Diocesan News September 2016 www.leeds.anglican.org

Synod leaders agree new diocesan-wide financial Share system for parishes Church leaders meeting in and parishes will now hear in Other Synod business Harrogate have agreed a new the Autumn how much they scheme for collecting parish will be asked to pay next year. In a packed meeting, Synod financial contributions - ‘parish The scheme will be based members also agreed a budget share’ - which will be applied on three components - the for 2017 which means that across the diocese from January number of clergy in a parish, parishes will be asked to pay, 2017. the relative ability of each on average, 2% more next parish to pay year. Green energy was on and the size the agenda as the meeting of the church heard that a scheme piloted in based on Leeds and Bradford has netted regular Sunday churches substantial savings attendance and will be rolled out to other (fixed for three parts of the diocese. And the years so as not military was represented at to stifle church the Synod meeting as it was growth). agreed to write to churches encouraging every parish to Several take practical action to support modifications the Armed Forces Corporate The bulk of Share is used to pay have been made to the scheme Covenant. (Pictured below for ordained ministers but until since it was last seen by Synod are Major Derek Tickner, now three different methods members. Share requests will Quartermaster of the 5th of Share calculation have been be capped at 80% of a church’s Regiment, the Royal Artillery carried over from the three total voluntary income, while with Revd Lindsay Southern). former dioceses. any increases caused by the new system will be restricted In his Presidential address to to no more than 15% and Diocesan Synod (meeting at St decreases restricted to no Aidan’s High School on July 16), more than 8%. However, an Bishop Nick (pictured above) amendment from the Revd warned that “what is clear Canon , Vicar of in any such proposal is that Pudsey, to ask the Diocesan not everybody will be happy.” Board to investigate how Although not everybody these restrictions and caps was happy, the scheme was may be phased out, was also supported by a large majority supported. I Faithfulness in Disability suffering network grows BRADFORD More than Bishop thirty parish disability representatives, many of Last month, Bishop Toby them recently elected at visited war-torn Sudan annual parochial church and here he reflects on his meetings, have been learning experiences. how churches can better support those with sight loss. I have just returned from The Sudanese government a few days in Sudan, welcomed us as a delegation, representing the Archbishop an encouraging sign given of Canterbury on a the difficulties that Christians delegation from the Anglican continue to experience. Communion. We were looking at the capacity of the church The highlight of the visit was a in Sudan to become a full, church service in Omdurman autonomous province. at which the news that the church may become its Since Sudan and South Sudan own province was greeted divided into two separate with huge excitement. I was countries, the church has privileged to preach at that found it hard to operate service, bringing greetings as one single province. from the Diocese of Leeds, James Seager from the Apart from the difficulties and pledging our continued TorchTrust spoke about of communicating across a support and partnership in helping those with sight closed international border the Gospel. While many had impairment and sight loss and with fighting between the travelled long distances to how parish disability reps can Sudanese army and rebel attend, and the congregation promote and facilitate their groups, South Sudan is was far too large to fit better inclusion in church life predominantly Christian and inside the building, there and worship. looks to Sub-Saharan Africa was a powerful sense of while Sudan is predominantly God’s presence in worship The parish reps are part of Muslim with Arabic as the and prayer. Although the a network originally set up main language. Sudanese church may struggle twelve years ago in the former financially and in other ways, Bradford Diocese. Future Much of our discussions as we recognised as a delegation plans include a day session at a delegation focussed on that the prime asset they St Peter’s Shipley on Saturday the need for the church to bring to the Communion is 15th October on “Keeping play a strong role in nation faithfulness in suffering. Healthy Minds”, which will be building, drawing on its long open to all. history. Sudanese Christians +Toby want to engage in the life For more information of the nation as indigenous contact Janet Bower via citizens with equal rights and [email protected]. responsibilities.

