THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 Revisiting the THE Marigold Hotel CHURCHOF P15 Newspaper World mission in context, P9 NOW AVAILABLE ON  NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015 No: 6269 Churches unite to criticise ‘harsh’ welfare sanctions

By Jordanna May review of benefit sanctions in order to first time they were 10 minutes late for the use of hunger as an instrument of avoid what the Churches see as the an appointment, but this is the kind of policy’. A HARD-HITTING report from the ‘deliberate imposition of hunger’. sanction that is being imposed on some Among the recommendations from the Churches this week highlighted the The coalition is asking the Govern- of the most vulnerable people in our soci- report, the Churches Coalition is asking severity and impact of benefit sanctions ment to suspend sanctions against fami- ety, including those with mental and for the removal of the two-week waiting under Welfare Reform on the vulnerable lies with children and those suffering physical health problems. period before the ‘non-vulnerable’ can and the young. from mental health problems. “We are concerned that the problem receive hardship payments. The report, ‘Time to Rethink Benefit The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry may be even worse in Wales, recognising Niall Cooper, Director of Church Sanctions’, was prompted by churches Morgan, said: “The findings of this the higher levels of poverty in this coun- Action on Poverty said: “If you commit a witnessing an increasing level of people report are disturbing. It exposes a sys- try. No Welsh data, however, is included crime, no criminal court in the UK is at foodbanks. tem that is harsh in the extreme, penalis- in the report because despite submitting allowed to make you go hungry as a pun- Jointly published by the Baptist Union ing the most vulnerable of claimants by a Freedom of Information request to the ishment. But if you’re late for an appoint- of Great Britain, Church Action on the withdrawal of benefits for weeks at a DWP three months ago, we are still wait- ment at the Jobcentre, they can remove Poverty, the Church in Wales, the time. ing for a reply. There is supposed to be a all your income and leave you unable to Church of Scotland, the Methodist “Most worryingly, it appears from 20-day turnaround period for Freedom of feed you or your family for weeks at a Church and the United Reformed DWP guidance, quoted in the report, Information requests. We are pursuing time. Church, it unearths data that was fea- that deprivation and hunger are know- this.” “Most people in this country would be tured on Channel 4’s Dispatches episode ingly being used as a punishment for The report notes that even when the shocked if they knew that far from pro- on Monday, ‘Britain’s Benefit Crack- quite trivial breaches of benefit condi- benefit sanctions system is used as viding a safety net, the benefit sanctions down’. tions. intended, rather than misapplied, it pro- policy is currently making thousands of Following the report findings, the “Employers would not be allowed to motes a sense of hardship, which the people destitute. This policy must be Churches are calling for an independent stop someone’s wages for a month the report says, ‘includes both the threat and reviewed urgently.” Birmingham call for greater social cohesion

THE of Birmingham Bishop Urquhart told The Group, senior Christians, Mus- has called for greater cohesion Newspaper: lims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus and between religions and commu- “I remain committed to playing Buddhists have met regularly nities. my part in building trusting across the city to share mutual The Rt Rev David Urquhart relationships and joint working concerns and stand in solidari- was responding to the Trojan across the city so that no per- ty for the Common Good. horse inquiry, ordered by for- son or group is excluded and “Building on friendship and mer education secretary, we can all flourish together, deepening mutual understand- Michael Gove. enjoying, sharing and celebrat- ing amongst our distinctive That inquiry saw a number ing the richness brought to beliefs and cultures, we are of Birmingham schools, senior this city by its diversity. confident and vociferous in staff and governing bodies “In a fresh spirit of hope, opposing racial and religious investigated for allegedly push- communities separated by fear hatred and extremist violence ing an “aggressive Islamist and ignorance are being wherever they are found.” agenda’. renewed by adventurous He added: “My ambition is to Bishop Urquhart will speak neighbours appreciating diver- nurture appreciation and par- at the Government Integration sity.” ticipation in our generous, Roadshow, which will look to He pointed out that since diverse global city, by encour- Bishop David Urquhart examine the role of faith in 9/11 and the formation of the aging grassroots cross-cultural schools. Birmingham Faith Leaders relationships.”

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Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham THEDIARY THE A series of talks on key issues facing British society will take place during Lent at St Peter’s Church, where Send your events to subjects will range from Alzheimer’s to the future of [email protected] Europe. or Tweet @churchnewspaper CHURCHIN Talks began on 26 February, with the Rev Dr Keith Hebden speaking on banks, conflict and non-violence. This 6 March week Prof Peter Bartlett spoke on ‘Institutions and the Elderly’. These will be followed by three further talks taking place on 12, 19 and 26 March. 1pm The Archbishop of York, Dr ENGLAND Talks begin at 12:00 and finish at 1:30pm. John Sentamu delivers the St John’s Annual Borderlands Lecture entitled ‘God’s Mis- Diocese of Portsmouth sion is Restorative Justice’. The Leech Hall, St John’s College, Durham. Contact: The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Clare Towns at Foster, visited the Church of England Academy in [email protected]. Warsash, the first visit since the school was converted into an academy in 2012. 7 March Cuthbert House, the new £2million Diocesan Centre for the Diocese Bishop Foster took an assembly, and spent time was announced as one of the winners of the City of Durham with the school staff and governors explaining the Architectural Award 2014. advantages and challenges of academy status. 11.30: Time To Act: climate service Cuthbert House was opened last week by the Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop Christopher said: “This is a delightful and national climate march, Bishop of Durham and the Very Rev Michael Sadgrove, of school, and I can see how the Christian values of love St Mary le Strand, Strand, Durham . and trust have permeated every aspect of school life. London. Bishop Paul said: “Cuthbert House is a terrific new centre for the The children are a credit to their families and 8pm The Choral Society and Sym- support of our work in the parishes and communities across the teachers, and the school staff are working incredibly phony Orchestra of The Diocese. Vision, and much hard work, have led to this very exciting hard to give them the best education they can.” King’s School Canterbury at next chapter in the life of this Diocese. I am delighted in how it has Headteacher Sara Willoughby said: “It was a real . Tick- turned out and how it is already being used. Now being the recipient honour to welcome Bishop Christopher to our ets from the King’s School of the City of Durham Trust Architectural Award is the icing on the school. The pupils were so excited about meeting Box Office on 01227 595778 cake - I am thrilled.” him and were eager to ask him lots of questions or boxoffice@kings- Andrew Thurston, Diocesan Secretary said: “It’s fantastic that we about his role in the Church. They would have liked school.co.uk are now all together under a single roof - where we can provide to spend more time talking to him, we are looking support for mission and ministry across the Diocese and also where forward to welcoming him again in the future.” 9 March parishes and our partners can come together at various times.“ Diocese of Manchester 2pm James Lewis of Bamfords The Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev CP Edmondson, Auctioneers and Valuers will be opening a jobs and careers fair for adults and hosts an antiques quiz and young people on Thursday at Central Methodist valuations at Derby Cathe- Church in Bacup. dral. Entry is by ticket only, The fair, the first of its kind to be organised by local cost £5, to include refresh- churches and community groups, will offer jobs and ments, available from the apprenticeships in Rossendale. Cathedral Bookshop on Iron- Vicar of Christ Church, Bacup, the Rev David Brae gate Derby or the Cathedral said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the church, Wardens. Items for valuation alongside other groups, to be able to offer something strictly limited to two per tick- positive to our local community. It is the first Jobs et holder. Fair we have had in the area. 7pm “Can a Scientist believe in “When I first came to Bacup our church building Miracles?” by Prof Sir Colin had just closed and we started sharing a building Humphreys CBE, FREng, owned by our Methodist colleagues. Since then we FRS (Goldsmiths’ Professor have been steadily growing as a congregation and of Materials Science, Cam- have found new ways to meet the needs of the bridge University; Professor community. These Jobs Fairs are an example of how of Experimental Physics at we can engage with young and older people alike.” the Royal Institution in Lon- don; and a Fellow of Selwyn College Cambridge), at Diocese of Swansea University. Free. Blackburn Cathedral will host ‘Works of Mercy’ 11 March across March and April. The exhibition, which is part of a series of events based around the Seven Works of Mercy, opened on 2 March. 9.30am The Gift of Years, resourcing the spiritual journey of older people, The King Room, Old Palace Hotel, Lincoln, with Also in Durham, Silksworth and Doxford parishes are organizing former BBC presenter Deb- ‘The Great Community Passion’, an initiative to showcase the bie Thrower. Stations of the Cross with a little local flair! Community groups in Sunderland are decorating shopping trolleys as coal trucks, which will be placed around St Mathew’s Field in 12 March Silksworth, with each trolley representing a stage. The Rev David Tolhurst, vicar of St Matthew’s, said: “The local colliery closed more than 40 years ago but people who live here still 7.30pm St Edmund’s Gala Concert, consider themselves part of a colliery community so we thought it Canterbury Cathedral with would be a good idea to decorate the trolleys as coal trucks. We want the St Edmund’s Symphony to spark interest and the wackier the design the better.” Orchestra. Tickets: The Mar- Co-organiser the Rev Susie Thorp, Priest in Charge at Doxford St lowe Theatre Box Office on Wilfrid, said: “We wanted to pick up on the area’s mining heritage 01227 787787 or and the idea of coal trucks is ideal. We are asking people to be http://www.canterburytick- creative and are looking forward to seeing the amazing creativity etshop.com that comes back on the day. On the day, the 14 coal-truck shopping trolleys will come together to form the outline of the cross as the passion unfolds.”

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NEWS INBRIEF Unfaithful heterosexuals

