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NOW AVAILABLE ON  NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 No: 6267 Churchgoers urged to get involved in politics

ENGAGE in the political process and “It takes a leap of imagination to argue and politicians who have “neglected to assumption that to question immigration enter the political arena: this is the big that there should be stronger institutions nurture, by word, example or policy, at all must always be racist ... Suspicion message of the letter from the House of for those who disagree with as well as for those aspects of life which governments of people with other national and ethnic Bishops ahead of the General Election. those ‘on our side’.” can influence but not control.” origin needs to be understood.” ‘Who is my neighbour’, the title of the The letter speaks of how “breaking Speaking on the economy, the letter On education, the letter warns that House of Bishops’ Pastoral Letter, warns free of self-interest and welcoming our speaks of the lack of a convincing narra- ‘education is not simply to prepare peo- of the disengagement between politi- opponents” is a ‘messy’ business but the tive offered “about a healthy bal- ple to be economic units’, and speaks of a cians and the people and speaks of the only way to enrich “our almost-mori- ance between national government nurturing education respecting individu- ‘obligation’ to engage with the political bund political culture.” and global economic power.” ality and others’ religious faith. process. The Bishops warn against The letter speaks of a ‘financial On Europe, the letter speaks of the “It is not possible to separate the way a despair and urge people to vote catastrophe’, which has been treat- need for ‘structures of trust’ with Europe person perceives his or her place in the in the General Election as ed as a ‘political football’ and specif- and says ‘if there is a threat to the values created order from their beliefs, reli- ‘the duty of every Chris- ically urges better talks on housing, of our nation, it does not come today gious or otherwise, about how the tian’ adding, “even though a situation that finds itself in ‘crisis’. from our closest neighbours in Europe’. world’s affairs ought to be arranged. it may have to be a vote for The letter backs the concept of the “Ignoring or denying the extent to “The claim that religion and political something less than a Living Wage, and supports interven- which European people share culture life must be kept separate is, in any case, vision that inspires us.” tion with policy in an economic situa- and heritage suggests that questions of frequently disingenuous - most politi- The letter asks the tion where people “cannot adapt identity and belonging have no currency cians and pundits are happy enough for Church to encourage stronger accounta- infinitely in response to market pres- except as political bargaining chips.” the churches to speak on political issues bility from political candidates by seek- sures.” The letter speaks of ‘the power and so long as the church agrees with their ing their “commitment to building a The letter speaks of conversations of meaning of religion’ without which glob- particular line.” society of common bonds over individual immigration as ‘stirring up resentment al politics are impossible to understand The letter speaks frankly of how “dif- consumerism.” against some identifiable ‘other’. and warns of the volatile areas of the ferent parties have failed to offer attrac- Christians should be “wary of accumu- “Immigration has, too often, been world as ‘a constant threat to the stability tive visions of the kind of society and lations of power” in the hands of the framed in crude terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’. of all nations another reminder of our culture they wish to see. There is no ide- wealthy and few, and be “reluctant to ‘live “The way we talk about migration, with interdependence’ with Europe. alism in this prospectus.” under an overwhelming corporate sec- ethnically identifiable communities The letter warns of the irresponsibility The Bishops note that “with a few tor’” that divides society and sees “God’s being treated as ‘the problem’ has, delib- of any party abandoning the target of 0.7 exceptions, politicians are not driven sovereignty mocked.” erately or inadvertently, created an ugly per cent of GDP in overseas aid, as this merely by cynicism or self interest” but The letter asks for a new way of talking undercurrent of racism in every debate would indicate that “the moral impera- speak of a culture of decisions driven by about tax and speaks of politicians “plac- about immigration.” tives of mutuality and reconciliation self-interest. ing excessive faith” in the free market It goes on: “But we also challenge the counted for nothing.” GET YOUR FREE LENT COURSE HERE WWW.CUF.ORG.UK FIND GENUINE HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST THIS LENT

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THEDIARY THE Diocese of Gloucester Three choirs are joining forces to take part in a special Send your events to concert to mark the anniversary of a Cotswold church. [email protected] St Paul’s, Whiteshill is marking its 175th anniversary or Tweet @churchnewspaper CHURCHIN this year and festivities are planned throughout 2015. However, they will kick off with a gala concert on 12 June featuring the Whiteshill and Ruscombe Community 21 February Choir. Churchwarden Michael Bailey said: “The other choirs 9am Resourcing Healing Ministry ENGLAND will be the Cotswold Youth Singers, and a group of Day, Victoria Baptist Church, Stroud’s Cotswold Playhouse players, who will perform Eldon Road, Eastbourne, some of the numbers from their summer production of BN21 1UE. For further Aspects of Love.” details phone 01825 763460 8pm Passion performance at Lich- field Cathedral. Tickets are Diocese of Derby free. Workshop from 2pm.

Diocese of West Diocese of Durham 23 February Yorkshire and the A new book telling the history Dales A Durham organist is celebrating 40 years of service in the same of Derby Cathedral has been church. published. 12.00 Start of Fairtrade Fortnight Michael Grave, 68, director of music at St Mary the Virgin, The book, written by Dr Paul (until 8 March). Faith leaders joined Whickham, said: “I enjoy playing the organ. I enjoy what I do for Bridges, brings the history of together to take part the people of the church and playing the organ is the icing on the the Cathedral to life with many 24 February in a demonstration of cake. colourful and amusing support for minority “I see it as part of ministry and the music affects people when anecdotes. groups in the area on they worship. I feel I have achieved something if they leave the The book was launched last 1pm Seminar on Credit Unions, Wednesday. church with a buzz about the music.” Sunday. Dr John Davies, Dean Derby Cathedral. The procession was Michael has been a Past President of the Newcastle and District of Derby said: “The Cathedral organised by West Society of Organists and he jointly led the organisation of the Great is in Paul Bridges’ debt. This is Yorkshire North Organ Day in 2014. a very accessible and readable 25 February Ecumenical Council, He and his Whickham choir have made a number of appearances book which gives the reader an and included on radio and TV, the highlight being the broadcast of the Morning enjoyable and lively account of 7.30pm The Bad Christian’s Mani- representatives from Service on BBC Radio 4 during the Gateshead Garden Festival. this great church, its history festo Tour. Dave Tomlinson the Church of and life.” will talk about his latest book England, Baptists, ‘The Bad Christian’s Mani- Catholics, Diocese of Blackburn festo’ and other topics at the Methodists, United Diocese of Lichfield County Arms, Highertown, Reformed, The foundation stone for the new Cathedral Court, Truro. Lutherans, adjoining the Cathedral, was laid by the Bishop last week. A new take on the Passion is to get its Moravians, New The Rt Rev Julian Henderson placed cement on a plinth first performance at Lichfield Cathedral Testament Church of before the foundation stone – supplied by Lambert Walker tomorrow. 1 March God, Quakers, stonemasons of Bamber Bridge, Lancashire and taken ‘Passion – a contemporary journey to Salvation Army, from a quarry in Longridge – was lowered and then the Cross’ will then go on a tour of UK 10.30amAnniversary of the baptism Wesleyan Holiness. hammered into place. churches and cathedrals. of Charles Dickens, St There were The Dean, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong, said The unique performance created and Albans, Copnor, Portsmouth. representatives from the plans for the Cathedral Court had been 14 years in the directed by accomplished dance artist Pentecostal churches making. He added: “We are delighted to have reached this and theologian Claire Henderson Davis from many nations. milestone.” combines dance, poetry and music to 3 March create moving and compelling work. Using poet Malcolm Guite’s sonnets 7pm Fairtrade evening with Mark Diocese of Newcastle on the Stations of the Cross as the basis Goldring, director of Oxfam, for a contemporary telling of Jesus’ last the Hub, University of Talented local musicians are putting on hours, the work will bring a multi- Portsmouth. Tickets £5. free lunchtime concerts in the disciplinary performance to the Cathedral on Fridays. Cathedral. 7 March The Lunchtime Recital Series was The Rev Canon Dr Anthony Moore, launched by Assistant Director of Vice-Dean of Lichfield Cathedral, said: Music James Norrey in 2013. He said: “This is an incredibly important and 8pm The Choral Society and Sym- “I launched the Lunchtime Recital powerful event for us at the beginning phony Orchestra of The series to give local musicians, of the season of Lent. We’d like to King’s School Canterbury at especially students, an opportunity to welcome everyone to the performance Canterbury Cathedral. Tick- perform. The recitals offer people in February and to share in our spiritual ets from the King’s School concerts of varying genres, and enhances the musical life of the Cathedral.” preparation for Holy Week and Easter.” Box Office on 01227 595778 Last year the recitals featured a range of performers, including child prodigy or boxoffice@kings- violinist Leia Zhu. school.co.uk Diocese of Leicester 11 March Diocese of London have similar funds that are either The Bishop’s Poverty Commission, designated or restricted. whose report was published last week, 9.30am The Gift of Years, resourcing A London vicar is calling on local “We were earning just 0.5 per cent is calling for the promotion of fair the spiritual journey of older parochial church councils and interest from a high street bank, but by finance. people, The King Room, Old congregations to help stop doorstep investing in a credit union we actually Following the publication, a task Palace Hotel, Lincoln, with lenders making ‘money out of misery’ doubled our interest rate. Money can group has been set up to implement former BBC presenter Deb- by investing with a credit union. also be withdrawn at any time if we strategic action around fair finance in bie Thrower. Fr David Ackerman, from St John the need it urgently. So everyone wins.” Leicester and Leicestershire, and Evangelist, Kensal Green, has Fr David is now urging local churches comprises representatives from the City, 12 March deposited £10,000 of contingency fund to look at any funds that could be County and Diocese, Voluntary Action savings into West London YourCu credit moved from low interest savings Leicester/Shire and Reaching People, a union to help support people in the accounts into a credit union and partnership of frontline voluntary sector 7.30pm St Edmund’s Gala Concert, community until it is needed by the publicise the fact to the local organisations. Canterbury Cathedral with church. community. The task group will examine access to the St Edmund’s Symphony He said: “St John’s was able to invest To open an account visit fair and affordable finance, to develop Orchestra. Tickets: The Mar- money from the contingency fund, www.yourcu.co.uk or call: 020 7605 capability and tools to provide fair lowe Theatre Box Office on designated by the PCC as being 6341. The maximum that can be finance and to assist in developing 01227 787787 or available if required. Many churches invested a year is £15,000. support and advice provision. http://www.canterburytick- etshop.com

