THEORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 The crisis in THE the charity world, CHURCHOF p8 ENGLAND Newspaper Welcome the Guardians of NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 No:6295 Ancora, p9 Entrantsprepare to join Lambeth Community SIXTEEN young Christians arepreparing to enter the Community of St Anselm andspend Parishes join in prayers ayear at Lambeth Palace. The year of prayer,study and community will starton18September,when the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby,will welcome the newcomers to a‘Ser- ANfoGLICANSrtJOINEDwheithChristiansenvironmentDecember. vice of Commitment.’ around the world to prayfor Creation Meanwhile, members of the Angli- Participants will promise to live by aRule of Care thisweek. can Communion Environmental Net- Life during the service in theLambeth The ChurchofEngland’s lead Bish- work will also be joining congregations Chapel, which will be publicly broadcast on oponthe Environment, the Rt Rev in prayer. BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship on 20 Septem- Nicholas Holtam, urged congregations The ACEN met in South Africa in ber. to take part. Februarywheretheydrafted ‘The “Our hope and vision is that those young Pope Francis announced an annual WorldisOur Host: Acall to urgent people who come herewill be so changed by world day of prayer to be observed on action for climate justice”. their encounter with Christ that in 20 or 30 1September in aletter to the Pontifical In the documentsigned by Anglican years, they will change the world,” Archbish- Council’s for Justice and Peace and Bishopsworldwide, members asked op Justin said. Promotion of Christian Unity. Anglicans to observe aday of fasting The Prior of the CommunityofStAnselm, In his letter,the Pope says he stands and prayer as an ‘integral partoflife the Rev Anders Litzell, said: “In the middleof with Ecumenical Patriarch andworship.’ what is quite inevitably an intense period of Bartholomew in calling for ‘an ecologi- The Archbishop of Cape Town and preparation hereatLambeth, the whole team cal conversion whereby the effects of Primate of the Anglican Church of is energised by the thought of our soon-to-be their encounter with Jesus Christ SouthernAfrica, the Most Rev Dr members making their own preparations, become evident in their relationship Thabo Makgoba, made the following packing bags, praying and getting ready for a with the world around them.’ commitment: “I fast in solidarity with year in God’s time. Thesuggestion of ajoint Catholic- children who will go to bed hungry “This is atime of prayer and prep; our Orthodox “World Day of Prayer for the tonightbecause their parents cannot prayers enabling our preparations and our CareofCreation” was said to come for God’s good but fragile creation. We afford therising prices of food; Ifast in preparations informing our prayers. Prayers from the Metropolitan Ioannis live at atime when human activity has solidarity with climate refugees who not only for the practical aspects, but in think- Zizioulas of Pergamum, representative caused adramatic reduction in the have lost theirhomes and livelihoods ing about our members, praying into their of theEcumenical Orthodox Patriarch earth’s biodiversity and when people due to climate change; And Ifast in sol- thoughts, their travels, their questions, the Bartholomew. arecausing climate change through idaritywith people of faith around the thingsthey’ll do while theyare here–and TheChurch of England Synod voted our profligate use of fossil fuels. world because we know that hope is morethan anything praying into their hunger to ‘encourage prayer and fasting for cli- “A consensus has emerged about the rising.” for the Living God. mate justice’ on the first day of every need to move to alow carbon econo- Bishop Holtam said that ‘Whatever “We’reall infor ajourney of wonderful –if month at this year’s York Synod, and my,” the Bishop said. the scientific, economic and political challenging –discoveryabout God and about as acall to the CofE’srenewed commit- The issue is finding supportfrom difficulties at root’ Climate Change is a ourselves. It will be atransforming experi- ment to Climate Change, Bishop other faith groups too. Last month ‘spiritual problem’. ence for everyone involved; for the team Holtam is calling on congregations to Islamic leaders from 20 countries “Prayer helps clarify what we want here, for the membersand for Lambeth fast and pray for the creation. signed aDeclaration urges govern- and strengthens our determination for Palaceand theArchbishop’sministry–all to “Itwill do us all good to stop, fast, ments to deliver astrong, new interna- God’s will to be done on earth as it is in the gloryofGod and in service of hisworld.” think and pray about the need to care tional climate agreement in Paris this heaven.”

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Diocese of Southwell &Nottingham THEDIARY THE Southwell Minster and the Archbishop’s Palace is hostingaDiscoveryDay on 8September. The day, withthe theme ‘Historyand Faith’, Send your events to will feature talks and workshops include [email protected] singing, sewing, flower arranging and drawing or Tweet@churchnewspaper CHURCHIN and achance to view some of the Minster’s valuable paintings at the Dean’s Residence. Paul Hale, director of music at the Minster for 8September many years, is to give atalk entitled: ‘A Millennium of Music at the Minster.’ 10am SouthwellMinster andthe Archbishop’s ENGLAND Atrip upthe bell tower or awalking tour of Palace hosts aDiscoveryDay with the the Cathedral with the building’s architect will theme of ‘Historyand Faith’. Thereisa also be onoffer.Cost is £7 and booking is choice of three from15workshops, costing essential. £7 for the day.Booking isessential: 01636817993. Diocese of Hereford Diocese of York

People across the diocese arebeing invited to aseries of 9September events to meetthe Bishops of Herefordand Ludlow,ina The Rt Rev Dr John Thomson, Bishop of Selby, chance to shape the futureofthe church. returns to Castle Howardtopreside and preach at 6pm Voices ofFaith: ‘Human Rights’, at Sikh Gur- “Follow!Join the conversation; sharethe journey”, is the aservice of Holy Communion on Sunday 6 dwara, Tindal Close, Arthurs Hill, Newcastle theme for the events taking place in September,designed September. upon Tyne NE4 5RJ. to get people talking. Bishop John hasn’t been to the Castlesince 7pm Ebor lectures at York Minster.Natalie Sama- “Thereare verymany conversations taking place across licensing the first female chaplain to havetaken up rasinghe, Executive Director,United the diocese already –inlocal ChurchCouncils, youth the role at CastleHoward, the Rev Anne Nations Association -UK groups, Synods, school governor meetings, support Freestone. ministers meetings, clergy chapters, lunch clubs and He added: “I’m looking forwardtovisiting Castle more,” said the Rt Rev RichardFrith, Bishop of Hereford. Howardagain and celebratingHoly Communion in 10 September “Weneed to bring those conversations together and the Chapel. Attending aserviceinthe Chapel is work out how Godisinviting us as Christians, as churches, the best way to experience and understand the as adiocese today,torespond to his great generosity,and space; it was built and beautifully decorated to be a 10am As partofthe nationwide Heritage Open to be partofthe difference he longs to see in the lives of place whereGod is worshipped and honoured. Days scheme, the Archbishop’s Palace and the communities we serve, for the sake of hiskingdom on “I hopethat people who visit Castle Howard, but Southwell Minster offers free guided tours earth as in heaven. That is abig conversation. It affectsall who mightnot go to church on aSunday,will of the Archbishop’s Palace, Education Gar- that we areand all that we do!” cometothe service and feel welcome.” dens andthe Cathedral (also on 11 Septem- ber), no need to book. Diocese of Manchester 2pm Book signing with Pam Rhodes,Holy Trini- ty,Gosport. PartofHeritage Open Days. Twenty five years of Free but ticket-only. Manchester Pride was celebrated with the annual Big Weekend over the bank 12 September holiday. ‘Devotion’ was the theme 1pm PietroRoffi, accordion in free concertat for the Manchester Pride Peterborough Cathedral. Parade, and the Cathedral 7.30pm The World of Gilbertand Sullivan, by the also celebrated being an all- Wandering Minstrels, St Paul, Peterbor- inclusive Cathedral. ough, £10 including refreshments. Manchester Cathedral has strong LGBT links, and host abiannual LGBT 13 September celebration. The Very Rev Rogers Govender,Dean of 10am Breakfast Church, St James, Emsworth. Manchester,said: “I am Café-style breakfast, musicfromthe worship pleased to supportthe LGBT band, arts and crafts and abrief talk. community on their special 25th anniversary. As a Cathedral that takes 15 September inclusivity seriously we extend our warmgood Lord of the wishes to LGBT and wish Rings actor 10am Growth and Stewardship Roadshow,Daven- them well in the years Sir Ian try. Info: 01604 887043. ahead. McKellen led “Inflying the Rainbow flag off the 25th at the Cathedral we express Manchester 17 September our solidarity and prayers. Pride festival May the theme of Devotion as thousands 7.30pm General Synod hustings, Portsmouth Cathe- deepen our love for God who of people dral. loves all people and affirms gathered in our common humanity!” the city. 18 September Diocese of Newcastle Diocese of Leicester 7pm Piano Recital by Laura Dickson, ParkPlace, St Nicholas’ Cathedral is celebrating Her Majesty Journey in Faith, Learning in Faith and Discovery Wickham. Tickets £10 in advance, £12 on Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning courses, will be on offer at the diocese. the door. British Monarch, with Evensong on 9September. The courses on offer follow three formats: The Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear,Mrs Susan M Discovery(six modules over two years, through a Winfield OBE will attend the service celebrating the non-book approach); Journey in Faith (three terms 19 September Queen’s 63-year reign. over one year); and Learning in Faith (five modules Dean of Newcastle, the Very Rev Christopher over one year,amixtureofon-line and face-to-face). 9.30am Diocesan Spirituality Day with Lou Scott- Dalliston, said: “This is atruly wonderful occasion and I The next Discoverycourse starts this autumn Joynt,The Cloisters, Bembridge. £8.50. think it is important that we celebrate it here in the meeting on Tuesday mornings, 10am –12.30pm at 7.30pm Baked Alaska by Riding Lights Theatre North East.” St Chad Church, Coleman Road, Leicester.The first Company,Peterborough Cathedral, £12 session will take place on Tuesday 29 September. adults, concessions available.

