E I D S The year’s The films that IN news in sparked a Hunger review in 2012 4,5 p11

THE SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2013 No: 6158 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Group to tackle Synod impasse By Amaris Cole in the Synod and across the coming months we will find the February and again in May to lation is ready for introduction to Church. means to make that a reality”. come to a decision on the new the Synod there will be a separate THE WORKING group on the “That is why we will begin the The of Coventry added package of proposals which it decision about the membership of new legislative proposals on process with conversations at var- that he was also happy to have intends to bring to the Synod in the Steering Committee. women was announced ious levels outside the legislative been asked to be a member of the July. This new Steering Committee, just before Christmas, containing process. newly announced group, working The brief includes facilitating which will, as usual, contain only only two members who voted “Many people on different sides towards the mandate given by the discussions with a wide range of those who support the legislation, against the previous legislation in of the debate have stated that they Archbishops’ Council. people across the Church in Feb- will have the responsibility for the November. want to find a way forward – my The working group’s task is to ruary. management of the legislation The group is composed of indi- hope and prayer is that over the assist the House when it meets in Looking ahead, once draft legis- through Synod. viduals from all three houses of the General Synod, and one sen- ior member of clergy who is no longer on the Synod. Bishop gets all steamed up to celebrate Christmas The Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and , will chair the meetings, which will begin later this month. Three other bishops, the Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth, , the Rt Rev James Langstaff, , and the Rt Rev Martin Warner, , represent the House of Bishops in the working group. The clergy are The Very Rev Vivienne Faull, , the Ven Christine Hardman and the Rev Dr Rosemarie Mallett. Dr Philip Giddings, Dr Paula Gooder and Mrs Margaret Swin- son were selected from the House of Laity, despite the impending vote of no confidence this month for Dr Giddings, Chair of the House. Dr Giddings and the Bishop of Chichester voted against the last attempt at ordaining women to the episcopate – both being the- ologically against women bish- ops. The Bishop of Rochester said on the announcement: “Following the General Synod vote on the Measure to open the way for women to be ordained as bishops, the House of Bishops has shown itself determined to seek a new way forward. “I am pleased to be a member of the working group which will steer this process. On Saturday 15 December the Chinnor and Princes Risborough railway hosted carols on the train, in aid of Christian Aid, pulled by a “We all know how difficult it will splendid steam locomotive, with singing led by the Chinnor Christian Aid group and a small choir from St Andrew’s CE Primary School. be to find our way to a form of leg- The , the Rt Rev , was a special passenger and much enjoyed his ride and meeting all the volunteers islation that will win consent with- who run this Heritage railway.

LETTERS 8 • JAMES CATFORD 9 • COMMENT 9 • CLERGY MOVES 14 • SUNDAY 15 • 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday January 6, 2013 News Inside... Retired clergyman sentenced to jail Britain’ s leading evangelical newspaper A RETIRED Suffolk clergyman has been judge ordered Mr Dossor to be placed on position of trust and whenever such trust is sentenced to one year and 10 months the sex offenders’ register and issued a sex- broken it is widely felt, most of all by those imprisonment by the Norwich Crown Court ual offences prevention order to last for five who have been directly affected. for child abuse. years. On 16 October 2012, Mr Dossor pled “Whilst these events took place a long At the sentencing hearing on 17 Decem- guilty before the Ipswich Crown Court of time ago, it is only right that the Church ber Judge Mark Lucraft told the Rev John having abused six boys between 1990 and should acknowledge the broken trust and Haley Dossor (71): “You sexually abused 1994 while serving at St Mary’s Church in offer sincere and deep apologies.” these teenage boys who were committed to Hadleigh. In 2001 Mr Dossor became vicar Gavin Stone, assistant diocesan secretary your care for recreation and education. As a of St Mary-at-the-Elms, Ipswich, retiring in for the diocese, said after the sentence was clergyman you were in a position where 2007. In 2009 he resigned his orders after handed down that Bishop Stock “continues people looked up to you and respected you. the abuse allegations came to light. to offer unreserved regret and apologies to Parents trusted you with the care of their The Bishop of St Edmundsbury & all those whose lives have been damaged by children.” Ipswich, the Rt Rev Nigel Stock, responded this individual, fully acknowledging the In addition to a term of imprisonment, the to the guilty plea by saying: “Clergy hold a impact of the broken trust.

Uganda welcomes new Archbishop Subscribe to the print edition for £17.50 By Chris Sugden dramatically declined since dent who presented Archbish- News ...... 1-7 1986 due to the Abstain, Be op Ntagali with “new shoes”, That’s right, you can sub‐ Your Church ...... 2 BISHOP Stanley Ntagali has Faithful and use a Condom the keys to a Toyota Landcruis- scribe to the print edi‐ UK News ...... 1-3 been installed as the eighth campaign, it was now on the er. tion and have it sent to UK News Review ...... 4-5 archbishop of the Church of rise. He urged the church to Archbishop Bob Duncan of you by post every week World News Review ...... 4-5 Uganda in Namirembe Cathe- “use the pulpit to save our chil- what was styled as The Angli- dral, Kampala. dren”. can Province of North America for three months for just Comment During the service outgoing He urged that sexual behav- preached and gave a moving £17.50. Email Letters ...... 8 Archbishop Henry Orombi iour should be private and con- testimony of his own spiritual subs@churchnewspa‐ Leader ...... 9 signed a cert ificate of abdica- fidential, and that while they journey through confirmation per.com James Catford ...... 9 tion and form ally handed over were not going to persecute or at the age of 11, to a clearly Andrew Carey ...... 10 the primatial cross, “which had marginalise those who audible call, “You will be my In addition to the print Ruth Gledhill ...... 10 become too heavy to bear” to engaged in homosexual prac- ”, at 13, and submission edition you will also get Films & Music ...... 11 Archbishop-elect Ntagali. tice, they were not going to to Christ “as the brother I Janey Lee Grace ...... 12 Bishop Orombi, as he wants promote them. never had” and the authority of full access to our website Crossword ...... 12 to be known, then spoke words Primates were present or his word “till it lets me down” at at of thanks and encouragement represented from nine Angli- 18 – “and it has never let me www.churchnewspaper.com The Record to his successor. Observers can provinces, including Scot- down.” David Banting ...... 13 noted that a point might be land. Archbishop John Reminding the new archbish- Classifieds ...... 13 being made to President Sentamu brought a message of op that a new leader has no Food & Drink ...... 14 Museveni who attended part of greeting from Canterbury and idea what leadership would Clergy Moves ...... 14 the service, who at 72 had had added one of his own in Lugan- cost or where one would have Spiritual Director ...... 15 the constitutional provision for da. to go, he noted that since Sunday Service ...... 15 a limit to his term changed. The Anglican Church is a becoming Bishop of Pittsburgh Alan Edwards ...... 15 President Museveni urged dominant religious community in 1996, a thousand bishops Paul Richardson ...... 16 the new archbishop to focus on in Uganda with 45 per cent of and clergy had been supposed- People ...... 16 young people, as 70 per cent of the population. Its close rela- ly defrocked in North America, Milestones ...... 16 Uganda’s population are under tions with the state were sym- including himself. Next week’s news ...... 16 30. He noted that though the bolised by the presence of the The Church of Uganda will incidence of AIDS had initially Prime Minister and the Presi- fully part icipate in GAFCON 2. News from Your Church your diocese

