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THE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 No: 6201 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Women bishops back on Synod Agenda

By Amaris Cole Fittall called this an important forward in a spirit of trust and safeguard, and the Committee openness to one another,” the WOMEN BISHOPS legislation believed this to be their most Vice Chair concluded. could be passed in 2014 if the innovative proposal. The Catholic Group of the Gen- General Synod ‘like the shape’ It is hoped this will pacify those eral Synod are still assessing the of new legislation, Secretary who argued throughout the previ- proposals and considering their General of the General Synod ous legislation that their theologi- reaction to them. said last week. cal views were not being Father Simon Killwick, Chair- During a press briefing ahead respected. man Of the Group said they of the November sessions, The group campaigning for recognise the 'huge amount of William Fittall spoke positively women in the episcopate, work' that has gone into produc- about the new proposals drawn up WATCH, have welcomed the ing the 'comprehensive and by the Steering Group, with the ‘encouraging’ draft legislation. detailed legislative package, work ‘potential’ of seeing them voted WATCH praise the proposals’ which has been costly in spiritual through next year, earlier than simplicity, as well as the Synod’s and emotional terms'. expected. obvious desire to resolve this He said: “Naturally, such a com- He admitted that supporters of ongoing issue as quickly as possi- plex package will need careful women bishops still have anxi- ble. study and prayer by all, rather eties about those who previously “WATCH also supports the rec- than instant responses, and we voted the legislation down, but ommendation of the Group to leg- will comment further in due argues the proposals to be dis- tion before Synod for the first wide range of views.” islate on this issue through a course. However, as important as cussed in November were a ‘new time in November. The legislation itself is ‘shorter Bishops’ Declaration, not an Act the detail of the proposals them- angle’. It has been commended to the and crisper’, but does largely of Synod, and the wholehearted selves, will be the spirit in which Mr Fittall said this was Phase Houses by all but two members of depend on the trust of those with- endorsement of women’s min- they are received and taken for- Four of a long process, which the Steering group, the Rev Paul in the Church to respect the views istry in the five guiding princi- ward - a spirit of reconciliation began in 2000 with the Synod first Benfield, an Anglo-Catholic, and of those who cannot receive the ples,” they say in a press release. and trust, which we believe has debating the subject and the Mrs Susie Leafe, a Conservative ministry of women. The Independent Reviewer been growing this year, by the Rochester Report in 2004. Evangelical, who recorded A Reviewer, acting like an ‘interests’ the Group, recognising grace”. The second phase took the abstentions. ombudsmen, will be in place to the ‘issues and concerns’ of those The General Synod will meet in Synod to 2008, when the principle Mr Fittall said this proves the deal with any complaints about on all sides. next month, 18 – 20 of women bishops was decided ability of the package to set out a appointments which parishes Anne Stevens, Vice Chair of November, and will spend on. way to ordain women to the epis- believe a bishop hasn’t acted in WATCH, said: “It’s good to see Wednesday discussing the draft From 2009 to the ‘way it ended, copate with a wider amount of accordance with the house of draft legislation that is so clear legislation. which you all remember’, brings support than has been seen previ- Bishops declaration promising and concise, and we look forward Members will also hear from the Synod to this place, Mr Fittall ously. protection. to a day of great national rejoicing the Board of Education on the said, speaking of Phase Four as He said:”This is an approach The independent reviewer can when women are finally made Church School of the Future, and the next step, and a positive one. based on principle rather than be contacted by anyone who bishops.” from the new Chair of the Busi- The Steering Committee, which rules, grace rather than law.” Mr believes their theological persua- She expressed her gratitude on ness Committee, the Revd Canon was larger than normal and was Fittall went on: “This is the first sion has not been considered in behalf of the group for the work of Sue Boys, who will move the composed of 10 members who time since the discussion of an appointment. the Steering Committee. Report. And Synod will also vote voted for women bishops in 2012 women bishops started in 2000 Bishops could therefore be dis- “The Bishops’ Declaration on the possibility of nominations and 5 who voted against, are that a complete package has been ciplined for violating the declara- offers people on all sides of the for the 2015 Synodical elections to bringing their proposed legisla- agreed by people with such a tion to this protection. debate a new opportunity to move be undertaken my email.

JAMES CATFORD 7 • COMMENT 7 • LETTERS 8 • ANDREW CAREY 10 • CLERGY MOVES 14 • ALAN EDWARDS 15 • PAUL RICHARDSON 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 1, 2013 News Inside... J John to teach how to preach The original Church newspaper By Amaris Cole enthuse people with Christian values, and to own lectures, he also sneaked into other News ...... 1-4 help them with practical issues, such as how people’s, “because I wanted to learn more PREACHING IN England is bad, J John to be a good parent, spouse or employee. and study more”. Comment claims. “People are struggling with life,” he says. “Jesus spent 30 years preparing for three 9-a-day ...... 6 The famous evangelist spoke out ahead of The 20 minutes that church leaders have years of ministry, so we can at least spend Leader ...... 7 a preaching festival organised by St John’s to preach to a congregation is precious, and three years studying for our own ministry,” James Catford ...... 7 Theological College, as part of their 150- they need to make sure that people haven’t John believes. Letters ...... 8 year anniversary, saying that clergy are forgotten what the message was by Sunday As part of the Festival, being presented Hope 2014 ...... 9 missing a valuable opportunity. lunch, he goes on. under the title “God’s Word to the City”, a Church Army ...... 9 In an interview with The Church of Eng- The preacher realises that clergy today series of events are planned to take place at Andrew Carey ...... 10 land Newspaper, John said sermons needed have many pressures on them, but warns three Nottingham churches – St Nic’s, Cor- Whispering Gallery ...... 10 to be more accessible. that having too many stokes in the fire will nerstone and Trent Vineyard. The organis- Books ...... 11 “In the last 33 years I have gone up and just put the fire out. ing team also includes Talbot Street down the country: north, south, east, west, “If we don’t live by priorities, we live by Christian Centre. so you could say that I am a peripatetic min- pressure.” The Festival launches on Friday 15 ister. The preacher is returning to the Notting- November with an evening led by J John “I have probably engaged with more ham College where he studied himself. specifically for church leaders, both lay and churches than a lot of people in the Church “Even this morning as I walked in, I felt ordained, at Trent Vineyard. because of what I do, and while I would say quite choked because I am remembering He hopes that leaders will be reminded of there are lots and lots of positives, I don’t when I was here in 1978,” he said. things they already know but have forgot- think preaching is very good at all.” “I couldn’t get enough of it,” he added, ten, reinforce what they already know and Arts and Media ...... 11 John argues the job of a minister is to recalling how he not only attended all his will learn something new. Janey Lee Grace ...... 12 Crossword ...... 12 Danish queen marks Anglican parish restoration The Record Classifieds ...... 13 Queen Margrethe II of church, built with the memorial. CMS ...... 13 Denmark joined the Bish- assistance of Queen In his sermon Dr. Row- Clergy Moves ...... 14 op of Gibraltar in Europe, Alexandra, the consort of ell noted the generosity of Spiritual Director ...... 15 the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Row- Edward VII and Princess the congregation in its Sunday Service ...... 15 ell in the re-dedication of of Denmark. The 20 Octo- support for the project Alan Edwards ...... 15 St. Albans Anglican ber celebration marked hoping those present Paul Richardson ...... 16 Church in Copenhagen the completion of repairs would "keep this forever People ...... 16 last week. In 2012 the to the church's victorian in the imagination of the Milestones ...... 16 church began a campaign stained glass windows and thoughts of the heart of Next week’s news ...... 16 to restore the 125 year old its Queen Alexandra thy people." Social justice must guide Christianity, Canadian crozier stolen Canterbury tells the Porvoo Churches By George Conger encrusted with semi-precious stones. The THE world in its injustice and too often com- Very Rev. Mike Sinclair, Dean of Qu'Appelle has denounced the church's her- bines its misuse of power with the blas- THIEVES HAVE stolen the bishop of told the Regina Leader-Post the insurance itage of abuse of power and patri- phemy of theological justification. But Qu'Appelle's crozier from St. Paul's Angli- value of the crozier was approximately archy, telling the churches of the the widow cries out, and in one of the can Cathedral in Regina. C$15,000, but its historical value made it irre- Porvoo Communion it must very rare occasions where Luke The Diocese of Qu'Appelle reports that placiable for the diocese. change in order to pursue a cam- explains the parable, we are told that it sometime in the last three weeks the antique "It's nearly impossible to sell," he said, paign of social justice and advocacy is to stop people giving up in prayer. ... bishop's staff disappeared from the encouraging the thief to return the crozier. that will witness to the world. As Pope Francis said, the church is not Saskatchewan cathedral. The police have been "We'd love to have it back; it's part of our In his 21 October 2013 sermon given called to be a Christian NGO." notified and local pawn shops informed of the family history, but at the same time we're con- at Reykjavik's Dómkirkjan Cathedral, The archbishop touched upon his theft. cerned for who has stolen it, that they don't the Most Rev. Justin Welby called on campaign to set up credit unions and The five and a half foot long staff was made end up with more trouble than they need, churches to "cry out and claim and reform the City, but also spoke to the in the 1880's in London for the first bishop of when it would just be easy to return it.," the struggle" for justice, in order to bring "call of church reconciliation" that lay the Canadian diocese and has a silver head dean said. "testimony and witness to words and behind the foundation of the Porvoo prayers". Communion -contrasting unanimity The archbishop also acknowledged with unity. the 20th century campaigns for church "Unanimity amongst us is first of all a Makgoba urges Africa to end gay bashing union had reached their end. Church mirage and secondly a diversion," he unanimity was "a mirage and a diver- explained. "Unanimity is too busy with THE PRIMATE of the self," Makgoba says in the sion," he told the leaders of the Angli- checking whether the other person is Anglican Church of South- video. He exhorts leaders to can Churches of Europe and Nordic doing the right thing to hear the call of ern Africa has lent his sup- take up their "moral responsi- Lutheran Churches, calling instead for widow: unity sees and hears her and port to a campaign bility to stop the violence a unanimity of purpose and focus on puts aside our own preferences to stand launched by the British against people who are differ- "unity". in solidarity and cry with her," he said NGO Human Rights Watch ent." Taking as his text the parable of the in reference to his text Luke 18:1-8. to combat gay bashing. "Archbishop Makgoba's widow and the unjust judge, Archbish- "If we are to continue to grow closer, In a video released last statement should serve as a op Welby said the church must take its so that our communion becomes fami- week Cape Town Archbishop call to national, religious, and place with those seeking justice, not ly, and that family becomes the trans- Thabo Makgoba said "Don't cultural leaders across Africa with the rich and powerful. "Any seri- forming influence in our society, which fear ... you've been given this who support the rights of ous view of the nature of human is so desperately looking for a new way, task of helping the rest of LGBTI people to speak out beings." he said, "tells us that without after the decades of reliance on materi- humanity to realize that we publicly," said Graeme Reid, the action of God there can be no true al growth have betrayed us, if that fami- are called to respect and we against statements and poli- LGBT Rights director for justice, and that the church is there to ly is to become what it should, then we are called to honor each cies put forward by African Human Rights Watch. "And be the widow, to cry out and claim and need each other more than ever, not for other. People may come and governments and leaders that the archbishop's message of struggle. That must involve action, comfort in the cold, receding tides of say this is un-African, and I'm it considers homophobic. respect for everyone's rights which may be slight or grand". Christian faith, but to stretch and chal- saying love cuts across cul- "When you violate somebody should challenge leaders who Too often "Justice is something we lenge each other to ever closer walk ture." on the basis of difference have opposed the rights of seek when it is not against us. The her- with God and evermore passionate ful- The Human Rights Watch you're not only violating them LGBTI people to reconsider itage of church abuse and patriarchy filling of his mission," Archbishop campaign seeks to push back but you are demeaning your- their positions." reminds us that the church follows the Welby said.