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday February 20, 2015 News 3 Bishop Single women Bishop of Burnley gives up ‘unlikely to find calls on Christians his car Christian partners’ to tackle injustice for Lent A NEW survey, conducted by By Ashley Prevo YouGov and created by Dr By Ashley Prevo David Pullinger, co-founder of THE NEW Bishop of Burnley SingleChristians.co.uk, has has asked local churches to THE BISHOP of Ramsbury found that single women in reach out to those who are will be giving up his car for church are more likely to stay struggling and to remember Lent, it was revealed this that way than find a partner. that the Church can play an week. The survey analysed the rela- important part in minimizing The Rt Rev Dr Edward tionship between church atten- the growing injustice of the Condry is also aiming to only dance and marital status. world. eat locally sourced food dur- According to the study, con- The Rt Rev Philip North was ing the six-week period of ducted in September 2014, 47 per cent of adults in Great installed last Saturday and in his Lent. eight per cent of unmarried Britain are married, 60 per cent first sermon as Bishop, he high- The Bishop commutes people in Great Britain regular- of people who attend church at lighted the need for inter-faith about 1,500 miles a month for ly attend church. Out of this least once a month are married work and for the Church to be in work and by giving up his car sample size, the greatest per- people. He added that although difficult places as well as he will have to rely on bicy- centage are unpartnered churches are successful at addressing the harmful nature cle, bus, and train. By com- women. serving the needs of those who of loneliness in the expanding pleting this part of his Twenty-one percent of mid- are married, they need to United Kingdom. challenge last year he saved dle class single women said spend more time focusing on Using the fact that he was over 2,000 miles of driving. that they attended church at the needs of other groups such speaking on St Valentine’s Day, Rev Philip North When discussing last year’s least once a year, compared to as singles. Bishop Philip spoke about love’s Lent, the Bishop spoke about the 13 percent of middle class Professor Linda Woodhead, role in the church. how not using his car was a men and working-to-lower class from the department of Poli- “Our purpose is to be bearers places where it will never, ever satisfying yet trying experi- men and women who do so. tics, Philosophy and Religion at of a message of love; that life- make economic sense,” said ence. The results of this survey Lancaster University stated: transforming, sacrificial love Bishop North. “It was rewarding, and at seem to lead to the conclusion “This important research revealed to us through the cross He continued by saying that times extraordinarily chal- that Christian women may have shows how the churches seem of our Saviour Jesus Christ. aiding those in need, extending lenging,” he said. “I was sur- to face the bleak truth that they to cater much better for mar- That’s what we’re for. We are the a helping hand, and providing prised how much of a might not find a partner who ried than single people, particu- Valentine, we are the messen- help to people going through spiritual experience it was to shares their Christian beliefs. larly, single men. As singleness gers of love,” said the Bishop. hard times is a job that the give up the car, in a way that “Thousands of Christian grows in society, this is some- He said that spreading this Church must fill. struggling to give up choco- women in particular must thing which needs urgently to message of love is not only a “This is where we must be as late had never achieved, for choose between marrying be addressed.” mission for the Church to Christians. We need to serve the me. I can’t quite put my finger somebody who doesn’t share Pullinger and fellow co- accomplish, but it is a task that hungry and the debt-laden and on why, but maybe it is as their beliefs or staying single,” founder Jackie Elton, creator of everyone can tackle in their the lonely and the young. We simple as having to change said Pullinger. “They deserve the online dating site Christian daily lives. need to give voice to the anxious my life pattern and make an far greater respect and under- Connection, believe that local “We can get so bogged down and the victimised and the extra effort.” standing from church leaders churches need to be more with insurance policies and gut- abused. And we need to work in By not driving, the Bishop and fellow worshippers.” encouraging to single women ters and rotas that we all too eas- joyful partnership with people of gained time away from the While this finding may have and men of all ages, not just ily forget the dignity of the task other faiths who also long for world of technology and con- been suspected, this survey those who are under the age of that the Lord has laid before us. the flourishing of human life.” stant media. marks the first time that thor- 35. The local church is the hope of Diocesan Bishop the Rt Rev “Another great positive of ough data has been compiled. “Local churches are letting the world. Without you, there is Julian Henderson spoke on how living without a car is the time “We’ve known it, anecdotally, down single people – both no one left to speak the message he is looking forward to start it creates for really switching for a long time but this new sur- those who attend and those of love. YOU are the hope of the working with the new Bishop. off. We live in a world where vey proves it at last,” said who don’t. The number of sin- world,” he said. “Bishop Philip comes to us instant communication can Pullinger. gle people in society is getting The Bishop said that in order with a wealth of experience and leave us feeling permanently Another point that the survey bigger and bigger all the time. to maintain a strong a ministry a passion for spreading the harassed and stressed. addresses is that married peo- It is time church leaders woke and potential, the Church needs gospel. His track record sug- Cycling gives me space to ple are considerably over rep- up and responded,” said to focus on the issue of helping gests he will make a significant think properly and to pray resented in a church setting Pullinger. where life is the hardest. contribution to the life of the deeply,” he said. compared to the general popu- The online survey polled “To have a future we must be Church of England in Lan- The Wiltshire Bishop also lation. 7,212 adults from Great Britain utterly committed to ministry cashire. He comes to serve the pointed out the environmen- The study showed that while aged 16 and over. where it’s toughest and in those whole Diocese.” tal importance of using a bike instead a car in relation to being a Christian. “Christians are called to care for God’s creation. Each of us must take our personal contribution to CO2 emis- sions seriously,” said Bishop Edward. “Lent should be a time when Christians make some real sacrifices, following the example of Jesus Christ, who fasted in the desert for 40 days before starting his pub- lic ministry. It’s also right that I do things that lead me to question my 21st Century lifestyle that comes at a huge cost to the planet. That’s why I decided to eat only locally sourced food for Lent as well as giving up the car.”

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Synod round-up Synod raises questions Archbishop Bashar M Warda, CSSR, the Archbishop of the Chaldean Diocese of Erbil (Eastern rite Catholic) in northern Iraq (Kurdistan) opened the Synod with a moving address on over Lord Green persecuted Christians in Iraq, saying that ‘Christianity in Iraq is going By Jordanna May Report is not sufficiently ended read: “The Archbish- plans to take people away through one of its worst and hardest important to justify Synod’s ops of Canterbury and York from their local credit stages of its long history that dates MEMBERS OF General attention; or is it perhaps are grateful to Lord Green unions, and develop an back to the first century.’ Synod were puzzled and con- that they want to play down for the contribution and accountable organisation The Archbishop of Canterbury fused by the Archbishop of Lord Green’s report out of expertise that he has that can eventually fund local followed with his Presidential address Canterbury’s overwhelming embarrassment at Lord brought to the work of the business. speaking of hope and renewal. silence over the Green Green’s earlier roles as chief group on leadership training President of CMCU and On Wednesday, ACT groups report, the important, leaked executive and chairman of and formation. The leader- former chartered accountant (Accountability, Consultation, document that Justin Welby HSBC?” ship report stands on its own the Rev Canon Antony Transparency) met to discuss doesn’t seem comfortable He added: “Do they want merits: it is about prepara- MacRow-Wood added to his Resourcing Ministerial Education, speaking freely about. as it were, to try hastily to tion and consideration for opening speech: “I never Discerning and Nurturing Senior This is perhaps the first close the washhouse door on appointment to posts of wide thought church growth Leader, Resourcing the Future and time since Welby took up HSBC’s dirty linen, maybe responsibility, pastoral care would be a financial one.” Inter Generational Equality and post as Archbishop, that his that if so, General Synod has of those being considered The CMCU offers small Simplification. peers have called his judg- all the more reason to debate and a means of ensuing loans between £2,500 and Also on Wednesday, the Bishop of ment into question so pub- the matter, there is a need to proper inclusion across the £3,500, including household Sheffield moved the motion on licly. In Tuesday’s session, ask whether the archbishops whole range of the church. and church loans up to Discipleship, which was carried. The Canon Timothy Allen of St were wise to appoint the ex- “The report was complet- £5,000 and car loans from Rev Mark Ireland sought to leave out Edmundsbury and Ipswich chairman to chair the task ed and submitted before the £3,500. “discipleship” and insert “calling to be addressed the question to force?” current media focus on his- Proposed savings products disciples who make disciples”, in the Archbishops and Busi- The Rev Canon Dr Hazel toric allegations against available start with founder paragraph (b)(ii). ness Committee: “I want to Whitehead, Director for Dis- HSBC at the time Lord members bonds with a The Rev Canon Dr Simon Taylor of question the Business Com- cipleship, Vocation and Min- Green was either CEO or £2,000 minimum deposit Derby Diocese, also moved to ‘broaden mittee about an important istry team of Guildford Chairman.” required, extending to a reg- the conversation’ on discipleship and omission from our agenda,” Diocese, also added her For many clergy feeling ular savers option from next sought to support the text addition; ‘to he said. ‘sense of confusion to the stunned that future bishops’ month and an ISA bond from engage in a wide consultation with all “The Green Report is of Green Report’. training has been left in the autumn. people in England’. “There are people great importance to the She said: “It seems to be hands of a former banker, Archbishop Justin said: of goodwill who long to partner with us, future of the Church of Eng- odd to have a discussion they will be interested to “Credit unions have the we need to listen to them,” said Canon land. Without any approval group suggesting it is of hear that Archbishop Welby potential to make a transfor- Taylor. from General Synod, radical legitimate interest to Synod, is trying to build a new finan- mative contribution to our “It is really important that we hear as changes of practice are to be and yet not to have a debate cial sector. financial system and I am many voices as we can as we seek to made for good or ill. and discussion on the floor At the launch of the delighted that it will be possi- reform and renew the church.” The “Make no mistake, chair- of Synod when this has far- Churches Mutual Credit ble for clergy, church amendment fell. man, this is Church money reaching consequences.” Union Ltd (CMCU) on employees and church Canon John Spence moved the debate looked after for the Church She added: “I’m in favour Wednesday, Archbishop trustees to belong to a credit on Resourcing the Future and by the Church Commission- of all these reports in various Welby spoke of a new sector union focused on supporting Resourcing Ministerial Education, ers and to spend it on the ways, but it’s hard to see to ‘transform the way retail their particular financial which was carried. Canon Taylor asked washhouse project means them treated unequally. finance is done in this coun- needs. that the Synod, while welcoming the that it cannot be spent on “If the business planning try and inject in it an ethical “As the first supporter to objective (set out in paragraph 4 of GS other priorities in the dio- group really wants to move business and a community sign CMCU’s application to 1978) of investment focused on cese.” towards a better sense of link’ adding: “It is putting the regulator in 2013 I am dioceses’ strategic plans for growth, Adding: “Why is the Green accountability, consultation our money where our mouth looking forward to being one and with a strong bias to the poor, and Report not to be properly and transparency, we need is.” of the first to sign up as a the vision of a growing church with a debated on and voted on; is it our synod to be able to take The CMCU project is sup- member.” flourishing ministry (as set out in because the bishops believe better responsibility for ported by the Church of Canon Dagmar Winter of paragraph 8 of GS 1979), invite the it is their business alone and these weighty matters by England, the Church of Scot- the Diocese of Newcastle, Archbishops’ Council and the House of not the business of an elect- proper process.” land, the Scottish Episcopal who is in the process of set- Bishops to reach early decisions on the ed General Synod to deter- Of the Green Report, Lay Church, the Methodist ting up Tyndale Community specific recommendations in the two mine how their successors Chair of Rochester Diocesan Church and the Church in bank in Northumberland, reports once the current consultation as bishops are to be chosen Synod, Philip French said: Wales. said: “Big banks are not period with dioceses, theological and trained? “Not all talent and leadership The CMCU is no short- interested in small loans. training institutions and others is “Is it because they fear in the Church of England is term venture, with a credit The Credit Union movement concluded. criticism; is it because they clerical or episcopal.” union expansion project, in a way conceived by Arch- On Thursday Synod debated Canon worry that the Green Report The official statement which won’t seek to compete bishop Welby is part of the B38, a private member’s motion from would not get a majority; is it released by the Church of with local credit unions for Church’s mission to the the Revd Dr Michael Parsons of because they feel the Green England after Synod had five years, but with eventual Nation.” Gloucester Diocese, to allow full funeral rights for those who have taken their own lives. The motion was carried by 262 votes to five, with six abstentions. Archbishop says the darkness of ISIS Official Synod business closed on Thursday with a report from the Mission and Public Affairs Council on will be overwhelmed by Christian love the subject of ‘Mission and Growth in Rural Multi-Parish Benefices’, which Responding to events in Denmark, Libya and Nigeria over ding the light and peace of Christ. I have been in touch with was moved by the Chair of the Rural recent days, the Archbishop of Canterbury called for com- the Anglican Church in Egypt to express solidarity. Let us Affairs Group (the Bishop of passion. pray for the triumphant peace of Christ to be evident, and for Knaresborough). A ‘take note’ motion Archbishop Justin Welby said: “The terrible cruelty of the governments affected to be wise and courageous.” was carried. murders in Denmark, Libya and Nigeria call for deep com- The Facebook post from St Albans in Copenhagen said: Bishop James said: “We should not passion for the bereaved and killed. The killers seem to “Today’s service started with a moment of silence to remem- seek to do alone what can more rejoice in ever more extreme acts carried out to inflict ever ber those caught up in the terrible events of the last 24 fruitfully be done together. You should greater terror. We must all weep with those affected, and hours”. know however, that this is a patient know that in the love of Christ all evil will be overcome. They went on to ask for continuing prayers during the time process of change, there is not a simple “In Egypt and Libya, the home of Christian faith, of saints of uncertainty and anxiety. quick fix, but a programme of honest and martyrs since the earliest centuries, more suffering has A statement issued by the Diocese of Europe this week assessment and development that in been perpetrated. said: “In a world where terror events seem to follow one some ways will feel radical and in other “The Coptic Church has responded with courage and as another with horrendous regularity we need to be constant ways continue what is best in rural always with faith. The darkness which ISIS seek to spread in prayer and aware of the dangers of becoming inured to mission and ministry.” will be overwhelmed by the faithful lives of Christians shed- these events.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday February 20, 2015 News 5 Archbishop marks life Egyptian Christians of African martyr are ‘martyrs’ THE ARCHBISHOP of and that he had wit- York, Dr John Sentamu, nessed the archbishop CHURCH LEADERS have proclaimed the tian faith, of saints and martyrs since the preached before a con- intercede with police on 21 Egyptian Christians murdered by earliest centuries, more suffering has been gregation of over 20,000 behalf of those unfairly Islamist extremists to be martyrs of the perpetrated. last week in Uganda at a imprisoned. Christian faith. “The Coptic Church has responded with ceremony marking the Archbishop Sentamu On 15 February the Libyan branch of ISIS courage and as always with faith. The life of the martyred called on the congrega- (the Islamic State) released a video showing darkness which ISIS seek to spread will Archbishop of Uganda tion “to pray as Jesus the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Chris- be overwhelmed by the faithful lives of Janani Luwum. prayed in John 17, the tians on a beach in Libya. Christians shedding the light and peace of Archbishop Luwum prayer of an overcomer, The Anglican Archbishop of Egypt, the Christ.” was murdered in prison which is who Janani Most Rev Mouneer Anis reported these Vatican Radio reported Pope Francis had on 16 February 1977 on Luwum was,” said a “men from the Upper Egyptian city of also condemned the murders. Speaking in the orders of President report from the Church Samalout are no different from thousands of Spanish to an ecumenical delegation from Idi Amin Dada after he of Uganda. other Muslim and Christian Egyptians in the Church of Scotland on 16 February, was arrested on “It is no accident that Libya, seeking employment to support their Francis noted those killed only said “Jesus trumped-up charges. we are all gathered here families back home. Except that these 21 help me.” While there have today to remember the were specifically chosen for their Christian “The blood of our Christian brothers and been local celebrations life, martyrdom, and faith.” sisters is a testimony which cries out to be of his life and witness, mony while the Roman legacy of Archbishop The Egyptian government responded to heard,” said the Pope. Monday’s service was Catholic Archbishop of Janani Luwum,” Arch- the murders by launching airstrikes against “It makes no difference whether they be the first national com- Kampala Mgr John Bap- bishop Ntagali said. ISIS and closing its border with Libya. Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants. memoration of the tist Odama led the inter- President Museveni President Abdel el-Sisi of Egypt has They are Christians! Their blood is one and event, with the Presi- cessions. said his government declared a week of public mourning for his the same. Their blood confesses Christ.’’ dent of Uganda, Yoweri Archbishop Sentamu would honour the arch- country and dispatched his Foreign Secre- The 21 Coptic Christians were “martyrs Museveni, attending told the congregation bishop by declaring 16 tary to New York to seek international sup- [that] belong to all Christians.” the ceremony. that Archbishop February a national hol- port for action against ISIS in Libya. Dr Anis urged Anglicans to pray for The Archbishop of Luwum had welcomed iday and would support The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin “Libya, Egypt, and the entire Middle East. Uganda, the Most Rev him to Northern Ugan- plans to commemorate Welby wrote that he had offered his condo- Please pray the international community Stanley Ntagali da when he was posted the archbishop’s life lences and solidarity with Dr Anis. will act in wisdom, correctly and efficiently, presided over the cere- to Gulu as a magistrate, and work. “In Egypt and Libya, the home of Chris- and support Egypt in its war on terror.” Bishop demoted after comments A MAORI bishop has been demoted following com- the bishop had also offended Muslim guests when he tionships and the dialogue that it has with other faiths, ments he made last month to an interfaith meeting that “appeared to hold the two Muslim guests personally and appreciates the respect that is extended to it by church leaders believed offended Muslims and Jews. responsible for the slaughter inflicted by ISIS and al- other faiths.” The Rt Rev John Gray was stripped of his post as Qaeda – he asked what they were doing about it – and vicar-general of the Te Pihopatanga (the Maori Angli- questioned why their faith did not accept can Church in Aotearoa New Zealand). He remains the Trinity.” Bishop of the Maori Anglican Diocese of Te Waipouna- The Church’s three archbishops pub- mu (the South Island). lished an apology for the bishop’s com- Archbishop Brown Turei has appointed the Rt Rev Te ments writing: “Those comments are in Kitohi Pikaahu, Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau (the northern regard to the beliefs and the history of Maori tribal region) as his vicar-general and deputy. other faiths and ethnicities. We as leaders During a plenary session on interfaith relations held do not share or support the views that at the Maori church’s South Island ministry school last Bishop John has expressed, and his com- month, the bishop told a Jewish speaker the Holocaust ments do not represent the Anglican “should have taught you a lesson.” Church’s view on these matters. A statement from the national Church office added “The Anglican Church values the rela- Australian woman pioneer dies suddenly

