Women Fast Tracked to Lords

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Palestine, p11 NOW AVAILABLE ON  NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20/27, 2013 No: 6208 Women fast tracked to Lords

PLANS ARE being discussed to fast- peers who could in theory attend the effect soon. “the necessary limited reforms of this track the first woman appointed a House. “The coalition agreement appears to House are being frustrated in order to bishop to take a seat in the House of And in a Lords debate on the size of enshrine the doctrine that membership create the conditions for more radical Lords. the House, Bishop Stevens said: “Any of this House should reflect the propor- reform, surely we need to proceed to The dramatic move was revealed by reduction in numbers will need to have tions of votes cast at the 2010 election. action soon. the Bishop of Leicester in a debate about regard to the proportion of independent Unless there is change, and if this doc- “This House is not, and never has the number of peers sitting in the cham- Members as the pressure for political trine continues to obtain, we all know been, a Chamber embodying the doc- ber. appointees continues to mount. that the consequence will rapidly trine of proportional representation— The Rt Rev Tim Stevens said: “More “We will see nothing but serious dys- become unmanageable. our character, purpose and raison d’être immediately, we have begun to explore function if these principles are not given “If the suspicion is to be allayed that lie elsewhere.” the possibility of modification to the At present there are 26 places for Bish- Bishoprics Act, which governs the suc- ops in the House of Lords and Bishop cession of Lords spiritual after a vacancy, Stevens said the Church had indicated a in order to make it possible for women Guides ordered to drop ‘God’ willingness to work with the Govern- who may be ordained as bishops in the ment to cut that number in a “proportion- next few years to be fast-tracked to this GIRL GUIDES in a form of words but we ally reduced House”. Bench.” church-based troop have want the children to have Bishop Stevens, who was a member of But he warned that measures need to been threatened with the choice to say the old the cross-party group scrutinising be taken soon to cut the number of peers expulsion from the move- promise if they want to. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s ulti- in the House of Lords or there is a dan- ment for refusing to drop “This is the first sub- mately doomed Bill on Lords reform, ger of “serious dysfunction”. ‘God’ from their tradi- stantial change in the said: “I cannot remember a single wit- But Bishop Tim Stevens, who is con- tional promise. 103-year history of the ness to that committee, or a single mem- venor of the bishops in the Upper House, The 37th Newcastle Girl Guides. The change ber of it, arguing that the present size of warned that any reduction in size needed Guide Unit at Jesmond they propose wasn’t hon- this House is optimal. to maintain “true and impartial accounta- Parish Church received a estly investigated and we “What we do here is of vital impor- bility and to represent the breadth and letter last Friday warning couldn’t appeal the deci- tance to the nation.” diversity of civil society and intellectual them that they must sion.” life”. adopt the new promise in Rainbows, Brownies, Girl Guiding’s Chief At present there are more than 800 ‘to be true to myself and Guides and Rangers in Commissioner of the PRICE £1.35 / 1,70€ / $2.20 to develop my beliefs’ or the Unit. North East has told the be expelled. “The only thing we group their membership A happy and holy Glynnis Mackie, who want for the girls is for will end on 31 December Christmas to all has led the troop for them to have a choice,” unless they adopt the our readers, advertisers more than 25 years, said Mrs Mackie. “This new promise. described the new surprisingly aggressive “They are trying to and contributors! pledge as a ‘fridge mag- letter says that ‘we will force us out of Girl Guid- net promise that doesn’t not use’ the new promise ing with no process and Our next edition will be published mean anything’. There- and that simply isn’t true. with only three weeks’ on 3 January, 2014 are more than 100 girls We would use this new notice.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper THE 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 News CHURCHIN SOUTHWARK New church dedicated On Saturday 7 December the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, dedicated the new St Hugh’s church building in Bermondsey. The new church was full to overflowing ENGLAND as the Bishop led the congregation in thanksgiving and dedicated the building to the glory of God. It will serve as the place where people will gather for worship and as a base for mission and engagement with the local community.

BIRMINGHAM YORK CHESTER LONDON PETERBOROUGH Carols reworked York loves St Lucy Carols in the pub Club is Ace Media opportunities Last week, staff and students of A Swedish tradition came to Anyone over 18 years old is On 12 December, Archbishop The media offers the Church the Queen’s Foundation for York Minster for the first time invited to attend a special Justin visited a CUF-supported huge opportunities and Ecumenical Theological last night (19 December), with church service... in a pub. project – Ace of Clubs, in challenges, says the Rev Education went to the crowded a service to mark the feast of Monday 23 December sees St Clapham, which provides meals Richard Coles, broadcaster and city centre and sang Christmas Saint Lucy – Sankta Lucia – Luke’s church in Huntington, to vulnerable people and beds vicar of Finedon, speaking to songs. New words were given forming part of the cathedral’s Chester, lead drinkers and for those sleeping rough – and curates recently about the to carols inviting people to give Advent programme. The diners in some traditional Carol recorded his Christmas media and social media. He told more and buy less, and poking atmospheric service saw York Singing, hosted by the Rake & address for the BBC, them the patron of fun at the big corporations and Minster being lit by candles, Pikel in Chester Road. From mentioning Church Urban broadcasters is St Gabriel and credit card companies. So, with a candlelit procession led 8.30-9.00pm, customers can join Fund along the way. This will the saint protecting television is “Angels from the realms of by a young girl wearing a in singing traditional carols. be broadcast on New Year’s St Clare of Assisi, but Richard glory” became “Bankers from crown of candles to represent This will be the third year that Day. This will be his first argues that John the Baptist the realms of money” . St Lucy, a young Sicilian girl ‘Beer and Carols’ has taken appearance. It can be watched should be the guiding figure for Passersby were given chocolate who died a martyr’s death in place. John Cheek of St Luke’s on BBC One at 12:40pm, or Christians in the media. “John coins and leaflets describing the early fourth century. said: “Drinkers can pop-in for a later on BBC Two, at 5:20pm on was a disturbing figure,” said what the singing was about. quick drink, and sing along. the same day. Richard. NORTHUMBERLAND

Lindisfarne Salisbury reworked A new piece of music, inspired by The Lindisfarne Gospels and the island where they were created, has been written by renowned musician Alistair Anderson, commissioned by the Rev Paul Collins, vicar of St Mary’s Church, Holy Island, to create the work to honour the ancient manuscript going on display in Durham this year. Entitled A Lindisfarne Gospel, it weaves flowing melodies on fiddles, Northumbrian pipes, harp, concertina and cello into musical textures that reflect the complex intertwining designs of the Gospels.

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DUDLEY LONDON SALISBURY New Bishop named Fossil-free nativity Choristers wanted The Queen has approved the nomination of The steps of St Paul’s Cathedral, London Auditions for School Years 3 and 4 the Rev Canon Graham Barham Usher, saw a new twist on the Nativity on Saturday to join Salisbury Cathedral Choir BSc, MA, Rector and Lecturer of Hexham 14 December with the staging of a Fossil will be held on Saturday 18 January (Newcastle), to the Suffragan See of Free Nativity play. In celebration of the (boys) and Saturday 1 February Dudley (Worcester), in succession to the Rt Church of England’s willingness to (girls). David Halls, Director of Rev David Stuart Walker, MA, on his consider disinvesting from fossil fuel, a Music, said: “Becoming a cathedral translation to Manchester. group of Christians, activists and friends chorister is a great opportunity for a The new bishop is married to Rachel, who performed the “Fossil Free Nativity” in musically talented child and the is a GP, with two children of school age. front of St Paul’s Cathedral supported by auditions are always an exciting His interests include hill walking, drawing, angels from the SPEAK Network. This time time as we look to the future of the writing and the company of his friends. Joseph fits solar panels, Gabriel travels by choir. I am particularly keen to public transport and King Herod is flanked attract boys and girls from the local by his advisers BP and EDF. community and diocese.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 News 3 INBRIEF Virgin births ‘are a

EastEnglish Bible proves a success

A website to make the Bible more accessible for non-native English speakers has enjoyed modern phenomenon’ huge success in 2013. The site, www.easyenglish.info, clocked up four million visitors from more than 200 coun- By Amaris Cole tries this year. The EasyEnglish version of the Bible and THE BIRTH of Jesus to the Virgin Mary commentaries uses a vocabulary of just 1,200 is being recounted in schools and church- words for those who have learned English as a es across the country, but a study sug- second language. gests virgin births are also a modern-day Simple rules, including using one topic per phenomenon. paragraph and no passive verbs, split infinitives, The British Medical Journal is reporting idioms, rhetorical questions or ambiguous pro- that US researchers have identified a number nouns, were devised by volunteers who worked of pregnancies reported by virgins since the from home on the project. mid-1990s among a large group of young Starting 20 years ago, the EasyEnglish proj- adults in America. ect is part of MissionAssist, formerly Wycliffe Asexual reproduction is seen in the animal Associates, which offers a range of free servic- kingdom in creatures such a pit vipers, boa es to overseas mission workers. constrictors, sharks and Komodo dragons, but little attention has been given to the evidence More responses to Pilling of virgin pregnancy in humans. Researchers at The University of North Car- Comments are continuing to be made on the olina examined the incidence of pregnancy Report of the House of Bishops Working Group before sexual intercourse reported by a repre- on Sexuality chaired by Sir Joseph Pilling. sentative group of US adolescents and young The Council of Bishops of the traditionalist adults. Anglo-Catholic Society of St Wilfred and St The scientists confidentially interviewed Hilda have released a statement saying that the 7,870 women multiple times over a 14-year report is ‘an important piece of work which period between adolescence and adulthood, as deserves careful consideration’. part of a larger sexual health survey. The statement notes that the report proposed Each interview asked participants to report ‘no change of doctrine’ and that ‘its practical on their history of intercourse, use of assisted recommendations remain, at this stage, recom- reproductive technology, and pregnancy histo- A CALL TO mendations to the House of Bishops’. ry, along with age, importance of religion and The LGB and T Anglican Coalition welcomed presence of chastity vow. CANADIAN the recognition of theological diversity, the Parents of the respondents were also asked denunciation of homophobia, the call for fur- how much they spoke to their child about sex ARCTIC MINISTRY ther discussion and recommendations that or birth control. could make it easier ‘for clergy to bless partner- Of the sample of 7,879 women, 0.5 per cent Have you heard of British missionaries who ships publicly’. consistently affirmed their status as virgins went to the ends of the earth to share the gospel of Jesus Christ? It regrets that no clear definition of homopho- and did not use assisted reproductive technol- bia is offered and expressed disappointment ogy, yet reported a virgin birth. Do you have the same desire to serve God in that the report does not really consider the Of this group, 31 per cent have signed an extreme mission adventure? position of transgender people in the church.’ chastity pledges. “We are also disappointed that no liturgy of More of this group gave birth to boys, 60 per Bishops David Parsons and Darren McCartney are thanksgiving or blessing is proposed,” said a cent, or found they were with child during seeking such people who are inspired to consider a statement from the Coalition, “but overall we Advent. similar call to ministry. They can’t offer you riches or an easy life, are thankful for the working party’s effort. We The authors of the report point out that self- but for such a time as this, when many reject biblical authority they trust and hope that the report may move the reported measures of potentially sensitive top- can offer communities in the Canadian Arctic who are seeking bible Church of England forward.” ics are subject to some degree of respondent believing clergy to teach, pastor and make disciples. The Global South of the Anglican Commun- bias and misclassification, but add that careful- ion, which represents the viewpoint of those ly designed questions and state of the art tech- The Arctic Bishops will visit the UK during February 2014. associated with Gafcon, has expressed ‘serious nology was used. concern’ about the report. In its statement, Nevertheless, they conclude that “around To set up an appointment with one of them Global South said ‘the church of Christ should 0.5 per cent of women affirmed their status as please contact the not in any way be homophobic’ but it also says virgins and did not use assisted reproductive Rev. Canon R. J. Tonkin, the Pilling report raises issues about the rela- technology, yet reported virgin births.” 39 Shackerdale Road, Wigston, Leicester, LE18 1BQ tionship of the church to its context. The report’s authors add: “Reporting dates Tel: 0116 281 2517. “Will the Church of England allow society to of pregnancy and sexual initiation consistent shape its faith and practice in such a way in with virgin pregnancy was associated with cul- For a complete profile of the Diocese order to be acceptable by society or will the tural mores highly valuing virginity, specifical- please contact [email protected]. Church of England recognise that its distinctive ly signing chastity pledges.” mission is to transform society?” The Global South statement, which can be found on its website, warns that if the recommendations of the Report are accepted the Church of England will go down the same road as the Episcopal Church in the US. It said the ‘dissenting view written by the Bishop of Birkenhead captures well our position.’ The statement is signed by the Bishop of Egypt and the Archbishop of Mauritius.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 4 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 News Bishop: pressure on assisted dying will grow THE STRENGTH of feeling in favour of allowing Bishop Forster said he remained “personally “If you accept assisted suicide fundamentally on the terminally ill people to be helped to commit sui- opposed” to changing the law but questioned how he basis of autonomous choice, how can you simply leave cide is strong and likely to get stronger, the Bish- could prevent others with a different view “from mak- it to a very restricted group who are believed to be ter- op of Chester has admitted. ing their choices on the basis of a change in the law”. minally ill? Logically, one day or another, sooner or Bishop Peter Forster said he was still against assisted He told peers: “It is a somewhat open question but I later, it would have to be extended. suicide, but needed to “acknowledge the state of public think I am still persuaded that in order to sustain justice “That leads me to my current conclusion: that the opinion on the matter”. for the vulnerable in our competitive and individualistic risks inherent in legalising assisted suicide still out- In a House of Lords debate he said: “For a society that society - the context in which we are discussing this weigh the benefits that might accrue.” has now embraced abortion by choice, the move to matter - there would have to be very powerful bulwarks In the same debate, the Bishop of Sheffield made his assisted suicide by choice might seem, in moral terms, in the law to prevent the exploitation of the weak and maiden speech. rather a modest step. vulnerable.” Bishop Steven Croft told peers: “It is particularly “I am surprised that this connection is not made more He said that even with the safeguards proposed in a poignant for me to contribute to this debate on patient often. draft bill put forward by Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the choice at the end of life as my own father is very seri- “Whether one accepts that parallel or not, and what- former Lord Chancellor, changes in the law “tend to ously ill. ever one makes of the parallel, I believe that the wider create their own momentum, as has been well illustrat- “Over the last few days I have been involved in a num- social context is crucial to our debates on this subject. ed with what has happened with abortion”. ber of conversations with medical staff and my close “Choice always has a context, and the context of our He added: “For me, that is where the problem will lie family about the questions before us today. society has changed and is changing. I need to acknowl- if a change in the law is based too much on the notions “I am sure that these conversations are familiar to edge that.” of choice and autonomy. many.” Call for cap on payday loans Archbishop meets with “However, the slow timetable - several years before all this is implemented - is a completely different timetable from that energy bosses of someone who has no resources, who has no back-up and who is looking for LAMBETH PALACE issued a brief food tomorrow.” statement after Archbishop Justin The amendment was defeated by 163 Welby met with senior representa- votes to 100 despite Bishop Urquhart’s tives of the energy industry last support. week. At question time in the Lords, the Bish- “The Archbishop of Canterbury today op of Truro asked whether the Govern- welcomed a small group of senior repre- ment would introduce a “real-time sentatives from the energy industry to database of pay day loans”. hear their perspectives on social respon- Bishop Tim Thornton said it would sibility around the energy supply sec- “ensure that the proposed Financial Con- tor,” the statement read. “This is one of a duct Authority rules can be properly number of private meetings hosted by monitored and enforced”. Archbishop Justin in order to draw on He said in particular it would “avoid the experience of people in different the problem - a special one at this time of areas of life.” THE BISHOP of Birmingham has Financial Service (Banking Reform) Bill year - of people being able to take out The meeting took place only a few called for the Government to speed to bring that date forward to October multiple loans from different companies weeks after the Archbishop criticised up the process of capping interest next year. at the same time.” price rises. It is understood that four of rates on payday loans. He said there was a risk of “people hav- Treasury spokesman Lord Newby said the ‘big six’ energy companies were rep- Ministers have agreed to instruct the ing yet another Christmas borrowing at a real-time database was one of the resented by chief executives at the meet- new Financial Conduct Authority to too great a cost and risk to their own things the FCA would look at. ing. Bosses of Scottish Power and SSE bring in a limit on the total charges com- future and that of their family”. “In some of the countries and US states could not make it but SSE have made an panies such as Wonga can impose. He added: “Local charities, churches where they have effective caps on the open invitation to the Archbishop to The Government has set a deadline of and the faith groups are responding to cost of payday loans, such systems have meet with their staff. January 2015, but Bishop David the Government’s approach to tackling been seen to work efficiently and be very A source at Lambeth Palace told the Urquhart backed an amendment to the this global financial crisis. effective,” he said. BBC that the meeting was ‘warm and open’ and lasted for almost an hour. In an interview with the Mail on Sun- Bishop praises ‘humility and dignity’ of Nelson Mandela day after British Gas announced price increases, the Archbishop said ‘the THE BISHOP of Truro has joined in with House of Lords impact on people, particularly on low tributes to Nelson Mandela. incomes, is going to be really severe this Bishop Tim Thornton praised the “humility and dignity” of winter, and the companies have to justify the former South African president. fully what they are doing’. During an hour-long session of tributes in the Lords, Bishop Ed Miliband launched the debate on Thornton said: “In matters of faith, although he was baptised energy prices when he promised a into the Methodist Church and went to a Christian school, he future Labour government would freeze believed that religion was a deeply personal and private affair, them for 20 months. Criticising the poli- yet the way that he lived out his faith by challenging unjust cy, Angel Gurria, secretary of the Organ- structures, and then through public service, was an example to isation for Economic Cooperation and all of us. Development, said a freeze in prices “He believed in the old African proverb that we are people would drive away investment. through other people and that only by recognising the humani- Critics say a fall in investment will ty in others do we ourselves become truly human. It was this make it difficult to open new sources of reconciling message that Mandela lived out daily.” energy and could lead to power short- Bishop Thornton said Mandela had helped the world to ages and blackouts. “understand forgiveness and healing”. He added: “He fought a racist power structure but, when he gained legitimate political power, he did not answer racism with racism. “He said, ‘We are not anti-white but against white supremacy’. He was a living testament to integrity and dignity—a courageous man who sacrificed his freedom for the elimination of racial oppression.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 News 5 Exodus of New Zealand Anglicans reported

