THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED in 1828 the Problem of Evil, P7 the CHURCHOF ENGLAND Newspaper
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THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 The problem of evil, p7 THE CHURCHOF ENGLAND Newspaper Loretta Minghella NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND p9 FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015 No: 6278 New Bishop of Clergy ruled Maidstone appointed not to be employees A COURT of Appeal ruling has judged that clergy are office holders and not employees. The decision came as a result of a case involving the Rev Mark Sharpe, of Hanley Broadheath. He lost a four-year battle seeking to claim for unfair THE NEW Bishop of Maidstone was announced on Tuesday dismissal after claiming to have been driven out of morning, giving a boost to the Church of England’s conservative his parish. evangelicals. The ruling has been welcomed by the Church, The Rev Preb Rod Thomas, 60, was introduced by the Arch- but attacked by the union backing Mr Sharpe’s bishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, fulfilling a commitment case. to appoint a bishop who would cater for the conservative wing of He had been claiming unfair dismissal after a the Church who are opposed to women’s leadership. series of disturbances, arguing that he was an Preb Thomas is well-known for his leadership of the Reform employee of the Bishop of Worcester and there- movement and is currently Vicar of Elburton. He succeeds the Rt fore entitled to protection under the 1996 Employ- Rev Graham Cray, who left to head up Fresh Expressions in 2009. ment Rights Act. The see has been vacant since then. The Court of Appeal upheld the convention that In December 2014, the Dioceses Commission agreed to a pro- clergy are ‘office holders’ and not employees. posal from the Archbishops to fill the See in order to provide a The Church of England said it was ‘delighted’. bishop who takes the conservative evangelical view on male The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge headship. said: “We are delighted that the Court of Appeal The Rev Mark Sharpe The new Bishop studied at the London School of Economics has taken this view of the matter. There has been and then became Director of Employment and Environmental considerable consultation with the clergy on this Affairs at the CBI. issue as well as discussions at General Synod, and “We will be considering the judgement fully and He trained for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served clergy have consistently said that they don’t wish deciding on our next steps over the coming days.” his Curacy at Plymouth St Andrew with St Paul and St George in to change their status as office holders. The Bishop hit back: “It is regrettable that the Diocese of Exeter from 1993 to 1995. “To become employees, clergy would lose the UNITE fails to understand the context in which From 1995 to 1999 he was Curate at Plymouth St Andrew. From freedoms that are at the heart of the Church’s min- parish clergy exercise their ministry whilst the 1999 to 2005 he was Priest-in-Charge of Elburton and has been istry and this is not something that they want to Church seeks to uphold the freedoms enjoyed by Vicar of Elburton since 2005. He has been a member of the Gen- give up.” its clergy.” eral Synod since 2000 and a Prebendary at Exeter Cathedral since But UNITE said: “We are deeply disappointed by He added: “Mr Sharpe’s claims of the various 2012. this judgement which looks back over 800 years to incidents which despoiled his ministry in Teme Prebendary Roderick Thomas is married to Lesley and they the Magna Carta and historical texts from when Valley South are disheartening to read. However I have three children. the Holy Roman Empire was formed to overturn am encouraged to note that the clergy who have He has chaired Reform, a network for conservative evangelicals the decision of an employment appeal tribunal in ministered in these churches both before and in the Church of England, since 2007. His interests include boat- the present day. since Mr Sharpe’s appointment have all spoken ing, walking the South West Coast Path, and carpentry. “This judgement has serious ramifications for very warmly of the people there and their experi- Reform said they were delighted with the news. His predeces- faith workers in accepting that aspects of the law ence doesn’t reflect any of the negativity that Mr sor as chairman, the Rev Canon David Banting, said: “Rod’s pres- of the land don’t cover the Church. Sharpe claims to have faced.” ence in the College of Bishops will strengthen and enrich the priority of the mission of the gospel to the nation and the centrali- ty of Biblical witness in the