Bishop of Lichfield to Students protest retire The former , Lord Carey, targeted in gay debate who features on the exterior of a London THE CHURCH of England has the positive ways that God encour- tation of scripture, which isn’t fix- University looks set to be been challenged to rethink its atti- ages us to, and not to be frittered ated on a few lines of text to deter- removed over his views on tude to sexuality by the Dean of St away or wasted in the way that the mine an argument and calls on the gay relationships. Paul’s Cathedral. world seems to take sex for grant- examples illustrated by interfaith Lord Carey, an alumnus of The Very Rev David Ison has ed or see it as a very casual thing,” dialogue. King’s College London, asked what disagreement over he said. “We have far more in common currently adorns the same-sex marriage could mean Ison, who was brought up in a as members of the Christian windows of the Strand’s for the Church of England. The conservative evangelical church, church and followers of Jesus campus building. But the open letter, entitled ‘Good Dis- goes on to ask how long the Christ than ever we have that university’s LGBT Liberal agreement?’, was published by Church can live in a ‘creative ten- divides us. Why do we pick on this Association society is Accepting Evangelicals, the sion of disagreement’, the type issue as if there are two gospels, campaigning for its organisation whose new director, also allowed over women . rather than there is one gospel removal. Jayne Ozanne, has recently come “How far can you say we cannot with different interpretations?” out as gay. collude with a way of being that The Dean said the letter was CEEC changes The Dean says his concerns are actually oppresses others? It about encouraging greater dia- The Bishop of Lichfield, the The Church of England less about same-sex marriage and seems to me that the compromis- logue in the evangelical world Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, Evangelical Council is to be more to do with how the Church es that we’ve made – and this is 40 about sexuality. announced his retirement re-envisioned and deals with the debate. Dean Ison years on from my wife and others “I’m not a bishop, it’s easier for at the College of Canons on restructured for greater says that there’s nothing wrong that I know engaging with this me to raise the question because Monday, after 40 years of effectiveness in the 21st with sex, but that there are issues issue about women – it’s been a the Church is going down the ministry. century. The new vision around sexual behaviour. In par- long, slow, painful process which road of shared conversations. It’s and strategy will enable ticular, he refers to the damage has required a lot of cost from not about campaigning for a par- Prayer support mission and evangelism to caused by unfaithful heterosexu- women and I do think people with ticular outcome. It’s saying that A social network that joins flourish. CEEC has als among Christian ministers. a more conservative view just there are these conversations, and people across the world in appointed a new chair “The Church thinks sex is a don’t realise the cost that has how can we spread it more widely prayer has attracted more (Hugh Palmer, Rector of All very good thing, but sexuality been paid.” and help them to be more effec- than 33 million posts. The Souls Langham Place) and needs to be contained and used in He called for a broader interpre- tive in bringing people together.” Instapray smartphone app a new President (the lets its users request , the Rt prayers, pray for others and Rev ). Christians urged to exercise their privilege and vote chat with fellow members online. New tower SPEAKING AT the he emphasised that par- and should – vote for dif- state was better. We have Westminster Abbey has ‘Think, Pray, Vote’ con- tisanship had no place in ferent political parties,” to question both of these Guilty verdict won planning permission to ference, organised by the personal calling of he said. and ask is that what we Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, add its first new tower in the Joint Public Issues the Christian in politics. Archbishop Welby said have understood to International Director of almost 300 years, which Team last week, the “We don’t speak out that the economic crisis work?” Barnabas Fund, has been will create public access to Archbishop of Canter- about matters that are of 2008 has left the econ- And he was clear that found guilty of sexual a museum of treasures and bury, the Most Rev considered ‘political’ omy far from where it the state’s response is assault and intimidating a curiosities housed in the , reminded because we think we should be. limited. “The state does- witness or juror. triforium, the church’s attic Christians to use their have some automatic He blamed the ‘market n’t give you a food parcel gallery. privilege and engage in right to be heard. society’ and questioned and say that it loves you,” politics as freedom of “We speak out and the modern nation over he said. Bishop’s choice Christian militia expression. respond because loving its moral vision, which The Archbishop, who The Bishop of London, A Christian militia, the Don’t be a ‘miser- our neighbour places has skewed the relation- will most likely use his Richard Chartres, who has Syriac Military Council, abilist’, said Welby: “Be responsibilities on us. ship between state and vote in the general elec- previously been opposed to formed to protect the thankful for falling unem- “This, of course, does public. tion, also spoke out for women clergy is having to community as Syria falls ployment and startups!” not lead everyone to the “It was taken for grant- the younger vote, noting decide who will be the next apart, is fighting its first In a very contempo- same answer to the ques- ed in political arena that that over-65s were more Bishop of Kensington from major battle against Islamic rary interpretation of the tion of ‘how’ do we love. more state was better. likely to vote than 18-24- an all-female shortlist. State (Isil). The council, gospel, Archbishop Faithful Christians will – And in another that less year-olds. Sources say the known by the initials MFS Welby said that Chris- frontrunners include Lucy from its title in Aramaic, the tians should look at poli- Winkett, Rector of St ancient language of the tics as the business of James’s, Piccadilly, and Christian church, was increasing welfare and Rachel Treweek, founded in 2013 as jihadists the common good. Have a life-changing . began to dominate more of “If we believe – and we northern Syria. do so - that worklessness experience with Us. is corrosive to the Our Journey with Us programme is Ethical finance move Church theft human spirit, then we The Archbishop of A 90-year-old woman should be thankful that an opportunity to experience the Canterbury and five other praying in St Nicholas, unemployment, over the life and mission of the church in experts have been named Hounslow, had her handbag last seven years – since another culture. by F&C Asset Management stolen as she approached 2008 – has been much as advisers to the money the altar. Police are lower than we expected. We arrange short-term placements, manager on ethics and investigating. “There have been of up to one year, for self-funding sustainability for a new appalling social prob- volunteers aged 18 to 80. responsible investment Architect priest dies lems – but let us be advisory council. The Ven Peter Bridges, who thankful and rejoice that Contact has died aged 89, was a the forecast in 2008 that Habib Nader on 020 7921 2215 Vote advice priest-architect who said we would have 3.5 [email protected] Roman Catholic bishops occupied three different or 4 million unemployed www.weareUs.org.uk/journey have urged worshippers to Church of England never came about.” vote for political candidates archdeaconries. He was Responding to some of who promote marriage. involved in the reordering his critics over the Pas- Us. The new Cardinal Vincent Nichols of older church buildings toral Letter, the Arch- name for USPG said that stable families and for contemporary use. He bishop jokingly mused help for the frail and elderly also served as chairman of that the only people who Registered charity are key planks in advice a Painting and Prayer liked it were the people number 234518 about the general election. Retreat movement. who actually read it and

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 4 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday March 6, 2015 News Bishop urged to clarify his role in church commissioning New THE BISHOP of Salisbury, the Rt Rev not. This is what we work and pray for.” Zealand Nicholas Holtam, has asked the Honorary Christ Church Salisbury is Anglican but is Assistant Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Rev not formally connected to the Church of Eng- bishop John Ellison, to clarify his role in the commis- land. “Our connection to global Anglicanism sioning at Christ Church in Salisbury – an is through GFCA [Global Fellowship of Con- suspended Anglican Church not affiliated with the dio- fessing Anglicans] via AMiE. cese but with the Anglican Mission in Eng- Mr Mason was ordained to the diaconate land (AMiE). and priesthood by the Rt Rev Michael Nazir- On 6 December 2014, Bishop Ellison, the Ali and served his title in Rochester diocese. former Bishop of Paraguay who serves as From 2009 to 2014 he served as an assistant at chairman of the AMiE’s panel of bishops, an ACNA congregation in the United States presided at a service of thanksgiving and com- before returning to England to plant a new mission of the church plant led by the Rev church in Salisbury. Matthew Mason. The issue facing Bishops Holtam and Elli- A statement released by the diocese said: son is spiritual authority versus political “Ideally we might want to welcome Christ power. “Does the Lord Jesus rule his people Church as fellow workers in Christ, but we The Rev Matthew Mason by his Word or not? Will we listen to him or also wonder why another church explicitly for not? In particular, the question is whether Anglicans is needed in Salisbury when the Anglicanism is defined primarily by a particu- broad spectrum of Anglican identities is from other congregations. lar institution, or (per Article 6 and THE BISHOP of the Dio- already catered for.” Mr Mason explained that in Salisbury, “per- A5), by the supremacy and sufficiency of cese of Te Waipounamu On 27 February the AMiE executive com- haps two per cent of the population are con- Scripture for all things necessary for salva- on the South Island of mittee met and discussed Bishop Holtam’s nected to an evangelical church.” tion, and the Biblical gospel and pattern for New Zealand, has been concerns. Under canon law, Bishop Ellison is Jurisdictional questions are a second order gospel ministry as the Church of the England suspended by the Arch- not free to exercise his episcopal ministry issue when “the Lord Jesus is routinely has received it and as it finds expression in bishops of the Anglican independently of the local ordinary. Details of ignored and dishonoured, and tens of thou- the BCP, the Articles, and the threefold order Church of Aotearoa, the meeting have so far not been released, but sands are facing eternity without him. This of ministry.” New Zealand and Polyne- The Church of England Newspaper was told story could be repeated around the country. The dispute over Christ Church Salisbury sia pending an investiga- Bishop Ellison is seeking to meet with Bishop We are not in competition with other church- has the potential to further divide the tattered tion into statements he Holtam to respond to his concerns. es in the city. Anglican Communion. At its October 2013 made last month about The rector of Christ Church told CEN his “Rather, we simply long to see Christ pro- meeting in Nairobi, the leaders of the GFCA Islam and Judaism. church should not be seen as competitor for a claimed, and many more people coming to pledged their support to the work of the On 26 February the fixed number of churchgoing Anglicans in God the Father through him, by the Spirit. AMiE. Overseas sources tell CEN Christ province’s three arch- Salisbury. Its goal was to evangelise those And therefore, we long to see many more Church has the support of the GAFCON/FCA bishops, the Most Rev without a church home, not to steal sheep gospel-centred churches planted, Anglican or archbishops. Brown Turei, Philip Richardson, and Winston Halapua, released a state- Archbishop’s plan denounced as ‘un-Christian charade’ Early retirement row settled ment saying they had suspended the Rt Rev THE “Living Reconcili- longer able to say ‘it is cerned” about the By George Conger The Church of England News- John Gray, pictured, and ation” programme written’ has placed “institutional unity” of paper was told by sources in had appointed the Vicar commended by the itself in great spiritual the Communion and THE LAWSUIT brought by the Uganda the dispute was tied to General of Te Pihopatan- Archbishop of Canter- danger, but that is had no regard for Bishop of Kitgum challenging the bishop’s abrasive manage- ga o Aotearoa, the Rt Rev bury and the Anglican where the Anglican truth. the call by the General Synod ment style. Te Kitohi Pikaahu, “to Consultative Council to Communion could be The “continuing ind- of the Church of Uganda that In December Bishop Ojwang provide care and leader- hold the Anglican Com- led according to a aba” programme was he take early retirement, has threatened to file suit against ship” for the diocese munion together in review just released of based upon the flawed been settled out of court, the the Primate of Uganda, the “until the matter is face of apparently Living Reconciliation, a premise that the church reports. Most Rev Stanley Ntagali, if resolved.” irreconcilable doctrinal book written to pro- “deeply divisive promo- In a statement issued last the Church did not rescind the During a plenary ses- divisions has been mote the ‘Continuing tion of same-sex rela- week, the Church reported the call for his resignation. sion on interfaith rela- denounced by the Indaba’ project.” tionships by such diocese celebrated the retire- The January meeting of the tions held at the Maori leader of the Commu- Citing the work of Dr Churches as the Epis- ment of the Rt Rev Benjamin House of Bishops however church’s South Island nion’s conservative Martin Davie, Arch- copal Church of the Ojwang at a special service on reaffirmed the call that the ministry school last evangelical wing as an bishop Wabukala said United States is not a 15 February at All Saints bishop go, prompting the filing month, the bishop told a un-Christian charade. the Living Reconcilia- barrier to full and con- Cathedral in Kitgum. of a lawsuit seeking a stay of Jewish speaker the Holo- In a Lenten pastoral tion programme was tinued fellowship.” In August 2014 the 22nd ses- action by the Church authori- caust “should have letter to members of “not faithful to the Reconciliation that sion of the Church of the Ugan- ties. taught you a lesson.” the Fellowship of Con- Bible’s teaching that did not begin with da General Synod passed a However, the matter has A statement from the fessing Anglicans reconciliation has evan- restoring men to a resolution asking Bishop since been resolved, sources national Church office (FCA), the Most Rev gelism at its heart.” faithful relationship to Ojwang to step down by 14 tell CEN, and Archbishop Nta- added the bishop had Eliud Wabukala, Pri- He added the God in obedience to his December 2014, three years gali will service as vicar gener- also offended Muslim mate of Kenya, wrote: authors of the docu- Word, “does not make before his mandatory retire- al of the diocese pending the guests when he “A Church that is no ment were “really con- sense” he said. ment in 2017. election of a new bishop. “appeared to hold the two Muslim guests per- sonally responsible for the slaughter inflicted by ISIS and al-Qaeda – he asked what they were doing about it – and questioned why their faith did not accept the Trinity.” The Church’s three archbishops published an apology for the bish- op’s comments, writing: “Those comments are in regard to the beliefs and the history of other faiths and ethnicities. We as leaders do not share or support the views that Bishop John has expressed, and his com- ments do not represent the Anglican Church’s view on these matters.”