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By Samantha Dickson totalled £1,547,000. Friends Groups as a way of bringing in but 7% were unlisted. A total of 680 applications were received, additional support, especially from non Simon Heffer writes in the report of the DEMAND FOR church repair and up from 618 in 2011. church-goers. need for state intervention to secure the modernisation grants has continued to National Churches Trust funding is avail- This year marks the 60th anniversary of good repair of churches and Paul Beckley grow according to the Annual Review able for churches open for worship and the Trust’s foundation as the Historic and Nick Spencer from Theos write on the of the National Churches Trust. used by denominations that are members Churches Preservation Trust. During the positive impact churches make on their Repairs to roofs and stonework and of Churches Together in Britain and Ire- past 60 years it has allocated grants and community. the provision of toilets and kitchens land. The Trust is looking at new ways of loans in excess of £37million, which repre- There will be a service in Westminster are the most popular projects support- supporting Welsh places of worship and sents over £85 million at current prices. Abbey on November 28th to celebrate the ed by the Trust. has established a partnership with JustGiv- It is unusual among heritage grant givers 60th anniversary of the Trust. The service The Annual Review for 2012-13 shows ing to enable churches to set up a system in that it is prepared to allocate funds to will be attended by the Duke and Duchess that the Trust was involved in making or for online text donations. It has also creat- non-listed buildings. In 212 33% of places of Gloucester and the Archbishop of Can- recommending 112 grant offers that ed a toolkit to help churches establish receiving a grant were listed as grade one terbury will preach. Welby addresses Archbishop on North/South divide ‘ANY SOCIETY that wants to call itself ethical in its business? What kind of society do we want to be in and our chil- Primates finances has to find a way in which it values human beings dren to inherit? And if our financial services system is not deliver- and cares for them right across the board in every part of ing that kind of investment then we have to think again’. society, and not just within the M25,’ warned Archbishop He called for a culture that is more positive about entrepreneurs ‘JUSTICE faints and hope fades when Justin Welby, speaking to the ‘Blueprint for Better Busi- and for ethical thinking that is not static but keeps up with devel- the church looks in on itself’, warned ness Conference’ held last week, hosted by Archbishop opments and appealed for private equity to think long term and to Archbishop Justin Welby, preaching at Vincent Nichols and chaired by Jon Snow. be ready to help smaller businesses ‘in unfashionable areas’ to go the 8th meeting of Porvoo Primates in He said that when he and his wife moved into Lambeth Palace in ahead. Reykjavik, Iceland last week. February it was like moving to another country although they are Repeating one of his familiar themes, he stressed the impor- ‘The great purposes of God are delivered both Londoners. tance of motivation. Keeping the rules, he argued, is not enough. by a church with a vision of heaven and feet ‘We almost needed a passport’, he said. ‘It is so different in There is a danger that people will ask what is legal rather than that walk the dusty roads’, he announced. terms of wealth from when we went away, so different from many what is right. Calling on the church to be ‘caught up’ parts of the UK and many equivalent parts of Europe and the glob- He concluded by going back to Matthew and praising the vine- with the ‘God of justice’ who calls people al North , that it’s hard to describe the situation you have’. yard owner as someone for whom good business was about good into action he also stressed the need to look Taking as his text Matthew 20.1-16 about the labourers in the relationships. ‘Getting the harvest in, yes, but doing so in a way at the faults of the church. Reminding the vineyard, the Archbishop called for a new attitude in the financial that was of general benefit’ was how the Archbishop summed up congregation of Pope Francis’ comment services industry that was ready to take risks and to help individ- the vineyard owner’s approach, an approach he would like busi- that the church is not called to be an NGO uals succeed. He gave the example of a painter decorator in the ness leaders to emulate. he said a church warden had once said North East of England who was unemployed for 18 something similar to him. ‘We are not months but able to start his own business when he Rotary with a pointy roof,’ the warden received a loan of £200 to buy a step ladder and paint. He remarked. had paid the loan back in three weeks. ‘When we lose sight of the prayer and the ‘What kind of financial services system do we have in reading of the scriptures, both as individu- this country when someone who needs £200 and is going .! #-)+ )!* !"%%% als and as Christian communities, we lose to work their socks off once they’ve got it, can’t get it?’ the the road we are to travel’, the Archbishop Archbishop asked. commented. Pointing out that the financial sector today has the He urged the need for the Porvoo largest sum of money it has ever had, he called on it to look churches to find ‘a regular renewal of our at the whole country as well as across Europe and ‘chal- prayer and the forms with which to cele- lenge the inability of the economy to care for those on the brate, to protest and to lament’. edge’. In an autobiographical passage he told The Archbishop said a key issue that had to be cracked how a casual remark he made in an inter- was regeneration. The donut principle which involves view criticising loan companies for charg- injecting cash in the middle did not work, he claimed, giv- ing huge interest rates and labelling such a ing as an example Liverpool One, a development that had practice ‘usury’ had drawn large scale no impact on the district only fifteen minutes’ walk away. press coverage ‘on a quiet day’. Drawing on the experience of the Ethical Investment Although this was a casual comment and Advisory Group of the Church of England, he stressed the an accident, the Archbishop concluded ‘it importance of developing a relationship with those with was an accident in which God was involved. whom you invest. Warning that it is difficult to do this with Because it has created such momentum small companies he pointed to the need for diversified that there is now a great movement to structures and subsidiarity to enable a number of relation- change the way we do community finance. ships to be set up. !    %   A 0 And it is such a powerful movement that we ‘We have to ask ourselves: what is the social purpose of are even working with the Scots about it. @  B 0 B And this is a miracle. It takes a lot to make the Scots work with the English’. @4%"C %'9) 5A&3#&7 E !*''63 Addressing the issue of unity the Arch- #        bishop called ‘unanimity’ a ‘mirage’ and a &4 "79)04( '753 5BD"% 5(8* ‘diversion’. ‘Unanimity is tidy, it’s all organised, and #  ( bears no fruit; unity is irregular, confused, %         %  , relational, it is an improvisation of celebra- tion and lament, of the prayer for justice, BBB*"8B"*57(*@1 and solidarity with the poor. You make it up &2 '%#L#,JN!'!3"02 4(5$!&2403"28"52*$53 as you go along’.

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By Canon Chris Sugden nique announced:“We have resolved to be more than a network. We are an effective GAFCON offers itself as “an important expression of faithful and and effective instrument of Commun- therefore, we must organise ourselves in a ion” way that demonstrates the seriousness of Report from our objectives: proclaiming and contending “We shall continue to work within the for the gospel of Jesus Christ, building the for its renewal and fellowship, authorising and affirming faith- reform.” So ends the GAFCON 2013 Com- ful Anglicans who have been excluded by munique and Commitment their diocese or province…discerning the Speaking for over 300 bishops and arch- need for new provinces, dioceses and bishops around the Anglican Communion churches — and then authenticating their it recognizes “times when the maintenance Gafcon ministries and orders as Anglican.” of structures can constrain the proclama- “We shall organise around a Primates’ tion of the gospel. In line with The Council, a Board of Trustees, an Executive Jerusalem Statement’s expectation that the Archbishop of Canterbury sent personal The Statement embraces major Angli- Committee and regional liaison officers, Primates’ Council would intervene to pro- greetings via video and gave us the assur- can traditions: who will be involved in fostering communi- vide ‘orthodox oversight to churches ance of his prayers, and we likewise pray “As a response to the crisis, we adopted cation among FCAs.” under false leadership’, the Primates’ for him.” The Jerusalem Statement and Declaration “We invite provinces, dioceses, mission Council will carefully consider working The statement claims “We believe we which commits us to biblical faithfulness, agencies, local congregations and individu- beyond existing structures as an obedient have acted as an important and effective and has since provided the framework for als formally to become contributing mem- response to Jesus’ commission to take the instrument of Communion during a period renewed Anglican orthodoxy to which we bers of the GFCA. We ask provinces to gospel to all nations. in which other instruments of Communion – Evangelicals, Anglo-Catholics and reconsider their support for those Anglican Commenting on this statement in the have failed both to uphold gospel priorities Charismatics – are committed..” structures that are used to undermine bib- Communique Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali in the Church, and to heal the divisions Canon Dr Gavin Ashenden who led a lical faithfulness and contribute instead, or told the CEN: among us.” workshop on Anglo-Catholic and Evangeli- additionally, to the financing of the GFCA’s “Many orthodox Anglicans and their Archbishop Stanley Ntagali of cal relationships commented “Anglicanism on-going needs.” friends beyond have been grateful to the told me that the Conference affirmed that comprises of the Reformed renewal of The statement names the following prior- orthodox Primates and bishops who have Catholic structure and identity. ities: evangelising areas of the world where been able to assist people and churches “Repentance and the primacy of unity in gospel witness has been obscured or lost, who were left in great distress by moral John 17 kept emerging from our bible to unreached people and children and and doctrinal compromise in their own exposition - In our coming together we young people; supporting genuine gospel provinces and dioceses. The continuation needed to express our repentance for our initiatives; publicly exposing any false of such a relationship through GAFCON antipathy and our caricaturing of one gospel not consistent with apostolic teach- remains an important element as the strug- another; it was accompanied by our deter- ing; deepening discipleship; engaging gra- gle for the soul of the Communion contin- mination through our commitment to the ciously in the public square; working for ues. GAFCON is a major means of Jerusalem Declaration to reconstitute a the transformation of society; working for fellowship among orthodox Anglicans – renewed Anglican orthodoxy within the the protection of the environment and eco- evangelical, charismatic and catholic – dynamic of GAFCON.” nomic empowerment of those deprived of allowing them to play a significant role in a resources, and attending to the margin- biblical future for Anglicanism.” Marriage and same-sex attraction alised and oppressed; affirming the vital contribution of women in the life of the Anglican Mission in England GAFCON grieves “that several national church while differing over the roles men For the Church of England the Nairobi governments, aided by some church lead- and woman have in church leadership; Commitment states: ers, have claimed to redefine marriage and repudiating all violence against women and “We commit ourselves to the support “this is where the have turned same-sex marriage into a children; calling on governments and lead- and defence of those who in standing for belongs” and that “we need to be strong human rights issue…..We want to make ers of religions to respect human rights, apostolic truth are marginalized or exclud- ourselves so that we can shine”. clear that any civil partnership of a sexual protect Christians from violent attack and ed from formal communion with other Many of the 120 invited participants from nature does not receive the blessing of take effective action to provide freedom of Anglicans in their dioceses. We have there- the UK and Ireland expressed admiration God. We continue to pray for and offer pas- religious expression for all.. fore recognized the Anglican Mission in for the excellent organization of the confer- toral support to Christians struggling with England (AMiE) as an expression of ence by the Church of Kenya and the inspi- same-sex temptation who remain celibate The GAFCON Jerusalem cross that was authentic Anglicanism both for those with- ration the Conference had given them. It in obedience to Christ and affirm them in brought to Nairobi from the first 2008 con- in and outside the Church of England, and was an international conference with a their faithfulness.” ference will now remain in Nairobi until the welcomed their intention to appoint a Gen- clearly African face. next GAFCON in five years time. eral Secretary of AMiE. “ [ For AMiE see “More than a Network” http://anglicanmissioninengland.org/ ] Evangelical / Anglo-Catholic rela- The full statement can be read at The Conference “appreciated that the tionships While light on ecclesiology, the Commu- www.gafcon.org

Thumbs up for Churches CASE STUDY Sixty-four-year-old Pu Ti Hua has By Hazel Southam Sciences, by 2040 nearly 20 per cent of China’s already benefited from the social rural population will be aged over 65. care provided by China’s he Chinese government has welcomed And so, at the conference, the government churches. the role of the Church in providing called on the Church to provide care for the eld- During the 2008 Sichuan Tsocial care in the country. erly, as well as offering drug prevention and earthquake, she and her husband rehabilitation, and work with those living with were made homeless. They joined Government official, Wang Xinhua said, ‘The HIV. around 200 people who sought government welcomes the support of the David Smith, International Programme Man- sanctuary in the local church in Church. We lack the resources to meet all the ager for Bible Society said, ‘I think the whole the town of Yanting Yunxi. needs that we face, so we need religious organi- story of the Bible shows us how to care for the ‘There’s no Christianity or zations in order to do so.’ least, the last and the lost. churches where we lived,’ says Ti He was speaking at a conference on the role ‘Christians should be at the forefront of that Hua. ‘But for the first time I felt the of Christianity in China sponsored by Bible provision,’ he said, adding that he was ‘hopeful’ warmth of these people and their Society. that this would soon be the case in China. love. Mr Wang said that the ‘beliefs’ and ‘love’ of One of China’s leading clerics, the Revd Xu ‘I had been totally shaken, but I the Church were an ‘advantage’ to society. Xiaohong, Vice Chairman of the registered found peace here. And he added that China’s charitable sector Church, called on local congregations to take ‘I lost everything: my home and all my belongings. It was very difficult. was facing ‘a crisis of confidence’ due to corrup- social action seriously. I felt terrible. I was emptied out. I had nothing. tion scandals, saying that the Church was less ‘Preachers in churches should encourage ‘But the church helped me get over it. That was my blessing. I’d say it corrupt. their congregations to care not just about per- was 100 per cent worth it, losing everything to get my faith. In my most China, though the world’s second biggest sonal salvation but also about meeting social difficult moment, God found me and saved me.’ economy, is facing a social care crisis, particu- needs,’ he said. Today Ti Hua and her husband Song Cheng live in two rooms above the larly in caring for an increasingly elderly popu- The conference brought together govern- church. Here they read the Bible, and return the kindness done to lation. ment representatives, leading academics and them by cooking food for church members three days a week. According to the Chinese Academy of Social clerics from across China.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper CHRISTMAS2013 RESOURCES BY J.JOHN

This Christmas be prepared to help illuminate the light of Christ.