service offered thanks to all those involved in the five-year Organ Appeal” to help raise money to maintain its 86-year- restoration programme, including the fire fighters from old organ, which is the largest in the UK. The Grand Erdington Fire Station who initially tackled the blaze. The Organ of is internationally renowned church hosted its first Christmas services in over five as one of the greatest church organs in the world, but after years on Sunday 23 December, and Open Days will com- 86 years of use, it requires some major restoration work. mence this month to let the public view the building’s facil- Liverpool Cathedral says they need to raise £900,000 to ities. cover the restoration work, and they have already raised £250,000 towards the total amount needed. The goal is for Derby: St Peter’s, Stonebroom, has been awarded a grant the organ to be completely restored in time for its 90th of £689 from the Derbyshire County Council Community Anniversary Recital on 15 October 2016. Action Scheme to enable them to purchase new equipment for the various community activity groups that they Southwark: The Bishops of the Diocese of Southwark already provide for the village. These activities include a spent Christmas morning in prison. The Diocese has a Domino Group, an Art Group, a Village Choir and a Music number of prisons and an institution for young offenders Group. The Rector of Morton and Stonebroom with within its boundaries and this year all of them had a Bish- Shirland, the Rev Margaret Jacques, said: “All activities op at their Christmas morning services. Speaking of these take place or practice in the church itself, are led by the visits Bishop Christopher said: “It is so important that we church members and are open to anyone. We provide craft are able to spend time with those who are in the prisons Birmingham: After being severely damaged by fire in Activity Leaders and materials for the Stonebroom Volun- and young offenders’ institution on Christmas Day. It is 2007, St Barnabas’ Church on Erdington High Street, tary Youth Club.” She added: “The money will be used to often a difficult time for them and so it is very good to go Birmingham, was rededicated on Sunday 16 December. purchase new tables, music stands and music folders, new and pray with them as we celebrate the birth of our Lord. The service was led by the Rt Rev David Urquhart, Bishop sets of dominoes and various games equipment for the Please join with me in praying for those in prison and of Birmingham, and attended by approximately 350 invited groups and youth club.” those who work in prisons throughout the year. Remem- guests. The church’s eight bells also rang for the first time ber too those who are victims of crime and the police serv- since the fire to signify the re-opening. The rededication Liverpool: Liverpool Cathedral has launched the “Grand ice who serve our local communities.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Sunday January 6, 3012 www.churchnewspaper.com 2 FCA leader in private Vatican meeting with Bishops costs rise as Pope Benedict THE LEADER of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of Kenya, has held a private meet- ing at the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI. legal bills increase On 28 November, Archbishop Wabukala, Archbishop Robert Duncan and Bishop Ray Sutton of the Anglican Church in By Amaris Cole The Bishop of , the Rt Rev bishop each year. North America, along with a retired bishop from the Church of Richard Chart res, amassed the They have not commented on England, met with Benedict and officials from the curia in pri- THE highest working and office fees why these costs were so high. vate after the Wednesday General Audience. have announced the annual work- after the Archbishops at £245,505. However, £16,506 was recovered Details of the conversation have not been released however, ing and bishops’ office costs for However, this was more than during 2011 from third part ies. Benedict has long held an interest in the internal workings of 2011 as £17 million – one million £20,000 less than last year, and a When the report was released, the . In October 2003, as President of the more than in 2010. spokesman said this is credited to , Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Joseph Cardinal The report credits the increase the large amount of staff necessary sent a message on Twitter, saying: Ratzinger sent a letter of encouragement on behalf of Pope mainly due to legal costs, but The to run such a large and diverse dio- “Value for money (I hope!).” John Paul II to those attending the “Plano Conference” of con- Church of England would not cese – calling the figures ‘far from Changes to funding mean bish- servative Episcopalians in Dallas, Texas, who had gathered to divulge what part icular cases had surprising’. ops will have greater flexibility in voice their opposition to the impending consecration of Gene incurred these fees. The ’s costs the use of funds, enabling them to Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire. In 2010, legal costs for bishops were second highest. determine local spending priorities Pope Benedict has also focused much of his energies on were £533,600, but last year surged The Rt Rev Michael Langrish and to set their own budgets. Africa. A recent issue of the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica to £1,315,816. spent £205,374 on staff, office, The Commissioners’ Board of stated the Pope has referred to Africa as the “lung” of the The ’s transport, legal officers, administra- Governors has agreed to increase Catholic Church and the church in Africa was “currently the costs reached £1,989,862, with tion and house running costs. funding for the Archbishops by two most dynamic continent from the point of view of the expansion costing an addi- The Bishop of Southwark had the per cent and the bishops’ funding of the Church and of Christianity in general, and where voca- tional £633,197 to run, hosting highest legal costs, surprisingly by four per cent year on year for the tions are the most numerous in terms of percentage.” events, meetings and guests. £2,000 higher than Chichester, with 2011/2013 triennium. Travel delays prevented Archbishop Wabukala from attend- Dr John Sen- legal officers being £33,848, an Funding is now no longer depen- ing the General Audience with Archbishop Duncan and Bishop tamu’s working costs were signifi- amount set by the Fees Advisory dant on the number of bishops in Sutton, though the archbishop and other leaders of the global cantly less - £1,062,742. Commission as is done for every the diocese. reform movement within the Anglican Communion were pres- ent at the afternoon’s private session. Numbers divorcing fall, new official figures show Cathedral services boost By Robyn Sanders to the Marriage Foundation report released in Septem- ber. CATHEDRALS have reported large congregations for carol THE OFFICE for National Statistics (ONS) has “The good news is that the skills needed for a suc- services and Christmas services. released new figures showing that divorce rates across cessful married or unmarried relationship can be Westminster Abbey said that tickets for its two carol services the UK have dropped in the past year. learnt. Marriage and relationship courses improve rela- were all taken within hours of appearing on the website. Prepa- In England and Wales, there were 117,558 divorces tionship quality and help couples stay together,” Ben- rations for Christmas at the Abbey formed part of the final in 2011, down by 1.7 per cent from 2010. son said. three-part series on BBC Two screened on 21 December. The number of divorces also fell in Scotland by 2.8 The ONS suggested that one theory to explain the Four nights of Carols by Candlelight at were per cent, from 10,149 in 2010 to 9,862 in 2011, while the fall in number of divorces could be attributed to fewer also quickly sold out and a waiting list had to be set up at Chich- number of divorces in Northern Ireland also fell. people getting married because of the recession. ester. Lincoln reported a congregation of 1,200 for its carol ONS estimates that the current divorce rate is now Harry Benson dissents. service. 42 per cent, compared to 45 per cent in 2005. “This has nothing to do with fewer people getting Readers at Cathedral carol services included Baroness Harry Benson, Communications Director of the Mar- married and everything to do with the way couples Warsi, David Harewood (star of ‘Homeland’ which finished on riage Foundation, told us that divorces initiated by who do get married are taking it increasingly serious- Channel 4 just before Christmas) and Bonnie Greer. women are down by as much as 50 per cent, according ly,” Benson said. Bishop wins bid to create ombudsman for victims of bailiffs THE has Bishop Gledhill said the Cit- people being led to believe He added: “The present helped defeat the Govern- izens Advice Bureau had that the justice system in our system is widely perceived as ment in the as dealt with nearly 250,000 country is all about the rich unsatisfactory and toothless. peers backed a plan for an problems to do with private punishing the poor. A legal ombudsman would independent complaints sys- bailiffs in the past year. “The present system of cer- give debtors and the advice tem for people badly treated He said: “They have some tifying county courts fails to sector a proper remedy.” by bailiffs. heartrending examples of monitor individual bailiffs’ The Government was Bishop Jonathan Gledhill people being pushed into behaviour; it is intimidating defeated on the issue by 233 was a co-signatory to an unpayable debt by bailiffs act- and costly for vulnerable peo- votes to 191 and the amend- amendment to the Crime and ing illegally. ple to bring complaints and ment will now be considered Courts Bill, which would “We must do all in our there is no power for a court by MPs. allow people to appeal to the power to prevent vulnerable to award redress.” Legal Ombudsman if internal complaints procedures against bailiffs had been unsatisfactory. He said: “Most of us have had the infuriating experi- ence of having our wheels clamped by a private compa- ny and of officials who then would not listen to reason. How much worse it must be to have one’s personal posses- sions, or even one’s home, taken away. It is vital that those authorised on our behalf to collect fines should be properly accountable and their behaviour regulated.”

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January recession. The and Leeds helped defeat legislation by the House the Government in the House of Lords over plans to cut of Bishops, and the Christians had a strongly negative response to Lord the number of children entitled to receive legal aid. The legislation was set to be Falconer’s ‘commission on assisted dying,’ saying that the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans announced their plan debated in Synod in July. report’s recommendations, if implemented, would place for a chairman of the Primates of the Anglican Churches around increased pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives Communion. The welcomed the Joint England were heavily so as not to be a burden on others. Pressure kept Committee’s endorsement of the Government’s proposal involved in celebrations mounting on the government to take action against for continuing places for Church of England bishops. of the Queen’s Diamond payday loan firms offering short-term loans with annual Jubilee. Sussex police interest rates of several thousand percent. The Bishops of May began an investigation Chester, Gloucester, Hereford, Ripon and Leeds, and Bath into the abuse allegations and Wells helped vote down three of the government’s The Church in Wales declined to endorse the Anglican against the former Bishop controversial welfare reform plans. ‘Occupy Sheffield’ Covenant. The Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans of Gloucester. WATCH protesters who had been camping outside Sheffield stressed that they are still in communion with the wider united to release a Cathedral since early November 2011 were told by Anglican Church despite describing it as being in a detailed paper expressing church leaders to leave because their presence was “broken state.” A Southwark lay reader was suspended Dr Richard Turnbull their concerns about the disrupting the Cathedral’s work. A group of Bishops led from All Saints, Sanderstead, after suggesting to the House of Bishops’ the charge as the Government was defeated in the House congregation they should all sign the Coalition for proposed amendments to the women bishops legislation. of Lords over its plans for a cap on welfare benefits. Eight Marriage petition. Religious discrimination cases In a video released by Lambeth Palace to mark the solicitors called for a public inquiry into abuse within continued to arise in different contexts, especially among Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Dr praised the church organizations in England and Wales on behalf of people employed by the NHS who are seeking to keep the Queen for revitalizing the ‘Defender of the Faith’ role. victims of abuse. right to be able to follow their consciences and not take Doctors expressed concern over draft abortion guidelines part in abortions. The Olympic Torch arrived at Lands from the General Medical Council, saying the guidelines February End, Cornwall on 19 May to begin its tour of the UK. appear to override the consciences of doctors as well as removing their right to make a clinical judgement. The The General Synod passed an amended motion that June Church of England expressed fears that same-sex brought the consecration of women bishops one step marriage proposals could change its role as the closer after the legislation was approved to be brought At the beginning of June, Wycliffe Hall in Oxford Established Church, inviting a clash between Cannon Law before the House of Bishops in May. Synod also called for announced its principal, Dr Richard Turnbull was ‘taking and State Law in the UK. A Christian GP in Kent was Chaplaincy provision to remain a core part of the NHS, a leave of absence,’ and that ‘ongoing discussions about found guilty of ‘malpractice’ by the General Medical despite calls by secular groups to cut these services from his future’ were taking place. A few weeks later, Wycliffe Council for speaking about his faith to a patient. the NHS budgets. The High Court ruled that local hall announced that Richard Turnbull had stepped down. councils, under the Local Government Act of 1972, were Two amendments were proposed to the Women Bishops July not authorized to hold prayers as part of their The Church continued to divide over gay marriage plans, formal meetings, a decision with some dissenting to the official Church of England greeted with dismay by response to the Government’s consultation. The Bishop many Christians. A group of of Sherborne called for the July General Synod to churches in England and suspend the women bishops debate until the November Wales united to oppose the session, in order that the House of Bishops may Government’s plans to reconsider their amendments. The Clause 5 amendment legalise gay-marriage, to the women bishops measure continued to receive saying it is not the role of increasingly fraught reactions from dioceses including the state to redefine Gloucester and Salisbury. The said marriage. the future of the cathedrals is threatened by plans from the Diocese Commission to merge dioceses of Wakefield, March Bradford and Ripon and Leeds. The Church of England’s General Synod voted by a two-thirds majority to suspend Campaigners against the debate on women bishops until November. The abortion were dismayed General Synod voted in favour of a measure that bans when the Court of Session in clergy from being members of the British National Party. Edinburgh ruled that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told The Evening midwives can be forced to supervise abortions. ‘Occupy London’ protesters were Occupy London protesters evicted from the steps of St Paul’s cathedral after spending four months in their camp protesting against economic injustice. Retired clergymen Canon Gordon Rideout and the Rev Robert Coles were arrested on 6 March following a six-month sexual abuse inquiry. Rowan Williams announced that he will resign from the post of Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of 2012 to take up a university position at Cambridge. Supporters of the Anglican Covenant were deeply disappointed after the number of dioceses opposed to it increased to 23, making it impossible for the proposal to secure the 22 dioceses needed for the measure to be debated in the General Synod.

April

Education Secretary Michael Gove backed proposals to limit the intake of Catholic students at a new Roman Catholic comprehensive school to 50 per cent. Anglican Mainstream accused The Mayor of London of censorship after he banned a campaign launched by Christian groups promoting ex-gay ministry on buses in London. Leaders of some of Britain’s leading charities anticipated a rough financial year due to being hit by rising costs due to inflation, a fall in government spending and a drop in donations because of the

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Durham, was confirmed as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr Rowan Williams, current Archbishop of Canterbury, said Bishop Welby, “has an extraordinary range of skills and is a person of grace, patience, wisdom and humour; he will bring to this office both a rich pastoral experience and a keen sense of international priorities, for Church and world.” The measure to allow the of women into the episcopate failed in the House of Laity by six votes at the Church of England’s General Synod, resulting in disappointment and further division within the Church, sparking protests in Parliament and throughout the Church.

