8 TheBRIDGE....November 2004 Croydon to Vsetin Racial In September a group Europe. The theme was, The fist paper, ‘Christianity Justice of 8 people ‘Perspectives of Christianity in and Globalisation’ given by Europe in the 21st Century’. A Hans van de Wal from Arnhem Sunday represented the key part of the process is that offered a critical review of the REVIEWREVIEW churches of Croydon local Christians offer issues associated with We followed at an international accommodation in their globalisation. ‘Christianity and with homes. Capt Terry Drummond, today’s lifestyle’ by Peter Cathy Davie reviews ecumenical for instance, shared a room Moree from the Czech Republic Cathy Davie reviews interest the consultation in the with a Hungarian in a Czech was an incisive exploration of “Collective Worship collected when the author debate regarding town of Vsetin in the speaking household. secularisation in that country issues and researched the subject for his Racial Justice Sunday The consultation was a mix offering important insights for opportunities” by PhD awarded in 1999. He Czech Republic. of worship, papers delivered by other parts of Europe. The final knows how schools tackle the in last month’s letter The Consultation is one of a three participants and group lecture ‘How to pass on the Richard Cheetham issues surrounding collective page. continuing series with discussions. Add to this mix a faith in the 21st’ century was ISBN0-281-05586-6 worship and expresses concern While the Dean’s point is valid participants from several regular coming together to given by Terry Drummond SPCK 2004 that liberalism dominates that the focus in Church different countries across sing and to share food. exploring three themes from In this book Bishop Richard provision, which causes much services should be on Christ’s the Croydon perspective; Cheetham frequently refers to tension for teachers. He teaching and the religious Believing-Belonging-Sharing. collective worship in schools as suggests the way forward is “a calendar, we feel that there is a Sunday was a day of worship the tip of an iceberg. He says new plural, critical realist particular opportunity that is opportunities an opportunity to share with that the issues lying beneath it paradigm”. No easy answers being missed at Southwark hosts in their local church and “are reflected in wider society are provided here, rather an Cathedral by not explicitly the Consultation ended with an and the resolution of them has unpacking of the apparent celebrating our racial diversity on this specific day. THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK agreement to meet in Budapest implications far beyond the contradictory aims of collective (Office Support Services Department) in two years time. world of religion”. worship and insight into the During the 50s and 60s the wishes to appoint a Church of England acted in a Terry Drummond The reader is given a detailed vogue term “spirituality”. Premises Officer commented: “I came away He opens up a debate which partisan way in many churches account of the history of where people of colour were (Salary range: £16,094 - £19,033 p.a. inc.) from Vsetin feeling part of the collective worship in schools, might be of interest to those involved in shaping turned away from the church Primarily your role will be to perform portering and caretaker duties at our busy Church in Europe. Our an analysis of how it is shaped door. We should seize the Diocesan Offices (and occasionally elsewhere in the Diocese), but you will also be educational policy, members of parochial insights are by changing sociological issues opportunity of Racial Justice called upon to use your ‘handyperson’ skills to good effect in carrying out various enhanced when we share with faith communities and those DIY tasks and undertaking minor repairs and maintenance. In addition, you will provide and educational theories. Sunday to demonstrate that relief cover in Reception and on the Switchboard, assist in sorting and franking post, others of faith from different There is an exposition of the concerned with how moral and today’s church will speak out and undertake some photocopying. cultures. The questions we ethical, theological and spiritual values and religious against racist bigotry and belief are handled in You will need to be able to carry out a wide range of manual handling tasks and have discussed had no final answers philosophical issues which celebrate the wonderful variety good, practical DIY skills. You will be an effective communicator (basic IT skills would and should remain on the arise in attempting to define contemporary society. of humankind. be a bonus), used to working flexibly and largely unsupervised. As an emergency agenda of all Christians who the place of collective worship Cathy Davie is RE Adviser The Church should remember keyholder you will need to be within 1 hours travelling distance of Trinity House. You are willing to be open to should be supportive of the ethos of the Christian faith and the aims and objectives in our schools to-day. This at the Southwark Diocesan the way in which Christ taught exploring and seeking new and of the Church of England. book is full of anecdotes