Affirming Catholicism Newsletter September 2015 St Michael and All Angels (29 September) Everlasting God, You Have Ordained

Home , Affirming Catholicism, Christine Hardman

Affirming Catholicism Newsletter September 2015

St Michael and All Angels (29 September) Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted the ministries of angels and mortals in a wonderful order: grant that as your holy angels always serve you in heaven, so, at your command, they may help and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A prayer for the refugee crisis: Heavenly Father, you are the source of all goodness, generosity and love. We thank you for opening the hearts of many to those who are fleeing for their lives. Help us now to open our arms in welcome, and reach out our hands in support. That the desperate may find new hope, and lives torn apart be restored. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, Our Lord, who fled persecution at His birth and at His last triumphed over death. Amen.

(https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/topical-prayers/a-prayer-for-the-refugee- crisis.aspx)

***** Watchword for September 2015 (from the Herrnhuter Losungen)

Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 The biblical "Watchwords" of the Herrnhut Brethren (Moravian Church) have been published every year since 1731.

*****

Gospel Imprint: “Is God calling you to be a priest?”

“Made in the image of God, we have the capacity to respond to the call to love and serve, and we can endure hardship and sacrifice if we believe that the cause is worthwhile. Priestly ministry is challenging and at times is

Affirming Catholicism Newsletter, September 2015 page 1

emotionally and spiritually demanding, for, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it: When Christ calls us he bids us come and die. …” You can find the rest of the leaflet at: http://www.gospelimprint.com/GI- documents/Is%20God%20Calling%20You%20To%20Be%20a%20Pries t%20-Jul08.pdf Please print it out and make it widely available! Try putting a selection of these leaflets at the back of your church. Gospel Imprint is the fresh voice in Anglicanism sharing free resources with all Christians who are seeking to learn, worship and witness to the generosity of the Kingdom of God. It is supported by Affirming Catholicism and the Society of Catholic Priests.

*****

Congratulations… … to the Revd Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, Rector of St George’s Jesmond and Member of the Affirming Catholicism Board, who is to be the next Bishop of Grantham … and to the Venerable Christine Hardman, former Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich, and long-standing supporter of Affirming Cahtolics in Synod, who is to be the next Bishop of Newcastle. Nick will be consecrated at Southwark cathedral at 11:00 on Thursday 19 November. Christine will be consecrated at York Minster at 11:00 on Monday 30 November (St Andrew’s Day).

*****

Working group on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the seal of the confessional – your views wanted!

Affirming Catholicism members are probably already aware that the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have established a working group to consider a proposed revision of the ministry of absolution in light of the Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy.

The current situation is that, where the formal ministry of absolution, as described in Canon B 29 is sought, if the penitent makes a confession with the intention of receiving absolution, the priest is forbidden to reveal or make known to any person what has been confessed. That requirement of absolute confidentiality applies even after the death of the penitent.

The working group will carry out theological and legal work in order to inform a discussion of the purpose and effect of the requirement of absolute confidentiality, and specifically, will consider whether to recommend to Synod that this requirement be mitigated.

The working group is seeking to discover what is the present practice in the Church of England and the way in which the provision for confidentiality impacts on the Church’s ministry, not least in the area of safeguarding. The working group would

Affirming Catholicism Newsletter, September 2015 page 2

be particularly glad to hear form those who hear confessions regularly, especially in regard to the following questions:

 What is your practice in respect of confession?  Do you operate any boundaries with regards to confidentiality? Are there occasions when these boundaries have led you to encourage a penitent to inform relevant authorities, or to do so yourself?  Are there circumstances in which you would not give absolution? If so, what? Do you offer conditional absolution?

Any responses (preserving confidentiality) will help to inform Affirming Catholicism’s response to the consultation process. Please respond to [email protected].