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Headline data: Worldwide annual neonatal deaths attributable to intrapartum conditions. Source: Lancet 2014; 384: 189-205 6 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday March 6, 2015 Letters

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Missing ingredient present the challenge of fully including The vexed question of climate change Sir, There is a fundamental ingredient LGBTI people in the church as a Sir, I wonder whether Peter Mullen might also soon be writing in that is entirely missing from the Grace disagreement between two strongly held defence of a flat earth, or that the sun orbits our planet, rather than and Disagreement handbook and reader but polarised and conflicting visa versa? for the shared conversations. It is the interpretations of the Bible. The Sadly he is not alone when he arrogantly and scornfully dismisses witness and experience of lesbian, gay, majority of Anglicans have already climate science as an elaborate hoax and those who have devoted bisexual, transgender and intersex moved well beyond these polarised their careers to develop our understanding of these complex (LGBTI) people who are already integral arguments. For most it is an issue of systems as part of some sinister conspiracy. Really – it beggars to and fully involved in the life of the Christian integrity, truth and justice. belief! Church of England as bishops, priests, British society has undergone the It is vitally important to note, once again, that it is a simple fact of lay leaders and members of most comprehensive period of change in physics, known for the past 150 years, that Carbon Dioxide congregations. the way LGBTI people are viewed and molecules absorb the sun’s heat energy falling on the earth and This is a shocking omission that members of the C of E are already part prevents a proportion of it radiating back into space. It is a fact easily would rightly be condemned, were the of this radical change. In local repeatable in a straightforward laboratory experiment and is experience of women, ethnic minorities congregations, people have been therefore an established fact of science. or those with disabilities omitted from changing their minds and attitudes in Without any CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere the earth would be conversations addressing the ways in tune with wider society because they too cold to support life. However, in 2014 the amount of CO2 in the which they experience themselves as experience their LGBTI brothers and atmosphere rose above 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time not being fully included in the church. sisters, family members, friends and in human history. In the pre-industrial era the level was about 280 The trustees and Director of Changing colleagues as integral to life and equal in ppm and hence one in four CO2 particles in our current atmosphere Attitude England were not included in the God’s sight. This dramatic change is, of has been put there by human activity. We are therefore increasing process of designing the conversations, or course, also happening with surprising the atmosphere’s thermal insulating capacity and the climate is contributing to the resource material, rapidity among evangelicals. warming. with the result that the resources lack The institutional homophobia that There are other variables in a complex system but this is the that most essential ingredient – the characterises the Church of England is dominating factor at present and the effects of climate change are personal experience of LGBTI people. present in the conversations despite the being seen, as expected, across the planet. These include a thinning The conversations are being organised as best intentions of those responsible for of the Arctic Ice sheet, melting of the Greenland Ice Cap, rising sea if it is entirely legitimate for the straight organising the process. levels, earlier arrival of spring in the north and increased intensity majority to determine whether equal Changing Attitude hopes for the best and frequency of extreme weather events all around the globe. status in the church should be granted to possible outcome in listening to the Records are tumbling annually and are expected to go on tumbling LGBTI people. variety of theologies, biblical as the delayed effects of rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere The presence of LGBTI participants is interpretations and, hopefully, the makes its presence fully felt. not going to fill the gap because personal stories. We pray that having All science has to be questioned and tested all the time, hence the confidentiality and safety cannot be genuinely listened with open hearts and peer review process. However, the level of agreement around the guaranteed. Changing Attitude hopes minds, a deep transformation of world among the scientific community on these basic facts, after participants will be as open and honest attitudes will allow the many varieties of decades of painstaking work, is compelling and it is simply not true as possible but because of the risk to experience to live together in faith and to say that there is a large number of independent “competent” LGBTI participants who hold a bishop’s hope. We long for the Church to climate scientists who “have demonstrated beyond reasonable licence or PTO, we advise great caution proclaim the gospel with love. doubt” that the whole theory is a concocted conspiracy. Nigel as to how much personal experience The Rev Colin Coward MBE, Lawson is an economist not a scientist! they should disclose. Director, and the trustees of Changing There are many people out there working hard to undermine the The reader contains four essays that Attitude England narrative of human-induced climate change but when I have encountered them it seems to me they hold this position not on the grounds of the interpretation of the scientific data available, but because of a prior ideological commitment to something else. YOUR TWEETS Julie @ohxjulie Usually, to the economic arguments around a free market being the We tend to misread Paul only way to ensure our increasing prosperity. Many of these people as a systematic fear that responding to climate change will wreck our economic when I went to a theologian. Paul was a prospects for growth. Jayne Ozanne foodbank and I was missional pastor who Ironically it is the effects of climate change that offer the greatest @JayneOzanne crying because I just had no idea what he was threats to the world’s economic prospects for growth and New @AcceptingEvangl couldn’t cope” doing. #ELCAA2B responding to climate change which, in the long term, is likely to section - Good Michelle’s story #Lent create a more sustainable, less volatile and more equitable economic Disagreement - is cuf.org.uk/your-stories Fresh Expressions environment. launched today. Join the @freshexpression This year at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in conversation Justine Greening CMS pioneer December world leaders need to take serious steps towards acceptingevangelicals.or @JustineGreening connection gatherings sustainably harvesting the earth’s rich resources through a g/?p=2738 UK’s #Ebola strategy is are a chance for a coffee commitment to decarbonise our economies and sharing those riches working, saving and a chat. The next is more justly, rather than simply grabbing as much of them as David Walker thousands so far, but in Hampton Court, possible for ourselves, consuming them and then discarding what’s @BishManchester battle is not over yet 26/03. left over without thought to the consequences. Dear DWP, 1M people is freshexpressions.org.uk This could indeed form some part of the ‘greater moral vision’ the not a “tiny minority” of Diocese of Salisbury /events/pioneer… Bishops’ letter was calling for in this past week. There are no benefit claimants. So @DioSalisbury guarantees in the way Climate Change will play out in the future but how can sanctioning so “The care of the earth is Pete Wilcox the prospects of it being benign appear absurdly small. Ultimately, many be a “last resort”? core business” @PeteWilcox1564 climate change like many other issues, is not primarily a scientific gu.com/p/468f8/stw +Nicholas #ecobishops St Chad’s Gospels - question but a spiritual one. What kind of a world do we want for salisbury.anglican.org/ older than the Book of ourselves and those who come after us and how can we achieve it? Church Urban Fund whos-who/bisho… Kells, on free display And finally, what will I do about it? @churchurbanfund @MissioTheology @LichfieldCath. Go The Rev Steve Paynter, “I was in employment @SJPSalisbury visit! #stchadsday Ealing, London

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Why this journey to the dark side? The Times’ comment on the revelation of the identity of ‘Jihadi John’ was entitled ‘The Heart of Darkness’, after Joseph Conrad’s Opening the Bible novel. The editorial totally rejected any claim to nobility about this brutal murderer’s behaviour, it is ruthless egotistical abuse of power and others. Karl Barth’s identification of the Nazis, in 1934 before they became a terror killing machine, as ‘the anti-Christ’, might well be applied as a theological insight into Isil and its sys- for everyone tematic murder, rape, kidnap and manic destruction. This is beyond moral evil, it is an anti-God dynamic let loose, to use Barth’s term for evil the ‘Nihil’, indeed nihilistic and deliberately chaotic and destructive. They seek to break up and cause fear and dread – and this seems attractive to certain people in the West. JAMESCATFORD The three schoolgirls, given every educational advantage, decid- ed to join that movement, of their own free will. Mohammed Emwazi likewise came not from a poverty-stricken disadvantaged If we were to do a short survey in your church home or school, yet chose to join the ‘four horsemen of the apoca- about Bible reading habits, what do you think we lypse’, as have others from the UK and Europe. would find? Research from Bible Society sug- Commentators on the Charlie Hebdo massacres made the point gests that our engagement with the Scriptures is that the killer was from a poor, disadvantaged Parisian ghetto, surprisingly low. And even those who report that alienated from opportunity and a proper place in French life. This they are reading it daily, or even weekly, are argument from socio-economic conditioning seems now very thin, being somewhat economical with the truth. a grasping at straws by the political classes and commentators. A senior bishop once said to me wryly, ‘When I Jihadi John and the jihadi brides had, if anything, a privileged back- go to an evangelical church, I do encourage them ground, and they were absolutely free to practise even the hard line to open the Bible’. On a recent trip to the North version of Islam, with legal protections, in the UK. They could have East of England, the title for a series of talks I not complained of any discrimination or grievance. The news that a gave was ‘The Bible has left the building: how the Somali jihadist returning from Isil cannot be deported home to Church lost confidence in its own text and what Somalia on human rights grounds confirms how much favour is we can do about it’. bestowed on such radicals. It’s not that we are lacking resources. This gen- Powerful criticism, even ridicule, is now developing against the eration is undoubtedly the best equipped for notion that such radical killers and their supporters are victims, engaging with the ‘lively oracles of God’. We have alienated by a hostile society and turned to the dark side. Rod Lid- more commentaries available to us than in any dle’s Sunday Times parody of this view is but one such parody of other period in history. There are daily Bible saintly teenagers suffering a knock on the head and becoming reading aids for every shape and size of Christian monsters as a result. The idea that the UK is in any way and the online revolution has not only made to blame for the Isil recruitment of young men or searching the Bible almost instantaneous, but women is bankrupt, as if MI5 or schools or airport staff has given us access to a great deal of what we are remotely culpable – in fact if airport check-in staff need for free. had queried the three ‘jihadi brides’ those staff would Yet still believers, and often very devout believ- have no doubt been in deep trouble under the Equality ers, lack a good deal of confidence in the holy Act. The girls were of age to travel, did not need book, the book of our faith. Why is this? parental consent and absolutely free to do so. Jihadi Much depends on how we have got here today. John’s identity disclosure also revealed how some A century ago the world was at war. As Europe ‘human rights’ charities are in fact not at all unsympa- emerged from the devastation, there was a great thetic to him. flowering of ecumenical endeavour and commu- The news that Baroness Warsi’s appointments to com- nitarian idealism. mittees and panels in Downing Street protecting Islam But it was not to last. ‘Higher criticism’ and have included some people now found to be very sur- ‘form criticism’ from liberal scholars such as prising, as detailed by Andrew Gilligan in his Telegraph Rudolf Bultmann began to hollow out the confi- column, is also worrying. It may be time for a full and dence of Christians in the Bible. Fundamental frank examination of the religious ‘conditioning’ seep- questions surfaced about whether we could trust sional Christian, somewhat removed from the life Comment ing in at every level. the Bible in a scientific and evolutionary age. of the people. In this climate, the miracles were discounted Meanwhile, the regular Christian can also buy and much of the rest of the Bible was disputed at into this deal by willingly handing over their spir- best, and dismissed at worst. Any ecumenical itual maturity to the pastor. Disempowered and The Church of England Newspaper confidence that the Bible unites us was largely lacking in confidence, they contract out responsi- with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week lost and society began to turn its back on the bility for their discipleship to the expert who Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. book of the Church. seems to know it all. Company Number: 3176742 A second, and perhaps more controversial, rea- Solutions to this malaise of the Church are Publisher: Keith Young MBE son for the collapse of confidence in the Scrip- widely available. I like the understanding that tures has to do with the army of writers, Dallas Willard had of the Bible as ‘a unique expositors, educators, church ministers and lay source of essential knowledge about the most Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY020 7222 8004 group leaders that have worked so hard to open important things in life’. That’s about as close as Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 The Book to others. you can get to the more formal statements of Reporter: JORDANNA MAY020 7222 8700 With all the scholarship now at our fingertips, faith that the Church has developed. the unintended consequence has been that we To see the Bible as a source of knowledge Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 have professionalised the Bible. Why is it that, in moves it out of the realm of mere belief. Through Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 spite of all the good material available to us, we the Bible we know certain things or, at least, we Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 2018 have become so wary of reading it for ourselves? can start to know certain things. The attitude of many is that the Bible is too For example, we know from the Bible a good Graphic Designer: PETER MAY020 7222 8700 complicated to be approached by ordinary mor- deal about the structure of the human heart and The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate tals. ‘I’m not clever and I’m not spiritual’ is the how it can be restored. We know about unity, love endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication view of people we have interviewed at Bible Soci- and how to bring peace between people. And we are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper does ety, ‘so I can’t read it’. know how evil and sin work and what can be not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. Those who are the ‘cure of souls’ in a local done about it. We know stuff. parish context can even fall into this trap them- The way to ‘bring the Bible to life’ for people is Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), selves. Overly complex language and occasional to bring life – ordinary life – to the Bible. To Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, deep dives into the interpretation of the text can expect more of this extraordinary book that Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Cindy Kent leave our listeners feeling disempowered. If they lands as a massive fact in our world. To raise the don’t know how we got what we did from the confidence of people in the Scriptures, think of The Church of England Newspaper, text, then they might lose confidence in either them as a body of knowledge, and approach Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd the Bible or themselves, or both. them in an appropriate way. 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX In some contexts I work in around the world I The Bible. We’d be lost without it. Editorial e-mail: [email protected] see an unspoken deal being struck between the Advertising e-mail: [email protected] minister and their flock. Happy for the congrega- James Catford is Group Chief Executive of Bible Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] tion to admire their scholarship or preaching Society. Follow him on Twitter or email him at prowess, they present themselves as the profes- [email protected] Website: www.churchnewspaper.com