THE FIRST woman ordained to the priest- hood in the Anglican Church of Australia has died. The Rt Rev Barbara Darling, the former Bishop of the Eastern Region of Melbourne, died on 15 February after having suffered a stroke eight days earlier. She was 67. A statement published on the diocesan website said: “Her sudden and untimely death has shocked and saddened all who knew her and enjoyed her loving pastoral support, friendship and encouragement, within the diocese of Melbourne, with her fellow bishops, amongst the staff of the dio- cese and throughout Australian Anglicans.” Bishop Darling was ordained a deacon in 1986 and was the first female priest ordained by the Australian Church in 1992 when the prohibition against women priests was lifted. In 2008 Bishop Darling became the sec- ond woman Bishop in the Australian Church and the first within the Diocese of Mel- bourne. Her funeral is set for Sunday 22 February at St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne.

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Write to The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX. or you can send an E-mail to [email protected]. Tweet at @churchnewspaper If you are sending letters by e-mail, please include a street address. NB: Letters may be edited

Women leaders Barriers to inviting friends to church defend our right to be property and resources of the Sir, Oh dear. Guy Troup Sir, In response to your front-page article, ‘Most considered one of the Church to undermine our (Letters, 13 February) churchgoers won’t invite friends to church’, it made me Reformed Churches. In this faith and mission? Such quotes Hebrews 13:17 to feel very sad. Yes, there is a great reluctance to invite, sense, our belief in the resources were given to prove that men should lead which makes us sad, but I find other things attributed to Thirty-nine Articles is less propagate and defend our the church. As the word Michael Harvey to be just as sad. fundamental than our common faith, to use them “men” does not appear in the If there is something that really turns you on, makes you profession of the historic otherwise is to deny the original Greek, this rather excited – let us say, watching Manchester United, it doesn’t Creeds. beneficiaries of their demonstrates that male take much to make you want to talk about, enthuse about it No secular company would intended benefit, and yes, dominance in the church has and even persuade a friend to try the same. Your fervour is tolerate its employees bad some of us see this as wrong, extended to translations of contagious. mouthing its products, so perhaps akin to theft. the Bible (and indeed some In the same way Christians should have a strong enough why does Mary Roe not see Alan Bartley, tinkering with the original faith to be able to talk to friends about it passionately and the problem of some clergy Greenford, Middlesex. texts) that diminish the role by their very nature, by their honesty, helpfulness, undermining our historic of women leaders in New righteousness and so on, make those friends want to learn faith? What are such clergy Testament times. more about it. But you either have the necessary faith or doing in taking the pay, Letters continue on page 13 The Rev Canon Steve else you have not reached that stage in your Christian Parish, journey. Sorry Michael Harvey, this is not something you Warrington can learn by attending a course on invitation techniques. One of the real problems is that many people attend YOUR TWEETS church but fail to grow spiritually. Every church should One parent have some sort of starter’s course for new arrivals, and tell @c_of_e about the risk Sir, Jesus only had one parent house groups in which members are encouraged to of appointing him to author – Mary. To say otherwise (as discuss their beliefs without embarrassment, so as to help Diocese of Bristol its strategy. did an MP during the their spiritual welfare and development. It is little wonder @diobrizzle Commons debate) is to be that anyone who has not experienced being a member of a +Steven Croft discovered as Evangelical Alliance ignorant of the Scriptures. house group is not likely to feel competent to talk to non- a young man that @EAUKnews Andrew Bloxham, believes about their faith. discipleship = ‘offering the #50Shades is not a love Emsworth, Hampshire Too many churches fall short in this area because they whole of my life for the story, it’s abuse, writes do not have these resources, especially in these days when whole of my life’ #synod @MandyBarbante in this churches have to share a vicar with other churches, and #costlycalling week’s FNT Pejorative? their teaching fails to make the need for spiritual growth eauk.org/culture/friday… Sir, Mary Roe takes known. And would it be right to invite a friend into a Joanne Grenfell exception to those of us using church like that, without provision for newcomers? You @joannegrenfell Children’s Society “Questioning” in a pejorative could well fear that it would inoculate your friend against Beware telephone @childrensociety sense akin to “thieving” etc. churchgoing forever. scammers preying on Don’t Christians care about and names my letter of 30 A Christian should be full of the fruit of the Holy Spirit – vicars with bills for crime politics? On 28 Feb hear January as her current love, joy, peace, patience, etc – and also, hopefully, have prevention leaflets. from Rowan Williams & example (letters, 13 that wonderful experience of being born again in the Spirit, Multiple attempts in Rose Hudson-Wilkin: February). when our whole life and outlook is changed for ever. Then P’mouth 2day. bit.ly/1HKpdGZ My letter was a reflection we are filled with such feelings of love for Christ that God @CofEPortsmouth #faithinpolitics on the various reports before will direct us, our actions and words, so that inviting General Synod, particularly someone to our church will become much less daunting, Diverse Church Mike Hill with reference to discipleship and we will be given God’s help and assurance. @Diverse_Church @bishopmikehill and church growth in the Eric Lauritzen, I thought b/c BBC reports the beheading light of concern that the Reader emeritus, contemporary Christianity of 21 Coptic Christians in Church of England is in Beverley, East Yorkshire was up to date on guitars Libya. Barbaric and yet terminal decline. It is in this and stage lighting, it’d be more worrying for context I referred to last up to date on sexuality... Christians where Islamic year’s “Faith Debates” survey disciples seeking believe to be true about God, State are present. that “showed significant enlightenment. What I find ourselves, history, the Southwark Diocese questioning of historic problematic is that some universe, etc., that @SouthwarkCofE Bishop Angaelos Christianity by sections of clergy, whose calling is to distinguishes a church from If you’d like to catch up on @BishopAngaelos the British Anglican clergy.” propagate and defend our any other club or society. yesterday’s @c_of_e “...though I walk through Having referred to our Lord’s faith, are expressing doubts Hence, all churches are @synod, an audio playlist is the valley of the shadow of teaching that “his sheep hear on cardinal points of the confessional. Some restrict available at death, I will fear no evil; his voice and follow him and Creeds such as the Virgin the requisite belief to the soundcloud.com/the- For You are with me; Your that another his sheep will Birth and Resurrection. Catholic Creeds, others add church-of-… #synod rod and Your staff comfort neither hear nor follow (John Now let us be clear what I more detailed Reformed #synod2015 me.” 10:4-5, 11-15) I concluded: am saying. I am not standards such as the Belgic “Since some of our clergy demanding that our clergy or Westminster Confessions. Anna Leyden Oxfam @oxfamgb have neither the teaching nor leave their minds at the door Our church claims to be the @Anna_Leyden #Ebola survivor Stephen the tone of Christ, where [in when they enter the ministry. Catholic Church of these Perfect gift for the tells us what life is like the reports] is the What I am suggesting is that isles as it was reformed at the theologian in your life? once you’re cured of the recognition that both these our ministry should only be Reformation. Martin Luther Playmobil: disease. Watch his story might be problems?” drawn from those who Fundamental to this claim amazing on so many levels! here: In her criticism Mary Roe actually believe and hold is our profession of the newsweek.com/martin- youtu.be/yIRt7zwttCk fails to distinguish things that what the Church claims to be Catholic Creeds as luther-… differ. I do not object to the the core sacred deposit of formulated and understood Love Life Live Lent honest “questioning” of truth. by the early Church. On our Linda Woodhead @LiveLent historic Christianity by It is this shared faith or continued adherence to the @LindaWoodhead New for 2014 - #livelent is unbelievers or even new bond of union, what we Thirty-nine Articles, will Clearly Green chose not to on Kindle!