December

The backed new legislation aimed at cutting down metal thefts, saying the thefts were a “major threat to the infrastructure of the whole country,” causing millions of pounds of damage to churches. Archbishop of Canterbury-designate united with the Labour party to help convince the Government to give a new regulator the power to cap the interest rates of payday lenders. Protests over the failed women bishops legislation spread across the Tony Nicklinson Church of England while the Archbishops’ Council urged the House of Bishops to start the process that would enable a new Standard that he favoured allowing same- September Evangelical Council expressing concerns measure to be proposed to the General sex marriages in the church. An opinion that the measure does not make provisions Synod in July. St James’s Palace poll selected Archbishop of York John A retired Chichester clergyman was for those who cannot accept this announced that the Duchess of Cambridge Sentamu as the people’s choice for arrested in Eastbourne on suspicion of development and fearing they will be is pregnant. The Prime Minister’s Archbishop of Canterbury. The opening assault. The closing ceremonies for the excluded from the Church. A retired announcement that the Equal Civil ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic London 2012 Paralympics were held on 9 Suffolk clergyman pleaded guilty to six Marriage Bill will allow same-sex Games was held on 27 July, and the games September. Tony Nicklinson, sufferer of charges of indecent assault against young marriages to be conducted in churches were officially opened by Queen Elizabeth “locked-in” syndrome, died in the days boys. provoked warnings from the Church of II. The Crown Nominations Committee following a court ruling which prevented England that it will be difficult for the met on 26-27 July to begin the search for him from ending his life with a doctor’s November Government to stop the courts seeking to the next Archbishop of Canterbury. help. The , Alan force clergy to conduct same-sex Wilson, became the first Church of The Archbishop of York launched the UK marriages. The House of Laity will August England Bishop to publicly support the Living Wage with the Joseph Rowntree convene on 18 January to debate a motion Out4Marrige campaign. Prime Minister Foundation with the aim of giving of no confidence in its chair, Dr Philip The Scottish Episcopal Church restated its David Cameron was accused of hypocrisy recipients a better quality of life. The Rt Giddings. opposition to the Scottish Government’s after publicly supporting the right of Rev Justin Welby, current Bishop of plan to introduce legislation legalising Christians to wear crosses at work, while same-sex marriage. The Prime Minister government lawyers argued in favour of a accused churches of ‘locking out’ gay workplace ban on wearing crosses. A people, which only fuelled further anger provisional report from the Archbishop of among those opposed to gay marriage Canterbury’s office reveals ‘longstanding proposals. Christian groups used the failures’ in the Chichester Diocese’s London Olympic Games as a ministry safeguarding of children. A dispute arose outreach opportunity: one church handed about whether Rowan Williams told the out hot dogs and bottled water to deputy editor of The Daily Telegraph spectators at the Women’s Cycle Race, and about the future appointment of a ‘more around 300 volunteers who served as presidential figure’ to work alongside the Games Pastors offering visitors support Archbishop of Canterbury. and help at major hubs of Olympic transport. The closing ceremonies for the October London 2012 Olympic Games were held on 12 August, and the Opening Proposals to merge the three West Ceremonies for the 2012 Paralympic Yorkshire dioceses of Bradford, Ripon & Games were held on 29 August. The High Leeds and Wakefield were given the go- Court rejected an appeal from paralytic ahead. Cabinet members spoke in favour Tony Nicklinson to end his life with a of reducing the current abortion limit from doctor’s help, a decision that was 24 weeks to 12. A judge ruled that the bed welcomed by a Christian group called and breakfast owner who refused to Care Not Killing, and dismayed by provide a gay couple with a double room in Nicklinson and his family. Christian a Berkshire hotel in March 2010 acted organizations expressed alarm at hints unlawfully, and was ordered to pay £3,600 from Downing Street that the extension in for injury to the couple’s feelings. The Sunday trading laws brought in for the battle over the women bishops measure Olympic games may become permanent. continued to intensify, with many members of the Church of England

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By George Conger by Islamists for the creation of an inde- The long-running dispute in Zimbabwe came pendent Muslim state for Zanzibar, were AFTER a decade of being overshadowed to an end last year. The country’s Supreme key concerns also for the church in Tanza- by the unfolding events in the Episcopal Court dismissed the claims to ownership of nia, whilst similar tribal and religious dis- Church of the United States of America, the properties of the dioceses of Harare and putes dominated the life of the Anglican the Church of England returned to the cen- Manicaland made by Dr Nolbert Kunonga Church of Kenya. tre of the Anglican news world. and his supporters. And, unlike past rulings, The government of the Sudan continued While the Communion’s 38 provinces the security services did not defy the courts its war of extermination against the pre- dealt with issues of local importance, the and allowed constables to evict Dr Kunonga dominantly Christian tribesmen of the issues underlying Archbishop Rowan and his men – apparently ending the collusion Nuba Mountains and fought a race- and Williams’ resignation, the coalition govern- between the secret police and the ex-bishop religion-based border war with the newly ment’s push for same-sex marriage, the that had kept the country’s Anglicans in inter- independent South Sudan. General Synod vote on women bishops, the nal exile for almost five years. collapse of the Anglican Covenant, and the Local political issues played a large role in Civil war in the Eastern Congo, crime in Chichester abuse report were played out the life of the churches of the Anglican Com- the West Indies and Mexico, and political across the Anglican Communion in 2012. munion. Labour unrest and political turmoil uncertainty in Burundi, the Solomon As important as these issues appeared as engaged the South African church, with Bish- Islands, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, they were debated and discussed, the op Seoka and Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Ghana and Malawi were issues of key con- underlying questions about the nature of Archbishop taking a high public profile in the wake of a cern for the Anglican churches in the the Church and the nature of mankind, Thabo Makgoba police shooting of striking miners. developing world as was the continued sounded by Dr Rowan Williams, Pope The bishops of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai global economic slowdown. The Arab Benedict XVI and leaders of the church in (Anglican Church of Japan) pressed their gov- Spring, with its hopes of political liberalisa- the developing word and within the ernment to shut down the country’s nuclear tion and renewal, turned into a bleak Church of England, drove debate within power plants. In a statement dated 23 May 2012 they said Japan’s experiences in the wake Islamist winter for the Episcopal Church in the church in 2012. of the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant meltdown had shown the risks outweighed Jerusalem and the Middle East. Civil wars However a few hardy Anglican perenni- the benefits of nuclear power. “It is not too much to say this is a warning from God to and sectarian violence in Libya, Syria, Iraq als surfaced last year also. Episcopal cor- each of us who, having suffered from nuclear bombings, have failed to acquire sufficient and the Yemen, coupled with the political ruption remained a significant concern for knowledge about nuclear power and exposure to radiation.” and social turmoil surrounding the elec- the Church of South India (CSI) and the South India’s bishops divided over the question of nuclear power. Bishops from the far tion of Mohammad Mursi as president of Church of North India (CNI). Lay activists south of the country joined public protests and called for a halt to the construction of the Egypt brought fears of renewed persecu- tell The Church of England Newspaper Koodankulam nuclear power plant in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. However the tion and prompted the emigration of more that only “eight or nine” of the CSI’s 21 cur- full house declined to endorse their concerns over the safety of the Russian-designed Christians from the Middle East. rent bishops were untainted by corruption reactor, saying nuclear power was essential for India’s economic development. charges. The Anglican Communion’s internal civil The Bishop in Coimbatore was finally wars were also played out across the globe. sacked for theft, two bishops were sus- ment and bullying. In August 2011 two- pended for corruption, and a third fighting thirds of the diocesan clergy had written to government charges of tax fraud died of the Archbishop of Cape Town requesting Mohammad Mursi cancer. his intervention. Government auditors also released a At their autumn meeting, however, the report that found the Church of South bishops received a report on Bishop India Trust Association, the not-for-profit Johannes Seoka of Pretoria. A provincial company that holds title to the church’s investigative commission had examined properties, was not in conformance with allegations of theft and bullying levelled India’s charitable laws, and ordered the against the bishop – who also chairs the church to implement immediate reforms, South African Council of Churches – and or risk liquidation of the trust. found there was no truth in the allegations. However, steps to address problem were begun by the church’s new moderator, Bishop Gnanasigamony Devakadasham, he gradual dismantling of Burma’s who appointed a new church legal adviser police state was a cause for rejoicing to clean up the house. Tfor the Anglican Church of Myanmar, The CNI was also plagued by corruption though the persecution of Christian tribal scandals. The former Bishop of Pune was groups and their forced conversion to Bud- jailed and several other serving and retired dhism at the hands of the military was a Church of North India bishops accused of cause of continued concern. Militant Bud- complicity in a scheme to sell churches to dhism and the aftermaths of Sri Lanka’s property developers and pocket the cash. Tamil-Sinhalese civil war also dominated Episcopal corruption also dominated the the life of the Church of Ceylon. proceedings of the House of Bishops of the Persecution of Christians remained the Provinces of South East Asia and Southern focus of the Church in Pakistan, the Africa. The Bishop of Sabah was accused of Church of Nigeria and Episcopal Church of financial misconduct. While the results of the Sudan. Depredations by Islamist the provincial audit have not been released extremists against the minority Christian calls for a criminal investigation have been population, church burnings, and high pro- made by diocesan leaders. file blasphemy cases – including one At the close of their February 2012 meet- against a pre-teen mentally disabled girl – ing, the Southern African bishops released were of paramount interest to the Church a statement at saying they were placing the of Pakistan. The Islamist terror group, Diocese of Umzimvubu “under the care of Boko Haram, continued its depredations a provincial administrative team.” Elected against the Christians of Northern Nigeria in 2003, Bishop Mlibo Ngewu had been and worked towards breaking up the Fed- charged by his clergy with simony, nepo- eral Republic of Nigeria. tism, embezzlement, fraud, sexual harass- Religious tensions, coupled with a push News Sunday January 6, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 7

The Bishops of the Iglesia Angli- bec, Rupert’s Land, Edmon- ic policy, gay marriage, the departure of Dr Williams and cana del Cono Sur (de América) ton, British Columbia, New women bishops – while General Synod said “no” South declined to ratify the election of a Westminster, Edmonton, Africa and Swaziland elected Africa’s first two women bish- Canadian priest as bishop of Niagara, Huron, Ottawa, ops – the deeper issues the church grappled with were Uruguay. This rebuff coupled with Toronto, Montreal, and over human nature. a 2011 vote by the South American Nova Scotia and Prince And it was non-Anglicans who best summarized the synod not to authorize women Edward Island had author- ontological issues facing the Church of England and the led the diocese to petition ized gay blessings. wider Anglican Communion at the close of 2012. the province and the Anglican Con- The General Convention In his Christmas message to the Roman Curia, Pope sultative Council to allow it to with- of the Episcopal Church Benedict XVI wrote: “The question of the family is not just draw from the Southern Cone and introduced same-sex bless- about a particular social construct, but about man himself join the Anglican Episcopal Church ings at the start of Advent – about what he is and what it takes to be authentically of Brazil. The ACC and the through a canonical sleight human.” province declined to honour of hand. While gay mar- The Chief Rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim, the Pope Uruguay’s request. riage would require the revi- wrote, had “shown in a very detailed and profoundly mov- The fate of earthquake-damaged sion of the Book of ing study that the attack we are currently experiencing on Christchurch Cathedral as well as Common Prayer and trial the true structure of the family, made up of father, mother, the financial aftershocks of the rites for same-sex marriage and child, goes much deeper. 2011 earthquake were of strong or blessings would have “While up to now we regarded a false understanding of local interest in New Zealand, while required a supermajority of the nature of human freedom as one cause of the crisis of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, bishops – the Church creat- the family, it is now becoming clear that the very notion of New Zealand and Polynesia’s vote ed a new, non-canonical cat- being – of what being human really means – is being called on the Anglican Covenant helped egory, called provisional into question.” close the door on Dr Rowan temporary liturgical rites, There was a new belief that held that “man and woman William’s major political initiative that allowed it to adopt gay as created realities, as the nature of the human being, no for the Anglican Communion. rites by a simple majority longer exist. Man calls his nature into question. From now Culture wars dominated the Bishop Mark vote. on he is merely spirit and will. The manipulation of nature, internal life of the Anglican Church Lawrence However, the Episcopal which we deplore today where our environment is con- of Australia along with clergy disci- Church permitted conserva- cerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he plinary cases that spilled over into tive dioceses to ban gay himself is concerned. From now on there is only the the civil court system. A Royal Commission on Abuse in rites, creating a situation where in some dioceses gay mar- abstract human being, who chooses for himself what his church and state institutions, gay marriage, and a just asy- riages are seen as blessed whilst in others they are sinful. nature is to be. Man and woman in their created state as lum policy for immigrants were among the political issues The fall out over gay rites along with disputes over the complementary versions of what it means to be human are that spilled over in the life of the church. nature and person of Jesus Christ (is he a way or the way disputed. But if there is no pre-ordained duality of man and The Australian House of Bishops also reiterated its tra- to the Father) saw one of the original dioceses of the Epis- woman in creation, then neither is the family any longer a ditional rules against the calling and deployment of non- copal Church withdraw from the General Convention. reality established by creation. celibate gay clergy – and just as quickly some bishops In November South Carolina quit the Episcopal Church “When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom broke ranks over the issue. after Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori deposed to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker himself is The issue of gay clergy sharply divided the Church of Bishop Mark Lawrence without trial for abandoning the denied and ultimately man too is stripped of his dignity as Ireland in 2012 prompting its bishops to deny speculation communion of the Church – a charge the South Carolina a creature of God, as the image of God at the core of his the church might divide between a liberal south and con- bishop denied. being. The defence of the family is about man himself.” servative north. In Canada, the question of gay clergy and These questions, however, mirrored the theological and Benedict concluded, “and it becomes clear that when rites for the blessing of same-sex unions proceeded at the political debates within the Church of England. While the God is denied, human dignity also disappears. Whoever diocesan level. By year’s end of Canada’s 25 dioceses, Que- arguments may have centred round government econom- defends God is defending man...” 8 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday January 6, 2013 Letters