***** Thinking about refugees:

In a letter published in The Times on 4 September 2015, the Rt Revd David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, and one of Affirming Catholicism’s vice-presidents, wrote:

Sir, The drive for peace and stability in North Africa and the Middle East is, as the Prime Minister says, the proper priority for a long term solution that addresses the ever increasing numbers of people fleeing north into Europe. It’s a welcome acceptance that the problem is not the attractiveness of life in Malmo or Middlesbrough, it’s the impossibility of living safely and securely any longer in their homelands. But for those desperate enough to risk their children’s lives, in rickety boats and airless container lorries, the luxury of long term hope is not an option. The crisis is here and now. Charities and churches in the UK stand as ready as their counterparts in Germany and elsewhere to play a proper part in helping assimilate an equitable and realistic number of refugees into Britain. We did so with past crises in Vietnam and Uganda; we can do it again. We call on political leaders of all persuasions to seize the present moment, and work with us so that Britain once again becomes a haven for those for whom life has become a hell. + David Walker Bishop of Manchester @BishManchester (https://www.canterburydiocese.org/bishop-of-manchesters-letter-in-the-times/)

Back in April, Bishop David also commented in the Guardian’s “Comment is free” column in a piece which is still relevant: “Briefly, last week, migration got a face, a human face. It’s not usually handled like that across much of the UK media, but the tragic plight of desperate families drowning in the attempt to cross the Mediterranean into Europe forced us out of our comfortable discourse about an amorphous ‘them’. … A political rhetoric that characterises them as wilful criminals rather than helpless victims is as unworthy as it is untrue.” Read the remainder of his piece here: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/25/bishop-of- manchester-leaders-look-on-asylum-seekers-with-compassion.

*****

Affirming Catholicism Newsletter, September 2015 page 3

Extract from a sermon preached on 19 September 2015 at St Margaret Newlands, by Charlotte Methuen:

A few weeks ago we were looking at Mark 7, and the question of whether we are made unclean by things that come from without or within. Kyle Childress writes of that passage: While worrying and flurrying over building bigger walls to keep out illegal outsiders, strangers, or different religions that might (or might not) be threatening, or hunkered down inside of our own churches staying pure while afraid that evil is lurking outside ready to pounce on us when we let our guards down, Jesus says that the problem is within us. It’s our own fear and hatred, anger and hostility that is the issue. It’s our own lack of trust in God that is the cause for alarm. (http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2015/08/inside-and- out/#sthash.qcEZDuIT.VJ7G0hhF.dpuf)

I wonder: What would happen if we stopped being afraid? If we stopped worrying about our own position? If we lived out Christ’s call to us to serve others, to speak out on behalf of those who have no-one to speak for them, to welcome into our midst strangers, children, others who are powerless in society? What would it mean? I am not sure I know – but I do think that it is our calling.

You can find the complete sermon at: https://cmethuen.wordpress.com/2015/09/19/proper-20-b- 20-september-2015/.

*****

Christian Aid suggests how to help: To support refugees in Europe and to help people in the countries they are fleeing from, please donate to the Christian Aid Refugee Crisis Appeal here: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/donations/Donate/Step/1?ApproachCode=A024729. Those specifically wishing to support work in Calais might wish to contact Caritas France (Secours Catholique): http://donenligne.secours- catholique.org/abov/abovision2.php?P1=SCC&P2=MIGRA_uk&PG=FAIRE1DON&typa bo=1.

Christian Aid is working with Act Alliance-EU. A full statement about the refugee crisis from the Act Alliance-EU can be found here: http://www.aprodev.eu/files/HOME/act%20eu%20statement%20on%20refugee%20 crisis.pdf.

Act Alliance partners working on the crisis include, in Greece, the organisation International Orthodox Christian Charities which is providing food and non-food items, and improving conditions at reception centres, as well as undertaking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities on the islands of Chios, Samos, and Kos. In August alone, an average of 2,100 refugees were arriving on the three Greek islands of Chios, Samos and Lesvos every day. The total number of refugees in Greece is now more than 160,000. In Hungary, Hungarian Interchurch Aid is providing refugees on the border with non-food items, and has to date helped more than 5,500 people. There are estimates that around 1,500 people are crossing each day.