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News In Brief Film competition launched The Church of Englandhas launched a Call for‘more radical’ Pilgrimage2Paris shortfilm competition. Two winning contestantswill be able to join the Pilgrimage on abursaryplace. The 200-mile journey leaves London on 13 November,arriving in Paris on 27 November, THrefEECCLESIormATICAL Law Society of ChurchCommentinglaon 25wsyears of the ahead of theUNclimate changesummit. (ELS) has said proposals to simplify General Synod, ahead of the elec- Contestants areencouraged to talk about what Churchlaw are‘not radical enough’. tions,Southwark Synod member, inspiresthem personally to act on the The Society was responding to the TomSutcliffe, commented on the environment, how theenvironment impacts the General Synodconsultation docu- ‘servant church’ and notes ‘there world’s poorest and most vulnerable and why ment,‘ASimplerWay ofReforming arefew parishes whereclergy gen- theyfeel they should be offered afully-funded ChurchLegislation’. uinely believe in equal collaboration place on thePilgrimage2Paris in their 3-5 minute The document proposes an withthe laity.’ video brief. enabling measurethat would simpli- He adds that it ‘tends to be far too The Rt RevNicholas Holtam, Bishopof fy theChurch of England’s legal pious’ and ‘organised mainly to suit Salisburyand lead Bishoponthe environment, framework. The Working Party has the middle management’, especially said the competition is about extending the said ecclesiastical law needs a‘swift tenure’. This emerged from awork- he notes, since the Archbishops’ invitation to the Pilgrimage. clear surgical intervention’ to avoid ing party established by the Arch- Council was set up by LordCarey’s “Through our pilgrimage and our prayers we ‘years of piecemeal orders’. bishops’ Council in2002, but only reform. arestrengthening and encouraging those taking The Church’s ‘extensive law resulted in legislation nine years “Members routinely face abar- partinthe Paristalks toreach fair,accountable book’, which predates the Reforma- later. rage of public relations disguised as and firm commitments that will change the way tion, is aproblem because of its Currently, adraft measurehas to informative ‘presentations’ and ‘con- we actand moveustowards alow carbon extensive statute law,the paper go through five stages on Synod, versations’ designed to soften up economy.” says. thenthe Ecclesiastical Committee our thinking to vote as the manage- The Archbishops’ Council argues of Parliament, Commons andRoyal ment wants. BookofCommon Prayer returns in thepaper that this creates ‘confu- Assent, allowing on average, 18 “It still feels veryold-fashioned A1766 edition of theBook of CommonPrayer sion and cynicism’. months beforethe change for legal British upper class,” he said, mak- willreturntoWorthenburyChurch in Wrexham “An institution that engages in changeisidentified, the document ing aplea for the new Synod candi- after the book was donated toanearby charity excessive internal regulation is gen- says, and years beforeitischanged dates to ‘keep the fight going.’ shop. Rector Philip Pulestonoriginally donated erally onewherecreativity isstifled andenacted. The ELS paper seems to suggest the book to the Church in 1773. andwherethereisinsufficient The ELS response asks the Arch- that any perception of Church laws Earlier this year the same shop also received trust,” it says. bishops ‘to think long and hard’ as ‘moribund’ is the fault of the an 1837 Welsh Bible. Institutions need to be ‘fleet of about which categories of gover- Synod. JohnDonnelly,ofNightingale Hospice shops, foot’, butthisismuchharder if the nance needtobethe subject of pri- “It is to be hoped thatthose who said: “Weare used to all sortsofunusual items surrounding framework is ‘unduly marylegislation. stand for election for General Synod being donated to our shops, but this one really onerous’. “Maybe the timehas come to sep- do so inthe knowledge that the didtake us aback. Portsmouth Diocese is inviting arate first-tier issues (church-state institution to which they wish to be “Tohold something with so muchhistoryis Synod candidates to bepartofthe relations and matters concerning elected is, amongst other things, a absolutely fascinating so we set to work ‘Simplification Agenda’ in its plea for the rightsofindividuals) wherepri- legislative body,” the paper says. researching all we could glean fromthe candidates ahead of the Synod elec- marylegislation is necessaryand The Working Party response contents.” tions. second-tier issues about which the notes comments from General But the ELS says thataswell as Church of England is properly Synod members who raisedcon- SoulSurvivorsuccess simplifying Church laws, the institu- autonomous and which can be the cerns of‘alargely unelected and Soul Survivor has welcomed the highest tionitself –and the governing body subject of agoverning instrument unaccountable body changing the numbers in recent years with almost 25,000 –are too bureaucratic as well. over which the General Synod will lawofthe Church ofEngland and young people, youth leaders and team members To illustrate this, they point to the have proper and effective owner- diminishing the rights of its mem- overthe four summer events for teenagers. process of creating ‘common ship.” bers (ordained and lay).’ There have also been over 5,000 students, and those in their 20s and 30s at Momentum. A spokesman said that 1,398 people had become Christiansatthis year’s events. Investment will secure clergy retirement homes Woman’sHour role THE CHURCHwillinvest ina‘portfolio of properties’ to to provide for futuregenerations but will also enable the The Bishop of Gloucester, secureclergy retirement housing. Boardtowiden the choice of properties available to the Rt Rev Rachel The ChurchofEngland Pensions Boardhas issued members of the clergy who need to use our services as Treweek, is to be aguest £100 million of bonds to securelong-termfinance to pur- they approach retirement.” editor on Woman’sHour chase 196 clergy retirement properties. on Wednesday16 The scheme is designed to give clergy a September.Other guest ‘widerchoice’ofproperties as they reach editors for the special retirement. week of programmes will Dr Jonathan Spencer,Chairman of the “Whenwelook at God’sCreation, include an actress, Church of England Pensions Board, said authors and an athlete. this is the ‘nextstep’ on the journey to we marvel at the diversity. So why, build aportfolio of properties that will continue to meetfutureexpected clergy when it comestoreligion, do we Historic Abbey restored demand. Remains of the 12th CenturyMargam Abbey in He said: “The Boardiscommitted to shyaway from diversity?” Neath,PortTalbot, havebeen restored with the ensuring that it can continue to provide helpofa£240,000 grant from the European thoseretiring clergy who need it with Rose Russell-Cohen Regional Development Fund, WREN Heritage affordable housing in retirement. We Fund and Cadw. decided the time was right to look at long Journey with Us world church placementprogramme Repairsoncracked masonryonthe Chapter termcapital financetohelp securethe House werepartofthe ‘extensive’ repairworks. futureofthe retirement housing Church Housing Assistance forRetired Ministers New Dean ofGuernsey (CHARM) scheme.” Be challenged by theworld church. The new Dean of Guernsey has been named as AlanFletcher,Chair of the Board’s the VenTimothyBarker. Housing Committee, said the new long- Archdeacon Barkercurrently serves as the termfinancing arrangement will bring Order aFREE Us introduction pack Archdeacon of Lincoln and expects to take up greater certainty over borrowingcosts, by foryour church. Call 020 7921 2200 his new post as Dean in November as well as taking advantage of the current low inter- or email [email protected] serving asRector of St André de la Pommeraye. est rate environment. TheVen Barker takes over from the Very Rev “Thiswill notonlyenableustosustain Us. Thenew namefor USPG Paul Mellor. theessential financial supportfor Registered charity number 234518 CHARM that thewider Church continues

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FoBy Joe Wargivre eness is keytheme at GreenbeltHe said: “This can often be aconse- quenceofus notdoing our Christian- FORGIVENESS was arecurring theme ofthis year’s ity properly.Thereare allsorts of Greenbelt festivalwith two headlinespeakers examin- complex emotions towards the peo- ing the subject. ple we forgive. Thecost of my tri- Canon Giles Fraser,parish priestatStMary’s New- umphinforgiving youand breaking ington in South London, spoke with emotion about his that cycleismemuttering like Mutt- opposition to assisted dying. Fraser was staying with ley under my breath.” his mother,who lives near the festival site at Boughton JohnBell of the Iona Community House, near Kettering, in Northamptonshire, and the alsoengaged with the theme of for- night beforeshe had told him that when the time came giveness in his talk, touching on how she would like to go to Dignitas, the Swiss clinic that the Israelites, who had been attacked caters for those wanting to take their own life. and held captive by the Babylonians, Fraser had only that week written in his weekly begantowish for revenge and for the Guardian column, ‘Loose Canon’about his opposition same suffering thathad befallen to such acourse of action. themshould befall their oppressors. He said: “This is whereliberal individualism has got it Psalm137:9 reads: “Blessedshall he wrong.Augustine was so right, we’renot self-fixers, we be who takes your little ones and cannot save ourselves, we requireathing called grace. dashes them against the rock.” We’recalled to be agents of God’s grace together. Bringingthe passage into the mod- “Weasagroup have to say we will carefor you and ernday Bell wondered how Iraqi ask that you carefor me. refugees might feel who had had chil- We need to express that dren killed by bombing raids, bombs helplessness. We come that insome cases had been dropped stampedwith the mark from Britain’s own Royal AirForce. ‘Fragile: handle with He said the passage gives us an care’, our missionistobe insight into their own anger and grief that grace to each other. and marvel when such victims show “When I’m old Iwant to forgiveness and grace inthe face of be aburden to my family suffering. and Iwant my Mum to be Big issues of political and spiritual aburden to me.” significance werealso addressed by ClaireMathys, co- He added: “Helpless- director of Christians in Politics and the head of the Lib ness is not acurse but a Dem Christian Forum. Speaking at aseminar in the gift. That’s our mission, to Christian Aid venue she said political engagement in say this to the world. I churches was currently low but was growing and had need you. Happy are huge potential. thosewho know their She said: “Politics is about people. It affects people’s need of God the kingdom lives. If we careabout people we need to careabout pol- of God is theirs.” itics. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love Moving on tothe sub- God and the second is to love our neighbour. jectofforgiveness Fraser “We’refinding Christians coming to us sayingwe’re defended the reputation of churches wherepeople about refusing to take revenge, breaking thecycle of loving helping with the local food bank but why are smiled ateach other through gritted teeth. violence. Irefuse to model your behaviour, Irefuse to these things needed, why aretheresomany debt coun- “Forgiveness is atthe heartofthe Christian enter- do to you what you did to me. Iwon’t imitate you, Iwill sellors needed and what can we do about it? prise but Ithink we get it wrong when we treatitasjust imitate Christ.” “The Bible is highly political, it has ahuge amount to internal,” he said. He said negative undercurrents thatplay out in some say about seeking justice, defending the poor and the “If you hurtmychildren Iwould never forgive you in churches and the charges of forced bonhomie werenot immigrant.Esther,Obadiah, John the Baptist, Paul and anicefuzzy feelingskind of way.But that doesn’t mean necessarily bad but insteadwerethe symptoms offor- Joseph arejust afew of the manypolitical figures from that Icouldn’t forgive you. Ithink forgiveness is more giveness. the Bible.” Bishop of Bristol addresses Hopes rise forSouth Sudan peace deal THEUgandanBISHOP of session offeringclergyan be removed. By George Conger president of the republic for signing the peace to Bristol, the Rt Rev exposition on the “Too many people end this devastating war.Wehave to move away Mike Hill, was the Old Testament book want to be forgiven, THE EPISCOPAL Church in South Sudan is cau- frombitterness and change our hearts and keynote speaker of Habakkuk. but they don’t want tiously optimistic the 26 August peace deal minds to focus and preparethem for forgiveness last week at the Bishop Hill gave to be cleaned,” he signed last week by President Salva Kiir may end and peaceful coexistence.” Church of Uganda’s the keynote address said. the two-year-old civil war in Africa’s newest He added: “The timehas come for South first all-clergy con- on Christian leader- Twootherover- nation. Sudanese to work together as they look forward ference. ship and also spoke seas guests, Church On 27 August the Bishop of Rejaf in South to rebuilding what has been left by the war.As Over 2,000 priests on the doctrine of of Nigeria bishops Sudan’s Equatoria Province, the Rt Rev Enock the Church we pledge our supporttothe govern- from the Church of the Atonement and the Rt Rev Sos- Tombe, told Radio Tamazuj he hoped the deal ment and the people for immediate implementa- Uganda’s35dioce- the cleansing power thenesEze of the would hold. tion of this agreement. ses met on 26 of the Holy Spirit. Diocese of Enugu The deal calls for acessation of hostilities with- “Weare confident that all these differences and August at Uganda Apress handout North and the Rt in 72 hours and bringing rebel leaders into the fears will be overcome if we collectively take Christian University from the Church of Rev Aloysius Agbo government. responsibility to rebuild our lives and the nation in Mukono for a Ugandacited Bish- of NsukkaDiocese, Rebel leader Riek Machar is to returntooffice as one people andaschildrenofGod regardless two-day gathering op Hill as saying challenged the cler- as Vice President, while rebels will be given of wherewecome from, tribe or gender.Wewill under the theme clergy should not gy to go deeper in charge of the governments in three key states: overcome these challenges that we arecurrently “Revive your only seek forgive- prayer and repen- Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity. faced with. Church, OLord.” ness of their sins, tance in order to The capital, Juba, is to be demilitarised with all “Weneed to pray hardsothat we switch from The Dean of Syd- but should seek to experience personal militaryforceskept 25 kilometres from the city. hatred to peace as we continue to seek true jus- ney,the Very Rev be cleansed by the revival that leads to Bishop Tombe, who led the Church’s delega- ticefor those whohave been lostinthe conflict Kanishka Raffel, led bloodofChrist so widespread revival tiontothe peace talks inAddis Abba, said: “As a with fairness,” the bishop said. the opening plenary that the desiretosin in the church. Churchwewelcomed and congratulated the Onlineatwww.churchnewspaper.com:Get all the breakingnewsstories as theyhappen www.churchnewspaper.com Friday September 4, 2015 News 5 Nigerian bishops meet to discuss BokoHaram threat Archbishop in talks with FORTY-FIVE bishops fromNorthern Nige- ria met in Abuja last week to discuss the Church of Nigeria’s response to the depreda- Russian Orthodoxleaders tions of the Islamist terrorgroup Boko THE PRIMATE of theAnglican The question of women clergy was Haram. Church in North America, the Most also raised during the meeting, with The 26 August meeting at St Andrew’s Rev Foley Beach, has flown to Moscow MetropolitanHilarion telling the Church, Kubwa, led by the Primate of All for aseries of meetings with the lead- ACNA that Moscow believed the con- Nigeria, the Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, was ers of the Russian Orthodox Church. secration of women as bishops had convened totakestockofthe physical dam- On 24 August Archbishop Beach impaired relationsbetween the Ortho- age to churches in the North, andtoreport met with Metropolitan Hilarion, chair- dox and the Church of England. on numbers of dead and displaced persons man of the Department of External Following the consecration of Gene from the conflict. Church Relations of the Moscow Patri- Robinson as Bishop of New Hamp- After the meeting, Archbishop Okoh told archate at the monasteryofthe Holy shire, the Russian Orthodox Church reporters the “threats to security in the Trinity and St Sergius, and later in the ended all ecumenical relations with the North-East zone areyet to die down and we day with Patriarch Cyril (Kirill). Episcopal Church of the USA. In urge President Muhammadu Buhari to do In amessage read to the Anglican recent years, however,they have moreinthe area of improving security in the delegation, Cyrilstated:“Your church forged links with the ACNA and grown zone and as away of ensuringthat worship- went through averydifficult period of closer to theGAFCON movement pers attend places of worship without fear.” its history, and the faithful took within the Anglican Communion. He askedthe government to detailtroops courage and had the ability to respond Though divided bydoctrine and dis- to protect Christian churches. to agreat temptation. cipline, Anglicans and the Orthodox “ManyChristians areyet to freely go to “Thereare two models of the behav- should stand in common cause against church in the affected areas, so thereisneed iour of the Church and of Christians. the forces of modernity,Archbishop for the Federal Government to do moreto Oneinvolvesobedience to thesecular Beach said. restorethe confidence reposed in the cur- power and the powerful forces that “Globalisation has increased the rent national leadership,” he said, but added have an impact on social development. effect that we have on one another,and that President Buhari had his full support. The other model involves the ability to at atime when the family is being Theaim of Boko Haram was to destroy speak the truthand to remain faithful threatened by forces that would seek Christians and shatter the Federal Republic to the Christian message.” to redefine marriage, normalise sexual of Nigeria. All Nigerians —Muslim and According to apress release from compromise, andfund the slaughter of Christian —must stand fast in the face of the the DECR, the church leaders dis- unbornchildren, it is an encourage- attacksfromthese “evil people who wantto cussed awide range of subjects includ- ment to have astrong and unwavering disorganise us because if they succeed, they ing the recent innovations in moral partner in the Russian Orthodox will make us refugees.” teaching on human sexuality. Church on these issues,” he told Cyril.