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Available from www.canonjjohn.com www.churchnewspaper.com Friday March 6, 2015 Feature 9 Catapulted into consumerism

Trained as an anthropologist, CMS mission associate only about five or six of those who had been praising panied by redistribution, celebration and feasting. Now Chris Wallis has lived for 14 years in a remote Wichi the Lord the night before come to the service inside the each month resources are replenished, creating an illu- community in northern Argentina. He and his wife church. sory atmosphere of abundance. Helena have watched a whirlwind of change sweep Fault lines Cash, of course, offers access not only to other foods, through indigenous culture there. but also to a previously unimaginable range of con- Some of the older members of the church complain sumer goods. The introduction of electricity has that all that the young ones want these days is music brought mass media with potent new influences on the and dance, and that unless there are electric instru- way people perceive their lives. A tale of two church meetings ments no one will go to a church meeting. Globalisation for the Wichí – rather than being a grad- Others reply in defence of the evening meetings that ual process – has been a catapult. It’s nearly eight o’clock on a Saturday evening and the at least the young boys and girls that take part are not With such a variety of telepreachers and evangelistic sun has just set behind the algarrobo trees behind our wandering about and getting drunk. campaigns readily available on the television, not to house in Santa María. The clouds banked up in the Some 10 years ago, before electricity had reached our mention DVDs of the same material that are lapped up western sky are painted all shades of red and gold. I village, there was not the each month when the state aid pause to gaze in wonder and watch in peace. divide that today we face arrives, Wichí Christians are A deafening outburst abruptly interrupts my medita- between evening meetings now being formed less and tion, “Olá, sí, ... olá, sí, ... olá, sí.” It’s the piercing voice and Sunday service. This is less by their own church tradi- of a young man testing the loudspeakers in front of the but an expression of over- tions and more and more by church, barely 150 metres away from our house. whelming changes in mass media and consumer val- “This is a wonderful evening, brothers, all is well and Wichí society. ues. you are all invited tonight to come and enjoy your- In December of 2001 Whereas older members of selves. Especially all the young are invited tonight. Argentina suffered a major the church emphasize the val- There will be an opportunity for everyone tonight to political crisis. The presi- ues of “n’ohumnhayaj” sing, to dance, to praise the Lord and to receive tonight dent was hoisted by heli- (“love”), “n’op’altsenyaj” his blessing and power.” copter from the (“compassion”) and The voice continues without a pause for some 30 min- government building in the “n’oteläythayaj” (“patience” utes, mostly repeating the same message over and over centre of Buenos Aires as and “long sufferance”), all again, at moments accompanied by discordant and angry crowds outside foundational Christian values, unconnected peals from the keyboard. clashed with security younger members prefer to As the meeting warms up, more and more people forces. Two days of riots speak of “n’okäjyaj” (“joy”) bring their own stools and chairs and sit around in the left 39 dead. and “n’okhajyhayaj” semi-circle. They listen to the young people as they get The ensuing financial and Evangelistic campaign in Misión La Paz, 45 km (“power”), which are also cen- up in turn to sing two or three choruses to the noisy economic turmoil led to from Santa María tral to the Christian message. accompaniment of the keyboards. vast swathes of the popula- Clearly, traditional Wichí Between cycles of music and dance, there are inter- tion being impoverished. Subsequent governments thought and practice is being drastically transformed as ludes of individual testimonies and an account from a introduced relief measures, principally financial assis- the people are being catapulted into consumer society. young girl, considered by many a prophet, of her vision tance, which gradually reached the most distant Wichí of heaven and hell. communities of the northern provinces. The leader of the music sounds not unlike a cheer- It is difficult for us to imagine the colossal difference Learning from history leader (some would say a disc-jockey), urging on the that a regular monthly income makes to a people that people with calls of has never before been able The Anglican missionaries to the Wichí, from their “Fuerza! Fuerza! to count on any secure and beginnings in the year 1911, have shown a determina- Fuerza!” (“More ener- reliable means of subsis- tion to get as close as possible to the people and their gy!”) and “Palmas! Pal- tence. way of thought. Richard Hunt, for example, writing in mas! Palmas!” (“Clap the 1920s, recommended that the missionary should your hands!”) and “Cristo Abundant life? identify with the people and be “deeply interested to vive! Cristo vive! Cristo observe things as they really are”. He added with vive!” (“Christ is alive!”). Previously, scarcity and emphasis: “Never condemn before you understand the The meeting goes on abundance depended on people!” until nearly one o’clock the vagaries of nature. A Without ever having heard the concept of “contextual in the morning, just as good year in the Chaco for theology”, it seems that he and his kind were sponta- the moon appears one natural resource may neously led to practise it. between the clouds on be followed by a bad one. We need your prayers as we seek to make training the eastern horizon. Periods of abundance, appropriate and relevant to the current indigenous con- Over 100 Wichí make whether of wild fruits or text and patterns of thought while being faithful to the their way back to their fish from the river truth of the Bible. houses having felt joy in (although never guaran- Please also pray for Wichí, Toba and Chorote Chris- the Lord. teed and always restricted tians who are struggling to be faithful to Christ amid a On Sunday morning, Chris making preparations in Pacará in time), would be accom- whirlwind of change.

By Alan Edwards ing in anger. A similar Lenten self-denying ordi- Almost completed the phrase but nance could apply to the use of mobile realised that this would be Hareophobia. ‘As Mad As a March...’ ‘phones, save for cases of pastoral or pro- Also the only people you can now call fessional necessity or engaging in ‘facili- mad are Nigel Farage and Ukip voters. days would be numerically exceeded if abstinence that would lead to a good tated conversations.’ Yet in modern eyes Lent is surely a Sundays were counted. Lent? An answer occurred without Let’s face it, Facebook hasn’t stimulat- mad season. Fasting to control obesity, Also major Saints Days enable one to resorting to Google. Rationing your use ed genuine friendships. They’re better or to prepare yourself the better to enjoy forsake fasting for festivity. Therefore I’ll of the Internet and the related areas of cultivated over a drink, over a garden the recipes in the latest Mary Berry sing ‘Hail Glorious St Patrick’ even more social media would be an obvious strate- fence, or in the Women’s Institute or Cookbook, is OK, but fasting in aid of joyfully this year as it falls on a Tuesday. gy. Youth Club. Facebook’s ecclesiastical spirituality? No wonder that informed Happy the year when St Patrick and The Pope and Archbishop Welby both counterpart is the face to face gossiping opinion of his day also thought that Dewi Sant both fall on weekdays. use Twitter. Transmitting missionary that’s crept into the Peace. Jesus, pioneer of the season of Lent, was Still, I can always excuse a Lenten messages may be the excuse, but wiser A further abstinence. Stop supporting mad (John 10:20). glass of wine in the way in which my to leave this fatuous forum to its Man U unless you were born within a While books and pamphlets to guide Gloucestershire granny, an enthusiastic undoubted master: Stephen Fry. Howev- goal kick of Old Trafford. When the us through Lent still appear as plentifully Primitive Methodist, justified her daily er, Pope Francis did suggest on the RC Bishop of Stockport, Libby Lane, as spring daffodils, the Lenten discipline small Guinness. ‘Baint Devil’s brew; tis Church’s Communications Day in Janu- announced she supported United and of fasting has declined. Of course, the medicine me bwoy.’ ary that social media be less frequently not Stockport County she dealt a greater Church has always taught that Sundays If refusing food and alcohol could be used and Archbishop Justin tweeted in blow to the case for women bishops than during Lent remain feast days - Lent’s 40 left to dieters, are there other forms of the same month advising against tweet- Forward in Faith had ever landed.