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday February 20, 2015 Leader & Comment 7 The right targets for speaking out

Too much comment from the management of the C of E does become counter-productive and, like Party Political Broadcasts, The Christian basis often switched off. As Keith Clements’ fine book Speaking Out said, church leaders are best advised to reserve public statements for really significant issues, rather than waste their platform and bring it into the sphere of cynical public boredom. The desperately important issues facing the world are in fact reli- for elections gious, and it is fast becoming clear that secular political solutions to these grisly and death-dealing toxins are not working, indeed polit- ical interventions have arguably created these problems. This is surely true of Libya, now a place of ferocious tribes, notably Isil, which has just murdered up to 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians because they were Christians. This would not have happened under Gaddafi, a dictator who did hold down that country however imperfectly and unjustly. It is to the immense credit of Egypt’s president Sisi that he con- demned these killings and spoke of the Copts as his fellow coun- trymen, a view not adopted by the Muslim Brotherhood when they briefly ran the country with western liberal favour. The UK helped bring down Gaddafi and Saddam and is helping Islamic insurgents bring down Assad in what was Syria, thus indirectly aiding Isil. President Sisi has also made a highly significant speech, available on YouTube, calling for Islam to modernise itself and lamenting the violent backwardness of much of its influence in the world. If our church managers want to speak out, surely a word of thanks to President Sisi for his sympathy to the murdered Copts would be more than welcome, as would an offer to help with the kind of engagement with modernity that our churches had to undergo in the 19th Century? Other first order listings for speaking out must be a message to our Jewish population and the Chief Rabbi of total support. The fact that an Anglican Vicar has actually given even speculative blogging space to the grotesque thesis that the Jews might have engineered the Twin Towers of 9/11 is horrific – and the ‘punishment’ of being told to get off Facebook is a sick joke. Archbishop prophets did throughout the Old Testament. To Welby said that war is always a tragedy, he could have ALANSTORKEY David and to Tony Blair comes the message: apologised for the bishops who supported Hitler and Thou art the Man. And we probably could not do the lack of Anglican support for organising safe havens better than them. for Jewish refugees; it was the smaller Christian denom- It is generally agreed that elections are part of There has to be a deep level of humility inations who worked at gaining ‘jobs’, a condition of democracy. Indeed, some people think that elec- involved in those who would serve us. As entry, for the desperate fugitives from the holocaust. As tions are democracy. That is an impoverished Cromwell, for all his failings the one who should the Psalmist says, ‘Open Thy Mouth for the Dumb’, the view and ignores the place of the rule of law, the stand, head bowed, outside Parliament, wrote in weak and threatened who need our help, our voice. principle of servant rule, the primacy of truth most of his letters, “Your most humble servant”. Egyptian Copts, Syrian, Iraqi and Turkish Christians, over power, office-holding, the submission to jus- In the most glorious put down of all pretension, surely those persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ, tice and other principles in shaping the underly- Christ rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey, a and our newly threatened Jewish cousins need our pub- ing meaning of democracy in world politics. colt, with his feet scarcely off the ground. He was lic backing, rather more than Stephen Fry’s right to free All of these, partly understood by some two bil- then feted by the crowds. Later they would vote speech? The best form of ‘speech’ is no doubt the prac- lion Christians and many others, are Christian his death. They had their vote, even though they tical gospel activity in our local churches, in faith, hope principles. were wrong. Christ stood before the autocratic and charity. As the Archbishop said on Monday: “The Law rules because the God of law and justice rule of his time and sought only willing followers, darkness which ISIS seek to spread will be over- does, on God’s own terms. Servant rule is laid one by one, even if the one was a thief on a cross. Comment whelmed by the faithful lives of Christians shedding the out by Christ. He nails the politics of truth before Only when you vote for the servant king, do you light and peace of Christ.” Pilate and brings down the mighty from their understand democracy. thrones. This is why we need the establishment For in elections we are voting for the truth, of Christianity (not of the Church of England) whatever we think we are doing. We are voting The Church of England Newspaper because Christianity undergirds Democracy. for or against Christ, for or against testifying to with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week But what about, you may ask, one person one the truth. If the appeal is to our self-interest, is Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. vote? Surely that is obvious, clear, incontrovert- that the truth? Are we going to vote for trumped Company Number: 3176742 ible, central to democracy and not Christian? up self-promoters? Are we so stupid? Is the self- Publisher: Keith Young MBE Election, unless you drag in Calvin, is not a Chris- righteous rubbisher of others fit to govern? Is tian idea. this particular policy statement true? For this It depends what you mean by elections. 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[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 8 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday February 20, 2015 Feature Love your organist or sing Karaoke?

Andrew Reid, Director of the Royal School of tise, caring for others, or split families where a parent Church Music, offers some thoughts on the relation- needs weekend time with their children. But others would ship between church and organist. probably have to do with relationships between churches and organists, ranging from past disputes to the value Do you know a church near you, perhaps your own, that placed on the service of church musicians – and not just sings hymns, as it were, karaoke-style – that is to accom- financially. paniment from a CD player rather than a live musician? Some would raise the degree of collaboration, trust and Sometimes a shortage of organists is cited, but in my view understanding between incumbent and organist in the it would be a mistake to correlate the use of recorded choosing of hymns and other music. Some organists expe- music solely with this perceived problem. rience preparing music in advance only to have to contend The bigger issue to me is whether organists are pre- with late changes. pared to commit to churches and vice versa. Currently Many musicians are trained with sensitivity to these there are many organists who don’t play regularly, and matters: they do not regard themselves as machines who others who circulate among several churches rather than will turn up for a fee (or not) and serve up whatever is put commit to one every week, even allowing for those who in front of them without any artistic input (whereas CDs are called to serve a benefice. will!). They recognise that to offer their best to God and When I’m asked about the use of pre-recorded accom- community, preparation, involvement and trust is needed. paniments, the central issue to my mind is the fact that, in (In similar vein, a doctor might accept a senior adminis- principle, worship, and therefore music in worship, trator’s instruction on process but not on how to treat a should be ‘live’. For worship to be a sacrificial offering and patient.) transformative of the worshipping community, it is not For a relationship to exist between a church and a done vicariously. church musician there must be love and communication In many senses a congregation singing to a recorded as well as understanding, and agreement as to what the Spending time organ is very much live. On the other hand, I believe church is hoping for. Music-making, like many other jobs, there is no adequate substitute for the ideal solution of live including artistic ones, involves sacrificing a degree of self musician(s) leading music in worship, able to respond to into the result. It’s therefore painful if that isn’t appreciat- circumstances in worship in choice of sound, colour, ed or the offering of relevant skills is shunned. It’s like any with the world tempo, re-harmonisation, rhythm or improvisation. This relationship: both sides must build it through generosity, depends on a good understanding both of worship and of understanding and sacrifice. the worshipping community. Is a CD the next best thing? Will there ever be enough organists? There may or may In my view empowering a congregation to sing unac- not be already, but that’s missing the point. The question church can be companied, perhaps by developing a vocal leader from is rather, ‘when will all church musicians, churches and among them is better, and is something Christians did for ministers be open, trusting and in alignment in terms of over 1,500 years before the organ became common. It is their aims and relationships which enable them to work realistic and can work, though it has its challenges as well together?’ a life-changing as joys for the community. So long as there are musicians, church communities If we were to ask those organists who don’t commit to a and clergy who are unrealistic about how such relation- church [i] why this is the case, there might be all kinds of ships might be forged and sustained, my guess is there answers. Some would concern practical matters: needing will be churches without organists and organists without experience time off from a very demanding job, lack of time to prac- churches, whether or not there is recorded music. A vital resource that can help all new Christians in their faith

Since it was launched in 2009, Church Army’s Now a Christian Topics include making sense of life, giving God a chance and course has introduced thousands of people to Jesus and helped why do bad things happen. new believers grow in their faith. So we are very excited to be re- Marketing Manager, Neil Thomson, who has been involved in launching the Now a Christian website and making the course relaunching Now a Christian, said: “We’ve been thrilled to stand available as a mobile phone app. alongside and support so many people as they begin their Christian journey by using Now a Christian. The feedback has “Now a Christian is a fantastic course. It explains aspects of been a great encouragement to us and we pray many more will be Christianity so well. My vicar is incredibly enthusiastic about nourished, fed and challenged by Now a Christian as this new encouraging members of our church congregation to sign up for it as app opens up the course to people wherever they are with their well as introducing new Christians to the faith.” phones.” Originally launched in 2009, Now a Christian has already “I’ve been reading the daily emails from Now a Christian and they introduced more than 3,500 people to Jesus and helped new have kept me believing that God and Jesus Christ can love me at believers grow in their faith. least, even though I’m going through a traumatic time. Now a Peter Graystone, one of the creators of Now a Christian, said: “I Christian is good because it is straight to the point and is sometimes am surprised and delighted that so many people have used Now funny. Thank you for reaching out to people to explain Jesus Christ. I a Christian. Perhaps it has been so popular because it doesn’t am still learning and trying to let go of the past incorrect ideas I had start from the point of view, ‘We are Christians – what should we about God. I just thank you and God for being there when I needed tell people?’ Instead my starting point when writing it was, ‘If I to read something like Now a Christian.” were making my first tentative steps toward faith, what would I want to know?’. So it’s simple, life-enhancing and utterly practical. This is just some of the amazing feedback we’ve had about Now a And I hope it’s enjoyable too.” Christian and the impact it is having on people’s lives as they discover more about Jesus for themselves. To find out more about Now a Christian: Therefore we are pleased to be able to relaunch the Now a Christian website and launch it as a free mobile phone app for Visit www.nowachristian.org.uk and sign up for free via the churches and individuals. website. You will then receive an email each day for five weeks. We hope that through this relaunch, Now a Christian will reach Download the free Now a Christian app on your mobile phone by even more people with the gospel and engage with the next visiting the Apple App Store and searching for Now a Christian. generation. Now a Christian is a free five-week course that has been If you would like us to send you some Now a Christian postcards specially designed to help people explore the basics of to hand out at your church or event to promote the course, please Christianity and what the Bible has to say about Jesus and how to email [email protected] or telephone 0300 123 2113. follow him.

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The common response of volunteers who take part in world and others in the community. church placements with the Journey with Us programme is that Victoria explained that, despite an exotic image as a paradise the experience had a transforming effect on their lives. island, the Seychelles has social problems like everywhere The self-funding placement scheme – which is run by the else, including growing use of heroin and alcohol. However, it Anglican mission agency Us (formerly USPG) – has been in was felt the churches could work together to make a differ- operation for over 60 years. The scheme is open to volunteers ence. aged 18 to 80, offering placement of up to 12 months with Us She said: “I feel I am very much in the right place. I’ve church partners. learned much more to draw on God’s Occupational psychologist Victoria strength. And when it all feels too much, I Howard, 60, is spending nine months in offload in emails to friends at home. the Seychelles, the country where she Journey With Us: “This placement has been a wonderful was born – and where her parents worked opportunity to serve God in the land of my with the church until they were expelled A transforming birth and to face challenges by trusting in after speaking out for low-paid workers. him.” Victoria explains: “About four years ago, experience on the Habib Nader, Journey with Us co-ordina- when my youngest son finished universi- lives of people tor, said: “God prepares people over many ty, it dawned on me that I would be free – years to fulfil particular roles. One of our financially and emotionally – to pursue responsibilities is to work with the volun- voluntary work. teer to discern the right placement, appro- “I helped to run Penzance Street Pas- priate support, and so on. Each placement tors for nearly three years. Then I heard about Journey with is tailored to match the volunteer. Real transformations take Us. place, and we attribute this to God working through the “I held a secret hope that I might return to the Seychelles process and the engagement of the volunteer in the new envi- where I was born – and was named after the capital city – and ronment.” where my father was archdeacon. Happily, this is what hap- pened. To find out more, visit www.weareUs.org.uk/journey or email “Returning to my place of birth was very emotional. I was Habib Nader on [email protected] only two when we left, so I had no early memo- ries. But I had returned with my father in 1986 for a three-week visit. “My father had been expelled from the coun- try by the then British governor and bishop because he had stood up for better wages for plantation workers. “Since arriving on placement, I have met peo- ple who knew my parents and speak of them warmly. I have found this immensely affirming – and wish my parents were still alive so I could share this experience with them, and appreci- ate them more.” Following discussions with the Rt Rev James Richard Wong Yin Song, Bishop of the Sey- chelles, Victoria agreed to help set up a street pastors-style project, with the support of the Ven Danny Elizabeth, local police, government