and Board of Educaton us to extend our better understanding of truth”. To apply, please contact: quotations from teachers understanding, embracing new Linda Craven, PA to Diocesan Personnel Manager ideas whilst respecting Trinity House,,, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HW To advertise in The Bridge (or in Rochester or Canterbury Dioceses) ‘phone 01634 401611 religious tradition. e-mail: [email protected] Applications must be received no later than first post on 17th November 2004 Mr. and Mrs. St Edmund’s THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK The Diocese of Southwark is working towards being an Equal Opportunities employer Living Well THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK Macintosh, Battersea Church (Office Support Services Department) Dartford wishes to appoint a Organist - St Dunstan’s ChurchChurch, Receptionist Be part of Pilgrims Bellingham, London something amazing! (Salary range: £16,094 - £19,033 p.a. inc.) Brand new church Your primary role will be to receive visitors to the Diocesan offices and to handle for Sunday morning Sung Mass and evenings on major with a whole lot more telephone enquiries via the Toshiba DK280 switchboard. As the first point of contact progress? feasts, starting early 2005. GP Surgery, Sure Start, you will be expected to deal with general enquiries and direct people to the St Dunstan’s is a sacramental urban Catholic Parish in South Internet Café appropriate department/meeting room as necessary. In addition to your Reception As Wendy S duties you will occasionally provide assistance in the postroom (including Lewisham. The very fine three manual organ was built by Hill. photocopying), and in servicing meetings rooms. Robins has Responsibilities could include formation of a choir. RCO/ISM Church Administrator Needed written in rates: £1,700 per year, plus fees from weddings and You will need to have excellent communication skills allied to a calm disposition. £8.00 per hour (part time) Basic IT skills will be a benefit as would previous experience of using a switchboard funerals. (although full training will be given). Though generally working office hours, you September’s issue, Contact the Assistant Curate, Fr Andrew Davison, 020 8697 For more information contact must be prepared to be flexible in order to cover for staff absences, holidays etc. pilgrimage can take Bob Callaghan 01322 225335 3878 or [email protected]. Post subject to enhanced CRB You should be supportive of the ethos of the Christian faith and the aims and many forms. disclosure. Applications by middle of December. [email protected] objectives of the Church of England. To apply, please contact: Not least, in 2000 some 60 or Linda Craven, PA to Diocesan Personnel Manager so of us, venturing to Trinity House,,, 4 Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HW Oberammergau in the foothills e-mail: [email protected] of the Alps in Bavaria for its Applications must be received no later than first post on 17th November 2004 Passion Play - travel, The Diocese of Southwark is working towards being an Equal Opportunities employer companionship, just wonderful scenery, all under the auspices of Bishop Peter Price and ARCHITECT required Andrew Nunn. (newly-qualified) However curious and for small busy practice unexpected things can happen! with projects mainly in London and Kent A similar venture took place in Current workload includes: 1930 from Southwark. In the Church & community projects; party was Williamm Hough, Bp public and private housing; of Woolwich and his wife. primary health care; conservation & restoration. Naturally on arrival at the Emphasis on sustainability and energy-conscious design. hotel all signed in with their Hand-drawing ability as well as AutoCAD / Vectorworks, relevant personal details. plus attention to detail; a willingness to learn and to tackle all The next morning was quite a aspects of practice running; seeing problems as opportunities! rumpus. Plain as a pikestaff in Application by email with concise cv to: [email protected] the register were a couple who had slept together, the male of GENERAL DOMESTIC WORK whom gave his name as IN A CARING, CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT ‘Woolwich’ and the woman as ‘Hough’! CAUTLEY HOUSE CHRISTIAN CENTRE Luckily Canon T P Stevens was We need two additional resident members of staff in the party, who explained the to assist with general domestic work. A knowledge of basic custom of a Bishop adopting D.I.Y might be helpful, but not essential. the name of his See as his A love of God, a sense of humour and a flexible attitude are the surname! main requirements. We offer bed and board plus £80 per week. So all was explained For further details, please contact: satisfactorily to many a sigh of The Administrator, Cautley House 95 relief – and the Passion Play Seabrook Road, Hythe was a wonderful experience. Kent CT21 5QY (01303 230762) Harry Coles, Blackheath TheBRIDGE....November 2004 9 Finally, Hugh Montefiore also Palestine, there has never been where it says, do not bear writes about our government’s an Independent State of grudges, do not seek revenge, involvement in Iraq. We Palestine