By George Conger with approximately 40,000 more members than the from notions of self-importance and turn us back to our Anglican Church. During the same period Anglicans in fundamental calling.” THE NUMBER of New Zealand Anglicans has fall- New Zealand declined from 554,925 to 459,771, or 17 He added that “they also situate our Church more on en by 17 per cent over the past seven years, giving per cent. The Episcopal Church of the USA, divided by the margins of our society, where we really belong.” the Anglican Church of Aotearoa/Polynesia the schisms and litigation, declined by 12 per cent during “My immediate response, then, is thankfulness to distinction of being the fastest declining member the same period, from 2,154,572 to 1,894,181 members. God that we are being refined, called to repentance and of the Anglican Communion. The number of those reporting “no religion” to a refocusing of our mission,” he said, adding that “fol- Census data on Religious Affiliation released on 10 remained the largest category of respondent with the lowing Jesus has always been fundamentally counter- December by Statistics New Zealand reported Angli- 2006 number of 1.297 million rising to 1.635 million in cultural. cans had lost their top spot as the country’s largest 2013, climbing from 32.2 per cent to 38.6 per cent of the “And the Church has always been most authentically denomination – a position held since census figures on population. In 1956 more than 90 per cent of New the Body of Christ when it is salt and leaven rather than religion were first tabulated in New Zealand — and are Zealanders identified themselves as Christian. the ‘religious’ dimension of modern society. now second to the Roman Catholic Church in terms of In his Advent letter to the church, Archbishop Phillip “Our Church may be smaller numerically, but we may membership. Richardson wrote the census figures “contains few sur- also be more authentically Christ’s Church as we recov- The number of Catholics fell from 508,812 in the 2006 prises. Not even the decline in Anglican affiliation er our saltiness and become real leaven,” Archbishop census to 491,421 in 2013, but this total left that Church should catch us unawares. These trends liberate us Richardson said.

Dalit campaigners hit with water cannon Church puts unity POLICE IN New Delhi The march had been ment have been turning a used water cannons and organized by Christian deaf ear to the demand of truncheons to stop a leaders to call for an end to Christians. Now they are march on parliament in the statutory discrimina- going to the extent of bru- aims in focus support of Dalit rights tion against Dalit Chris- tally beating up our priests by Christian leaders last tians and Muslims. Under and nuns and now arrest- THE CHURCH of the Province of Chama reported on the successful con- week. Indian law Hindu, Sikh and ing us too.” Central Africa has postponed clusion of the Kunonga schism, with After breaking the Buddhist Dalits, or Fr Ajay Singh, a Catholic action to split the church into three the Zimbabwe courts returning all of marchers’ line with jets of Untouchables, are eligible priest who was at the national provinces, voting to put the assets seized by Dr Kunonga. How- water on 11 December, for special government march, said: “The Prime the Kunonga years behind them ever, the fight had damaged the police wielding lathis benefits and preferences. Minister’s apology must be and work towards unity and heal- church, burdening it with $200,000 of (canes) waded into the However, Christian and followed by action.” ing. unpaid legal fees in the Diocese of crowded marching on Par- Muslim Dalits are Approximately 100 bishops, clergy Harare and $180,000 in the Diocese of liament Street after they not eligible for the and lay delegates from Botswana, Manicaland. refused to disburse. subsidies as the gov- )DLWKIXO Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe met in However the Bishop of Masvingo, The march began at Jan- ernment has held Lusaka from 27 November to 1 Decem- the Rt Rev Godfrey Tawonevzi on 9 tar Mantar and headed that once an 6KHHS ber under the theme “Going Forward December told overseas supporters towards Parliament House Untouchable Together in Unity and Prayer” in the Dr Kunonga’s allies had not halted in defiance of a ban on becomes a Christian 0LQLVWULHV province’s first synod since 2007. their actions in his diocese. Kunonga protests along Parliament or Muslim, he is Speaking to ACNS before the start of loyalists, with the help of local police Street. Police arrested the freed from caste dis- the meeting, Archbishop Albert and government officials, were hold- Roman Catholic Archbish- crimination – a 7LPHO\%LEOH7HDFKLQJ Chama stated: “The six turbulent years ing on to a number of churches and op of Delhi, Anil Couto, the stance disputed by that we have gone through since the schools in defiance of court orders. General Secretary of the Christian and Mus- LQDQ$JHRI last Synod require us all to move on in Debate over dividing the CPCA into Church of North India, lim leaders. solidarity and in a very prayerful man- national provinces did not have the Alwin Masih, and a num- After his release &RQIXVLRQDQG&KDOOHQJH ner. God has seen us this far and he politically charged atmosphere of ber of clergy, nuns and from jail Archbishop will lead us through.” 2007, participants told The Church of activists. Several clergy Couto said: “Govern- ZZZIVPLQVRUJ The September 2007 session held in England Newspaper. were injured in the attack. ment after govern- the southern Malawi town of Mangochi was marked by debates over homosexuality, the Episcopal Church of the 35,25<$872027,9(:,6+$//5($'(56 USA, Robert Mugabe and the aspirations of the national churches. The province was also without an arch- ³$0(55<&+5,670$6 bishop and a number of dio- ceses were without bishops. $1'$+$33<1(:<($5´ The then bishop of Harare, Dr Nolbert Kunonga, attempted to capitalize on 7KHWHDPDW3ULRU\$XWRPRWLYHZRXOGOLNHWRWDNH the power vacuum within the WKLV RSSRUWXQLW\ WR SDVV RQ WKH FRPSOLPHQWV RI Church and sought to enlist WKH VHDVRQ WR DOO UHDGHUV 7KH\ ZRXOG DOVR OLNH the province as an ally of Zimbabwe’s President WRWKDQNWKHFXVWRPHUVZKRWRRNGHOLYHU\RIWKHLU Robert Mugabe. Unable to QHZFDUIURP3ULRU\DQGKHOSHGWRPDNHWKLV\HDU force the subordination of VR VXFFHVVIXO 7KH\ NQRZ IURP WKHLU IHHGEDFN the province to the govern- MXVW KRZ KDSS\ WKH\ DOO DUH DQG 3ULRU\ SURPLVH ment of Zimbabwe, Dr Kunonga told the Harare WRNHHSXSWKHJRRGZRUNLQWKHFRPLQJ\HDUQR Herald the province had VKRUWFXWVRQTXDOLW\QRFRPSURPLVHRQFXVWRPHU been dissolved, initiating six VDWLVIDFWLRQMXVWJUHDWFDUVDWJUHDWSULFHVIURPD years of litigation. NQRZOHGJHDEOHDQGIULHQGO\WHDP In his presidential address last week Archbishop 6KRXOGEHORRNLQJWRFKDQJH\RXUFDUQH[W\HDU The CEN offices will be UHPHPEHUWKHQDPH3ULRU\DQGJLYHWKHPDFDOO closed from Friday 20th December until 35,25<$872027,9(7HO 2nd January 2014 ZZZSULRU\DXWRPRWLYHFRP

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 6 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 Letters