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A debate has broken out over the depiction of Thomas More in Wolf Hall. Those who are Anyone who thought the depiction of the C of E in Midsomer Murders familiar with A Man For All Seasons will be surprised at the calculating political schemer would improve with the disappearance of John Nettles playing Barnaby portrayed by Hilary Mantel whose hero is Thomas Cromwell. Mantel has rejected the and Brian True May as producer must have been disappointed. Catholic faith in which she was brought up and is not an admirer of Christianity in general. Hostility to the church must be in the programme’s DNA. The latest Catholic bishops have protested and the historian Eamon Duffy has offered a nuanced series featured an episode in which the wife of an ineffectual vicar defence of the saint. More was a man of his time who did approve the burning of heretics but turned out to be the leader of a pagan cult. The BBC Father Brown he never condemned anyone to death for their beliefs and he denied ever using torture. series is better disposed towards Christianity. Only loosely based on Duffy describes Wolf Hall as ‘great fiction based on fact’. Simon Schama says he is ‘relaxed’ Chesterton with completely different plots from the short stories, the about Mantel’s work but confesses her favourable picture of Cromwell ‘grates a bit’. Another programmes do make an attempt to let theology shed light on crime. Fr historian of Tudor England is less charitable. JJ Scarisbrick, author of an acclaimed Brown is shown reflecting on Augustine’s teaching on lying or the biography of Henry VIII, refers to Mantel’s work as ‘fiercely opinionated’. Writing in the nature of happiness. Unfortunately the series does little to convince as Weekly Standard he speaks of the ‘histrionics’ of her work and hails a new biography of a portrayal of the Catholic Church. Fr Brown has a wonderful Irish Cromwell by Tracy Broman as ‘a much surer guide than the one Hilary Mantel provides’. housekeeper and a priest advised the series. Even so, there have been a The problem is, as Duffy recognises, that the television series of Wolf Hall will help to shape number of howlers. Fr Brown ‘takes’ confession; we are told (in the a generation’s understanding of what happened in a crucial period of English history. The early 1950s) that the bishop is away at a ‘synod’ in London; and Fr books themselves have probably not had a major impact. Richard Ingrams claims a poll of Brown doesn’t always know how to wear his vestments. But the real Oldie readers revealed many gave up after couple of chapters of Wolf Hall. problem is that the church looks so thoroughly Anglican and the atmosphere is very that much of a C of E rural parish. It would have been better if the series had been set in a parish in Liverpool or Manchester but the idea appears to be firmly established in the world of TV drama that murders in England take place in the country. Actually they don’t and Fr Brown would have been more authentic if he had been shown in a convincing Catholic urban setting. Theologians who make the weather

Cardinal Walter Kasper, former President of the Pontifical Council for Shades of Green Christian Unity, is a heavyweight theologian who has been quoted with approval by Pope Francis. On the issue of communion for divorced Catholics he is a leading voice pushing for change. Commentators Both archbishops are standing behind Lord Green but the looking for clues about the future direction of the Papacy under Francis Financial Times claims that the City is starting to turn its back are likely to examine a new volume by Kasper entitled The Catholic on him. Few who know the Conservative peer and non- Church with interest. On the ordination of women it definitely looks stipendiary priest believe he would condone tax dodging on like no change. Kasper refers to recent papal pronouncements as ‘so the scale that went on in HSBC’s Swiss subsidiary. Personally decisively authoritative that I can hardly envisage a ascetic and famous for wearing M & S suits Lord Green has change in the Church’s teaching’. What needs to be given away large sums of money he has earned in bonuses, done, Kasper argues, is to give ‘more space in the much of it to a charity that works to support the C of E and the different areas of ecclesial life to the charisma of relief of poverty overseas. In his book Good Money he doesn’t women than is presently the case’. Women deacons have much to say about tax (it wasn’t a big issue when he and deaconesses are ruled out but there is no wrote in 2009) but he stresses the importance of businesses mention of women Cardinals. They could be a possibility. Meanwhile helping to build up the common good. The book is stuffed Anglicans will be sad to hear of the death at the age of 78 of another with quotations from TS Eliot, Gerard Manley Hopkins, major Catholic theologian, Richard McBrien, whose first book Gogol and Goethe. Teilhard de Chardin gets a mention but (based on his thesis) was a study of the church in the theology of there are not many theologians or economists. The root John AT Robinson. Author of many books, including a major of Lord Green’s problems appears to be that when he work, Catholicism, and the author of a widely read newspaper ran HSBC he left too much to local managers and spent column, it has been said that in the 1980s and 1990s McBrien time on such personal interests as reading European had a higher profile in the US Catholic Church than anyone The Gallery literature. Perhaps the irony is that the man who except John Paul II. The press loved him. He was always ready produced a report for training church leaders that was to voice an outspoken opinion and held progressive views Whispering full on fashionable management-speak was asleep at the about most debated questions in the Catholic Church. He had wheel when running his own company. Lesson for the no rivals for his ability to combine serious theological church: don’t judge leaders by their ability to hold forth scholarship with the skills of a gifted communicator. in synods and committees and parrot fashionable clichés.

LIZHOARE thespiritualdirector By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare

There was silence in heaven for about a spiritual discipline that is not just for the outer silence, is there silence inside love. Allow that to sink and when the half an hour,’ Rev 8:1. introverts. When we imagine heaven to match or is there a ceaseless clam- random thoughts and ‘must do’ we probably think of a great crowd of our of thoughts all seeking attention? It demands force their way in, as they are Spiritual disciplines are means by joyful people joining in the angelic voic- is like trying to have a serious conver- sure to do, imagine putting them into a which Christians learn to ‘put on es of ceaseless praise. A noisy place sation about life and death with a close little paper boat and floating them Christ’. As an athlete will do warm-ups then, but the Bible says that even here, friend when three or four small chil- downstream on a river. Simply let them before running in a race, so spiritual there is an element of silence. All of us dren are pulling at your coat and all go. disciplines are a means not the end need silence if we are to hear God demanding your immediate attention. There are other things we could do to itself. Most Christians recognise the speaking to us. If we expect God to Silence itself is not prayer, but it is a cultivate silence. Pause before speak- need to do certain things if they want to speak to us through his word we need necessary preparation for prayer. So ing, pay attention to how we listen, know Christ better: reading his word to find ways of silencing the constant what can we do? switch off the iPod/radio/TV and listen and spending time in prayer on a regu- chatter in our minds. We all know how We might begin by finding some- to what sounds there are around and lar basis are two basic spiritual prac- difficult it is to find silence in our busy, where where it is outwardly quiet. Then turn these into prayer. Often it is the tices. There are many others and as noisy, overactive world. we need to locate ourselves in the pres- fruits of silence where we notice the well as doing what we always do with Where do you experience absolute ent in mind, body and spirit. Try benefits rather than the silence itself, greater intention, Lent presents us with quiet in your daily routine? How would breathing slowly and deeply and be and the greatest of these is a deeper the challenge to be much more focused you go about building in some regular aware of what you are doing. Just as intimacy with God. on finding those means that will help us times of silence into your day? Perhaps God breathed his life/spirit into Adam, The psalmist said not just ‘Be still’ but walk the Christian way more faithfully. there is a room or a park bench or a so he sustains us every moment of our ‘be still and know that I am God’ (Ps One such is the discipline of silence, canal to walk beside. But when you find lives. He is here and we are held in his 46:10).

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Tempting though it is to concen- on the ground are counterpro- View from the Pew trate on events closer to home ductive and stir up further trou- such as the attacks in Copen- ble, yet we can back moderate hagen, there are far more vic- groups and credible leaders Mail tims of Islamist terrorism and such as the Egyptian President At war with the violence in the Middle East. The Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who has opening up of a new front to the responded to the beheadings The Church of England has gone to war with the Daily Mail. Good luck with that then. violence of the so-called Islamic with air strikes. With a daily circulation well over one million (including many churchgoers among that number) the State group, by the shocking We must also constantly draw Daily Mail will take some comfort from the fact that its readership, though declining, is holding up beheadings of 21 Egyptian attention to the fact that the pretty well against the Church’s long-standing nose-dive into oblivion. The Church has nothing to gain Christians in Libya, presses chief victims of Islamist terror- from an outright clash while the Daily Mail has absolutely nothing to lose. home the fact that the influence ism are Muslims themselves. The latest spat between the Church and the Daily Mail is over a story in Saturday’s edition over the of this group is spreading to There are signs that terrorist Archbishop of Canterbury’s participation at Dresden. It’s clear that the Daily Mail, some MPs, histo- proxy groups and militias groups are becoming so rians and veterans quoted in the story regarded his speech as too sorrowful in tone and ‘regretful’. throughout the region. depraved and evil that they will They ran a story mistakenly claiming that his speech was an ‘apology’. They were wrong, and he had This is a time of danger in no longer be given succour and been very careful to avoid using such language. But the Daily Mail criticism was that the speech itself, which the West must not lose its encouragement in any Muslim rather than the accompanying interviews, was equivocal and was also insufficiently supportive of the nerve. Firstly, we must not lis- communities. airmen who took part in the bombing raids. ten to siren voices calling for These terrorists defame the The Archbishop’s rebuttal of the claim that his speech amounted to an apology as ‘manifestly false’ restrictions on our own free- good name and standing of all was probably sufficient by way of response. Unfortunately there have been furious, spitting interven- doms. Muslims may be forbid- Muslims and must be dealt with tions by others. The Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines, wrote that there “are no words adequate to den to make images and primarily within Muslim com- describe the shamefulness of that front page. (www.nickbaines.wordpress.com). The trouble with representations of their prophet munities. Our political leaders such hyperbole is that it is easy to run out of adjectives when you come against something of shocking but Islamic notions of blasphe- and church leaders must be enormity like serial killings. my are not binding on anyone wise and discriminatory in the “Is this the free press we fought a war to preserve?” he also thundered in tones reminiscent of a else. We must not give up on the way they reach out to Muslim tabloid editorial. value of free speech even if we community leaders. Moderate His choice of illustration of an irrelevant 80-year-old picture of Lord Rothermere standing with Adolf personally prefer civility and Muslims who advocate secular Hitler will undoubtedly add further fuel to the Church of England’s combustible relationship with courtesy. I’ll defend someone principles and peaceful coexis- Associated Newspapers. else’s right to be rude and tence should be encouraged But for a long time, the Church hierarchy has been sneering at the Mail. As far as the left is con- insulting towards Islam if they and supported, while Muslims cerned, the Mail is the chief enemy and many Church of England leaders adopt the same posture. like, within the rule of law. who are belligerent and totali- The trouble is that this is not the right attitude to take when your aim is to reach as many people as Secondly, the military strate- tarian in their claims should be you can with the message of the Gospel. Sneering and demonising one of the biggest circulation gy is that of the long haul. Boots criticised and discouraged. dailies is counterproductive and damaging.