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help her deal with technology, body image, sex, drugs, alcohol, friendships and how to make good choices for her future. Parenting books are often written by people who aren’t parents themselves, but Judy has raised three daughters and she is from a family of girls too. I also Janey Lee Grace like the fact that Judy really values her own relationship with her late mum (they called her Marmar), she was grandmother to 10 grandchildren Live Healthy! Live Happy! by the time she died. Her parenting ideas were child-centred and she found many of the anxieties around modern parenting a great sadness. Judy believes she was an More than just Sugar and Spice… expert in mindfulness long before it became fashionable. She often said ‘If you’ve got nothing I was more than thrilled when nine years and five Despite being fearful and wanting the best for her, I nice to say… say nothing’. months ago I gave birth to a baby girl: after three boys can’t do it for her, but hopefully I can help equip her and The next time I’m feeling cross with my boys or it was a delight to have a female in the house. No babies navigate the tricky stuff. I love the fact that this book my little girl I will remember that old adage. come with a manual but after the boys I did find it a offers a fresh, positive and practical approach to the As we approach Mother’s Day with all its different experience parenting a girl. I am yet to hit the pleasures and pitfalls of parenting a daughter. There is commercialism, perhaps this would be the perfect trickiest years and so I was pleased to see an excellent some easy to follow advice, some of it timeless and gift for mums of girls, or if yours are already grown- book by parenting expert Judy Reith: 7 Secrets of quotes and tips from parents and daughters. up, it might help you remember the importance of Raising Girls Every Parent Must Know. What I like most is that Judy recognises the listening and showing support. Sometimes that’s the Never before have parents been under so much importance of leaving a legacy of values. She looks at best you can do. pressure to produce confident, happy and successful the parents’ role in developing high self-esteem in girls, daughters, but the new and unexpected challenges of asking what it is they really want from their mum and 7 Secrets of raising girls by Judy Reith is published by parenting in the digital age can be overwhelming. their dad. There are also very practical tips on how to Vie books. Christian Warrior Welby’s helping hand

It’s surprising that the press have only used one story from Eliza While George Carey got help in his career from Margaret Thatcher it seems the Iron Lady’s Filby’s God and Mrs Thatcher because it is packed with telling Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nigel Lawson, may have given a step up to Justin Welby. Writing anecdotes. The Sunday Times reported that when Mrs T in Standpoint Lawson reveals he twice opened a door for the future Archbishop. The first time entertained the bishops to Chequers and Bishop Richard Harries was when he forced the British Gas Corporation to disgorge its North Sea oil interests, which asked for Perrier water to drink she was quick to tell him: “We only Lawson then went on to privatise as Enterprise Oil. Welby became the company’s group serve British water here.” Rober t Runcie, who knew the future PM treasurer and, according to Lawson, did a good job. The second time was when Lawson pushed at Oxford, described himself as ‘meringue to Thatcher’s roast beef’. for Welby, then the Bishop of Durham, to become a member of the Parliamentar y Commission Although she was a regular churchgoer (attending morning service on Banking Standards. Now, it seems, Lawson’s admiration for Welby is beginning to wane. The at Chequers more times in her first two years than all her post-war Tory peer is not happy with either the contributions of John Sentamu or Welby to On Rock or predecessors put together) Thatcher never received communion Sand? but he singles out some sentences by Welby for particular criticism. “We believe that if because she was not confirmed (Filkin speculates she had no desire we fix the economy the fixing of human beings will automatically follow,” Welby writes. “This is to kneel before a bishop). Lord Carey told Filkin that: “Margaret’s a lie. It is a lie because it is a narrative that casts money rather than humanity as the faith appealed to me much more than Tony’s. I couldn’t see where protagonists of God’s stor y.” No one says this, argues Lawson. Welby has misrepresented what his was going whereas I could see her thinking was quite economists have said. But wait a minute. This may not be what economists on the right have theological in many senses.” Carey may have disagreed with some said but surely economic determinism has been the stock in trade of thinkers on the left. Even of her policies but he recognised faith was at the core of her life. now commentators on the left struggle to explain how young Muslims from relatively Like many others, Filkin ascribes a key role to Thatcher in prosperous backgrounds turn to ter ror. It isn’t supposed to work like that. Carey’s appointment because she chose an evangelical, Viscount Caldecott, to chair the CNC but Filkin suggests that in the end the Archbishop turned out not to be the kind of evangelical the Prime Minister was hoping for. Denis, who was not as devout as his wife, told her press secretar y, Bernard Ingham, he should add ‘religious faith’ to his talk on Thatcher’s five qualities as a leader. A Lot Like Eve

Church House bookshop was packed for the launch of the Rev Joanna Jepson’s book A Lot Like Eve. Quite a contrast with a previous launch of a book on sexuality that had to be cancelled because of lack of interest, perhaps a sign that even in the Church of England Short church or interest in that particular subject is waning. Not surprisingly Joanna’s story has captured people’s imagination. It’s a moving account of courage and faith. Joanna tells how she was bullied for a facial deformity that meant her upper jaw overhung her lower jaw, long church? which receded into her neck. She couldn’t close her mouth and was called vile names at school. It took two operations to correct the deformity when her jaw bones had finally stopped growing at the end of her teenage years. Joanna’s book has been Veteran church affairs commentator Clifford Longley is not impressed serialised in the Daily Mail, she has given a long interview to the by the three-page letter on the election issued by the Catholic bishops. Sunday Telegraph, and appeared on Woman’s Hour and BBC Radio Writing in The Tablet he contrasts it unfavourably with the pastoral 2. In fact she has become such a celebrity that in a two-page letter of the Anglican bishops. Longley calls the latter ‘Tory-baiting’ spread about her the Gloucestershire Echo decided that her and the first ‘trying to avoid a fuss’. There are some hard statements in husband could be no less a person than the Rev Dr Giles Fraser. the Catholic letter, he concedes, but they are easily glossed over. He In fact her husband, Nick, is Canon of Wells even suggests that the bishops may be trying to build bridges with the Cathedral. Fame has not changed Joanna. The taxi driver next government of whatever hue it may be. As well as an who drove her to the launch was so charmed that he went unfavourable comparison with the Anglican letter, Longley also back to Church House bookshop to buy her book. At the compares it with the Catholic statement ‘The Common Good and launch, Joanna revealed it has taken a number of years Catholic Social Teaching’ issued before the 1997 election. before she was ready to tell her story. The editor from Longley modestly admits only to having been a ‘wordsmith’ for Bloomsbury who finally persuaded her was Caroline

this document. Insiders say he actually played a key role in The Gallery Chartres, unable to make the launch because she was drafting it. At least the new Catholic letter is short. The Anglican stuck in traffic. For five years Joanna was chaplain to the letter runs to 52 pages. TMS in The Times quoted one Anglican Whispering London School of Fashion. She retains an interest in bishop as saying: “I wouldn’t read a 52-page love letter from fashion but living in Wells with a young son her ministry Kylie Minogue. What chance of granny in the pew reading is now as a part-time army chaplain. one on politics from a bunch of bishops?”

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Free speech on ANDREW campus? CAREY

I’m not sure that knowing the iden- through Ofsted. Ridiculously, this View from the Pew tity of so-called ‘Jihadi John’ the test has led to the closure of a high- British-accented jihadist who has performing Christian school. The presided over killing of western policy wonks at the Department of hostages, has told us very much. Education, and the inspectors at On the one hand we now have Ofsted, ignored the fact that the so- various claims being made about called Trojan Horse attempts to Islamisation in schools and col- radicalise schools were centred leges, as though the process of rad- solely in secular schools and not icalisation of young people is a faith schools. Faith schools have result of one conversation, one the policies and ethos in place to be video on Facebook or one able to root out extremism far encounter with a radicalised cleric. more effectively than well-meaning In reality, I suspect that the but naive secular schools easily process of radicalisation is due to a exploited by Islamists. whole raft of factors that we could Rather than imposing new laws, broadly label alienation and cannot restricting our freedoms, or delib- be tackled by simple initiatives. erately changing our foreign poli- The government proposes to cut cy, we should accept instead that down on freedoms at universities the remedy to radicalisation is not to hear a variety of views by ban- susceptible of easy solutions. The ning so-called ‘hate preachers’. But only real remedy is the long-term why can’t they insist on using exist- one of defending our culture and ing laws that prohibit incitement to liberties against the barbarians violence rather than restricting the who want to return us to the mid- very freedoms that Islamists are dle ages. curiously themselves both exploit- Democracy, freedom of religion, ing and attacking? speech, and the separation of the It is far better to have these radi- judiciary, religion and politics are cal preachers out in the open the real British values we should Mohammed Emwazi where, if they step on the wrong be advocating as a defence against side of the law, they can be prose- Islamisation. In fact, advocating cuted, rather than spreading their the separation of powers is a pow- poison underground where the law erful bulwark against Sharia law. on incitement cannot be easily These values are not to be found in Worried about immigration? enforced. politicians’ pompous speeches Furthermore, by offering up about British values where they Islamist ‘martyrs’ attacked on all use vague words like ‘tolerance’ According to a YouGov poll, Britons are ‘Friendly to migrants, but worry about immigration’ (The sides by politicians, police and the and ‘fair play’ but are tied to our Times, 2 March 2015). media we give young people com- institutions – Parliament, the I’m amazed that this should be a surprise to the media elite. The fact is that it is the sheer scale pelling and defiant heroes. These monarchy, the Church, the Free of immigration in the past 10-15 years that has taken people by surprise. Mass immigration has radicals should be mocked and Press and the BBC. never been known like this so it is hardly a surprise that people in certain areas experience the laughed at rather than punished We undermine these institutions negative side of this where there is a pressure on infrastructure like housing, jobs and school for exercising their right to free at our peril. Once they are gone or places. speech. weakened they leave a vacuum that Thankfully, the mainstream political parties now concede that the level of immigration has We’ve already had the Depart- can be filled by wicked and been too high and that it needs to be curbed. And this is where the weight of opinion firmly is. ment of Education imposing a unscrupulous movements like Church leaders, and the Green Party and the occasional Trade Unionist are virtually sidelined British values test on schools Islamism or fascism or both. now in opposing virtually any measure to bring down immigration to manageable levels.

LIZHOARE thespiritualdirector By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare

When you fast, do not look dismal like the his disciples should fast (cf Luke made their confession (hence they bodily needs and all distractions. At the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so 5:33,34), he assumed that they would were ‘shriven’ or absolved from their very least it helps us to be more aware as to show others that they are fasting,’ do so (Matt 6:16). sins) and entered a period of absti- of our dependence on God’s gift of our Matthew 6:16. Fasting is arguably of far greater nence that corresponded to the time of daily bread and also on those who bring importance now than when it was in its year and the availability of food. Was it our food to us: farmers, hauliers, super- There are numerous references to fast- heyday in the medieval Church. At a easier to fast when there was little food market shelf-stackers, chefs and shop- ing in both the Old and the New Testa- time when we can eat strawberries in about anyway? There is no doubt that it keepers. ‘A person cannot live by bread ments. It was used in biblical times for December and be sure that the item we is hard today when most people do not alone.’ different purposes including grief (eg want will be on the supermarket have to go very far to reach a super- Paying attention to what we have cho- David when Bathsheba’s child was shelves in abundance, when we are market and we are constantly being sen not to eat might also help us eat bet- sick, 2 Sam 12:16ff), seeking God’s pro- bombarded with alluring advertise- offered sweets and biscuits by well- ter in future. Fasting often shows up tection (eg Ezra 8:21ff) repentance (on ments to eat this or that delicacy meaning friends and work colleagues. our addictions and compulsions. How the Day of Atonement, Lev 16:29ff), and (because we deserve it), it is difficult to But what is the point of going with- easy it is to grab a chocolate biscuit to worship (eg Acts 13:2,3). Fasting is par- imagine the concept of going without. out, except to demonstrate that we can? comfort ourselves. The physical aware- ticularly associated with Lent and the All the more reason, perhaps for Chris- There was surely more to Jesus’ first ness of feeling empty may prompt us to traditional focus on Jesus being tempt- tians to take another look at this most temptation than proving he could sur- turn to Christ who alone can satisfy our ed in the wilderness for 40 days and practical of spiritual disciplines in such vive for a period without food. Tradi- needs. Fasting, with its small-scale sac- nights during which he fasted sets the an age of excess. tionally giving up meals frees up time to rifices can also help us to ponder more tone for this time. It is important to note Once upon a time people ate up the pray. It demonstrates our intention to deeply the great sacrifice that Jesus that while Jesus did not demand that superfluous foods on Shrove Tuesday, focus on God alone and turn away from made for us on the cross.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 12 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday March 6, 2015 Anglican Life Levers of change By Clifford Owen, but somehow the reality can still Baptismal Reform as a concern and Baptismal Integrity manage to miss the visionary dream. I pressure has been around for well over usually cite the example of the Decade a century now. One could argue that it I was pondering how to give a fresh of Evangelism of the 1990s, that has been around since the Reformation! twist to my Ash Wednesday address for motivating dynamic push up to the At the moment it is a largely a suburban congregation near millennium moment. smouldering movement, but still alight Huntingdon. I was drawn to our recently I remember with what enthusiasm we as an issue. I expect it will flare up again drafted diocesan strategy, which is at the went to work on those committees and in the future, especially as the various consultation stage in the parishes. By felt that the year 2000 would capture the synods start analysing the latest doom- any reckoning it is an excellent exercise. imagination of millions with a new laden reports on our approaching It started with a visionary booklet from fascination for a faith that had been extinction. Each of these three ‘levers’ the bishop, which was then worked on around for 2,000 years! Well we were that I have been associated with, if taken by diocesan staff who have rolled out surprised and encouraged by the singly or better still together, could and the draft documents for chewing over interest shown in the millennium would affect church growth. and feedback from the whole diocese. It moment but actual church attendance All movements seem to be born in seems a model of how things should be continued to fall during the Decade of enthusiastic conviction, and if I had done. It is consultative leadership at its Evangelism, despite a great ‘pulling out particulars here. But the idea of a lever space I might attach various names to best. Mr and Mrs Pewslip will only have of the stops.’ is the thing that one pulls to make the birth of these movements. But themselves to blame if they moan after That particular exercise has now of something move. If the lever is used one sooner or later movements take on a the strategy is set in stone, because they course passed into history and probably can expect something to happen. All manifesto and an agenda, require have actually been asked for their input. forgotten about. It is a pity because levers are ‘verb levers’. They imply the management, and crucially pass into the I always tend to get excited by reports much was learnt during that Decade doing of something. Church History next generation of leadership. At that and strategies, which seem to take a that could be fed into the future. often shows that the best-laid plans fail point they can easily change direction or grasp on a situation; but there is another Our diocesan strategy is promising in because visions need long term become something else. side to the coin, which can be that it sets out to do something similar implementing. No one has taught, The letters to the seven churches in depressing. in all but name (it studiously avoids the trained, followed up, monitored, steered, Revelation chapters 2 & 3 may serve as History, especially church history, can word ‘evangelism’!) but does it with an corrected. That could be longhand for a warning that leadership needs to demonstrate that visions can remain just unthreatening realism by using the ‘apostolic ministry’! monitor how the direction of churches that: an inspired flash of what might be. phrase ‘levers of change’. It gives five Having now passed that clergy and movements is working out in Documents can say it all and plan it all; levers and I needn’t bother with the Rubicon aged 70 into retirement, I have relation to any visions. time to reflect on the three particular Archbishop Rowan Williams reminded levers that I have been involved with us in ICS (Intercontinental Church now for some 40 years: ecumenism, the Society, 2010) that we need to start our ministry of healing, and baptismal mission where God has started. We reform. I have only ever been paid for need to be sensitive to what the Spirit is Could You Be Their Chaplain? the first! precisely telling us to do in a particular Ten years ago we called it an area; no more and no less. If it is our ‘ecumenical winter’. I now believe that conviction that the levers we happen to ecumenism in England not only seems pull are rooted in God, then for God’s to be ‘on the back burner,’ but the sake, let’s pull them! I will continue to burner is turned off. pull my three above. The healing ministry is quietly growing through the ministry of the For Baptismal Integrity see Acorn Christian Healing Trust and www.baptism.org similar groups, and it seems to be The Rev Dr Clifford Owen is Treasurer of becoming an accepted and normal part Baptismal Integrity. of the church’s ministry, as Jesus He has Permission to Officiate in the modelled. Diocese of Ely and the Diocese in Europe

Since the Royal Air Force was formed in 1918, The ministry of chaplains have been an integral part of the RAF and today, as then, they represent the Church where it is needed most.

As an RAF chaplain you will be involved in the lives of our personnel, regardless of their rank or religious beliefs. You will serve RAF chaplains alongside them, providing vital religious, pastoral and ethical support wherever they go, including deployed Operations. First and foremost as Chaplains within the RAF, we remain priests and ministers of our Home-based duties will be equally Sending Churches, and our ministry is firmly rooted in the context of the wider mission important, supporting personnel and their families, Reservists, civil servants and the of the Church. Prophetic witness, sacramental ministry and pastoral care are part of the wider RAF community. While exploring vocation of an RAF chaplain as much as they are part of the vocation of Christian minis- innovative ways of engaging with them, ters in other contexts. The Chaplain-in-Chief’s stated mission for the Branch, ‘Serving you will also fulfil the more traditional role the RAF Community through Prayer, Presence and Proclamation’ clearly states the the- of leading regular worship, including ological basis of our ministry within the RAF. officiating at baptisms, weddings and Our pastoral concern for those to whom we are sent stems from the love and concern funerals. Partners and families are well cared for and the RAF provides excellent in-service of God for the individual, and out of the command that we are given to ‘love our neigh- training and education opportunities. bours.’ As RAF Chaplains we walk the same path as those to whom we are sent, and firmly If you are ready for an exciting, identify ourselves with those amongst whom we minister. It is in being ‘present’ highly-rewarding position, contact us now. through all the traumas, fears, joys, and stresses of Forces’ life that the chaplain is able to minister, and bring the love of God, his salt and light, into all these situations. We have vacancies for full-time and spare-time chaplains. For proclamation to be effective, to be welcome, to be of use to the organisation we serve, it needs to ‘suit the context.’ For this reason, we as chaplains wear the same uni- www.raf.mod.uk/chaplains form as those around us, we go through the same training, live in the same houses, deploy to the same places. This enables us to gain a thorough and deep understanding of the context in which we minister, and to be credible, trusted individuals within that context. This then in turn allows us the immense privilege of speaking into often diffi-

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BIBLECHALLENGE who has died aged 83, was Dean of ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER Chichester from 1989 to 2001 and before that spent eight years as a Canon of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and Chaplain Day 66 – Deuteronomy 7-9, Psalm 55, Friday 6 March. Psalm 143:7-11, Job 28:1-11. Medak - (South India): Vacant of Windsor Great Park. Luke 13 Saturday 7 March. Psalm 123, Job 28:12-19. The Most Rev Philip Leslie Freier, Day 67 – Deuteronomy 10-12, Psalm 56, Archbishop of Melbourne & Primate of Australia; Melbourne - Eastern Region - Luke 14 (Victoria, Australia): vacant; Melbourne - Northern & Western Region - (Victoria, Day 68 – Enjoy hearing the Scriptures Australia): The Rt Rev Philip Huggins; Melbourne - Southern Region - (Victoria, read aloud in church Australia): The Rt Rev Paul White Day 69 – Deuteronomy 13-15, Psalm 57, Sunday 8 March. Lent 3. Psalm 94:14-19, Ro. 11:13-24. Meru - (Kenya): The Rt Luke 15 Rev Charles Mwendwa Day 70 – Deuteronomy 16-18, Psalm 58, Monday 9 March. Psalm 55:1-8, Ro. 11:25-36. Mexico - (Mexico): The Rt Rev Car- Luke 16 los Touche-Porter; Western Mexico - (Mexico): The Rt Rev Lino Rodriguez-Amaro Day 71 – Deuteronomy 19-21, Psalm 59, Tuesday 10 March. Psalm 119:33-40, Job 28:20-28. Eastern Michigan - (V, The Luke 17 Episcopal Church): The Rt Rev Todd Ousley; Michigan - (V, The Episcopal Day 72 – Deuteronomy 22-24, Psalm 60, Church): The Rt Rev Wendell Gibbs Luke 18 Wednesday 11 March. Psalm 102:1-8, Job 29:1-10. Minna - (Lokoja, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Daniel Abu Yisa Thursday 12 March. Psalm 102:23-28, Job 29:11-17. Minnesota - (VI, The Episco- APPOINTMENTS pal Church): The Rt Rev Brian Prior

HOLIDAY CARAVAN The Rev Wealands Bell, Health NHS Foundation Trust (Guild- presently part-time Priest-in-Charge of ford). LAY AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS Croydon, S Andrew is to be instituted on The Rev Tom Weil, YORKS/LANCS BORDER:- static 4 24th March 2015 by the Bishop of Croy- Permission to Officiate, to be Non Humphrey Giles Welfare, berth caravan, working farm, don and inducted as part-time Vicar of Stipendiary Assistant Curate, Worples- has been re-appointed as a Member of panoramic views Ingleborough, the Benefice on 10th May 2015 by the don (Guildford). the Churches Conservation Trust for a central lakes and dales. 01524261784 Archdeacon of Croydon, continuing as The Rev Serena Willoughby period of three years until 31 March also part-time chaplain to St Andrew’s is to be licensed as Chaplain of Christ’s 2018. School, (Southwark). School, Richmond, by the Bishop of The Rev Dr Mark Borley, Kingston on 3rd March 2015, subject to DEATHS Assoc Vicar West Sheppey Benefice, satisfactory completion of the necessary Canterbury to be Vicar, St Frances, procedures (Southwark). Ewell LEP, Ruxley (Guildford). The Rev Theo Holmes, The Rev Karen Bradley, RETIREMENTS & RESIGNATIONS Assistant Curate of Derby St Anne, Assistant Curate of Walton, Diocese of Derby St Bartholomew and Derby St Derby, has been appointed Team Vicar in Luke from 2012, Assistant Curate of the East Scarsdale Team Ministry in the The Rev Canon Richard (Dick) Mackworth St Francis 2012-2014, and same diocese. William Cotton, Assistant Curate of Somercotes 2006- The Rev Stephen Delaforce, has relinquished his PTO in the Diocese 2012, died on Sunday 15th February, Associate Minister in the Benefice of of Canterbury with effect from 27 Janu- 2015. Beaumont Leys (Leicester), as Priest in ary 2015. The Rev Jacob Frode Knudsen, Charge (Vicar Designate) of the Capt Terry Drummond, CA, Ecumenical Canon of Southwark Cathe- Benefices of Beaumont Leys and St Luke presently The Bishop of Southwark’s dral died on 11th February 2015. and the Cornerstone Conventional Dis- Adviser on Urban and Public Policy The Rev Percy G Philips, trict (Leicester). retires with effect 30th April 2015, his Manormead Care Home (Guildford), The Rev Lynda Edwards, last working day will be 30th March died on 21 January. Subscribe to the CEN in the Curate: Allesley, to be Curate: Meriden 2015. The Rev John Starkey, Apple Newsstand (Coventry) The Rev Keith Haggar, who held the Bishop of Derby’s Permis- The Rev Chukwemeka (Chucks) has relinquished his PTO in the Diocese sion to Officiate, died on Thursday 19th Iwuagwu, of Canterbury with effect from 12 Febru- February, 2015. PRICES FROM JUST 79p Multifaith Chaplaincy, Glasgow to be Self ary 2015. The Very Rev John Treadgold, Supporting Associate Minister (House The Rev Canon Michael Hart, for Duty) (Guildford). Team Rector of the Catford (Southend) The Rev Richard Jones, and Downham Team Ministry and also Incumbent – Parish of Burscough, Liver- Honorary Canon of pool Diocese to be Rector, Parish of retires with effect 30th April 2015 and Ashtead (Guildford). will be Canon Emeritus of Southwark The Rev Canon Peter Nokes, Cathedral. Vicar, St Peter Mancroft (Norwich), The Rev Stephen Hartley, Chaplain to Norwich Theatre Royal, Team Rector: Coventry East, to retire Honorary Canon, from 1 June 2015. (retiring on 31 March 2015) has been The Rev Beverley Hunt, appointed to a new position as Honorary Team Vicar, St Mark’s Godalming Canon Emeritus - Norwich Cathedral. (Guildford), to retire from 2 February The Rev Katherine Pearson, then to have Permission to Officiate. Pioneer Assistant Curate: Weoley Castle The Rev Canon Hilary Johnson, St. Gabriel [Birmingham] to be Anglican Head of Chaplaincy at St George’s Chaplain: University of Warwick (Coven- Healthcare NHS Trust, Bishop’s Adviser try). for Hospital Chaplaincy and also Hon- The Rev Russell Smart, orary Canon of Southwark Cathedral Assistant Curate Colliers Row, Romford, retires with effect 30th April 2015 and Chelmsford to be Associate Minister, will be Canon Emeritus of Southwark FOR JUST £75 YOU CAN Church of the Good Shepherd, Farnbor- Cathedral. ough (Guildford). The Rev Jane Kraft, The Rev Charles Leslie Thomas, Team Vicar, Chipping Barnet Team Min- POST YOUR JOB ON OUR Stipendiary Assistant Curate in the istry [with special responsibility for Bar- Benefice of Sevenhampton with Charlton net, St Stephen] (St Albans), retired from JOB BOARD Abbots, Hawling and Whittington, 1 February. Dowdeswell and Andoversford with The The Ven Andrew Woodhouse, FOR A MONTH Shiptons and Cold Salperton and With- Permission to Officiate (Guildford), to ington (Gloucester), to be Stipendiary retire from 2 February 2015. Vicar of the Benefice of Worcester, St Wulstan (Worcester). %-())!$!&" The Rev Elizabeth Toms, ("#&*'!)&,&+') To be also Assistant Chaplain, Frimley 020 7222 2018 • [email protected]