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PEACE the peace that God gives. A key text to study would be Well, at the very least it should another, be of one mind, live in Because Jesus died for our sins, Romans 14:1 – 15:13. Paul mean: peace. And the God of love and ‘Go away and give me peace!’ when we trust in him we are put was writing to the Christians in that we seek to address and peace will be with you. ‘Let’s have some peace around right with God by faith, and so the great cosmopolitan city of resolve conflicts among Eph. 4:3 Make every here!’ Familiar cries of we can have peace with God Rome. Many of them had come ourselves, rather than adding to effort to keep the unity of the frustration in the hurly-burly of (Rom. 5:1). Peace with God to faith from a completely pagan, them (or causing them in the first Spirit in the bond of peace. life. Not much peace for many of means peace of heart and Gentile background. They had no place); Col. 3:15 Let the peace of us, it seems, with demanding conscience, the absence of guilt qualms about any kind of food or that we should be careful to Christ rule in your hearts, since families to manage or stressful and fear. That is a wonderful particular holy days. But some of avoid the kind of words and as members of one body you workplaces to endure. Or coping thing and is perhaps a bit closer the Christians in Rome were attitudes that easily create were called to peace. with strained relationships, or to peace as the fruit of the Spirit. Jews who had now come to faith misunderstanding and division; And how can that happen? even abusive ones. Or anxieties But the peace that God gives is in Jesus as Messiah. There were that we should be quick to Notice the very next verse - of all sorts about the present and not only peace with God, but enormous differences between apologize and say sorry, (even if Col. 3:16 Let the word of the future. Peace? If only. also the peace of God. That them. They came from different we were not strictly speaking the Christ dwell among you richly. means peace of mind, freedom cultures and religious ones in the wrong!). ‘Sorry’ may We will produce this fruit of the Yet ‘peace’ is one of those huge from anxiety and panic. Jesus backgrounds. Some thought they be the hardest word, but it is Spirit, like all the others, as we words in the Bible. In the Old told us not to be worried but to could eat any meat from the often the first one that leads back cultivate the deep soil of God’s Testament it is that beautiful and trust our Heavenly Father (Matt. butcher’s shop; others were to peace; word in our worship and learning complex word shalom – all-round 6:25-34). And so did Paul: horrified because they thought it that we don’t jump to defend together. well-being, freedom from fear Do not be anxious about was unclean and idolatrous. ourselves when things are said or and want, contentment in anything, but in every situation, Some wanted to observe the done against us, but allow God to But here we are, after all, back relationship with God, others, by prayer and petition, with Sabbath day; others didn’t care vindicate the truth in his own in the so-called real world – the and creation. Peace in the storm thanksgiving, present your what day it was. time. Paul said it is better to world of daily work and busy- is God’s gift to his people (Ps. requests to God. And the peace suffer wrong than to take other ness. Can we have ‘peace’ there? 29:11). Peace is God’s promise — of God, which transcends all Now these were not minor Christians to court; Not only would Paul answer, ‘Yes when love, justice, truth and understanding, will guard your things. They were causing a lot of that we need to follow carefully we can’, I think he would add that peace have a group hug and hearts and minds in Christ Jesus disagreement and dispute. But the instructions of Jesus on how that is exactly where it matters heaven and earth are in harmony (Phil. 4:6-7). Paul spends a chapter and a half brothers and sisters should deal most. For a life that is filled with (Ps. 85:8-10). This is not just a blasé, ‘happy- urging both sides to ‘accept one with grievances against one this kind of peace is a powerful But when Paul gives peace go-lucky’ attitude. Rather it is a another’ and to avoid quarrelling another (Matt. 18:15-17) – rather witness to the gospel. It is in the third place in the fruit of the settled trust in God’s Fatherly over ‘disputable matters’. And he than just going public in the non-Christian home or work- Spirit, what does he have in care, and a steady refusal to give starts by telling them press or on blogs etc. about other place that the person who lives mind? in to anxieties. God can be categorically that they must avoid people; with the peace of God in their trusted. Be at peace. We’re contempt (Gentiles mocking Above all, that we avoid all heart and works to create or Sometimes Paul talks about the getting closer still to the fruit of Jews for their out-of-date rules) kinds of gossip about others, and restore peace among others peace that God made. That is, the Spirit. and condemnation (Jews learn the strict discipline of stands out and gets noticed. the peace that is the result of the denouncing Gentiles for their keeping confidences. Joy and peace go together. A great work of atonement that But there is a third kind of free and easy ways). Why? Christian will be noticed (and God accomplished through Jesus peace, and that is the peace that Because God had accepted both We could go on adding to that often asked questions) if they are Christ in his cross and God calls for. God calls us to sides through Christ, so they list, I’m sure. For Paul it was a not afflicted by the moods of resurrection. Paul explains in live at peace with others, and to should accept one another for very important part of living cynical despair and negativity Ephesians 2 about how Christ is work for peace among Christians Christ’s sake. Read Romans 14:1- together as Christians. Look that can easily dominate groups our peace, and how he made — and indeed in the wider world. 3. It’s a lesson many in the how often he mentions it. of people thrown together by peace – reconciling the world to This is by far the commonest use church today still need to learn, Rom. 12:18 If it is possible, their work. But equally their joy God and reconciling former of the word ‘peace’ by Paul and with our endless condemnation as far as it depends on you, live is not just getting swept up in enemies to one another. But it’s almost certainly the kind of of other Christians who see at peace with everyone occasional crazy bouts of jollity, that’s the ‘once-for-all’ peace peace he has in mind in his list of things differently from ourselves. 1 Cor. 7:15 (in the context party-frenzy or bingeing. Rather achieved by God’s work at the the fruit of the Spirit. Look what Paul says about of marriage), God has called us they have a quality of inner joy cross. It’s not the peace that is Since God has made peace peace in Romans 14:19 - ‘Make to live in peace. that can be sensed even in times the fruit of the Spirit in our lives between himself and us (at his every effort to do what leads 1 Cor. 14:33 (in the context of pain, or loss, or suffering. — which has to do with our own great cost through the death to peace and builds up our of our services of worship), God Similarly, a Christian who is not character now, not God’s action of Jesus on the cross), God now common life’. is not a God of disorder, but of racked by anxiety or driven by back then. So probably this is not calls us to live in peace with one peace. ruthless ambition, who is not what Paul means by peace as the another, as a way of ‘living out’ What does it mean to practise 2 Cor. 13:11 (in context of devastated by a failure of fruit of the Spirit in Galatians. the transforming power of the peace like that – to cultivate that church divisions), Strive for full promotion or even the loss of So perhaps Paul had in mind cross in our own practical lives. fruit of the Spirit in our lives? restoration, encourage one employment, but has a kind of inner peace that flows from trusting God - such a person is bearing silent witness to the Lord Jesus Christ, by being like Christ in trusting their heavenly Father in the midst of whatever life brings. Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, you see, is not about polishing our own halo, or keeping up a good image - that’s all false and everybody (including God) can see through it. It’s about making Christ visible and making the gospel attractive.

Chris Wright Langham Partnership

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Leader & Comment Friday November 1, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 7 Comment A very British coup - State Unity for Mission regulation of the Press Today’s generation of Christians look set for a Our Coalition government seems to specialise in occasional parox- kind of integrated mission that we have not seen for ysms of activity of the most radical kind. Mr Cameron’s Party Confer- a long while. We might call this ‘whole Jesus disci- ence speech declaring himself, contrary to his party manifesto and any James pleship’. Not that it has never existed, but it has so warning, a ‘passionate believer in gay marriage’, heralded one such often been drowned out by other noises and other typhoon out of a clear blue sky. The state decided, with no democratic distractions. mandate at all, to redefine marriage into a form of friendship, and did Catford Two of the most politically incorrect words in the just that. Another cultural act of state, rolling back a unique history of English language today are ‘salvation’ and ‘army’. freedom from state permission and control, is the Royal Charter on So why is the Salvation Army so respected as a press regulation. This Charter is not legislation discussed democrati- brand today? The answer is obvious. Because it cally in Parliament, it is implemented as the law of the land by the Privy does all the things that HOPE 2014 stands for and Council, an arm technically of the monarchy, and determined by the lives out the whole message of Jesus in what it says government of the day. The heritage of this is the English court Star and what it does. Chamber, created by Henry VII in 1487, the stars being painted on the Where will the church be in 2063? That was the All HOPE 2014 is doing - although it is no small ceiling of the hall in Westminster where it sat, to decide cases not eligi- question posed by Archbishop Justin Welby at the achievement in doing it - is to recover the call of ble for the normal courts. The Star Chamber has a particularly nasty launch of the HOPE 2014 initiative last week. In a God to ‘be the Word’. To simply and straightfor- religious legacy. As its power increased under the Stuarts, Archbishop powerfully prophetic speech he set out some of the wardly live out the life of Jesus in front of a needy Laud used the Star Chamber to persecute Puritan leaders, subjecting characteristics that we will need to see in the peo- and broken world. Much like William Booth did in them to harassment and the pillory. It inflicted everything short of ple of God in 50 years’ time - if we are going to flour- the Salvation Army and John Wesley did before that death upon those found guilty. During this time the court met in ish and grow. with his group of ‘enthusiasts’ and their ‘method- secret, extracting evidence by torturing witnesses and handing out Much of the focus of Archbishop Justin’s speech ism’. punishments that included mutilation, life imprisonment, and enor- was on unity between Christians. He had a vision in Here we can see an emphasis that is beyond the mous fines. The Star Chamber sometimes acted on mere rumours in which the number of churches grows significantly, public mandate for HOPE 2014, and rightly so. order to suppress opposition to the king. Was Mr Cameron really wise while the number of denominations and sectarian What sits outside the scope of this exciting oppor- to use this ancient by-pass of open Parliamentary democratic process splits declines. He spoke with passion and convic- tunity is the depth of relationship with Jesus Christ as his means of bringing the press under the aegis of the state? The tion - as if he really believed that this was possible that is going to fuel it and give it life. It’s beyond the idea of the Hacked Off celebrities, those who have grown rich on an within a generation. brief of HOPE because it is a brief for the whole open media culture in the UK, free to mock whom they wish, wanting a Browsing through the excellent glossy book Church of God to embrace. controlled press is quite bizarre. That emergency meeting at 2 am over HOPE: the heartbeat of mission that accompanies To start to turn people back to God it is going to pizzas and coffee with Hacked Off, a wholly unelected pressure group, the project, I spotted the advertisement for Evan- depend on an inner life of Jesus that he offers us and government ministers, is the stuff of Monty Python – but that gelical Alliance and its strong call to Christian unity freely. This deeper life needs to be given the same cemented the government agreement to ‘act’. All this notwithstanding ‘one people, one voice, one hope’. It seems that emphasis in our congregations as mission. Without the crimes of hacking had been discovered, prosecuted, and a newspa- Christians, for so long divided and scattered, are it HOPE initiatives will fizzle and die and the people per closed – the wrongs had been dealt with under the criminal and coming together again in the cause of Christ. who engage in it will be burnt out and left disillu- civil law. Cromwell’s revolution saw the closing of the Star Chamber’s ‘Is this how the Church should be,’ asks Evangel- sioned. Stasi like operations – and many Christians today will be very con- ical Alliance? In answer to its own question it This does not need to happen if we stay connect- cerned at any unnecessary shackling of the press. replies emphatically that ‘Jesus thought so’. ed to the source, the audience of One that gives us The BBC screened a drama series entitled a ‘A Very British Coup’, What impresses me about HOPE 2014 is the power and life and love. The three legs of vibrant written by the left wing Labour MP Chris Mullen, about an establish- emphasis on ment overthrow of a Labour government. The ‘establishement’ has unity in the cause changed, and now this Royal Charter being pushed through with no of mission. This Parliamentary debate allowed, is in fact a coup by a politico-celebrity doesn’t feel like class against a long accepted custom of freedom in the UK. Any the kind of super- change in the way our press is ‘allowed’ to operate, that is as currently ficial veneer that under the criminal and civil law, should be put to the electorate – not has often charac- arranged by secret meetings over pizza and coffee, not Starbucks but terised Christian Star Chamber. unity in the past. Frankly, as good as they are, I’ve The Church of England Newspaper become tired of with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week vague statements Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. from church lead- Company Number: 3176742 ers that affirm Publisher: Keith Young MBE various initiatives but don’t result in active participa- Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY020 7222 8004 tion. Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 HOPE is differ- Reporter: AMARIS COLE 020 7222 8700 ent. Through the articles and sto- Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 ries in the HOPE Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 manual it is clear that the unity Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 8663 demonstrated here is deeper, broader and more and sustainable discipleship to Jesus Christ are Graphic Designer: PETER MAY020 7222 8700 authentic than almost anything I have seen before. unity, mission and life with God. Balanced together It is worthy of our attention, our time and our they reflect and declare the very Kingdom of God. The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate prayer. This really could be the effort around unity Here is a wonderful moment in the life of the endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication for which we have been searching. Church to take Jesus to every village, town and city are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper But there’s more. The emphasis on mission in in our country. It provides practical ways to be like does not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. HOPE 2014 is also hugely impressive. Within the Jesus to the outside world. When connected to a Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), wide scope of activities that the project anticipates deep, profound and abiding relationship with Jesus Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, next year is a genuine blend of both words and Christ himself, I believe that next year we have a Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Peter Brown, The Rev Cindy Kent actions. Not an alliance of initiatives that sit uncom- huge opportunity to change the nation. fortably alongside each other, but a wholehearted The Church of England Newspaper, integration of speaking and doing. Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd This is much more than the rather cynically For more information about HOPE 2014 and to 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX expressed ‘painting railings for Jesus’ that some get involved visit www.hopetogether.org.uk. Editorial e-mail: [email protected] have called it. Nor is at an attempt to use social Advertising e-mail: [email protected] action as a kind of ‘bait and switch’ where people Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] are attracted to the Gospel by our act of love and James Catford is Group Chief Executive of Bible mercy, only to find there is a hidden motive just Society. Email him at Website: www.churchnewspaper.com below the surface or after the first cup of tea. [email protected]