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Out of step? was inevitable having already in divorce, fatherless children, The benefits of capitalism gone away from the teaching pre/extramarital intercourse) Sir, The Pilling review warns: of scripture and ordained then somehow claiming the “The Church… increasingly Sir, Alan Storkey’s article entitled ‘A Prophetic Church’ women to the priesthood. high ground over Christians, a out of step with the wider soci- would have been a useful contribution to a balanced society The latest book by some group who rank among the ety.” Really? What’s new about if only he could avoid an obsessive dislike for everyone who much valued theologians as to best in these matters? Obvi- that? Christmas underlines it is successful in life and capitalism in particular. What does why scripture doesn’t mean ously there’s none: the every year. I don’t hear voices he want to replace capitalism with? what it says about women’s reverse situation should hold, suggesting we should give up Humanity has tried virtually every other ism and all have leadership was most uncon- with secularisers learning celebrating the virgin birth of failed to cure us of our fundamental natures; self-centred vincing, but synod has decid- from Christians. Jesus, or proclaiming that he and when the spot itches that is where we scratch it. At least ed anyway. We must be Fourth, in any workplace, is one with Almighty God, or with a capital structure we can exercise some constraints. thankful that provision is school or community, the peo- telling everyone that those There is an 18th Century statement that ‘The people of the going to be made for those ple of conscience are the best who receive him will become State have rights and they are right to exercise them. How- who cannot accept women as people. We’re now being children of God - just because ever the State has a mouth and a stomach with which to bishops and that the debate asked to believe the very we are out of step with wider swallow and digest them which it will surely do unless it is and the decision was taken in opposite: that they’re instead society. restrained in the powers it possesses’. a spirit of love and harmony. criminals. But goodness! don’t The Rev Canon Michael The assets of the state, which Alan tells us have been sur- Men and women have been these devout elderly Chris- Christian-Edwards, rendered to the capitalist system, were notorious for self- created with differing gifts tians look misfits when set Lymington, Hants interest and inefficiency, as indeed those still remaining in and a man and a women alongside real criminals? Let’s state control show us all too frequently. together living in love reflect all please wake up: something Without profit, as the State has discovered, we cannot bal- the personhood of God, with is badly wrong here. It will get No change please ance our books and provide the taxes to run those essential man as leader and the woman worse unless we resolve to services that cannot be provided by the private sector. As as helpmate there was harmo- fight it at every step. Sir, I note on the front page of Christians do we want to be permanently in principled oppo- ny each bringing to bear on Dr Christopher Shell, your edition of 6 December sition - surely we need to be in the front line shaping and their relationship their God Hounslow that there seems to be some influencing our society to be a changed people holding a given gifts. That was to be debate over the blessing/con- Faith that is exciting and alive. reflected in the church, but secration of same-sex mar- Timothy Royle, sadly no longer in the C of E. Varied opinions riages. Donnington, Glos A big thank you to those on One may argue till the cows synod who stood up for bibli- Sir, With reference to Dr come home about the doc- cal truth and suffered the Christopher Shell’s second trines we have already, but the truth to a society that is Richard and When a Child is brickbats and anger of those challenge (13 December), the that is no reason to change ‘out of step’ with God. I was Born sung by Johnny Mathis, who voted for women bishops Rev Dr John Muddiman, them, just to seem to be up-to- pleased to see that the Church have been banned in Costa at the last synod they must recently retired GB Caird Fel- date. Was it not Chesterton of Scotland, as you quote on Coffee shops. have felt very isolated. Their low in New Testament Studies who warned us, more than page 5, has decided that ‘the Our family love all Cliff stand will I think be most val- and co-editor of the Oxford 100 years ago, that the church mainstream Christian belief Richard’s Christmas songs, ued by those who find they Bible Commentary, 2001, of that cosied up to the spirit of that marriage is between one which are so much a part of cannot accept this decision. Mansfield College, Oxford this age would be a widow in man and one woman’ is still the season, and they give at The Rev D Phillips, University, not only confirms the next? the correct definition. God did least a taste of the Christian Olette, France that there is a plurality of opin- Christianity is counter-cul- not get it wrong when he message to non-Christians. ion among New Testament tural, and will never be accept- made us male and female, Their continued popularity scholars on the key point of ed in the Vanity Fair in which with differing biological func- with the public all these years Moral questions whether the New Testament we now live – and in some tions. later shows how good they is strongly opposed to homo- ways, have always lived. Vani- St Paul wrote to the Chris- were. The coffee shop chain is Sir, How would Mary P Roe sexual acts but also “could ty Fair is all about the image tians at Rome, ‘Do not con- just trying to look ‘cool.’ (letters, 13 November) supply a bibliography of schol- you wish to project, but Chris- form any longer to the pattern For instance, it was trendy answer these points on the ars with different views on tianity is about the reality of of this world, but be trans- some years ago to say that case of the Bulls’ Christian these exegetical questions who God is, and of our rela- formed by the renewing of Abba was rubbish & laugh at guesthouse? and on the broader issue, if tionship with him through your mind. Then you will be them. They’re not mocking First, if the same dwelling is that would help” (I quote Jesus Christ. able to test and approve what Abba now! The Mamma Mia both family home and busi- him.) Therefore, no new doc- God’s will is – his good, pleas- film with Abba’s hits was a ness, the family home aspect Would Dr Shell like a copy trines, thank you! ing and perfect will,’ (Romans huge success, as is the is the more important, and of such a bibliography? Adrian Bull, 12: 2). Mamma Mia stage show in rejection of this truth is exact- Derrick Gierth, Guisborough, N Yorks We need to stop trying to London’s West End. Quality ly where our society has failed Via email please God’s created beings music will outlast its critics! in the last 50 years. Proof: no and start focusing on pleasing I just wish Cliff would again one ever died wishing they’d Pleasing God the Creator God, because it is record a Christian Christmas spent more hours at work. Scholarship to God that we are account- song if he were to find a really Second, has she any idea Sir, I note with sadness that able, not society. good one. how serious it is to require Sir, To respond to all of Dr the authors of the Pilling Mrs Lesley Strutt, A Wills, someone to sin or to facilitate Christopher Shell’s chal- Report have fallen into the Stoke sub Hamdon, Somerset Ruislip an occasion for sin (as also lenges would entail a lengthy same trap as many politicians. with midwives ‘required’ to essay, much of which would On page 1 of your 6 December supervise abortions), either in involve trampling already edition you quote from the Christmas hits Sad decision fact or according to their own well-trodden ground. May I, report ‘the Church… increas- perception? therefore, take up just one of ingly out of step with the Sir, you report on Sir, It is with great sadness Third, what possible his gauntlets?: to find a rep- wider society.’ www.churchnewspaper.com that we hear that synod has defence can there be for secu- utable New Testament scholar Christians are not called to that Christmas hits including decided to press ahead with larisers with their genera- who did not understand St be ‘in step’ with society. We Christian songs such as the consecration of women to tion’s appalling record on are called by God to proclaim Mistletoe & Wine sung by Cliff the episcopate, I suppose it family matters (massive rises Letters continue on page 13

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 Leader & Comment 7 Christ is the Light: overcoming the darkness Love Came Down at It has been a bad year for institutions. The BBC has had an annus horribilis, with the Savile revelations and others show how unregulated privilege can turn really nasty, its plutocratic pay levels and lack of regulation, let alone Christmas in Baghdad ongoing grumbles about left-leaning bias. The NHS continues to suffer deep reputational damage as a flow of reports about bad patient care, negligence and incompetence continue, and the Francis Report ignored. Huge pensions and payoffs for failure remain endemic. The EU and its Eurozone crisis continues on slow burn, with some leading economists who supported the curren- cy now changing their minds. The free press is now technically no longer free, but exists by permission of a royal charter and special conditions, a development that shocked our American cousins – how could the Brits put the press under state control? Our schools are apparently tumbling down the world rankings, despite all the hype about ‘academies’ and syl- labus reform. And then there is our Church of England with its new Archbishop, an expert from the oil industry. Mr Cameron, despite his apparently favourable view of the church given in his Oxford lecture, has placed the heel of the state firm- ly on its neck, so the Ministry of Culture Media and Sport has decreed that clergy cannot legally conduct ‘gay marriages’ – for now, but the Ministry can equally well reverse that and make the practice legally compulsory. Our church has not been in such danger of state control for a long time, but we hear little or nothing from the House of Bishops nor Lambeth Palace on this crucial issue. Our universities have not had a great year in terms of their world rankings, apart from the top six, and in terms of their values their permission of segregated audiences to appease extremist speakers is nothing short of outra- geous. The Armed forces have been fiercely cut back, ‘no good deed shall go unpunished’ here: we have no aircraft carri- er to support our adventurous interventionist foreign policy, and seasoned soldiers are being sacked en masse, famous regiments are being put to the sword. And our ser- vicemen are now subjected to attack on our streets, as the ghastly fate of Drummer Rigby revealed so horribly. Andrew At home also slavery is making a considerable comeback, including the indescribably sick phenomenon of sex gangs ‘grooming’ vulnerable girls, who are then accused by the social workers and police of being sluts and not to White be believed, see the harrowing book Girl A, by a victim. And yet, as the Apostle Paul says, ‘we do not lose heart’ [2 Cor 4:1]. Advent and Christmas speak of truth and jus- Here in Baghdad we know nothing of the normal tice ultimately triumphing, through the burning love of festivities of Christmas. There are no normal fes- God’s coming in Christ. tivities, centred around the giving and receiving Comment of gifts like in the West but there is one thing we For us it is not a theoretical proclamation. We truly celebrate. We are faced by continued are surrounded by fear. I stood up in church this The Church of England Newspaper tragedy here in Baghdad and the whole of Iraq. evening and looked at my dear people. It sudden- with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week Iraq may no longer be in the news but the vio- ly struck me that there was not one family there Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. lence and tragedy are getting greater by the day. who had not had members of their family killed Company Number: 3176742 The violence has also recommenced towards the in the terror and violence that surrounds us. Publisher: Keith Young MBE Christians. Just this week a large number were They have all been injured so badly by the ter- shot through the head. ror and turmoil yet Christmas means to them The one thing though that we truly celebrate is they are not ruled by fear. Fear can paralyse but Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY 020 7222 8004 that Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely we have to move onwards and upwards. All the Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 love divine, love was born at Christmas, star and time people here talk about the joy of Christmas, Reporter: AMARIS COLE 020 7222 8700 angels gave the sign. the liberation of Christmas and the joy of this Here Christmas is such a time of celebration time. The worship is extra joyful and extra tri- Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 and it has nothing to do with anything apart from umphant. It is in worship that real hope is found. Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 the birth of our Lord. It is This is the love that came down at Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 8663 almost as if the worse the situa- Christmas. Therefore we: tion has become the more When you Worship we the Godhead, Love Graphic Designer: PETER MAY 020 7222 8700 important the celebration of incarnate, love divine, Worship we The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate one’s faith has become. As the have lost our Jesus, but wherewith for sacred endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication people always say here: “When everything sign? are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper does you have lost everything Jesus So it is in the love of our Jesus not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. is all you have left”. We may Jesus is all that we are celebrating and rejoic- have lost everything but the ing this Christmas. We are not Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), one thing we have left is so you have left depressed or sad, we are full of Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, important to us all through the joy, hope and happiness. Maybe if Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Peter Brown, The Rev Cindy Kent year but especially at this time when we cele- you are to see the true meaning of Christmas brate his coming. you need to come to the most dangerous place in The Church of England Newspaper, The angels appearing at the news of our Lords the world. For here we have already lost every- Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd coming are so important to us. When the Angel thing and Jesus is our all and everything. 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX Gabriel appeared to Mary and when Gabriel The final verse of “Love Came Down at Christ- Editorial e-mail: [email protected] appeared to Joseph in a dream and when the mas” says it all. Advertising e-mail: [email protected] Angels appeared to shepherds watching the Love shall be our token Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] sheep the Angel declared: “Do not be afraid”. We Love shall be yours and love be mine hear the angels saying to us loudly and clearly do Love to God and to all men Website: www.churchnewspaper.com not be afraid. Love for plea and gift and sign...

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Janey Lee Grace Live Healthy! Live Happy! A taste of honey... I read with some excitement (as I’m sure many women heels from the highly respected nutritionist Zoe Har- hoping to squeeze into a party dress for Christmas did) combe. - that it’s possible to drop a dress size for the party sea- Zoe has studied the United States Department of Agri- son just by having a spoonful of honey before bed (and culture database, available on nutritiondata.com and following some of the recipes) in a revolutionary new found some detailed statistics around honey. In a nut- diet: The Honey diet: shell she found that honey has 304 calories (per 100 In an article in the Daily Mail it was claimed that grams) but virtually all empty calories. honey has a unique combination of natural sugars mak- Zoe believes that there is nothing good about honey ing it a near-perfect weight-loss food. Journalist Louise from a nutritional point of view! She does point out that check out the amazing honey from Lifemel. I’m cur - Atkinson writes that the honey diet triggers metabolic two of the ‘rules’ in ‘The honey diet’ are sound: Don’t eat rently trialling the Energymel, naturally made by changes ensuring you won’t crave sugar. There’s no junk food and manage your unrefined carb intake and bees that are fed on a specially prepared mixture o f calorie counting, no expensive diet foods, no starvation that’s it, so as she says - perhaps this isn’t really a ‘honey nature’s herbs. plan. And you can easily lose up to 3lbs a week on the diet’ merely a low carb diet? So I will be taking the Lifemel honey daily, I may programme. So ladies its seems we might not drop that dress size not be a dress size smaller but hopefully I will be Sounds too good to be true? Sadly that’s because it just by consuming honey but not all honey is equal, for buzzing with energy by Christmas day. probably is. A response to that article came hot on the medicinal (if not weight loss) reasons you may wish to www.lifemel.co.uk

Selective views of Mandela Selfies at Christmas Party leaders sent out Christmas cards featuring themselves and their families. Over 1,800 people complained about what they saw as ‘excessive coverage’ of Nick Clegg’s humorous effort easily won a poll for the favourite in The Guardian, the death of Nelson Mandela and the Daily Mail estimated 100 BBC scoring 75 per cent as opposed to 17 per cent for Ed Miliband and nine per cent for programmes had been devoted to him, but despite extensive reporting very Cameron. Nick must be pleased there is one poll he can win but Giles Fraser had a little attention was given in the media to his religious background. Mandela was point when he complained that Christmas cards have become all about us. The wise rightly praised for promoting reconciliation but few asked whether he had been men and the shepherds went some time ago; then the reindeer and the robins influenced by his Methodist education. Obituaries failed to mention the role of followed them; now we are left with ourselves. Fraser quoted AS Byatt’s chilling Christianity in his formation although Mandela himself made a point of praising observation that ‘religion has gone away and left us with ourselves’. Perhaps we mission schools. He also expressed appreciation on several occasions for the shouldn’t be surprised that politicians spent time at a funeral taking a selfie. The ministry he received in prison from Christian clergy, even writing to the trend in Christmas cards will be hard to reverse but surely we can do something Anglican Archbishop to say how impressed he had been with members of the about Royal Mail’s decision to abandon stamps on cards for bureaucratic printed Archbishop’s church. An obituary in the Daily Telegraph asserted, with no receipts. The year’s stamp collection featured a Coptic nativity icon by a supporting evidence, that Mandela did not follow in the faith of his devout Hertfordshire-based iconographer called Fadi Mikhail but gone are the days when Methodist mother but there seems little doubt that the ethics of the gospel left a friends or relatives in Australia or Canada could look forward to making additions profound mark on him. As veteran reporter Winnie Graham, who worked for to their stamp collections at Christmas. As far as mail from the UK is concerned, The Star, Johannesburg’s main daily paper when Mandela was released in 1990, stamps are restricted to cards and letters. Not even calendars qualify. It’s time to puts it: “The role played by clergy in the creation of the ‘new’ South Africa – and rise up and protest. Mandela’s innate faith in God – remains an untold, yet pivotal chapter in his story.” Christmas viewing Papal star Westminster Abbey can look forward to some useful additional income from the BBC this Christmas and the One ecclesiastic who most definitely is a rock star is Pope Francis. Not Dean, John Hall, can expect to see his fan club grow. only does he grace the cover of Time as person of the year, he is also on After the royal wedding and the visits of Pope Benedict the cover of the New Yorker, which features a long article by the XVI and President Obama the Dean is getting used to American journalist James Carroll, a Catholic who normally belongs the media spotlight. This Christmas the BBC is to the ranks of the disaffected but who hails Francis for ending the broadcasting the midnight Eucharist from the ‘culture war’ in the Catholic Church. Whether the conservatives Abbey with the Dean celebrating and preaching, who are having to get used to being the opposition agree is and the Christmas morning service with the another matter. The editorial staff of the Wall Street Journal Dean preaching. Is the Dean becoming a rock took comfort from the fact that it was Francis who won the star? The BBC say the attraction of the Abbey Time award and not the runner-up, Edward Snowden. is not the Dean but the saving in cost by Another runner-up was Bashar Assad, which took some of Whispering filming both services in the same location. A

the glamour away from the award. Two other Popes have he spokesperson for the Beeb even claimed this

been Time’s person of the year but it took John XXIII four T Gallery was more ‘cost effective’ for the licence years to win the title and John Paul II all of 16 years. Francis payer although that doesn’t often seem to be has shot to prominence in just nine months. Could the a consideration. Perhaps religion is a special praise lavished on Mandela and Francis be a sign of a lack case. Archbishop Justin Welby is getting less of heroes on the world stage? Once Obama inspired hope TV exposure than Dean Hall. He will deliver a but his star has grown dim as he has become embroiled New Year message on the BBC but otherwise in party conflict at Washington and as his flag ship is confined to old steam radio, giving ‘Thought healthcare measure has turned into an IT nightmare. for the Day’ on 30 January and talking about his life and favourite Christmas music on Radio 3’s ‘Private Passions’.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 Comment 9 The Church’s ticking time bomb Andrew Carey View from the Pew

