Egypt: Is it The latest INSIDE getting any arts and better for media Christians? reviewed, p6 p11 THE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2013 No: 6199 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 CHURCH OF ENGLAND THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Evangelicals attacked for schools work By Amaris Cole volunteer inside schools. cant and growing incursion of about the message of these volun- by name in the report, OAC The accusation that these evangelical organisations into teers, ‘exposing their children to (Open Air Campaigns) Ministries THE HUMAN rights of parents groups are ‘infiltrating’ and publicly funded education’. unwelcome and wholly inappro- GB, has responded to the claims who chose a non-religious ‘manipulating’ children has been The NSS has now written to the priate religious evangelism and that they are ‘targeting and upbringing for their children met by harsh criticism by the Education Secretary Michael proselytisation’. exploiting’ schools. are being undermined by faith groups concerned, including Gove to ask for national guidance Shortfalls in religious educa- OAC National Director Peter groups ‘preaching’ in schools, thousands of volunteers across on the work of outside visitors, tion, as identified by Ofsted, was Kennelly said: “OAC is trusted a secular report claims. the country who donate their time particularly these faith groups. causing many head teachers to because we are professional and The National Secular Society to run these clubs for young peo- The secular organisations says accept help from external reli- do not cross any inappropriate has criticized the involvement of ple. there has been a ‘marked gious groups, the report sug- boundaries. evangelical Christian organisa- The report, Evangelism in State increase’ in the number of parents gests. tions in assemblies and clubs who Schools, claims ‘there is a signifi- contacting them with concerns One of the groups mentioned Continued on page 4 New leader of Fresh Expressions unveiled By Amaris Cole “I am also excited that the Canon Potter says it is a Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, General great privilege to take on this CANON PHIL POTTER will Secretary of the Methodist new role for the next phase of succeed Bishop Graham Church, will be chairman of its development, believing in Cray as the next Archbish- the Board of Fresh Expres- the movement that is ‘trans- ops’ Missioner and leader sions. I am grateful to God for forming the missional life of so of the Fresh Expressions the growth we have already many churches in this country team, the Archbishops seen through Fresh Expres- and around the world’. announced this week. sions and for the other denomi- Paying tribute to previous It was announced on Mon- nations with whom this leaders Bishops Steven Croft day by the Archbishops of Can- ministry is shared.” and Graham Cray, Canon Pot- terbury and York that Canon The Archbishop of York, ter said he looks forward to Potter will take up the role at John Sentamu, said: “Phil Pot- building on their foundations. the beginning of April 2014. ter has a strong track record in Canon Potter said: “Liver- The Archbishop of Canter- pioneer ministry in his own pool has been a very special bury, Justin Welby, is said to be Diocese of Liverpool and place for me and I will always ‘delighted’. beyond. I am confident that his be grateful for the support of “Phil is a skilled and imagi- leadership of the Fresh the Diocese and the way it has native practitioner whose Expressions team will encouraged the development achievements as a pioneer min- strengthen the Church’s mis- of fresh expressions of church. ister and church builder have sion as both Fresh Expres- “I will take that spirit of open- been extraordinary,” the Arch- sions and inherited Church ness with me into this new bishop said. “At the same time, work together to proclaim challenge and would pray that I would like to express my Christ afresh in this and for this third phase of Fresh deep thanks to Bishop Graham coming generations. He has Expressions will see many for his five years of distin- my full support and will be in more people champion its min- Canon Phil Potter and Bishop Graham Cray guished service. my prayers.” istry and effectiveness.”
PETER MULLEN 7 • COMMENT 7 • LETTERS 8 • ANDREW CAREY 10 • CLERGY MOVES 14 • BOB MAYO 15 • PAUL RICHARDSON 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday October 18, 2013 News Inside... Pop-up café draws the The original Church newspaper
News ...... 1-5 Your Church ...... 2 UK News ...... 1-4 World News ...... 5 crowds to St Martin’s Comment A NEW CAFÉ in the courtyard at St Jeremy Moodey ...... 6 Martin-in-the-Fields has been opened, Leader ...... 7 designed by Platform 5 Architects. Peter Mullen ...... 7 Church leaders at St Martin’s wanted a Letters ...... 8 welcoming facility for local workers, Nigel Nelson ...... 9 residents and tourists, that would also Andrew Carey ...... 10 generate additional income to support Graham Kings ...... 10 the work of the church and the long- Books ...... 11 term preservation of its listed build- ings. The Café in the Courtyard, located in the corner opposite St Martin’s East Window, is a small and self-contained temporary struc- ture with a simple design. The contempo- rary materials are a visual contrast to the historic surroundings and provide a focus Arts and Media ...... 11 for the site. Janey Lee Grace ...... 12 Since the opening in June this year, it has Crossword ...... 12 welcomed almost 9,000 visitors and is expected to serve up to 15,000 people by the The Record end of the season. Classifieds ...... 13 Peter Allen, Partner at Platform 5 Archi- Clergy Moves ...... 14 tects, said: “We are delighted at the success Spiritual Director ...... 15 of The Café in the Courtyard. As we had Sunday Service ...... 15 hoped, it is a stylish little building that has Bob Mayo ...... 15 brought a fresh identity and new activity to Paul Richardson ...... 16 an otherwise underused pocket of London, and sites.” delighted to see the launch of the Café in the People ...... 16 and valuable additional income to St Martin- Allyson Hargreaves, Business Operations Courtyard. Our customers love it – and we Milestones ...... 16 in-the-Fields. We believe our response Director at St Martin-in-the-Fields Ltd, said: are pleased to see some of them returning Next week’s news ...... 16 offers solutions for similar organisations “After several years in the planning we are several times during the week.” Two clergy among the 101 most influential gays in the UK By Amaris Cole noted that he was the first person openly in a same-sex he was listed as the 95th most important LGBT person in marriage to be nominated as an Anglican bishop in 2003, 2013. THE 2013 Pink List has recognised two members of although he later withdrew. On Twitter, Richard Coles said: “It is good to be in such the clergy in its run-down of the 101 most influential John has previously featured on the Pink List, and was company.” gay, lesbian and transgender people that made a dif- quoted for being pro-gay marriage because “I’m sure God Paris Lees, Editor of META magazine, was placed Num- ference this year. is too.” ber One on the Pink List, with the judges believing she The Dean of St Albans Cathedral, Jeffrey John, and the The Rev Richard Coles made his first appearance on the was ‘leading a slow but determined change in attitudes for Rev Richard Coles were both credited on the list, compiled list, noted for being a former member of The Commu- the better’. by the Independent on Sunday. nards, as well as co-presenting Saturday Live on Radio 4. Peter Tatchell, Sue Perkins and Carol Ann Duffy also In the description of the Dean, who ranked 71st, it was As a keen Tweeter with over 50,000 followers on the site, placed highly. Church News from Your your diocese
Guildford: Guildford Cathedral has funds for repairs and development. In addi- cil (WCC), has been awarded a first-round into Paddington and complementing West- received initial support from the Heritage tion to the HLF full application, a further pass and development funding of £263,000 minster Council’s plans for significant Lottery Fund (HLF) for a £4.5m bid for £2.2 million is needed – of which £1.3m is from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for housing renewal and economic develop- repairs to the Cathedral fabric and develop- partnership funding for the HLF project. the restoration of St Mary Magdalene’s ment in the area. Fr Henry Everett, the ment of its project: Securing Guildford The Dean, the Very Rev Dianna Gwilliams, Church as a new heritage centre in Vicar of St Mary Magdalene’s, added: Cathedral’s future: treasures, memories said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the Paddington, as well as continuing as a “This project is about honouring the inten- and stories revealed. A grant of £329,100 Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this parish church in one of the most multiply tion of the original founders of St Mary has been awarded to fund development support. The building is at risk and this is a deprived wards in Westminster and greater Magdalene’s to bring joy, light, colour and work towards submitting a full application vital first step towards both its repair and to London. The project will involve the a sense of pride to this very deprived area next year with a view to starting work in secure its future. There is a long journey restoration of the Grade 1 listed church, of Westminster.” 2015. The project aims to carry out urgent ahead but this initial grant is a real boost to which is widely regarded as an outstanding repairs and to protect the Cathedral for us and represents the start of a new chap- example of neo-Gothic architecture and Ripon and Leeds: St George’s Crypt’s current and future generations. Through ter in the exciting story of ‘The People’s design, but has been largely closed to the holistic training and horticulture arm, ‘The the help of volunteers the project will also Cathedral’. To find out how you can help public, and on the English Heritage’s ‘at Growing Rooms’, has won a gold award in record the unique story of the 200,000 the Appeal please contact appeal@guild- risk’ register. The funding will also go this year’s Leeds in Bloom competition. brick-givers, whose generosity completed ford-cathedral.org or visit www.guildford- towards the construction of a new ‘Her- Started as a 12-step response to alcoholism the building of ‘The People’s Cathedral’. An cathedral.org/appeal. itage Wing’ at St Mary Magdalene’s. The and drug addiction, ‘The Growing Rooms’ educational programme and improved consortium expects the project to have a aims to rehabilitate drug addicts and alco- archives will enable more people to learn London: A consortium of the Diocese of transformative impact on Westbourne holics not only through this 12-step theory about and engage with the Cathedral and London, St Mary Magdalene’s Paddington Green, a key regeneration area within the but also by engaging them in gardening its story. The project is part of a wider £7m PCC and Paddington Development Trust, City of Westminster, potentially attracting projects, providing training, fitness and a Cathedral Appeal to raise urgently needed with the support of Westminster City Coun- an upfront £4m in external investments distraction from addiction.