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Anevangelical Our brother’skeeper or hope. response to the Pope? Sir,InGenesis Cain asks God, “Am Imybrothers keeper,” and does not get areply.But the Readingandstudying Sir, On the front page of The whole thrust of the Bible is surely to say,“Yesindeed we areour brother’s and sister’s Scripture is vitally important CatholicHerald (24 July) keepers and will be held responsible for what happens to them.” for all Christians, but we therewas a remarkable In the Old Testament we areto“Lookafter the widow and the orphan and the foreigner,” musttry to discernthe spirit headline: ‘Is Francis aboutto andto“Love your neighbour as yourself.” whichliesbehind the letter in heal therift with The widow and orphan and foreigners werethe poorest people in society and surely ordertounderstandthe evangelicals?’ It was loving your neighbour as yourself includes wanting thesame good thingsfor your message and that isnot accompaniedbyaphoto of neighbour as you yourself have? always easy atthis distance of the Popetogetherwith an Then in the New Testament John the Baptist tells the crowd thatanyone who has two time and via somany evangelical pastor. Inside was shirts should sharewith one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same. different languages. We have the equally remarkablecover And Jesus goes much further: He tells the rich young ruler to give all he has to the poor not all gotthe time or the story ofthe Pope’s friendship andcommends thepoor widow who gave all she had. skill to pursue this quest for with evangelical Christians, Now you may think this has nothing to dowith tax but Jesus also told the people to give to ourselves,but let usnotbe togetherwiththe agreed Caesar what was Caesar’s and shared table fellowship with the hated tax collectors. Jesus verbally abusive about those statement byCatholic and believed in Society,and Paul also tells the believers to be good citizens and pay their taxes. who trytodoso. Lutherantheologians of ‘Our So is asking the wealthy citizens to pay halftheir earnings so that the poor can be fed and MaryPRoe, Justification by God’s grace the sick and disabled looked after really daylight robberyasAndrew Carey suggests or is it Bicester through faithinChrist’. It only fair and just that they should do so? wasMartin Luther’s The Psalmists say that, “The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,” and so we cannot Dilemma insistence on‘by faith alone’ claim anything of our own. Rather all that we have is given us by God, not for our own Sir,Apparentlyonthe Isle of thatset him on a collision selfish use but so we may use it for the good of others. Man,agaymarriage entered course with the Catholic And if we want to convertEngland thisiswhat we need to do.Itwas when St Francis took into in anothercountry or Church and triggered the the gospel seriously and gave away all he had that the church, which at that time was dying, jurisdictionislegally seen as Protestant Reformation. was revived. acivil partnership. This is The question to Whilst rich and not quite so rich but still pretty well-offChristians hang on to their wealth mostinteresting as recently evangelicals now is, Are you and accuse the poor and those who careabout them of covetousness we will never convert on themainland in the willing torespondtothe first the heathen who often know the Bible quite well and see only too clearly that Christians do Church ofEngland diocese of Popein500 years who longs not live by the gospel they proclaim. York,alayperson with a to heal the rift? This is surely Jillian Beresford, ministry of reader has been akairos moment;itwould be Leicestershire refused permission to shamefultorock itthrough officiate ashemoved from fearofour boat being rocked! civil partnership to marriage. I raise the question because For this reason many arguments that he put God.” LastSunday the Bishop of I, asanevangelical Anglican, Christians will agreewith forward in hisoriginal article Search as I may,Icannot Sodorand Man, theRtRev served 30years in the ProfessorYolandaPierceof ‘Andhow would I know when find where Jesus says to St RogerPatersonwas ministry.After experiencing Princetonwhen she says, as Iamwrong? Evangelical faith Paul, “Hewhohears you, interviewed on the Radio Sunday Mass and the quality paraphrased by Rev Dr and the Bible.’ hears me...” I do find them in Four Sunday programmeand of renewal following the RohintanMody (21 August) NeitherAndrew nor Ithink StLuke’s gospel, wherethey he claimedhestoodbythe reforms of Vatican II, I made that“human wordsand that his new response are addressed to the70 ArchbishopofYork’s decision the decision to enter into full metaphorsareincomplete addressesthecriticismswe whomJesus issending out on to withdrawMrJeremy communion with the Roman and can neverdojustice to madeofhis original article.I theirmission –quite a Timm’s permission to Catholic Church. The full describing themajesty of who explain why inafurther number to entrust with the officiate in readership storyistold inmyApologia God is.” onlinearticle ‘On still not gospel message. ministry, as he has entered And so to Rome,An It is this that undercuts Dr answeringthequestion’ From anearly age, weare into a samesexmarriage. evangelical pilgrimage Mody’s argument against which canbefoundat taught that prayer is nota Mr Timmhadpreviously (published now byNew usingfemininelanguage http://bit.ly/1N6B4RX matter ofbending God’sear been supportedinhis lay Generation Publishing). about God. Martin Davie, with our personal manifesto ministrybythedivorced and Marcus Nicklin, Even thelanguage Our Via email forthe improvement of the remarried bishop ofHull who Aylesford Lordusedabout his Father is world, with particular isnow bishop of Hereford. analogical, even when referencetoour own lives, BishopPatersonclaims the granting us the privilege of St Paul and Jesus but should be moreamatter Church of England bishops Language limitations calling him Father. TheBible Sir, Once again,twoofyour of listeningtowhateverGod are not opposedtoareader in Sir, as theRevDrBob Mayo givesusmanynames and readers appeartohave may besaying to useither a civilpartnership. Yetthis is wrote: “Thereare limitations titlesfor God,and stories selected key wordsfrommy directly, as astill small voice the same bishopwhospoke in any use of language to talk about him thatenable us to letter(14 August),thrown in ourownhearts, or via one against civil partnershipsin about God”.And, as an give him more. If these them up in theair and of hismessengers –today’s the legislative council of the undergraduate preparing for facilitate our relationship with reassembled them into a prophets. Tynwald and then abstained confirmation in theChurch of him then that is to the good. lettertheysuspect Imight To declareatthe outset from votingatthe final England morethan40years Whether or not this means have written – but didn’t! that we have nointention of reading. ago,one of thefirst lessons I that the Church’s liturgical Idonotcompareor listening to anythingbutour was taught was that allour language should bechanged contrast Jesuswith St Paul, own voiceinour own head, Letters continue on page 11 languageabout God must be is, ofcourse, an entirely any more thanIwould with reading from our own analogical, since the created separate matter. Saints Peter,Andrew,James, translationofour preferred Michael Sadgrove cannot fully comprehend the Colin Durham, John or any ofthe apostles. version ofScripture, is surely @Sadgrovem Creator. Sturminster Newton But neither can Iconflate to harden our hearts against .@guardian sensibly So, the author knownasthe JesusandPaulasDr tryingtokeep Jesus’ new puts @samaritanshelpline on “pseudo-Dionysius” declared Runcorn response Wordsworth appears to do, commandment, that we “love front page re it to beastruetosay that Sir, DavidRuncornhas now regardinghis wordsasthe one anotherashehas loved #ashleymadisonhack. God doesnotexistasthat he responded to the articles very voiceofJesus. It isJesus us.” –which, of course,St Shouldn’t they also have put it does, since his existence is written byAndrew Symes alonetowhom Ican say, with Paul expands by showing on p3 re #OneDirection? utterly different from ours. and myself that criticised the St Thomas, “MyLordand my how love is greaterthanfaith