Ironically, by swimming we could probably tone up some of the wobbly bits we are afraid of reveal- ing. Working out in the water helps strengthen legs, arms, shoulders and of course hips, bums and thighs. Water is 12 times more resistant to a work- out than on land so Caroline says it is an amazing opportunity to keep toned, no matter what the body Janey Lee Grace shape. Swimming also works the heart muscle, helping with aerobic fitness, which in turn will help it become much stronger. “It’s a very different way of Live Healthy! Live Happy! breathing to being on land,” says Caroline. “It helps the lungs and heart to process oxygen more effec- tively.” Also girls, here’s a tip; wearing a towelling robe to How swimming can work wonders the side of the pool or even a towel works well, no one can see you once you are in the water as every- Half a million women are too shy to go swimming, reads should look and understandably some women can one is at the same level and the water covers you up! the headline in the Daily Mail article by Tania Steers. become shy because they don’t fit the perceived ideal No excuses then, only problem now is what to do According to The Active People Survey, which shape. But having a good water workout will do wonders about the chlorine – it plays havoc with the hair! researched into the over-16s participation in sports, to your self-esteem, your heart and those muscles that around 455,000 have hung up their bathing suits for good are unintentionally neglected. Caroline Swatton is the founder of the Swalings in the past decade. That’s despite the report stating that “Being in the water is a low-impact way to be able to Academy swimmers would only have to swim for half an hour a exercise and can be an enormous amount of fun.” www.swalings.com week to be considered as taking part in the sport. In the last year, 181,700 women stopped going swim- ming compared with 63,300 men. A new campaign urging more women to do sport, with the advertising slogan ‘This Girl Can’, celebrates women exercising ‘no matter how they do it, how they look or even how sweaty they get’. It’s been very successful with huge numbers of views on YouTube. I must confess while I love yoga and dance I’ve never been a fan of getting cold and wet in public pools but Car- oline Swatton, founder of The Swalings innovative ‘safe swimming’ methodology is keen to promote the benefits of swimming. “Women should love their bodies no matter what shape they are and swimming can be a fantastic way to have an ‘all over’ exercise,” says Caroline. “Too much emphasis is put on women as to how they

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%-())!$!&" The Rev Captain Stuart Petty, Senior Chaplain, York Hospital NHS Foundation Trust ("#&*'!)&,&+') ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER (York) to be Assistant Chaplain, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, New Cross Hospital 020 7222 2018 • [email protected] (Lichfield). Saturday 14 February. Psalm 139: 13-18, Wis. The Rev Richard Radley, 11: 1-14. Manchester - (York, England): The Rt Vicar of Doncaster St Mary and St Paul (Sheffield), to #!%$"#&! Rev David Walker; Manchester - Bolton - (York, be Team Vicar, Billingham Team Parish (Durham). England): The Rt Rev Christopher Paul The Rev Jacqueline Anne (Jacki) Tonkin, Edmondson; Manchester - Middleton - (York, has been re-appointed as Assistant Curate (SSM) of England): The Rt Rev Mark Davies the Benefices of Langtoft with Foxholes, Butterwick, Sunday 15 February. Epiphany 6. Psalm 144: 1- Cottam and Thwing, and Great and Little Driffeld 4, Wis. 11: 21-26. Mandalay - (Myanmar): The Rt (York). Rev David Nyi Nyi Naing Diocese of Southwark The Rev Christopher van D’Arque, The Church Trust Fund Trust invite applicaPons for the post of Monday 16 February. Psalm 149: 1-5, Wis. 12: Anglican Priest at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals 12-18. Manicaland - (Central Africa): The Rt Rev (Sheffield) has been appointed Lead Chaplain at VICAR Julius Tawona Makoni Doncaster Royal Infirmary including Bassetlaw ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST BLACKHEATH Tuesday 17 February. Psalm: 33: 1-9, Prov. 23: Chapel (Southwell and Nottingham). St Johns is a diverse, large and lively evangelical church in an 15-25. Mara - (Tanzania): The Rt Rev Hilkiah The Rev Janet Wyer, aOracPve part of South East London. We are commiOed to our Omindo Deya Associate Priest at St Peter Mancroft, Norwich is to be purpose “To love and serve God together, using and developing Wednesday 18 February. Ash Wednesday. Rector of the Kessingland benefice (Norwich). all that he has given us, especially by: sharing the gospel of Psalm 19, Ro. 9:1-13. Marathwada - (North India): Jesus; showing love to one another and our community; and The Rt Rev Madhukar Kasab supporPng, equipping and challenging one another to live out Thursday 19 February. Psalm 17:1-11, Job 22:1- RETIREMENTS & RESIGNATIONS our ChrisPan faith in all aspects of our lives.” 14. Maridi - (Sudan): The Rt Rev Justin Badi We seek a dynamic leader who: Arama •Is a giQed Bible based preacher, able to communicate the The Rev Nicholas Buck, gospel clearly and creaPvely resigned from his post as Rector in the Benefice of •Is able to challenge, inspire, and lead us prayerfully in Bassingham Group (Lincoln) with effect from 19 April discerning God’s calling, helping us connect with the whole BIBLECHALLENGE 2015. of life The Rev Felicity Ferriter, •Has an enabling leadership style, recognising and nurturing Team Vicar of the Retford Area Team (Southwell and the work of the Holy Spirit in us all Nottingham) is to retire with effect from 1 May 2015. •Is able to combine strategic vision and leadership with Day 51 – Numbers 6-8, Psalm 42, Mark 16 The Rev Alice Moira (Tirsh) Grigor, pastoral warmth and sensiPvity Day 52 – Numbers 9-11, Psalm 43, Luke 1 Stipendiary Rector of the Benefice of Quinton, •Will welcome and embrace our diversity of evangelicalism Day 53 – Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in Welford, Weston and St John’s: church Marston Sicca (Gloucester), to retire from 30 April •Is commiOed to evangelism and outreach Day 54 – Numbers 12-14, Psalm 44, Luke 2 2015. •Provides support from all member ministry, with good Day 55 – Numbers 15-17, Psalm 45, Luke 3 The Rev Jeffrey William Rowland Hattan, parPcipaPon in all aspects of our shared life Day 56 – Numbers 18-20, Psalm 46, Luke 4 Vicar, Hunmanby with Muston (York), is retiring with •Is welcoming and acPvely engages the community Day 57 – Numbers 21-23, Psalm 47, Luke 5 effect from 30 April 2015. •Recognises the need to conPnually adapt to meet new The Rev Melanie Jackson, challenges resigned from her post as assistant curate in the For further details, please contact Kathy Burch, CPAS Benefice of Lincoln, St John the Baptist with effect [email protected] 0300 123 0780 ex 4388 APPOINTMENTS from 19 December 2014. Closing date 8th March 2015 Interviews: 13th May 2015 The Rt Rev John Neale, The post is subject to enhanced disclosure from the DBS has resigned from the office of Honorary Assistant New Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham Bishop in the Diocese of Bristol, effective 27th The Rt Rev Paul Williams, January 2015. ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE Area Bishop of Kensington, in the Diocese of London, The Rev Canon David W Smith, to be Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham. Team Rector, Whitby with Ruswarp (York), is retiring with effect from 14 May 2015. Borrowell Clergy Homes Trust The Rev John Tallant, The Trustees of Borrowell Clergy Homes are pleased to announce that abungalow The Rev Nicholas (Nick) Barry, Priest in charge, Dunscroft St Edwin (Sheffield), to has become available for March/April 2015. Deputy Chaplain-in-Chief RAF, has been appointed retire from Sunday 3 May 2015. The Trust administers and maintains 13 bungalows in a small residential area – Vicar of St Luke with St James, Jersey. The Rev Canon Judith Trickett, Margetts Close - in the centre of the town of Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The homes are specifically forretired clergy and their spouses/partners with alimited income. The Rev Martin Charles Doe, Rector of Firbeck St Martin with Letwell St Peter and Usually the people who come to live in the Close are financially unable to take (Senior Chaplain, Scarborough Hospital, York Vicar of Woodsetts George and Honorary Canon of advantage of the C of E Pensions Board Mortgage scheme. The Trust, however, take Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) has been Sheffield Cathedral (Sheffield), to retire from Tuesday aholistic approach when considering an applicant, as the priority of need for proximity appointed as Senior Chaplain, York Teaching Hospital 31 March 2015. to amenities may outweigh financial matters. NHS Foundation Trust. The Rev Marion Elizabeth Williams, If you feel that you would like to be part of Margetts Close now or are interested for Self-Supporting Associate Priest in the Benefice of the future please contact the Clerk to the Trustees, Miss Kathleen Harry, 5Thirlestane The Rev Barbara Holbrook, Close, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2PW or email [email protected] Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity, Kimberley and St Gloucester, St Catharine to retire from 8 March 2015. The Trust is a member of the Almshouse Association Patrick, Nuthall (Southwell and Nottingham) to become Rector of the United Benefice of Kimberley and Nuthall. LAY AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS HOLIDAY CARAVAN The Rev David Fudger, Vicar of St Peter & St Paul, Mansfield and Priest in YORKS/LANCS BORDER:- static 4 Charge of St Mark, Mansfield (Southwell and Capt Gordon Banks, berth caravan, working farm, Nottingham) to become Vicar of the Benefices of St Diocesan Evangelist (Chichester) leaves for Lichfield panoramic views Ingleborough, Peter and St Paul and St Mark’s Mansfield. The Diocese. central lakes and dales. 01524261784 benefices are now held in plurality by one incumbent. The Rev John Madinda, Principal of St Philip’s Theological College, Tanzania SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION is to be Team Vicar (Designate) of The (Proposed) Honorary Canons Long Stratton Team Ministry (Curate in the Pilgrim The Rev Peter Ackroyd, OFFER! Benefice) (Norwich). Vicar of Wootton, to be Honorary Canon of St Albans Take out a print subscription to THE The Rev Richard James Edward Major, The Rev David Abbott, CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEWSPAPER Vicar, Bilton in Holderness (York), to be Rector of the Vicar of Sunnyside with Bourne End, to be Honorary FOR 6 MONTHS Woodhall Spa Group (Lincoln). Canon of St Albans FOR JUST £35 (UK only) - includes free The Rev Martin Otter, The Rev Alison Adams, online access to Assistant Curate SSM of the Benefice of Sherburn-in- Diocesan and Cathedral Social Responsibility Enabler, Elmet with Saxton, has been appointed as Assistant to be Honorary Canon, Leicester Cathedral www.churchnewspaper.com Curate (part-time stipendiary) of the Benefice of Prof Robert Allison, Sherburn-in-Elmet with Saxton (York). Vice-Chancellor and President, Loughborough The Rev Susan Paterson, University, to be Honorary Canon, Leicester 9# 6";CB>=@C ?CBC. !?#%C *5* 0555 5*7- Priest in Charge of Ab Kettleby with Holwell and Cathedral #B C'6=8 6"@2$?C+ Weoley Castle (Birmingham) to be Anglican Chaplain, Diocesan Director of Education, to be Honorary )77 !CB @=%A8C $#8<'% $C%>='C>BC University of Warwick (Coventry). Canon, Leicester Cathedral www.churchnewspaper.com Friday February 20, 2015 Register 13

died on 26 November 2014 (Liverpool). January. LAY AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS The Rev Jack Harding, The Rev Fred Lapham, died on 12 January 2015 (Liverpool). Retired Priest Formerly Incumbent of Grappenhall and The Rev Thomas (Tom) Russell Hawthorn, Rural Dean of Great Budworth deanery, in Chester Ms Mads Morgan, Born 1918. BSc (Imperial College London) 1948;MBE Diocese, Mr Lapham retired in 1991. Pioneer Development Worker, to be Honorary Canon, 1990. Deacon 1982. Priest 1982. Mexico 1982-1984. The Rev Canon Roger MacPhee, Leicester Cathedral. Permission to Officiate (Norwich) from 1984 Sub Born 9 May 1943. Deacon 1986. Priest 1988. NSM The Rev Vincent Oram, Chaplain HMP Blundeston 1986-1994. Died 15 Trunch from 1986. Vicar of Stevenage, Holy Trinity, to be Honorary December 2014. Diocesan NSM Officer from 1997. Honorary Canon Canon of St Albans. The Rev Joanna Ingram, Norwich Cathedral from 2003. Died 11 January 2015. Mrs Neslyn Pearson, Assistant Curate of Melbourne, Ticknall, Smisby and The Ven Robert Metcalf, Churchwarden of All Saints Bedford, to be a Lay Stanton-by-Bridge from 2011, and previously Assistant died on 26 December 2014 (Liverpool). Canon, St Albans. Curate of Aston-on-Trent, Elvaston, Weston-on-Trent The Rev Geoffrey John Arthur Mycock, and Shardlow 2007-2011, (Derby), died on 25th Retired Priest died 18 December 2014. Formerly January 2015. Chaplain to the Bishop of Stockport and Priest in DEATHS Andrew Johnson, Charge of Hargrave (Chester), retired in 1990. Diocesan Registrar, Salisbury Diocese, died suddenly The Rev ML Nicholas, at home on 15 January. Manormead Care Home, died on 27 November 2014 The Rev Peter William Albert Bowers, The Rev John Frederick Benson Jowitt, (Guildford). died on 30 December 2014. Peter served in parish Born 1 November 1923. Oak Hill Theological College, Valerie Phillips, ministry in the Diocese of Canterbury from 19/02/72 1957. Deacon, Diocese of Upper Nile (Uganda) 1959. Reader Emeritus, died on 22 December (St Albans). until his retirement in 2002, at which point he was Priest, Diocese of Upper Nile (Uganda) 1959. Uganda The Rev Alison Shaw, granted Permission to Officiate within the diocese. 1959-1963; Chaplain to HM Forces, 1963-1973; died on 5 January 2015 (Liverpool). The Rev Derek Lowe Cowmeadow, Rector,Thrandeston, Stuston and Brome with Oakley, The Rev Margaret Thame, Formerly Priest in Charge of the Benefice of Coln St 1973-1982; Vicar, Docking, 1982-1983; Priest in charge, Formerly NSM of Cheltenham, St Michael; and of All Aldwyn with Hatherop and Quenington died on 31 Gt Bircham, 1982-1983; Rector, Docking with the Saints’, Pittville, died on 29 January 2015. January 2015. Birchams, 1983-1988; Priest in charge, Stanhoe with The Rev David William Webb, The Rev Norman Dabbs, Barwick, 1985-1988; Rector, Docking with the PTO, Canterbury, died on 23 January 2015. Canterbury, died on 27 January 2015. Birchams and Stanhoe with Barwick, 1988. Retired, The Rev Christopher Godfrey Woodhead, The Rev Canon Gordon Greenwood, 1988. Died 8 January. died on 2 January 2015. Christopher had PTO in the died on 26 December 2014 (Liverpool). The Rev Mary Leah Kearns, Diocese of Canterbury 1991 – 2012. The Rev Canon Jim Hamilton, Permission to Officiate (Guildford), died on 23