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The Evangelical Alliance has Bishop Michael Nazir- ❏criticised the government for ❏Ali has warned that Schools need to continually increasing prizes and Britain risks becoming stakes for gambling machines to actively “anti-Christian” at a secure the profit margins of big busi- book launch in London last ness. week. The latest government response Bishop Nazir-Ali made the pushes up the prizes or stakes for comments during a speech at change to tackle jobs many categories of gambling the launch of Wilberforce machine in response to requests Publications, a new Christian from industry groups that such publishing house seeking By Amaris Cole incredible changes that technol- have been done in the last few changes were necessary for their to equip Christians to “face ogy has brought about. centuries, he argued. economic survival. the challenges of the secular SCHOOLS NEED to change “Nobody considers the Firstly, experts have spread In response to the planned increas- world”. to tackle the ‘very real’ prob- tremendous changes brought up the belief that these low-skilled es the Alliance questioned whether Drawing on his own experi- lem of youth unemployment, a to the business industry.” jobs are disappearing, and the the government’s priorities put the ence of persecution, both per- government adviser warned. Lord Young is now engaged in second mistake was to send 50 profits of the gambling industry sonally and as President of Speaking at a seminar organ- encouraging enterprise training per cent of young people to uni- ahead of protection of the poorest. OXTRAD, Bishop Nazir-Ali ised by the Council for Chris- in schools, universities and Fur- versity. The Triennial Review of Gaming said that persecution “always tians and Jews, Lord David ther Education centres, which he “Nobody gave any thought of Machine Stake and Prize Limits was begins with marginalisation Young of Graffham said young believes should be the approach to how that made people feel who also seen by faith groups as a missed and discrimination in the people need to be taught the the ‘global problem’ of unemploy- are not going to university. opportunity to tackle the scourge of workplace and in public life”. skills necessary to work for ment amongst the under-25s. He went on: “When only 20 per Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in bet- He added that Britain is in themselves, as this is the way What is needed is a more ‘flex- cent went to university it didn’t ting shops across the country. The danger of becoming not just industry is headed. ible society’, Lord Young matter, but now you feel like high stakes mean vast amounts can “unchristian” but “anti-Chris- The Enterprise Adviser to believes. your life is less legitimate in be lost quickly and the power of local tian” unless the growing mar- David Cameron noted the “Small firms can be more inno- some way if you don’t go.” authorities to control the spread of ginalisation of Christian faith changes to the working world vative and more effective. The think tank Director, who betting shops is very limited. in Britain is addressed. since he left school in 1948, with “Looking at an economy that is describes himself as post-liberal, firms shrinking due to techno- much more diverse and smaller stressed that aspiration should The Israel Government Tourist Office has launched a new competition on logical advances and an increas- will be a better economy.” be encouraged, but suggested www.walkwherejesuswalked.com offering one person a week-long Easter ing number of people working David Goodhart of Demos also the degrees on offer to students holiday in Israel for two from 17-24 April 2014. for themselves. spoke at the seminar, arguing today were increasingly menial. The prize includes seven nights’ accommodation for two people and return “We still educate people in the last few generations had got Humanity courses in particular flights from London to Tel Aviv, with highlights of the trip including the school to work for large compa- into ‘a bit of a fix’ in terms of atti- received Mr Goodhart’s condem- chance to pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, wander the streets of nies,” Lord Young explained, say- tude to employment. nation, recalling how his daugh- Jerusalem’s Old City, a trip to Tiberius where Jesus lived and preached on ing ‘getting a job’ is what Mr Goodhart said the job mar- ter only had to write one essay a the shores of the Sea of Galilee, a chance to see the site of his first miracle at children are taught to aim for. ket today was an hour-glass month during her degree, while the Wedding Church in Cana and a visit to the caves where the Dead Sea “No one ever mentions work- shape, with a large proportion of engineering students had to do a Scrolls were discovered. ing for yourself and you really jobs at the very top, a small num- great deal more work. In order to be in with a chance to win, entrants must tell IGTO how a visit have to bring that in as early as ber of middle-earner jobs and Too many jobs, and indeed to the Holy Land would benefit their spiritual life. possible,” the Enterprise Adviser then about 9 million jobs that are whole sectors, are regarded by Entrance for the completion close on 23 December at 9am. believes. low-skilled and low-paid. young people as only good and the winner will be announced by 31 December 2013 on www.walk- “The problem is they haven’t “At the same time, we have enough for failures and foreign- wherejesuswalked.com. the faintest idea how to work for almost gone out of our way to ers, he added. themselves.” discourage our young people Apprenticeships need to be Victorian business was based from taking the jobs that are revived, in line with countries Chaplain defends work of MPs on military lines going down to there for them, many of which like Austria and Germany, who By Amaris Cole were delighted she was given the the shop floor, but today it is are in that bottom part of the boast a low rate of youth unem- role. much flatter, with most business- hour-glass. ployment. The Chaplain to the Speaker of They felt it was an honour to es only having three levels. “We have a crisis of esteem for “We have to do something the House of Commons has Hackney, she says, believing that He said: “This is a very real the lower jobs.” about this,” the Demos head con- defended MPs, urging the ‘Parliament has got one of ours!’. problem, partly caused by the Two ‘incredibly stupid things’ cluded. press to ‘think’ before they run She also recalled meeting stories to ruin them. Barack Obama, which she cher- The Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin ishes as one of the best experi- has spoken out in an interview ences that has happened since she Pope to sell his Harley Davidson released this week, saying that began work in Parliament, while Parliamentarians may describing the American Presi- By Amaris Cole ‘replaced by fleeting human idols which offer the appear as a homogenous group to dent as ‘charming, handsome and intoxication of a slash of freedom, but in the end the outside world, she sees a very gorgeous’. THE POPE is selling a Harley Davidson bring new forms of slavery and death’. different side to them. He complimented a dress-coat motorbike at auction to raise money for a hos- The motorbike will now be sold to raise funds for While the problems the elected she was wearing at the time, tel for the homeless in Rome. the refurbishment of a hostel and soup kitchen run elite have may be different to which she now calls her ‘Barack Pope Francis was given the flashy motorbike by the charity Caritas. those faced by her parishioners in Obama Coat’. when 35,000 enthusiasts revved into Rome to cele- The Pope has shown his aversion to expensive Hackney, the Chaplain says they “He held my hand and looked brate the 110th birthday of the brand, riding into St vehicles, shunning the Mercedes Popemobile in have challenges in their lives in into my eyes and said: ‘Oh man, Peter’s Square for a papal blessing in June. favour of a Fiat on many trips, and warning a group the same way. you look spiff!’.” He warned the crowds that God is at risk of being of trainee priests and nuns to avoid fast cars. “Human beings are human beings; that’s the reality,” she said. “Being here you actually get to see a completely dif- ferent side to what the press tries to sell you about MPs.” Ms Hudson-Wilkin says that when she sees Mem- bers and staff ‘trying to work out their faith in their par- ties, in various policies, in liv- ing’ she can identify and recognise God in them. When she was offered the role in Parliament in 2010, Ms Hudson-Wilkin says Hackney residents, both churchgoers and others,
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DPP statement on abortion angers campaigners Archbishop: banking The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has released a statement on the Crown Prosecution Service’s failure to pros- ecute two doctors exposed by the Telegraph for offering abor- tions based on gender. In his statement DPP Keir Starmer said: “... there may be laws need toughening circumstances, in which termination of pregnancy on grounds of fetal sex would be lawful…” CEO of Christian Legal Centre Andrea Minchiello Williams THE ARCHBISHOP of Canter- gamed any system of regulation loses its way in ethics and culture, responded, saying: “This response from the DPP shows that bury has called for the Govern- going. All of that was dealt with as it did in the early years of this the Abortion Act isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. It allows ment’s proposed new banking under regulatory processes that did century, there is catastrophe in reg- doctors to do whatever they like ‘in good faith’. regulation to be toughened up. not work. ulatory terms. Banks will be split Dr Justin Welby was a member of “They still fixed LIBOR, gamed up; people will come in and take Durban brutality condemned the Parliamentary Commission on the system and did all kinds of other them apart. The ongoing brutality by Durban city officials against resi- Banking Standards and has spoken things. The force of culture in those “The Government has argued that dents of the densely populated Cato Crest informal settle- out in support of its recommenda- institutions made it hard to chal- such a drastic step should require ment has been strongly condemned by the Church Land tions in the House of Lords. lenge and it is very noticeable that further primary legislation, but that Programme (CLP). The Government proposes that over 10 years when this was going argument seems to carry very little In recent weeks, armed police have used live ammunition banks should ring-fence investment on at its worst the number of people weight. to shoot a group of peaceful protesters, including 17-year-old banking activity to stop it contami- who blew whistles on this was “The amendment ... ensures that Nqobile Nzuza, who died at the scene after being shot in the nating their retial banking arms. almost zero. The culture made it the banking industry realises that back. Another protester was shot in the arm, and one remains The Commission argued the Gov- very hard to discern that what you poor culture leads to fatal shocks, in hospital recovering from rubber bullet wounds sustained ernment should legislate to provide were doing was not right.” not to a little buzz in the fingers.” in a previous attack by the city’s Land Invasion Unit. a power to split banks up entirely if He said the meltdown of 2008 He said new leadership in some Bishop Rubin Phillip of the KwaZulu Natal Church Leaders’ the ring-fence proves ineffective. affected the City for a while but “far- banks was changing the culture Group said: “We are outraged by the failure of our state to Dr Welby said the important thing flung areas of deprivation and pover- “very effectively” but the amend- provide the most basic of necessities to those that live in our was “culture and ethics, not detailed ty in our country suffered grievous ment would reinforce it not only for city. Their actions undermine the dignity we hold onto. rules”. blows of further damage from which this generation but for future gener- “The police have failed to protect members of our society; “We all remember Bob Diamond, they are still in the process not even ations. instead they shoot and kill protesters and act outside of the the chief executive of Barclays, say- of looking for recovery”. It would “act as a permanent law themselves. Their behaviour is destroying the fabric of ing that culture is what happens Speaking in favour of an amend- reminder to the banking industry of our society. We will continue to pray and to protest against when no one is looking,” he said ment that would have provided the the danger of slipping back into the these abuses of power.” during committee stage of the backstop of complete separation, he bad old ways”. Financial Services (Banking said: “The amendment increases Treasury minister Lord Deighton Scottish Christians take a StAnd Reform) Bill. vastly the voltage of the ring-fence. argued the complete separation of Christians across Scotland are uniting for The StAnd: a year “We know what happened when If it has to be used, like much of retail and investment banking was of prayer leading up to the Independence Referendum in Sep- no one was looking in the culture of these forms of regulation, it will “not a sanction or deterrent” but a tember 2014. some parts of the banking industry - have failed to some degree. “different policy” and rejected the The year of prayer will be launched at a 12-hour worship they fixed LIBOR, overgeared and “But it says that, if the industry amendment. and prayer event on St Andrew’s Day, 30 November, in Queen’s Park Baptist Church, Glasgow. The initiative was inspired by 100 years of prayer undertak- Call for a comprehensive review of Abortion Act en by the Moravian Church in 18th century Germany in a small village called Herrnhut. THE BISHOP of Chester has called for a “compre- case exposed by the Telegraph was “far more complex” “We can’t replicate the move of God experienced by the hensive” review of the way abortion laws operate than it appeared. Moravians, but we can take time – take a StAnd together – to in this country. Bishop Forster asked him at question time in the seek him in prayer and fasting, in worship and repentance,” Bishop Peter Forster’s comments come after the Lords: “Does not this case, and in particular the letter says Lynne Paterson, Tearfund Scotland Director. “We trust Director of Public Prosecutions announced he would from the Director of Public Prosecutions, taken togeth- that as we do our part, God will also do his.” not be taking any action against two doctors alleged to er with the overall fact that, I believe, nearly a quarter of have offered to carry out an abortion on the grounds of recognised pregnancies are deliberately ended in the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has urged the gender. womb, call for a comprehensive review of the operation United Nations General Assembly to focus on continu- DPP Keir Starmer’s decision followed an investigation of the Act in its entirety?” ing violations of human rights, including abuses of free- by the Daily Telegraph, which exposed alleged abuses Lord Wallace replied: “I am certainly cognisant of the dom of religion or belief, in the forthcoming annual of the 1967 Abortion Act. strong views that are held about this Act and its opera- resolution on Burma. Advocate General for Scotland Lord Wallace of tion. One of the clear things emerging from this case is Tankerness, who speaks for the Attorney General’s the great need to have clearer guidance for doctors on Hurricane warnings ‘must be learnt’ department in the House of Lords, said abortion on the how to carry out their functions and the tests that are The Leprosy Mission warns that lessons learnt from Hurri- grounds of sex alone was “wholly repugnant” but the set down in Section 1 of the Abortion Act.” cane Nargis must be a key component in overseas disaster planning. Charities are failing to put disaster planning at the heart of Continued from page one that we are, do not seek to evange- schools, and claim that the Depart- project planning, warned The Leprosy Mission on the UN’s lise or proselytise.” ment for Education have been International Day for Disaster Reduction on Sunday 13 Octo- “Indeed, often when the school Twitter saw a large engagement ‘caught severely lacking’ in terms of ber. knows that it is to be inspected by on the issue on Friday. the regulation of religious groups. There are one billion people with disabilities in the world Ofsted, one of our staff is invited in One volunteer encouraged the In a statement, the NSS said: and the prevalence of people with disabilities is higher in poor to take the assembly. I imagine that NSS to run its own clubs and assem- “Evangelical Christians can be a communities, and so the charity says it is therefore para- this is for a number of reasons, as a blies to challenge the ‘thousands resourceful bunch. Packaging their mount that disaster planning is an integral part of project help to the staff who do not have to offered for free by Christians’. evangelism as an ‘educational planning protecting the good work already done to prosper a concern themselves with preparing Paul Bate of the Association of resource’, well-organised and some- community. an assembly, to show local commu- Christian Teachers and a former times well-funded evangelical nity involvement in the school, to head of a faith school said: “Some groups and individuals are busy in Immigration Bill concern ensure a well presented, relevant, schools, including faith schools, schools pursuing their missionary On the day that the Immigration Bill was formally intro- fun assembly.” have a clear statement in their arti- objectives to ‘bring children to duced last week, CSAN called on the Government to Mr Kennelly says the success of cles prohibiting staff from prose- Jesus’ by providing schools with ensure that ‘vulnerable individuals are not put at risk the organisation is built on the rela- lytising within the school. subjective and manipulative teach- of harm as a result of their legal status’ and called on tionships it has formed with head “Indeed, the faith school where I ing resources, delivering lessons the Government to ‘take every necessary step to teachers, teachers and the pupils was head had such a statement with- (not only as part of RE), and by ensure that stigma or prejudice is not exacerbated’. themselves. in their articles and the RE curricu- preaching to pupils during schools CSAN (Caritas Social Action Network), the domestic “Every type of school, whether a lum was based around the teaching visits.” social action arm of the Catholic Church in England state school, a faith school, a free of philosophy, ethics, and giving the Their Campaigns Manager, and Wales has voiced its concern about the proposed school or an academy warmly invites students an understanding of all Stephen Evans, said: “Instead of Immigration Bill, claiming that it ‘could lead to minori- us again and again,” he added. faiths - which included secularism.” talking about God in religious edu- ty groups struggling to access healthcare and find “We know that this is because we The NSS criticise the ease of cation, what these groups really housing’. are professional, act as the guests access for faith groups to enter want to see is pupils talking to him.”