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The inconvenient truth of sexual fluidity Galileo was imprisoned for denying the dogma that the earth was the centreofthe universe and instead teaching that the earth revolves aroundthe sun. The Church needs to bewareofhitching its wagon to any popular contemporarytheory, however culturally fashionable. This message needs now to be heardclearly by the managers of the The problemsof Church of England, including the writers of the Pilling Report, with its civil service feel, on the issue of sex. Even as this reportwas being discussed it was outofdate in terms of theproblem it addressed, that of homosexualityover against heterosexuality. Indeed the whole Stonewall analysis of human sexuality into agay or straight binarytaxonomyisalmost certainlyfar too simplistic, the workingtreogelationship. The differtheence is that if you don’tr inconvenient truth being that sexuality is complex and multi-faceted, put in your 50 per cent then it doesn’t matter,or or ‘fluid’, to use the increasingly favoured term. Arecent YouGov poll JAMES CATFORD it matters alot less. Relationships assume trust, report that ahigh percentage of young people identified as ‘fluid’ in whereas partnerships feel moretransactional. sexual potential, that is capable of desiring people of the samesex At Bible Society we arecautious about who we and the ‘opposite’sex. Celebrity starlet Lily-Rose Melody Depp has Let’swork together.The mood music of will work alongside, not because we arehigh- comeout as ‘sexually fluid’, for example, and thisimportantshift in Christian mission these days is about handed or think we arebetter than others, but how people perceivetheir ‘sexuality’ is not good newsfor the collaboration and partnership. Whether it is a because we look to establish adeeper Stonewall binarysystem –the truth is that people aremuch more local alliance of Churches Together in England, relationship beforewestartworking together. complex than being one or the other. or theshared mission of HOPE, Christians are Some don’t like this approach, but it has saved A Guardian writer,Stephanie Theobald, reported an angryreaction standing together like never before. us agooddeal of heartache over the years. from ‘lesbians’ to this message of sexual fluidity being ‘like gravity, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, the Is it because we areChristians that working simplyafact of life’. This message undermines the fixed identity Evangelical Alliance and cross-denominational with others is often difficult? I’m not so sure. claim of the hardand fast ‘homosexual’being. initiatives like Street Pastors and Foodbanks are Certainly believers can struggle to have honest Theobald said that one lesbian journalist objected ‘I don’t believe in expressions of all that is good in harmonising debates for fear of offending their neighbour or all this fluidity thing’, and awell-knownBBC lesbian described the efforts andsharing resources. because they think disagreements dishonour view as ‘a betrayal’. Internationally,relief and development God.But the problem with this is that This massivepoint was not even raised during the UK agencies areteaming up to campaign together differences of opinion often become hidden, or government’s diktatfor gay marriage, nor during theIrish on everything from climate change to migration. arewhispered behind hands, or explode referendum, nor by the US SupremeCourtjudges in their changing Organisations like Bible Society areworking in unexpectedly in inappropriate ways. of marriage. thecontext of a‘generous orthodoxy’. As long as Some even prefer to drop theirmembership of It is adeeply inconvenient truth because the gay activist campaign Christisatthe centreand the Bible is at the aworking group or initiative rather than have a has needed toidentify agay and straight divideasifthereweretwo boundaryofbelief and practice, what’s not to full and frank discussion. But is this being distinct people groups rather than one human race of men and honest? HereIdothink women with degrees of sexual desirethat arefluid.The 1995 St Christians can struggle to Andrew’s Day Statement pointed this out,asdid the 1998 Lambeth let their ‘yes be yes, and Conference, but otherwise thepoint has been ignoredby their no be no’. theologians as much as gay activists. Christians can sometimes Now,weare toldinThe Times, teenagers areasking for be naive abouthow hormones to change their sexual identities, to become challenging it can be to work

nt transgendered as they perceive different desires –again with others, whether they not afact compatible withStonewall’s catechism. arebelievers or not. ‘Bisexual’ Katie Welsh in the Telegraph says: “There’s an According to apaper on emerging generation who can’t be pigeonholed that Collective Impact from the easily.Who have grown up online, whereidentity politics, StanfordSocial Innovation fat positivity and sexual fluidity arethe norm.” Cultural Review,several elements pressures certainly help shape sexual desires, and the need to be in place for a Churchisindanger of hitching its wagon to adated view successful relationship. I of fixity. wish Ihad discovered these mme In adopting Stonewall’s view the Church of England will earlier. become amajoragency in conditioning young people’s Five characteristics are sexualdesires and making them choose one false essential: acommon agenda, ‘identity’ over against the other. ashared measurement Co system, mutually reinforced activities, continuous communication and the TheChurch of England Newspaper supportofabackbone withCelebratemagazine incorporating TheRecordand Christian Week organisation. Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. like about working together? These characteristics lead to much more Company Number: 3176742 UCCF Christian Unions, Premier Radio, LICC, impact than would be the case when churches or Publisher:Keith Young MBE Prison Fellowship and now Bible Society arejust organisations work on their own. In this sense, some of the agencies that I’ve worked with in isolated impact is much less effective than partnership for theGospel. It’s been athrilling collective impact, yet some still choose to go it PublishingDirector &Editor:CMBLAKELY 020 7222 8700 ride and I’ve become deeply committed to alone. ChiefCorrespondent: TheRev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 10772 332 2604 harnessing what we have between us for the To get it right the leaders of ashared project Reporter:JOMAY 020 7222 8700 good of both church and society. need to listen to each other deeply to discover if Many,however,are surprised at how difficult they truly have acommon agenda. They need to Advertising: CHRISTURNER020 7222 2018 working together can be. Some talk agood be in agreement over whatsuccess would look Advertising &Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 game but, in reality, they don’t really move out of like and how they will notice it when it happens. their small corner and team up with others. Their individual activities need to be consciously Subscriptions &Finance:DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 2018 Some churches or organisations will only work aligned andbuilt on each other. GraphicDesigner: PETER MAY020 7222 8700 with others on their own terms. And for those Communications need to be designed to who have genuinely attempted to dothings strengthen relationships rather than be on a Theacceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate collaboratively,they often have the scars to ‘need to know’ basis. And the role of an outside endorsement. Photographs and other materialsent forpublication prove it. agency to bring objectivity and resolve aresubmitted at theowner’srisk. TheChurchofEnglandNewspaper does I’ve learnt quite abit about working together difficulties will be recognised. notacceptresponsibility forany material lost or damaged. at alocal, national or international level. Here Bible Reading Fellowship’s Messy Church Christian Weekly NewspapersTrustees: Robert Leach(020 8224 5696), aresome of the best practices that I’ve project and Bible Society’s Open the Book LordCarey of Clifton, TheRtRev Michael Nazir-Ali, TheRtRev Pete Broadbent, discovered. schools project areexamples of how to work Dr Elaine Storkey, TheRev CindyKent It was an older Ethiopian pastor friend of mine well together.Both provide the context and who shocked me when he said that he didn’t supporttolocal groups as well as alevel of TheChurch of England Newspaper, really want to have apartnership with me. objectivity andcontinuity.Let’s not give up Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd Wisely,his point was that partnerships often workingtogether but learnhow to do it properly, 14 GreatCollegeStreet,London,SW1P3RX lead to disappointment when one side or the for the benefit of the Kingdom. Editorial e-mail: [email protected] other fails to live up to what is expected of them. Advertising e-mail: [email protected] If you don’t contribute your 50 per cent then the James CatfordisGroup Chief Executive of Bible Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] other person is upset. Society.Follow him on Twitter or email him at Better by far is to do ministryout of ashared james.catford@ biblesociety.org.uk Website:www.churchnewspaper.com

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What is going so badly wrong