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 8 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 1, 2013 Letters

THE CHURCH OF ENGLANDNEWSPAPER Write to The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX. or you can send an E-mail to [email protected]. Tweet at @churchnewspaper If you are sending letters by e-mail, please include a street address. NB: Letters may be edited

Baptism after Looking for certainty Teaching Sir, Alan Bartley is right when he states I have sought religious certainty.I believe Sir, It should be noted that those who were anyone who submits to the claims of Jesus Christ, and therefore as a consequence dunked in the New Testament were ‘ governs their life by his teachings , has a right to be sure of those claims. After all, believers ‘ and made the decision for them- Christianity could be an heretical offshoot of Judaism and Jesus Christ, just one more Your selves. The order is: repent, believe, and be false Messiah. baptized, Matthew 28:19, 20. The divergence of opinion ( sometimes directly contradictory) within Evangelical- Tweets Baptism came after the teaching, a bit dif- ism disturbed me. If Christianity was the Divine revelation, how did our Lord safe- ficult for small babies. guard it? I believe I found the answer to that in the 22nd Chapter of St Luke's Gospel. Philip Youngman, The role of Peter ( and by implication his successor ) is therefore to confirm the Mark Russell @markrusselluk Wool brethren. The only officially and definitively determines the mean- Grant Shapps should stop ing of Scripture, when there is controvesy.Mr Bartley refers to the issue of creation. threatening the BBC. The BBC is Over the centuries, long before modern Biblical scholarship, the Church allowed for A fantastic resource and should be a symbolic interpretation of the Eden story. However it stipulated that the essential free from political pressure Core beliefs truths must be believed, like creation ex niliho, the common genetic origin of human- Sir, All Christians must be made well aware ity, satan, original sin, the fall and the promise of redemption. Nick Baines @nickbaines of the case of Celestina Mba, currently at As regards the other areas, Mr Bartley confuses contraception ( direct frustration At symposium in Italy with the Court of Appeal because it has been of the sex act), with natural family planning. However even the latter is equally sinful Germans discussing religion, denied that having Sunday as a day of rest if entered into for selfish instead of genuine reasons. He brings up the issue of the secularism, spirituality in Europe. is a ‘core Christian belief’. First: a very high Catholic Church regulating marriage for its members, which comes under the pre- #verystimulating proportion of Christians the world over rogatives of the Church's commission to bind and loose. Mr Bartley also finds issues meet on Sundays. Second, even if they did with annulments, but this should be seen as a fair and juridical attempt by the Church Justin Welby @ABCJustin not, this could be of no help to Celestina, to examine the validity of a marriage. If this system has been abused, it has been done Two great services with Hong since being forced to work on Sunday so, under the pain of mortal sin, and the witnesses concerned. Kong Anglicans and afternoon would mean that she could not meet with My initial point remains valid and unanswered, if Scripture alone is the final arbiter, with Jackie Pullinger at rehab her own congregation. It seems that ‘core’ why do evangelicals disagree in so many areas of key doctrine? One example being centre esp for drug addicts, is being used to imply that there can be no ( and a salvation issue as no adulterer will enter the Kingdom of Heaven) whether amazing day, grateful exceptions. In which case (in a world of 2 divorce and re-marriage are allowable under the dispensation of Christ? The Evan- billion professing Christians) there are no gelical claim that Holy Scripture is clear and self explanatory is I believe unbiblical, God and Politics UK core Christian beliefs. unhistorical and demonstrably flawed.In the end, I concluded that our Lord's claims @GodandPolitics Dr Christopher Shell, were true and that he founded a visible teaching Church. He further guaranteed cor- Has Justin Welby become the Hounslow rect teaching and interpretation,by the establishment of a confirmatory office, which nation's conscience personified? as set out in Luke chapter 22, must by reason and logic not fail, lasting until the end of time. See also the last verse of the Gospel of Matthew. Sally Hitchiner Robert Ian Williams @SallyHitchiner Clinging to status via Email Say a prayer for the families of Sir, The Church of England clings to its 17yr old Kent girl crushed in Established status yet makes no attempt to caravan last night, man killed so much as nod to the views of those in the today in Watford+ boy swept into pews who fund the running costs through focussed on personal ambition to spend New Age Beliefs sea yesterday the Parish Share system. time engaging with ordinary people so Sir, Does Jayney Lee Grace realise that In Winchester Diocese the primary inter- what is the rationale for pretending things Neale Donald Walsch believes we are all St Paul's Cathedral est is in extracting as much money as pos- are otherwise. Even those holding office God and that is what he means by oneness @StPaulsLondon sible from shrinking congregations but a within the church are ignored so what hope of God and the divintiy of our souls? His Our temporary Chapter House has reply to correspondence from little or big has the man in the street if he expects his views are new Age and sub-Christian or not fared too well in the Bishops is as rare as hens’ teeth. How can it parish church to be welcoming or inclusive. anti- Christian. Alertness is needed by #UKStorm2013. We apologise if continue to be appropriate for the Anglican Perhaps the Archbishops could manage Christians, who are often both ill-taught phone enquiries are disrupted Church to be Established let alone have their Bishops rather better. and unprepared to teach themselves to representatives in Parliament? avoid being deceived. Graham Tomlin @gtomlin Sadly, the reality is that we live in a secu- Colin Pipe, Gillian Goodwin "For as soon as the wind goes over lar state. Our Church leaders are too Bournemouth Ealing it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more." Describes our back yard quite well this morning.

Pete Broadbent @petespurs CCooookk tthhiiss!! AVB has a point - our singing low Leek & prawn gratin key today. Got a sore throat from shouting at Hull players falling Prep:10 mins Cook:10 mins Serves 6 over dead. But we didn't support well. 4 medium leeks 100ml double or Top and tail the leeks, then slit in half and wash well. Slice 3 tbsp olive oil whipping cream thinly and drain. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large frying pan and The Church Mouse sauté the leeks for about 5 mins until softened and reduced @thechurchmouse curry salt, to 1 batch hollandaise by two-thirds. Season with curry salt and mix in a knob of Train dilema. Sitting at a table with season (see tip butter, if liked. Tip into a bowl. Heat the grill to high. one power socket - covered by a below) sauce (see 'Goes well with' Wipe out the pan and heat with the remaining oil. Season sleeping woman leaning across it. knob of butter, below) the prawns with more curry salt to taste and stir-fry until No other seats in carriage. Ideas? optional just pink. Mix into the leeks. handful fresh 250g raw, Whip the cream to form soft peaks and fold into the hol- parsley and peeled tiger landaise along with the herbs, then fold into the leeks and coriander, prawns prawns. Divide between six gratin dishes and brown under follow us chopped the grill, about 5 mins. Serve immediately. @churchnewspaper on Twitter

[email protected]/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Feature Friday November 1, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 9 40,000 gather to pray for HOPE 2014