Looking back on 2013, it is a year with few the advent of gay marriage will have any And so even I can look back on 2013 Universities and redeeming features. I have no doubt that immediate negative outcome. It is the and feel some hope for the future. many Britons will share my ambivalence long-term consequences that disturb me. The appointment of a new Archbishop towards the year. It derails any notion of complementarity and Pope within days of each other her- segregation If there’s one thing that the Labour of the genders. It decouples marriage alds a brighter future for the church’s Party got right this year it is the ‘cost of from one of its main purposes – procre- mission. The Pope gives us hope not so I think I’m less bothered by the policy living crisis’. This has been a strange ation. It is costly to children rather than much that Roman Catholic doctrine will of segregation by Universities UK than recession in which it has been wages adults because it makes them secondary undergo rightful change, but that the the fact that a quango like this needs to rather than employment which have to the interests of any couple – straight or Roman Catholic Church will act with a say anything about the issue at all. The taken a real hit. There is something gay - who simply wish to have a wedding greater humility and openness in future. fact is that local colleges and universi- wrong with our society when so few jobs day. The signs are good. ties are fully capable of deciding on pay a realistic wage. Far too many jobs And in spite of the government’s con- The Archbishop of Canterbury is also their own practices for public meet- are being supplemented by the state. And tention that this is about civil marriage attempting to steer his church in a new ings. I doubt there is any great need let’s not forget that the Church of Eng- and does not have any impact on the direction. The Church of England takes a for segregated meetings in all but a land is a big offender in this respect. I churches, David Cameron has left the lot of turning around but a more outward few places and those localities would have spoken to many clergy who confess Church of England in possession of a tick- focus is needed after a period of navel- benefit from public debate. Such poli- that they simply could not survive – espe- ing time bomb. The moment that the first gazing. cies should not be handed out from on cially with the costs of heating their tied clergy, and perhaps even bishops, con- One thing the Church of England needs high but need to be owned, as well as houses – without tax credits and other vert their civil partnerships to marriage to beware of is not to fall into the trap of operated, by academic institutions in benefits. there will be crisis and division. becoming the opposition to each and their own right. It’s time for the Church of England to The year also latterly saw the death of every government cut. The sheer scale of reduce its dependence on the State. Nelson Mandela, the type of statesman I’ll the state’s debt has prompted varying lev- It was a year that saw marriage rede- doubt we’ll see again in this day and age. els of austerity throughout the world. fined – and the opposition to it fade away After over a quarter of a century of an Where this austerity has been attempted A happy Christmas! not so much with a bang but a whimper. unjust prison sentence came forgiveness. it is showing signs of working. Those who Same-sex marriages will begin taking This was one of the most dramatic acts of defend ever-rising levels of debt-fuelled Finally, may I wish each and every place in Britain from March 2014. Let’s reconciliation any of us is likely to wit- spending to beat the recession have been reader a wonderful Christmas and a not pretend that the sky will fall in or that ness. shown to be wholly wrong. very happy and contented 2014. Altruism and the Paul Richardson human condition Church and World Typhoon Haiyan provoked a big firmed it. Researchers in the Yukon other forms of materialist philosophy are phers. They will be only dimly aware of response from people in Britain. David found that mothers would adopt related unable to explain. One of the most stimu- the questions posed by Hart and Nagel and Victoria Beckham donated clothes to orphaned squirrel pups but not unrelat- lating works of Christian theology to but they do sense that an attempt to be sold in a local Red Cross shop, restau- ed orphans. The mother’s readiness to appear in 2013, The Experience of God argue that science can explain every- rants added £1to the bill to be sent to the adopt depended on the number of pups (Yale) by David Bentley Hart, examined thing is misguided. They suspect that Philippines, and churches and schools she already had in her nest as well as on altruism as well as a number of other there are more things in heaven and made collections. the degree of relatedness. cracks in the materialist worldview. earth than are dreamt of in the philoso- By 20 November the Disasters Emer- Desperate attempts have been made to Another major assault of what he calls phy of Richard Dawkins. gency Committee was reporting that the picture altruism among human beings as ‘the materialist neo-Darwinian concept of As Linda Woodhead has pointed out, British public had raised £50m, a sum it a survival mechanism. Robert Wright nature’ has come from the distinguished although younger people are turned off labelled an ‘incredible response’, and has claimed that when we contribute to American philosopher, Thomas Nagel. by institutional religion the number of said its agencies had been able to help disaster appeals it is because we have Nagel rocked the philosophical estab- atheists in the population is not dramati- around 590,000 people. Donations to aid been fooled by the media into thinking lishment last year with his book Mind cally increasing. I suspect that there also agencies have continued in December that the victims we see on our television and Cosmos. His views are difficult for continues to be a good deal of popular and many churches will be making spe- screens are neighbours and this leads us fellow philosophers to dismiss as the respect for the character and teaching of cial Christmas collections. to calculate that if we send them aid they deluded thoughts of someone who has Jesus Christ. The readiness to help people on the will be ready to help us in turn when we found God because Nagel insists that he Christmas is one time in the year when other side of the planet must puzzle are in trouble. remains an atheist. the churches have a chance to make con- believers in genetic determinism. It is For Wright altruism is selfishness For Hart and Nagel a materialist phi- tact with people who for most of the year easy to show that altruism has survival deceived. To do him justice, Richard losophy that ascribes everything to phys- never pass through the door. It is a time value within a small group. Richard Dawkins has argued that although we ical causes has trouble explaining not to connect with the religious questions Dawkins has popularised the concept of are born selfish we can improve. “Let us only altruism but other aspects of morali- and moral ideals that are present in many the ‘selfish gene’ and tried to suggest try to teach generosity and altruism, ty, as well as human consciousness and members of the population. The Christ- that genes should be seen as the primary because we are born selfish,” he has the ability of human thinking to under- mas story strikes a chord because it units of natural selection so that what written. “Let us understand what our stand and make sense of the world. shows God not as a remote figure but as appears to be altruism is often a means own selfish genes are up to because we “How is it,” asks Hart, “that organisms one who identifies with ordinary human for ensuring the survival of the gene. may then have at least the chance to programmed for survival occasionally existence. The message of peace on JBS Haldane once joked that he would upset their designs, something no other show themselves capable of ‘extravagant’ earth resonates, as does the idea that willingly die for two brothers or eight species has ever aspired to do.” acts of self-abnegating generosity and God loves the world. cousins and set out the mathematics of What Dawkins does not explain is why kindness or love that clearly have no ulte- Nostalgia and memories of the past kin selection. Biologists later formalised human beings aspire to improve on what rior purpose within this world (for them help shape the enthusiasm for Christmas this in a rule known as ‘Hamilton’s rule’. their genes are urging them to do. Altru- or their genes)?” but it would be a mistake to ignore the Experiments with animals, most recently ism is just one of many aspects of human Most of the people flocking into festival’s role as a focus for spiritual aspi- with red squirrels, are said to have con- beings that evolutionary psychology and churches this Christmas are not philoso- rations.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 10 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 Feature ANGLICAN LIFE Waiting in Faith

With a lifelong call to work for God fall. I admit that there were times when I tive employment. in Brazil and the backing of the walked very gingerly! I dream of helping people start low-technology busi- Church Mission Society, Faith Gor- In such situations, diseases such as Lep- nesses, for example a bakery, or a hair or nail salon, don planned to fly out last July to tospirosis (which can lead to kidney and liver which they could use to generate income. start her mission. But, in tune with failure) flourish – transmitted to humans And I dream of helping the Holy Spirit Church’s 300 the season of Advent, she is still through animal urine in contaminated water young people to become more involved in local mission. waiting. Here she shares the mix of that comes into contact with the skin. frustration, longing – and hope People who live in these streets are queu- Heart full of hope inspired by the nativity story. ing up to use the House of Hope – its waiting I’m fired up with passion for how the work might grow list has over 300 names. As well as childcare, and serve more people. It has been 30 years since God it offers classes for young mothers, some as Yet I’m struggling to raise the funds needed to sup- called me to Brazil. young as 13, and sports classes for adoles- port me and Vanessa in the surprisingly expensive town I was a schoolgirl sitting in cents. of Recife. geography class when I knew that When there is work from the Bio Fairtrade I applied for a job in Recife to help support myself – I had to “GO” and everything that company, set up by the president of the and was offered it. But by July the paperwork had not I have done since has been prepa- Sure of her call: Faith and House of Hope, then some women are come through. ration for this vision. daughter Vanessa. employed for short periods and produce craft I felt like every direction I turned was being blocked. A degree in biological sciences, goods. There are services in the small chapel I became despondent. If this desire to go to Brazil had a PhD in management. Even five years in China, where and classes on evangelism. been from God, surely it would have happened already! I felt compelled to go and teach in 2005. It is a place that children can attend to keep them I spoke to a senior leader of my home church who Two-and-a-half years ago, I started the application away from local drug dealers and traffickers. gave me the simple advice to spend time with God. process to become a CMS mission partner. I was However, the same lack of skills that contributes to I read the Bible and prayed. I listened to sermons. I accepted, but am still held up by circumstances. local unemployment is also hampering the develop- wrote to prayer ministries asking them to pray for me. There were legal proceedings as I took on guardian- ment of the House of Hope. And I applied for another ship of Vanessa, my daughter. God worked a miracle as job. we were given permission to leave the UK with no Dreams of hope The story of the Nativi- restrictions, so I sense that he is at work. There is much more scope to meet the ty spoke powerfully to me But I guess he is preparing me for another miracle, needs of the 10,000 inhabitants of local through one sermon. Just one that requires more participation than mine alone! favelas. The House of Hope requires because Mary was “high- someone to help with the direction of the ly favoured” and the Lord A house called Hope project. This is where I fit in, with the was with her (Luke 1:28), The House of Hope lives up to its name in a community skills that I bring and the ability to think it did not mean that all of 10,000 people: a favela called the Carolinas, built on a and plan how to develop people and proj- went smoothly. swamp on the fringes of Recife in north-east Brazil. ects. Joseph wanted to leave It has grown over the last 16 years, since it was set up I have many dreams. her when he found out by Bishop Miguel Uchoa, of the Church of the Holy I dream of a library – the land is already she was pregnant. When Spirit, and his wife. available, but we need to build a building Joseph agreed to marry The House of Hope’s workers care daily for 128 chil- and then stock it with books! If this hap- she had to travel to Beth- dren, whose parents often work long hours – those who pens, the House of Hope will be able to lehem where her baby are lucky enough to have a job. develop an afterschool literacy pro- Faith with Bishop Miguel, who started was laid in the animals’ For decades, public schools have only provided three- gramme for children and young people the House of Hope, and Taciana, feeding trough. She then to-four hours teaching a day. Young people leave school rather than leaving them to get into trou- one of the employees. had to flee to Egypt and unprepared to enter a workplace that demands a higher ble. live as a refugee with a skill level. Unemployment often leads them to start tak- I dream of training programmes for adults, in order to small child for several years, to escape the infanticide ing drugs, while to meet the need for qualified workers help them start their own businesses or to enter the that was occurring. But the bishop preaching the ser- there has been an influx of migrants from other parts of workplace on a more equal footing with those moving mon said, “God had a plan! It was all his orchestration.” Brazil and Spain. Living costs have risen and made life into the region. Newly encouraged, I see how we should give God harder. I dream of expanding the work of the Bio Fairtrade thanks for his “no” and “wait”, as well as his “yes”. When I visited the Carolinas in May, I noticed that company that employs some of the women. It currently As I continue preparing to go to Brazil, God is still there was open sewage running in channels that flood- only supplies two companies in the Netherlands and so working his purposes out slowly and to his timetable ed into the streets after short periods of torrential rain- between contracts its 200 workers need to find alterna- and not mine. Making the most of the important anniversaries

Mark Burkill, the 300th anniversary of George White- which looks forward to the return of the events are forgotten. Latimer Trust field’s birth that will be noted. Lord Jesus Christ to bring this present But the strange thing is that Christmas The anniversaries that are noted by age to an end. It includes Christmas and appears prominently in both the Chris- The anniversaries that are celebrated, at our opinion formers and cultural elite do Easter, celebrating the birth and death of tian and the secular calendar. This least in the media, tell us a lot about our not reflect a Christian perspective on his- Jesus. But there are also lesser-known reflects the fact that we have a choice in culture and our view of the world. In tory and world events. Yet we know well days such as Ascension Day and Pente- the way we celebrate Christmas. We can 2012 it was the 100th anniversary of the that the number 2014 for the coming cost or WhitSunday. use Christmas to rejoice in the birth of sinking of the Titanic rather than the year reflects the Christian understanding In the past special holidays were linked Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Or 350th anniversary of the Restoration that the God of the Bible lies behind the to these events which this annual calen- we can use Christmas to rejoice in the Prayer Book that was celebrated. This order and regularity of our world. The dar celebrated. In some continental fact that it is a time for parties, presents year it has been the publication of Jane year is a year AD and this is testimony to countries they still are. and self-indulgence. Our culture cannot Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 1813 and the view that the birth of Jesus Christ is a However a self-consciously secular quite make up its mind. the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther key event in the history of our world. annual calendar is being developed Surely it is a Christian responsibility to King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech that have Frustratingly for some the Lord has nowadays. During 2014 you may find it be somewhat restrained in the marking hit the headlines. Interestingly the ordained that the precise year of the instructive to note the way the Google of the events within the new secular cal- anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination birth and death of Jesus cannot be home page appears each day. I wonder if endar on the one hand and to celebrate has not been marked as prominently as pinned down with sufficient accuracy for you have noticed how the special days of with enthusiasm and joy the great events one might have expected. But we cer- significant anniversaries to be celebrat- this new calendar are focussed on – New of our Saviour’s life instead on the other. tainly did not make much of William ed. Yet the significance of Jesus Christ Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mothers It is not too difficult to do this at Christ- Grimshaw (died 1763) or John Venn used to be underlined within our culture Day, Halloween, Remembrance Day and mas. The real challenge comes at other (died 1813) or the publication of the 39 in another way. so on. Some might include others like times of the year. Articles (1563). And in 2014 we can be Long ago Christians built an annual May Day, Midsummer, Harvest, Holo- sure that it will be the 100th anniversary calendar that was designed to remind us caust Memorial Day. These days are cel- Mark Burkill is the Chair of Trustees of of the outbreak of World War I rather of the significance of the life of Jesus ebrated with greater enthusiasm with the Latimer Trust than the death of John Calvin in 1564 or Christ. It starts with Advent Sunday, each passing year, even as the Christian