ByinJeremy Mootdeyhe charity sector? state was unwilling to provide. The UN appeal for relief for Syrian refugees was Charity chief executives areused to only 50 per cent funded in 2014 and in being in the firing line. Especially from the current year is less than athird the Daily Mail, which seems to havea funded. The UN’s $551m appeal bee in its bonnet about the whole UK following the Gaza war last summer is voluntarysector. still just 30 per cent funded. Without the Until fairly recently,the main intervention of aid agencies, people complaint from the Mail and others was from Syria and Gaza will die. about ‘fat cat charity bosses’ who were The second challenge is that charities earning six-figuresalaries. The top boss areunder ever-greater pressureto at Save the Children earns £234,000 a demonstrate impact and outcomes. year,apparently.With accusations of While governments can evade their lack of transparency (unfair,asmost responsibilities to be accountable to charities areobliged to disclose the taxpayers (just look at the sorry saga of remuneration of their highest earners in successive government IT projects), their accounts) and the inevitable charities find it less easy to avoid soundbites from rent-a-quote Tory MPs, scrutiny from their funders, whether the Mail successfully whipped up a statutory, institutional or private. It is campaign that had manycharity absolutely right that charities should be supporters in alather. required to demonstrate value for The Mail seems to enjoy trying to stir money,but this can mean that they are Middle England into astate of righteous tempted to exaggerate their impact. indignation. In this case it was tapping Again, this appears to have been the into awidespread public conviction that case at Kids Company,which claimed in charity bosses need to be different from its publicity material to be helping other corporateexecutives. In a2014 36,000 young people, including almost survey by charity research organisation 16,000 who weredescribed as ‘high- nfpSynergy,itwas revealed that almost a Kids Company founder CamilaBatmanghelidjh risk’. YetaBBC Newsnight investigation thirdofrespondents thought that following the collapse of Kids Company charity chief executives should be was leading the charge) and the concerns, rightly or wrongly, about revealed that the names of barely 500 prepared to work fornosalary at all. I spectacular collapse of Camila governance and accountability. ‘high risk’ children wereonthe charity’s made suremytrustees at Embrace did Batmanghelidjh’s Kids Company. So what is going so badly wrong in our books at the timeofits closure. not see this particular survey. It would not be wholly surprising if the charitysector? The rise and fall of Kids Which leads me to the thirdand most The charity pollsters at nfpSynergy reputation of UK charities was now Companyoffers pointers to what Ithink serious challenge, which is achronic wereback in the news this week with a trailing behindthat of estate agents, civil arethree major challenges facing the weakness in charity governance. new survey that suggested that public servants and investment bankers. voluntary sector in the UK. Trustee boards areoften packed with trust in UK charities is at its lowest level What makes this doubly galling is that The first is the sheer scale of the need. well-meaning individuals who are for eight years. Barely ahalf of in my earlier career Iwas both acivil Whether it is supporting vulnerable passionate about the ‘cause’ but lack the respondents said that they trusted servant and an investment banker,and childreninour inner cities (as in the will or skills to exercise proper strategic charities “a great deal”or“quite alot”, the whole point of moving into the case of Kids Company) or responding to oversight, especially when confronted while almost athirdofpeople said they charity sector was to repair my public the needs of refugees or famine-hit withastrong-willed chief executive who had “not much” trust in charities, and approval ratings and startgetting some areas around the world, the need for may,insome cases, be the charity one in 10 trusted them “verylittle”. dinner party invitationsagain. One more social or humanitarian interventions has founder. Among other institutions, Scouts and charity scandal and Iwill be back to never been greater.The decline of social My own BoardatEmbraceisof Guides and small businesses were being persona non grata on the social cohesion, political instability (especially course anotable exception! trusted more, but the Royal Family was circuit. in Africa and the Middle East) and The KidsCompany boardonthe other trusted less. But Iwork for aChristian charity,and climate change areall contributory hand presided over rapid growth Not that Ican take much comfortfrom you might think that we areable to rise factors. And yet, weighed down by without ever (it seems) putting in the the fact that my own image is still above these kinds of shenanigans. budget deficits, governments are proper checks and balances, or even slightly better than Prince Andrew’s. Except that Christian agencies have also retreating from their social and building up an adequate financial Because what is particularly troubling is been attracting some negative headlines humanitarian responsibilities. reserve. Itseems as if they wereinawe that the nfpSynergy survey was recently.Aquick glance at the columns The reason why Kids Company grew of their founder. undertaken beforethe recent scandals of the Christian Today news website will so quickly (income grew by 77 per cent These areworrying times for UK over aggressive charity fundraising reveal those Christian charities in the between 2009 and 2013) is because it charities. Tighter government practices (whereagain the Daily Mail UK and the US wheretherehave been was providing social services that the regulation, particularly of how we raise funds, is almost certainly on the way.But the voluntary PART sector needs to put its own RAO000 SDCRSPRC CE AILYCOPRS CECD&G RDEXCHANGE WELCOCOME house in order,and stronger governance would YOU RE SURETOFINDYOUR PERFECT CAR! be an excellent place to ’ FULL start. HISTORY CHECK Jeremy Moodey is Chief Executive of Embrace the FLEXIBLE FINANCE Middle East, the UK 10 REG 09 REG 60 REG 10 REG 61 REG BRAND NEW AVAILABLE developmentcharity which FIAT 500 1.2 LOUNGE NISSAN NOTE 1.4 VAUXHALL CACORSA 1.2i 16V FORD FIESTA11.25.25 TOYOTA AYGO 1.0 CITROEN C1 1.0 START-STOP 3DOOR WHITE 49K ACENTA5DOOR SILVER 43K (85) SXi 5 DOOR RED RED 40K ZETEC5DOOR BLUE 53K VVT-i GO 5DOOR GREY 25K VTi FEEL 3DOOR 48 MONTHS (9+47) partners with Middle East NNOOWW NNOOWW NNOOWW NNOOWW NNOOWW NNOOWW .8.800PPERER Christians in social action. * NATIONWIDE ONONLYLY £5722£5722 ONOLNLYLY £4291£4291 ONONLYLY £5268£5268 ONLYLY ££5491£5544991 ONONLYLY £4999£4999 ONONLYLY ££1122 MMOONTNTHH DELIVERY Its current appeal for the TTOOYYOUR DOOR AUTOSAVE... SERVINGSR GCTHE CHRISRSTIAN CCOOMMUNITTY FOR OORVER 353RYEARSS relief of Syrian refugees in Lebanon is at *Based on personal Contract Hire (PCH) payment profile 9+47. Finance subject to status. 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I’mDissure the Miconecraft verevolutionrinhasnot passedgtyou he Bibleinadigital Childrwoen play rldas Guardians in the by –every day millions of children go onto their fictional cityofAncora with the consoles, smartphones and tablets to play agame important task of discovering the truth where they build (and destroy) aworld of their own. of the ‘saga’ stories (Bible stories) and Thisisjust the latest of anumber of games that have to bring those stories back to restore heldthe attention and action of our children. light to the city.Discovering the truth When we at ScriptureUnion set out to ask ourselves of these Bible stories through exciting the question of how to connect with all those children gameplay is at thegame’s heartbut who don’tcome near achurch, we found ourselves children alsoget the opportunity to askingthe question, wellwhat if Bible engagement was reflect on those experiences in ways avideo game? that supporttheirown personal faith Nearlyfive years after those early discussions, the formation –something that really first release of Guardians of Ancora,ScriptureUnion’s Our response wastofirst look at the places we could makes this game unique. digital game forchildren has been launched and is connect with children or young people, and then how Delivering agame of this standardhas not been a opening up theBibleinanew exciting and interactive to deliver the Bible and the Good News ofJesus in an small venture; indeed it is ScriptureUnion’s largest- way forkids throughout the world. exciting and contemporaryway. ever project, and our prayer for Guardians of Ancora is So what is it, and why arewedoing it? As we talked and considered our approach, we that it will be much more than agame. As ScriptureUnion approaches its 150th anniversary quickly decided thatonline engagement was key but We pray it will be akey global mission tool for we’ve been asking ourselves lots of questions about we knew we had to do much morethan build awebsite. evangelism to children. whoweare,and what we arecalled to do. It’salways Children love playing games, they always have, so a Our commitment to get Ancora to launch, however been an integral partofour mission to reach out to Bible-focused digital game seemed the obvious route to big ajob that was, is dwarfed by our passion to bring childrenwho haven’t heardthe good news of Jesusand take, allowing us to meet children wherethey areand children to arelationship with our Saviour and we’re how we do that has adapted as times have changed. to reach waybeyond the church into networks and surethis game has the potential to do just that. From the first beach activity in NorthWales in 1867, communities that enjoyed games and being online. If you feel inspired and want to help us to achieve all through our travelling caravan missions and on to With all that in mind, we set to work to develop a our plans, please consider donating to the project, today whereour fastest growing residential holiday is digital game that could really bring the Bible to life for which can be done from links on the Guardians of The Voice, singing and recording pop songs. anew generation –the result was Guardians of Ancora. Ancora website at www.guardiansofancora.com.You’ll As we looked at the statistics of thelack of children So what exactly is Guardians of Ancora? also find out much moreabout the project on the inchurches, and the level of Bible literacy we were Builtbyone of the UK’stop children’s games website alongwith quick links to downloadthe game compelled to respond. For the majority of families the designers in consultation with some world-class forfreeinthe Apple, Android and Kindle Fireapp oncefamiliarBible stories that spoke of God’s salvation experts (including agraphicdesign consultant in Los stores. for hispeople arecompletely unknown, even the Angeles working with Pixar and Disney), Guardians of Christmas andEaster stories have faded away in many Ancora is acompelling interactive experience for tablet MarkGreen, schools. devices that children of all ages will be excited to play. ScriptureUnion Invitation to Church Leaders Dear Church Leader, It has been my privilege to work as an evangelist the Good NewsofJesus Christ and have an Please book your placeASAP on our website: forthe past 33 years throughout the UK and in opportunitytocommit their lives to Him. www.JustOneEmirates.com 69 countries around the world. Severalhundred Iwould like to inviteyou to join us fora Getting to the Emirates is simple.Arsenal missions have been held in towns and cities gathering of church leaders in the Dial Square Tube Station on the Piccadilly Line is just afew around the UK including 34 just10 missions, Suiteatthe Emirates Football Stadium on hundred yardsfromthe venue.Visit our website wherethe attendances exceeded 1million Thursday8October 2015, 9:30am –12noon.This fordetailed directions. people –thereisastirring and areceptivity invitation is foryou and one of your colleagues. in our nation and we arefinding the ground Thegreat missionaryWilliam Careyhad an On arrival, coffeeand specialitytea, muffins and inspiring motto: ‘Expectgreat things from very fertile. mini pastries will be servedbetween 9:30am and God, attempt greatthings forGod.’ Forseveral years we have been praying and 10:30am and youwill be able to enjoypanoramic Well,weare expecting greatthings sensing thatitisthe season to ‘stepup’ and viewsofLondon, the magnificentEmirates from Godand we areattempting provide venues and opportunities forlarge-scale Stadium and the immaculate Arsenal pitch. You greatthings forGod. will then have the opportunitytohear our vision, proclamation evangelism. We have negotiated My team and Ilook forward with the hope thatyou will prayerfully consider aprovisional booking at the Emirates Football to seeing youinOctober. Stadium (the home of Arsenal Football Club) partnering with us forthis unique evangelistic forSaturday8July 2017 to give churches and opportunityfor ‘a time such as this’. In the serviceof Christ our King. Christians the opportunitytobring their family, Ihope youare able to accept this invitation and friends,neighbours and colleagues to hear join us on Thursday8October. Revd Canon J.John www.JustOneEmirates.com

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—and connected to the Source energy of creation. When we move from ‘what’s in it for me’ to genuinely putting our energy and attention into visualising ourselves in acapacity of serving, the doors to fulfilment open for us, when we extend ourselves in aspirit of giving, helping, or loving, we JaneyLee Grace areactingasGod acts.” People giving tribute to him included Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGenres. Fellow motivational Live Healthy! Live Happy! speaker Tony Robbins also wrote on Twitter: “Wayne Dyer has passed away today.For those of us who loved him it’s sad, but he knew death was a transition. We send love for his next adventure.” Many tributes mentioned that Wayne had no fear of dying and Imust confess Ienvy him that. The passingofMrMotivation Many fans called him Mr Motivation: one thing Wayne was brilliant at was helping people to Iwas sad to hear last week of thepassing of Wayne (an estimated 35 million copies sold around the world). overcome feelings of guilt and inadequacy and get Dyer.AsaHay House authorIhad met him and heard His philosophy mixed new thought self-actualisation started on what they wanted to do, wherethey him speak several times andwas always struck by his theorywith non-denominational spirituality.Hewas anti wanted their light to shine in the world. humble yet inspirational persona. He has regularly ‘religious institution’ but after hearing him speak I One of the phrases madefamous by Wayne was: been listed as one of the 10 most spiritually influential absolutely knew that despite his teachings being “Don’t die with the music still in you.” He certainly people in theworld and last year Mind Body Spirit eschewed by some Christians he did indeed hold Jesus didn’t and his huge catalogue of workremains to magazine ranked him at number eight. as anicon. inspireus. It’s agreat reminder to us all if there’s Wayne wasabest-selling author of over40books Hay House said of Wayne: “He offered away of being something you have always wanted to do, be it, including his first book Your Erroneous Zones,which is thatwas at the heartofchange, away of experiencing write abook, startacharity,climb amountain, if not believed to be one ofthe best-selling books of all time, theworld so that your focus is internal —onthe IAM now… when?