“We should never be guilty of being Challenging those present to engage in revival and may the revival begin in 2014.” HOPE’ supplied by UCB, one of HOPE’s without hope. We have been entrusted mission, he said: “Thousands of people Welcoming HOPE to the Festival of Life, partners. The Bag of HOPE included a with the greatest hope of all!” That was the growing up in Britain today don’t know the Pastor Agu Irukwu, who leads the RCCG copy of HOPE’s Mission Prayer Focus, message from the Bishop of , Gospel. God has given us his light so that churches in the UK, asked the 40,000 with daily prayers for Christians to use the Rt Rev , at the launch the world may believe. Don’t hide your people gathered: “Imagine what it would until the end of January 2014 as HOPE is of HOPE’s season of prayer at London’s light under a bucket. Let your light shine! be like if thousands of churches worked launched. (The prayers can be Excel Centre during a 12-hour night of “We have become a nation of junkies together, going out into our communities, downloaded from the HOPE website prayer. hooked on the idea that we can consume touching lives in practical ways as carriers www.hopetogether.org.uk and copies of our way to happiness. But I am not the car of the love of Christ. the Mission Prayer Focus can be ordered Speaking at the Festival of Life, hosted I drive… the clothes I wear… the salary I “Any initiative of that magnitude must be from www.ucb2go.co.uk) by the Redeemed Christian Church of earn. I am a child of God. I am made in the birthed in prayer. We want to do good HOPE’s Director, Roy Crowne, God, the Bishop launched the season of image of God and what is best in me bears works so lives are touched, but we want explained: “HOPE’s season of prayer starts prayer asking God to transform lives and the fingerprint of God. This is the hope of our communities to experience the love of tonight in this place because we recognise communities during HOPE 2014. He the Gospel.” God like never before. So, for the next 12 that what the Redeemed churches do best explained that Chelmsford diocese, which The General Overseer of the Redeemed weeks we are going to be praying into is pray. Hundreds of thousands of people celebrates its centenary in 2014 with a Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch HOPE 2014. We are praying that this will are longing to see our nation changed by year of mission, includes the ExCeL Adeboye, added his endorsement to be a significant part of God’s plan for the love of Christ. HOPE is a catalyst exhibition centre as part of five East HOPE 2014 and prayed: “In the United revival in our nation.” supporting churches to do more together London boroughs in his diocese. Kingdom, let there be light; let there be Delegates were each given a ‘Bag of in mission – in words and action.” Exploring the work of Church Army As part of Church Army’s Inside Out cam- troubled backgrounds. As Chris- because they are circular in shape with a paign, Hannah Gray finds out more about tians, we are there to represent garden in the middle, the community is the charity’s work in Sheffield with fami- the ultimate parent, our Father quite insular. lies living in the Edward Street flats God – his faithfulness, constant “Lucy and I are passionate about the area love, forgiveness and peace.” so I decided to help with the youth club “I live in the Edward Street flats with my Alongside the youth club, Tim and Lucy is Chair of Governors at the local mum and have been coming to the youth and his volunteers also carry out primary school. Working alongside Tim is club for two years which is run by Tim home visits, attend the flat’s Ten- brilliant and as a team we are committed to from Church Army who always spends ants and Residents Association the community for the long-term. We don’t time chatting with me. The games, crafts meetings, lead assemblies at want people to feel they are the church’s and activities are really fun and it is a Netherthorpe primary school ‘project’; rather we want them to see us as place where I can relax and enjoy myself. and run special events such as their friends. There is such a joyful and happy atmos- carol singing, picnics and fun “One of my favourite youth club memo- phere. It is a place where I feel safe and days. Over the next year, Tim ries is when we held a peace vigil which secure.” Antonio, aged 12. also intends to set up Bible study proved to be really powerful. It was an groups in people’s flats. autumn evening so was getting dark and “I have been going to youth club since I there had been various world conflicts was seven years old and it is really fun. I Enabling volunteers reported in the news which the young peo- love drawing and playing games. I also ple had been talking about. So after youth really enjoyed it when we made lollipops Kevin, a doctor and youth club club ended we all gathered in the flat’s gar- and bread. In the summer we had a barbe- volunteer, said: “My wife, Lucy, dens, lit candles and stayed in silence for cue and there was a bouncy castle. The and I have lived in Netherthorpe 30 minutes. The kids really got into it and youth club keeps us off the streets and and attended the Vine Church for we were able to introduce the idea of gives us something to do.” Ellie, aged 9. nearly 20 years since graduating prayer to them. It was very special.” from university. The Edward Youth club connections Street flats are in our parish but can often get forgotten because To watch a film about Inside Out, visit Antonio and Ellie are just two of the they are tucked away and www.churcharmy.org.uk/insideout young people who benefit from the Edward Street youth club which is run each week '$ K$( C<$9 ,JN =$,$L ,L&'N ,LF>CI# by Evangelist, Tim Smith, from Church Army’s Sheffield :N," 02A )H!*"0E9 ADH .02, ,D =90I .N," ED39D29 N2 ."D3 Centre of Mission. ADH*02 ,!HE,; 02= ,"NE NE 9E)9*N0IIA N3)D!,02,."92 +HAN2@ 0 Tim began leading the HE9= *0!8 6D! 9B03)I9; =D ADHL2D. ."0, 5?0, =4 3902E N2 0 youth club four-and-a-half *0!0=/9!, 0ID2@EN=9,"9 INL9EDJ7(K 02=?1C$ :9II ?0,=3902E years ago after being called by God to reach out to the ,"0, ,"9 *0! "0E +992 02 N2EH!02*9 .!N,9 DF 02= ADHE"DHI= 2D, Edward Street community, ,DH*" N, .N," 0+0!@9 )DI9; ,"9 D,"9! ,.D0!9 <29; MHE, )D.9! and is supported in his work E,99!N2@02= *92,!0I ID*LN2@8 GJ ADH=N= 2D, L2D. ,"0,EH*",!N*LE by volunteers from The Vine 9BNE,; +9 *0!9JHI8 -"92 ,!A7!ND!A(H,D3D%/9; ,"9!92D.29= Church in the Netherthorpe ?"!NE%02 *0! EH))IN9!E; ,"9A 0!9 0 ,D,0IIA ,!HE,.D!,"A ,903 02= area. .NII D2IA EDH!*9 ,"9 /9!A +9E, 3D,D! *0!E8 Tim said: “When I first began working with the 7!ND!A"0E !0NE9= ,"9E,02=0!= DJ HE9= *0! )!9)0!0%D2 ,D 0 29. Edward Street community, it I9/9I8 O/9!A *0! EH))IN9= .NII "0/9 N,E )!9/NDHE "NE,D!A *D3)I9,9IA was spiritually a very dark *"9*L9= DH,;+9JD!9+9N2@ JHIIA )!9)0!9= 02= HEN2@ ,"9N! 56!99 place. The flats were part of the city’s red-light district and >0%D2.N=94=9IN/9!AE9!/N*9ADH *02+9EH!9 ,"0, ,"9!90!9 2D therefore prostitution and "N==92 *DE,E8 70!, 9B*"02@9 DJ ADH! DI= *0! NE EN3)I9; 0E ,"9A drug dealing were common- *02&HN*LIA 0@!990J0N! )!N*9 02= ,0L9 N, 0.0A8(II ,"NENE=D29 +A place. However, thanks to the 02 9B)9!N92*9= 02= J!N92=IA ,903 'E99 ,"9 ,9E%3D2N0IE D2 ,"9N! redevelopment of the area, .9+EN,9# .D!LN2@ ,D @9,ADH ,"9/9!A+9E,*0! JD!ADH!+H=@9,8 things have greatly improved and the flats are becoming a FH @BG 0!8 *B4DM;8!M4? *"04?M4? @BG! *0!: vibrant and multicultural com- -"@ 4B+ ?M/8 +"86 0 +!@# munity. “The youth club is a great way to connect with families 6D!JH!,"9!N2JD!30%D2; *0II 5331 2..AEAE and to support the young peo- ple – many of who are from D! /NEN, ---7)!MB!@0G+B6B%/87*B6 10 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday No vember 1, 2013 Comment Over‐hyped storm Last weekend’s storm of a British storm. In one of pessimism rather than was a disappointment newspaper report the Red hope. Our anticipation of AndrewCarey: after the warnings, panic Cross was suggesting the second coming has and low-level hysteria we creating an emergency nothing to do with literal- were fed in advance. kit including a wind-up ly-interpreted nonsense Poor old Michael Fish radio in case of power straight out of a cult-like ViewfromthePew was reminded of his 1987 cuts. Insurers were issu- reading of Revelations gaffe where he told view- ing their own checklists but an expectation that ers not to worry as one of including evacuation one day we will be com- the perfect storms plans for the family. ing home. approached British Direct Line suggested In the meantime, this shores. Three decades ‘buying and fitting air does not mean that Dangerous Stereotypes later, he told us, the Met brick covers and floor- because we have an Office computers were boards to block door- eschatological hope that far more accurate than ways. we do not bring this It has been disturbing to see the way that In the Spectator, Charles Moore (Specta- they were nearly three British weather, even at sense of anticipation and much reporting of the Greek Roma couple tor’s Notes 26 October 2013) writes: “Are decades ago. its worst, can very rarely readiness to our daily accused of abducting a blonde girl has news desks unaware that stories about gyp- Perhaps that’s the prob- be compared to the lives. I’m aware that played into the stereotypes of gypsies steal- sies stealing children are staples of mob- lem – they are now too extreme events they get Christian fundamentalists ing children. This is a dangerous stereotype inciting propaganda, like accusations in accurate. If we had some elsewhere. Yet the storm in some parts of the world that we should really have left behind. Pakistan that Christians are flushing Korans vague warnings of heavy warnings did get me support a particular type And despite the fact that we know blond- down the lavatory.” rain and high winds we’d thinking about the level of rugged survivalism haired children can be born to dark-haired It could be added that persistent myths be able to prepare by of preparedness that we that is selfish and hetero- couples, a family of Irish travellers had a about Jews also emerge from time to time cleaning out the guttering should have. It goes with- dox. child wrongly removed from them last and must always be guarded against. Preju- and securing the bins and out saying that Christians In contrast, a mature week. It’s understandable that hysteria dice against so-called Travellers is a largely garden furniture without should always be looking church community acts builds up when a story like that of the minority pursuit in the UK, but it is much being urged to plan for to the future with a sense and plans in the under- blonde-haired Madelaine McCann re- more common in parts of Eastern Europe. Armageddon. of anticipation and readi- standing that there is a emerges in the media, but a little awareness Moore points out that as the borders open I cannot recall so many ness. All too often Chris- calling to minister to a of the history of this type of stereotype is from Romania and Bulgaria these divisions warnings, panic and low- tians have imbued this needy world even when needed. and prejudices may once again resurface. level hysteria in advance preparedness with an air the power lines are down.

Politics Watch: 1 Politics Watch 2 Tim Farron has been speaking to the Huffington Post and telling its readers he gets a lot of his anger at injustice from his faith. He says Christians are in If Nick Clegg is determined to sell peerages why can’t he get a better price? a minority in what the Huffington Post calls an ‘ultra secular party’ but adds James Palumbo wasn’t even a member of the party when he was elevated to the this is fine. Farron showed the reporter a copy of the ‘Poverty and Social Jus- Lords as a Lib Dem peer after donating half a million pounds to party funds. tice Bible’ which highlights biblical verses on poverty and social justice but Baron Palumbo is not seen a great deal in the gilded chamber but if he were he also has ‘The God Delusion’ on his shelf. ‘I’m not closed minded’, he tells minded to put in an appearance every day their Lordships are sitting he could the reporter. He speaks up for Sarah Teather and says she was treated in an earn £60,000 a year, a tidy 6% return on his investment. This is better return than unpleasant way by a lot of people. ‘No one would consider Sarah Teather as a the energy companies claim they are getting. CEN readers who can afford the homophobe,’ he comments. Although it is a wide-ranging interview in which investment should write to Nick Clegg right a way. A new batch of peers is in the Farron says Nick Clegg should have put a woman in the cabinet and only pipeline. In his defence Clegg can claim he tried to reform the second chamber gives the Coalition 5 out of 10 for social justice, nothing is said about Farron’s and failed. Part of the problem may be that people just don’t pay enough atten- own leadership ambitions. Thanks to some skilful manoeuvring at the party tion to what is happening in the political world. Jonathan Aitken reveals in a conference he is now well placed to take over from Clegg when the leader diary in the ‘Spectator’ that he often acts as a warm-up speaker for Alpha, giving goes or is pushed. Vince Cable had been the leading contender but he lost talks in pubs, halls, and football grounds as well as churches. The turnout is face at the conference when a planned rebellion on the economy failed to large. At one gathering he drew 650, more than twice the number of people who materialise and Cable was forced to vote for the official resolution. Cable’s came to hear him as a politician. Instead of getting depressed about politics, supporters blame Farron for letting them down. He promised support and Christians should get involved. For this reason the launch of Christians on the then pulled back, a classic move leaving the Cable faction exposed. Does Far- Left on November 5th aiming to build a bridge between Christians and the cen- ron also get his political skills from his faith? tre left of politics is good news. The Whispering Gallery Thoughts of a ‘Great Mind’ . Weighing a million pounds

Introducing Stanley Hauerwas, Mark Oakley told a large audience at St The fourth volume of Tom Wright’s series ‘Christian Origins and the Faithful- Paul’s that had described the Texan as the ‘greatest Chris- ness of God’ was launched in the Jerusalem Chamber of Westminster Abbey tian mind of our time’. He could have added that ‘Time’ has anointed him as last week. ‘Paul and the Faithfulness of God’ comes in two parts, contains 1,699 ‘America’s leading theologian’. Hauerwas was speaking alongside Br pages and weighs the same as a million pounds. The hardback is to cost one Samuel SSF to talk about how Peace can change the world. It was the first in hundred and twenty five pounds and the paperback sixty five pounds so it will an autumn series at the cathedral on ‘How to Change the World’ which next be an expensive if worthwhile Christmas present. Speaking at the launch, week features David Lammy and Lucy Winkett and in November Rowan Bishop Tom credited Paul with inventing public theology to explain how the Williams will be in conversation with Michael Battle. Hauerwas was outspo- church could survive without Jewish markers. Those who have challenged his ken in his advocacy of Pacifism, telling us that even World War II was interpretation of Paul will get little comfort from this new work. ‘Paul’s inter- arguably not a just war. He claimed young people today feel obliged to fight ests were church, unity and holiness’, he affirmed, ‘not justification. He wants to show that they are worthy of the sacrifices of a past generation and that to tell us that the Creator God is doing a new thing. Paul is basically about films show an unhealthy fascination with war. ‘When did you last see a film eschatology’. Those who attended the launch were given a special 149-page about peace?’ he asked. Br Samuel stressed peaceful relations with the envi- selection of extracts. The Irish poet Michael O’Siadhail also spoke at the ronment but what the meeting really needed was someone to challenge launch and read three poems that were linked to the book and its themes. At Hauerwas’ pacifist presuppositions. Where was Professor Nigel Biggar, a the end he presented Bishop Tom with a poem specially commissioned for the worthy opponent even for the ‘greatest Christian mind of our time’? event by his wife, Molly. Wright was uncertain whether the new work marks the completion of the series so a book on John may be a possibility.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Arts/Books Friday November 1, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 11