the nation, especially as she Furthermore, when the To m Wright was rejected by the China conservative evangelicals get Sir, You report (13 February) that two Episcopalian Inland Mission for not being their bishop, it will give a academics question NT Wright’s honorary degree - educated enough and was church within a church on the grounds that his conclusions are ‘ideologically deemed ‘unqualified.’ structure to a group who are generated’. I was fortunate enough in increasingly alienated from the First, Wright has often taken independent or radical 2006 and 2007 to visit mainstream Church of positions (on heaven; on apocalyptic language; on the Yangcheng in mainland China England, and are already Spirit’s gender in Romans 8:26). Second, he’s so extremely and pay respects at her grave in crossing diocesan borders to non-ideological as to be unclassifiable denominationally, with a Taiwan where she ran an plant churches. An episcopal strong following among groups as diverse as the Catholics, the orphanage until her death in succession has now been set in Emerging Church, and the Charismatics, as well as Anglicans 1970. place, which sets itself at ‘Three-parent’ and Evangelicals. Have we seen such breadth of acceptance for I am making an appeal to variance with the Church of babies a Christian teacher since CS Lewis? anyone who may have England as a whole. Sir, I am still at the stage of But what takes the ironical biscuit is that the academics memories of Gladys talking at The undergirding theology is hoping that people won’t ask criticise him for not being ‘progressive’. After all, ‘progressive’ their church or school or other that a woman participating in a me what I think on the subject is the ideological word par excellence. event during the time that she consecration or a bishop who of “three-parent babies” First, who reserves the right to decide which things was back in the British Isles to has had a bishop lay hands on because it is such a complex constitute ‘progress’? One person’s perceived ‘progress’ is share any information they him, may have lost the question that presents us with another person’s perceived ‘regress’, which is why we need to might have about this largely intention to pass on holy the almost impossible task of consult relatively objective statistics. unrecorded part of her life. orders. Presumably the finding the right path among Second, the sexual revolution so popular among self-styled She travelled widely across evangelicals do not want an issues of ethics, compassion, progressives is something easily demonstrated to be very England, Scotland, Wales and in Anglo-Catholic bishop to lead responsible caution and regressive by all kinds of statistical measures. parts of Ireland, to share her them who believes in the Mass. courageous openness to what Third, to split people into ‘progressives’ and (presumably) experiences of how God called It will be interesting if they God our Creator may be saying ‘regressives’ is both inaccurate, simplistic, and insulting - it’s an her to China and she was an accept bishops who have to us. attempt, of dubious integrity, to silence without any actual inspiration to countless ordained women bishops, to But we cannot ask scientists argument all those who question one’s own ideology. individuals and congregations participate in the laying on of of whatever faith or none to Fourth, history is highly complex and doesn’t move in alike. It would be wonderful to hands, when the conservative listen to our contribution to the straight lines. We don’t even remotely control history, so what capture those details and form evangelical bishop is discussion, if we base our right has anyone to impose upon the whole complexity of a clearer itinerary of her consecrated. opinions on a significantly history some simple grand ‘teleological’ narrative (that usually activities during those years Can a church with a erroneous understanding of corresponds to their own private interests), let alone to force and catalogue them. retracting membership, and what is at issue. everyone to ‘agree’ on what that grand narrative is and to ‘get Please get in touch or contact baptizing less than a sixth of all I refer to J Longstaff’s with the programme’?! those family members or English babies, really afford to accusation that a life must be Dr Christopher Shell, friends who might remember place its future in such a sacrificed for each one whose Hounslow her. I can be reached via the quandary? life will be spared by this details below: The whole movement for technique. No “embryos no effective brakes being who became a household name Mr Colin Nevin, women ordination in the (persons)” will be destroyed applied at crucial moments of in the 1960s with the 45c Rathgill Park, Bangor, Church of England has been, because the ovum from which decision making vis-a-vis people Hollywood film The Inn of the County Down, Northern Ireland. on the eve of its victory, been the substitute mitochondrial who are suffering or who are Sixth Happiness based on her BT19 7TQ. set back with the effective DNA will be taken is a non- faced with a daunting future in life and which starred Ingrid [email protected] establishment of a separate “ fertilised one, such as the the grip of such diseases as Bergman as Gladys bringing pure” line of episcopal average woman will shed motor neuron disease, 100 orphans over the Shanxi Consecration succession. How a person between 400 and 500 times Huntington’s chorea, and so on. mountains to safety in Xian via Sir, The consecration of Bishop claiming to be Anglican can be during her child-bearing years. Who is it who appears to be the Yellow River, during the North in York Minster has not in communion with the It is the treated ovum that is showing compassion and Sino-Japanese war. been treated in an analytical Archbishops of York and then fertilised by the natural carrying on our Lord’s work of Gladys later came back to manner. In effect it marked the Canterbury and at the same father’s sperm. An unfertilised healing? England for a time and told her de facto granting of a third time reject their episcopal ovum is not remotely Mary P Roe, story of how she, as a simple province to those Anglo- ministrations is ridiculous. potentially “a human person.” Bicester, Oxon parlourmaid, made her way to Catholics who do not believe in Someone should have stood up It is not hard to imagine why China on the Trans-Siberian female ordination, beyond that at the Consecration and so many scientists see no point Help wanted Railway alone to help run an of the diaconate. Thus a objected to the precedent being in seeking the opinions of Sir, I am currently researching Inn for muleteers in the remote settlement more far reaching set. people of faith but just charge the story of the late missionary mountainous village of than the act of synod in 1993 Robert Ian Williams, ahead with their research with to China, Miss Gladys Aylward, Yangcheng. Her story captured has been achieved. Bangor

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday February 20, 2015 Books / Sunday

The choice of the new Christian paperbacks SUNDAY SERVICE The Word on the Wind ing the Bible are astounding. Alison Morgan You’ll find yourself taking lots of notes and rush- Monarch Books, pb, £9.99 ing back to church to start the renewal and trans- 2nd Sunday of Lent — Sunday 1 March 2015 formation of your place. Put simply, let the Gospel The Bad Christian’s Manifesto fly. Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Dave Tomlinson Tomlinson is a different kettle of fish. His analy- Romans 4:13-25 Hodder & Stoughton, hb, £13.99 (or sis of the problem is that postmodernism has Mark 8:31-38 £12.78 from the CEN Shop) denuded truth and so we must be much more rela- tivist ourselves. Church is no longer relevant to One of the key things in our readings this week is the idea of cor- We need prophetic voices in our Church and here many people. recting those who go astray and err in matters of faith. This is a are two. Both agree on the problem, but each has a I suspect that both authors would agree on what “primary”, life and death, issue. The Collect for today pleads with profoundly different solution. You pays your has gone wrong. Tomlinson’s cheeky answer is God to “show to those who are in error the light of your truth, money, you makes your choice. that we need to reinvent God. God is everywhere, that they may return to the way of righteousness.” Both authors lament the state of the church. People struggle with the God word because they Jesus had to have words with the apostle Peter himself on this They worry about falling numbers and are quietly have fallen foul of a basic misunderstanding. They score. Jesus taught publicly and openly that his path to glory was outraged that the beautiful message of the Gospel believe that God is out there and distant. Whereas through suffering, rejection, death and resurrection. Yet Peter is not coming through. people actually know God but don’t know the God thought he should correct the Lord on this, and rebuke him for For Morgan the issue is that scientific rational- that Church has created. such defeatism and negativity. “Don’t you know that the Messiah ism and individualism have made us unhappy and The book wants to reclaim God and that is a comes in power and glory, Jesus? Don’t distance yourself from alienated and cannot fully answer life’s big ques- noble aim, but I couldn’t help but think that God the movers-and-shakers of the religious establishment so quick- tions. Increased wealth seems to have had a direct does not need Dave’s help. I just wonder if we do ly! There’s a better way for us to win the day.” A puny creature relationship with depression and the like. Her not need to reinvent God at all, but that we need to puts the Creator straight. book is a pure breath of fresh air, the best I’ve read allow him to reinvent us. Yet ever so kindly, out of his great love for Peter, the Lord Jesus in years. She simply dissects new atheism and she His book will get the traditionalist hot under the censured his satanic strategy for a cross-less path to glory. The brings a kindly, if withering eye, on how we some- collar and, to be fair, I had the odd hottish moment. very earthly Rock was setting his mind on the things of this times do church now. This takes well over a hun- But it is worth a read and will prompt some pro- world rather than learning to accept God’s ways and means. dred pages and a judicious edit would have helped. found questions. I like Tomlinson, even if I don’t Peter’s private impudence, motivated by fear and shame, would But when she launches into the rest of the book agree him all the time. Where both Tomlinson and be subject to a humiliating public admonition. Only those who it is simply thrilling. Laced with stories and Morgan agree is that there are hundreds of thou- are willing to follow Jesus by turning their backs on what seems insights she simple places before us a manifesto sands of people out there who are spiritual and are to be for their own advantage, to take up his way of ignominious for a Charismatic thinking church, empowered by having spiritual experiences but that the Church weakness will be saved. Only they shall be recognised and the spirit and one that works today, without losing does not seem like a place they want to go. embraced on the last day, and not deservedly cast aside with an any of the power and orthodoxy of the Gospel. Her Buy both books and make your own minds up. adulterous and sinful generation, says Jesus. chapters on change and stirring up ideas and read- Steve Morris Paul is also in a corrective mood in Romans 4. It is a telltale sign whenever he starts to tell us how something did not happen, and traces through the implications of an alternative position to The Gospel of the Lord the confidence to say it to my church had important reasons “null and void”! The big idea is that law and works are antithetical Michael F Bird tutor! for wanting to recall the words to faith and promise, which Paul feels he must be clear on Eerdmans, pb, £19.99 Bird describes his own and deeds of Jesus. History can- because presumably it is being denied by someone somewhere, approach as ‘believing criti- not be separated from theology either implicitly or explicitly. Michael Bird cism’. He believes that scripture and we should not think in As Calvin says in his commentary, if salvation depended on the is a young Aus- is inspired but he also argues terms of separate layers of tra- keeping of the law then “consciences would have no certainty, tralian scholar that God used human authors dition in some way unaffected but would be harassed with perpetual inquietude, and at length who teaches at and human processes and that by the tradition. sink into despair.” Ridley College we have to study the Bible in Bird devotes a long chapter to It is always good to remind ourselves that the personal, spiritu- in Melbourne the light of its context and the the synoptic problem that has al consequences of so-called “abstract” theological error can be and is gaining processes that shaped it. To say exercised generations of theolo- very serious indeed. We must continue to look for our “justifica- a reputation as the gospels are historically reli- gy students and backs the theo- tion” not from works of any kind, but by trusting in the one who an evangelical able is not to say they tell us ry that is associated with was delivered over to the wrath of the law for our sins, and was who writes what Jesus would have been Robert Grundy: Mark came raised to life again for us. good books on the New Testa- like if we had been able to fol- first; Matthew and Luke used Abram and Sarai have their names “corrected” in the reading ment that take account of the low him around with a hidden Mark and Q; at a later point from Genesis 17. Trusting in God’s astonishing promise, his faith latest critical scholarship. This video camera. But they are his- Luke incorporated Matthew was reckoned as righteousness, and “good as dead” Abram new book by Bird made Christi- torically rooted in the testimony into his work. He readily became Abraham, the father of many. And this, not via the satan- anity Today’s 2015 Book of the earliest eyewitnesses. accepts that the Johannine tra- ic, human method of circumventing God’s path (Genesis 16:1-2), Awards as a book ‘most likely to As Bird astutely points out, if dition is a puzzle. It is hard to but just as God had said, through Sarah, the “princess.” shape evangelical life, thought the early Christians were not demonstrate dependence on Both Sarah and Abraham laughed at the news and seemed to and culture’. It was the book interested in the historical the synoptic tradition and yet doubt; though Romans 4 says Abraham was unwavering in his picked for the prize in biblical Jesus they would have had no independence seems unlikely. faith. studies. reason for ascribing material to Bird suggests spasmodic inter- However we reconcile Paul and Genesis, it’s clear that Abra- At first sight it may look a dull such a figure in a setting they penetration in the pre-literary ham believed what God said about life from the dead, because he work, more of a textbook than a presented as historical. There is stage. He sees the fourth followed the sharply painful path of immediate and unquestion- book likely to appeal to the gen- a contradiction in the work of gospel as indebted to the testi- ing obedience, regardless of intimate personal discomfort. eral reader. Used as a textbook those scholars who assert that mony of a Judean disciple of So may we all pray, with the Collect for today: “Grant to all it will certainly have many the church was not interested Jesus who led a Christian com- those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, strengths. It summarises much in the historical Jesus but inter- munity at Ephesus. Later this that they may reject those things that are contrary to their pro- of the work in the field and con- ested enough to project later figure was identified as John fession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same.” siders arguments advanced by debates onto his life. the Apostle but the identifica- other scholars in a fair and bal- In his account of the way in tion is not certain. Dr Lee Gatiss is author of The Forgotten Cross (Evangelical anced way. which the tradition about Jesus Summing up the nature of the Press) and Director of Church Society But any Christian who wants was preserved Bird rightly lays gospels, Bird sees them as ‘bio- (www.churchsociety.org). to catch up on the latest think- stress on the fact that much of graphical keryma’ a ‘distinct ing on the origins and purposes Jesus’ teaching was given in adaptation of a biographical of the gospels should read this memorable form. He follows genre’ to be found in the book. Richard Bauckham and a num- ancient world. I relished Bird’s comment ber of scholars in seeing eyewit- Bird has written an excellent HYMN SELECTION that ‘the hypothesis that the ness testimony, some of it by work that deserves the praise it early church was not interested Aramaic-speaking disciples, as has received. He does not chal- in the historical Jesus works being an important source. Ini- lenge the view that the apostolic best if one assumes that the tially he was disposed to doubt testimony and interpretation is When I survey the wondrous cross early church, or at least con- the claims of Paul Barnett and itself part of God’s revelation to Take my life, and let it be stituent parts of it, were either others about the use of note- us but he shows how this inter- Beneath the cross of Jesus second-century Gnostics or books but now he goes along pretation is rooted in historical My worth is not in what I own 20th-century Existentialists’. with this theory. tradition. The God of Abraham praise I thought something like that Central to Bird’s work is a when I was a student but lacked stress on the fact that the early Paul Richardson