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By Amaris Cole Christian Aid / Tom Pilston Although he has heard hundreds, he says he is still shocked when he hears In one of the Holy Land’s oldest cities, what goes on. home to the Tomb of Patriarchs and “We control four million people - two once the trade hub of the region, lies a and a half million in the West Bank and a long, deserted street. Houses, three sto- million and a half in the Gaza Strip.” ries high, stand empty in the midday Israel needs to know what her army is sun, with shops boarded up and left to doing, the former soldier said. “[Israelis] crumble. do not know about things happening 20 The tourist centre can be seen at the minutes from their house,” he claimed. top of the street, with coach-loads of “We forget to ask questions.” tourists filing up to the Cave of Mach- But Breaking the Silence is trying to pelah, where the remains of Abraham, end this, to ‘increase the discourse’ in an Jacob, Sarah and Rebecca are believed to attempt to make people understand their rest, but few of the pilgrims venture Government’s actions. along this road. The charity, which works with Chris- Those that do are met by posters tian Aid, was formed in 2004 when a informing them that this Arabicmarket group of soldiers with one month of serv- was closed down for the safety of the set- ice left decided to ‘put a mirror in front of tlers, following The Second Intifada in Israeli people’. September 2000. So far, they have interviewed 900 sol- This is a ‘sterile’ street, one of many in The main street diers from nearly every unit that serves the Palestinian Authority where Pales- in Hebron in the occupied territories today. tinians are not allowed to walk or drive. If today, compared The ability of the soldiers to handle the they are foundhere, they are arrested. to the 1990s responsibility given to them worries the I am walking with Avihai Stollar, a 28- charity. year-old Israeli who served in an infantry Avihai voiced his concern for the ‘mil- unit of the army in the West Bank from lions of people controlled by 19-year-old 2001 – 2004. soldiers’. Avihai shows me a photograph of this “If he has just had a fight with his girl- street in the 1990s. The two hardly com- Bidding to break friend on the phone, he is angry and he pare. The image shows a mass of cars, wants to take it out on something.” shoppers, market traders and life, but This frustration will be taken out on the reality today is dereliction, enforced Palestinians waiting at the checkpoint, or by barbed wire and welded-shut shop by spending as long as possible inspect- doors. ing an ambulance on its way to an emer- The centre of Hebron is under Israeli the silence gency. rule, despite being in the heart of the “A soldier has the power to override West Bank. This optimism soon wore off, though. the furniture. the Supreme Court whenever he likes, There are an estimated 700 Jewish set- “An occupation to control millions of peo- “But by the fourth house you don’t and it happens.” The Supreme Court tlers in the City, and that number is ple cannot be done nicely,” he explained. care,” he admitted. “After four weeks in rules it illegal for Palestinians to wait to matched by soldiers, which Israel A key part of Navad’s work was ‘map- Hebron you really don’t care about any- pass through the military check points, believes is necessary to ping’ houses. This is about thing. I think the biggest problem is you but it is not unheard of for soldiers to keep them safe. ‘reminding them that we are become so numb. You don’t care about keep hundreds of civilians waiting while Every time a new family Concern here and we are not going the Palestinians, you don’t care about they play on their phone, have a coffee or moves into the area, the mil- anywhere’. Palestinians who the settlers. You want to finish your task cigarette, or even in one extreme case, itary presence increases. for the are known to be unrelated to to go back to sleep.” Palestinians were kept waiting while a Avihai grew up 25km from millions any kind of violence or terror- While Navad was in the army, he couple had sex in the booth. the West Bank, but never ism are turned out of their decided to speak out. “We can’t keep saying this is not sys- visited until he was enlisted. controlled houses in the middle of the Breaking the Silence is a charity work- tematic when it is happening all the time. He is not alone. night by a unit of soldiers. ing to get soldiers’ stories heard by those It’s an inseparable part,” he added. “As I went to meet Navad by 19- “There was no intelligence, in Israel and beyond. long as there is military control this phe- Bigelman, a student of 25 year-old but you just search. You take While he made no secret of the fact he nomenon will take place.” who left the army in 2010, everything out and then put it was giving his testimony, it was not I visited Qualandyia checkpoint while after a period of serving in soldiers back in. We were also told we something he promoted. in the Palestinian Authority, one of the Hebron. don’t really care about the It’s hard to be against something all region’s busiest. Navad was raised by liber- house we are mapping, we your friends are doing, he explained to Thousands of workers queue here al parents, who taught him to question just want to make our presence felt. me, whether you agree or not. from 5am to go to work each day, hold- the occupation. “We want the neighbours to hear. It’s Navad said: “The best thing for Israel ing their packed lunches. Many I spoke Despite this, he told me: “I never knew happening every day, every week for 40 is for no one to talk about the occupation, to waited over an hour to pass through the metal cages and have their identifica- tion cards checked before they could Christian Aid / Tom Pilston proceed into Jerusalem. Breaking the Silence’s aim is not pure- ly academic. While they collect testimonies and write reports about the situation in the occupied territories, the former soldiers who form the group believe it is their duty to tell these truths. “I do not know how to solve all of the core issues but I believe that we can skip a step on the way there.” Navad hopes the military control will soon end. But with tensions remaining as fraught Christian Aid / Tom Pilston as ever, and no signs of imminent change from the country’s politicians, can peace ever be achieved? “If you asked Americans 50 years ago if they had a black president they would Soldier in Hebron and Jewish settlers Former Israeli soldier Avihai laugh in your face,” Nadav said. “Everything changes in the end, for better or for worse.” what that occupation really was, I had no years. and in many ways the government suc- ‘Healing in this Holy Land’ is the idea what was happening 15 minutes “A family can be visited twice, three ceed.” But this needs to change, he theme of this year’s Christian Aid Christ- from my house.” Military service is com- times a year. Every time the unit believes, urging soldiers to ‘say we’ve mas appeal. pulsory for all Israelis, but Navad’s changes they do it all over again.” been here, we’ve done it, because you’ve upbringing meant he tried to be a ‘good At the beginning of the night, Navad sent us’. For more information or to make a soldier’, even though he was ideological- said he tried to wipe his feet before While studying at university, he also donation, visit christianaid.org.uk/chris- ly opposed to it. entering the house, and was careful with collects testimonies of fellow soldiers. tmas or call 0207 523 2493.

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THE 2013 to Officiate (York), to be House Goxhill and Withernwick ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER for Duty Priest, Knaresborough (York). BIBLE CHALLENGE Team Ministry (Ripon and The Rev Lyn Sharon Wort- Leeds). ley, Friday 20 December. Psalm 89: 1-7, Ruth 3. Yewa (form. The Rev Julie Frances Rams- P-i-C, Greasbrough St Mary Day 354 Zephaniah 3, Psalm Egbado) - (Lagos, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Simeon Adebola bottom, (Sheffield), to be also Asst C of 132, Mark 10 Saturday 21 December. Psalm 71:3-8, Ruth 4: 1-end. Yirol - R, Finchampstead and Califor- Kimberworth and Kimber- Day 355 Haggai 1-2, Psalm (Sudan): The Rt Rev Daniel Deng Abil nia, Sonning Deanery (Oxford), worth Park and Asst C of Raw- 133, Mark 11 Sunday 22 December. Advent 4. Psalm 19: 7-end, Rev. 5. to be AD (Sonning) (Oxford). marsh with Parkgate Day 356 Enjoy hearing the Yokohama - (Japan): The Rt Rev Laurence Yutaka Minabe The Reverend Dr Peter (Sheffield). Scriptures read aloud in church Monday 23 December. Psalm 85: 7-end, Rev. 10: 1-11. Yola - Anthony Rowe, The Rev Toby Christopher Day 357 Zechariah 1-2, Psalm (Jos, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Markus Ibrahm has been appointed Assoc V of Wright, 134, Mark 12 Tuesday 24 December. Christmas Eve. Psalm 96: 1,10-end, Maidstone, St Michael and All Team R Witney Benefice Day 358 Zechariah 3-4, Psalm Rev. 12: 7-12. York - (York, England): The Most Rev John Sen- Angels (Canterbury). (Oxford), in addition to be AD, 135, Mark 13 tamu; York – Beverley: The Rt Rev Martyn Jarrett; York – Hull: The Rev Felicity Mary- Witney (Oxford). Day 359 Zechariah 5-6, Psalm The Rt Rev Richard Frith; York – Selby: The Rt Rev Martin Wal- Louise Scroggie, The Rev Richard George 136, Mark 14 lace; York – Whitby: Vacant Incumbent, Sudbury, St Zair, Day 360 Zechariah 7-8, Psalm Wednesday 25 December. Christmas Day - Nativity of our Andrew London), to be Team R, P-i-C Marcham with Garford & 137, Mark 15 Lord. Psalm 89: 19-end, Isa. 65: 17-25. Ysabel - (Melanesia): Kidlington with Hampton Poyle, P-i-C, Shippon, Abingdon Dean- Day 361 Zechariah 9-10, Psalm The Rt Rev Richard Naramana (Oxford). ery (Oxford) in addition to be 138, Mark 16 Thursday 26 December. Psalm 98, Isa. 55: 1-5. Yukon - The Rev Louise Seear, AD, Abingdon (Oxford). Day 362 Zechariah 11-12, (British Colombia & the Yukon, Canada): The Rt Rev Larry presently Asst C in the North Psalm 139, Luke 1 David Robertson Lambeth Team Ministry is to be RETIREMENTS & Day 363 Enjoy hearing the Friday 27 December. Psalm 85, Isa. 55: 6-13. Zaria - (Kaduna, commissioned as also Chap to RESIGNATIONS Scriptures read aloud in church Nigeria): The Rt Rev Cornelius Salifu Bello, Zaki-Biam - (Abuja, King’s College Hospital NHS Day 364 Zechariah 13-14, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Benjamin Vager Foundation Trust. Psalm 140, Luke 2 Saturday 28 December. Holy Innocents. Psalm 2, Isa. 56: 1- The Rev Howard Smith, Day 365 Malachi 1-4, Psalm 5. Zanzibar - (Tanzania): The Rt Rev Michael Hafidh Has been given Permission to The Rev David Fergus, 141, Luke 3 Sunday 29 December. Psalm 116: 12-end, Isa. 57: 14-21. Lake Officiate (Southwark). Priest-in-Charge of Kirk Hallam, Rukwa - (Tanzania): The Rt Rev Mathayo Kasagara The Rev Jonathan Smithurst, (Derby), will retire with effect Monday 30 December. Psalm 96: 1-4, Isa. 58: 6-12. Zonkwa - V, Everton, Mattersey, Clay- from 26th February, 2014. APPOINTMENTS (Abuja, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Praises Omole-Ekun worth and Gringley-on-the-Hill The Rev Canon David Jen- Tuesday 31 December. New Years Eve. Psalm 96: 7-10, Phil. Benefice and AD of Bassetlaw nings, 1: 1-11. Zululand - (Southern Africa): The Rt Rev Dino Gabriel & Bawtry (Southwell and Not- R of the Benefice of Burbage, tingham), to be P-i-C in the cum Aston Flamville, will be New Bishop of Bath and Attenborough Benefice, in the retiring with effect from 31 Wells St Philip, St John and PTO Green, same Diocese. March 2014. David will retain The Rt Rev Peter Hancock, Dorchester (Oxford), to be C in Team V - Cherwell Valley The Rev Timothy Storey, his role as Canon Theologian at Bishop of Basingstoke in the Training, Akeman Benefice Benefice (Oxford), to be V, R at Blandford Forum and Leicester Cathedral. Diocese of Winchester, has (Oxford). Leavesden All Saints (St Langton Long (Salisbury), The Rev Donald Jones, been appointed as the next The Rev Anthony Collier, Albans). appointed to the Team Rectory V Nuneaton St Nicolas & PiC Bishop of Bath & Wells. previously Honorary Asst C of The Rev Jane Holmes, of Central Telford, (Lichfield). Weddington & Caldecote, to Shirley, St John now holds the P-i-C of the Gayton Benefice has The Rev Andrew Nigel retire. New Bishop of Dudley Bishop of Southwark’s Permis- been appointed to a new (addi- Thomas, The Rev Paul Such, The Rev Canon Graham sion to Officiate (Southwark). tional) position, P-i-C of Cong- Stipendiary Asst C in Training, Incumbent: Coventry St. John Usher, The Rev Bryan Corke, ham, Grimston and Roydon The Benefice of the Cookhams, the Baptist, to retire. Rector and Lecturer of Hexham Asst C NSM at St Clement Urm- (Norwich). Maidenhead & Windsor Dean- The Rev Simon Wilson, Abbey (Newcastle), is to be the ston has become, in addition, The Reve René Jarrett, ery, to be Chap to HM Forces County Ecumenical Officer, next Bishop of Dudley. Asst C NSM at Christ Church Has been given Permission to (Royal Navy). Norfolk and Waveney Churches Davyhulme (Manchester). Officiate (Southwark). The Rev Elizabeth Thomson, Together. Social and Communi- The Rev Peter Huw Davies, The Rev Michael Adrian Team V of Whitney, Diocese of ty Concerns Co-ordinator, Dio- The Rev Charlotte Bridget R (Oxford), to be R, Sandy (St Jones, Oxford, has been appointed cese of Norwich. Chap, Norfolk Bannister-Parker, Albans). who currently holds the Bish- Canon Missioner of Derby and Fire Rescue Service, has Assoc Clergy (NSM) Oxford St The Rev Mark Dean, op’s Permission to Officiate and Cathedral, Diocese of Derby. resigned due to ill health Mary the Virgin with St Cross Chap and Interfaith Adviser to is working as the Administrative The Rev Michelle Thomp- The Rev Nigella Youngs- (Oxford), to be Assoc Clergy the University of the Arts, now Asst in the Dean’s office as son, Dunnett, (NSM) Summertown (Oxford). also holds the Bishop of South- Bishop’s Policy Adviser and licensed as Asst Chap (part Self Supporting Asst C (known The Rev Patricia Frances wark’s Permission to Officiate Chap (Leicester). time) of Wrightington, Wigan as Asst Priest), The Alde River Mary Bhutta, (Southwark). The Rev Sharon Vernie and Leigh NSH Foundation Benefice (St Edmundsbury and SSM Asst C in Training, The Rev Catherine Dobson, Kaye, Trust. Ipswich), to retire with effect Benefice of Cumnor, Abingdon Asst C of Rothwell with Orton, Team V, Moor Allerton and The Rev Rachel Thompson, from 12 December 2013. Deanery (Oxford) to be House Rushton w Glendon & Pipewell, Shadwell Team (Ripon and Assoc Priest of Kirk Hallam, for Duty (Assoc Priest), Alder- Loddington and Thorpe Malsor Leeds), to be also Acting Asst (Derby), has been appointed maston and Woolhampton has been appointed R of The AD of Allerton up to Easter non-stipendiary Deanery Mis- DEATHS (Oxford). Coastal Group of Parishes (Nor- 2014 (same diocese). sioner in the Erewash Deanery The Rev John Trevor Bir- wich). The Rev David Lunn, in the same diocese. beck, The Rev Canon Peter has been appointed Asst Priest The Rev Richard Thompson, The Rev Derek Edwin Peet, R of Rawmarsh with Parkgate Doores, of Great and Little Billing Chap of HMP Hollesley Bay and who had the Bishop’s Permis- and Asst C of Greasbrough St who holds the Bishop’s Permis- (Peterborough). YOI Warren Hill in the St sion to Officiate, died on 3 Mary (Sheffield), to be also sion to Officiate, has been The Rev Chris Moorsom, Edmundsbury and Ipswich dio- December 2013 (Ripon and Asst C of Kimberworth and appointed Clergy Retirement To be Canon Precentor of cese has been appointed Chap Leeds). Kimberworth Park (Sheffield). Officer for the Archdeaconry of Derby Cathedral. at HMP Peterborough. The Rev Debra (Deb) Buck- Bournemouth (Winchester). The Rev Francis (Frog) Ian The Rev Jane Warhurst, ley, The Rev Cath Faulkner, Lance Orr-Ewing, Incumbent of Toxteth (St Bede) Subscribe to the CEN in Asst C (Balsall Heath, St Paul P-i-C NSM at St Clement Urm- PtO Oxford, to be NSM (Assoc (St Clement) (Liverpool), is to the Apple Newsstand and Edgbaston, St Mary & St ston has become, in addition, clergy) Beaconsfield (Oxford). become Incumbent of St John Ambrose), (Birmingham), to be Asst C NSM at Christ Church The Rev David Owen the Baptist Irlam which is part V, Smethwick Old Church, Davyhulme until 10 August Team Vicar in the Droitwich of the Irlam and Cadishead (Birmingham). 2014 (Manchester). Spa Team Ministry and P-i-C of Group Ministry. She will, in The Rev Dr Ian Carter, The Rev Jenny Fennell, Salwarpe with Hindlip & Martin addition, undertake the role of Anglican Chap Team Leader P-i-C, Welwyn Garden City (St Hussingtree, is to be R, Chet Ecumenical Officer in the Dio- with Salford Royal NHS Foun- Albans), to be Incumbent (V), Valley benefice (Norwich). cese (Manchester). dation Trust, is to become P-i-C Welwyn Garden City (St The Rev Paul Oxley, The Rev Anne White, of All Saints Hamer and P-i-C of Albans). PtO Oxford, to be NSM Assoc Asst C in the Benefice of the Christ Church Healey (Man- The Rev John Gayford, Clergy, Milton Keynes Western Parishes in Guernsey chester). Has been given Permission to (Oxford). (Winchester), has been appoint- The Rev Dr Paula Clifford, Officiate (Southwark). The Rev Andrew Pearse, ed House for Duty Priest at Ald- C in Training Oxford St Giles, The Rev Edward Bryan retired Priest with Permission brough and Mappleton with

