The Magazine – Summer 2019
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SUMMER 2019 SUMMER Whose truth? A poet’s approach to gospel truth PAGE 6 And the truth will set you free PAGE 14 Meet the new Bishop of Norwich Battling fake news – Soul Space Horstead Centre upholding truth What is truth? celebrates 50 18 in the media golden years 10 13 20 DEVLIN PLUMMER STAINED GLASS SPECIALISTS IN ALL TYPES OF STAINED AND LEADED GLASS We work on glass dating from the early 14th century to the present day, the repair of casements and ferramenta, supply and installation of window protection. Many of our commissions come direct from PCC’s whilst many others are initiated by architects. To discuss conservation, repair, protection or commissions of stained glass to church windows please contact our studio 01379 677111 www.devlinplummer.co.uk A Peter’s Cat collection is available as an eBook from Amazon. Cartoon resources for Sunday schools can be found at www.deadseacomics.co.uk From the Editor Contents he idea for the theme of “truth” Christians working in an increasingly THE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019 for this issue was mulling difficult industry: “Citizen journalism is around in my head for some rife. Anyone can share a picture or post 4 COMMENT: The whole truth? time. I saw a TV documentary “news.” But has it been checked? Is it true? item about an increase of drug-related Is it biased?” (pg 10). 5 PAUSE BUTTON: The test violence in a locality in Holland. They In our face-to-faith feature (pg 9) Philip of truth playedT the same story twice but edited Bell gives testimony to how the truth of each differently. One resulting narrative the gospel set him free from the despair led the viewer to believe that the blame of homelessness. Pilate’s famous question: lay soundly with the migrant community “What is truth?” is the focus of Susanna in that area. Their aim was to show, that Gunner’s soul space article (pg 13). even with no apparent bias, any piece of “factual content” can easily become We should have confidence in the truth slanted to promote a belief or opinion. of our message of good news, presenting it with humility and love, reaching out, In today’s world of copious and instant as we do so well in this Diocese through information, it’s easy to start to feel that social action – committed to continuing we are inhabiting Orwell’s 1984 with the to journey with others for the long haul; Ministry of Truth propaganda machine living out truth in our lives. which simply spews lies or “fake news”. 6 I hope this edition encourages you in FEATURE: How do we, as Christians, discern truth that mission. and live it out? A poet’s approach Blessings, In our main feature (pg 6) poet-priest to gospel truth Malcolm Guite invites us to take a poet’s perspective to gospel truth. Former coroner, William Armstrong comments 12 REVIEWS: On books (pg 4) that “we are all accountable for the about truth way we seek the truth” and Archdeacon Steven encourages us to see our 14 CYF: The truth of the matter behaviour modelling the truthfulness of our faith (pg 5). 17 Seeing it Differently at Norwich Cathedral In our local church we can foster truth and trust in our communities. We can 22 FOCUS ON: Fakenham & support local journalism that holds our Fulmodeston politicians to account. Ian Clarke, head Barbara Bryant of news at the EDP asks for prayers for Editor 24 Volunteering in faith PS: It was exciting to hear the announcement of our new Bishop of Norwich just before 25 Eaton’s place of welcome we went to print! See the centre pages for a full interview with Rt Revd Graham Usher. 29 Combatting modern slavery The Magazine design: Get in touch Adept Design www.adeptdesign.co.uk 30 News in brief 01603 882348 (Editor) Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily [email protected] those of the Diocese and the acceptance of advertising does not indicate editorial endorsement. Diocesan House, 109 Dereham Road, Cover photo: King’s Lynn town centre by Tim Rogers Easton, Norwich NR9 5ES www.DofN.org/magazine facebook.com/dioceseofnorwich @DioceseNorwich The next issue (deadline 17 July) focuses on “poverty in plenty”. Listen to The Magazine Podcast by searching for ‘Diocese of Norwich’ on the podcast app of your choice. 