THE OF CHURCH ENGLANDNEWSPAPER 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 Israel questions Do we really need this House of Laity debate? to a number of British laws that make ref- Sir, When my wife and I lived and minis- erence to ‘husbands’ and ‘wives’. tered in Israel I completed an “Israel Advo- Sir, Whatever views we may have of the stance taken by the chairman of the House of 8. Changing the meaning of the word cacy Training” course organised by the Laity in the recent debate about women being eligible for the episcopate, I hope there ‘marriage’ won’t for that reason make gay Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the will be serious reconsideration about calling a meeting of the House for a censure marriage the same as heterosexual mar- Jewish Agency. I am well aware of the prob- motion on one individual. I say that as someone who is sad that the measure failed. riage. Indeed, in the event of these propos- lems and dangers facing Israel, many of Such meetings do not come free of charge and guess who, in the end, will be footing als becoming law what is now heterosexual which Peter Mullen refers to in his article the considerable bill. Every member will be claiming their travel costs and buildings marriage will inevitably, with the passing of (16 December). Also we were in Israel (even in Church House) cost money to use. time, simply come to be called something throughout the second Intifada (Palestin- If it does happen could your readers be advised as to the cost of this extraordinary, else! We do well to recall Lewis Carroll’s ian uprising) with bombs exploding all and I feel, extravagant meeting? Humpty Dumpty who having boasted that around us. The Rt Rev Gavin Reid ‘when I use a word it means just what I I am also well aware of the evils of anti- Via e-mail choose it to mean’ and then had a great fall. Semitism. It is an irrational and demonic Perhaps if the government is seriously reaction that is only explained by the fact listening it needs to take note of that God still has a purpose for the Jewish Rousseau’s Social Contract, ‘Every law the people in Christ (and so has provided a understandably, a huge stumbling block were unwilling on grounds of conscience people have not ratified in person is null homeland for them). for the Palestinians vis a vis the peace to wear the stole, he issued a directive to and void and is in fact not a law’”! (Book 3 I did similar studies on Palestinian Advo- process. All of this strengthens the position bishops that no candidate should be chapter, 15). cacy and was involved in dialogue with of extremists like Hamas, Hezbollah and refused ordination because of conscien- Nigel Scotland, Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. I am there- Iran. If Israel were to be serious about the tious objections about wearing the stole. Cheltenham fore aware of the needs, pain and fears of Peace Process they would have a good deal Today few bishops appear to be aware of the Palestinian people. To be stateless is to of Arab support, as the Arab Peace Plan that piece of history, and there are some be in limbo. indicates, despite the uncertainties of the who even insist on their candidates for the We must never forget that God loves Arab Spring. Various Arab nations are as priesthood being vested in chasubles at both the Israelis and the Palestinians. He is worried as Israel about Iran and other their ordination, even though they have a covenant-keeping God so he is faithful in extremists. conscientious convictions on the matter, preserving Israel. But he is also a God of Thirdly, Israel’s current lack of serious- and are never likely to wear that vesture justice and that must include justice for the ness about the Peace Process is, sadly, a again. Palestinians. They too must have a home- gift to the anti-Semites and their pernicious So much for respecting minority views, land. With the higher Arab birth rate a sin- creed. even when they were in earlier years the Your Tweets gle-state solution (incorporating the We need to pray for peace with justice. official stance of our church! Those who Palestinians into Israel as a democracy) But even more important we need to pray are proud of the fact that we are a broad @His_Grace would ultimately lead to the end of a Jewish for both Palestinians and Israelis to come church in matters of doctrine and morals [Archbishop Cranmer ] state. to faith in Jesus. Traditionally the Rabbis appear reluctant to see its variety finding Her Majesty attends Cabinet (the first I agree that a two-state solution would have said: “If Israel would perfectly keep liturgical expression. since Queen Victoria) - cannot believe not remove the dangers from the likes of the Torah [Law] for one day, the Messiah David Wheaton, they put a bloody name-tag infront of Hamas who are dedicated to the destruc- would come.” True obedience is repen- Blandford Forum her pic.twitter.com/N1DuNqAp tion of Israel. But there are various reasons tance and faith in the Messiah who was why it must be pursued. sent to Israel at the first Christmas. We can Gay marriage doubts @seanbrassil Firstly, God, as a God of justice, does hasten his return (2 Peter 3:12) by praying Andrew Carey’s comment in this require Israel to fulfil his law. I am well that they will turn to him. Sir, David Cameron’s renewed proposal to week’s CEN was spot on. Well done. aware of the faults of the Palestinians. But The Rev Tony Higton, legalise gay marriage ought to be rejected it is true that Israel does, to a really signifi- Marham by Parliament for the following reasons. @SallyHitchiner cant degree, treat the Palestinians unjustly 1. It is clear that the great majority of the Radio presenter “You’re a what? and oppressively. For Peter Mullen to say Church track record British public, including numbers of gay What’s the correct term for a female that is not true is to ignore a great deal of people, are not in favour of such a change. vicar?” Sally (raising eyebrow) “I evidence. Sir, In all the correspondence since the 2. It undoes the traditional and historic believe the technical term is vixen” Peter refers to the criticisms of Israel in vote on women bishops one factor seems understanding of marriage and the family the British press. He should read some of to have been overlooked. That is that our that has been the bedrock of Western soci- @conradhackett the Israeli press where he will see the church has a very poor track record over ety for more than 2,000 years. In this con- About 1-in-3 people worldwide identify same criticisms. He also says the Palestin- safeguarding the conscientious views of nection it should not be over-looked that as Christian yet 2-in-3 countries have ian leadership is corrupt but he should also those who find themselves in a minority the early Christians did not accept the Christian majorities bit.ly/VOLTYZ record that there has been a fair amount of position. widespread practice of homosexual unions pic.twitter.com/Y0yFOooB corruption within the Israeli leadership When Geoffrey Fisher set about revising of the first century Roman empire. too. Yet the Jewish Scriptures are quite canon law in the 1950s he was keen that 3. It ignores the unique male and female @thechurchmouse clear (in this context, the word foreigner the wearing of the so-called ‘mass vest- distinctiveness seen most obviously in the Can’t see any justification for the can be ‘non-Jew.’): “Cursed is the man who ments’ should be legalised. These had complementarity of their respective geni- system of informally reserving withholds justice from the foreigner” (Deut been outlawed at the time of the Reforma- talia and the nature of their consummated bishoprics for bishops from particular 27: 17, 19). “When a foreigner resides tion, and their re-introduction by leaders of union. wings of the church. among you in your land, do not ill-treat the Oxford Movement had resulted in liti- 4. It very rejects the biblical Christian them. The foreigner residing among you gation during the latter part of the 19th understanding of marriage encapsulated in @paulbayes must be treated as your native-born. Love century. Recognising that these vestments, Jesus’ words, ‘For this reason a man will Value for money (I hope!) >> The them as yourself, for you were foreigners particularly the chasuble, had associations leave his father and mother and be united 2011 office and working costs of in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Lev with the Roman doctrine of the ‘sacrifice of to his wife, and the two will become one bishops in the Church of England are 19:33-34). A true supporter of Israel will the mass’, he met with leading churchmen flesh’ (Mark 10:7-8). published today. bit.ly/ZiaVHH therefore pray earnestly about the faults of of reformed views whom he thought would 5. It stands in direct contradiction with Israel and Messianic Jews (those who have problems of conscience with such an the historic Scriptures of Judaism, Islam @GodandPolitics believe in Jesus) should call their fellow innovation. He assured them that his sole and a number of other world faiths repre- St Marks Church Southampton Jews to repentance. aim was to bring peace to the church by sented in the UK. blocked by mobile filters because it is Secondly, Israel is losing more and more legalising all liturgical traditions, and that 6. Clergy and officials of religious institu- part of New WINE network - support in the West because it is clear that no one would be required to wear any ves- tions may well be compelled to solemnise classified under alcohol Prime Minister Netanyahu is not serious ture against their conscience. same-sex marriages on account of Euro- about the peace process, hence he is sup- As a token of good faith, when he pean legislation despite David Cameron’s follow us porting the expansion of Israeli settle- received complaints that some bishops adamant assertions to the contrary. @churchnewspaper on Twitter ments on the West Bank which is, were refusing to ordain candidates who 7. It will no doubt require costly changes