Anglicanism: Confidence, Commitment and Communion, Martin Percy Guide to European Thought Ashgate, pb, £17.99 The Oxford Handbook of Theology & Modern ormation to the Council of Trent, from Dei Verbum A Point of Balance European Thought and the Roman and Tübingen schools, from Vin- Martin Percy and Robert Boak Slocum: eds. Nicholas Adams, George Pattison, and cent of Lérins, , and Maurice Canterbury, pb, £12.99. Graham Ward Blondel, to Alasdair MacIntyre and Radical Ortho- Oxford, hb, £95.00 doxy, and the debate between Karl Rahner and As Anglican Studies courses proliferate an Hans Küng. Rowland concludes that in contempo- increasing number of books are appearing ‘Modernity’ is a word whose meaning and scope is rary theology there is still ‘a crisis within the tradi- looking at the nature of Anglicanism and difficult to nail down. The three editors have done a tion about the very nature of tradition’ but that ‘new the challenges it faces. Martyn Percy, Prin- service here in this handbook by trying to give the alignments across denominational boundaries and cipal of Ripon College, Cuddesdon, has col- reader some handrails to find her way through this new divisions within’ and between Catholic and lected a number of papers he has written on vast, still-unfolding thought-world. There are many Protestant communities are made (297). Anglicanism and the ordained ministry in pleasant surprises in this volume—too many to Arne Grøn attempts to problematise a firm dis- the first of these two books under review enumerate here. However, the staggering level of tinction between transcendence and immanence by and he has combined with an American engagement with Hegel, Schleiermacher, attending to the ways that humans are situated in scholar, Robert Slocum, to edit the second Kierkegaard, and Heidegger throughout this vol- time and history. If all our language and ways of from the Canterbury Studies in Anglican- ume is an explicit recognition of the influence that being are tensed, then how can we speak of a God ism series. There is overlap in what Percy their writings had on the development of modern who is eternal and beyond time and tense? To do writes in the two books but both are well theology and philosophy—calling into question so, Grøn turns to Kierkegaard’s argument that worth reading and should be of interest not whether this development can be understood with- ‘genuine transcendence interrupts a purely human just to Anglicans but to anyone concerned out them. transcendence’ especially in our ‘tendency to ideal- for the future of the Christian Church. For instance, there are some noteworthy contri- ize and idolize love’ (438). Grøn points to Certain themes emerge in Percy’s work butions in this handbook such as: George Patti- Kierkegaard’s emphasis on the Hebrew and Chris- deserving careful consideration. He son’s essay, which explores how, to its detriment, tian Bible that depicts not a God without history, accepts a decline in churchgoing in Britain reflection upon death has been sidelined in modern but rather the God who is sovereign over history, but is not too excited about it. “The task of the church, sometimes, is theology and philosophy as thinkers have resisted and who ‘in suffering and weakness, takes part in just to wait and hope, pray and work for better times.” Christianity is simultaneously any notion of post-mortem survival. human history’ (439). In other words, Grøn says more resilient than many realise and it is likely that religion and faith Pattison holds up Kierkegaard, Tolstoy, Dosto- that it is not until the focus moves ‘beyond time’ are diversifying, not dying. He even tells us that “faith is just as vibrant evsky, and Heidegger as a unique contrast to the that the question of time can appear—that is, the in the 21st century as it was for the Victorians”. prevailing paradigm that develops throughout question of human concern and self-understanding. Some new forms of faith attract his criticism. He worries about a modernity, which presents itself as a resource to Grøn concludes with a beautiful reflection upon the church looking inwards and concentrating on the spiritual experi- both theologians and philosophers. Using these theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, as the ences of its members and the growing stress on individual choice. He thinkers’ reflections on death, Pattison argues that way ‘the transcendence of time takes place in time contrasts a utility model of the church with a market model. The for- theology and philosophy are chastened from false coming to us’ (453). mer allows anyone with any kind of claim to belong, no matter how consolation, and instead moved toward a construal Out of thirty-one contributions, only six of them tenuous, to do so; the latter recognises only those who fulfil specified of hope as gift rather than construct. were written by women, and two-thirds of all the criteria for membership. Another helpful essay is by Werner Jeanrond, contributors have done, or are currently conduct- Defying a widely accepted point of view, Percy rejects any distinction who presents a primer on the contours and chal- ing research at Cambridge and Oxford—providing between ‘mission’ and ‘maintenance’. Quite rightly he points out that lenges to a Christian theology of love after moder- a snapshot of a portion of the academic theological keeping a great church building in good repair so that people can use nity. Of all the ideas that undergo paradigm shifts landscape in Britain. Nevertheless, this handbook it is a work of mission. In ‘A Point of Balance’, a Roman Catholic, Tom throughout history, the human need for love is one brings the reader up to speed on recent debates Hughson, quotes Paul Avis’ argument that pastoral ministry is able to that remains constant—uniting all people regard- about identity, the human condition, political theo- cultivate an openness to the sacred that lays dormant in many non- less of creed, culture, and era. What becomes dis- ry, metaphysics, and hermeneutics amid the churchgoers. putable is whether this need can be met without exchange between theology and continental philos- Not surprisingly Percy is not a fan of Fresh Expressions and the crit- God. This short essay is a good introduction to ophy during the nineteenth and twentieth century. icisms he makes are all on the mark. He worries that it attracts people Jeanrond’s book, A Theology of Love (T&T Clark, Perfect for seminary and research libraries, it pro- who are weary of the institutional church and want to cultivate their 2010). vides graduate students with the relevant biblio- spiritual lives with a group of like-minded individuals. ‘Niche’ religion Tracey Rowland provides a whirlwind tour of var- graphic information to pursue further research. colludes with individualism and pluralism. He regards the Fresh ious appeals to, and uses of ‘tradition’ from the ref- Joshua Furnal Expressions movement as a middle class (‘bourgeois’) phenomenon that will put pressure on the parish church and damage the link between religion and social capital. Much of what Percy has to say rings true to me on the basis of my V&A dissolves myths around pearls in major new show own past ministry in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion. Where he seems to me overoptimistic is in his belief that By Vincent Flon The exhibition includes a stunning evening dress Anglicanism is committed to diversity and to the position that some complete with lavish gold and white beadwork disputed questions cannot be decided. Conservatives are open in their or centuries, pearls have been a symbol of worn by Queen Elizabeth II on a state visit to Paris rejection of this point of view; liberals have a habit of enforcing con- beauty and purity and this autumn the V & A in 1957. Other notable items include a pearl neck- formity to their creed in subtle ways. The English used to be good at Fhave put on a superb exhibition explaining lace given to Marilyn Monroe (who sur- this; the Americans have always been more upfront and determined to the origins alongside showcasing their beauty. prisingly had little interest in jewellery) push their views. Robert Slocum describes how the Episcopal Church We see them from our childhood with the Lit- by Joe DiMaggio on their honeymoon. has backtracked on its original statement of the rights of conscience tle Mermaid to the red carpet in Cannes for She apparently loved it so much she and made objection to the of women canonically illegal. the Festival. These timeless sea gems evoke wore it at their divorce hearing a few Traditionalists now fear a similar stand in relation to sexuality. A in us refinement, purity and elegance. months later. good case can be made for arguing that liberal intolerance in the Epis- Pearls are fascinating, born from an Beauty is with no doubt at the front copal Church played a major part in causing divisions in the wider impurity irritating our dear oysters, our lit- scene, a small screen gives you some Communion by encouraging traditionalists to look for support from tle shellfish will protect itself by covering the details on how Pearls are made Anglicans elsewhere. Recent debates about women bishops suggest impure invader with nacre to give one of but the child in me would have that the Church of England is beginning to go down the same track. the most beautiful and purest sphere loved a bit more interaction and Percy quotes Paula Nesbitt’s opinion that African bishops set so that every woman on earth wishes to information on the subject and much store by scripture because it offers a cross-cultural source of have in their jewel box. also how to produce their dif- authority that can challenge the dominance of rational authority asso- Back to the exhibition supported ferent natural colours. Fash- ciated with highly educated elites in the West. Certainly at the three by Qatar museum, you’ll have a full ionistas, history buffs Lambeth Conferences I attended there was a sense that the West set discovery on the Pearls history, or beauty lovers, this the rules to suit itself. Appeals to scripture were a way to challenge their interest for French women exhibition is for you. this. where competition was raging to Try to visit it during Paula Nesbitt contributes an essay to ‘A Point of Balance’ that makes have the perfect Pearl fashion the week and avoid a uneasy reading. She sees a growing division among Anglican clergy in piece. Saturday afternoon. The the US between those who become rectors and those who do not With pearled items such as slightly cramped space attain full-time employment. Women usually fill positions that are embroidery, necklaces, scarves, can be easily unbearable if ‘lower-paid, part-time or non-stipendiary’ and an increase in their num- brooches and gloves, you’ll discover you are inpatient. A must see: ber has led to ‘a concentration of men in positions offering higher sta- pearls on many forms and will be delighted the frozen pearl necklace for tus and attainment’. to discover a little universe every time you its unique beauty. Paul Richardson go from a window to another and worn by prestigious Ladies but also masculine Roy- Marilyn Monroe Open from Sep 21-Jan 19 alties. (020 7942 2000, vam.ac.uk)

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 12 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 1, 2013 Comment

Wine of the Week

Viña Chocalan Reserva Janey Lee Grace Cabernet Franc 2010 Tesco £8.99 (in store offer to 12 November) Live Healthy! Live Happy! www.tesco.com/wine

A wine from chocolate? The name drew me. One for chocoholics? I poured it, deepest red, into my glass. The nose gave out rich spice, the first sip signalled that it needed time to breathe, indeed, decanting, for the tannins were assertive. (Four years old, the wine is still evolving, so it will certainly Thinking about death keep.) I gave it 20 minutes: cherry and blackcur- I had the pleasure of interviewing a fellow will, I’ve given it no further thought. Of weeks a comforting or peaceful time rant fruit appeared, resulting in Hay House author Felicity Warner course it’s the one certainty, but few of us ensuring that people die with dignity and an enjoyable balance on the recently and she introduced me to her like to think about it, and none of us know without fear. palate. The finish was quite innovative work, which is offering holistic when our time is up. Interesting soul midwives draw on assertive. An educative experi- and spiritual care for the dying. Felicity encourages everyone to make some traditional skills, many long ence, as Cabernet Franc is most She calls herself their wishes for their forgotten, to assist people including often used in blends. The Alco- and her growing ending known to their essential oils and candles, gentle hol by Vol. is in the higher range tribe of people she Felicity loved ones. “Give it lots of massage, anointing, and even sound: she of 14.5%, so drink moderately, has trained ‘soul Warner thought,” she uses a singing bowl to literally ‘bathe’ facilitated by its ability to be midwives’ and as recommends, “would you them in sound. happy for a day or so in the you immediately like music to be played, if I remember well that with each fridge after opening and think of the word so what kind? Who would pregnancy I planned ahead and made a then emerging to be drunk midwife it you like to be with you and birth plan. I intend to face my own when at room temperature. conjures up rather importantly who do you mortality and open up a channel of We get the word chocolate paradoxically an NOT want there?” communication about my from the Amerindians for image of birth. She suggests that death experience. I’m the drink they made from The word was you make a plan for a told it’s not necessary to the cacao bean. The winery chosen specifically ‘really good death’ be solemn. It is OK to from which our bottle to make that and stick it on the bring humour into it too, comes, located in the connection: “We fridge door. so I may let the kids chip esteemed Maipo Valley in help people Dying has always in with the music Chile, says that Chocolan prepare for death had a bad press. choice… I’ll keep you means “yellow blossoms”, just as they might for a birth – and Many more people die in hospital posted! which cover their hillsides achieve a powerful and peaceful end to with the words ‘There’s nothing in spring. Good with a spicy their lives,” Felicity says. more we can do’ ringing in their The Soul Midwives beef dish. I’ll fess up right away: I’m a complete ears, but soul midwives believe that handbook by Felicity ‘wuss’ when it comes to even thinking there is lots that can be done to Warner is published by Hay Graham Gendall Norton about death and, aside from making a make the last few hours, days or House

out Ephraimites who couldn't pro- thyself into thy ------, rest, and be PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 872 by Axe nounce 'sh' [Judg] (11) still' [Jer/KJV] (8) 19 '...Abel was a keeper of sheep, but 14 Law of the Jews, from the lawgiver Cain was a ------of the ground' at Mt Sinai [Exod] (6) [Gen/KJV] (6) 16 'But the ship was now in the midst 20 Priest who anointed Israel's first of the sea, ------with waves' two kings [1 Sam] (6) [Matt/KJV] (6) 18 'You will be protected from the ---- Down of the tongue...' [Job/NIV] (4)

1Prophet hired by Balak to curse Solution to last week’s crossword the Israelites [Num; Josh; Neh] (6) Across: 4 Gethsemane, 8 Archer, 9 Agabus, 2'...Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; 10 Tyndale, 11 Nine, 12 Rows, 14 Galatia, 18 and --- him, all ye people' Tattoo, 19 Miriam, 20 Scriptures. [Rom/KJV] (4) 3Town used throughout the Bible Down: 1 Method, 2 Choral, 3 Hanani, 5 Esau, as a warning of God's judgment 6 Ecumenical, 7 Greyfriars, 13 Waters, 15 [Gen; Isa; Matt] (8) Armour, 16 Agreed, 17 Pomp. 4Senior church officers (6) 6Of an animal made as an offering to God (11) 8'There on the plains of Moab they camped ...from Beth Jeshimoth to ------' [Num/NIV] (4,7) 11 'O thou sword of the Lord...put

The first correct entry drawn will win a book of the Editor’s choice. Send your entry to Crossword Number 872, The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX by next Friday

Name

Address Across 12 'In my vision I saw myself in the city of ---- in the province of Elam' 5Usurper of the throne from the [Dan/NIV] (4) sons of Jeroboam [I Kgs] (6) 13 King of Israel, father of Ahab [1 7Prophet, seer (6) Kgs] (4) 9Jurisdiction of a primate (11) 15 Nonbelievers (8) Post Code 10 Site of the Sikhs' Golden Temple 17 Peculiarities of speech, from a test (8) word used by Gileadites to catch

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Classifieds/Anglican Life Friday November 1, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 13 Letters from the edge rom pregnant prisoners to seriously ill orphans, “There’s nothing we like more Fthan befriending a stranger,” say David and Heather Sharland. As Church Mission Society mission partners they’ve now lived in Africa longer than most Ugandans (where more than half the population is under 15). But they’ve never stopped walking alongside people on the edge, as Heather writes from their home in remote northwest Uganda.