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By George Conger know that God knows our every return of the Lord. I believe all of thought,” he said. these signs are evident today,” he The government was incapable said, adding “we cannot go on President Barack Obama’s of changing the human heart. much longer in the sea of slogan of “hope and change” “Hope is certain only through his immorality without judgment was a cliché that ignored the Son Jesus Christ — not in the coming. unprecedented moral and eco- change agents of the world, and “We are at a crossroads, and nomic decline for America, the when the end of the world as we there are profound moral issues Rev Billy Graham declared. In know it takes place at Christ’s at stake. It is time to return to bib- an interview published on 6 return, no government can pre- lical truth. The warning is clear; October the renowned evan- vent it and no individual can prepare to meet thy God—fol- gelist also offered a scathing escape it. Those who hope for it lowed by the voice of the gentle critique of the US govern- will welcome it; those who refuse Shepherd—the Lord Jesus—say- ment’s domestic and foreign to embrace its reality will never ing, ‘Come to Me all you who personal data collection pro- change its certainty,” he said. labour and are heavy laden, and I grammes, calling them an In a discussion of his latest will give you rest’ A new world is attack on liberty. book, “The Reason for My Hope: coming,” the 94-year-old evangel- “Americans have always fought Salvation,” Dr Graham told News- ist said. for freedom. This is why America max he also believed the signs of Since his first crusade in 1947 was founded — to worship the the times pointed to the imminent Billy Graham has preached to mil- one true God openly with no fear return of Jesus. lions of people around the world. of tyranny. Our early fathers led “While we are told not to specu- He told Newsmax that while he our nation according to biblical late about dates, God keeps his was no longer able to travel due to principles. Hope and change has promises and this is why we can his physical infirmities, he hoped become a cliché in our nation and be sure that the return of Christ is to record a television programme it is daunting to think that any America was “turning away ment knowing our every move near,” Dr Graham said. in November to encourage the American could hope for change from what has made it so great, that could lead to losing our free- “Scripture tells us that there “people of the world to turn to from what God has blessed.” but far greater than the govern- dom to worship God publicly is to will be signs pointing toward the God.” Australian diocese has funds frozen South Africa adopts Covenant WITH LITTLE fanfare, and no importance of renewing in a solemn we are called in our own particular con- THE BISHOP of Dubbo Anglican Gram- debate, the General Synod of the way our commitment to one another, texts and according to our own order- Bathurst in New South mar Schools and All Anglican Church of Southern Africa and to the common understanding of ing, in response to this common gift Wales reports the Saints’ College in has adopted the Anglican faith and order we have received, so and calling we have received in our Commonwealth Bank Bathurst. The diocese Covenant. that the bonds of affection which hold Lord Jesus Christ.” has frozen diocesan was unable to make a bal- Meeting in Benoni, near Johannes- us together may be re-affirmed and And they reaffirmed the synod’s bank accounts in an loon payment of $8 mil- burg, the synod adopted a second read- intensified. We do this in order to “belief that this ordering of shared attempt to recoup lion due in September ing of the Covenant, which it had reflect, in our relations with one anoth- Communion life may be furthered as Aus$36 million debt. 2012 prompting its credi- affirmed in 2010. er, God’s own faithfulness and promis- set out in the Preamble to the In a letter to his dio- tors to push the diocese The motion was introduced by the es towards us in Christ.” Covenant”, which called upon the Com- cese read to churches on to liquidate properties to Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most The proposed motion asked the munion “to proclaim more effectively 6 October, the Rt Rev Ian raise cash. Rev Thabo Makgoba of South Africa synod to note its adoption of the in our different contexts the grace of Palmer reported the gar- The September sale of and seconded by the Dean of the Covenant in 2010 and to “confirm” it. It God revealed in the gospel, to offer nishment would not the two grammar schools Province, the Rt Rev Rubin Philip, Bish- recommitted the ACSA “to playing the God’s love in responding to the needs touch parish accounts or had “crystallised” the op of Natal. fullest possible role at the heart of the of the world, to maintain the unity of diocesan payroll diocese’s debt leaving it Bishop Philip told the synod the Communion, working to promote its the Spirit in the bond of peace and accounts. “At the in a “very difficult place”, Covenant would not change the exist- unity in diversity and strengthening of together with all God’s people to attain moment there are some Bishop Palmer said. The ing synodical structures of the Com- bonds of affection, in a life of mutuality the full stature of Christ.” accounts that are frozen, diocese was in “intense” munion, but quoting from the and interdependence, shared between The motion was adopted without dis- these are affecting negotiation with the document said “we recognise the autonomous Churches, acting each as sent. myself,” he wrote, adding bank, he said and “we’re “it’s affecting things like still doing our sums”. being able to use a credit “It’s a fairly urgent situ- EU cash for new Zanzibar Cathedral works card, but it’s not affecting ation,” he reported, how- wages.” ever, “the important CHRIST CHURCH Cathedral in Zanzibar has been ters Islamic institutions on the island and is responsible for “I am unable to see thing is the parishes are awarded a grant by the EU to build a heritage and over 50 per cent of the historic housing stock in Stone Town, clearly what the diocese continuing to operate as education centre on the cathedral’s precincts to com- the island’s capital. may look like in the normal.” memorate the abolition of slavery. The project will be implemented by World Monuments future,” he said, as the “We will need to give Construction on the coral stone Gothic cathedral began in Fund and its partners, the Anglican Church of Tanzania, the debt “is large and we can- financially and sacrificial- 1873 on the site of Zanzibar’s old slave market, with the altar Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Society and the UK charity not repay the bank in ly for the work of the located on the spot of the slave market’s whipping post. Con- Christian Engineers in Development. full.” church in this diocese” to secrated in 1903 the church has a barrel vault cement roof “Our hope is that the preservation and promotion of this Last year, Bishop continue Bishop Palmer and incorporates perpendicular Gothic and Islamic architec- historical site in Zanzibar will fuel a sense of common Palmer’s predecessor, wrote, noting the Novem- tural details. belonging for the Zanzibari people and of ownership of their the Rt Rev Richard Hur- ber meeting of synod Funds from the EU grant, supported by the US State cultural heritage; it should contribute to building national ford, told the diocese it would be asked to review Department and the Governments of Tanzania and Zanz- identity in the diversity, tolerance and solidarity between was a guarantor of $38 a variety of options to pay ibar, will also go towards the material upkeep and repair of faiths, communities and peoples,” said the EU Ambassador million in debts incurred off the loans. the cathedral. The project will also provide heritage man- to Tanzania, Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi. by the Orange and agement training to the Wakf commission, which adminis-
[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 6 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday October 18, 2013 Comment Are things getting better in Egypt?
By Jeremy Moodey widely reported around the world, that over 30 million Egyptians, a third of the I have just returned from a week visit- population, had demonstrated against ing our Christian partners in Egypt, President Morsi on 30 June 2013. The and it is a sad sign of the times that the sheer scale of this number appeared effec- security checks to get into the enor- tively to strip Morsi of his democratic legit- mous compound of St Mark’s Coptic imacy and give the army the excuse it Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo would not needed to move against the Muslim Broth- shame an international airport. ers. In reality, the figure of 30 million Egyptian soldiers sit awkwardly in demonstrators is probably a massive exag- armoured vehicles outside the main gates, geration. while the Coptic Church’s own security The Qatari-owned newspaper Al-Jazeera, people nervously scan your baggage. Pope admittedly no friend of the anti-Morsi cam- Tawadros II had to suspend his weekly paign, reports that the maximum number audiences at the cathedral, attended by of anti-Morsi demonstrators who could thousands of faithful Copts, for two possibly fit in the total area of major public months. On my previous visit to Cairo a spaces in Egyptian cities was fewer than 3 year ago you could wander into St Mark’s million. But whatever the number, Morsi at will; today it feels like a church under had clearly lost significant popular support siege. through his autocratic rule and misman- And it is not difficult to see why. Since agement of Egypt’s teetering economy. the ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood Another positive sign is that Christians from power on 3 July, following mass have been invited to participate in the draft- demonstrations and a celebrated anti- ing of a new constitution for Egypt, and it is Morsi tweet by Pope Tawadros, there has hoped that this will lead to greater protec- been a severe backlash against Egypt’s tion for minority rights, even if the situa- Christian community, who are perceived tion on the ground between Islamists and by Islamists to have been in the forefront of Christians remains fraught. the popular movement to overthrow But the anecdotal evidence from my visit Egypt’s first democratically-elected gov- was less encouraging. One of the features ernment. of the declining presence of Arab Chris- Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox tians in the Middle East is that it is invari- Church in the UK has listed no fewer than ably the professional and managerial 89 Christian institutions and homes across five Copts killed in earlier sectarian clash- already a large Coptic diaspora, estimated classes who are the first to emigrate to the Egypt that were damaged or destroyed in a es. at almost half a million. West. This has been true in Palestine, as one-week period during August. The cur- The big question is: will the trickle of But when I was in Cairo earlier this doctors and engineers despair of their ever rent number, especially when it comes to Copts who have been leaving Egypt since month there were some green shoots of being an end to Israel’s occupation of their Christian homes and businesses in the the fall of President Mubarak in 2011 and optimism. There was widespread relief land and the oppression and dispossession rural areas, will be many times that figure. the (temporary) renaissance of the Muslim among many Egyptians, not just the Copts, of their people. In parts of upper (southern) Egypt, espe- Brotherhood now become a deluge, a mass that the Muslim Brotherhood had been The middle classes leave because they cially around the city of el-Minya, whole exodus? overthrown. This was on the basis that can (having professional qualifications churches have been burnt to the ground. The signs are not encouraging: a Coptic they had squandered the democratic man- which they can use in another country) Even before the ousting of the Muslim Orthodox church in the town of Fairfax in date narrowly given to them in the June and because they are more likely to have Brothers and their figurehead president, the US state of Virginia suggested recently 2012 elections and had been rumbled as a relatives living abroad. Mohamed Morsi, things were starting to that around a dozen Coptic families were party whose real agenda (particularly in And so it appears in Egypt. I was get hairy for Egypt’s Copts. Back in April, arriving in the community as asylum appli- relation to the imposition of Sharia and the shocked at the number of our Christian at least one Copt was killed and dozens cants each month. This situation appears to denial of political rights) was anti-demo- partner projects around the country that injured when violent mobs attacked St be replicated in communities around Cana- cratic and therefore unconstitutional. had lost, or were about to lose, key mem- Mark’s Cathedral following a funeral for da and the United States, where there is There was also great pride in the claim, bers of their leadership to emigration. There is growing evi- dence of a Christian ‘brain drain’ of the kind that so 9)/7 / $"8< 5/) 7/)9/=> enfeebled Lebanon’s @F.,"1,,"< K1, [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Leader & Comment Friday October 18, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 7 Comment China and the UK: Socialism and The new world capitalism merge China is investing in the UK, with George Osborne and Boris Johnson wooing the Chinese with a trade mission. The Chinese will invest in nuclear power stations here, basically rescuing our increasingly frail war before us power-generating capacity. They are also buying into Manchester Air- port to develop it into a trading centre, at the cost almost a billion pounds. The FT reported the start of the UK trade mission in depth. Peter Mullen rebels fighting the tyrant Assad. But that is only Boris went down rather better than George, we were told, in terms of part of the truth. The part of the truth we do not charming the crowds. One Chinese student, Vickie Tian Weixi, said Forgive me. I had intended to give you a break in generally hear about are the eyewitness reports she would object if overseas companies were buying bits of Beijing at my writings about the terrible events now taking that identify a portion of the Syrian rebels not as the same rate that Chinese companies are gobbling up large chunks of place on the international scene and (my other supporters of western democratic values but as London, to which Boris responded by saying it was vital for the proj- obsession) the banal, farcical and embarrassing members of the Muslim Brotherhood and al- ects to be built at all. The communist culture of Chinese youth is clear- doings in Anglican politics; the ludicrous posturing Qaeda. And these groups are using the uprising as ly more patriotic than UK capitalist politicians! bishops, the Vicar-of-Brayish senior or aspiring a cloak for their persecution of the Syrian Chris- The ‘sensitive’ topic of the Dalai Lama was fended off, according to clergy and their prominent representatives in the tians. And this is not confined to Syria. the FT, by Boris