are many people in country seems to be on the brink of civil war. traditionalist parishes across the north of Eng- operation and one it seems Barack Syria, including many Christians, What is the good of Western intervention in a land... The Bishop of Bath & Wells, the Rt Rev Obama would rather not attempt. who feel caught between a rock country when long term it leads only to Peter Price, says civil society is the key to As for the ‘responsibility to protect’ and a hard place. They have no chaos? ‘unlocking peace’ in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. he has pointedly asked why that affection for the Assad regime but But for good or ill the West has intervened He made the comments in a debate in the House principle should prompt action in they dread what will replace it. in Afghanistan and this means we have of Lords after his recent trip to Israel, the West Syria but not in the Congo, where To many Western diplomats the incurred obligations to the country. Increas- Bank and Gaza... Gary Price, Salisbury Cathe- probably more people are dying. best solution seems a negotiated ingly Just War theorists are talking of a non- dral’s new Clerk of Works, fulfilled a lifetime’s Obama is ready to pursue al-Qaeda settlement between elements in the defensive war only being justified if those who ambition by climbing up the 123 metres to the but he prefers to do this with existing regime and the rebels. wage it are ready to help with reconciliation very top of Britain’s tallest spire last week to drones rather than with American Moderates among the rebels have and reconstruction once the war is over, what inspect the fixings and cable of the existing wind troops on the ground. not ruled this out. Part of the solu- is sometimes termed ‘jus post bellum’. speed meter (anemometer) in preparation for The departure of Hilary Clinton tion may involve allowing the Assad Obama and Cameron may argue we have installing a new digital instrument later this year... from the State Department, David family to go into exile in some safe done as much as we can be expected to do in A Conservative Chairman, Alan Bensted, stood Petraeus from the CIA, and Leon haven rather than to the Court in Afghanistan but they cannot argue we have down from the role in the Forest of Dean after his Panetta from the Defence Depart- The Hague where they properly finished the job. The Taliban are not going to constituency MP Mark Harper voted for gay mar- ment has led to revelations that all belong but that would surely be a share power if they think they can take over riage legislation... three officials pressed the Presi- price worth paying. Arming the complete control of the country. Some troop dent to arm factions in the Syrian rebels would be a way of increasing withdrawals may be justified but there needs rebellion but he declined, worried the pressure on the Assad regime to be a commitment to helping the Afghanis Next Week’s News that American arms would ulti- to make it more willing to negoti- protect themselves. mately find their way into the hands ate. When Timbuktu was liberated from International Women’s Day will be held on 8 of terrorists (another lesson drawn Iran is unlikely to cooperate but Islamist control reporters told horrifying sto- March... Westminster Abbey is hosting an inter- from history). there are signs that Russia sees ries of what happened during the occupation. faith event on 12 March for Commonwealth Interestingly David Cameron that Assad’s days are limited. The Afghanistan is not perfect but it is making Observance Day, with invited faith leaders hear- came to office determined not to Russian Orthodox Church has progress and the people deserve better than a ing from Bishop Michael Ipgrave who will host pursue Tony Blair’s activist foreign been an important influence on return to the days when hands are chopped talks considering how well the Church of England policy but his pragmatism led him Russian policy in Syria. Western off people accused of theft, women are denied is meeting the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee chal- to change track when it came to church leaders, including the Arch- an education, and regime opponents suffer lenge to ‘protect the free practice of all faiths in Libya. With Hillary Clinton’s help bishop of Canterbury, should not summary execution. this country’...

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