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 Letters & Feature 13 Letters continued from page 6 A unique perspective on Paul’s comments on homosexual relationships (homosexuality was not a concept anyone would have recognised at that time) as unequiv- ocal condemnation. the modern world This brought to my mind Profes- sor C Kingsley Barrett, whose academic and confessional credentials Facing the Modern have never been questioned, cast a The Portrait in Vienna 1900 somewhat different light on the text National Gallery London (until 12 in his lectures on the letter to the January) Romans, which I believe did not con- tradict his authoritative commen- There are still some days left before this tary, although I can no longer unique exhibition closes: I urge readers consult that book, having had to to see it. For it stretches far broader than downsize my library some years the year 1900. Most of the pictures were ago. not painted in that year, which has been His exegesis of chapter 1 was that chosen, so to speak, as the turn of the a significant strand of Paul’s objec- century pivot preceded by more tion (within its context) was that conventional 19th century portraiture. whereas heterosexual attraction Though the Vienna “Secession” group, could be regarded as the embryonic founded in 1897, was to have such a form of being drawn towards, to profound impact, not only in the visual admire and even to worship “the arts but also in architecture — including Other” - a creature who is different from oneself and could, with God’s grace, lead to worship of God, the supreme Other, homosexual attraction was a manifestation of worshipping one’s own image and was government much based on an therefore idolatrous. aristocracy. Vienna’s upper Of course, this observation is rele- middle class at that time took vant only if one holds, as I do not, refuge in being non-political, that the final and definitive word on turning its interest to the arts any subject is to be found in the con- and domesticity — the temporary details of St Paul’s writ- “Biedermeier” period. We see ing rather than in the words and such portraits. example of our Lord himself. And But from mid-century, there even then, is it necessary for us to was a relaxation. The regime believe that the illness we know as became more liberal, and from epilepsy is no illness but a sign of the late 1860s in what had demonic possession or that all men been a very Roman Catholic are highly fertile and only women empire at the top, Protestants, can be infertile? Orthodox Christians, Jews It would seem to follow that we and even latterly Muslims should, since Jesus did not depart were embraced by the state. from these beliefs in his lifetime, as In Vienna, the Jews became a fully human incarnation of our cre- an important component of its ator God who had to live, learn and people. understand the world around him in Having your portrait painted the same way as his peers? was a step upwards in middle This discussion is a good example gold leaf is sparse here too. class social mobility. For these “New of why we are required to use all our one great church and the buildings of What is fascinating is to see how Klimt Viennese” to have this from Klimt, the God-given curiosity to search for Vienna itself — its most startling (1862-1918) developed from a superb most expensive of all the artists, was an knowledge, and not cover our eyes innovations in figure painting were to representational portrait painter (he also additional badge of arrival to high and stuff cotton wool in our ears come in the years 1900-1918. painted splendid frescos) into an utterly circles. before preparing to proclaim the The world is most familiar now with individual, unmistakable style which was Edmund de Waal, author of The Hare Good News to our neighbours. If the mannered, symbolist work of Gustav all his own. with Amber Eyes, which chronicles his Moses had not pursued his curiosity Klimt. His powerful “The Kiss” (1908-9) His works here, as with all the other Jewish family’s rise, contributes an with regard to the burning bush, the is the best known. It glows with gold-leaf, portraits, are set in the social and introduction to the book of the Old Testament would have been a as do many other of his works, like the historical background of Vienna. The exhibition. See our illustration. (The face very short document indeed. erotic “Danae” (1907). Neither are to be guest curator of the exhibition, Dr Emma on its cover is Egon Schiele by himself). Mary P Roe, seen in this exhibition. That signature Blackshaw, is Associate Professor, If you can’t get to the exhibition, Bicester, Oxon History of Art and Visual Culture at the consider buying it. University of Plymouth. Talking to her recently she Graham Gendall Norton emphasised that each room of the exhibition has a theme, starting with the early 19th century. Then the “modern” early 20th century: Egon Schiele’s self- portrait, himself, his wife, his child, naked (with modesty) is the stunning introduction to the Family and the Child. Here too come Oskar Kokoschka (who lived long, unlike Schiele, and became a British subject) Klimt and Arnold Schönberg whose portraits break as much with tradition as his 12-tone technique in his music. Then there are artists’ self-portraits. There follows a larger intellectual frame: for Vienna in the mid-19th century was Europe’s fourth largest city, and immigrants poured in from all over the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which covered much of central Europe. The Habsburg dynasty following 1815 Call 020 7222 8663 or email us at [email protected] for details presided over an authoritarian 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 Sunday

r Then Mary said, ‘Here I am, she been able to do so, she cases it was a role that did not the servant of the Lord; let it be may have shrunk from ever involve any privileged knowl-

o to me according to your word,’ giving her assent. As it was edge of how things would turn SUNDAY SERVICE (Luke 1:38). she said Yes and her obedi- out. Mary was simply in the t ence has been an example of right place: keeping company Sunday 29 December 2013 - 1st Sunday of How much do you value costly commitment to the with Jesus at the cross and Christmas c your reputation? Your freedom Gospel for multitudes ever praying constantly. Both situa- of choice? Your home com- since. tions involved waiting in faith. Isaiah 63:7-9, e forts? A life that is safe? These Yet Mary was not interested In both cases the focus was Hebrews 2:10-18,

r are all good things in them- in being at the centre of the elsewhere. Matthew 2:13-23

i selves and it would be hard to drama of the Incarnation and The fourth Sunday in Advent choose to give them up not would not want the spotlight to appropriately focuses on Mary The readings this week remind us that Christmas is

d knowing what would replace be on her. Only once in the as we come very close to the about God himself graciously coming among us, not just

l them. But that is what Mary, Gospels does she seem to Christmas event itself. From to identify with us or bless us in the abstract, but to die,

By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare Liz Dr the Rev By the mother of Jesus did when overstep the mark when she this vantage point we may, like as planned. she said Yes to God through and Jesus’ brothers tried to she did, look away from our- Isaiah rejoices in the presence of God with his people, a his angelic messenger. interfere in Jesus’ ministry selves to the birth of the Sav- and in all his gracious and mighty works for them. His We have sanitised so much (Mk 18:31-4). For the most iour of the world. Like her steadfast love to his people meant that he could not u of the Christmas story by turn- part she was content for her also, we may pause and keep remain at a distance or refuse to get involved in their suf-

t ing it into cute nativity scenes contribution to the Gospel all these things and ponder ferings and struggles. He shows them favour, not

i that it is easy to overlook the story to be hidden. them in our hearts. The word because they deserve it, but “according to his mercy”.

r darker side of God’s coming As a mother to the young for pondered means to turn They are his people, his children, and so sending a mere

i into the world and the cost Jesus her influence would them over and over, savour messenger or angel to help them would not be entirely involved for many of those have been great, but we are them, let them drop deeply sufficient. He must come himself. who played their part in it. not told about that. We do see into our being till they become As astonishing as that is, God goes further. He “lifted p For Mary the cost began her, however, at the foot of the part of us. By doing so we give them up and carried them” — a sustaining love and care many months beforehand cross keeping watch (Jn 19:25) wonder a chance and in won- that shows an ongoing concern for those he aspires to s when she was visited by the and we see her again fleetingly dering at the birth of the Sav- lift up, out of their sin and sorrow. The plans of this angel and heard that God had following the Ascension as she iour as a helpless baby, we will covenant-keeping God are not thwarted by either his e chosen her to bear his son. joined the believers in con- surely find ourselves giving enemies’ strength or his people’s transgressions. Isaiah She could not have taken in stant prayer while they await- glory to God by worshipping has already announced that one is coming who will bear

h the full implications of what ed the coming of the Holy him not only with our lips but the iniquities of his people, and be punished in their