saying he was a humble mayor and had nothing to do mass media; men – sorry, persons - with minds so Christians have always been rather efficient in with foreign policy. Here of course was, in truth, a matter of what fine they have never been penetrated by a single defending their civilisation against jihadists. One should be a clash of values between communist China, a one-party thought. calls to mind Charles Martel and the Battle of state, and the UK, a liberal democracy protecting freedom of religion I was going to write about England in harvest Tours in AD 732 when the Muslim drive to conquer and opinion. time and the mellow happiness that is our due con- northern Europe was repelled. Or of the Siege of And this does raise an interesting comparison between the two tent. But instead I find myself driven to write about Malta. Of Don Juan of Austria. Of the Battle of Lep- nation states. China is indeed a communist state constitutionally, but the atrocities in the World War now taking place. anto. Christians have historically been capable of one that is integrating capitalistic practice in manufacturing and tech- Now be honest, you didn’t think a Third World defending themselves. But it looks as if today, in nology to great effect. For decades it manufactured cheap marketable War was going on did you? You thought a world war Europe at least, the prelates who enjoy the benefits products for the West, on which the USA and Europe began to rely, and was something fanciful and vaguely science fiction- of Christian civilisation are not willing to stand up as China’s economy and financial position began to thrive so its trading al. A cartoon nuclear catastrophe involving Russia, for it. partners had to show it respect and an equality of status. China con- China and unfortunately ourselves. But this war is For 1,500 years and more Christianity has been trols its society ruthlessly, in its one child per family law, in its control going on nonetheless and it would be unChristian the ruling influence in Europe. The first universi- of the internet, its fierce penal system and execution rate, its rigid con- and a dereliction of vocation on the part of a priest ties were created by itinerant, cosmopolitan Chris- trol of religions. And it wages cyber theft by hacking into western com- to fail to point it out. tian monks and scholars. The public schools were panies and industries for their new ideas and designs. China is not a Our secular culture, suffused in euphemism, will Christian foundations. Manners, courtesy and all pussycat, rather an Asian tiger, even as it exploits capitalist motivation never report on this. Out fatuous bishops and other the other only half-spoken rules for the conduct of and methods. ecclesiarchs – in thrall ever public life were formed out of The UK on the other hand is capitalist but is arguably moving since the Reformation to Eras- Christian principles. The greatest towards Chinese style assumptions of the big state. The Church of tian and ungodly sociology – of these principles was charity. England is firmly under Parliamentary diktat, as the gay marriage law fear it would cost them their These groups are Cathedrals dominated European shows. The state is now to control the press. The UK state increasing- jobs to tell the truth. But it will cities. And every village had its ly micro manages different people groups under its Equalities legisla- only take the first bomb to using the uprising as a parish church. The ancient Guilds tion and population flows. Academic freedom of speech is now under a blow up a bishop’s palace – cloak for their and Companies of the City of Lon- post-Rushdie state-sponsored chill factor, as Dennis Hayes argues in interesting how all these don were dedicated to their patron the September edition of The Times Higher Education. The Coalition, socialist divines live in palaces persecution of the saints. They practised Christian with no electoral mandate, changed the definition of marriage. Big – in Britain to terrify these charity. state, not big society, is the direction of travel for UK culture – almost self-interested appeasers into Syrian Christians Europe was for a millennium as if we are meeting China travelling towards us from the opposite bleating. What is the truth and a half very visibly a Christian direction. Christianity is growing in China: maybe the secular state then? Christians worldwide continent. In England, out of two chill will in fact encourage the faith here as well? are being exterminated by the centuries of civil strife, we devel- forces of Islamism. oped a particularly benign form of Christianity And he set a little child in the midst of them… under the terms of the Elizabethan Settlement. The Church of England Newspaper The little personal example often serves best to Benign, tolerant and unifying the nation – because with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week illustrate the sheer heinousness of what Christians it regarded every person in England a member of Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. have to endure. Recently in Egypt a boy, Ayman the Church of England – unless you opted out. The Company Number: 3176742 Nabil Labib, was beaten to death by his school- 1828 repeal of the Test Act extended civil liberties Publisher: Keith Young MBE mates under the eyes of their teacher. Why? to Protestant dissenters. The Catholic Emancipa- Because he refused to remove the cross he was tion Act of 1829 did the same for Roman Catholics. wearing. There exists a very courageous Christian So we enjoyed a decent set of political liberties Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY020 7222 8004 charity called The Barnabas Fund. 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The Church of England Newspaper And, if there is a Christian school, in many coun- chorus of influential voices that seeks to remove all does not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. tries it is likely to be burnt to the ground. Churches Christian influence from public life. Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), are burned every week in Pakistan. Christians are Foolishly, and in the face of history, these icono- Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, being slaughtered in Somalia, Sudan and now on a clasts and secular radicals – and in the light of Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Peter Brown, The Rev Cindy Kent huge scale in Nigeria. Islamists and Jihadists in recent events it seems we must include the Prime Egypt have stated their intention to obliterate the Minister as one of them – imagine that they can get The Church of England Newspaper, Coptic Christians who have lived there for nearly rid of Christian influence and yet all the good Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd 2,000 years. Until the militant resurgence of the things that we enjoy as a result of Christian civilisa- 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX Islamists, hundreds of thousands of Christians had tion will remain. They will not. As TS Eliot said: Editorial e-mail: [email protected] lived for centuries in Iraq. Now they have almost all “Such modest attainments as you can boast of in Advertising e-mail: [email protected] fled the country in fear of their lives. the way of polite society will hardly survive the faith Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] Many have taken refuge in Syria. Again the mass to which they owe their significance.” media does not tell us what is happening to them. In other words, if Christianity goes, the lot goes Website: www.churchnewspaper.com There is this very one-sided vision of glorious with it. [email protected]/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 8 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday October 18, 2013 Letters THE OF CHURCH 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 Faux pas riage, I have on several occa- Host a student at Christmas sions in this newspaper stated Sir, I made a terrible faux pas. I evangelicals have no consensus somehow managed to put “Colin Sir, HOST would love to hear from readers who would enjoy wel- as to what constitutes hetero- Craston” instead of “Colin Cow- coming an international student at a UK university to their home sexual marriage. Whilst claiming ard” in my letter of 11 November. this Christmas. Many students, from all over the world, will be the sole sufficiency, perspicuity Your Tweets I am well aware that that name of stuck on an almost deserted campus if we cannot find more homes and clarity of scripture they can- the person was “Coward” and am for them to go to. This is an opportunity to make friends, and do not agree whether our Lord re- familiar with “Craston”. It was just something positive towards increasing goodwill and mutual under- instituted Christian marriage as Diocese of Bristol a mental slip-up, although I am standing in the world. an indissoluble union or not. @diobrizzle fully aware it has awkward reper- Students speak English, and bring fun, interest and curiosity Some accept divorce and remar- cussions. Mr Craston is under- about our customs and culture. Zhao from China has requested a riage, others believe it is adul- “[culture] begins with the standably very upset. He has visit, adding: ‘I do hope the family are Christian, because I want to tery. So real is this division that ruthless courage and graciously accepted my apology. I know how real Christians celebrate Christmas!’ the Reform Covenant side steps determination to define your am extremely sorry and feel a bit HOST was established in 1987 by the British Council and is a reg- it. Yet both parties are using the current reality” (growth vs awkward but the damage has istered charity. Our regional organisers take care linking students Bible to tell homosexuals how to plateau vs decline)- Hybels been done. with volunteer hosts. We also arrange visits at weekends all year lead their lives. All I can do is offer unreserved round. www.hostuk.org or call HOST 020 7739 6292. Thank you. Most evangelicals have not Siki Daha @sikidaha and humble apologies. Margaret Stevens, thought out the absurdity of With all us Blakelys, Brichers, Publicity Officer, HOST their position. In fact they have Today @ActionAidUK and I Cowards and Crastons there are Unit 8 Water House, 8 Orsman Road, London N1 5QJ, Telephone: no theology of marriage or sex. release a song “BABA” to stop just too many Colins! 020 7739 6292 Even masturbation and contra- child slave labour. Go to Colin Bricher, ception, once condemned, are sikidaha.com to Northampton not even issues. Most are download.Proceeds go to “sexual immorality” (Matthew Via email unaware that until Lambeth actionaid 15:19, Mark 7:21) - a term defined 1930, all mainstream Christian Gifts in Jewish culture by the laws of Churches condemned contra- The Vicar’s Wife Sir, Alternative gifts for Hal- Leviticus 18. As he didn’t redefine Nuanced ception. @thevicarswife loween visitors? (Letter, 4 Octo- these laws, or change their scope, Sir, Whilst it is possible for some- So should I accuse evangeli- ber). Glowsticks! Message he surely accepted the law “Do one towards the middle of the cals of hypocrisy? Not at all. I just I suggest @NatSecSoc spend obvious and simple! Jesus, the not lie with a man as one lies with sexual spectrum to walk away think they have not thought their time volunteering in light of the world. Celebrate the a woman; that is detestable.” from a gay identity without laps- things out, and their flawed sys- schools rather than researching light of life rather than the world (Leviticus 18:22). Does that make ing, this is not so for the minority tem of authority, based on pri- who else is doing it. of darkness. They usually come Jesus homophobic? whose same-sex orientation is vate judgement has let them #runthetoastbar with a thin strap so they can be The Rev Iain Baker, fixed. down. I beg them to ask the worn around the neck while out- Stoke on Trent, ST7 1AG The Parable of the Lost Coin question, how did God safeguard Secularism UK @NatSecSoc2h side then hung up at home. suggests that their well-being his revelation? The Rev Graham Amey, should be our concern too. A man Robert Ian Williams, @thechurchmouse Liverpool Halloween in his 70s writes of his one regret Bangor @GodandPolitics Hi. Exactly Sir, A Wills of Ruislip asked in that ‘the warm companionship which part of the report are you your 4th October edition for ideas through life I could have enjoyed suggesting we “made up”? Says who? for gifts to give to “Trick or was denied me through homo- Despair Sir, In response to the Rev Colin Treaters”. May I suggest he con- phobic prejudice.’ There is noth- Sir, I despair: I really do! Having The Church Mouse Coward’s letter (4 October) the tacts Christian Publishing and ing ‘sordid’ about his longing to done my level best (in my letter main question that kept coming to Outreach Ltd (cpo.org.uk) where have been able to live an innocent to you a fortnight ago) to disen- @thechurchmouse.@NatSecSoc mind was “Says who?”. Mr Cow- they have several little tracts for and carefree life, within a faithful tangle the correct meaning of I can see no evidence from heads ard made various assertions of children eg “You can’t beat the and chaste relationship, akin to words now adopted for ‘gay- or governors. In fact, I see no what constituted an acceptable TREAT” (Ref. C2080TR). traditional marriage. speak’, I now read in this week’s evidence other than cherry- morality without telling us what Derek Greenland, It is not reasonable for this very CEN (4 October) a long letter picked quotes from your his ultimate authority was. Does Crawley human desire to inspire either from the Rev Colin Coward that supporters. being the director of Changing hate or fear but, then, prejudice is clearly indicates not only that he Attitude England somehow give not reasonable and needs to be never read mine but also that he Niall Gooch @niall_gooch one the authority to categorise as Language challenged for, as Winstone Per- continues to use the same ‘gay homophobic those ‘who through Sir, So, is Colin Coward accusing roton says ‘our consciences can weasel-words’ without precise This Tory government’s brutal settled, rational, thought out deci- the New Testament of homopho- be misinformed.’ definition or aetiology. cuts are responsible for that time sion, after reflection on Scripture bia? For many Christians that will An appreciation of the moral So PLEASE Mr Coward would I fell over a bench when I was 7 and after listening without preju- put him on a sticky wicket. In real- logic behind St Paul’s repudiation you kindly inform me what is the and split my head open. dice to the experiences of gay ity he is misusing language. If I of homosexual practices justifies nature of this ‘illness/disease’ #PollyToynbeeKnows people decide that the traditional think that those who are, for a more nuanced and just that you call ‘homophobia’ (cf. interpretation is correct’? Says example, greedy, are acting approach today. As a Church, we claustrophobia, agoraphobia), Diocese of who? On what grounds? By what wrongly that does not mean I am need to turn to Christ and to repent which last week in her letter a Worcester @CofEWorcester standard? I hope it wasn’t just “prejudiced” (his word) against of any lingering homophobia. lady from Lincoln suggested that cowardly bluster! them. If I think that the many who Serena Lancaster, I might have? Likewise, would RT @revdavesouthall: The Rev G Kip’ Chelashaw, live together before marriage are Moreton-in-Marsh you please identify what it is that MOVEMBER TIME SOON- Not Alsagers Bank, Staffs wrong that does not mean that I I am supposed to be afraid of, if to early to sponsor us. Go am “prejudiced” against them. labelled ‘homophobic’ (cf. MIGHTY MOVEMBER The same is true of homosexuali- Hypocrisy? anorexic, arachnophobic), since CHAPLAINS! Homophobic? ty. My moral decision about what Sir, Surely it is a very serious to stick this label on some per- uk.movember.com/mospace Sir, Colin Coward (letters 4th is right or wrong does not show I thing to accuse another of son or act without clear defini- October) says that those “who have a predetermined bias or hypocrisy, as Peter Ould does tion of meaning or evidence to through settled, rational, thought- emotional reaction. In my view (Letter, 11 October)? Did not our support it, amounts to mental out decision, after reflection on his argument simply weakens his Blessed Lord warn us of motes bullying - an activity mostly scripture” conclude same sex sex- case for he is seeking to win it not and beams? undertaken by cowards. follow us ual relationships are wrong are by biblical proof or by logic, but As an interested outside John M Hughes, @churchnewspaper on homophobic. by emotion. observer of the Anglican battle Heaton Mersey, Stockport Twitter Jesus taught negatively about The Rev William Halling, over homosexuality and mar- [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Comment Friday October 18, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 9 were afraid of tackling RE lessons Mary Bousted’s words, “they understand because they might “say the wrong the role of religion and belief in society” thing”. then surely a study of Islam in general, The Daily Star headlined this “Teachers and what leads some Muslims to become Lack Faith”. Jamie Doward in The Observ- Jihadists in particular, is a legitimate part Nigel Nelson er said the Church of England had long of the subject. campaigned for religious education to be Kids I encounter, not least my own, taken more seriously, quoting the Rev Jan want to know what drove the 9/11 hijack- View from Fleet Street Ainsworth, the C of E’s chief education ers and the 7/7 bombers. They want to officer, as saying: “It is no comfort to us know what it is in a religion that can make that Ofsted’s detailed report on the state its adherents happily blow themselves up of religious education in this country’s for it. They want to know what, if any- schools confirms all the messages we thing, the Qur’an promises for such sacri- have been giving the secretary of state fices. And they need to know what is myth over the last two years.” and misunderstanding to stop them run- The Sunday Telegraph’s education edi- ning away with wild ideas they might hear tor Graeme Paton reported “an alarming outside school. dip in standards” and wheeled out the TV Islam is tangled up with so many of the Teaching RE historian Dr David Starkey who said: “We major events in the world today that chil- Ofsted’s report into the state of religious The investigation found that 250 have to put God back into history. We dren of every religious persuasion or education in this country came as a sur- schools and academies did not enter a have got to understand the immense force none are curious about it. As children prise to me, but perhaps not for the rea- single pupil for an RE exam, prompting of religion and the relationship between should be. They should be aware of the son the schools watchdog expected. Ofsted schools director Michael Clad- religion and force.” difference between Islamic belief and Inspectors looked at 185 schools and ingbowl to say: “This just isn’t good The education editor of the Independent Islamist politics. They need to explore the found six in 10 of them failing to provide enough when religion and belief are on Sunday, Richard Garner, spoke to truth or otherwise of such clichés as: proper RE lessons. Teaching in a third of playing such a profound part in today’s Mary Bousted, general secretary of the “While not all Muslims are suicide primaries and a fifth of secondaries was world. Pupils deserve much better.” Association of Teachers and Lecturers, bombers, all suicide bombers are Mus- deficient. Ofsted said Education Secretary who told him: “Ofsted’s report tells us lims.” Come to think of it, that would No, that did not surprise me, nor I Michael Gove should now monitor the what many teachers and schools already make an excellent exam question with the should imagine would it surprise many teaching of religion more closely and know. RE has become a forgotten ‘poor addition of: “Discuss”. parents disappointed that their children improve teacher training. relation’ in the curriculum. Yet good reli- I know these are highly inflammatory were not only uninspired by their RE Mr Cladingbowl added: “Too often we gious education is vital for our young peo- and delicate matters. I can imagine teach- teachers, but failed even to engage with found religious education lessons being ple so that they understand the role of ers would rather gnaw off their right arms them. It certainly did not come as news squeezed out by other subjects. Young religion and belief in society.” than attempt to engage a class with them. to John Keast, chair of the Religious people are leaving school with little And this was the bit that really did sur- But religion is meant to confront the diffi- Education Council for England and knowledge or understanding of different prise me. What the report does not ade- cult questions. And, I submit, if the teach- Wales, who said: “We are disappointed religions.” Inspectors found the teach- quately address is the teaching of Islam in ing of it is to be effective, if it is to but not surprised by these findings. We ing of Christianity “one of the weakest schools, almost as if Ofsted is afraid of this convince children that time spent on it is have been warning the Department for aspects of RE provision.” controversial area. Yet if one of the pur- worthwhile, then RE must confront these Education for some time about the poor Children knew, for instance, what the poses of religious education is to, in the difficult questions, too. state of religious education in many difference was between Catholics and report’s words, “develop pupils’ under- Nigel Nelson is political editor of the schools.” Protestants but not why. And teachers standing of religions and beliefs” so, in Sunday People Christmas story arrives at Tesco in time for Advent The Real Advent Calendar has now arrived at Tesco. Church and charity Warm welcome by Now available from leaders have welcomed this key church leaders element of the Christmas Starts with “The Fairtrade element is a reminder to the Christ campaign. business world and consumers that we need to The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, be responsible in the way we buy goods. Above said:“This is the ]rst time that a major all The Real Advent Calendar is a reminder that supermarket has put the Christmas story so Christmas Starts with Christ.” openly at the centre of their Christmas range. The Rt Revd Tim Thornton, Bishop of Truro and Tesco is the only supermarket that will be “The copy of the Christmas story, in each Chair of The Children's Society's Board of stocking The Real Advent Calendar this year Real Advent Calendar, allows people to read Trustees, said: “The Real Advent Calendar ofers a as it has ordered enough to ofer a national The Rt Revd Tim Thornton, Bishop of and see, for themselves, what Christmas is all unique way to share the Christmas story while in-store collect and home delivery service. Truro and Chair of The Children's about. “ supporting The Children’s Society and Fairtrade. Society's BoardofTrustees. Tesco has supplies in all its major stores “The charitable element of the product is a I believe it will be widely welcomed by the faith (Extras and Superstores NOT Metro's or Charity donation reminder of the ordinariness of the family community and others. The Real Advent Express) and managers can also place Jesus Christ was born in to.“ Calendar is a chance to educate and do good.” special orders by request if they have sold out or you need bulk orders. THE ONLY CHARITY ADVENT CALENDAR Tesco - church & school bulk orders You can reserve and place orders with your WITH A FREE CHRISTMAS STORYBOOK local Tesco now. Ask your Tesco (Extras and Superstores NOT Metro's or Express) to The Real Advent Calendar is a great way to share the place a a manager's order for product real meaning of Christmas. number 074819584. You can pick up your calendars from the store or use its home There’s a line of the Christmas story and a Fairtrade delivery service. To ]nd your local Tesco chocolate star behind each window. Behind the ]nal Extras/ Superstore phone number call 0800 window is a 24-page Christmas storybook. 505 555 and give your postcode or visit www.tesco.com/storeLocator A charity donation is made to The Children’s Society. For more information see www.realadvent.co.uk www.realadvent.co.uk/shop. 10 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday October 18 2013 Comment process rather than fail- many people want regula- might indeed result in the ure, or corruption and tion to put newspapers kind of censorship that evildoing on the part of out of business, or to everyone says they want human beings. Frankly, penalise views other than to avoid. If mere regula- AndrewCarey: on a topical note no their own. But the tough- tion won’t perfect the amount of regulation in est regulatory powers in newspapers, then one can the social services and the Western world will imagine in years to come child protection will do not put the Daily Mail that politicians will contin- ViewfromthePew away with infanticide. completely out of busi- ue to interfere. That is the And even the toughest ness, which I suspect is fundamental reason why regulatory structure in the agenda for many on we cannot have even the the Western world will the left. merest ‘dab’ of statute not produce the perfect Yet putting politicians behind the press’s regula- Responding to press. And I suspect that in charge of regulation tory structure. Leveson No to group complaints Lord Justice Leveson, Hacked Off and politicians all seem quite keen on permitting I suspect that many Christians are instinc- ers and closure. Scores of journalists have ‘group’ complaints in the press’s new regulatory structure. This is a very good reason tively sympathetic to any attempt to clear been arrested and many have lost their to reject Parliament’s own regulatory structure. Campaigning groups could seek to up the excesses of a ‘Fleet Street’ that has jobs as a particular result of the hacking prevent traditional voices being heard on issues like gay marriage. In a very short been badly behaved for decades. scandal. space of time we could find religious views on marriage under attack with campaigns of Bishop Nick Baines, often thought of as Nothing that Leveson proposes, nor the vexatious complaints. Such campaigns are hardly likely to succeed in introducing a for- one of the most ‘media-savvy’ on the regulation advocated either by Parliamen- mal restriction on free speech but they could have a chilling effect on public discourse. bench of bishops, gave a lecture in March tarians in their Royal charter, or in the If you know that when you publish an article on a particular subject, you are likely to in which he argued strongly for legisla- press’s own self-regulation, addresses the trigger a campaign that then has to be the subject of onerous investigation you will tion to undergird independent regulation fundamental issue of criminality. Criminal- steer clear of hot-button subjects. of the so-called ‘media’. He declared: ity can only be tackled by police and “Those who have the power to intimidate courts. But the worst thing exposed by politicians, destroy reputations, relation- journalists was not the hacking of phones Lord Justice ships and lives, consider themselves but the closeness of press both to police Leveson immune from normal moral and legal and politicians. It was these insidious rela- accountability, are people who shape the tionships on the part of some journalists world, create a discourse, and not only set and police officers that stood in the way of agendas for public life, but also assume an effective police investigation of the the right – nay, responsibility – to act as phone hacking scandal. incontrovertible witness, judge and jury The post-Leveson consensus is consid- in a society they purport to merely erable. Most people agree that more observe.” effective and independent regulation is Therefore, he argued it is “deeply hypo- needed. Bishop Nick Baines makes an critical” that “those who do the judging argument in his lecture for tougher regu- and exposing are not themselves subject lation but he fails to say how the so-called to the same accountability”. ‘dab’ of legislation will make an ‘indepen- The trouble with this analysis is that no dent, self-regulator’ any more effective. one is immune from this scrutiny by My own view is that the role of regula- media – which in any case is not the only tion in ensuring that people do their jobs kind of accountability that we all operate effectively and ethically is highly exagger- under. Newspapers themselves exposed ated. The time-honoured response to cri- media malpractices that led to the Leve- sis is to search for better and tighter son inquiry. Newspapers are subject to regulations. The assumption is that these the ultimate accountability – loss of read- crises can be put down to a failure of Doing Theology as a Bishop: Unity Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is capacious: ‘I pray that cerning the doctrine of the Church and the theme of unity one of those who were transported to Australia, later you may have the power to comprehend, with all the is Michael Nai-Chui Poon, the Director of the Centre for returned, and was maligned by local Anglican clergy. saints, what is the breadth and length and height and the Study of Christianity in Asia, Trinity College, Singa- Andrew Woods and I and others, signed a local Covenant depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowl- pore. His 1984 Oxford D Phil thesis on John Chrysostom between the Anglicans and Methodists. edge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.’ (c. 347-407) began with: ‘Christian ethics are ecclesial’ - In these four articles exploring ‘doing theology as a bish- (Ephesians 3:18-19). which could have served as the introduction to The Wind- op’, we have considered the themes of ‘Word’, ‘Tradition’, The phrase ‘comprehend, with all the saints’ is a won- sor Report. He continued: ‘Chrysostom was insisting ‘Sacrament’ and ‘Unity’. Perhaps, in conclusion, we may derful focus for the theme of unity. ‘Saints’, means ‘Chris- equally on ethical holiness and pastoral love.’ He is an discern and trace more interrelated four-fold patterns? tians’ throughout the ages and throughout the world. Anglican member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Interna- First, in the subjects in theology: Biblical Studies (Word); Today, it includes people of all cultures and denominations tional Commission (ARCIC), has edited several books Church History (Tradition), worship and liturgy (Sacra- and hence the contemporary importance of the imperative including Church Partnerships in Asia and has written ment) and systematic theology (Unity). Second, in the tra- to strive for unity (Ephesians 4:1-6). prolifically on the Global South Anglican web site. ditions within contemporary world Christianity: The bishop who has influenced me concerning unity, I am chair of Christians Together in Dorset: mission and Evangelical (Word); Catholic (Tradition); Orthodox especially unity across the Anglican Communion, is Tom unity interweave in my ‘doing of theology’. Each year in (Sacrament); and Ecumenical (Unity). Finally, in the Wright, who was Bishop of Durham, 2003-2010, before June, I take part in a week-long parish mission. In 2010, we Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral, which stated the essen- becoming Research Professor of New Testament and were in Rossmore, an area of multi-deprivation in the tials, from an Anglican perspective, for a reunited Chris- Early Christianity at the University of St Andrew’s. north of Poole. Andrew Woods, the Chair of the Southamp- tian Church: the Holy Scriptures (Word); the Apostles’ and His academic books include a six volume series, Chris- ton District of the Methodist Church, joined in the team Nicene Creeds (Tradition); the two sacraments ordained tian Origins and the Question of God. The fourth volume, and the local Roman Catholic School, was fully part of the by Christ (Sacraments); and the Historic Episcopate in two parts, Paul and the Faithfulness of God, will be pub- week. (Unity). lished next month. His popular books include the For Earlier that year, Andrew Woods and I attempted to Everyone series of New Testament commentaries and redress history in the village of Tolpuddle, famous for its Surprised by Hope. He was one of the authors of The ‘Martyrs Museum’ and its friendly society, which was the Dr Graham Kings is Bishop of Sherborne and theological Windsor Report 2004, which recommended ways forward precursor of trade unions. In 1832, the Vicar of Tolpuddle, secretary of Fulcrum. This article developed out of a lecture for holding together the Anglican Communion. Thomas Warren, betrayed the agricultural workers of the given originally at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago The theologian who has influenced me in particular con- village. The Methodist lay-preacher, George Loveless, was and may be read in full on www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Arts/Books Friday October 18, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 11 Mission and evangelism for today A weekend in Renewing the Evangelical Mission, Richard Lints (ed) Eerdmans, pb, £22.00 romantic Paris Twenty years ago, David Wells, Mark Noll, and Cornelius Plantinga got together to produce three books on the decline of evangelical theol- ogy. Wells followed up his volume, No Place For Truth, with four others that argued Ameri- can evangelicalism had surrendered to a con- sumerist culture that put the emphasis on choice and individual fulfilment. Instead of worshiping and serving their Sovereign God, evangelicals were focussed on themselves and their problems; instead of pursuing holiness they were looking for thera- py; instead of preaching the gospel they were seeking to market a prod- uct. Luther was stricken in the presence of God; today people speak of meeting God in the way they would describe drinking coffee with a friend. Richard Lints and his team have produced a collection of essays in hon- our of Wells. The contributors include a number of Anglicans (JI Packer, Os Guinness, Miroslav Volf) but the focus is on evangelicalism in general rather than on a particular church. Many of the contributors admit that the strands in American evangeli- calism they and Wells want to criticise are precisely those features that make it so successful in contemporary culture. Michael Horton quotes Bonhoeffer’s judgement that American religion is ‘Protestantism without the Reformation’. The roots of evangelicalism’s failings are traced to Charles G Finney and the revivalist tradition. Horton accuses Finney of being closer to Pelagianism than to Arminianism. He argues that the revivalist put too much emphasis on the decision of the individual and on ‘whatever excite- Le Week-End (dir. Roger Michell, cert. 15) is clev- response about the realities of his own life, includ- ments are likely to induce repentance’ and too little emphasis on the erly written by Hanif Kureishi, and stars Jim ing a career that’s been about “producing idiocy”, church and the means of grace. Willow Creek is singled out for following Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan as Nick and Meg, training people whose chosen profession is to Finney and minimising the importance of the church. “Christ established a 60-something couple trying to recapture a bit of watch TV in the afternoon. a visible church on earth, not an invisible movement,” Horton tells us, romance with a trip to Paris. It’s not that easy – Morgan himself recognises that Nick’s life has upholding traditional Reformed teaching. not least because his principle of “no sex without been too serious, asking him, “Have you ever Rodney Petersen warns that evangelicals need to rethink their under- an attempt at love” doesn’t help him get any. done anything slight?” Meg, meanwhile, gets the standing of patriotism. “Religious meaning is easily co-opted by the state It’s perhaps a fault of the script that the dubious compliment that she is “so in tune with when the state becomes the only socially unifying force in the life of the attempts at wooing always seem doomed, without your own unhappiness”. nation,” he writes. He could have added that this co-option is made easier really good reasons. Even so, Nick and Meg find Some think Kureishi has stolen the plot for the when the church has no sense of itself as a separate institution with a def- themselves at a crossroads in their relationship. next-but-one sequel of Richard Linklater’s Before inite purpose in God’s plan of salvation. The children have flown, Nick’s got the push Sunrise series (following Ethan Hawke and Julie Both Noll and Plantinga contribute to the volume. Plantinga assails the from his university – he lectures in philosophy at Delpy as Jesse and Celine in their relationship) worldliness of the churches and the ministers who seek to be profession- what was a Polytechnic – for making politically but there’s actually plenty of affinity already with al managers, who cite not scripture but psychologists and experts on incorrect remarks to a student, and neither of the latest of their stories, Before Midnight, in try- leadership in their sermons. Noll, who teaches at Notre Dame, makes the them can climb stairs without getting out of ing to keep romance alive in a marriage. While I interesting suggestion that hope for evangelicals may lie in dialogue with breath. If there were reasons why they wouldn’t can’t guarantee I’d be around to see the real thing Rome, not with liberal Catholics but with the school of ‘ressourcement’ use lifts in buildings, I missed it, and there are a (Linklater-Hawke-Delpy) in the 2030s, I’m sure it represented by such theologians as de Lubac, Balthasar, and Benedict lot of stairwell scenes. XVI. The first upset is Nick’s choice of Kevin Vanhoozer also turns to Benedict XVI as well as to Lewis Ayres, cheap hotel. If he was trying to recre- a Catholic theologian teaching at Durham, to support his argument that ate the feel of their honeymoon in the we should read the Bible not just to understand its origins and setting but flush of youth and poverty, the beige to hear what God is saying to us through its pages. Biblical studies needs tone of their poky room is the last to be more than a branch of religious studies, he argues. straw, and they take a suite at a rather In a dense and closely argued essay Bruce L McCormack detects dan- expensive hotel, without asking how gers in Catholic influence on evangelicalism to be seen, for example, much. among the ‘Bapto-Catholics of Baylor University’. Such influences have When they do a runner from a supplanted forensic understanding of the atonement with divinisation restaurant, it seems to be about the theories. Admitting the difficulties in penal substitution McCormack thrill, but Nick later reveals they are seeks to rescue it by not as punishment inflicted on an innocent man but broke, without saying how, as presum- as an event in God’s own life. ably any mortgage has been paid off, There is a notable essay by Adonis Vidu criticising views among the and they have modest tastes. This reve- ‘emerging church’ group on how to talk about God as well as essays by JI lation comes during a dinner party with old friend would be more uplifting than this. Packer on catechesis, Miroslav Volf on the concept of God, an examina- and successful writer Morgan (Jeff Goldblum), It’s well-crafted, it’s got the nice shots of Paris, tion by Tite Tienou of the American evangelicalism’s need to come to who met them by chance in the street and recog- and some of the verbal interplay is a choice mix of terms with the world church and other stimulating essays by Os Guin- nised Nick, even though he was kissing Meg at tenderness and caustic recrimination. Goldblum ness and the editor. the time. is the catalyst for much of the frankness that There is plenty here to challenge members of the Church of England, Jeff’s success means he lives in an apartment in emerges, but there’s not much joy to be found in both evangelicals and others. How far is the spread of training courses Rue de Rivoli, très chic, with his new wife, and he answering the question, “What’s left of us?” and non-residential training leading to a lowering of theological stan- adds Nick and Meg to the guest list for a soirée At least the recreation of the dance scene from dards? How easy is it for mature theological students to learn the biblical that has Meg flirting with another guest and Nick Jean-Luc Godard’s 1964 new wave film Bande à languages? Is the formation that comes with residential training being sharing a joint with Morgan’s son (in cannabis part, is a moderately happy ending. They might sacrificed in the interests of economy? There is much in this book for veritas). During the meal, Morgan gives Nick a not do well on stairs, but they can still move in Anglicans to reflect upon. complimentary, even sycophantic accolade – “he time to music. Paul Richardson made me say true things” – before Nick’s candid Steve Parish [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 12 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday October 18, 2013 Comment There has been an interesting run of ‘natural’ health stories in the newspapers recently. The Daily Express reported on a US Janey Lee Grace study that found that simple lifestyle changes can help to reverse the ageing process and significantly “reduce the risk of a wide variety of diseases and premature mortality,” according Live Healthy! Live Happy! to researchers. The study looked at a group of men with prostate cancer. Their diet was switched to one that was high in plant-based pro- teins, fruits, vegetables and grains, and low in fat and processed carbohydrates. They did yoga and meditation, moderate regular exercise and were offered counselling. It’s not rocket science is it? Reduce stress, eat healthily (although I’d say it’s not the fat that needs to be low — good fats It’s not rocket science are essential — it’s the sugar that needs to be watched) and of course support to talk through your concerns and regular exer- cise. Perhaps the most important change was the meditation (I’m guessing prayer would have produced the same results) and the yoga could have given added benefits too. In the Daily Mail a few days later another study showed that yoga could help fight infections and reduce stress. Japanese researchers asked adults to do 90 minutes of yoga stretches and took saliva samples before and after. The yoga seemed to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increased the number of bug-fighting compounds. The Daily Mail’s Good Health section also included details of a report that suggests that eating pulses such as lentils, beans and peas on a regular basis can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Under the heading ‘eat more’ they said that red cabbage may help prevent cancer: it contains high levels of Anthocyanins – chemicals linked to can- cer prevention. All seems reasonable – nothing too out of the ordinary there, but I was surprised to notice one more article jostling alongside the ‘natural’ health suggestions – this one was reporting that a US study had found that statins could tackle Pre-eclampsia - high blood pressure in pregnancy. It is thought the cholesterol- lowering drugs could lower the inflammation. But wouldn’t it be better and safer to try the food sources first? If only some of the researchers could get together, go for a run, eat copious amounts of fruit and veg, pulses and red cab- bage, and have a prayer meeting before coming to their conclu- sions. But maybe there’s not so many ‘big bucks’ in that! 14 Moabite king who hired Balaam to 11 Turkish plateau, roughly Asia PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 870 by Axe curse Israel [Num] (5) Minor of old (8) 16 Name for the Virgin Mary from 13 Canaanite city; later one of the the Italian (7) cities of the Levites [Josh; Judg] 19 Title attached to St Peter, the first (7) Bishop of Rome (4) 15 Town where Joshua pursued the 20 Endowed church office giving Amorites; later, a fortified border income to its holder (8) city of Judah [Jer] (6) 22 Euphemism for 19 since the 8th 17 City whose cathedral, Christ century (5,2,6) Church, dates back to 1546 (6) 18 Superior in a community of monks Down (5) 21 Eldest son of Ham whose tribe set- 1Alternative name for the ancient tled in NE Africa [Gen; Isa] (4) Egyptian town of Tanis [Num; Isa] (4) 2Ecclesiastical season immediately Solution to last weeks crossword before Christmas (6) 3'The bronze ------on top of one pil- Across: 7 Parish, 8 Olives, 9 Arad, 10 lar was five cubits high...' Cleansed, 11 Raamses, 12 Ornan, 15 Merab, [Jer/NIV] (7) 17 Passion, 20 Caesarea, 22 Rent, 23 Papist, 4'...our voyage is going to be disas- 24 Heaven. trous and bring great loss to ship and -----...' [Acts/NIV] (5) Down: 1 Marriage, 2 Wisdom, 3 Shechem, 4 5'He sits enthroned above the ------of Gomer, 5 Sinner, 6 Bede, 13 Anointed, 14 the earth...'[ Isa/NIV] (6) Malachi, 16 Assail, 18 Stream, 19 Truth, 21 6Of the region in which Jesus was Anak. brought up (8) The first correct entry drawn will win a book of the Editor’s choice. Send your entry to Crossword Number 870, The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX by next Friday Across 9'Where no oxen are, the ---- is Name clean...' [Prov/KJV] (4) 7Parable exclusive to the book of 10 'I know he will rise again in the res- Address Luke (4,9) urrection at the ------' [John/NIV] 8'...since the promise of ------his rest (4,3) still stands..let...none of you be 12 'Peres: Your kingdom is divided found to have fallen short of it' and given to the ----- and Persians' Post Code [Heb/NIV] (8) [Dan/NIV] (5) [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Classifieds Friday October 18, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 13 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS Tel: 020 7222 2018 Email: [email protected] CLERICAL GUESTHOUSES HOLIDAYS $(*$"%!)