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[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday February 20, 2015 Reviews 15 The nominations are in for the Oscars…

Big Hero 6 (dir. Don Hall and Chris Williams, cert. PG) starts as almost a promo for science education, but ends up as an animated action hero movie. It’s loosely based on an old Marvel comic. In a meld of San Francisco and Tokyo, Hiro (or hero, voiced by Ryan Potter) is a 14-year-old boy using his hi-tech skills to participate in robot war games rather than join elder brother Tadashi (Daniel Henney) at “nerd school”. This turns out to be a highly innovative Institute of Technology led by Professor Callaghan (James Cromwell). Tadashi shows Hiro his invention, the self-inflating Baymax FILMS OFTHE WEEK (Scott Adsit), designed as a healer-robot, able to diagnose and treat injury. Merely saying “Ow!” when you stub your toe is enough to raise him to action. Duly impressed, Hiro is persuaded to try to gain a place, and It’s Oscar® night on Sunday. The main prizes for his audition comes up with microbots, small bits of pro- seem largely sorted – most favourites match the grammable plastic that can morph into any shape, and even carry BAFTA awards, including Julianne Moore’s best heavy weights. It’s such an innovation that it attracts attention from actress for Still Alice, which only gets its UK debut entrepreneur Alistair Krei (Alan Tudyk), doubtless seeing the mili- at the Glasgow Film Festival this weekend. tary capabilities of microbots. For best film, Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, A fire at the Institute leads to deaths, and to the destruction of the filmed for a few weeks each year as its subject store of microbots – or maybe not, as a “supervillain” in a Kabuki Kevin grows up from five to adulthood, may be mask emerges to wreak havoc on the city. It needs a team of super- rewarded for its breathtaking scope, but Birdman, heroes to stop him, and Hiro and four fellow students, and the another imaginative and complicated treatment, is peaceable Baymax, get themselves kitted out with super powers to a strong contender. Its director Alejandro G Iñár- take him on – the Big Hero 6. ritu and Linklater will also contend for the Direct- Baymax adds a distinct charm and a lot of fun to the fairly routine ing award. X-Men style events, but he’s also a buddy figure to Hiro, whose Eddie Redmayne looks likely to get Best Actor brother died trying to rescue Callaghan from the fire. For a half- for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory term children’s film, it has plenty of dark moments (loss of parents, of Everything, confirming that playing someone sibling, mentor) and the cartoon violence is still violence, but better with disability is a bonus at awards season. JK Sim- bits of human nature (loyalty, a greater good than riches) get an air- mons seems a cert for best supporting actor for ing. Whiplash, while Patricia Arquette, displaying almost different women in one role as she develops This month is a bad time to be releasing new films - so many over the period of Boyhood, will take supporting actress. cinema screens are otherwise occupied (Odeon Manchester had Wes Anderson’s original screenplay for The Grand Budapest Hotel might beat off even the “one- 13 out of 23 screens showing 50 Shades of Grey). I’d recommend take” complexity of Alejandro G Iñárritu and co-writers for Birdman but Boyhood’s screenplay was time-travel movie Predestination, but I’m not sure surely too improvised to merit the award. For adapted script, the field is a bit more open – I’d give I’m meant to see it. it to Damien Chazelle for the sheer pace and drama of Whiplash but The Imitation Game is Steve Parish favourite. Best musical score seems almost irrelevant – no tunes are hummable – but it’s between Jóhann Jóhannsson for The Theory of Everything and Alexandre Desplat for The Grand Budapest Hotel. Controversy over Selma missing out on major nominations may mean its song Glory will take best original song, but Everything is Awesome from The Lego Movie is the most memorable. The Lego Movie is not a nominee for best animated feature but Big Hero 6 (reviewed on this page) is – and although not many sequels get an award, the prize may go to How To Train Your Dragon 2. Unless the Academy fancies promoting a film about Russian corruption (Leviathan), Polish film Ida will be best in a foreign language. The Grand Budapest Hotel may miss out on the major awards, but at least should take at least one for costume or production design. BAFTA’s decision to precede the Oscars may actually have diminished interest in the industry’s prin- cipal evening out - unless there are surprises.

in holy subversion at times. connection between our fallen When they sing of hands raised, state and God’s greatness, and CD OFTHE WEEK rather than it being a clone-like songs like “Brokenness Aside” emotional activity, they make it a astutely sense how God works. sign of defiant, God-centred will This offers more than you All Sons and Daughters Live that carries through into the rest would expect in just about every (Integrity) of life: “Hands up all believers, department as it takes the listen- take up your cross, carry it.” It’s er on an honest journey from Every genre needs artists who can combine creativity, a phrase with the spirit of Keith brokenness to adoration. I fre- integrity, freshness and artistic quality. All Sons and Green’s No Compromise. quently caught myself enjoying Daughters do just that for worship music. The DVD is just a bonus. Inter- little surprises where the songs Whether you love or despise current praise music, spersed with mumbly inter- go in unexpected directions. It is you should find plenty to enjoy in these poetic 13 tracks, views, it has background genuine worship; there is a performed live, whose accessible lyrics reflect real faith information, but can also distract watermark through every beauti- lived in the real world. All this is carried on beautiful, from the music. ful note. memorable tunes. This collection succeeds Derek Walker Leslie Jordan and David Leonard engage because the duo recognises the

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper COLLEGE STREET to vent your anger via social media. SW1 First, is to know that disagreements always happen. He references disagreements in the Bible such as the CITY OF WESTMINSTER Acts of the Apostles and the letters in the New Testament. Second, have personal, face-to-face meetings. Discuss what happened but By Ashley Prevo then enter a new stage of the relationship. Electronic communication traps us in a stagnant Put down your mobile. Close all of the tabs open on state, preventing healing from occurring. your computer. Take a moment and consider the Next, whereas social media can pierce through flood of information that passes through your hands someone, accusing them; a personal interaction every day. Think about how easy it is to email, post, allows everyone involved to claim their fault. Open, tweet and blog. It all revolves around the tapping of personal communication “is how buttons and you are seemingly hidden behind people can be put back together them. rather than torn apart and left lying The Archbishop of Canterbury recently around in electronic media space.” addressed the issue of relying on electronic Lastly, it is best to realize that “it communication over face-to-face interactions, is not for all of us to set everyone specifically in regards to tweeting while angry. right on everything.” Dispute While there are obvious benefits of these speedy resolutions should be dealt and global means of communication, they seem to with in a personal manner be taking away from a very personal aspect of using a gentle and loving interaction. tone. “The trouble is that subtleties, tone and access all “Love often says don’t get muddled up. That’s not a new comment - it’s tweet. Love often says been said many times - but every now and then don’t write. Love often things happen which make it even clearer,” he said. says if you must Although one of the main uses of electronic rebuke, then do so in communication is to share information, there are person and with times when social media’s instantaneous nature can touch – with an arm cause people to act and only then to think. When an around the argument or disagreement arises in any shoulder and tears relationship it can be effortless to tweet you are in your eyes that can upset without trying to work it out in person first. be seen by the The Archbishop provides advice for when one is person being dealing with a circumstance when it would be easy rebuked.”

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11 'I am the Alpha and the - Down appearance [Luke] (6) ----...' [Rev/NIV] (5) 17 Beneficed member of PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 938 by Axe 12 Eldest son of Levi 1Mountain where Saul the clergy (6) [Exod] (7) and Jonathan died [1 19 '...we sang a -----, and you 13 RC friars who wear the Chr] (6) did not mourn' black mantle of the 2'The quiver...along with [Matt/NIV] (5) Dominican order (11) the flashing spear and 21 'The ----- are shrivelled 18 'Kings came, they the -----' [Job/NIV] (5) beneath the clods...' fought...by the waters of 3Language presumed [Joel/NIV] (5) ------' [Judg/NIV] (7) spoken by Christ (7) 20 Minor prophet of the 5'I ---- to those whose sin Last week’s solutions: OT, c720 BC (5) does not lead to death' 22 '----- the earthquake [1 John/NIV] (5) Across: 1 Gethsemane, 8 Theatre, 9 came a fire...' [1 6(Lay) member of a male Alive, 11 Ittai, 12 Genuine, 13 Prayer, Kgs/NIV] (5) religious order (7) 15 A penny, 18 Araunah, 20 Allah, 22 23 Parts of the NT, the 7Site of homage (6) Sting, 23 Lie down, 24 Scriptures. name for which may be 8OT anthology of love derived from the Old poems, alternatively Down: 2 Elect, 3 Hittite, 4 Emerge, 5 English for 'good news' called 'Canticles' (4,2,5) Again, 6 Emilion, 7 Ethiopians, 10 (7) 14 'And they threw the Everything, 14 Ananias, 16 Plateau, 17 24 'Whether he is a ------or cargo into the sea to ------Philip, 19 Niger, 21 Loose. not, I don't know' - the ship' [Jonah/NIV] [John/NIV] (6) (7) 25 'There is...a ------for 15 'Do you see someone every activity under the who speaks ------?' heavens' [Eccles/NIV] [Prov/NIV] (2,5) (6) 16 Village where Jesus made a Resurrection

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Across Israelites, from [2 Sam/NIV] N am e the sons of (4,3) 1Land where Eli- Jacob/Israel 10 'Take the finest - A d d r e s s jah was born [1 [Exod] (6) --- and bake 9770964 816108 Kgs] (6) 9'------they used twelve loaves of P o s t C o de 4Twelve divi- to say, "Get your bread...' sions of answer at Abel"' [Lev/NIV] (5) [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper

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