We’re always conscious of those who want to belong but seem to be unnoticed by the majority. There’s nothing we like more than befriending a stranger who’s looking awkward during the church service... or a new mission partner who feels they’re not quite a part of the friendship groups that have formed. So we’ve spent much of our mission life developing ministries that reach out to people who miss out on what everyone else seems to have access to, either physically or spiritually. Jesus came for the least, the last and the lost... and his life gave many examples of him exercising this ministry. With Christ comes God’s incarnation, where he reaches out to the world and invites us to become part of his kingdom. Now there’s an offer for anyone feeling ‘on the edge’!

Good news for the poor As a nation we celebrated the birth of a royal baby in July. Every preparation was made for the arrival of Prince George. The ward at St Mary’s Hospital was prepared. The equipment had been checked to make sure it was in perfect working order. The medical staff on standby were advised not to drink any alcohol so that they would be in peak shape to deliver this most precious baby. The mother had been given good advice also and had eaten a good diet, had attended antenatal clinic and had rested and done her exercises. We waited and then heard the news that mother and baby were both well. In Uganda another ‘princess’ is about to give birth, but her circumstances are very different. She wears a yellow dress. She has had no antenatal care. Her diet has been thick porridge and a few beans. Hard labour is part of her daily routine, she carries heavy loads on her head and rest is not part of the day. No preparation is being made for the birth of her baby. We gave her a Maama Kit. It contains all the materials needed to help with the delivery. We wait to hear the news that mother and baby are well. Our Ugandan ‘princess’ is Mama G. She is expecting her fifth baby this month. She has been in prison for the last six months and her case has not yet been heard in court. Over the past few weeks Heather has been helping teach an Alpha course in Arua women’s prison. They usually have between 50 to 70 women attending.

Release for the captives The Alpha meal is a mug of black tea with sugar in it and a dry roll of bread. The women are delighted, as it is the only time they get hot tea with sugar and bread to eat. Such a small offering and yet it has a great impact. Several women have given their lives to Christ and others have asked for forgiveness, and many are seeking Christ. It is a privilege to walk with them on this part of their journey. We also have heard testimonies from those released from prison; they have gone to their local church and testified that the church came to them in their distress. Some have even walked 18 miles to the diocesan office to thank us for being with them and praying for them in prison. It is sad to see such young and beautiful women in prison; 10 of them have babies under two years old with them. Yet they have such a joy when they sing and listen to scripture. They usually sing a song to welcome us to prison: “Our mothers our fathers will forsake us but Jesus never will. Our husbands may abuse us,

Continued on next page 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 1, 2013 Register/Anglican Life

APPOINTMENTS ANGLICAN CYCLE OF wark’s Permission to Officiate. Charge of Maidstone, St Martin (Canterbury). PRAYER The Rev Charles Pickstone, The Rev David John Adling- Vicar of St Laurence, Catford. to ton, be Honorary Canon, Southwark RETIREMENTS & Priest in Charge of Elham with Friday 01 November. All Saints. Psalm 142, Ezek 9. Truro - (Can- Cathedral (Southwark). RESIGNATIONS Denton and Wootton, has been terbury, England): The Rt Rev Timothy Thornton; Truro - St Ger- appointed Priest in Charge of mans: The Rt Rev Royden Screech The Rev Geoffrey William Folkestone, St Peter and Associ- Pugh, The Revd Dr Allan Barton, ate Priest of The Folkestone Saturday 02 November. All Souls’ Day. Psalm 143:1-11, Lk 15:1-10. Curate in Training, Ruscombe Priest in Charge of the Quintet Benefice of St Mary, St Ean- Tuam, Killala & Achonry - (Armagh, Ireland): The Rt Rev Patrick and Twyford with Hurst, Sonning Benefice (Aylmerton, Beeston swythe and St Saviour. David will William Rooke Deanery, to be Assistant Curate Regis, Gresham and Runton with continue to be Assistant Area (to be known as SSM Assoc East Runton). Has resigned due Dean of Elham Deanery (Canter- Sunday 03 November. Pentecost 24. Psalm 32:4-9, Jn 3:1-15. Udi - Priest), Ruscombe and Tywford to ill health (Norwich). bury). (Enugu, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Chjioke Augustine Aneke with Hurst (Oxford). The Rev Graham Lewis The Rev Hadley Bennet, Monday 04 November. Psalm 33:13-22, Jn 3:16-21. Ughelli - (Ben- The Rev Joan Roper, Collingwood, SSM Assistant Curate at del, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Cyril Odutemu SSM Curate of Shifnal and Sher- To resign as Vicar of New Ross- Grayshott in the Guildford Dio- riffhales with Tong in the Diocese ington St Luke (Sheffield). cese, has been appointed Chap- Tuesday 05 November. Psalm 34:1-10, Jn 3:22-30. Ukhahlamba - of Lichfield, to be SSM Curate of lain of Alton College (Southern Africa): The Rt Rev Mazwi Tisani the benefice of Great and Little The Revd Brian Faulkner, (Winchester). Ouseburn with Marton-cum- Rector of Scarrowbeck Group Wednesday 06 November. Psalm 34:11-22, Jn 3:31-36. Ukwa - (Aba, Grafton and Whixley with Green (Erpingham) in the Deanery of The Rev David Beresford, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Samuel Kelechi Eze; Umuahia - (Aba, Nige- Hammerton in the Diocese of Ingworth has retired (Norwich) Curate: Bury with Houghton & ria): The Most Rev Dr Ikechi Nwachukwu Nwosu Ripon and Leeds. Coldwaltham & Hardham (Chich- The Rev Thomas Harris, ester), left Diocese for Luton. Thursday 07 November. Psalm 36:5-9, Isa 52: 11-15. Umzimvubu - The Rev Dr Jonathan James Priest-in Charge of Great Mass- (Southern Africa): The Rt Rev Mlibo Ngewu Singh, ingham Benefice is to retire (Nor- The Rev Michael Vincent Saint Michael’s Hospice, Crimple wich) Berret, House, Hornbeam Park Avenue, Curate in Training, SS Peter & The Rev Philip John Carring- Trust Chaplain with Hampshire Harrogate, has been given the The Rev Eric Pollard, Paul’s Wantage, Wantage Dean- ton, Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bishop’s Permission to Officiate Priest-in-Charge: Preston, St ery, to be Assistant Curate (to be has been given the Bishop’s Per- with effect from 1st October (Ripon and Leeds). Matthias (Chichester) is to retire. known as SSM Associate Priest), mission to Officiate (Ripon and (Winchester). Ss Peter and Paul, Wantage Leeds). The Rev Barrie John Slatter, (Oxford). The Revd Edward (Eddie) The Rev Dr Stephen Spencer, Rector of The Alde River Benefice The Rev Helen Julie Charlton, Bryan Green, Vicar of St Martin’s, Brighouse, (St Edmundsbury and Ipswich) The Rev Lyn Elizabeth Bliss, NSM Curate in Training, Woking- Team Vicar, Cherwell Valley and St John’s, Clifton, and Tanza- to retire with effect from 9 Febru- Curate in Training, Bradfield and ham All Saints, Sonning Deanery (Oxford) to be Vicar, Leavesden, nia Link Officer (Wakefield), now ary 2014 Stanford Dingley and Buckle- to be Assistant Curate (to be All Saints (St Albans) also Honorary Canon of Musoma bury, Bradfield Deanery, to be known as SSM Assoc Priest), Cathedral, Diocese of Mara, Tan- The Rev Chrisopher Wray, Assistant Curate (to be known as Wokingham All Saints (Oxford). The Rev Lydia Madeleine Gas- zania. Vicar of Ripponden and Bark- SSM Assoc Priest), Bradfield, ton, island with West Scammonden Stanford Dingley and Bucklebury The Rev Archie Coates, Asst. Curate (Erdington, Christ The Rev Simon Alexander (Wakefield) has retired with (Oxford). Incumbent: Brighton, St Peter to the King), Diocese of Birming- Thorn, effect from 31st August 2013. be also Priest-in-Charge: White- ham to be Vicar, Christ Church, Curate in Training, Hermitage The Rev Dr Stephen Frederick hawk, St Cuthman (Chichester). Yardley Wood, Diocese of Birm- Team Benefice, Newbury Dean- LAY & OTHER Brian, ingham ery & Chaplain at Downe House APPOINTMENTS Rector of the Mid Loes Benefice, The Rev Ian Cooper, School Newbury, to be be Assis- has been appointed as Rural Dean Priest-in-Charge of Peacehaven & The Rev Christopher Idle, tant Curate (to be known as SSM Sarah Hewitt, of Loes (St Edmundsbury and Telscombe Cliffs with Piddinghoe now holds the Bishop of South- Assoc Priest), Hermitage Team has been licensed as Lay Mission- Ipswich). & Telscombe Village is now wark’s Permission to Officiate. Benefice, Newbury (Oxford) er for the ASUM group of parish- Incumbent of the same (Chich- es in Evesham (Worcester). The Rev Sonya Brown, ester). The Rev Luke Irvine-Capel, The Rev James Henry Turner, Assistant Curate, St Philip’s, from Pimlico to be Priest-in- SSM Associate Priest, Middleton DEATHS Leicester (Leicester), to be Priest- The Rev Deborah Karin May Charge of Christ Church, St St Cross and Middleton St Mary, in-Charge, Bedford, All Saints (St Davison, Leonards-on-Sea (Chichester). to be SSM Curate, to be known as Albans). Assistant Curate in Training, All Associate Minister, in the Parish The Rev Thomas George Bur- Saints Boyn Hill, Maidenhead & The Rev Dr Rosemarie Mal- of Beeston (Ripon and Leeds). man, The Rev Rosemary Bruce, Windsor Deanery to be Asst lett, Honorary Assistant Curate of For- Curate in Training, Drayton St Curate in Training, Wokingham Vicar of St John’s Angell Town, to The Rev Jocelyn (Joss) Rachel est Hill 1989-2003, Honorary Peter’s, Abingdon Deanery, to be St Paul (Oxford) be Honorary Canon, Southwark Walker, Assistant Curate of Perry Hill, S Assistant Curate (to be known as Cathedral (Southwark). has been appointed Acting Dioce- George with Christ Church and S SSM Assoc Priest), Drayton St The Rev Sr Eve Elmes, san Director of Ordinands (part Paul 2003-2007, Permission to Peter, Abingdon (Oxford). who has the Bishop’s Permission The Rev Nadim Nassar, time) with effect from 23 October Officiate 2007-2010 died on 18th to Offficiate, has been appointed now holds the Bishop of South- 2013. Joss will remain Priest in October 2013 (Southwark).

continued from page 13 residential home of Luku Yesuni (which means ‘living under the cover of Jesus’). but Jesus never will…. He is with us He has lived here for the past five years. always. He is with us in prison....” I was Since coming into the home, he has moved to tears as they sung those words. continued to grow and develop and has a lovely faith in Jesus. Freedom for the downtrodden With good care and nutrition, his joint Bernard is another young man on the pains have reduced and now he only edge. Both of his parents are dead. He receives a blood transfusion about once a was living with his grandmother and year. being supported by an organisation called David is on the board of ORA Uganda ORA. At a young age it was discovered he and I am the health adviser to the had sickle cell anaemia. programme, which supports 125 His joints were painful and he needed a orphaned and vulnerable children in the blood transfusion almost every month. community to stay with guardians. Only His grandmother was convinced someone eight are in residential care. had put a curse on his life and took him to It is a privilege to share the love of various traditional healers who cut his Jesus with these young people and skin to release the spirits that were encourage them that they are part of a causing pain in his joints. She then felt family. The Maama Kit is one of many that she could no longer look after “such a May God continue to give us a heart for Bernard at Luku Yesuni Home: things in Heather’s toolbox for boy who was going to die”. people at the edge, and wisdom, energy Young man on the edge: Bernard is promoting good health among Bernard was admitted into the ORA and creativity as we journey with them. now receiving the treatm pregnant women and new mothers. Sunday Friday November 1, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 15