t she was being asked and had Spirit (Acts 1:14). In both also with our lives. place, and yet triumph over death to see the light of life (Isaiah 52-53). Right on cue, the shadow of death falls over the nativi- hand over their precious gifts. There is no end of spec- ty in Matthew 2, but it proves no obstacle to the fulfil- ulation about their significance, but they may point to ment of God’s purposes. The devil planned to strike the SUNDAY SERVICE the kingly (gold), and priestly (frankincense) ministry heel of Immanuel, and kill him. Yet the time had not yet of the child, while myrrh is sometimes thought to be come for him to serve through suffering. A baby is too the kind of sap or ointment that would have been used passive to be a willing sacrifice for sin, so if the Christ- Sunday 5 January 2014 - Christmas 2 / to anoint a dead body — a foreshadowing of Christ’s child had died it would not be so clear that God was at Epiphany salvific death. work to save. Yet Herod did all he could to destroy the With Isaiah 60 in mind, Matthew’s story can be seen baby who threatened his power. A messenger or angel Isaiah 60:1-6, with even more colour. When the light of Israel comes, was sent to warn Joseph, and a timely escape was exe- Ephesians 3:1-12, the LORD and his glory will shine on the whole world, cuted instead, fulfilling Scripture in the process, which Matthew 2:1-12 even those who dwell in the darkness of the Gentile cannot help but point to this child. world. The nations shall come to that light, even “kings The devil does not give up so easily. His agent is This week we rejoice in the good news that Jesus is to the brightness of your dawn.” This may be a incensed by the failure of his plan, and so unleashes all truly light for the world, including Gentiles. prophetic indication that the tradition of royal magi is the forces at his disposal. The innocent children — inno- The traditional story for Epiphany is Matthew 2:1-12, not so fictitious after all. Or it may project a longer- cent, at the very least, because they are not guilty of although strangely we had verses 13-23 as last week’s term view of how far the gospel will penetrate in its being the Messiah! — are slaughtered. Yet none of this Gospel reading! Matthew’s narrative is of course some- centuries’ long expansion, from Emperor Constantine falls outside the providence of God, whose prophet Jere- what different to our standard nativity play version: we to Queen Elizabeth II and other monarchs who profess miah foresaw what would happen. When the threat from are not told how many wise men from the East came to to follow the servant king. Camels from the East Herod is over, the path seems clear for a homecoming; find the new born “king of the Jews”, we often assume appear in verse 6 along with gold and frankincense, so but even then, Herod’s son might have threatened the it was three because they gave three gifts (though it is not hard to see the appropriateness of this reading return of The Son from Egypt. Yet God knows, and God some in the East today believe it was as many as alongside Matthew 2, which also features the note of provides: warning in a dream and again fulfilling the dozen); we are not told they came on camels (or “one thrilling joy and wonder at what the LORD has done, as prophets. in a taxi, one in car, one on his scooter” as the sacrile- unbelief is turned to worship of the one true God. Hebrews 2 can reflect on the work of the covenant- gious hymn I learned in childhood has it!); we are not Paul too reflects on this theme with excitement, with keeping God from the other side of the cross and resur- told their names (medieval inventions); they probably a view to our encouragement (Ephesians 3:13). The rection. The author sees clearly that God’s plan was to came up to two years after Jesus’ birth (see verse 16), key is in verse 6, where we hear that through the lift up his children, and to bring them to glory. The rather than two minutes after the shepherds; and we gospel the Gentiles share the inheritance, the body, necessity of the Christmas is brought out in verse 14: are not told here that they were “kings.” and the promise in Christ. All the nations of the world the pioneer of salvation would have to go through death What is important, however, is the significance of were promised blessing through Abraham (Genesis in order to destroy the one who brought down that veil this episode. For Matthew (the only Evangelist to 12), and in Christ that hope of the ages is fulfilled. But upon the world. And so the immortal, invisible God — report on the visit of the Magi) this revolves, as always, Paul sees this achievement against an even bigger can- who alone can save, as Isaiah said — needed to take the around the fulfilment of vas in verse 10, where he tells us that through the blood and flesh that his children possess, so he might the Scriptures. Herod church united in Christ, God’s multi-faceted wisdom is die for them. He took flesh to taste death, that his peo- is afraid when he hears declared in the heavenly places to the angelic rulers ple, his family, might be atoned for and live. they have come to find and authorities. This expansive, cosmic vision is Through his suffering, they are sanctified. Through a new king, and all intended to strengthen the hearts of believers, even in his death they are released from the fear of death that Jerusalem with him, the midst of the suffering and persecution that always held them in slavery all their lives and caused them to because they realise seem to accompany the fulfilment of God’s purposes in resort to religious and superstitious protectionism. Now there is now a threat to history. they have a saviour God who gets his hands dirty, and their corrupt regime. out of mercy acts as both faithful high priest and willing They ascertain from Lee Gatiss is Director of Church Society and Editor of the victim. In the distress of temptation and testing, only one the prophecy of Micah NIV Proclamation Bible who has been perfected through suffering himself is that the Messiah (for adequate to lift us up and carry us home. who else could com- mand his own star? Numbers 24:17) would HYMN SUGGESTIONS be born in David’s HYMN SUGGESTIONS birthplace, in Bethle- Joy to the world! hem (Micah 5:2). No At the name of Jesus God so loved, that he gave his Son longer in a stable but a Lord, the light of your love It came upon the midnight clear house (verse 11), they The Lord is my light (or Psalm 27) My song is love unknown meet the Lord and his We have a gospel to proclaim We hail thy presence glorious blessed mother, and Jesus, friend of sinners

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday December 20/27, 2013 Reviews 15 A treat for the fans of Lord of the Rings... For my Christmas treat, a Promoting The Hobbit: The Deso- half the stuff is to fit in with that, new print of Cinema Par- lation of Smaug (cert.12A), Mar- though with dwarves climbing adiso is making the rounds. tin Freeman said: “We expect the out a river into a house through It’s 25 years since the origi- audience to pick up where we left its privy, and Stephen Fry as the nal came out, and anyone off, and remember the names of Master of Laketown (surely with half a care for the best 13 dwarves”. No chance – it’s so based on Boris Johnson), it’s of cinema should take the long since the first episode (The hard to know what to take seri- chance to see it on the big Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) ously. Given that Tolkien bor- screen. that other than Bilbo Baggins rowed from Beowulf for his Giuseppe Tornatore’s (Freeman) and Gandalf (Ian dragon, we could really have story tells of a successful McKellen) and maybe Orlando used Bilbo impersonating Ray film director coming home Bloom as Legolas the elf, I could Winstone in the motion-capture for the funeral of the pro- have done with a reminder of animation of Beowulf and saying, jectionist from his local cin- who everyone was, or even a “My name is Baggins, and I am ema where he grew up and “story so far”. here to fight your monsta”. gained his love for film. His Then I remembered the inter- The violence is bloodless but own love life is part of the minable opening scene of last having a decapitated head come background, but it’s that year’s first episode of this three- at you in 3D may not be to every- sense of wonder captured part epic based on Tolkien’s orig- one’s taste. The CGI orcs don’t in his face as a child that inal 300 pages, and thought really work either – they don’t has become one of the better of it. It’s nearly another I warn you now – there are two model for Smaug may be another look right (is it the “high frame great movie images. three hours as it is. hours of CGI battles and stuff matter – for conversations with rate” that makes it look like it’s When we left off in An Unex- before we even get to meet the Bilbo (Freeman) you need to all just a bit fast?) and they really pected Journey, Bilbo and the dragon, Smaug. Apparently in blank out Holmes and Watson, are pitiful opponents when up dwarves had been rescued from appendix E to Lord of the Rings, their other famous pairing. And I against just a couple of elves. certain death by eagles. The Tolkien said the au should be couldn’t work out why Bilbo kept This is definitely one for the eagles dumped them on a cliff pronounced as in loud, and this is taking the ring on and off in now- LOTR fans, though giant spiders rather than deliver them all the what we call research, so director you-see-me, now-you-don’t teas- that all sound like Gollum is a way to the Lonely Mountain, Peter Jackson can claim some ing of the grumpy dragon – keep plus, and dwarves in barrels where, as a taster for episode authenticity. the ring on and stay invisible going down rapids was quite two, we saw a dragon awake. Whether that extends to cast- would be the idea, surely. good fun. And locking Gandalf in This is the long journey, so long, ing Benedict Cumberbatch to be Then you have to remember a suspended cage worked for me. to get there. the voice and motion-capture that it’s all a prequel to LOTR and Steve Parish Exhibition celebrates the era of Elizabeth I Elizabeth I & Her People on his pet mule, and - with and clock, symbols of mortality. National Portrait Gallery, London hint of realpolitik - that of Immigrants to Elizabethan Eng- black-garbed powerful land brought enterprise: his son By Brian Cooper Thomas Howard, Duke of set up a London brewery. Of spe- Norfolk, executed for trea- cial interest is the dramatic study Standing almost life-size on a huge map of England, son. of the Rev Henry Birdie, Protes- its southern counties below her feet, Queen Elizabeth The scope of Elizabethan tant minister and educationist in I proudly identifies with the land and people she society quickly widens to Norwich, preaching at his rules. Near this commanding 1592 portrait by Marcus reveal rising, self-made men. lectern. Significantly, the small Gheeraerts the Younger, fashionable nobles and Explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, portrait of Catholic priest Grego- wealthy merchants, lively musicians and busy food painted by an unknown Eng- ry Martin gives no hint of his vendors, are imaged strutting and busily working in lish artist in Armada year, vocation. Joris Hoefnagel’s atmospheric 1570 vision of a Fete at declares his devotion to Eliz- The selection of Protestant Bermondsey. abeth with ‘moon rays’ pearls ‘personal prayer books’ on dis- These opening images of monarch and populace at on his white doublet, for she play recalls such became popular once capture the scope of National Portrait Gallery’s was his “moon goddess”. across all classes in late 16th- fresh-angle exhibition Elizabeth I and Her People, Fellow seaman Sir Martin century England, while the 1568 revealing a thrusting Protestant middle class as key Frobisher, who navigated via ‘Bishops’ Bible’, finely produced dynamic in her Golden Age. Greenland to Canada seek- with 124 illustrations, signified a Royal portraits of course were vitally important to ing passage to China, by contrast is shown holding a conservative Anglicanism rather than the radical sustain Elizabeth’s mystique: on display in universi- pistol. Such famed Elizabethans prelude ‘Mr Protestant trend. ties and town halls as well as great country houses, Symonds of County Norfolk’ hawking in the country An England dominated by a female monarch saw they projected her image as a focus of national devo- with his dogs, exemplifying the rising squirearchy; other powerful women. The Countess of Shrewsbury tion and unity. Those on show, including the Cam- entrepreneur Sir Thomas Gresham, who lived both in - ‘Bess of Hardwick’ - one of the richest women in the bridge and big-scale Hardwick Hall ones, merit close London and Antwerp and financed setting-up the realm, is imaged resplendent in peach headdress and study - of her elaborately jewelled ‘power dressing’ Stock Exchange; Gamaliel Pie, an aptly named meat fur gown. At another social level, a nurse carefully costumes, their symbolism (pendant pearl and wholesaler, and prosperous Welsh cloth merchant holds a well-dressed child fixing our gaze. Physicians, ermine signify her as Virgin Queen), and her ‘no non- Gawen Goodman proclaiming his Protestant piety by artists and writers complete this fascinating portrait sense’ gaze. Visual fantasies, such as Isaac Oliver’s the inscription “Jesus is my love”. survey of rising Elizabethans - whose successors curious Elizabeth I and the Three Goddesses, (1590), England’s Protestant identity being confirmed and made the 17th-century English Revolution. helped create the Gloriana cult. strengthened under Elizabeth is a key theme. Jacques Her court is here, too - self-consciously posing Wittewronghele of London’s Dutch Reformed Elizabeth I and Her People is at National Portrait around her in the 1603 Procession Portrait, oddly Church, was among many who fled Catholic persecu- Gallery, London, until 5 January 2014. Admission: revealed in the study of senior adviser Lord Burghley tion in the Low Countries: his portrait features a skull £13.50; Concessions.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Happy Christmas! The big day is just a few Advent calendar chocolates away. Hopefully you are more organised than I am. The tree isn’t up, the presents COLLEGE STREET aren’t bought, let alone wrapped, and the Quality Street tin is my main food source. In short, I am in the midst of Christmas Chaos. The remedy? Some SW1 cracking Christmas television. So snuggle up in a festive knitwear and put down the Sellotape and scissors. This is must-see TV. CITY OF WESTMINSTER If you have any topics you would like us to cover in the New Year, get in touch. Send an email to [email protected].

Carols From King’s Monday, 23 December on BBC TWO from 8:30 to Buckingham Palace as part of her ‘coming out’. A classic. Carols From King’s returns on 10:20 pm. Cora’s mother, Martha Levinson, is back from Christmas Eve. A solo chorister stands in the New York and this time she’s brought her candlelit, fan-vaulted splendour of the Chapel of Downton Abbey Christmas special nightmarish son Harold – and both make quite an King’s College, Cambridge and sings Once In Obviously. This year’s festive episode rejoins the impression with London’s high rollers. Royal David’s City – and for many people, Crawley family and their servants six months on WATCH WITH: A straight back and an Christmas truly begins. This traditional and much- from the end of series four. The two-hour special impeccable accent. A Lady/Gentleman never loved celebration of the birth of Christ is a introduces us to their previously unseen London slouches. glorious feast of Christmas words and music, residence, Grantham House, as they prepare to The Christmas special will air on ITV on telling the story of the Nativity. present Rose to the King and Queen at Wednesday 25 December at 8:30pm. WATCH WITH: Granny. It will make her Christmas. Doctor Who Christmas Special Tuesday, 24 December on BBC TWO at 6.15pm. ‘And now it’s time for one last bow, like all your other selves. Eleven’s hour is over now, Jane Eyre the clock is striking twelve’s.’ It’s here. The long- awaited regeneration of Matt Smith and for the BBC Two premieres Cary Fukunaga’s classic take first time Daleks, Cybermen, Weeping Angels and on romantic drama Jane Eyre for the Christmas the Silence have come together. Good to know the period. Jane Eyre is the classic love story written Doctor will be having a busy Christmas, like the by Charlotte Brontë, which has proven to be one rest of us. The episode’s official teaser reads: ‘The of the world’s most popular books for over 160 Doctor must sacrifice everything to save a town years. After being orphaned at the age of 10 and called Christmas from the Time Lord’s greatest living a misplaced life, a teenage Jane (Mia enemies. A change is going to come, and Silence Wasikowska) arrives to work as a governess at the will fall…’ Cue thousands of excited Whovians. grand Thornfield Hall where a brooding and WATCH WITH: The whole family. Make room on private Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender) the sofa for your brother and do your best to is master. tolerate your sister’s continual questions. WATCH WITH: A hot chocolate and a warm The Time of the Doctor will air on Christmas Day at blanket. 7.30pm on BBC One.

FREE CEN ONLINE FOR ALL STUDENTS! Email your course details to [email protected]

PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 879 by Axe 11 ‘This is why I speak to them in parables: 6 “Does it please you to oppress me, to ---- “Though ------, they do not see”,’ - the work of your hands...?” [Job/NIV] [Matt/NIV] (6) (5) 12 “Isn't this the David they sang about in 10 Those who practise self denial as a spir- their ------...?” [1 Sam/NIV] (6) itual discipline, eg the Essenes (8) 15 Where Absalom fled after he killed 13 “We set out from the ----- Canal to go to Amnon [2 Sam] (6) Jerusalem” [Ezra/NIV] (5) 17 “Then he ------a torch to every pair of 14 Ecclesiastical councils (6) tails...” [Judg/NIV] (8) 15 Hebrew leader who delivered Israel 18 Son of Adam and Eve after whose birth from the Midianites [Judg] (6) Adam lived another 800 years [Gen] (4) 16 “...you will find a colt... ----- it and bring it 19 York and Canterbury are examples of here” [Luke/NIV] (5) this (11) 18 Son of Noah, ancestor of both Jews and Arabs and the language group still spo- Down ken [Gen] (4)

1 Father of King Saul [1 Sam] (4) Solution to last week’s crossword 2 Place where Jacob dreamed of a stair- case to Heaven [Gen] (6) Across: 6 Naboth, 8 Isaiah, 9 Divers, 10 Midian, 11 3 The Twelve ------of 9? (6) Gath, 13 Believer, 15 Parmenas, 17 Heed, 18 4 “He reveals the deep thing of ------...” Adorns, 20 Oracle, 22 Anchor, 23 Shebna. [Job/NIV] (8) 5 “Isaac reopened the ----- that had been Down: 1 Haji, 2 Joseph, 3 Firm, 4 Candle, 5 dug in the time of his father Abra- Gadarene, 7 Heshbon, 12 Abandons, 14 Lessons, ham...” [Gen/NIV] (5) 16 Martha, 17 Heaven, 19 Sore, 21 Lent.