#"*&+ (,%&)'&* UR Christian guesthouse GHB Y CE J!&6((= >!=46(7 &9<> 069A6&<9* <= NORWICH CATHEDRAL HI N on quiet private road. E TR 82<=C 0(,<=* F<<9 7;A,!<47 7(L&D H E T Free on-street parking. ,<=6A!=(*A;A96>(=6C0L((;7+B)C/7( <& 5!=(>A 1<<> A=* LA9%( ;9!2A6( DEAN OF NORWICH Public transport %A9*(=C G*(AL &<9 6<49!=% 5<67K SITUATIONS VACANT Diocese of Chichester Ingredient Battle and Bexhill Deanery Benefice of Ashburnham and Penhurst 25g butter stock cube, hot HOUSE-FOR-DUTY PRIEST-IN-CHARGE Principal 4 shallots, finely sliced Oil, for frying The Bishop of Chichester and the Patrons, the Ashburnham ChristianTrust, The Council invites applications for the post of Principal of South East 4 tbsp Cognac 2 tbsp crushed black seek to appoint a priest-in-charge for the benefice of Institute of Theological Education (SEITE) to succeed Revd Canon Ashburnham and Penhurst, comprising St Peter’s Ashburnham peppercorns Jeremy Worthen, upon his appointment as Secretary for Ecumenical 200ml red wine and St Michael the Archangel Penhurst. Relations and Theology at the Council for Christian Unity. 4 rump or sirloin steaks A four bedroom house is available through the 200ml beef stock from 1/2 Ashburnham Thanksgiving Trust Serving primarily the dioceses of Southwark, Rochester,Canterbury The successful applicant will be: and Chichester,SEITE currently has 145 students in training for lay and ordained ministries, as well as working with independent students and •An energetic mission minded and visionary evangelical priest equippedto our ecumenical partners. Method lead this rural community into continued growth, vitality and outreach, providing leadership and encouragement, with awillingness to share The Principal oversees learning and formation for all students, and will collaboratively in the work of the church. undertake some teaching commitments. As leader of the staff team Melt the butter in a large frying pan over a medium •Prepared to embrace villagelife, developingthe already strong relationships s/he will have a major role in external relations in addition to the heat. Add the shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes, to with theAshburnham Christian Trust, Penhurst RetreatCentreand the local organisational leadership of SEITE. soften. Pour in the Cognac, boil for 1 minute, then independent Chapel. •Willing to supportand encourage the Book of Common Prayer tradition at The Council seeks a new Principal with parochial experience as well as add the wine. Increase the heat and boil for a few Penhurst, which parish has the benefit of an honorary curate-in-charge. a ministerial teaching and academic background. S/he will be stimulating minutes to reduce by half. to work with, supportive, co-operative & strongly committed to formation Meanwhile, make up the stock and pour in. Boil Details from The Archdeacon of Lewes and Hastings for ministry in the 21st Century.The successful candidate will be open The Ven. Philip Jones, 27 The Avenue, Lewes, BN7 1QT to the full breadth of Christian tradition, as represented at SEITE, and until reduced by half again. Stir in the butter, season 01273 479530 [email protected] prepared to immerse him/herself in this wide-ranging yet rewarding role. to taste, and leave over a low heat. to whom completed applications should be sent Meanwhile, brush a griddle or frying pan with a More information about the post is available on the SEITE website: Enhanced DBS disclosure required www.seite.co.uk/partners.html little oil and place over a high heat. Press the pep- Closing date for applications: 10 November 2013 percorns all over the steaks. Place in the hot pan Interview date to be announced. Full details for applications from the Chair of Council’s PA Joanna Manser,PA to the Archdeacon of Canterbury and cook for 2-5 minutes each side, depending how Email: [email protected] Tel: 01227 865238 you like them cooked. Remove from the pan and set /33 $318860<" 1"4<:7686%9 aside for 2 minutes to rest. Applications by 8 November. Shortlisting by 15 November. Divide between plates. Pour over the sauce and )22,** !<: 8,$,$, Interviews 9/10 December. serve with thin-cut oven chips and grilled vine toma- -<1"36%< ;#: %<(7 6885<+ 2*1' .#%"1& toes. 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday October 18, 2013 Register THE 2013 ANGLICAN CYCLE OF be Priest-in-Charge, Withywood Trinity, Vancouver, Diocese of BIBLE CHALLENGE and St Andrew, Hartcliffe, (Bris- New Westminster, Canada. PRAYER tol). The Rev Simon Benedict The Rev Alexandrina Elizabeth Sayer, Mann, Assistant Curate of Hollinwood Day 291 Ezekiel 29-30, Psalm 83, Friday 18 October. Psalm 128, Jer 44:1-3,15-23. Texas - (VII, The Interim Assistant Curate (Assis- and Limeside (Manchester); to be Revelation 6 Episcopal Church): The Rt Rev Andrew Doyle. Suffragan Bishop of tant Minister) of Branston S.Sav- Vicar of Tipton S.John the Evan- Day 292 Ezekiel 31-32, Psalm 84, Texas - (VII, The Episcopal Church): The Rt Rev Dena Harrison iour; to be Associate Minister of gelist (Lichfield). Revelation 7 Cannock and Huntington (Lich- Day 293 Enjoy hearing the Scrip- Saturday 19 October. Psalm 119:1-6, Jer 45. Tgoothukudi - field). tures read aloud in church Navareth - (South India): The Rt Rev Dr John Jacob Jebachandran The Rev Sally Marchant, RETIREMENTS & Day 294 Ezekiel 33-34, Psalm 85, Curate in the Benefice of Melton RESIGNATIONS Revelation 8 Sunday 20 October. Pentecost 22. Psalm 130, Lk 12:22-34. The Mowbray (Team Ministry) in the Day 295 Ezekiel 35-36, Psalm 86, Arctic - (Rupert’s Land, Canada): The Rt Rev Andrew Philip Atago- Deanery of Framland, has been Bishop of Hereford retires Revelation 9 taaluk. Suffragan Bishop of The Arctic - (Rupert’s Land, Canada) appointed as Team Vicar, St Anne, The Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, Day 296 Ezekiel 37-38, Psalm 87, The Rt Rev Larry Robertson. Suffragan Bishop of The Arctic - Calmore and Cluster Schools Bishop of Hereford, retired on Revelation 10 (Rupert’s Land, Canada): The Rt Rev Benjamin Arreak Leader in the Totten Team 24th September 2013. Day 297 Ezekiel 39-40, Psalm 88, (Southampton) in the Diocese of Revelation 11 Monday 21 October. Psalm 131, Lk 12:35-48. The Murray - (South Winchester. The Rev David Beresford, Australia, Australia): Vacant The Rev Canon Peter Stanley Curate: Bury with Houghton & Midwood, Coldwaltham & Hardham left APPOINTMENTS Tuesday 22 October. Psalm 132, Lk 12:49-59. Tohoku - (Japan) who retired on 1 September 2013, Diocese (Chichester). The Rt Rev John Hiromichi Kato to become a Canon Emeritus of The Rev Jeanette Crafer, Ripon Cathedral (Ripon and Rector of the Flegg Group Wednesday 23 October. Psalm 133, Ezek 1:1-14. Thika - (Kenya): Leeds). (Martham) benefice is to retire The Rt Rev Gideon Githiga The Rev Stephen Morris, (Norwich). The Rev Susan Elizabeth Arm- Associate Priest at Nottingham The Rev Michael Johnston, strong, Thursday 24 October. Psalm 134, Ezek 1:15-2:2. Tirunelveli - All Saints, St Mary & St Peter in Priest in Charge, St Lawrence, St OLM of Edstaston, Fauls, Prees, (South India): The Rt Rev Jayaraj Christdoss the Diocese of Southwell and Not- Lawrence, to resign from 1 Feb- Tilstock and Whixall; to also be tingham to become Team Rector, ruary 2014 (Portsmouth). OLM (Associate Minister) of Newark Team Ministry, in the The Rev Eric Pollard, Whitchurch (Lichfield). Incumbent: Brighton, St Peter, to formerly Transitional Minister of same Diocese. Priest-in-Charge: Preston, St The Rev Nicholas (Nick) Mar- be also Priest-in-Charge: White- Marlow Area Team Ministry, will The Rev Paul Neville, Matthias, Retiring (Chichester) tin Ash, hawk, St Cuthman (Chichester). become Incumbent (designate) of Rector of Middleton St George The Very Rev Graham Smith, resigns as Assistant Curate of The Rev Ian Cooper, the proposed new Benefice of and Sadberge, to be Priest in Has now retired and had been Faversham, St Mary of Charity Priest-in-Charge of Peacehaven & Bradley Stoke within the Diocese Charge of Stockton Holy Trinity appointed by the Bishop to be and Preston next Faversham with Telscombe Cliffs with Piddinghoe of Bristol. with St Mark (Durham). Dean Emeritus (Norwich). Goodnestone and Graveney and & Telscombe Village now Incum- The Rev Peter Leslie Holliday, The Rev Dorian Frederick Chaplain - St Mary of Charity bent of the same (Chichester). Chancellor’s Vicar of the Cathe- Olney, (Church of England) Primary The Rev David John Coster, dral; to be Canon Custos of the Vicar of Shenstone and Stonnall; Michaelmas Ordinations School, Faversham, and has been Permission to Officiate in the Dio- Cathedral Church of St Mary and to be Rector of Sissinghurst with Hereford appointed Chaplain to the Secure cese of Chelmsford. St Chad (Lichfield). Frittenden (Canterbury). The Rev Mark Hayter, Curacy Training Centre in Medway with The Rev John James Davis, The Rev Daphne Hollings, The Rev David Page, of Benefice of St Weonards effect from 21 October 2013. NS Associate Minister at Stafford Assistant Curate (Associate Min- Continuing at incumbent of St The Rev Tony Hodder, Curacy The Rev Jane Bakker, S.Mary and Marston, Rural Dean ister) of Edstaston, Fauls, Prees, Peter, Elworth in the deanery of of Ledbury Team Ministry has been appointed Area Dean of of Stafford and Chaplain of Tilstock and Whixall; to also be Congleton, to be appointed Rural The Rev Laura Hill, Curacy of Southampton (Winchester). Abbots Bromley School; to also Assistant Curate (Associate Min- Dean of Congleton, with effect Bridgnorth, St Mary Magdalene The Rev John Raymond Bar- be NS Associate Minister of ister) of Whitchurch (Lichfield). from 1 September 2013 for a term with St Leonard, Tasley, Astley nett, Stafford S.Chad (Lichfield). The Rev Canon Dr Judith expiring 31 August 2018 Abbotts, Oldbury & Quatford Priest in Charge of Darlaston The Rev Kingsley Dowling, Mary Hunt, (Chester). The Rev Justin Parker, Curacy S.Lawrence and Darlaston All Priest in Charge of Farnley and Rector of Whitchurch; to also be The Rev Jane Penn, of Cleobury Mortimer with Hop- Saints, Associate Minister of Incumbent of Wortley (Ripon and Priest in Charge of Edstaston, SSM Assistant Curate at Orton ton Wafers, Neen Sollars & Mil- Moxley and Interfaith Officer for Leeds), to be also an Honorary Fauls, Prees, Tilstock and Whix- Longueville with Bottlebridge in ston, Neen Savage with Kinlet the Wolverhampton Episcopal Canon of Ripon Cathedral (same all (Lichfield). the Ely Diocese, has been The Rev Graham Phillips, Area (continuing); to be Priest in diocese). The Rev Luke Irvine-Capel, appointed House for Duty Assis- Curacy of Benefice of Madeley Charge of Pheasey (Lichfield). The Rev Alison Finch, from Pimlico to be Rector of tant Priest at Tadley North, in the The Rev Jill Stephens, Curacy The Rev Simon Roger Boxall, Town Centre Workplace Chaplain Christ Church, St Leonards-on- new Benefice of Tadley with Pam- of Dixton, Wyehsam, Bish- Team Vicar in Thamesmead & Associate Priest to be Team Sea (Chichester). ber Heath and Silchester (Win- opswood, Whitchurch & (Southwark); to be Vicar of Vicar and Town Missioner High The Rev Duncan Jennings, chester). Ganarew Chesterton (Lichfield). Wycombe Team Ministry has been appointed Assistant The Rev Anthony Thomas The Rev Martin Cannam, (Oxford). Area Dean of Southampton (Win- Christie Pemberton, Vicar of Biddulph; to also be The Rev Vivienne Lesley chester). Permission to Officiate in the Dio- LAY & OTHER Rural Dean of Leek (Lichfield). Flanagan, The Rev Jacqueline Jones cese of Chelmsford. APPOINTMENTS The Rev Mark Peter Castleton, Chaplain to St Peter’s Academy; EPMM Cowley Deanery, PTO The Rev Caroline Phillips, PTO S.Mark’s Salisbury and to also be Assistant Curate (Assis- and Hospital Chaplain Dorch- Assistant Curate, St Giles and St Laverstock S.Andrew (Salisbury); tant Minister) in Stoke upon ester Episcopal Area to be Assis- Paulinus, Ollerton and St The Rev Deborah Venables, to be Resident Minister of Trent (Lichfield). tant Curate (to be known as Matthew, Boughton in the Dio- Curacy of Presteigne with Dis- Aldridge (Lichfield). The Rev Stephen Robert Grif- Assistant Priest) Chipping Nor- cese of Southwell and Notting- coed, Kinsham, Lingen & Knill The Rev Paul Howarth fiths ton Team Ministry (Oxford). ham, to become 0.5 Cawthorne Rector of Moresby to be Team The Rev Margaret Jones, Priest-in-Charge of St Augustine, Miss Kayley Ruth Harrison, Team Vicar - Wrockwardine Rector Cherwell Valley Benefice To be Rural Dean for Pontesbury Mansfield and St Barnabas, has been appointed Cathedral Deanery Team to be Team Vicar Oxford). (Hereford). Pleasley in the same Diocese Property Manager from 1 Octo- Dorchester Team Ministry The Rev Graham Francis Had- The Rev Patrick Stewart King (Southwell and Nottingham). ber 2013 (Lichfield) (Oxford). field, Assistant Curate in Training, The Rev Julia Clare Pickles, Mr Keith Madeley, The Rev Helen Chantry, Permission to Officiate in the Dio- Benefice of Dorchester, Dorset to resigns as Assistant Curate of is to be an Honorary Lay Canon of Continuing as incumbent of St cese of Chelmsford. be Associate Priest Wokingham The Bridge Benefice and has Ripon Cathedral (Ripon and Chad, Wybunbury and St James The Rev Steven Andrew St Paul (Oxford). been appointed Chaplain to the Leeds). the Great, Audlem with St John Hawkins, The Rev Matthew Lefroy, Bishop of Dover and Archbish- Mrs Ann Nicholl, the Evangelist, Doddington in the formerly Priest in Charge of the To be Vicar of Lilleshall & Mux- op’s Chaplain in Canterbury Lay Minister of Leeds City Team deanery of Nantwich, to be Benefice and Parish of St Martin ton in the Diocese of Lichfield. (Canterbury). Ministry, to become Lay Canon appointed Rural Dean of the dean- Knowle in the Diocese of Bristol The Rev Linda Lonsdale, The Rev Christine Polhill, Emeritus of Ripon Cathedral. ery of Nantwich, with effect from has been appointed Vicar of the at present Curate at St Philip and Spiritual Companions Co-ordina- 1 September 2013 for a term said Benefice and Parish follow- St James Alderley Edge, tor; to also be Associate Minister expiring 31 August 2018 ing the lifting of suspension effec- Cheshire, in the diocese of of Whittington with Weeford and READERS (Chester). tive 5th August 2013. Chester, has been appointed of Hints (Lichfield). The Rev Ann Chapman, The Rev Christopher Murray House for Duty Priest-in-Charge The Rev Karl Przywala, Priest in Charge of Askrigg with Hill of the benefice of Beetham Vicar, The Cranmer Group Stallingbusk and Hawes with Assistant Curate known as Asso- (Carlisle). (Whatton with Aslockton, Appointed Readers in the Diocese Hardraw (Ripon and Leeds), to be ciate Priest, Benefice of Warfield, The Rev Derek Adrian James Hawksworth, Scarrington, of Durham: Mr Terry Robson, also an Honorary Canon of Ripon Bracknell Deanery to be Priest in Maddox, Orston and Thoroton) in the Dio- Mrs Sarah Cliff, Mrs Ruth San- Cathedral (same diocese). Charge, Ely Benefice (Oxford). Vicar (South Yardley, St Michael cese of Southwell and Notting- som, Mrs Marie–Claire Eriksson The Rev Archie Coates, The Rev Paul Frederick Hinckley, & All Angels), (Birmingham) to ham