Keswickat140 BBCunder fire It began when the Vicar of St John’s Church erected atent on the vicarage lawn and 400 people attended aprayer meeting lasting five days under the banner ‘All One in Christ’. This Following criticism of SongsofPraise from Calais,the BBC is now year the Keswick Convention celebrated its 140th anniversary. It now runs for three weeks under firefor itsradio programmes. Aconsultation has revealed that and is attended by between 12,000 and 15,000 people. Earlier in the year theConvention religious programmes on Radio 4are the most poorlyrated by announced it had bought the old Derwent Pencil factorynext to the former grammar school listeners with just 63 per cent rating them as good. They arealso the it acquired some years ago and £5 million will be spent over the next three yearstointegrate least popular,attracting only 15 per cent of Radio 4listeners compared the two sites, demolish unwanted buildings and create alarge and integrated convention with the 91 per cent who listen to ‘in-depth’ factual programmes. The centreitishoped will be used for the first time in 2017. It is still to be decided what will BBC trust says it has no plans to change the religious programmes but happen to the Skiddaw Street site that is used at present and wherethe famous convention the National Secular Society says it is wrong to carry out a tent is situated. John Stott, Dick Lucas, Keith Weston, RT Kendall, Michael Baughan, Donald consultation and then take no action in response. NSS is right about English, Alec Motyer and Vaughan Roberts have all been speakers at the Convention. In the that but the Trust should not follow its advice and further reduce the early days it was associated with the ‘higher life movement’, often called the‘Keswick number of religious programmes. Instead it should take measures to movement’.Handley Moule, Andrew Murray and JW Webb-Peploe werepopular speakers improve their quality.The popularity of Religious Studies in schools who stood in this tradition. Higher life teachingstressed the ‘second blessing’ and ‘entire shows that thereisreal interest in aserious and intelligent sanctification’ while claimingtosteer clear of Wesleyan perfectionism. It was attacked by BB presentation of religious and theological topics. Unfortunately this Warfield, JI Packer and others in the Reformed tradition. Today’s convention is not approach is rarely adopted by the BBC. Melvyn Bragg’s ‘In Our Time’ associated with any particular doctrine but tries to be broadly evangelical while stressing the programme on theTrinity was arareexception. ‘Thought for the Day’ importance of Christian experience. is often so bland as to be embarrassing. Damian Thompson has launched acampaign to bring it to an end. If it cannot be improved, thismay be the best courseofaction. Bad as radio is, religion on television is much worse. Private Eye thought Songs of Praise was out of its depth in trying to discuss the influence of Shakespeare’s religion. This is agood example of an important religious subject that demands RowoverHeythrop intelligent treatment. It is not suitable for aprogramme meant to be devoted to hymnsinging that is too often presented by people who Plans by the Jesuits to close Heythrop College in the University of London have led think they need to wearapermanent smile. to protests by theologians and philosophers, among them anumber of prominent Anglicans including Bishop Rowan Williams, the Rev Professors Sarah Coakley, Graham Ward and Keith Ward,and the Very Rev Martyn Percy,Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. In aletter to The Times the Anglican theologians arejoined by a number of Catholic colleagues in arguing that the closureofthe college would be ‘a serious blow to theological, religious and philosophical research and teaching in the UK’. They add that it is ‘unclear that the possible means of meeting therelevant The Donald trumps faith problems have all been explored’. Heythrop has been losing money because it has failed to attract enough students, especially Jimmy Carter announced that the cancer heissufferingfrom has spread undergraduates. The Archbishop of Westminster urged the college to his brain with the grace andfaith that weretobeexpected of him. At to consider amerger with St Mary’s Catholic University in the ageof90heiscontinuing to teach adultSunday schoolatthe Twickenham and preliminarytalks wereheld. Therewas much Maranatha Baptist ChurchinPlains, Georgia ashehas done for to be said for the merger.StMary’s attracts undergraduates decades. Lastweekhehad to teach an extra class to accommodate (applications wereupbyalmost 10 per cent this year) and has a all the people whowanted to hear him. His subject was loveand good ReligiousStudies department. After arocky patchunder he alluded brieflytohis illness. During the lesson hespoke of the its previous Principal it is now benefiting from the importanceofmediation andsaid it can help resolveany problem, imaginative leadership of its new Vice Chancellor,Francis whether between individuals or nations. Carter’s evangelical Campbell, and has moved from being auniversity college faith was not enough to win him supportfromevangelical to fulluniversity status. Heythrop would complement St voters. Polls show they are currently enamoured of the three- Mary’s by offering graduate studies in both theology and times married Donald Trump, a man who says hedoes not philosophy.Talksare said to have broken down over the need to repentand who, inthe wordsofNew YorkTimes fate of the buildings. Heythrop occupies aprime site columnistFrankBruni is anexample of just aboutall theseven near Kensington High Street. St Mary’s wereprepared Whispering deadly sinsexcept sloth. Alexis de Tocqueville said thatwhen to see the Jesuits sell offpartofthe site but insisted the youmeetapriest in America youare surprised to discover he is

The Gallery merger would not work unless the university really apolitician. Right-wing politics often trumpsfaith for continued to have abase in central London using part American evangelicals. of the Kensington campus.

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The urgent need for ANDREW House of Lords reform CAREY View from the Pew Most democratic bodies struggle to reduce their numbers. To use an old cliché –itislike asking turkeys to vote for Christmas. When you arevoting for your own abolition you aremuch morelikely to sit on your hands or react out of sheer self-preservation. I’ve witnessed attempts to reduce Synodical Be careful what youwish for numbers, which have always resulted in special pleading on behalf of the vested interests of special constituencies. The Bishop of Willesden, Pete Broadbent, is the mosthigh profile The debate on the House of Lords is, however,urgent. Acull of Lords isvitally needed. supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, but hardly alone. Many clergy aredevoutly Many people favour retirement ages. Others arecalling for amoreurgent reformofthe cheering on the Islington maverick. peers armed with surveysthat repeatedlysay that the public favour afully-elected chamber. They should be careful what they wish for. I’m convinced, however,given the low esteem in which politicians areheld, that if the Historytells us that when Labour is in disarray,thenthe job of opposition question was put differently,the public would favour afully-appointed House of Lords.They falls to other parties, including the churches. But though the Church of just don’t want one in which the appointments aremade of politicians by politicians. England can lay afew punches on agovernment thereisverylittle support Thereare now over 850 membersofthe House of Lords. The Chamber cannot seat even in the pews for aparty political version of muscularChristianity.Sowithout half of them. David Cameron appointed 186 Peers in his first term, andhas nowappointed a an effective opposition agovernment becomes arrogant and increasingly further 45. The reasonfor appointing so many is to gain some kindofpolitical majority. dictatorial. After over adecade of Labour dominance, the Conservatives areatanumerical Labour under Corbyn is about to become verybadly divided. Whatever disadvantage in the upper house. It requires some serious efforttoappoint so many peers his qualities as an apparently decent human being, Corbyn is nevertheless and it is becoming an increasingly difficult public relations battle for party leaders. acreatureofstudent protest politics. He has jumped on everyfashionable Thetime is now right for aserious reform of the House of Lords.First we need to decide left-wing cause over the years and supped andspoken with terrorists and what we want. If it is to be arevising chamber ratherthan apolitical body we need lawyers, dictators, like his great friend George Galloway. experts and experienced people from avariety of worlds including public sector,private Thepretence that he has been involved in some kind of peace process by sector,academies, law and Church. The best people from these professions –perhaps at the flirting with Sinn Fein, the IRA, Hamas and Hezbollah is sheer vanity.He end of their careers and wanting to put something back into society in theformofpublic has never similarly shared platforms and spoken with Ulster Loyalists or service –are unlikely to put themselves forwardfor publicoffice. So apoliticallyneutral Israeli settler organisations. He is no neutral peace campaigner –heisa commission completely independent of any party isthe way forward. partisan of political campaigns. This would requirethe political parties to take the unprecedented step of abolishingall He has never displayed any loyalty to his party and deserves none from ‘whipping’ operations in the House of Lords. Therewould in futurebenoopposition his colleagues. Many of them will refuse to sit beside him in the shadow benches only agovernment bench hedged in on all sides by the crossbenches and perhaps cabinet. Moving on from foreign policy,his policy on defence, the economy the Lords Spiritual. and Europe is completely at odds with the majority of his Parliamentary This would be to the betterment of politics in general because we would have one political colleagues. He has no earthly chance of leading successfully into an chamber where the aim was to improve and perfect legislation –sometimes pointing out election victory. unpalatable truths to the government of the day. So the question is why areclergyand church leaders applauding aman I’m convinced that aHouse of Lords composed solely of independent appointments with who will lead the mainopposition party into self-destructive limbo thereby no party allegiance would haveapositive and improving effect on the House of Commons. doing vast damage to social democratic politics in Britain?

Jesus and sex Mental gymnastics Sir,Ithink thatColin Bricher’s letter (28 August) was Sir,Your regular correspondent Serena Lancaster continues one of the most sensible statements about sex that Ihave to performincredible mental gymnastics as she attempts to seen in many aday.Ithank him for it, and you for use the Bible in supportofher thesis that marriage between publishing it. same-sex couples is legitimate. (28 August). The male human sex instinct is, Ibelieve, highly In so doing she contradicts the plain teaching of Scripture problematic for individuals and society.Jesus, theWord (for instance, Genesis 2and Matthew 19). One can argue and of God through whom all things weremade (John 1:1-3), debate the issue until the cows come home but facts remain came into the humanworld and gave the most ruthless facts and same sex marriage is illegitimate as far as our Holy condemnation of sexual congress outside marriage that God is concerned. That should be the end of the matter. has ever been uttered (Matthew 5:27-30). When Godputs afull stop, surely we mustnever substitute He did not call his disciples to alife of sexual aquestion mark.Such action fails to glorify God. satisfaction (how did the apostles satisfy their ‘natural’ When quoting Scriptureand using it to supportaparticular urges as they followed him for three years around point of view,Serena will surely know that any particular Continued frompage 6 Galilee and Judea?), and of the 13 secret vices he listsin Scripturecan never legitimately be taken out of context or Mark 7:21-23 three, possibly four,are sins of sex. misconstrued. So Imust take issue, for example, with her It would be interesting to know where His chosen expletive for arevelation-denying, erroneous accusation that the Apostle Paul is guilty of Bishop Paterson now stands ifMrTimm evangelism-opposing population was “this adulterous calumny against ‘All Cretans’ (her emphasis). In the text in moved to the Isle of Man. Surely this shows generation”. He never condoned adultery, although he question (Titus 1) Paul is merely quoting from who is up the totalconfusion of theChurch of forgave it (as he did crucifixion, Luke23:34), withheld, generally believed to be asixth-century BC Cretan prophet England, which if it didn’t involve the eternal and even bore, its penalty (John 8:2-11, 1Peter 2:24). called Epimenides of Knossos as he (Paul) writes in the worth of souls would be as farcical as the He was explicitly morenegative about waywardsex context of false teachers trying to influence the purity of the diocese of Barchester. than he was about war; not because such sex was more gospel of Jesus Christ in the Cretan Church. At least in the Roman Catholic Church the wicked but because it was morewidespread. Everyman Paul would be fully awareofCretan converts on the Day of Universal catechism, whilst unequivocally towhom he spoke was guilty under the seventh Pentecost “declaring the wonders of God” (Acts 2). These are giving supporttochaste homosexuals, states: commandment as he expounded it in the Sermon on the certainlynot liars and, indeed, in the verytext Serena is “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which Mount. referring to, Paul is actually encouraging Titus to commission presents homosexual acts as actsofgrave It is morethan illegitimate, it is illiterate, to appeal to appropriate Spirit-filled Cretans to leadership positions in the depravity,tradition has always declaredthat the public with assurances thatJesus didn’t caremuch Church. homosexual acts areintrinsically disordered. about sex. Read the Gospels if you doubt this. But for any The Rev JackDavis, They arecontrarytothe natural law.They commandment he gave hegave also the promise of Doncaster close the sexualact to the gift of life. They do power to keep it. not proceed from agenuine affective and The “light from heaven brighter than the sun” burns sexual complementarity.Under no rampant sexual desiretodust and ashes. Only then may Write to The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great circumstances can they be approved.” the Creator’s gift of sex be released as an expression of College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX. IsnoChurch of England bishop prepared to committed monogamous love for its creative purpose. Oryou can send an E-mail to [email protected]. agree with this and stop playing asemantic Meanwhile we must challenge, however wearywe Tweet at @churchnewspaper game over the meaning of marriage and civil become in doing so, the follyofthinking that everyurge Ifyou aresending letters by e-mail, please include astreet partnership. in thegroin is awordfromthe Lord. address. RobertIan Williams, RichardWilkins, NB: Letters maybeedited Bangor on Dee Watford