in history, nor is it but love your neighbour as YOUR certainly need to be speaking internationally recognized as yourself. The Christian version up here too and anywhere such now. is in the New Testament, John where freedom and human Thirdly, I would urge your Chapter 13. The exact quote is LETTERSLETTERS rights are being curtailed. readers to study their Bibles in love one another as I love you. LETTERSLETTERS Bringing peace not war If Jesus was a personification of regards to the land of Israel. If through tackling the root we believe our Bibles to be the God, as Christians believe, we causes of injustice is what is inerrant word of God, then it is can look at this as saying, love needed. certain that He has great plans one another as God loves you. The reality Helen Bailey, for the land and the peoples That is the commitment the Something who live there. For instance phrase demands from London SW2 Romans 11:26 states that all Christians. of life in to say? Israel will be saved, Zechariah The Moslem commitment is With 14:4 and Acts 1:11 are widely worded a little differently, and Drop us a line at understood to mean Jesus will a lot of Moslems may not respect, the return to the Mount of Olives realise that it’s there, but it is. occupied THE BRIDGE. statement in Jerusalem. No wonder there The Koran comprises 114 You'll find the by Bishop Hugh is a great spiritual battle going chapters, called sutras, and address, fax and on for that special land. each sutra has the same banner Montefiore (‘Two sides Catherine Bond, headline : The word of God, the Palestine... e-mail details to the Israel-Arab compassionate, the merciful. on page 2. Liverpool The character of God is loving, Bishop exclusivity. The Territories conflict’) that ‘Israelis (formerly from Carshalton) therefore the character of those Bishop apart, of all under-five years- Hugh don’t go in for suicide faithful to God must also he olds in Israel, 29 per cent are is a cruel reminder of the It is always loving. blames the Palestinian and the Palestinian bombing’ is specious. blames the central problem - the interesting All three Singular God Arabs for the failure of birth rate is twice as high as occupation. In the Of course they don’t. Unlike religious texts therefore appear that of Jews. So Israel will centrespread Joyce Yarrow the Palestinians, the Israelis to hear to say that God loves man, man peace. become a de facto Arab-Jewish states: ‘The occupation is the are equipped with a range of both sides of the should love God, and by Yet in 1988 the PLO accepted state in the lifetime of these root cause of the (Palestinian) high tech military hardware, following the rules laid down UNSCR 242, recognising children unless Israel again violence and the wall’s which means that they can story, especially from in the texts they should love Israel’s 1949 borders. Israel did gets rid of its unwanted Arabs. presence will increase rather cause the same or greater impartial people. one another. God’s purpose, in not recognise Palestine. Israel must be persuaded to than lessen that’. The Holy death and devastation as that all three editions, is that Man redefine itself to be inclusive. caused by the suicide bomber However, I always feel that From 1993 Israel doubled the Land needs bridges not whenever there is a lull in the lives in peaceful harmony, both number of settlers in the West Time is very short. The Church barriers! but at little or no risk to the with Man and with God. perpetrator. Is the Israeli pilot war, it always is followed by Bank. It never intended must proclaim ethnic inclusion What Palestinians are Which leads us to ask and also international law and who fires a precision guided Palestinians blowing up returning the territories in struggling for is the right to Israelis, who will naturally questions. their entirety, defying norms must be applied across live in peace and dignity under missile into a crowded the board as the only way to apartment block from the retaliate. Where does this put the international law and the self-rule. But they are I was in Jerusalem in 2000, and behaviour of Jews to principle ‘the inadmissibility of protect everyone living in the prevented from establishing comfort of his air conditioned whole of Israel/Palestine, or cockpit and then flies back to that Christmas was a great Palestinians? Where does it put the acquisition of territory by their own state. What the time of hope and celebration. so-called Christians reference war.’ who have been expelled from it. Israelis want is also peace with his base without breaking into a sweat the moral superior of Tragically it all went wrong. Iraq in general and many other He claims the Arabs just ‘left,’ security. Palestinians fear the David McDowall, the suicide bomber? Somehow, things? Where does this put when in fact well over half of military might of Israel, Mrs Brenda Whyte, Richmond I think not. Osama Bin Laden and them, 725,000, were ethnically Israelis are terrified of New Eltham international terrorism? cleansed in 1948. Israel’s Palestinian suicide bombs. Andrew Keogh, I was You can One might decide that all are leading authority, Prof. Benny Joyce Yarrow writes about London SW4 9LY wrong, that