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday March 6, 2015 Books / Sunday

The choice of the new Christian paperbacks SUNDAY SERVICE Why Suffering? It has to be said that Zacharias’ chapters are the Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale strongest part of the book, but Vitale puts up a Faithwords, pb, £11.99 good effort to match his mentor. He is very good at 4th Sunday of Lent — Sunday 15 March 2015 homespun stories and personal reflection, wisely Ravi Zacharias has been one of leaving the philosophical heavyweight material to Numbers 21:4-9 those who have really put the Zacharias. And Zacharias handles that very nimbly. Ephesians 2:1-10 study of Christian Apologetics on Vitale is strong in his writing on the Cross. John 3:14-21 the map. He is a very big name in I remember when I first came to faith that the States, less so here. Apologetics was a real life-changer. It zinged with Our readings this week remind us that salvation is a gracious But, along with Alister McGrath excitement and helped me to see that I could gift from God, which we do not deserve and cannot earn, but and others, the founding of the Oxford Centre for believe in God with head as well as heart. which does not leave us to continue walking in the ways of Christian Apologetics at Wycliffe Hall has led to a The only issue with a book like this, and many the world. minor explosion in books and articles on some of others, is that it is hard to encounter the real The clear link between the Old Testament and Gospel the foundational questions people ask. Doesn’t pastoral heart of the apologist. We get some great readings is provided in John 3:14. It is not immediately appar- religion lead to wars and intolerance? Do all roads arguments and some very important insights, but ent if Jesus’ explanation to Nicodemus breaks into editorial lead to the same God? Didn’t Science kill God? we don’t get the rather wonderful and tender comment somewhere around here or not, but certainly a This latest, and co-authored, book picks up on interactions that happen at the events and talks. canonical link is created between the work of Christ and a the biggest question of all… Why does God allow Still that is probably inevitable. Where it is strong brief incident in the desert wanderings of the Exodus gener- suffering? The authors are in good company in is on issues like where morality comes from and ation. The bronze serpent was lifted up in the wilderness so trying to answer it. CS Lewis had a go, and so have what does it mean to be free… that any Israelite bitten by a poisonous serpent could look at others. It was the question that put me off from If you are starting up in your faith or wonder how it and live. There is no direct therapeutic connection, that we being a Christian until I was into my 40s. we can answer questions from friends and family know of, by which looking at bronze can cure a snakebite! I have to say, they have made a good stab at it about suffering this book is a very good place to Yet if God wills it to be a means of grace for his impatient peo- here. This book really works because of Zacharias’ start. It just about balances cleverness with clarity ple, it is so. penetrating analysis of the way different and is a mightily good read (I read it in a few hours Their grumbling against God and against Moses, as if the worldviews attempt, and fail, to answer the in one sitting). In the end it will help you see that redemption achieved for them was pointless, and paltry in its question. He sweeps away the materialists and Christianity does have answers, although not provision, received a due retribution. This was part of God’s radical atheists in a fine flourish and looks at the always easy and with mystery still at its heart. This bigger plan to deny entry to the Promised Land for the gen- way other faiths wrestle with the big question. is a good read and will be a faith-builder. If you eration who had rebelled against him; yet his grace to the Zacharias grew up a Hindu and he sensitively have never engaged with Christian apologetics people continues even in the midst of judgment, in response looks at the ways Eastern religions handle the then it’s time to start. to the prayers of their covenant mediator. Despite discipline, question of hurt and loss. Steve Morris however, murmuring distrust would continue. In the same way, despite it being unworthy and sinful and blind to the goodness of God (like Nicodemus was), God so The Wisdom of the Spirit rise of Pentecostalism. cial mention should be made of loved the God-hating world that he gave his only Son to be Martyn Percy and Pete Ward As he emphasises in his latest the contributions of Percy, lifted up outside a city wall. Whoever looks to the Son, believ- (eds) book, Martin has always William Abraham and John ing in him, will not perish but have eternal life. Those who Ashgate, hb, £60.00 stressed that there are ‘different Heard (in addition to the essay believe are not condemned, but those who don’t… not only paths to modernity’. He has by Martin also mentioned). . will they perish, but they are condemned already, even in Religion and Power questioned the view that moder- In some ways Percy writes the advance of the sentence on judgment day. David Martin nity implies secularisation and obituary of conservative evan- The serpent’s poison is left to do its work on those who will Ashgate, pb, £19.99 that the rest of the world will fol- gelicalism and Pentecostalism. not look to the light but prefer the darkness of secretly angry As Martyn Percy points out in low the same path as Western Given his role in Modern ingratitude. Their deeds are evil, the passage says; but on the the collection of essays he has Europe. Religion is constantly Church some will respond with other hand, any good deeds of those who look to Jesus “have edited in honour of Andrew interacting with politics and ‘he would say that wouldn’t he?’ been done in God” — God’s work in them is evident. Walker, sociologists enable us to other social factors. Context is but his points deserve careful The same emphasis on a gracious salvation from darkness see how social, stylistic, and cul- always important. attention. To some extent they is clear in Ephesians 2:1-10, a purple passage. Despite the tural forces play their part along- In his new collection of essays are backed up by Dave Tomlin- fact that we were dead in sin and therefore spiritually impo- side theology in shaping Martin has some hard words for son on his essay on post-evan- tent; despite the fact that we were voluntary slaves to the religious movements. In his con- the New Atheists with their gelicalism and John Heard on world, the flesh, and the devil; despite the fact that like every- tribution to the same work, claims that ‘religion causes war’, Alpha. Percy sees the future as one else we were by nature fully deserving of “God’s wrath David Martin argues that we can accusing them of not knowing dilution within the mainstream and indignation against us” as the BCP puts it, God’s merci- relate the churches to the back- how the social sciences operate. or marginalisation in the ghetto. ful love stepped in. As Charles Wesley wrote, in one of the ground in which they work with- But despite his stress on the William Abraham is more pos- unsung verses of his hymn, And can it be?, “Still the atoning out succumbing to relativism. importance of studying the itive about the future of Pente- blood is near, that quenched the wrath of hostile heaven.” John Milbank has rejected social and political environment costalism and his essays offer What he did for Jesus the head in Ephesians chapter 1, what he sees as attempt to sub- in which religion operates, Mar- hope to those Methodists in raising him from death and seating him at the right hand of ordinate theology to sociology tin is clear that they are not ‘the Britain worried by the decline of the Father, he does for the body, those who are united to him on the grounds that sociology is same enterprise conducted in their own denomination. Abra- by faith. We are made alive in him, raised up and seated with influenced by Enlightenment different modes’. Religion can- ham is more optimistic than him — to the praise of his glorious grace and to demonstrate presuppositions but Martin not be collapsed into politics. Percy, perhaps because he is to the universe the immeasurable kindness of God. Yet, as shrewdly argues that Milbank Martin’s new book is a stimu- less concerned about sexuality always, the grace that saves us also leads us, into a new life of actually implies that there is a lating collection of essays that and other issues in church poli- obedience for which we were created. less prejudicial form of sociolog- should not be missed. I have tics. Instead he focuses on the As Wesley again so eloquently sings, “No condemnation ical analysis and that there are only two slight criticisms. In his ecclesiology of the third option now I dread! Jesus and all in him is mine. Alive in him, my liv- criteria for determining how this desire to emphasise the contrast with its stress on the Holy Spirit. ing head, and clothed in righteousness divine.” Or as Cecil should operate. between the French and Ameri- He sees parallels with Eastern Alexander summarises it, he died not only that we might be David Martin and Andrew can approaches to church/state Orthodoxy and quotes the work forgiven; he died “to make us good.” So we “trust in his Walker are outstanding sociolo- relations he overlooks the fact it of the Orthodox theologian, N redeeming blood, and try his works to do.” gists whose ability to trace the was never French policy to Afanasiev. influence of social or cultural export their model to the John Heard writes on Alpha, Dr Lee Gatiss is author of The Forgotten Cross (Evangelical factors on religion does not colonies. As it was often said, an example of an evangelical ini- Press) and Director of Church Society blind them to the importance of ‘laicite stops at the borders of tiative which, in the UK at least, (www.churchsociety.org). theology. Walker has done metropolitan France’. And how he thinks may be in decline. important work on Restora- can we have an account of reli- Heard finds Alpha’s leadership tionist churches in the UK but gious spaces in Boston that defensive when faced with criti- as well as the books he has writ- omits Trinity Church in Copley cism and prone to keep on ten he has exercised influence Square? repeating the old line. Heard, HYMN SELECTION through the doctoral students There is so much of value in too, is an advocate of Deep he has supervised at King’s Col- the volume edited by Percy and Church, arguing Alpha could be lege, London. Not far away at Ward that it is difficult to single enriched by drawing on tradi- There is a green hill the LSE Martin has challenged out even one or two contribu- tional practices. It is a line that And can it be? popular understanding of secu- tions. Everyone has something Justin Welby might be inclined You children of God by faith in his Son larisation and been one of the to say of importance. But for the to support. The church’s one foundation first sociologists to study the purposes of a short review spe- Paul Richardson Oh, to see the dawn