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CHALLENGE ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER BIBLE Day 248 – Jeremiah 19- Friday 04September. Psalm 84, 2 Sam 6:16-23. 21, Psalm 53, Hebrews 9 Shyira -(Rwanda):The RtRev DrLaurentMbanda Day 249 –Jeremiah 22- Saturday 05September. Psalm 85, 2Sam 7:1-17. 24, Psalm 54, Hebrews Shyogwe -(Rwanda): The RtRev Jered Kalimba 10 Sunday06September. Pentecost 15.Psalm 86, Day 250 –Enjoy Mt4:18-25.Sialkot-(Pakistan):The RtRev Samuel hearing the Scriptures Pervaiz read aloud in church Monday 07 September. Psalm 87,Mt5:1-12. Day 251 –Jeremiah 25- Singapore -(SouthEastAsia): TheRtRevRennis 27, Psalm 55, Hebrews Ponniah 11 Tuesday 08 September. Psalm 88,Mt5:13-16. Day 252–Jeremiah 28- Sittwe-(Myanmar): The Rt RevDrJamesMin Dein 30, Psalm 56, Hebrews Wednesday 09September. Psalm 89:1-18,Mt 12 5:17-20. Sodor&Man-(York, England): TheRtRev Day 253 –Jeremiah 31- Robert Paterson 33, Psalm 57, Hebrews Thursday 10 September. Psalm 89:19-37, 2 Sam 13 7:18-29. Sokoto -(Kaduna,Nigeria): The Rt Rev Day 254 –Jeremiah 34- AugustinOmole 35, Psalm 58,James 1

APPOINTMENTS The Rev RichardKeith RobertColes, Priest-in-Charge at Finedon The Rev Susan van Beveren, (Peterborough), has been appointed to Chaplain to Heatherwood and Wexham the Vicarage of Finedon (Peterborough). Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust The Rev Sarah Ann Dangerfield, (Oxford) is to be licensed as Lead StipendiaryAssistant Curate in the Chaplain to Kingston Hospital NHS Benefice of Badgeworth, Shurdington Foundation Trust (Southwark). and Witcombe with Bentham The Rev Laurence Biggs, (Gloucester), to be StipendiaryPriest in Priest in Chargeofthe Benefice of Charge of the Benefice of Five Alive; and Nunthorpe (York) has been appointed as Associate Priest of the Benefices of Vicar of the Benefice of Nunthorpe Bowland and The Flyfords (Worcester). (York). The Rev TomDarwent, The Rev Kevin Billson, Assistant Curate St Saviour (Guildford), Priest-in-charge, Blofield Benefice to be Rector, Camberley St Paul (Norwich), appointed Rector,Blofield (Guildford). Benefice (Blofield, Hemblington, North The Rev Keith Alexander Duckett, Burlingham),(Norwich). Interim Minister,StGregoryWednesfield The Rev RichardBoothroyd, &The Epiphany Oxley(Lichfield), to be Assistant Curate, Wandsworth, St also Chaplain for Wellbeing, Karis Michael and All Angels with St Stephen Medical Centre(Birmingham). (Southwark) is to belicensed as The Rev Diane Gingell, Associate Minister (parish funded) of the has been appointed Associate Priest of Benefice. HazelburyBryan and the Hillside The Rev Benjamin Brown, Parishes (Salisbury). Assistant Curate in the Cheam Team The Very Rev Dianna Gwilliams, Ministry(Southwark) is to be licensed as Dean, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Team Vicar (Merstham, St Katharine) in (Guildford), to be also Surrogatefor the Merstham and Gatton Team Ministry Marriages forthe GuildfordDeanery (Southwark). (Guildford).

The RevBennyHazlehurst, The RevLynneMorris, The RevNicolaMonica Shephard, HeadofChaplaincy Team HMP/YOI Portland Permission to Officiate,tobe Associate Priest of West AsstCurate (Dorridge and Bentley Heath) Weymouth and Portlandtobe appointed Assistant Moors (Salisbury). (Birmingham), to beAnglican Chaplain,University of AnglicanChaplain HMP/YOI Portland.Weymouth and The RevStephanieNadarajah, Aston(Birmingham). Portland(Salisbury). AssistantCurateinthe CaterhamTeam Ministry The RevDuncan John Strathie, The RevMargaretAnne Leavons, (Southwark)isto beinstituted and inductedaspart- Coordinator of Learning for Discipleship, (Salisbury), Vicar ofthe BeneficeofSutton in Holderness, St time Vicar ofWorcester Park, Christ Churchwith St to have Bishop’s PermissiontoOfficiate, Michael, (York)hasbeen appointedadditionally as Philip (Southwark). (Birmingham). Priest-in-Chargeofthe BeneficeofBilton in The RevRenosPittarides, The RevCanon DrRobertTitley, Holderness,(York). Associate Minister, Cobham St Andrew (Guildford), Team Rector, Richmond (Southwark), tobeCanon The RevAlan Jenkins, Priest in Charge (RectorDesignate), East Horsley St Treasurer,SalisburyCathedral (Salisbury). Rector, Great Bookham St Nicholas(Guildford),tobe Martin (Guildford). The Rev Justin Tomkins, also Rural Dean,Leatherhead Deanery (Guildford). The RevSharonPrentis, tobeAssociate Priest ofLongfleet (Salisbury). The RevDavid John, part-timeMissionSupportOfficer and also Assistant The Rev Geoffrey Thompson, to beappointed Vicar ofIwerne Valley (Salisbury). Curate without stipend at Redhill, StMatthew tobe Priest in Charge of StStephen, NorburyandThornton The RevAndrew Knowles, LectureratSt Miletus College, (Southwark). Heath(Southwark), has beenappointed to the Vicar, CamberleyStMary (Guildford), to bealso The RevAndrewReid, Vicarage of St Stephen, Norbury(Southwark). AssistantDiocesan DirectorofOrdinands(Guildford). AssistantCurate,AddlestoneStPaul(Guildford), The Rev Heather Waldsax, The RevWayneLautenbach, AssociateMinister, Woking Christ Church (Guildford). tobeArchdeaconry SupportOfficerfor Associate VicarofSt Stephen,Prenton(Chester) to beappointed The RevClive Richardson, Clergy (Salisbury). VicarofBranksome St Aldhelm (Salisbury). VicarRowledge and Frensham (Guildford),tobe The Rev Richard Warhurst, The RevRon Martin, Parish CarerSupport Adviser (Guildford). tobeRector of StBartholomew,(Salisbury). Chaplain, to be AssistantCurateofSherborne with The RevWilliamRidding, The Rev DesWilliamson, Castleton, Lillington andLongburton (Salisbury). Rector, SpireHill – role continues (Salisbury), to be Vicar, St Mark TattenhamCorner (Guildford), to be The RevCharlesMasheder, also Priest inChargeofHazelbury Bryan and the also Rural Dean,Epsom Deanery(Guildford). Rector ofRayValley Benefice (Oxford) to bePriestin Hillside Parishes(Salisbury). The Rev Lauretta Wilson, Charge of Bere Regis and Affpuddle with The RevJean Saddington, Team Vicar of StBenedict’s in the Benefice of Langelei Turnerspuddle (Salisbury). to beArchdeaconry SupportOfficerforAssociate (St Albans), and Vocations Adviser for StAlbans The RevTony Monds, Clergy (Salisbury). Archdeaconry,tobe Team Rector oftheBenefice of VicarofPiddle Valley with Hilton, Cheselbourne and The RevEdward Scrase-Field, Kegworth & HathernTeam Ministry(Leicestershire) Melcombe Horsey (Salisbury),tobeBishop’s Chaplain AssistantCurateofCheadle,StCuthbert and StMary The RevGary Weston, (Salisbury). (Cheshire) is to be institutedandinducted as Vicarof will become AreaDean of Sparkenhoe West Blackheath,StJohn (Southwark). (Leicester).

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tends to listen moretothe friends and comes across moreasanapologist for the Pope than Vallely.All BOOKS that can be said with certainty is that the final SUNDAYSERVICE account has not yet been written. In thisnew edition of Untying theKnots,Vallely 15th Sunday after Trinity Sunday 13 September Untying the Knots fleshes out the pictureofthe earlier Bergoglio he 2015 Paul Vallely offered in theearlier work but he also adds nine Bloomsbury, hb, £16.99 new chapters on Francis as Pope. His account is Isaiah50:4-9a basically positivebut he does not hidethe criticisms James 3:1-12 Books on Pope Francis (Jorge Bergoglio) are that arecoming from the left as well as the right. Mark 8:27-38 appearingthick and fast.Paul Vallely was an early Marking his reportcard, Vallelysays that he has entryinto the field with Untying the Knots, first donewell on reforming the Vatican bank,made a Our readings this week teach us that thereisnoshame for published in 2013. His book won wide praise but its start with the curia, been slowtosee the need to the one whospeaks truewords, though the tongue canput storyofhow Bergoglio, ayoung conservative take action on abuse and has difficulty us in great peril. Jesuit, underwentaconversion during the period understanding the issues raised by women. His In the third of Isaiah’sgreat ‘servant songs’, the Servant when he was exiled to Cordoba to stop him priorities are reformofchurch governance, the is ateacher,who knows how to sustain the weary with a interfering in the affairs of the ArgentineJesuit Synodofbishops, andthe Vatican finances. wordofencouragement.His ability toimparttruth comes provincewas challenged by Austin Ivereigh’s The Critics say he has dragged his feet over abuse but, from his lifelong attentiveness to thewordofGod, as Great Reformer. as one psychiatrist who has worked with victims “morning by morning” he listens to it himself and humbly According to Ivereigh, Bergoglio didnot change and is amember ofthe Vaticancommissiontells submits to what he hears. This places him in harm’s way, his fundamental beliefs, only an authoritarian style Vallely, it is acomplex issue that can’t be rushed. however,thoughquite why is not yetrevealed (though it is that was probably theresult of himbeing given too One of the most significant moves made by startlingly clear at the cross of the LordJesus Christ). much responsibility too early in his ministry. The Francis has been to give morepower to theSynod Certainly, speaking thetruth with persistence can lead to option for thepooralways meant agreat dealtohim of Bishops and to set up acouncil of eight cardinal pushback, but for the Servant there arethose who would but he was opposed to Marxism and thought some advisers. He is tryingtomove away from a strike him, pull out his beard, spit onhim, and disgrace of his Jesuitcolleagues more interested in political centralised Church in which all decisions aremade him. However,hedoes not draw backbecause heknows ideology thanpractical action. by the Pope or by the Roman curia acting in his that ultimately he will be vindicated.The LordGOD Linked to the argument about the extent of name. This has big ecumenical implications, not (Adonai YHWH) helps him, so he will not be puttoshame, Bergoglio’s early conservatism is adispute about least for relations with the Orthodox, and it is whoever his adversaries might be. how far he was responsible for the fate of two significant thatPatriarch Bartholomew was present Peter’s wordsinthe Gospel readingare both shockingly Jesuits arrested by the military. Vallely raises more at Francis’ installation as Pope. right and sinfully brazen.The focus groups haveanumber questions about this than Ivereigh, arguing that It may seem paradoxical thata‘man of power’ is offaulty perceptions of who Jesus is,but Peter isspot on. while Bergoglio did not intend to harmthe Jesuits using his powertodecentralise theChurch but Heconfesses with his tongue that Jesus is the Christ,the and acted to save them when they wereindanger given the powerful and entrenched conservatism of staggering but inevitable conclusion after all he has seen he nonetheless did put them in aperilous situation thecuria it needs aman of power to push the and heardinMark 1-8. by seeking to exclude them from theorder and Churchinthis direction. Thenwith the tongue ofateacher, Jesus tells his even dissuading abishop from offering aposition to Will the changessurvive Francis’s departure? disciples plainly about thesuffering (and glory) thatisto one of them. JohnWilkins is quoted warning thatifthe curia come, just as Isaiah and others had prophesied. But the Theproblem was that thetwo Jesuits disobeyed could nullify VaticanIIin10years theycan nullify Rock wades inwith his own alternative plan, rebuking the Bergoglio’s order to leave the slumsand cease work Francis’ legacy in 10 days. Jesuit historian John Lordfor not really understanding what being the Messiah that exposed them to danger. O’Malley agrees the reformscould be reversed but was supposed to be about. He is rebuked in return, for Set besides the two well-researched books of argues that Francis’ legacy will survive as a daring to correct God incarnate aboutGod’s will.Hehad Vallely and Ivereigh is aslim book by an dangerous memory that willbeused to judge his hiseyes on thegloryofbeing associated with theMessiah, Argentinianjournalist who knows thePope well, successors. butwas keen to bypass thecross. Elizabeth Pique. The Pope told Pique that he was Vallely rightly describes Francis as orthodox in Jesus turns to teach both the disciples and the crowd a never aconservative and the journalist herself his beliefs but radical in his application of the moreexcellentway.Tofollow him means taking up a thinks one of the big conversions in his life was to a gospel. With comments such as ‘Who am Ito cross, losing your life for Jesus and thegospel. Gaining all new appreciation of the charismatic movement. judge?’ he hasopened up the possibility of thegloryofthis world is nothing in comparison tothe Jorge Bergoglio is acomplexpersonand it is disagreement and debate in the Catholic Church. priceless salvation of one’simmortal soul. But theway to difficult to decide wherethe truth lies. Pique quotes Ironically his conservative opponents suchas obtainthat unsurpassed good is through the scornand one Argentinian journalist describing him as a‘man CardinalBourke arecontributing to this by voicing hatred of an adulterous andsinful generation. It requires of power’. Such apersonisalways going to make trenchant opposition to him. It will be difficult in resilience in theface of such painful opposition nottobe enemies. futureduring aconservativepapacy for ashamed of thewords and ways of Jesus. But there is no Bergoglio wasacharismatic leader of theJesuits traditionalists to say thereisnoplace ofdissent in shame on the Day of Judgment for the one who sticks to who had manysupporters but also manyopponents. the Church after theexample they are setting in the glorious SonofMan and his unerring words. Vallely has listened to the critics as well as the thispapacy. James teaches us that teachers themselves will be friends and they have acase. Ivereigh, who has a judged more strictly when that day comes. It is anoble yet much greater knowledge of Argentinepolitics, Paul Richardson fearful task to be called as ateacher in God’s church. An unruly tongue is agreat evil, and the tongue of ateacher can do far moredamage than most. Sexual and financial scandals often engulf pastors and churches; but an uncontrolled and ungodly tongue can bring untold ruin, Take out an annual subscription and is far more difficult to tame. AsMatthew Henrywisely observes:“Other sins decay to The Church of England Newspaper withage, this many times gets worse; we grow more forwardand fretful, as natural strength decays, andthe Our great summer offer! dayscome on inwhichwehave no pleasure. 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FILM OFTHEWEEK

