Diocesan News December 2019 www.leeds.anglican.org Christmas calls Diocesan Bishop Nick Baines Secretary Advent is here and Christmas beckons. It doesn’t seem announces so long ago that we were working out how to tell the retirement Christmas story afresh, and now we have to do it again. Debbie Child, Diocesan Is there anything new to so do we today long for a Secretary for the Diocese of say? I guess the answer is resolution of our problems Leeds, is to retire from her post ‘no’ – even if we might find and struggles. But, in a funny on 31 March 2020. new ways to say the same old sort of way, Christmas offers thing. Christmas opens up for an answer that the question us, after a month of waiting of Advent did not expect. and preparing to be surprised, God did not come among us to wonder again about God, on a war horse. God didn’t the world and ourselves. If wipe out the contradictions the story has become stale, and sufferings in a single it is not the fault of the sweep of power. Rather, story, but a problem with God finds himself born in a our imagination. The birth feeding trough at the back of Jesus sees God entering of the house – subject to all Debbie has served the Diocese the real human experiences the diseases, violence and of Bradford and, latterly, Leeds and dilemmas that we face dangers any baby faced in that since 1991. as we seek to live faithfully place and at that time. That’s in a conflicted society. God what I mean about God taking Bishop Nick said: “Debbie is takes creation seriously, takes a risk – this baby being subject a remarkable servant of the the risk of being born as a to all the world might throw at Church, bringing compassionate mortal baby, and surprises him and not being exempted pastoral skills to bear on earth with heaven in a way from it. If Advent (to use the organisational and business least expected. The season of title of a new book) cries demands. Advent challenges us to ask ‘Freedom is Coming’, then hard questions about what Christmas whispers back: ‘But “She has been an essential we hope and pray for. Just not in the way we might have leader of change as three as the people of Jesus’ time expected!’ I wish you a happy historic dioceses were dissolved longed for security, an end and surprising Christmas. in 2014 and the Diocese of to suffering and oppression, Leeds was created.” and a future free of challenge +Nick to their faith and identity, Bishop of Leeds I Positive progress outlined at Bus to boost Autumn Diocesan Synod mission and Growing young people ministry in as Christians, the Parish Giving Scheme and Dewsbury a review of reader ministry were among HUDDERSFIELD A bus is the topics under now part of ministry work discussion by the in Chickenley thanks to a Diocesan Synod, the partnership of local church and church’s ‘parliament’, community groups. which met in Harrogate. Destination 211, the new ministry based in a double Elected lay and clergy Norman, Director or Ministry decker bus, has been launched members from across the and Mission, and Kay Brown, by Dewsbury Team Ministry diocese came together at Lay Chaplain at Abbey Grange C Parish in partnership with The Ashville College with an of E Academy, about the review agenda that also included the of licenced Reader ministry in safeguarding annual report, the diocese that has recently and the backing of the budget taken place. for 2020 and a motion about parish allocations for the 2020 Growing young people as Deanery Synod elections. Christians Liz Morton, team leader of Diocesan Budget 2020 the Children, Young People Chief Financial Officer Geoff and Families Team gave a Park and Irving Warnett, chair presentation about the work Church of the Nazarene and of the Finance, Assets and they are doing to support Goal Dewsbury, and the District Investment Committee, gave 5 of the Diocesan Strategy, Street Angels group. Growing Young People The ministry’s aim is to make as Christians. disciples and draw people to God, by building relationships Liz set out the diocesan- and sharing the good news and wide initiatives to love of Jesus with families and achieve the aspiration young people, through words for Goal 5, which and action. includes children and young people being This outreach is the result of part of a welcoming, a vision by Revd Neil Walpole enriching and safe (pictured at the wheel), curate worshipping community at Dewsbury Team Parish, a presentation about the in every benefice and cathedral, to better serve the people Diocesan finances, resulting in and that every child in a Church of Chickenley. Neil said: “We synod approving a maximum of England school encounters are excited and confident spend of £22,023,181 for 2020. Christ and the Christian faith that we will see God move in in a way which enhances their powerful ways as we serve