Church.” [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday May 8, 2015 News Diocese of Sheffield Diocese of Chichester THE Two new Young Christian martyrs in many DIARY THE Vocations Champions parts of the world are a source have been appointed of huge inspiration to with the aim of Christians in Britain, the Send your events to encouraging more Bishop of Chichester, Dr [email protected] CHURCHIN people under 30 to enter Martin Warner, told his or Tweet @churchnewspaper ordained ministry. The Diocesan Synod recently. Champions are the Rev The word “martyr” means 8 May Duncan Bell, curate at St “witness” and Dr Warner said it Chad’s in Woodseats was the responsibility of every ENGLAND who will work in the Christian community in Britain 6pm Youth Night with Live Band, Sheffield and to reach out in what was often a part of Pudsey Parish Mis- Rotherham areas; and “hostile” and “cynical” culture. sion. http://www.pudsey- the Rev Adam Priestley, Contemporary martyrs parish.org.uk curate at St Francis in encourage members of the 7.30pmGodspell in Concert, Liver- West Bessacarr who will church “to make the most of pool Echo Arena auditorium work in the Doncaster our lives,” the Bishop said. and Goole area. Launching a diocesan 9 May Diocese of Worcester strategy, he told bishops, clergy and laity: “We must Worcester Cathedral has appointed three honorary Canons in Diocese of Leicester emerge from the bunkers in 6.30pmLiverpool Cathedral Passion recognition of outstanding service in the diocese. which we feel safe to Play, Act 5 The Rev Garth Nathaniel, the Rev Susan Renshaw and the Visitors to Leicester communicate and engage with 7.30pmGodspell in Concert, Liver- Rev David Sherwin, were installed in a service to mark the Cathedral will now be those who have not heard the pool Echo Arena auditorium occasion. able to discover for Christian message.” themselves the history Parishes were provided with 12 May and legacy of Richard a raft of materials to help to III’s life and death, identify one project that could Diocese of Lincoln thanks to a new make a difference in their 7.30pmGodspell in Concert, programme of events communities. The Strategy, Bournemouth Pavilion St Radegund’s church in Grayingham could be the first Church and activities, part based around the prayer of St of England church to broadcast their Sunday service over the funded by the Heritage Richard of Chichester, urges 13 May internet, using an app called Periscope. Lottery Fund (HLF). pilgrims to know, love and Last Sunday, the church broadcast their Sunday service live follow Jesus. to the rest of the world, using the internet and their newly 7.30pmGodspell in Concert, installed Wi-Fi mast. Bournemouth Pavilion The Rev Kathy Colwell is excited at the prospect of Diocese of Manchester increasing her congregation to a potential audience of 15 May thousands. “We usually have around 25 people in our One of the world’s greatest mysteries is coming to a congregation, which is good for a village of our size, but to Ramsbottom church with the arrival of a touring exhibition have the opportunity to increase that number is very exciting,” about the Turin Shroud. 7.30pmFriday Night Kitchen, launch she said. Members of St Andrew’s Church hope the free exhibition, event for the Gathering, Gul- “The introduction of the Wi-Fi mast to our church and our which features a life-size photographic facsimile of the famous benkian, Canterbury, hosted community has opened so many opportunities to us and garment as its centrepiece, will also give visitors the by the Rev Richard Coles hopefully we can inspire more churches to follow suit,” she opportunity to experience the new-look interior of their with the Archbishop of Can- said. “It enables us to take the word of God to people who building. terbury, £15, book at maybe can’t make it to church, or even to a whole new www.the-gathering.co.uk audience.” 7.30pmGodspell in Concert, Ipswich, Regent Theatre Diocese of Canterbury Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham 16 May The Archbishop of Canterbury is to take part in an evening of cookery and conversation Southwell’s connection with the next Friday at the start of a Festival of Faith Civil War – and the opening of 10am Gathering, one-day festival of in the Diocese. the State Chamber in the faith, Canterbury Cathedral, Friday Night Kitchen, in the Gulbenkian, Archbishop’s Summer Palace - with Light Bites, Talks, Crafts Canterbury, will be a launch event for the has inspired some new full day and activities and worship Diocese of Canterbury’s festival of faith, The tours of the historic State and reflection, £5, childreN Gathering which will take place the next day Chamber, Minster and Gardens. go free. www.the- on Saturday 16 May. Following Charles 1’s capture gathering.co.uk.