32 OUT & ABOUT: To advertise in The Magazine please contact Glenda Charitos on Parish happenings 01752 225623 or [email protected] 3 The whole truth? “ hose truth, whose lies?” A defending lawyer’s duty is to represent Sadly, the truth can be elusive. The is the title of an album the client in accordance with their evidence may not permit a reliable by blues singer Douglas instructions. It is no part of the lawyer’s conclusion to be reached. The coroner Macleod. During almost function to decide the truth. That is for must try to help the loved ones to live 50 years in the law as a practitioner, the court. with the fact that the cause of death may coroner and tribunal judge I have been remain a mystery. Not easy. There is one court, however, where engagedW in seeking the truth, but whose truth? What truth? the process is not adversarial but What have I learned from all this that inquisitorial – the object is to seek the might inform the practice of my Christian I once asked a witness to take the oath in truth. That is the coroner’s court. Most vocation? court, whereupon she took the Bible in people attending the coroner’s court Firstly, the truth declared by any legal her hand and said, “I swear by Almighty simply want to get at the truth – to help process may be partial. Human justice God that I will speak the truth, the whole them move on with their journey of may be fallible and imperfect. As St Paul truth and anything but the truth.” A bereavement. Freudian slip, or perhaps not! says, we “see through a glass darkly,” But some people cannot accept the Secondly, even those who seek to deny, The oath in court to tell the truth is a truth. This may happen, for example, evade or distort the truth, however solemn procedure although it is no where a person has died from an troublesome they may be for those who guarantee of veracity. Witnesses have avoidable natural condition, but the administer the law, are not beyond the the option of affirming to tell the truth family have convinced themselves grace of God. without invoking any deity. that the death was the direct fault of The object of a criminal trial is not in fact to someone. The coroner must not allow Finally, the task of those entrusted with establish the truth. Instead it is to ascertain his or her sympathy for the relatives to ascertaining the truth in our courts is one whether the case has been proved beyond deflect from the duty to establish the which must be exercised with humility – reasonable doubt. An acquittal means that truth. People cannot insist that their recognising that we are all accountable the charge has not been proved. It is not a own constructed version of the truth is for the way we seek the truth to God who declaration of truth. accepted. is the ultimate source of all truth. The coroner must not allow his or her sympathy for the relatives to deflect from the duty to establish the truth. William Armstrong OBE is a Lay Canon and a member of the Chapter of Norwich Cathedral and a former Coroner, Tribunal Judge and Sheriff of Norwich. Photo © Paul Hurst 4 The test of truth LIE LIE TRUTH TRUTH LIE LIE TRUTH TRUTH be characterised, where we are told that A lie can travel half way the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, Let us love, not in word around the world while the patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, truth is putting on its shoes… gentleness, and self-control. It is difficult or speech, but in truth and to see how lying, falsehood or deceit action. (surely the opposite of truth) can be 1 John 3:18 found within those fruits. o runs a quotation often It is of course more challenging to attributed to Mark Twain. apply this to our own lives. When we it would be, to be faced with the harsh Elsewhere in this issue, others are are busy or stressed, caught out or want reality of the lives that we all live. addressing types of truth but in something, then we can take shortcuts to Yet there is nothing to stop us from a the scriptures, truth is mentioned over get our own way and truth can become self-imposed MOT, of reflecting on how a hundred times. From Job to John via a more malleable concept. Then there we treat people – our neighbours, our SIsaiah and Amos (among others) truth is is the chance that the fruits of the spirit families, our colleagues and our friends. held out as a positive concept, so much may not flourish in quite the same way Our truthfulness (or otherwise), our so that in the opening verses of John’s (or at all) and, if we are honest, we often demonstration of the gifts of the spirit Gospel we are told that The Word became have no one to blame but ourselves. (or not) and the good examples we set as flesh and lived among us … full of grace After the first flush of youth, cars have Christians (hopefully).