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their relationship is, while Douglas (Bill Nighy) and FILMS OFTHE WEEK Evelyn (Judi Dench) haven’t quite got theirs together at all – “We’re not ‘not together’”, she says. Douglas’s wife Jean (Penelope Wilton) turns up with The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (dir. John Mad- their daughter (who’s in India on business) but her dim den) gets a PG certificate despite quite a lot of what the view of India hasn’t changed. It’s in stark contrast to Board of Film Classification calls “mild bad language Evelyn, who, at 79, is still working at her job, as a buyer and sex references”. In fact, the sex, while not explicitly of cloth for a fashion chain. portrayed, is quite a thread, not least from Celia Imre’s Whatever’s happening to the different couples, well-trailed remark when Richard Gere walks in, “Lordy there’s always a decent funny line in Ol Parker’s script, lord, have mercy on my ovaries”. or genuinely smutty innuendo to keep the pace. At the The cast from the original film, about a Jaipur hotel Viceroy hotel, the maitre d’ says they do have rooms, “for the elderly and beautiful” run as a cheap alternative for guests who get tired “or fortunate”, and even pre- to a rest home in the UK, are supplemented by Gere as dictable punchlines are delivered immaculately. Guy Chambers, who may or may not be a mystery Visually, the film is largely set indoors, but we see guest sent by American company Evergreen to see if plenty of tourist sights. Douglas has a job as a tour they should invest in a second hotel. guide but relies on a local boy feeding him facts and Owner Sonny (Dev Patel) and manager Muriel (Mag- dates through an earpiece. gie Smith) took a trip to the States to persuade Ever- That comes in handy when he has to make a speech green’s boss (David Strathairn) that it was a successful at the wedding. He’s fed bits of Tennyson’s poem model – and the film gets off to a great start with Dame Ulysses (“I will drink life to the lees”) until a romantic Maggie’s monologue educating her American hosts intervention brings to a head the on-off thing with Eve- about how tea is a herb that needs boiling water. lyn. Lavinia (Tamsin Greig) is another new guest, ignored showing a romantic interest in Sonny’s stern mother There’s plenty of other stuff going on, with a Bolly- by Sonny as he fixates on Guy as “the guy” Evergreen (Lillete Dubey), it’s a confusing time for Sonny, and he wood-style bash at the wedding, a tuc-tuc chase, a twist said they’d send. It almost sounds true rather than needs little further confusion to his effusive language, over the acquisition of another hotel, and enough mere flattery when Sonny describes Guy as “so hand- as in his less than elegant sales pitch for his business strings left hanging to merit a third film. Some of the some that I am questioning my own sexuality”. plan – “Why die there, when you can die here?” homespun philosophy gets a bit mushy – “I’m not one Sonny’s fiancée Sunaina (Tena Desae) is pressing Madge (Imre) is toying between two rich Indian suit- of those people into whose lap good things fall” / “water him on the arrangements for their wedding, and Sonny ors, but confiding in her regular taxi-driver (Avijit Dutt). doesn’t flow unless you turn the tap on” – but it’s large- resents the attention she is getting from Kushal (Shaz- Norman (Ronald Pickup) and Carol (Diana Hardcastle) ly a fun story, and rather racy in its genial geriatric way. ad Latif) as he teaches her dance moves. As Guy is are having a bit of a misunderstanding about how open Steve Parish

Recalling Mid-20th Century Art corncobs and watermelons, and the lyrical Landscape with Lovers in mysterious Palmeresque idiom, finely reveal his OFTHE WEEK An under-rated stream mastery of colour and breadth of themes. No devotee of sig- WINE of 20th-century non- nificant 20th century art should miss this exhibition. abstract art is symbolic Thirties prodigies of Glasgow School of Art, Robert Melini or expressionist real- Colquhoun and Robert MacBride achieved fame in 1940s Chianti Riserva 2011 ism - the genre of nar- London, moving in the circles of Nicholson and Sutherland Waitrose £9.99 rative works clearly and influenced by the Neo-Romanticism of Nash and Piper: depicting specific sub- MacBryde’s Ave Maria Lane [1941] is a golden Piperesque Mmm… Yes, it is Lent: if you are not ject matter yet equally image of bomb damage near St Paul’s, Colquhoun’s Church drinking, here’s a red to keep to cele- enduing it with a wider Lench [1941] a Nash-idiom sylvan scene. The meteoric rise brate Easter, the first Sunday in April. cultural or historical and tragic decline of this neglected artistic duo is very fully Glowing dark ruby red in the glass, on significance. surveyed in The Two Roberts recall exhibition at Edinburgh’s the nose there’s complex berry fruits, Such came to mind recently on seeing Heroine - Garib- National Modern Art Gallery. raspberries and red cherries. But, on aldean Heroine/Assassinated Partisan, a striking image of a With the impact of Picasso and Bacon, and pursuing the palate, there’s a balanced richness, a female figure sprawled dead, nude but draped with a swirling bohemianism, their styles became much harder. Colquhoun’s rounded subtle dryness red banner. Whistle Seller [1945], imaging a legless war veteran turned combined with those Painted in 1954 by major Italian artist Renato Guttuso [1911- street vendor, aptly captures the bleak underside of Britain’s fruits. 87], it powerfully references both Italy’s 19th-century unity victory, while such angular portraits as his acclaimed Woman Over three years since struggle and its mid-20th century anti-Fascist struggle in with a Birdcage [1946] are suffused with sadness and post- harvesting: it first spent which Communist partisans were prominent, suggesting his- war angst. By early 1950s the pair ranked among Britain’s months after ageing in torical continuity. Death of a Hero [1954], a stark image of a most famous artists, with MacBryde excelling in colourful oak vats in the cellars of bandage-swathed man on a hospital bed with adjacent red still lifes and clown-like figures, Colquhoun in striking dark- the producer, Melini in drape, has similar reference. palette group portraiture. Tuscany, then, after, Both feature in Renato Guttuso: Painter of Modern Life at Yet the end of the decade saw changing fashion, especially bottled there, with the Estorick Gallery of Modern Italian Art [Islington, north Lon- the rise of Abstract art push them from public favour, and winemakers testing don], a revelatory exhibition of an artist who often chronicled alcoholism wreaking personal decline. Menaced by poverty the bottles weekly to Italy’s politics. His coded imagery criticised Mussolini’s bru- Colquhoun died in 1962 and MacBryde four years later, their judge when they are tal regime: Still Life with Lamp [1941] sets a sinister skull talents never reaching true fulfilment. ready for release. among chaotic everyday objects. Resistance fighter voted Brian Cooper A great choice with Communist Senator, his big-scale multi-colour Neighbour- pasta dishes, as hood Rally [1975] conjures Italy’s Seventies’ turbulence. expected, with tomato- Not all Guttuso’s works are politically charged. His palette Renato Guttuso is at Estorick Collection to April 4 [£5/£3.50 ; based sauces and with reflected the intense colours of his native Sicily: Cezanne-style www.estorickcollection.com - for opening times]. The Two red meats. rooftop vistas, a quasi-abstract vision of a street newsstand Roberts is at National Modern Art Gallery, Edinburgh, to May Graham Gendall draped with blank white papers, strikingly vivid 24 [£8/£6; see nationalgalleries.org] Norton

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By Ashley Prevo you slip up and briefly forget about your Lent understands everything that you aregoing promise. through. He walks with you during this time where As Lent continues, some of you may be finding that you may be struggling to keep your resolution. you may have taken on abit morethan you could handle 3. Find others with the same resolution. In a when you chose what to give world with amassive amount of social media, it is up or work on. Whether you not hardtofind people with similar interests, or in decided to subtract or add this case, similarLent resolutions. something in your life, hereis “Wehave to stop seeing Lent,ifitistobeagood some advice on how to keep Lent, simply as something that is individual,” said your resolution going strong. the Archbishop, “Weare not to turninwardly to ourselves, but to startwith ourselves and to see a 1. Post reminders. Life has transformed life in community and relationship, ahabit of distracting us from not only with God but with eachother.” what we want to accomplish. One of the major benefits of having asupport To keep on track, tryplacing group made up of people withlike-minded goals is reminders in key places that it becomes easier to stick to your goal. relating to your resolution. Surrounding yourself with people who understand For instance, if you have given up acertain type of 2. Pray about it. In arecent speech on what the daily struggle of what you aregoing through food make suretoput anote in the location where makes agood Lent Archbishop Justin Welby stated allows you to know that you arenot alone in this that food is typically kept. Or if you have given up that this season is aboutmaking “space for hope by venture. your car,like the Bishop of Ramsbury,the Rt Rev leading us afresh into encounter with the holiness This is also helpful because the group can share Dr EdwardCondry, place anote near or inside of God.” with each other their positive and negative your vehicle. By keeping up aprayer throughout this season experienceswith their promises throughout the The simple act of posting reminders will keep you will be allowing yourself to reflect on the word Lent season. your resolution on yourmind; thereforeensuring and message of God. Praying about your goal will Overall, it is important to remember,even if you that you don’t forget about it. It will also serve as a keep it on your mind, and by prayingGod will lend falter on your resolution, that Lent is aseason way of bringing your resolution to mind in case you his strength in maintaining your promise. God about putting God first andreflecting on his word.

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12 Followers of theson of Down Hindu sage (7) Abraham, the father of 2Herod ------, aka the 14 'Yethat put afar the ------PRIZE CROSSWORD No.940 by Axe the Arab people as Tetrarch (7) ,and causethe seatof acceptedbyboth Mus- 3Israel's first High Priest violence to comenear' lims and Jews (11) [Exod] (5) [Amos/KJV] (4,3) 16 One of David's thirty 4Disciple of Jesus; possi- 15 'Then God said, "Let the warriors, the brother of blythe author of a land produce vegeta- Joab [1 Sam] (7) Gospel, three letters tion:----bearingplants 18 'When you cross the andthe book of Revela- and trees..."' [Gen/NIV] Jordan into Canaan, ----- tion [KJV] (4,3,6) (4) out all the inhabitants...' 5El------, Hebrewfor 16 Primitive Christianpul- [Num/NIV] (5) Almighty; God as pit (4) 19 'And Isaw a----- coming known to Abraham, 17 Father of Jacob (5) out of the sea. It had ten Isaac and Jacobbefore 18 Abbadon, Apollyon – horns and seven Yahweh (7) the Destroyer [Rev] (5) heads...' [Rev/NIV] (5) 6'ThenIbroke my sec- 20 '...Sennacherib king of ond staffcalled -----, Last week’ssolutions: Assyria came and ------breaking the family Judah' [2 Chr/NIV] (7) bond between Judah Across: 7Gadara, 8Ifonly, 9 21 'Theywill destroy the andIsrael'[Zech/NIV] Archbishopric, 10 Sadducee, 13 walls of Tyre...I will ------(5) Lots, 14 Mind, 16 Sycamore, 19 away herrubble...' 7'----, by their fruityou Stand in the way,21Talent,22 [Ezek/NIV] (6) will recognizethem' Lilies. 22 'Surely no one ---- ahand [Matt/NIV] (4) Down: 1Fair, 2Washed,3 on abroken man...' 8Church, sometimes Maniac, 4Tishbe, 5Gospel, 6 [Job/NIV] (4) applied to the Church of Cloister, 11 Abiathar, 12 Ely,15 Scotland (4) Daniel, 16 Saints,17Cattle, 18 13 Term of respect for a Meekly, 20 Amen.

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