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Leader & Comment Sunday January 6, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 9 Comment The Gospel to the nations, A hope that lasts here in the UK? beyond the New Year The 2011 Census has stirred up a sense of alarm in many quarters, in particular the figures of migrants, their birth rates and lack of any driv- ers for integration, caused politicians to scratch their heads. Labour leader Ed Miliband made a speech apologizing for aspects of Labour’s mass migration policies and for failing to realize the importance of inte- gration and the speaking of English for social cohesion. Sadiq Khan, Labour’s spokesman on the subject, supported the policy of ensuring James immigrants spoke English, but also insisted on the right of such people to keep their own identity from their country and culture of origin. Commentators of the right lamented the radically new demographic situation, Peter Hitchens saying that it is now too late to reverse the sit- Catford uation and that a whole culture is being broken up under the impact of demographic revolution. Left-wing pundits approve of the breaking up of ‘middle England’ and its values and so applaud the rise of ‘Danny Boyle’ England. The Census reported also a decline in those wanting to identify as Christian, and a rapid rise in Islam, another factor alarm- ing cultural conservatives. Whatever their opinions as to how society could begin to cope with the rapid demographic and tribal changes, all ‘Somewhere beyond the barricade, is there a world agreed that England in particular was changing in ethnic and cultural you long to see? Do you hear the people sing, say, make up by way of inflows of population not sharing the values and do you hear the distant drums?’ assumption of English culture, indeed not even its language necessari- Do you think that the movie The Hobbit, written ly. by the devout Catholic JRR Tolkien, is the best The nation faces a revolution and politicians have no answers. As Christian entertainment on release this January? and of itself. We don’t need to justify watching or James Naughtie on the Today Programme said to Sadiq Khan, ‘you Think again. playing sport for any other reason than it’s enjoy- were wrong’. The New Year begins on a note of uncertainty and unease It’s true that the lovable, if slightly flawed, sage able and celebrates life. According to Zephaniah, as regards what our society is now. And the Church likewise starts a called Gandalf believes that the best response to God rejoices over his people with singing (3:17). new year in a divided, shaken, and anxious state. Parliament is now in evil is not power but simple acts of love. But the film Just think. Imagine God singing over us. effect telling it what to do, on women bishops and on homosexual ‘mar- now on general release is packed full of dark crea- Yet the greatest trap with a well-crafted film that riage’ – urging the former and apparently banning the latter on church tures you wouldn’t want to let your children watch. has a deep Christian theme is that we grasp at the premises. General Synod looked at times less than theologically As Charles Moore, writing in The Telegraph, has obvious surface stuff and miss the hidden truths. grounded in its arguments. Anglican bishops and theologians have said ‘humour, poetry and character are sacrificed to Les Misérables certainly works on the level of for- failed to engage and probe the Stonewall doctrine of homosexual iden- spectacle’. For me the storyline travelled far, but giveness, identity, guilt and hope and, if we get no tity, behaviour and fixity of ‘orientation’, accepting without question the the meaning didn’t go very deep. The book is bet- further than that, then we have benefitted hugely. anthropology of the gay activists. There is a sense of theological vacu- ter. At a deeper level, however, is the wonder of um and hesitancy at the start of 2013. Far and away the most inspirational film this New grace. Here, the most profound line in the inade- And yet we do not lose heart. The Church is under the Lordship only Year is the screen version of the musical Les Mis- quate Hobbit movie comes alive. Gandalf was right; of Christ, not of ideologies and idolatries of our social context. And to érables. Staring Jackman, Anne Hathaway, noble acts of love do defeat evil, although the cost the despair of conservative culture watchers, the Church points to Russell Crowe and Eddie Redmayne, it is wonder- involved can be very high. Christ and the purposes of God. Can it be perhaps that the mass inflow fully shot and beautifully sung. To add authenticity, In Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, a generous act of of peoples prepares for a mass receiving of Christ, if the glory of the the musical performances are filmed live on loca- selfless love by a saintly bishop of the church Gospel is declared in the love of God? The tribes of the earth in the UK tion, with the orchestra dubbed back at the studio unlocks the heart of Jean Valjean and converts him can now hear the unique Gospel message of divine self-humbling in later. to a life of grace. Time and time again he acts in love, if the Church is faithful to its Lord and loving to all its neighbours. Prepare yourself for several months of sermons ways that Jesus would act. His life is transformed based on the symbolism and explicit Bible themes and touches the lives of others. of forgiveness, redemption and hope. The material However, if we sit long enough with Hugo’s clas- here is too good to be ignored, sic then another, less comfort- The Church of England Newspaper too fresh not to be picked. able, story emerges. Both the with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week ‘There is a flame that never self-righteous Inspector Javert Published by Religious Intelligence Ltd. dies, even the darkest night will and the broken-yet-redeemed Company Number: 3176742 end, and the sun will rise. They Gandalf was right; Jean Valjean are found within Publisher: Keith Young MBE will live in freedom in the garden noble acts of love do us. Many followers of Christ of the Lord.’ battle with this tension between Yet in this gift of a movie for self-moralising and compassion; Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY 020 7222 8004 defeat evil, although any evangelist worth their salt, between judgement, of self and Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 there are dangers waiting just the cost involved can others, and mercy. We carry Reporter: AMARIS COLE 020 7222 8700 around the corner. Care needs be very high them both, and one of them has to be taken to avoid certain to die. Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 traps. The Hobbit can be seen in cin- Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 First is the all too frequent ten- emas with 3D glasses, yet the dency to fillet movies in search plot reduces the experience to Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 8663 of bite-sized clips that would fit one dimension. Les Misérables Graphic Designer: PETER MAY 020 7222 8700 into a multimedia talk or gospel presentation. To on the other hand, with its invented musical form, is pluck out the bits that fit a formula that we want to more vivid and true to life. The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate impose on the story, to look for glorious redemp- As we allow this great work to wash over us and endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication tion and ignore the preceding depths of degrada- seep into our deeper thought, then we discover a are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper tion, and to focus on the shining faith of the lasting hope that is in Christ and is substantial. A does not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. characters and fast-forward over their doubt. heartfelt hope for home, for tomorrow, and for the Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), Worse is to fall for the convenience of seeing Kingdom of God that lasts beyond the New Year, Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, movies, and the arts in general, as only having any because it lasts beyond all our years. Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Peter Brown, The Rev Cindy Kent real value in providing ammunition for evangelistic ‘Say, do you hear the distant drum? It is the future enterprises. To this way of thinking, movies merely that they bring, when tomorrow comes! Tomorrow The Church of England Newspaper, have merit when they can be repurposed for mis- comes!’ Religious Intelligence Ltd sion. What is all this singing, costumes, pathos and Les Misérables opens in UK cinemas on 11 Janu- 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX drama good for, if it does not directly serve a meas- ary 2013. Editorial e-mail: [email protected] urable output? Advertising e-mail: [email protected] Our response should be that God seems to be James Catford is Group Chief Executive Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] interested in beauty. After all, he made a lot of it. of Bible Society. Like sport, art needs no justification; it has merit in Email him at [email protected] Website: www.churchnewspaper.com

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 10 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday January 6, 2013 Comment Andrew Carey: View from the Pew A troubling year lies ahead

A troubling year lies ahead for church and state of Parliament to exercise great restraint when it relations. All the signs are that Members of Par- comes to their power. An over-mighty Parliament liament are flexing their muscles over the Gener- is as much a danger as an over-mighty Church. al Synod vote on women bishops. Both have their own respective responsibilities They would like nothing less than to bounce and rights and to overstep these is to upset a bal- the Church of England into an early decision, and ance that has been worked out over centuries. some are actively seeking to interfere with a deci- Religious freedom is threatened by a state that sion-making process that uniquely ties the seeks to impose its own thinking on the Church. Church and State together. This is why the government’s pretence that it can Many supporters of women bishops will wel- outlaw the Church of England and the Church in come this support from Parliament for their Wales from ‘opting-in’ to same-sex marriage is cause. Many of us agree that the Church of Eng- such a curious claim. It misunderstands the land must act quickly to resolve a question that nature of marriage itself, which cannot be divided has already been settled, not least by the over- into civil and religious marriage. It forgets that whelming support of diocesan Synods. But canon law is also the law of the land. And it is an threats from Parliament are unhelpful for many overreaching of government power. reasons. The fourth element of the so-called quadruple In particular, dispersed power and the separa- lock is merely a recognition of the status quo, tion of British institutions are fundamental to our that only the churches can initiate change to their constitution. If any British institution seeks own canon law. Any move to compel the Church greater powers over another the balance of the in one direction or another is completely unac- British state is upset. We should expect Members ceptable.

Saying goodbye: Farewell to Archbishop Williams Rowan Williams The Archbishop of Canterbury preached his last Christmas Sermon and gave his final New Year’s Message to the nation. In Canterbury and more widely there will have been much sadness about his retirement. by so many people who have never met him. He has been an impressive Archbishop who has reached out to society with a scholarly wisdom sel- We ought to have great gratitude for his leadership, even as we welcome dom seen before. Unfortunate to be in office at a time of warfare in the Anglican Communion, he has his successor this year. nevertheless made his own mark upon the office. Thank you Rowan, for being prepared to make such great sacrifices to be His support for Fresh Expressions of church and his advocacy for a mixed economy in church life our leader over the past 10 years. It must have been very painful at times of will be an ongoing influence for many years to come. His dialogue with many important opinion-form- great criticism. I hope that your ministry in Cambridge will be just as influ- ers such as Richard Dawkins, Philip Pullman, the Chief Rabbi and many others has given much food ential but much more peaceful for you and your family. for thought. The relationships he has developed with artists, politicians and leaders of other faiths will be a lasting testament to his leadership. Finally, a very Happy New Year to all readers of The Church of England News- Finally, it is a sign of the affection in which he is held that he is so often simply referred to as ‘Rowan’ paper.

the proposed legislation. And I saw churchgoers. Personally, I do not like with fresh eyes what a dog’s dinner it the way the word “Christian” has been was. We all know how that result appropriated by a particular form of appeared to the world but it is just pos- Christianity. It is now difficult to sibly the case that, given time, it might describe oneself to new acquaintances transpire to have been the right result. as a “Christian” because of the many Ruth Gledhill Despite all the meetings, reports and assumptions - anti-gay, anti-women consultations that had led the Church bishops - that now get writ large on to that point, the resulting measure on that label. Even to describe oneself as View from Fleet Street the table seemed rushed and cobbled Church of England no longer carries together, not coherent and not truly the automatic assumption of liberal satisfactory to anybody. Perhaps it will inclusiveness it once did. be worth waiting for more satisfactory The great thing about Christmas legislation. and the New Year is the reminder it On gay marriage, the entire situa- represents that all life, for as long as tion is confusing, for many inside the we live and possibly longer, repre- Church as well as outside. I am not sents the chance to start again. I’ve Sadness at bearing the sure I am in a position to judge, at just become a step-grandmother, and least not in this forum, the merits or our family’s new Christmas baby, a otherwise of the Church’s determined beautiful boy, represents so clearly the stance that marriage can only be new generations for whom these bat- between a man and a woman. Per- tles that seem and are so important bad news from the Church haps, though, if wider, secular society now will be dry history. However no longer feels that to be necessarily unlikely it now seems, I cannot believe The Church of England has had a terrible appears like an institution in chronic decline. the case, it really is time to consider that these futures will not contain press recently. I’ve rarely had such a busy peri- The census, with the sudden and dramatic fall more steps towards disestablishment, faith, or hope, or even Church. It’s od, but I take neither pride nor pleasure in in numbers declaring themselves to be Chris- not least removing the automatic pro- been a difficult year, but we are all recognising that I am possibly the only person tian, merely appeared to confirm what these fessional status of Anglican clergy in born again with the new. I’m hanging to have benefited from this series of disasters, people had been saying all along. England - and Wales - as registrars. on to that hope for dear life as after a from a professional perspective at least. I’ve Can anything good be said about what has It is a difficult missional situation in brief rest I am called on to press the just collected my 25-year long service award happened? the pews, however. It cannot be easy keys on the mighty iPad once again, from The Times. It is one of my sadnesses that On women bishops, just before filing, in for clergy at present, or for laity, called and return to chronicling the for- many of these years have been spent chroni- some shock, my story for The Times when the upon to defend the Church’s stance to tunes, or otherwise, of our poor, but cling the throes of what to many on the outside vote came in unexpectedly against, I re-read friends and family who might not be blessed, Church. Arts Sunday January 6, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 11 Hungry for a big hit 012 had some great films but – unless relationships. There were a few good Life of Pi (released on deadline day) movies about friendships, from On The 2lives up to the hype - nothing that’s Road to The Sapphires¸ and a couple about likely to be a hot favourite for an Oscar®. loners too – in The Hunter Willem Dafoe We began the year with the contrast found that looking for a supposedly extinct between The Iron Lady (about Margaret animal was complicated by the family Thatcher) and The Lady (about Aung San issues of his hosts, while The Imposter Suu Kyi), though I suppose the best told the unlikely true story of a young man treatments of the dark arts of politics were pretending to be a long-lost child, and in the first-ever screen version of getting away with it. Shakespeare’s Coriolanus and in biopic J The most imaginative story of the year Edgar. may well be the Mississippi delta story, Cinema’s main target audience - the Beasts of the Southern Wild, though young and affluent – got the latest in the Swandown claimed the prize for British Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn Part 2, but eccentricity, with its epic journey by the most interesting offering was The pedalo swan from the south coast to Hunger Games. I suppose adaptations of Hackney. At least they got there, which is Anna Karenina, with some stunning more than happened in The Hobbit, which effects, and Great Expectations catered for will need two more films. those with a more traditional literary It’s not often I get real joy out of a film interest. but I took great delight in Searching for But 18-certificate violence was not in Sugarman, a well-crafted documentary by short supply, although Killer Joe at least Malik Bendjelloul about Sixto Rodriguez, a gave us a character worth looking at in Sightseers contrived to be both violent and in it, an under-age love affair is not an easy 1960s singer-songwriter whose albums depth, and Matthew McConaughey might very funny, and is a close contender with topic. Equally difficult was the biopic of a bombed in his native USA, but became be looking for an award for his chilling The Angels’ Share for the best British film rich quadraplegic and his ex-con carer, the portrayal of a cop with a sideline in of the year. more impressive because based on a true contract killing, and not even Javier Children’s choices seemed limited, and story, and Untouchable is my foreign Bardem in Bond movie Skyfall managed to animations Brave and Frankenweenie were language film of the year. out-bad Joe. Taken 2 did the trick of a high probably the best offerings, and although Religion got a look in with The body count that was well enough Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom was Master and Electric Children, but concealed to get a 12A certificate, but it the best movie in both cases the faith depicted felt a poor sequel. with kids was hardly mainstream. A different sort of Doing better at the UK box violence was conveyed by office were comic book Michael, about a boy characters, and The Dark imprisoned by a Knight Rises and The paedophile, and by Avengers were beaten French “policier” only by Skyfall, while Polisse, focussing on the naughty bear Ted the work of a child was also in the top protection team in 10. Paris. The tensest Some thought Ted movie of the year was was the funniest film the story of getting of the year, but I massive hits in South Africa and American diplomats preferred the gentler Australasia, without his knowing. The out of Iran after the wit of Woody Allen’s soundtrack was on my Christmas list, but revolution, Argo, which To Rome with Love, whatever was in Santa’s sack, it was my should see Ben Affleck not his best but with film of the year. among awards as actor lots of barbed humour in or director or both. his typical observation of Steve From Graceland to the Wimbledon stage