Affirming Catholicism Newsletter, September 2015 page 4

In Serbia, Philanthropy, the charitable foundation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, is providing food, hygiene and baby kits, shelter and sanitary containers, plus winterisation supplies (firewood, clothes and boots), and psychosocial support. It is helping an estimated 1,000 refugees a day.

***** Forthcoming events:

In London: Hoxton Conversations “Hope amidst anxiety in the Church: committing to spiritual discipline and seeking local spiritual renewal.” The first in what we hope will be a regular space for honest and constructive discussion in order to provide renewal and hope in the midst of uncertainty. We meet in the diverse and socially mixed area of Hoxton, east London, where generations of people and clergy have ministered faithfully amidst vast change and challenge. Our informal conversations will take place after a short votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. October 10, 2015 4:00 pm St Anne Hoxton, Hemsworth Street, London N1 5LF

Anglican Catholic Future National Festival 2015 November 7, 2015 10:30 am, cost £15.00 St Peter, Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AL

Anglican Catholic Future Vocations Day December 5, 2015, 10:00 am, cost £10.00 St Matthew, Westminster, London SW1P 2BU Book for these events and more here: http://anglicancatholicfuture.org/events/

In the Diocese of Peterborough:

Quiet Day Saturday 10th October from 10:30am directed by The Very Revd Frances Ward, Dean of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich meeting at St. Mary’s Church, Burton Latimer NN15 5LU tea and coffee will be provided; a donation of £2 person is requested

“The Interfaith Dimension in a Catholic Understanding” Revd Dr Stuart Mousir-Harrison (Chaplain of University College, Northampton): Saturday 21st November 10:30am University Building, Northampton a donation of £2 person is requested

*****

Support for diocesan events: Would you like to organise an event locally but can’t afford to bring a speaker in? Affirming Catholicism can offer grants of up to £500 to help fund your event. Expressions of interest to the Board at [email protected].

Affirming Catholicism Newsletter, September 2015 page 5

***** Donations and gift aid We welcome donations to support the work of Affirming Catholicism. You can send a cheque to Mark Perrett, Affirming Catholicism Administrator, St Mary’s Church Office, Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 9ES, or make an online donation by registering here: http://www.affirmingcatholicism.org.uk/pages/default.asp?sID=0&mode=donation. Have you renewed your gift aid declaration? Many of our supporters made gift aid declarations under the old rules, and these declarations have now run out. If you have not renewed yours, or are not sure, please complete and return this form:

If you would like to make a donation and have it Gift Aided (Affirming Catholicism can reclaim 25p on every £1 donated increasing the value of your donation by a quarter at no extra cost to you) please complete the following declaration and return it with your donation to Affirming Catholicism:

Gift Aid declaration – for past, present and future donations.

Affirming Catholicism

Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts of money made

today / in the past four years / in the future (please delete any which do not apply).

I confirm that I have paid or will pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the Charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify.

Please supply your details as follows

Title First Name or initial(s) Surname Full home address Postcode Email Date Signature

Please notify Affirming Catholicism if you want to cancel this declaration, change your name or home address, or no longer pay sufficient tax on your income/capital gains.

If you pay income tax at the higher rate or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self- Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.

*****

Affirming Catholicism Newsletter, September 2015 page 6

We hope you enjoy Affirming Catholicism’s newsletter. Do tell us what you think, and let us know of forthcoming events that you would like publicised by writing to: [email protected].

If you are a diocesan coordinator, please pass the newsletter on to your members and supporters, or let us have their emails so that we can send it to them directly.

If you have received this because someone has forwarded it to you, please consider becoming a supporter yourself. It’s easy to do this on our website www.affirmingcatholicism.org.uk. In doing this, you will receive regular news and updates including the Annual Review; your financial contribution will help us to do more and to do it even better; and you will be one more voice calling for a generous and open Catholic future for the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

***** If you would like to know more about what Affirming Catholicism does, look at our Annual Review which is available here: http://www.affirmingcatholicism.org.uk/pages/default.asp?id=15.

Affirming Catholicism Newsletter, September 2015 page 7