Compassionate God, as you was fear and trust in God know each star you have cre- that saved them (v11). SUNDAY SERVICE ated, so you know the secrets THE SPIRITUAL The prayer spiritualises of every heart; in your loving all this with its picture of a mercy bring to your table all table spread for the weak 3rd Sunday before Advent who are fearful and broken, DIRECTOR and needy and the ‘city of ... all who are wounded and peace’, or does it? It is hard (Sunday 10th November). needy, that our hungers may to pray this prayer and not be satisfied in the city of your have vivid images of Chris- Job 19:23-27 peace; through Christ who is By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare tians fleeing persecution our peace. Amen. (Prayer around the world, of 2 Thessalonians 2 accompanying Psalm 147) image. The setting of the countless heavenly bodies refugees leaving Syria in Luke 20:27-38 psalm is the rebuilding of but also provides for his droves with nowhere to go, As a child I had a friend Jerusalem and the gather- creation by sending rain of boatloads of migrants who lived on a dairy farm. ing in of ‘the outcasts of and making the pastures afloat on the hostile ocean. The key theme of our readings this week is the resur- The black and white Israel’ (v2). These include flourish so that the crea- If God has compassion on rection hope that we have in Christ. This is, of course, Friesian herd was quite the broken-hearted and the tures of the earth are fed all he has made, that must an appropriate message for Remembrance Sunday. large and they all looked wounded (v3) who are the (vv 8-10). include these also. Job 19 is a wonderful shaft of light, casting forth a the same to me but my focus of the accompanying In his fatherly care of cre- The reference to God’s sparkling testimony to the gospel from the obscure friend knew how many prayer above. ation God’s power and ten- table takes us straight to shadows of the Old Testament. The suffering Job is there were and every one derness are clearly both at the cross and our remem- convinced that one day he will have an opportunity to had its own name. In Gen The words power and work. He is not a capricious brance of it at communion put his case to God. Indeed, he seems insistent that 15:5 God challenged Abra- might are not often uttered God like the pagan gods. while the ‘city of peace’ is someone will stand on his side, his living redeemer, his ham to count the stars, in the same breath as com- The psalm then points our ultimate hope God. This will happen after his skin has been which of course he could passion and mercy, but in out that God is unim- described in Revelation. destroyed, that is, after his death, at the last day, when not do, yet here the this God they are natural pressed by human shows of What does it mean as peo- he will again be enfleshed. At this bodily resurrection, Psalmist exclaims that God companions. The psalm power. Verse 10 suggests ple whose hope is in these his eyes will see God, and he will finally be able to can not only count them but goes on to develop this the might of armies on things to pray ‘Compassion- speak to him. He longs for that day, and his heart faints names them all as well. unlikely partnership, which horseback riding to battle, ate God’? At the very least it within him. It is this same God who human beings fail time after but it was not military must mean that we too are The Sadducees who confronted Jesus did not believe has compassion on all that time to grasp. First of all prowess that brought them to live in ways that demon- in such bodily resurrections. As the old but theological- he has made, not least God is praised as the one home to the security of strate God’s own compas- ly apposite joke has it, that's why they were sad, you human beings who bear his who not only masters the their beloved city. Rather it sion towards his world. see. They think they have caught Jesus in a trap with an absurd reductio ad absurdum argument about a woman with seven consecutive (and related) husbands. But he is ready for such trickery and rebukes them for knowing neither the power of God nor the Scriptures. He affirms that there is indeed a resurrection hope, but not for those who "belong to this age." Those who will Verse and Verse be raised are the children of God, and they are raised once-and-for-all, never to die again. They are to be transformed in some way, and made "like the angels", in the sense that they do not marry. Since they had used an obscure Leviticus provision By Alan Edwards in their rather convoluted question, Jesus also responds with some astonishing exegesis of his own. The chill of a recent autumn day was warmed when I They should have known that people are raised from heard, from the neighbouring garden, the aunt of a young the dead, and are all "living" to him, because he calls child singing nursery rhymes as she carried the himself (in a Pentateuchal text central to Sadducee the- youngster across the lawn. ology) the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. How rarely does one hear such a sound nowadays, and Though they are to our eyes "dead", God says he IS how rarely does one hear a poem or song of any kind that their God still. QED as far as Jesus is concerned; yet now rhymes. Rhyme has had its time. his interlocutors were no doubt left dumbfounded (as Among the losses has been the disappearance of many commentators seem to be). Yet the Word incar- the rhyming advertising jingle, a poetic tradition that had nate knows best how to interpret the word in scripture. the insights of a Shakespeare sonnet and the linguistic 2 Thessalonians speaks emphatically and with crys- cadences of ‘Beowulf’, so well captured by the late Seamus tal clarity of "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." On Heaney. that great and awesome day, we will be gathered in ‘Hwaet’ Thus begins Beowulf - or ‘Stop’ as Heaney ren- Christ and to Christ. The scattered people of God, dis- dered it. Follow this advice reader and stop. Do you realise persed throughout the world, will finally come togeth- that many of the well-known advertising jingles of former er. The glory of Christ is opened to those who believe years were composed by the late Poet Laureate, John Bet- the proclamation of the good news. God chose them jeman? Years of research led me to this conclusion, but By the 1970s, the minimalist verse characterised by the and sanctified them by his Spirit, calling them to some- narrow minded academics won’t accept my thesis. The Beatles’ ‘All You Need is Love’, with its repeated refrain, thing purer and higher and greater. This glorious proof comes if you recite ‘A Mars a day helps you work, had reached advertising. ‘Don’t forget the fruit gums, prospect is set before the Thessalonians to strengthen rest play.’ Can’t you just hear Betjeman? Where was the Mum’ was typical. An indication that advancing years were them in the face of temptations and dangers, and to Mars factory? Slough, in his beloved Metroland. My view hindering Betjeman’s style. I once worked for Boots whose give them "eternal comfort and good hope." In is that the Mars jingle is his apology for having expressed Radio Luxembourg jingle was ‘You can get it all at Boots, response, they speak good words and do good works, the wish that ‘friendly bombs would rain on Slough.’ What Boots, Boots.’ A pioneering minimalist slogan even before so that in turn it is not just they who are blessed, but other proof do scholars need? Is curiosity as well as poetry the Beatles had hatched. others through them. The God of Abraham continues dead? If only I could persuade Mary Beard to ditch Pom- Falling educational standards from the 1970s onwards to bless the world through those who have the faith of peii for poetry, then my research would be accepted. were reflected in the Heinz refrain: ‘A million housewives their father, and they share in the resurrection he too Poetry that rhymes, particularly verses learned in child- every day/ Pick up a tin of beans and say/ Beanz meanz will enjoy. hood, can be a great support. Brave deeds stimulated by Heinz.’ Betjeman had obviously put down his Waverley reciting ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade.’ Consolation to pen. Can you imagine him writing ‘Summoned by Bellz?’ Lee Gatiss is Director of Church Society and editor of the face the faltering steps of old age from Burns’ ‘John Ander- However, despite Michael Gove’s attempts to restore for- NIV Proclamation Bible. son my jo’. mer educational standards, many modern academics, Whenever ‘I never felt more like singing the Blues’ I’m probably the same people that won’t accept my Betjeman consoled by lines learned at my granny’s knee: They come thesis, say that in the age of text-speak, spelling and gram- as a boon and a blessing to men; The Pickwick, the Owl mar don’t matter. HYMN SUGGESTIONS and the Waverley pen.’ Another famous versifier anticipated the fleeting nature Betjeman was at his best when commending products of the advertising jingle when he wrote ‘The Corona man is that brought mental and physical relief. Who can forget his down your way; He hasn’t very long to stay’, lines echoing Andrews Liver Salts song? ‘Just a glass in the morning, the melancholy of ‘The Waste Land.’ The verse Will soon stop you yawning; And Andrews will brighten structure suggests that the author indeed was TS Eliot. To God be the glory you up every day.’ Betjeman was not alone in adding advertising to his poet- There is a hope so sure Andrews has been replaced as a laxative by lager ic portfolio. shandy, but the jingle’s hopeful tone, and that of other If you’re reading the ‘CEN’ at the breakfast table join me See, what a morning pharmaceutical songs, were brothers to those spiritual in reciting a century old verse. ‘High o’er the fence leaps Be still my soul melodies accompanying the Moody and Sankey Revival. Sunny Jim. Force is the food that raises him.’ ‘Force’, earli- The God of Abraham praise For example, ‘Let the lower lights be burning! Send a est of the breakfast cereals; Sunny Jim, the cheerful ath- gleam across the wave! Some poor fainting, struggling sea- lete featured on the packet. Alas, this pioneer cereal, like man, You may rescue, you may save.’ rhyming jingles, died this year. Milestones

The Government has launched a public con- sultation seeking views on its proposals to per- mit a building to be registered to perform same sexmarriages where the space is shared by more than one faith, including churches. A motion to end the traditional practise of swear- ing on the Bible in court has been rejected by

the Magistrates’ Association. The Religious Education Council for England and Wales has proposed that children from the age of five should learn about humanism in school. St John’s College College Nottingham are releasing an Advent Book for 2013 entitled What the Future Brings, availiable to order now, with a series of readings covering the Advent and ‘ Christmas period, writen by staff and students...

policies were chosen because of their mass appeal, not because they were well thought out and likely to work. Unfortunately some of the ‘The great purposes of P A U L aims of the populists were not laudable. They were anti-Catholic, suspicious of immigration, God are delivered by a R I C H A R D S O N opposed to the teaching of evolution in schools church with a vision of and supporters of prohibition. heaven and feet that walk Ed Miliband’s promise to freeze energy the dusty roads’, Church and World prices is a perfect example of populism. He has seized on a real problem and offered a policy Archbishop Justin Welby that is more likely to appeal to the public than provide a lasting solution. If it deters invest- ment it could well make the problem much worse in the long term. The best way to stop the price of energy rising is to promote energy ‘ Danger of efficiency and find new sources. To be fair to Miliband, the Tories are not slow to embrace populist policies themselves. People The vans Theresa May sent around the coun- try warning illegal immigrants to leave the His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex is now populism country were another example of populism, a the Royal Patron of Winchester Cathedral Capital token gesture that had little impact other than Appeal, set out to transform the experience of Commentators in Britain have been he does not have to worry about to upset people and reinforce prejudices. Some Cathedral visitors through conservation and quick to draw comparisons putting together a broad coalition. of the rhetoric about welfare falls into the same repair of the Cathedral’s fabric, three new exhbi- between the right wing of the Instead he can get by with appeal- category although reform of the welfare sys- tions and a refurbished visitor centre.The Revd Republican Party and the ing to his core vote together with tem is needed and Iain Duncan Smith Canon Alyson Buxton, Director of Ministry in Eurosceptic wing of the Tory Party. those left-wing Liberal Democrats deserves credit for not using populist rhetoric theDiocese of Ely, is to move to a new job in the Just as the Republicans have the who have deserted their party about scroungers and cheats. DIocese of Lincoln as Team Rector of Boston Tea Party breathing down their since the formation of the coalition. Populism works for a time but in the long neck, so Tory Eurosceptics are He has decided to do this with a run people see it for what it is. Miliband got a conscious of the challenge from populist policy, the main plank of bounce in the polls after his conference speech Ukip. which up to now has been the but now the figures are back to where they What no one has drawn attention promise to freeze fuel prices for 20 were before. Labour’s lead over the Tories is to is a comparison that can be made months although other promises down to about three per cent – not a healthy between the Republicans and Ed are likely to be offered as well. Pop- situation for an opposition party at this stage in Miliband. Republicans in the the electoral cycle. House of Representatives have Where do the become more extreme as a churches stand on result of the redrawing of district populism? In 19th Cen- boundaries by Republican Gov- tury America the ernors. This widespread act of Protestant Churches, vote-rigging has meant that the especially the Republicans have a majority in Methodists and the the House of Representatives Baptists, were support- even though they gained fewer ers of populism. In total votes than the Democrats. Britain they have tend- It also means that in many dis- ed to oppose right- tricts the main fight takes place wing populism over in the primaries within the immigration or welfare Republican Party. The strongest but to tolerate pop- threat to sitting members comes ulism from the left. from Republican challengers Justin Welby is clearly who will seek to capture the Tea tempted by left-wing Party vote. populism as his As a result of flawed electoral remarks on energy system, American politics has prices show. His pred- become more polarised. Ed ecessor was quite open Miliband is pinning his faith on ulism also hails from America. The about his own political beliefs but they were similarly flawed system here. As a populists made a big impact in the usually based on deep thinking and theological result of the Lib Dem refusal to US at the end of the 19th Century conviction. I often disagreed with Rowan agree to the redrawing of con- and beginning of the 20th Century. Williams’ conclusions while respecting the stituency boundaries after Jesse William Jennings Bryan was the arguments he advanced in their support. Next Week’s News Norman and his friends put an end great leader of rural populists, Welby has thought a good deal about the to reform of the House of Lords the famous for a speech in which he banking industry. He has argued here for a Tories are left in a situation where said Americans were being cruci- change in attitude rather than more regulation. Guy Fawkes Night is being celebrated across they have to pile up many more fied on a ‘cross of gold’. Late in life Many of us will point to laws about racial preju- the country next week, with many churches hold- votes than Labour to win a majority he was to prosecute John Scopes in dice and respond that often regulation is the ing Firework parties on and around 5 November. at Westminster. the notorious ‘Monkey Trial’. way to change attitude. But at least Welby The International Day for Preventing the Ed Miliband knows that he can Some of the aims of the populists speaks from knowledge on this issue. On other Exploitation of the Environment in War and win power at Westminster with less were good. They wanted to pro- questions such as his comments on energy he Armed Conflict is remembered on Wednesday 6 than 40 per cent of the total vote. As mote fellowship, harmony and has a disturbing tendency to shoot from the November. with the Republicans, this means equality. A problem was that their hip in a populist manner.

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