By Peter May looked every inch the wicked queen she is portraying from the Disney classic. It is impossible to believe he was married to one of the most successful Priscilla is 67 with her slim and youthful appearance Rock’n’Rollers of all time – if not the most strutting around the set. It is rather amusing to hear Ssuccessful — and this time she steps into the when she is such a high-profile celebrity cracking limelight to star in New Wimbledon Theatre’s latest jokes about call-centres in Surbiton, a great zinger extravaganza, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. about Wetherspoons and mispronouncing Clapham. It Following in the footsteps of David Hasselhoff, looked as though she was having a ball on stage and Pamela Anderson and Dame Edna, this year Elvis’s judging by the reaction of the audience, so were they. ex-wife, Priscilla Presley turns her hand to acting once She certainly knows how to work a crowd. again and treads the boards for her debut in a theatri- She is accompanied by Ricky Gervais’ sidekick, cal role. I wouldn’t have imagined that a stint in Panto Warwick Davis, as one of the seven dwarves putting would have been top of Priscilla’s career aspiration in a sterling performance as he tries (and fails) to get list, after all Wimbledon Broadway is quite a different the rest of the dwarves under control. Judging by the setting from her five years acting at South Fork ranch running gags throughout, who knew athlete Ellie Sim- on Dallas. monds was the ultimate pin-up girl for dwarves? However my doubts were put to rest after seeing It is fair to say this production is not entirely aimed her make her grand entrance swinging down from the at children as there are quite a large number of gags roof, buzzing with confidence. She even belted out an and references that would go over the head of your Elvis classic whilst being carried around the stage by average eight-year-old, I’d imagine. So it would most burly men. I wont spoil it and say which one she sang. definitely appeal to any parent with a sense of humour It was surprising to learn that just a few months ago, too. when Priscilla answered the phone in her home in So if you fancy a harmless, fun-filled and cheesy Hawaii and was offered the part, she had no idea even time out and nothing too taxing, I couldn’t recom- what a pantomime, was nor understood the concept mend a more entertaining way to fill two-and-a-half that getting booed was actually a good thing. hours. Donning her glittery gown, slit up to the upper Snow White is showing at New Wimbledon Theatre thigh and wearing a crown of horns, she certainly until January 13 01 www.churchnew2paper.com Sunday January 6, 1s03 Comment

Janey Lee Grace Live Healthy! Live Happy!

Planning for the year ahead So have you made the resolutions yet? If so have they haven’t worked, U-Unmotivated when they another look at them, chances are you’ve set your- don’t achieve their goals, M- Mad when they see self up to fail before you’ve started! Most people their lives staying the same, year after year and B – think of New Year’s resolutions as another way of Bored by the idea of updating or creating new goals. reprimanding themselves, ‘I must eat less’, ‘lose Derek reminds us that life is a journey and we weight’, ‘cut down on alcohol’, ‘stop smoking’, ‘must should ‘travel’ it and enjoy each day. He believes join a gym’, ‘phone my relatives more often’ … the that goals distort the reality of our present. He sug- list goes on. The truth is that if we focus on what we gests you ask yourself, based on five, 10, 20 years of don’t want we’re more likely to attract more of it. We goal-setting, who is truly successful and happy and all know the statistics around gym memberships in achieving everything they know they can? When he January! asks this question in large conferences very few al ‘standards’ and points out we owe it to ourselves not to allow them to 2013 will be different, I’ve decided to think of get- hands are raised. Instead of measuring ourselves be breached. ting rid of the old as ‘dissolving’. I’ll let go of what no against some external factor that usually gives a He also suggests we live for today, one day at a time. “If we live at or longer serves me and look to what I choose for the continual sense of shortfall we should simply set near our best standards by the day, our future todays will be better year ahead. If you’re a savvy business person you’re higher standards for ourselves. Consider the stan- todays for us and all we hold dear. Over 2,000 years ago Christ taught probably au fait with the ‘SMART’ goals system, it dards that you live your life by and make sure that ‘give us this day’ not this decade, not this month, not this fiscal year, stands for S – specific, M – measurable, A – Achiev- they serve you. Give us this day. Somewhere in there, there’s a message.” able, R- realistic and T- time-related. In his new book Its critical to be yourself, to be in touch with what It’s a great book, not too ‘woo woo’ just packed full of useful info and ‘The 10 second Philosophy’ Derek Mills, a wealth you really want and how you really feel (Derek calls practical enlightenment. management consultant and motivational life coach this your true self) then instead of goals you can set Happy New year! suggests that in fact SMART goals simply make us rules, criteria, levels and qualities as the basis for The 10 Second Philosophy - a practical guide to releasing your inner DUMB – that stands for – D- Disillusioned when how you live your life. Derek calls these our person- potential - Derek Mills Hay House publishing.

10 'Even in laughter the heart may --- 6 First book of the OT [NIV] after PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 830 by Axe -...' [Prov/NIV] (4) the Pentateuch (6) 11 'Your word is like a ---- for my feet, 12 'Six days before the ------, Jesus a light on my path' [Ps/NIV] (4) came to Bethany...' [John/NIV] 13 Solomon's son under whom the (8) kingdom divided [1 Kgs; 2 Chr] 14 '...named his wife ---, because she (8) would become the mother of all 15 Port built by Herod the Great in the living' [Gen/NIV] (3) tribute to Augustus [Acts] (8) 16 One of two disciples of John the 19 'To the one who is victorious...I Baptist; the first named disciple of will also give that one the morning Jesus [John] (6) ----' [Rev/NIV] (4) 17 Concubine of Saul whose sons 21 '...and I ordered them to go to ----, David gave to the Gibeonites to the leader in Kasiphia' kill [2 Sam] (6) [Ezra/NIV] (4) 18 '...to ------our sister and Archippus 22 Daughter of Jethro [Exod] (8) our fellow soldier...' [Philem] (6) 24 Swiss city closely associated with 20 '...summon against her these king- John Calvin (6) doms: ------, Minni and Ashkenaz' 25 First of the major Hebrew [Jer/NIV] (6) prophets (6) 23 Son of Judah who denied Tamar children [Gen] (4) Down Solutions to last week’s crossword 1 Decapolis city, the area where the miracle of Legion and the swine Across: 1 Gilead, 4 Tribes, 9 Long ago, 10 took place [Matt; Mark; Luke] (6) Flour, 11 Omega, 12 Gershon, 13 2 'Now there was a servant of Saul's Blackfriars, 18 Megiddo, 20 Hosea, household named ----' [2 22 After, 23 Gospels, 24 Sinner, 25 Sam/NIV] (4) Season. 3 Member of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Com- Down: 1 Gilboa, 2 Lance, 3 Aramaic, 5 Refer, ing (6) 6 Brother, 7 Shrine, 8 Song of Songs, 4 'Israel pursued them...all the way 14 Lighten, 15 In haste, 16 Emmaus, to ------and Makkedah' [Josh/NIV] 17 Samson, 19 Dirge, 21 Seeds. (6) Jezebel, 15 Messiah, 16 Sisters, 17 Across Alphaeus and Simon the ------...' 5 Robber released by Pilate [Matt] Essene, 18 Lucas, 19 Rites, 21 Later. [Acts/NIV] (6) (8) 7 Local church community (6) 9 Hebrew minor prophet and OT book 8 'Those present were...James son of (8) The first correct entry drawn will win a book of the Editor’s choice. Send your entry to Crossword Number 830 The Church of England Newspaper, STAIRLIFTS FROM £995 SCRIBBLE PAD 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX by next Friday NEW OR REFURBISHED Name FOR AN INFORMATION PACK CALL Telephone FREE on Address 0800 007 6959 Post Code www.castlecomfortstairlifts.com See our notice on page 13 for Clergy disount Anglican Life Sunday January 6, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 13 New Years Resolutions for the parish church By David Banting What about our services? The last ordination I attended followed the hue and cry after the debacle of The time for New Year Resolutions may already be past. General Synod’s vote and how irrelevant and out of However, nearly 200 years ago, Jonathan Edwards touch the Church appeared to be. The service was (1703-58) famously made some 70 Resolutions for his typically long, high-flown, choral, elaborate and felt the life. He was just 20 when he formed them over the embodiment of irrelevance. How are we making our course of 1722-3. I am inspired by his example (and a regular services accessible and engaging? sabbatical last year) to consider Mission Resolves for We need to look at the liturgical and Eucharistic me and my church. weight, the welcome at the door and in the pew to all This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Call to a ages, the place of explaining the gospel and the “Decade of Evangelism”. Resolution 44 of the 1988 Scriptures, how the sense of God and of his family are Lambeth Conference issued a call “for a shift to a conveyed. Is it time that Services of the Word were dynamic missionary emphasis which goes beyond care honoured and trusted to be the norm to communicate and nurture to proclamation and service”. It accepted and celebrate the faith? In our parish we have resolved “the challenge this presents to diocesan and local to review the Evening service with the under-35s in church structures and patterns of worship and ministry, mind. and looks to God for a fresh movement of the Spirit in And the PCC? Since reading The Purpose-Driven prayer, outgoing love and evangelism in obedience to Church, we have tried to have a conscious aim of having the Lord’s command”. a mission-shaped agenda at each PCC. In the world of The old CPAS motto was “the gospel to every man’s Mission Action Planning this should be normal rather door”. The parish system gives us the care of souls and than revolutionary. It certainly keeps us galvanised and the responsibility to bring the good news and blessings stretched. Last year we read John Richardson’s A of Christ to all in our area. Strategy that changes a Denomination and then invited Our parish is set to increase in the next five years by the author to be the catalyst at our PCC and Small at least 15 per cent to a population of 13,500. At the time Group Leaders Away Day. It was big picture stuff, of the new millennium, we embarked on a ‘Parish invigorating not just for our local church, but for the Visiting Project’. The aim was to make a significant Church as a whole. personal visit to all 5,000 homes and offer them Parish, services, PCC? That is only the start of a something that ‘presented Christ’. We chose a 20-minute Mission Audit for 2013. The challenge of evangelism is DVD called The Millennium Man over the two-hour not this issue or that, but to make it the priority and Jesus film. It took us three-and-a-half years. We gave orientation of the Church. The task is none other than away some 800 DVDs and involved and trained about 90 the re-evangelisation of our nation and of Europe. And members of the church. when unity seems hard to find, we do well to remember A Resolution is forming that we should consider that our strongest unity is unity in mission. something similar again. After all, ‘if you aim at nothing, you’re bound to hit it’. What might be the most effective The Rev Canon David Banting, Vicar of St Peter’s, dynamic ‘proclamation and service’ for us to bring the Harold Wood, Council member and Trustee of Reform, gospel to every door – and for you in your patch? and General Synod member for Chelmsford diocese Jonathan Edwards 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday January 6, 2013 The Register