to use the western Morris, says: ‘There was no pleased to people of vision from both use an word, they are Sinful, or using choice but to expel that see the communities working for I was aspirin to the Arabic word, they are population,’ acknowledging the October peace with justice. Some saddened to deal with a headache, Infidel. The disease is man’s imperative foreseen by Herzl, Palestinian Christians are deal with a headache, inability to live in harmony and founding father of Zionism: centrespread tackling working to live out a biblical read your but the headache is peace, called love in the holy ‘We shall endeavour to expel the key issue of the perspective in the articles entitled “The texts. Your questions could the poor population across the the key issue of the probably not the contemporary context. But reality of life in include these. If all our border…’ Arab-Israeli conflict they find it hard. The disease, it’s the ancestors got their All refugees have a right of and focusing on life in Christians there feel largely occupied Palestine” in symptom. interpretations of the word of forgotten and unsupported by return. We should repudiate your October issue for We fall into the error of God so right, how come we’ve ethnic cleansing to defend this the Holy Land today. western Christians - although reacting to the symptoms, not been born into a world that’s in humanitarian principle to the As Hugh Montefiore says, we they themselves descend from several reasons. the disease we suffer from. Man this sort of mess? Could it be seldom hear the stories of the very first believers…. hilt. If, as Bishop Hugh argues, Firstly, whilst I have no doubt is a herd animal and needs our ancestors got their it is radical to insist on the ordinary Palestinians – many of Canon Naim Ateek in that life is hard for many rules of social behaviour. Over interpretations wrong, and Arab right of return, it is only whom live under atrocious Jerusalem urges us all to speak Palestinians, much of their history the last three thousand should we stop being slaves to conditions. The mainstream prophetically, pray unceasingly ‘radical’ because the West is suffering comes as a result of years, the purpose of religion the dead? complicit in the abandonment media rarely paints the full and act boldly to achieve their corrupt leadership which has been to lay down those Would things get better if we of humanitarian law. picture or often skews it out of justice for oppressed and has misappropriated many ground rules. These have didn’t hold grudges, didn’t seek proportion. A recent survey by oppressor alike. Bishop Hugh justified the cruel millions of dollars of US and crystallised into three editions revenge, loved one another, Wall and failed to point out it is a Glasgow media research As western Christians we can EU aid, whilst also maintaining group found that more people of what is fundamentally the and in the character of God, illegal, as are all those settlers support our Christian brethren a position that the State of same set of propositions, set decided to be compassionate it is configured to protect. The think that Palestine occupies in the Holy Land and live out Israel has no right to exist. To Israel rather than the other out in the Jewish, Christian, and merciful? legal step to ensure protection biblical commands in this blame Israel for all of the and Moslem holy texts. was for Israel to build its wall way round. situation. Why not: Palestinians suffering is very Martin Harris Parry, There is a clear case of simplistic. Many Palestinians The Jewish version is in the Redhill exactly along the 1949 - find out more (eg, Book of Leviticus, Chapter 19, Armistice Line and withdraw injustice when one Christian Aid – still live in “refugee camps” all illegal settlers behind it. government controls the key www.christian-aid.org.uk) after 50 years because the Israel won’t, and we do not aspects of life of another people - pray with the facts surrounding Arab states have through harsh restrictions and found it politically expedient to have the moral courage to - buy locally-made products in some cases brutal force. The keep them there. insist upon it. (eg from Hadeel via Church Restoration Co. Ltd. Yet the Wall is irrelevant to the physical presence of an eight- Secondly, the use of the name metre high separation wall now Scotland – central issue: Israel is www.hadeel.org) Palestine to describe Gaza and SPECIALISTS IN dividing the two communities the West Bank is misleading. predicated on ethno-religious - support groups working for Whilst this land was a part of * CHURCH DECORATION * justice and peace (eg the British Mandate of * CHURCH RENOVATION * Sabeel via Friends of Sabeel * STONE RESTORATION * AUDITRONIC UK – www.sabeel.org) * CLEANING * John Clark Underground Drainage Specialist * MASONRY * * ROOFING * SERVICES • CCTV inspections and reports * STAINED COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS • New & replacement drainage systems. GLASS * We install and maintain public address, • Pipe lining. Repair without excavation. & induction loop and background music systems, • High pressure water jetting. 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