Me andEarl andthe Dying Girl (cert. 12A), is an edgy but lovely film fromAlfonso Gomez-Rejon, as he moves from directingepisodesofGlee to this high school story of friendship, compassion andfrailty. It’s dedicated to hisfather,adoctor,who died as hestarted to make thefilm. Adapted by Jesse Andrews from his own 2012novel, it features Greg (Thomas Mann), doing his best in his Pennsylvania high school to stay out of trouble by not identifying with any of the warring factions. It’satactic that’s stood him in goodstead, and left him to cultivate his partnership with Earl (RJ Cyler), ablack kid from thepoor sideoftown. They makehome movies together, spoofs of their favourites – they range from Senior Citizen Kane to Brew Velvetand 2:48pm Cowboy.Werner Herzog features (in clips withKlaus Kinski from Burdenof Dreams), butPowell andPressburger seem aspecial interest (Pooping Tom),asthey evenhaveaminiature target and arrows fortheir versions of the Archers films. What disturbs Greg’s routine is when his mother (Connie Britton) insists he takesacaring interest in Rachel (Olivia Cooke),agirl he barely knows, who has leukaemia. Therebeginsanunlikelyrelationship, badged from day one as a“doomed friendship”, though oddity in school, lone rapper and drugdealer Ill Phil aregiven shortshrift (Gregand Rachel areJewish). Rachel’s mum(Moly Shannon) seemsoverly glad to (MasamHolden). By contrast, hot girl Madison Thistragicomic storyhas Greg’s narration to keepthe see him. (Katherine C Hughes) takes an interest in Greg, or at flow, but the mix of laughter and tears makes it a Rachel mayhave physical problems, but she susses least in his friendship withRachel. sensitive treatment of serious illness. Greg’s poor view of his own personality,and guides It’s just thatwhenever she’snear,Greg’s mind Some of the jokes aresimple, there’sarunning joke him as he ponders whether to go to college. As she conjures up this cartoon version of what hot girlsdoto about thesexual place of pillows, and, as Greg’s dad gets sicker,unreasonablyfeeling ugly when she loses boys like him,alarge moose stampingonarodent. misses the point of sarcasm, it’s all done well enough her hair,evenGreg’s encouragementnot to give in These animations punctuate the story, along with to be veryfunny. The whole cast draw the best from seems like hewants totake away herchoices. snippets of thefilms he and Earl have made. their roles, though Olivia Cooke needsspecial mention Greg’s dad (NickOfferman), very laid back with a Prompted byMadison, Greg tries tomake afilm for bringing “the dying girl” to life. taste for unlikely food, may offer homespun advice, but specially for Rachel, but itproves harder than he Despite winning both theaudience and grand jury Gregismore likelytoturn for support to one of his expects,and heeven falls out with Earl (his “co- prizes at the Sundance Festival, the filmdid not dotoo teachers, Mr McCarthy (Jon Bernthal). He too has a worker”, Greg calls him, trying to avoid the idea of well at the US box office. I loved its imaginative, funny, taste for exotic food in theformofAsiansoups, and friendship). AsRachel’s health deteriorates, the poignant treatment of facingillness anddeath, and it’s there’s even asuggestion thatthe soup is laced with prospect of getting the film done keepsslipping. my favourite filmsofar thisyear. drugs. It’s never mawkish, and some inappropriate Other charactersadd tothe mix,not least the real responses to illness, as in “It’s all part of God’s plan”, Steve Parish

Everyman in the City

Coinciding with August’s stock market crisis, acontemporary WINE OFTHE WEEK Everyman in theCity morality play intensely probes themes of Viña Albali responsibilityand personal Tempranillo Gran Reserva 2008 meaning in aruthless free Asda £7.98 (£5 offer,until 1st October) market system. Crash -staged at TraverseTheatrein An unusual redthis, and at this offer price especially, Edinburgh Fringe -gives vivid well worth atry.Giveitplenty of time to open up. It portrayal of an anonymous comes from Valdepeñas in southerncentral Spain, trader losing and winning multi- which meansthe Valley of the Rocks —a money amid global financial topographical feature, then, for very volatility -and extreme hot summers. Tempranillo is the emotional loss. great grape for Rioja: hereitappears Driven by greed and fear like bolder,but yet softened (2008 was a the marketsheplays, his self- good year) by around 18 months in worth rising and falling with his cask and since then seven years in gains and losses, he seems but bottle. temporarily numbed by two In the glass, fine ruby red; on the tragedies thatcould have nose, therewas warmdepth, and crushedanyone not so hardened by the dog-eat-dog world of global finance. something too of attractive Miraculously survivingacar crash fatal for his wifeAlison, he quickly forms acloserelationship with Kate, muskiness. The palate revealed the fellow-participant on aquasi-Oriental anti-stress session. Humour lightens an otherwise bleak narrative with the expected oak, balanced by vanilla and play’s sideways glance at pseudo-Buddhist meditation promising to banish stress with yoga postures and sweeter black cherry flavours. The mumbo-jumbo mantras. finish came up assertively with amix Darkness re-descends with Kate’s horrific murder and global shareprices in freefall -but the anti-hero of the latter and tannic notes. Alcohol escapes Houdini-like from emotional and financialnightmarebyfocusing successfully on money-making: “Some by Vol.13%. people make things. Imake money.Iamverygood at it -why shouldIbeashamed of that?” This is awine not for drinking by Yetdeep down he feels inner emptiness, finally confessing: “Idon’t know anything.” itself, but one that demands an While no simplistic condemnation of the City,Andy Duffy’s tightlycrafted solodrama poses sharp questions appropriate food match.Itcould I about the moralityoffreemarket capitalism and itsdehumanising effects. Is big-scale money-making for oneself thought pair up with aspicybeef and rich clients compatible with moral integrity -and does ‘the system’ destroy itsparticipants? Jamie Michie casserole, followed by amaturehard totally enthrals an ever-anxious trader sensing he just might have lost his soul. cheese. Brian Cooper Graham Gendall Norton

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Will the last person leaving extinguish the Lights? By AlanEdwards correctmeans to achieve salvation were powerful emotion. In theCold War it bulbs and forget that old-fashioned sought. Church wall Doom paintings was fear of theBombbut now bulbs gaveout heat as well as light. This ygarden, for much of the year, portrayed the downfall of thosewho successors of the medieval friars, such criticism is boundtobe declared heresy is ablaze withmarigolds. No didn’t listen. as PopeFrancis and General Synod, by the Pope. Mneed for Titchmarsh tuition. Todaythe fires of Hell have become warn of the fearful consequences of Not thatmodern climate change They’re easytogrow. but afflicker, yet fear of doom remains a global warming. Attenbore’s TV preachers areconsistent. We need low- In medieval times presentations, giving energy bulbs to cut electricity use, but marigolds (‘Mary’s he same warning, are fromGreen toBlue, politicos also gold’)were grownto he modern believe in cutting energy prices, which ward offwitches. Folk quivalent of medieval will surely increase consumption. used to throw saltover wallpaintings. Perhaps But I’m forgetting ‘green energy’ from their shoulder to banish e’s toobusy talking to windfarms. My response is laughter, the witches’ master, he trees to remember given that, on thecoldestday lastwinter, Satan, a custom that still hat in the MiddleAges electricity productionfrom these survives. There are still nglishvineyards modern saviours was virtually nil. people who resorttothis ourished, andnot just Presumably climate changeexperts and whenTony Blair is in nSoutherncounties. their ecclesiastical followers are too town. This despitehis Alsonot to have heard attached to their computer screens to lifestyle of Franciscan hat theAArctic ice cap is have time to lookoutoftheir triple- poverty. rowiingnot melltiing. gllazedd winddows andd notice thhat onultra Fear of the forces of Sin now hasacarbon colddays there is rarelymuch wind. darkness haunted ootprint but ‘Which have eyestosee, but see not,’ medieval imaginations. ndulgences can stillbe (Jeremiah 5:21). Preaching friars, as ought. Scrape the Looking ahead,remember that 1 influential in their dayas moss from your roof Novemberisno longer All Saints Day, a Stephen Fryisnow, nd purchase solar feast day, but as afirstday of the month, warned of the fate that anels.Buyhigh should,accordingtorecentCofE advice, awaited unless the riced,low-energy be a‘Planet Earth’ fast day.

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