30 November 2012. The Rev Canon Paul Iles, APPOINTMENTS ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER NSM (Associate Priest), North Chel- tenham (Gloucester): has retired with The Rev James Ashton, Sunday 06 January. The Epiphany. Psalm 72: 1-8, I Tim 1:1-11. O worship the Lord effect from 14 November 2012. Team Vicar, Merstham, South Merstham in the beauty of holiness! Bow down before him, his glory proclaim; With gold of obe- The Rev Canon Paul Rampton, and Gatton (Southwark): to be Priest-in- dience, and incense of lowliness, Kneel and adore him, the Lord is his name. Kwoi - Rector, Ashurst; and Vicar, Steyning; and Charge (Team Rector designate). (Abuja, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Paul Zamani Warden of Readers (Chichester): has The Rev Yvonne Brae, retired with effect from 30 November 2012. NSM (Associate Priest), Charlton Kings Monday 07 January. Psalm 72: 1,10-14, I Tim 1: 12-20. Kyoto - (Japan): The Rt Rev Remaining Warden of Readers. Holy Apostles (Gloucester): to be NSM Stephen Takashi Kochi The Rev Brian Reed, (Associate Priest), Sodbury Vale (same Vicar, Barming Heath (Canterbury): to diocese). Tuesday 08 January. Psalm 72: 1,15-end, I Tim 2: 1-7. Kyushu - (Japan): The Rt Rev resign with effect from 21 April 2013. The Rev Paul Collier, Gabriel Shoji Igarashi The Rev Stephen Ware, Priest-in-Charge, Peckham St Saviour Warden of Readers (Gloucester): has (Southark): to be Vicar. Wednesday 09 January. Psalm 98, I Tim 2: 8-15. Lafia - (Abuja, Nigeria): The Rt resigned with effect from 10 December The Rev David Coulton, Rev Miller Maza 2012. NSM (Assistant ), Tewkesbury with The Rev Penelope West, Walton Cardiff and Twyning (Gloucester): Thursday 10 January. Psalm 138: 1-8, I Tim. 3: 1-16. Lagos - (Lagos, Nigeria): The NSM (Associate Priest), Ashleworth, to be NSM (Associate Priest); and to be Most Rev Ephraim Ademowo; Lagos West: The Rt Rev Peter Adebiyi; Lagos Main- Corse, Hartpury, Hasfield, Maisemore, NSM (Associate Priest) Deerhurst and land: The Rt Rev Adebayo Akinde Staunton and Tirley (Gloucester): to retire Apperley with Forthampton, Chaceley, with effect from 31 December 2012. Tredington, Stoke Orchard and Hardwicke Friday 11 January. Psalm 147: 12-end, Isa. 47: 10-15. Lahore - (Pakistan): The Rt (same diocese). Rev Dr Alexander Malik; Coadjutor Bishop of Lahore: The Rt Rev Irfan Jamil LAY & OTHER The Rev Charles Goring, APPOINTMENTS Assistant Curate, Eastbourne Christ Saturday 12 January. Psalm 89:1-2,20-27, Isa. 48: 1-11. Lainya - (Sudan): The Rt Rev Church and St Philip; and , East Peter Amidi Pitia Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust (Chichester): Mrs Jan Kelly: is now Assistant Curate, Peacehaven and to be Advisor on Disability Issues (Wake- Telscombe Cliffs (same diocese). field). The Rev Jacqueline Hyde, Vocations Adviser (Southwark): to be also (same diocese). Mrs Annette Smith: NSM (Assistant Curate), South Chel- Area Dean, Dulwich (same dio- The Rev Patricia Taylor, to be Advisor on Older People’s Issues tenham (Gloucester): to be NSM (Associ- cese). NSM (Assistant Curate), Hornsey Rise (Wakefield). ate Priest). The Rev Canon Andrew Salmon, (London): to be NSM (Associate Minister), The Rev Stephen Jarvis, Priest-in-Charge, Salford Sacred Trinity Wandsworth St Michael with St Stephen THE 2012 NSM (Assistant Curate), Bisley, Chalford, and St Philip; and Area Dean, Salford Dean- (Southwark). BIBLE CHALLENGE France Lynch and Oakridge (Gloucester): ery (Manchester): to be Borough Dean for The Rev Marion Williams, to be NSM (Associate Priest). the City and Borough of Salford (same dio- NSM (Assistant Curate), Gloucester St The Rev Dr Sandra Millar, cese). Catharine (Gloucester): to be NSM (Asso- Day 8 Genesis 19-21, Psalm 7, Matthew 7 Diocesan Children’s Officer (Gloucester): The Rev Robert Stanier, ciate Priest). Day 9 Genesis 22-24, Psalm 8, Matthew 8 to be Head of Projects and Developments Chaplain, Archbishop Tenison’s School, Day 10 Genesis 25-27, Psalm 9, Matthew 9 (Archbishops Council). Kennington; and NSM (Assistant Curate), Day 11 Genesis 28-30, Psalm 10, Matthew The Rev Elizabeth Oglesby, North Lambeth (Southwark): to be Vicar, RETIREMENTS & 10 Vicar, Camberwell St Michael with All Surbiton St Andrew and St Mark (same RESIGNATIONS Day 12 Genesis 31-33, Psalm 11, Matthew Souls with Emmanuel (Southwark): to be diocese). 11 also Area Dean, Southwark and Newington The Rev Angela Stanton, Day 13 Genesis 34-36, Psalm 12, Matthew Deanery (same diocese). Priest-in-Charge, Reddish; and Hon Assis- The Rev George Roger Crosthwaite, 12 The Rev Canon Charles Richardson, tant Diocesan Director of Ordinands (Man- Priest-in-Charge, Bexhill St Barnabas Day 14 Enjoy hearing the scriptures read Vicar, East Dulwich St John; Diocesan chester): to be Borough Dean of Stockport (Chichester): has retired with effect from aloud in church