II Schools to promote unity on Follow Me International Peace Day talks return HUDDERSFIELD Three diverse Colne Valley MP Jason Mc- WAKEFIELD Bishop Tony Huddersfield schools will use Cartney and various local faith Robinson has announced the art to bring people together leaders. speakers who will be leading for this year’s United Nations this year’s Follow Me – a series International The service at of five evening teaching ses- Day of Peace, on 2pm is open to sions in for September 21. the public and lay people and clergy to explore the schools’ faith and discipleship. Bishop Linthwaite artwork will stay Tony said: “The Follow Me Clough School, on display in the evenings are an opportunity to Spring Grove church for two or invite some excellent speakers School and three weeks. to Wakefield to encourage and Longley School inspire us to deepen our faith.” are creating The Revd Simon Follow Me begins on Thursday peace-themed Crook, Curate at September 29 with Bishop artwork which St Peter’s Church John Pritchard. Other speakers will be displayed in Huddersfield, is include Bishop (Nov in Huddersfield helping to organ- 17); Revd Canon Angela Tilby Parish Church, ise the project: (Jan 26); Very Revd Lister Tonge where they will then contrib- “A message of peace like this (Feb 23); and Bishop Philip ute to a Peace Day ceremony. from children is very poignant North (April 27). For more, con- The pupils will be joined by and makes such an impact on tact caroline.asquith@leeds. the Mayor of Kirklees, the people of all ages.” anglican.org.

A song for Rio’s Team Refugees Sign of the times LEEDS A Leeds church was for Refugees and Asylum RIPON Visitors to St Mary’s, transformed last month when Seekers), which helped host Embsay-with-Eastby, near almost 200 singers gathered the evening, and will receive Skipton, can now learn about to record an unofficial Olympic the proceeds of the song its medieval past with a new anthem for Rio’s Team sales. All Hallows, Leeds, information board in the Refugees. works churchyard. The board was Written with unveiled by Bishop James Bell by singer/ asylum last month. The church has songwriter, seekers engaged with the local commu- Becky and nity in a major project, “A Roof Owen with refugees. for the Future and Discovering the help Their our Past”, which has received of Boff vicar, Heritage Lottery funding and Whalley, the Revd support from the Yorkshire formerly Heston Dales National Park. Embsay from Chumbawumba, “The Groenewald, said it was a was the site of a priory for a World is our Song” got its world lovely surprise to have the small 12th century Augustin- premiere on Radio Leeds. It pop up choir in church. “They ian community. The monks was promoted on social media sounded wonderful!” later moved across the fields to by PAFRAS, (Positive Action found Bolton Abbey. III News...... News.....News.....News.....News.....NewsWest Yorkshire & the Dales news Bishops hear Brexit concerns at Engaging Great Yorkshire Show with Primary Schools Bishops from Churches can learn how to across York- engage with their local pri- shire have been mary schools at a training day hearing of the for parishes taking place this difficulties and month in Leeds. uncertainties facing farmers Speakers at ‘Resourcing and farming on Churches to Engage with a fact-finding Primary Schools’, on Saturday visit to the Great September 17th, include Ge- Yorkshire Show in off Brown, Schools Develop- Harrogate. ment Worker from Scripture Union. “My work involves The group of five me in helping churches form bishops, including stronger links with their local the Bishop of schools. I am keen to share Ripon, Rt. Revd this vision with local churches, James Bell and to train them, resource them the Bishop of and put them in contact with Huddersfield, Rt others doing similar work.” Revd , met with The day will include work- NFU leaders, landowners, saying that there is a need for shop sessions packed with representatives of tenant farm- certainty and clear decisions. ideas and resources to help ers and charities working with churches engage with schools. farmers facing personal and Bishop James said, “Clearly the These include Open the Book, financial difficulties. whole area of Brexit is really Journey Makers, Godly Play, important and the uncertainty Rewind, Prayer Spaces in Brexit concerns were raised that involves. We have heard Schools, Fairtrade & Environ- by a number of organisations a whole range of issues raised ment, and Schools Visiting including the Countryside already. And alongside that we Churches. Landowners Association. Their have heard there are the ongo- regional director, Dorothy Fair- ing issues of affordable housing, The cost of the day is just burn said key post-Brexit issues access to services, isolation and £15 including lunch and it which needed to be addressed mental health. These are really takes place on Saturday 17 were farming support, regula- important issues.” September, 10 -3pm at The tions, international trade and Moyes Centre, David Young ensuring the labour supply. The (Picture - Bishop James Bell Academy, Seacroft. To book NFU has called for a new UK do- and Bishop Alison White, places, contact anne.carter@ mestic agricultural policy to be Bishop of Hull) leeds.anglican.org introduced as soon as possible,

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