the Other business at Synod lives. included a presentation from Chickenley community together the Revd Canon Andrew and share our faith.” II New commission to address Friendship cafe rural decline launched marks first year RIPON A panel of experts pressures in the modern world, BRADFORD A café which chaired by the Dean of Ripon but by exploring these together tackles rural isolation in Cathedral will attempt to tackle in a structured way we hope Oxenhope has marked its first the decline of North Yorkshire’s to get a greater understanding anniversary with a party. most rural communities. of the issues and therefore the Some 25 people attend potential solutions. the Oxenhope Community North Yorkshire Café, which has become County Council an established part of local has invited community life. eight people Volunteer Sam Mawer said: with extensive “The café attracts all ages, with knowledge of toddlers and people in their 90s rural affairs, the all coming together. environment This project is about building and tourism, friendships and is making a upland farming, economics big difference to the lives of and the county’s culture and “Engaging with this great people who may otherwise lack geography to examine key rural region and its particular opportunities to talk and meet issues and challenges. challenges and opportunities is with others regularly. It is part a priority for us.” of a trial that could see rural Dean John Dobson said: “There churches across the county is no doubt that our very playing a wider role in their rural communities face many community. Walk for Peace brings people Housing Hub LEEDS Christians will be of faith together coming together to discuss WAKEFIELD Some 80 people At the Cathedral, the Dean, how best to respond to new of different faiths have taken The Very Revd Simon Cowling, housing developments in part in the conducted a brief their neighbourhoods at a Wakefield ceremony on conference this November. Faiths Forum’s the steps of the The New Housing Hub inaugural Walk precinct. Conference provides a forum for Peace. Of the event, he to explore a range of issues. The walk said: “At a time The New Housing Hub is a included visits of national and network for Christians of all to places international traditions who have a vision of worship tension it was for engaging with new housing of different very good to communities, with the aim denominations and faiths, welcome friends from across of inspiring, resourcing and including several Anglican faith traditions to the Cathedral. connecting people to help and Methodist churches, the “What better way is there to them approach the challenges Markazi Jamia Mosque, the work for peace than walking and opportunities these Wakefield Central Mosque and alongside our neighbours?” developments bring. Wakefield Cathedral. III News......News.....News.....News.....News.....NewsDiocese of Leeds news German choir delights audiences Sikhs in with concerts across the diocese cathedral celebration of founding Guru’s 550th anniversary A unique celebration of religious friendship has been held at Bradford Cathedral to mark the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Christians and Sikhs from across our region joined in Performances of choral pieces Minster and Bradford have pleased audiences in Cathedral. churches across the Diocese, as part of a German choir’s visit to They had chance to explore the North. the sights of the North, with visits to local landmarks such The Augustinian Church as Salt’s Mill in Saltaire, the Choir, from Erfut in Germany, Bronte Parsonage Museum have recently completed in Haworth, Ilkley Moor, the a tour to mark 21 years of famous Oldroyd’s forced the partnership between rhubarb farm and the cities of song and prayer and heard the Diocese and the Erfurt Ripon and York. a powerful address by Lord Kirchenkreis. Inderjit Singh of Wimbledon. The choir sang at churches Rosalind Beeson, Chair of the across the region, holding Leeds/Erfurt Diocesan Link sub- “It was a wonderful, ground- concerts at Wakefield group, said: “It was wonderful breaking event,” said Bishop Cathedral, Bradford Cathedral, to welcome our partners from of Bradford, the Rt Revd Toby Ripon Cathedral, Leeds Minster, the Erfurt Kirchenkreis, as Howarth who helped organise Howden Minster and St the 30th anniversary of the the evening in the 800-year- Margaret’s Church in Ilkley. link between Bradford, now old cathedral. “There were Leeds, and Erfurt approaches, hundreds of people from They also sang at regular and particularly as we face Leeds, Bradford and beyond services in the some of the whatever challenges Brexit may representing all the different churches, including during bring.” Gurdwaras.” eucharist services at Halifax Events, moves and appointments - www.leeds.anglican.org IV.