Th e fi rs t c or rec t en try d ra wn wil l wi n a b oo k o f th e Ed ito r’ s ch oi ce . Sen d yo ur e n try to C ro sswo rd N um b er 87 9, T h e Ch u rc h of En gl an d N ewsp ap er, 14 G rea t C ol le ge S tre et, W es tmi ns ter , L on do n, SW1 P 3R X by n ext F ri da y

Na m e

Across Goliath [1 Sam] (4) Addr ess 8 Hebrew minor prophet and OT 5 Carmelite mendicant preachers book (8) Po st C ode (11) 9 Iconic name God gave to Jacob 7 Valley where David fought and his descendants [Gen] (6)

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© Copyright 2013, The Church of England Newspaper. Registered as a newspaper by Royal Mail. Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, Londo n, SW1P 3RX, Telephone: 020 7222 8700. Imagesetting by Classified Central Media Limited, 4th Floor, Central House, 142 Central Street, London, EC1V 8AR, 020 7216 6400. Print- ed by Mortons Media Group Ltd, Newspaper House, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR. Tel: 01507 523456. Newstrade distribution: Comag Specialist Division, Tel: 01895 433800. BIG LAUGHS THIS CHRISTMAS BOXING DAY TREATS ANCHORMAN 2: THE HARRY HILL THE MOVIE LEGEND CONTINUES 47 RONIN

From December 20 From Boxing Day www.47roninmovie.co.uk CHRISTMAS SPECIAL www.anchormanmovie.co.uk From December 20 Keanu Reeves heads the cast of this eye Television legend Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) www.entertainmentﬁlms.co.uk popping, action packed adventure set in ancient leaves behind his beloved San Diego in this times, a fantastical tale inspired by remarkable FILMS FOR ALL THE FAMILY hilarious sequel, to make his name on New Brace yourself for the anarchy of TV favourite real events. He plays a ronin, a samurai without York’s ﬁrst 24 hour news station. Joined by pals Harry Hill hitting the big screen, in a tense (and a master, who is recruited to join 46 others of his Champ (David Koechner), Brian (Paul Rudd) very funny) story revolving around his efforts kind in order to defend the land against a cruel and Brick (Steve Carell) they set about weaving to save the life of his sick hamster. A starry cast and powerful warlord. FROZEN their own peculiar brand of broadcasting magic includes Julie Walters, Matt Lucas, Simon Bird, through the 1980s. Sheridan Smith and Jim Broadbent. ALL IS LOST ACTION & ADVENTURE

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

From December 13 www.warnerbros.co.uk/thehobbitdesolationofsmaug From Boxing Day www.allislostmovie.co.uk From December 6 www.disney.co.uk/frozen The latest adventure of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his allies sees them journey from the Robert Redford shines as a lone sailor in this In this stunning animated comedy the fearless optimist Anna (Kristen Bell) sets off on Misty Mountains to the Mirkwood Forest, where epic struggle of a man against the elements, an epic journey—teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) they must seek out the secret horde of the dragon told in the best Ernest Hemingway tradition. and his loyal reindeer Sven—to find her sister Elsa whose icy powers have trapped Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) in J.C. Chandor’s acclaimed movie has little the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, order to complete their mission. But with Gandalf dialogue, but that does not prevent the narrative mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman. missing this will be easier said than done. taking hold as events conspire to threaten this resourceful yachtsman’s efforts to sail across the MOSHI MONSTERS: THE MOVIE NEBRASKA AMERICAN HUSTLE Indian Ocean. THE SECRET LIFE OF From December 20 www.universalpictures.co.uk WALTER MITTY Six monsters travel across the weird and wonderful world of Moshi on a fun-filled, roar-some adventure, in a race against time to collect the ransom for an ancient and extremely rare Moshling egg, which has been stolen by the evil Dr Strangeglove. With From Boxing Day Katsuma and Poppet at the helm, the monsters From December 6 From December 20 (London West End) www.facebook.com/WalterMittyUK learn that both Monsters and Moshlings can www.nebraskamovie.co.uk & January 3 (Nationwide) overcome big odds, when they stand together. www.facebook.com/americanhustle In his secret life, Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) Pensioner Woody Grant embarks on a journey dreams big…really, really big. When he’s not to collect the million dollars he believes he has A gripping drama set in 1970s New Jersey, daydreaming, the not-so-secret life of Walter WALKING WITH DINOSAURS: won, to the bemusement of his unsympathetic features Christian Bale as an ace conman Mitty is the opposite of his heroic alter-ego’s; wife and loyal son. Bruce Dern delivers a tour- forced to work undercover for a volatile FBI he’s just an everyday guy who’s too timid to ask THE 3D MOVIE de-force performance as Woody, a difficult man agent (Bradley Cooper) to expose corruption in out his pretty co-worker. But when Walter faces with a troubled past, but with perhaps one last the highest levels of society. Also stars Jennifer his ultimate real-world test, he springs into action From December 20 chance to repair the bonds of paternal love. Lawrence and Amy Adams. on a global adventure exceeding anything even www.fox.co.uk he could have dreamed of. The ultimate immersive experience, AMAZING TRUE STORIES utilizing state of the art, photo-real 3D to put audiences in the middle of CHILLS & a thrilling and epic prehistoric world, where an underdog dino triumphs to KILL YOUR DARLINGS THRILLS become a hero for the ages. Audiences will truly see and feel what it was like From December 6 when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. www.facebook.com/kydfilmuk OLDBOY Set at Columbia University in the 1940’s during the 3 MONTHS counterculture revolution, Kill Your Darlings is a true crime thriller based on the untold story of a brutal FREE CINEMA murder that implicated the men who would become WIN to enjoy in early 2014! the great Beat poets; Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe), To be in with a chance of winning just answer the following question: Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston), William Burroughs (Ben Which British actor, who stars as Watson in TV’s Sherlock, returns to the big screen as Bilbo Baggins? Foster) and their muse, Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). Email [email protected] with your answer, your name and address, and 2 nominated local cinemas. Closing date: 3 January 2014. You must be a UK resident aged 18 or over to enter. Full terms and conditions at www.moviepreviewnetwork.com OTHER GREAT FILMS NOT TO MISS From December 6 What the certificates mean www.universalpictures.co.uk Held captive for 20 years, Joe Doucett (Josh Universal Suitable for audiences aged four years and over. Brolin) is suddenly released with no explanation Parental Guidance General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for for his incarceration and no clue to his captor. young children. The Hunger Games: He immediately begins his quest for answers Suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema Saving Mr Banks Powder Room Catching Fire unless accompanied by an adult. and vengeance. Spike Lee directs this tense and Suitable only for 15 years and over. Suitable only for adults. Black Nativity Dec 6 « Fanny Dec 6 « Homefront Dec 6 « The Patience Stone Dec 6 « thrilling remake of the cult 2003 South Korean Rambo Rajkummer Dec 6 « Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s Dec 6 « Cinema Paradiso hit, a grim psychological journey into a heart of For more information about the films your children see, check the BBFC Insight darkness with some violent detours. Samuel L. (Digitally Remastered) Dec 13 « Fill The Void Dec 13 « Klown Dec 13 & many more! provided by the British Board of Film Classification at www.bbfc.co.uk Jackson and Elizabeth Olsen co-star. Select your seats now via Denotes a film released in 3D as well as 2D versions. Details are correct at the time of going to press but are subject to change moviepreviewnetwork.com/book-tickets Check www.moviepreviewnetwork.com for more information INSPIRING TRUE STORIES

THE RAILWAY MAN MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

From January 1 From January 3 www.railwaymanmovie.co.uk www.mandela-movie.co.uk

A true story celebrating the British actor Idris Elba has been indomitability of the human spirit, receiving rave reviews for his portrayal Colin Firth stars as Eric Lomax, one of of South African political leader the British soldiers captured at the fall Nelson Mandela. Justin Chadwick’s of Singapore who suffered torture at poignant film charts his journey from the hands of the Japanese in building child in a country divided, to firebrand NEW YEAR SPECIAL the Burma railway. Still haunted by his revolutionary, political prisoner and nightmares decades later, he returns eventually inspiration figure for peace in to confront his wartime nemesis. Also the reformed Rainbow Nation. Naomie ACTION & ADVENTURE stars Nicole Kidman. Harris plays his second wife, Winnie. BIG SCREEN LAUGHS JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT LAST VEGAS DELIVERY MAN AUGUST: OSAGE GRUDGE MATCH COUNTY

From January 31 www.shadowrecruitmovie.co.uk From January 17 www.augustosagecountyfilm.com Chris Pine takes on the mantle of Tom Clancy’s CIA analyst hero, in an adventure that forces him to question the loyalties he holds most dear. Kenneth From January 3 The tangled relationships binding the Branagh directs, and also plays Ryan’s Russian nemesis while Keira Knightley www.lastvegasmovie.co.uk From January 10 larger than life women of the Weston From January 24 plays his wife, a relationship that’s complicated as Ryan uncovers a potential www.entertainmentone.co.uk family are unravelled in this starry www.warnerbros.co.uk terrorist attack on American soil. Life will never be the same for four adaptation of Tracey Letts’s hit play. ageing friends who travel to Vegas An underachieving delivery driver Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Juliette In-jokes abound in the coming to give one of their number a discovers that a donation he made Lewis and Abigail Breslin are the together of two actors famed for I, FRANKENSTEIN suitable send off before he marries to a fertility clinic many years before multi-generational females feuding playing boxing icons, Rocky Balboa his much younger bride. Michael has resulted in him fathering 533 and making up, while Chris Cooper, and Jake La Motta. Sylvester Stallone Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan children. A little overwhelmed by this Ewan McGregor and Benedict and Robert De Niro play long retired From January 24 Freeman and Kevin Kline are the news, David (Vince Vaughn) decides Cumberbatch portray the men in fighters, bitter foes lured back into www.entertainmentfilms.co.uk old pals behaving badly. to seek out his unexpected offspring. their lives. action for a final showdown. Mary Shelley’s mythic creation gets a 21st century makeover in this good versus evil tale told on an epic scale. Aaron Eckhart plays the GIVE YOUR EMOTIONS A WORK-OUT creature, possessed of superhuman strength and a desire to save mankind from an apocalyptic supernatural threat. Also stars Bill Nighy. HER THE WOLF OF WALL STREET 12 YEARS A SLAVE LONE SURVIVOR

From January 31 www.universalpictures.co.uk

This stirring true life drama of a 2005 mission follows four Navy SEALS sent to kill a notorious Taliban leader, only for their mission to be disastrously compromised. From January 10 www.entertainmentfilms.co.uk Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile From January 10 www.entertainmentone.co.uk Hirsch and Ben Foster head the cast. A tale for the times we live in, director From January 17 www.thewolfofwallstreetmovie.co.uk Spike Jonze’s latest film tells of lonely writer Born a free man in the pre-Civil War northern Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in Leonardo DiCaprio is reunited with American directing states of America, Solomon (Chiwetel INSIGHTFUL DOCUMENTARY love with the seductive female tones of the legend Martin Scorsese in this darkly comic tale of financial Ejiofor) is captured and sold into slavery computer operating system designed to excess and other forms of very bad behaviour. Incredibly when he ventures south. He endures cruelty anticipate his every need. Scarlett Johansson it’s all based on the true story of Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio), and privation, but also glimpses rare acts of voices ‘Samantha’, a disembodied but a high flying trader who soon graduated into fraud, kindness, as he endures his fate until he can THE ARMSTRONG LIE seemingly conscious presence in Theodore’s corruption and an uncomfortably close connection with once again be free. Michael Fassbender, otherwise empty life. organised crime. Benedict Cumberbatch and Brad Pitt co-star. From January 31 www.sonypictures.co.uk INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS THE BOOK THIEF OUT OF THE FURNACE In 2009 Alex Gibney was hired to make a film about Lance Armstrong’s comeback to cycling. The project was shelved when the doping scandal erupted, and re-opened after Armstrong’s confession. The Armstrong Lie picks up in 2013 and presents a riveting, insider’s view of the unravelling of one of the most extraordinary stories in the history of sports. As Lance Armstrong himself says: “I didn’t live a lot of lies, but I lived one big one.” From January 24 www.studiocanal.co.uk From January 31 www.facebook.com/The-Book-Thief-UK/ From January 31 FILMQUIZ FOR FUN From Academy Award-winners Joel and www.facebook.com/outofthefurnace Do you think you can answer these three questions about some of the films Ethan Coen, the film follows a week in the Liesel, an extraordinary and courageous young girl is sent coming to a cinema near you? life of a young folk singer at a crossroads, to live with a foster family in World War II Germany. She This intense tale of brotherly love stars 1. Which real life boxing hero did Grudge Match star Robert De Niro portray on screen in 1980? struggling to make it in the Greenwich Village learns to read with the help of her new family (Geoffrey Christian Bale as Russell, a man who will risk 2. What’s the human sounding name of Joaquin Phoenix’s computer operating system in Her? folk scene of 1961. Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) Rush and Emily Watson) and Max, a Jewish refugee who everything to achieve justice for his younger 3. Which British actress plays Jack Ryan’s wife in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit? is faced with many obstacles, some of them of they are hiding. For Liesel and Max, the power of words and brother Rodney (Casey Affleck). Set in the

Answers: 1. Jake La Motta 2. Samantha 3. Keira Knightley Keira 3. Samantha 2. Motta La Jake 1. Answers: his own making. Also stars Carey Mulligan, imagination become the only escape from the tumultuous criminal hinterland of America’s ‘rust-belt’, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman. events happening around them. the film co-stars Woody Harrelson. For more information about the films your children see, check the BBFC Insight provided by the British Board of Film Classification at www.bbfc.co.uk Select your seats now via Paranormal Activity - The Marked Ones Jan 3 « Foxcatcher Jan 17 « The Night ALSO OUT of the Hunter (Digitally Remastered) Jan 17 « The General (Digitally Remastered) Details are correct at the time of going to press but are subject to change moviepreviewnetwork.com/book-tickets Jan 24 « That Awkward Moment Jan 31