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Luke 2:6. While they were there the Fanthorpe’s poem goes on to say that time came for her to deliver her child. despite the obscurity of this moment for THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR most of the world it ‘was the moment / This verse gives a simple piece of factual When a few farm workers and three/ information. But think of the implications. Members of an obscure Persian sect/ Waiting for a baby is somehow time out of By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare Walked haphazardly by starlight straight/ time. Roughly nine months, no one knows Into the kingdom of heaven.’ exactly when the moment will come for the Each year countless more new believers birth pangs to begin or the baby to be be required of them for the rest of their cleaving of history. As the poet U A Fan- who have joined the throng of those whom born. For Mary there were so many other lives. The fact that the rough journey thorpe puts it: ‘This was the moment when grace has touched and changed them for- things going on. She was far from the famil- might bring on premature labour was Before/ Turned into After, and the ever look back to this moment with thanks- iarity of home and the support of family trumped by the trust that David’s son future’s/ Uninvented timekeepers present- giving. The Lord of life is born again into members like her cousin Elizabeth. Only would be born in David’s town as the ed arms.’ more hearts as God’s kingdom continues Joseph was with her and we do not know prophets had foretold. So they waited as For most of the world nothing had hap- to grow. We may not hear much about how he felt as he waited with his betrothed they journeyed, trusting that God would be pened. It was just another night. But the them except in ones and twos, a neighbour for a child whose origins were shrouded in going before them, one step ahead. birth of Mary’s child was the coming into here, a relative there who has heard the mystery. The mighty Caesar Augustus had The moment, when it came, was God’s the world of the word made flesh. God good news and God has broken into their decreed so they had to go. So they went moment, God’s time. Why now? Why this broke into time to become one of us, laying lives. Whether this is a sudden BC/AD with nothing else to lean on except God’s woman, this place, this point in history? aside his glory so that he could share our moment does not matter. Time and eterni- word to each of them. The birth divides time into BC and AD and frail humanity. Why did God choose this ty can never look the same again. But God’s word makes all the difference even now, disconnected as we are from our nation at this moment in this obscure town The Rev Dr Liz Hoare (né e Culling) is tutor and as they stepped out on their journey roots in Christian faith, our culture marks for this young woman to bear his son? And in prayer, spirituality and mission at they were practising the trust that would this birth and counts time according to this how could such a birth change the world? Wycliffe Hall SUNDAYSUNDAY SERVICESERVICE Maybe Latin is the Sunday Readings for 13 January 2013 The Baptism of Christ - Year C way to communicate Isaiah 43:1-7 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Alan Edwards returning the compliment of Rome fol- lowing us, half a century ago, when she adopted a vernacular liturgy. Isaiah is addressing a people who have already endured great suffering in exile, and who will Reach 75 and you’re entitled to a free tele- Those thinking that this would be sur- again find themselves carried off into slavery. But this is not to be their fate in perpetuity, for vision licence. rendering to popery should remember God is at work in history itself, and is alre ady preparing to restore them in prosperity to their Given the publicity accorded to the bur- that the definitive text of the Articles is own land. They are not forgotten, they are not unloved: they are the very children of God den on public finances caused by an the Latin one, not the English version who is their Creator, who calls each one of us by our name, for we belong to him eternally. In increasingly elderly population, free TV is which, in some cases, can lead astray. For this world there are many who continue throughout their lives to be anxious about their des- presumably an alternative to the Liver- example, in Article 37, the English text tiny, going to great lengths to ensure that their name lives on. God’s word to Israel is that pool Care Pathway. Faced with endless declares that it’s ‘lawful for men to serve each person, not only the powerful and the famous, is safe in his keeping: “You are precious viewing of ‘Strictly’ and Stephen Fry, who in the wars.’ Any wars - even wars of in my sight, and honoured, and I love you.” Whatever trials we must endure, the fire will not wouldn’t choose death as a preferable aggression? The Latin text, however, says consume us. As we journey on through life’s pilgrimage, the Lord is with us as we cross the alternative? ‘justa bella’ - just wars. rivers that lie in our path, their waters no longer signifying danger but providing instead The more elderly free viewers, the Armed with Latin, think of the refreshment, cleansing and life. In the time that is to come the Lord will finally gather all his smaller the revenue coming via licence advances that could be made in the fight people safely into his presence. fees, and so there’s the need to chase to bring folk back to Church. For years The news of salvation came first to Israel, where John the Baptist preached re pentance in licence fee dodgers. the strategy has been to ‘get alongside’, preparation for the coming of the Lord, whose ministry was confined almost entirely within Sometimes the zeal of the enforcement and particularly alongside the young, by the borders of its people. But the good news of his re surrection began to spread in accor- officers can go too far. A friend, Huw, talking their talk. dance with the Great Commission, which he gave to the apostles, to make disciples of all the long past the age of 75, and owing his However most attempts by Fresh nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. good health to the fact that he’d never Expressionists to do so, is as out of date The full implications of this involved something of a Copern ican re volution for the Church, possessed a TV, was annoyed to keep in ‘The Public Square’ (Rowan Talk), comprised at first entire ly of Jewish disciples, but the apostles at Jeru salem, into whose receiving letters from the licensing where youth go Friday nights, as ‘Dad hands Jesus had entrusted the Church, sent Peter and John in person to the new believers in authority, each one more threatening, Dancing’ would be in the Night Club to Samaria, so that it might be seen publicly that faith in Christ and baptism into his body was claiming that he had failed to buy a which they adjourn. God’s gift to all nations, to Samaritans, Gentiles and to Jews alike. The word of God spoken licence. Modern youngsters, who text and by Isaiah, “I have re deemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” is his word to all He duly replied to each letter pointing tweet and learn computerese quicker who come to Christ. out that he not only didn’t need a licence than their two times tables, do so because Repentance means expressing sorrow for sins committed, but in the preaching of John the (photocopy of birth certificate enclosed they like a language that’s different - Baptist, and of Jesus himself, it means much more than a formal act of contrition, re quiring as proof), but that he didn’t possess a tel- ‘innit.’ Latin could provide that differ- of us a complete change in our spiritual re lationship with God, which comes about through a evision set. ence. They would lap up Latin and L.O.L. re volutionary experience of cleansing by water and by the fire of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus All in vain. He snapped when a letter while they did so. compares to a new birth. Many of those who came to John to be baptised identified them- arrived indicating that it was intended to And not just young people. (Began the selves as descendants of Abraham, but had ceased to live according to God’s word and take him to court charged with licence sentence with ‘and’ in homage to the AV’s covenant, and had set themselves apart from the faith of Abraham. fee evasion. His past as a Professor of usage, a language that also deserves a Accord ing to the latest UK census figures, no less than 59 per cent of the population iden- Classics was forced into the present. He comeback). Think back to the Diamond tify themselves as Christians, but how many of those have a living faith in Jesus as their Lord seized a pen - no new-fangled technology Jubilee and the frequency with which and Saviour? Jesus shows us that he alone is the way, the truth and the life by submitting like typewriters for him - and wrote back clips of the Coronation appeared on TV. himself to the baptism of John, identifying himself with our humanity, which he has come to to the authority in Latin. He again More will, come the 60th anniversary of cleanse, to renew and to redeem by his death on the Cross. God is calling us all by name, to explained his position and added that, if that Coronation. Music that frequently lay aside our sinful lifestyles, our spiritual complacency, our arms-length acknowledgement he was taken to court, he would defend featured was ‘Vivat Regina. Vivat Regina of our Creator, and instead to be born again, and to follow his Son with the fire of the Holy the action - speaking in Latin. Elizabetha. Vivat. Vivat. Vivat!’ All age Spirit burning in our hearts. A response came by return of post. groups watching chanted along with the The Rev Stephen Trott Immediate capitulation by the licensing choristers. authority. Huw had won a victory more Bring back the ordination rule, foolish- HYMN SELECTION quickly than that won by Claudius’s ly dropped in the ‘silly sixties’, demand- invading army against the Britons. As he ing that would-be clerics be found told me the story a penny (or denarius) ‘learned in the Latin tongue.’ Archbishop Hymns for the Baptism of Christ dropped. Justin should tweet away in Latin. Hop- Jesus calls us Latin is the language to achieve a victo- ing, of course, that he paid more attention I will offer up my life ry over those who aren’t listening. The in Latin classes than fellow Etonian Dave. Walk in the light modern CofE finds fewer prepared to lis- Greater chance that, if Justin used Latin, Amazing grace ten. Huw had provided the answer. Bring he’d be better understood than was his Now is eternal life back Latin into the Church’s armoury predecessor. Rowan should have stuck Come down, O love divine and the unchurched will pay attention. with Welsh. Hail to the Lord ’s anointed Pope Benedict has pointed the way by However, for the strategy to work, we Lord, the light of your love establishing a Pontifical Academy to pro- must blow the dust of our Latin primers. O let the Son of God enfold you mote Latin. Despite Article 37, can Angli- To counteract the dust-induced coughing I am the bread of life cans afford not to follow his lead? We’d be fits -‘Capiamus Cervisiam.’ c Milestones

The youth wing of the Liberal Democrats, Liberal Youth, is joining the Accord Coalition – the pres- sure group seeking to ensure that state-funded

schools promote mutual understanding, and are open and made suitable for all children, regard- less of their or their parents’ religious or non-reli- gious beliefs… The first new Anglican Church in Oxfordshire to be built this century was offi- cially opened by Bishop Colin Fletcher Thursday 20 December just in time for Christmas… A

group of churches from Shrewsbury, Telford and Market Drayton have clubbed together to re-tell the Christmas story on local commercial radio through two adverts that present the characters of the Christmas Story in the style of football and horse-racing TV commentators… The Church of England’s national environmental cam- Reinhold paign, Shrinking the‘ Footprint, has welcomed the Niebuhr Government’s Energy Bill and the opportuni- PAUL ties it offers to reduce the UK’s climate impact… Barnabas Fund will be touring the UK in 2013 to RICHARDSON mark their 20th anniversary and celebrate what has been accomplished in the last two decades as well as examining the current challenges faced by Church and World the persecuted Church…

Value for America: One money (I hope!)

Bishop of Hertford Paul Bayes nation under God? on bishops’ working costs FD Roosevelt, a practising Episco- byterian who was influenced by palian, liked to use Anglican servic- Reinhold Niebuhr; Ronald Reagan ologians but he retains the respect of political es to symbolize the spiritual rarely went to church but he was a commentators. President Obama is a fan and solidarity between Britain and biblical literalist who did not want it is not hard to detect Niebuhr’s influence People America. Churchill realised this to be the cause of a nuclear upon him. and when the two met for an Armageddon and this encouraged After rallying Christians to support the Atlantic conference he organised him to seek an agreement with the struggle against the Nazis, Niebuhr also The Most Rev Stanley Ntagali (pictured) was an Anglican service on board the Russians. warned them against the evils of communism‘enthroned as the 8th Archbishop of the Church of Prince of Wales. The Prime Minis- Religious influence has pulled in while remaining clear-eyed about America’s Uganda on Sunday, 16th December, at St Paul’s ter chose hymns that included ‘O many different ways in the course weaknesses and shortcomings He was an Cathedral, Namirembe… The Venerable Alison God Our Help in Ages Past’ and of America’s history. Commenta- early opponent of the Vietnam War, recognis- Taylor, Melbourne’s archdeacon for international ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ and tors who dismiss the ‘special rela- ing anti-colonialism and Marxism were not partnerships and vicar of St John’s Anglican selected Joshua 1:5-6 as the text for tionship’ as an obsession of British the same thing. Church Camberwell, has been appointed to lead the sermon. politicians anxious to prop up their America’s Catholics have moved from a the Southern Region of the Diocese of Brisbane “If nothing else happened while country’s declining influence forget knee-jerk patriotism, designed to show they as Queensland’s first woman bishop… Tyler Ack- we were here, that would have the roots of this relationship in a were good citizens, to a more nuanced posi- ers, a 12-year-old schoolboy who attends All cemented us,” the President wrote common set of values, including tion on foreign affairs that led the bishops to Saints CEVC Middle School in Sudbury, has to his son. religious values. In the 19th centu- produce a pastoral letter warning of the dan- designed an award-winning Christmas card for The story of the Atlantic service ry evangelicalism was a major force gers of nuclear deterrence. use across Suffolk and has been given a prize by is told in Andrew Preston’s Sword drawing the two nations together A theme running through Christian involve- the Rt Rev Nigel Stock, Bishop of the St of the Spirit, Shield of Faith, a mag- and political leaders continued to ment in foreign affairs has been a concern for Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, in recogni- isterial account of the influence of appeal to shared Christian values human rights and religious freedom. In Pre- tion of his achievement… The Bishop of Ripon religion on American foreign policy during World War II and the Cold ston’s words, 19th century missionaries who and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, led the and diplomacy. When magazines War. put pressure on Washington to intervene in Boxing Day Pilgrimage from Ripon Cathedral to and newspapers come to select Preston shrewdly comments that Latin American states to uphold religious lib- Fountains Abbey for the fourteenth year in a row. their books of the year they never American evangelicals are suspi- erty, showed a disdain for national independ- have a section for religious books cious of the power of the state but ence and national borders that was ‘a even though such books sell well. passionately committed to their thoroughly modern sensibility’. For anyone interested in religious country. Europeans forget how After World War II human rights were con- books, Preston’s work was one of important is the sense among sidered to have a secular basis but Preston the most outstanding published in Americans that their nation has a argues that in fact a major source for such 2012. What is surprising is that the special role in God’s plans. The rights were ‘Christian -- specifically American secular media did not even include idea of ‘manifests destiny’ or Amer- Christian -- notions of common humanity it in their sections for history or ica as a chosen nation is far from through the grace of God’. international affairs. dead. Evangelicals are also commit- The Christian record has its black spots. Preston, who teaches at Clare ted to Israel. Preston shows how The Puritans appealed to the Old Testament College, Cambridge, covers Ameri- Zionism became a force among to support their massacres of the Indians, can history from the Puritans to the Protestants before it gathered sup- another reminder of how the idea of a present day. He shows religious port from Jews. revealed faith lays itself open to abuse by influences at work on American for- Liberal and mainstream Protes- those who misunderstand it. In the Civil War, eign policy as a result of popular tants have been idealistic, con- slave owners also appealed to the Bible. Next Week’s News pressure and because of the reli- cerned to combat the evils of war The future is uncertain. China will be the gious beliefs of politicians and offi- and work for peace. Even in the world’s largest economy by 2030 but the US cials. John Foster Dulles gained face of Adolf Hitler many flirted will remain ‘first among equals’ according to a The House of Commons placed the discussion of knowledge and experience by serv- with pacifism. Reinhold Niebuhr recent US intelligence assessment of global a bill which will introduce guidelines for dealing ing as the head of the Federal had to wage a campaign for ‘Christ- trends. Religion could decline as an influence with potentially vulnerable debtors on their Council of Churches’ Commission ian realism’ to persuade his fellow on the way America exercises its future power agenda for 8 January 2013… Poverty and on a Just and Durable Peace; mainstream Protestants to see but the likelihood is that it will remain a potent Homelessness Action Week begins 26 January, George Kennan, who almost single- sense. Niebuhr is a towering figure force, continuing to give the assurance that 2013… The United Nations will observe an Inter- handedly established the founda- in this book and in the history of America has a special purpose in the world national Day of Commemoration in Memory tions of US foreign policy after American diplomacy. He may be but also feeding American idealism and con- of the Victims of the Holocaust on 27 January World War II, was a practising Pres- unfashionable among today’s the- cern for human rights. 2013…

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