to become Rector of Holy and Miss Heather Wallace. Sunday Friday October 18, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 15 Holy God, when our memo- in the Promised Land itself. ries blot out your kindness They were faithless, rebel- SUNDAY SERVICE and we ignore your patient THE SPIRITUAL lious, compromising, neg- love, remember us, re-make lectful of God’s commands us, and give to us poor sin- and eventually forced into 22nd Sunday after Trinity ners the rich inheritance of DIRECTOR exile. They were ‘brought Jesus Christ our Lord, amen. low through their iniquity’ (Sunday 27th October) and cried out to God who Joel 2:23-32 When Christians share the heard them in spite of all 2 Timothy 4:6-18 Good news of Jesus with By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare their faithlessness. friends today, they are find- He remembered his Luke 18:9-14 ing more and more that Israel with no mention of God as ‘holy’ makes its peti- covenant for their sake and non-believers cannot con- her sins, here we have an tion all the more poignant had compassion on them. The common thread in our readings this week is the nect with the concept of unrelenting saga of her in its request for God to We see the same kindness theme of recompense or reward. being sinners. rebellious behaviour. remember and re-make us. and patient love lived out in The prophet Joel had prophesied great destruction Nevertheless, there are Time and time again she Were God to forget us, we the life, death and resurrec- for Israel through swarms of locusts, “like a powerful still many who are crippled has betrayed God’s would have no hope. Our tion of Jesus. army” (Joel 2:5), consuming her fields. But afterwards, by a sense of having made a covenant with her and memories may deceive us, He became one like us in there would be rejoicing in rain (which we may dislike, mess of their lives and are turned her back on his lov- or they may serve to turn order to demonstrate to us but is very useful for growing the things we eat!), and so mired in the memories ing care. Time and time us back to God in despera- the kindness and patient the supermarket shelves would be full again. “I will of the past that they feel no again she suffers the conse- tion, but God remembers love of God towards us. repay you for the years that the swarming locust has one, least of all God could quences. us in his mercy and never ‘While we were still sinners, eaten,” says the Lord, and you shall know me. Knowing possibly love them if they The psalm begins by for a moment does he aban- Christ died for us,’ (Rom God is the chief benefit of the gospel and the highest knew the whole story. praising God with a ‘Hal- don us or forget us. 5:8). good to which we can attain. Psalm 106 is a long psalm lelujah’ ‘for he is good, for ‘Kindness’ and ‘patient We are in the same boat Joel’s prophecy continues, in a passage familiar to us and much of it is looking his steadfast love endures love’ are two of God’s char- as the ancient Israelites and from Acts 2 and the Day of Pentecost. “I will pour out back at a seemingly endless forever’, which makes the acteristics that give us hope by this prayer we throw my spirit on all flesh” is intimately related to that bless- list of failures on the part of catalogue of rebellion that in approaching him for ourselves on the mercy of ing of knowledge and friendship with God. The Spirit is God’s people Israel. And follows all the starker in its mercy. They are implied in God who has made himself not the means by which God makes himself known or what a mess it is. condemnation. Yet it ends each of the instances known to us in Jesus to find acts in the world, for the Spirit is himself God, not some Whereas the previous as it begins with a turning recounted of Israel’s betray- the salvation that he has abstract power or substance through which God psalm recounts God’s once again to God’s holy al of the covenant: at the lavished on us according to works. No, he is God himself, giving himself, to men mighty acts in terms of name. Red Sea, in the wilderness, the riches of his grace, (see and women, old and young, high and low. Through his God’s over-arching care for The prayer’s address to at Horeb, at Meribah, even Eph 1:8). work within us we are enabled to call upon the Lord and be saved. Whatever the state of our world might be, this very great reward is held out to those who are called by the Lord. The Lord Jesus, whose humbling of himself to death Let’s welcome older people on the cross makes possible all of these things, teaches us not to trust in ourselves or (note the double edge to the parable) to regard others with contempt. The Phar- isee is far too similar to many of us today, and it would be a poor exposition that did not make us squirm at the Bob Mayo recognition of ourselves in his description. Whatever it is that we hold to be most spiritual, most pleasing to God, most “keen”, is shown by Christ to be entirely Why do churches worry about the insufficient if we lack humility. young people who don’t go to church As John Stott once remarked, humility is in essence but not celebrate the old who do? simply honesty, for all of us, like the tax collector, are There are step-by-step plans for how sinners in need of a propitious God. The word for “have to get more young people into the mercy on me” (verse 13) is literally a plea for God to be church but the presence of older peo- propitious, to turn away his righteous, deserved, merit- ple in the congregation is taken for ed wrath. And as we know, the Father is only recon- granted. ciled to us through the suffering of his Son (see Article We are constantly told that the age 2 of the 39 Articles). The reward for honest humility is profile of Church members is increas- exaltation by God; whereas exaltation of self leads only ing and so the oldies become the con- to humiliation. Though the wonder of the gospel is that solation prize – ‘there might not be we do not have to wait for the last day of judgment to many young people in church’, we know the verdict we will face: the humble one who think, ‘but at least old people still trusts in a propitious God, can go home, today, justified. come’. In adopting this attitude the The Apostle Paul taught this truth of present justifi- church is reflecting the patronizing cation by faith alone in Christ, very clearly, though he view in society of what it means to be still looks forward (he tells Timothy) to the crown of a senior citizen. was speaking at 76 as she might have church settings. righteousness as his reward on the last day. When A recent NHS commission conclud- done as a student. ‘Old men ought to If we want to see children and Christ returns, all those who have longed for his ed that discrimination towards the be explorers’, said TS Elliott, and thus young people in church we overlook appearing will receive the just reward of his grace. elderly is “rooted” in British society is she willing still to experiment and to grandparents at our peril. Voas and Meanwhile, in the dirty, unjust, angry world, they and older people are too often viewed try things differently “Love is most Crockett (2005) highlight why this is may face defeat, depression, and even despair. But Paul as a “problem to be solved” rather nearly itself when here and now cease so. If neither parent attends [church] testifies that even though all had deserted him (and his than as equals. The elderly and chron- to matter”. at least once a month, the chances of teaching), the Lord stood by him. His unshakeable con- ically ill are deemed to be hospital bed There is a silver haired revolution of the child doing so are negligible: less fidence is that Christ will hold onto him and save him blockers. Frank Field, the MP for which we would do well to take note. than three per cent. If both parents for his heavenly kingdom. No power of hell, no scheme Birkenhead, talked of an army of pen- If churches want money raised, com- attend at least monthly, there is a 46 of man, can ever pluck him from Christ’s hands. sioners taking to the street in protest mittees manned or projects run it will per cent chance that the child will do at the treatment they had received. be done so by those in their 60s - 60 is so. Where just one parent attends, the Lee Gatiss is Director of Church Society, and Editor of Many pensioners have seen a life- the new 40. A third of people in their likelihood is halved to 23 per cent. the NIV Proclamation Bible. time’s careful saving dissolve and the 60s said their finances were in the It takes a whole church to raise a value of their pensions plummet with best order they had ever been, com- child and Youth Ministry is no longer the current low interest rates. pared with only 23 per cent of people the preserve of the young. Young peo- My mother is a 10-year widow and in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. Eight ple are willing to form friendships HYMN SUGGESTIONS has lived a radical lifestyle, since my out of 10 people in their 60s go on hol- across the generations and to learn father died inviting people to come iday at least once a year while a quar- from the experience and life stories of and live in her house and in the ter of those in their 40s and 50s said others. Child protection notwithstand- process creating a series of communi- they rarely had a chance to go on holi- ing one of the most valuable things ties living together for short periods. day at all. that a church can offer to young peo- In Christ alone Missionaries come to England on fur- The baby boomers will be with us ple is simple uncomplicated relation- Beauty for brokenness lough and live with my mum for three for a while and still have much to con- ships with adults. months before going back abroad. I tribute. Jean Woods became Gap’s Rock of ages asked her about how she felt sharing oldest employee when she was 70. Bob Mayo is the vicar of St Stephen Praise my soul the king of heaven her fridge with others and she said The radical social action of the Street and St Thomas Shepherds Bush with Rejoice, O land, in God thy might that nothing mattered as long as it Pastors draws heavily on middle age St Michael and St George White City was not going to go on for too long. and older women, a demographic ([email protected]). Fol- I was impressed by the fact that she often taken for granted in traditional low Bob on twitter @RevBobMayo Milestones After a 10-year postponement, the Anglican- Oriental Orthodox International Commis- sion held its second meeting from 3-7 October 2013 in England, discussing matters of Christol- ogy and the Holy Spirit, and to pray for Egypt, Syria and the wider Middle East during a special service on 5 October... Quakers in Britain last week took steps to disinvest from companies engaged in extracting fossil fuels, after the deci- sion was taken by their Investment Committee, under responsibilities devolved by the Trustees... HSBC shut its flagship branch in the City of London last week in the face of ‘ protests against its investment in fossil fuels. HSBC is the UK’s largest underwriter of fossil fuels bonds and shares... We cannot go on much P A U L longer in the sea of immorality without R I C H A R D S O N judgment coming Church and World The Rev Bill Graham‘ People The morality The Archbish- ops of Canter- terinsurgency operation the battle for hearts bury and York and minds is crucial. Estimates of civilians have killed in drone attacks vary. One expert puts announced of the drones the figure at between 150 and 500 civilians dur- Canon Phil ing the Obama administration – still too high Potter will be George W Bush was widely reviled prisoner and interrogated. The but probably less than if conventional air the next Arch- as the ‘Guantanamo’ President but naval SEALS responsible for the strikes had been used. bishops’ Mis- to his critics Barack Obama is execution on Osama bin Laden Part of the problem is that it is difficult to sioner and becoming known to as the ‘Drone were able to obtain useful informa- know who constitutes a civilian and terrorists leader of the President’. Obama is proud of the tion about how al-Qaeda had been are adept at using civilians as shields. An Asso- Fresh Expres- fact that he has extracted his coun- operating. ciated Press report last year concluded that sions team suc- try from land wars but he has done Churches have voiced concern the strikes were killing fewer civilians than ceeding Bishop so at the cost of the greatly about the impact of their work on people in Pakistan believed. It is not insignifi- Graham Cray, increased use of Unmanned Air- the drone pilots. To those not cant that drones have the secret (and some- who has held craft Systems and it is claimed this directly familiar with such opera- times public) backing of leaders in Pakistan the post since comes at a price. tions they sound like sitting at a and Yemen. 2009... At the Critics of drones can make a computer playing war games. Do But whatever the numbers there is little Annual National Church Leaders Meeting on 7 strong case. A report to last year’s the pilots realise that they are actu- doubt that drones are a source of hostility to October, held at Lambeth Palace, Jamaican-born Methodist Conference charged ally taking out human lives? How the US overseas and of growing concern at Bishop Eric Brown was installed as the first that because drones can be can a pilot sit at his desk and home and elsewhere in the West. This means Pentecostal President of Churches Together in deployed with ease they might destroy a number of people thou- that the US should be more transparent about England (CTE). He is currently Presiding Bishop encourage increased use of mili- sands of miles away and then go its use of drones and to have clear legal criteria of the New Testament Church of God, a black tary force. It charged that the tar- home to supper with his family? to govern their deployment. Drone technology majority Pentecostal church celebrating its 60th geted killing of named individuals To critics the use of drones is a is inevitably going to spread. China is not far anniversary in the UK since being planted here requires a reinterpretation of inter- good example of means determin- behind the US and other nations will follow. by Caribbean migrants during the 1950s...The national law. ing ends. The fact that drones are What will happen when the likes of Bashar al- Bishop of Chelmsford has challenged people’s Questions have so easy to use is Assad or the leaders of Iran have drones? knowledge, asking how well they know the Ten been asked about col- bound to lead the Internationally agreed norms for the use of Commandments, via the Diocese’s YouTube lateral damage and The case against US to expand the drones need to be put in place and the US Channel... Chinese human rights lawyer Ni the deaths of innocent number of people it should take a lead. Yulan was released from prison on 5 October civilians. Even if drones is powerful is prepared to tar- One of the dangers of drones is that the after completing a two-and-a-half year sentence. drones are fairly accu- but it should get. Instead of absence of American casualties could encour- She is reported to be in ill-health as a result of an rate there are con- working on the age intervention overseas. There are many illness left untreated during her imprisonment, cerns that if they determine how they ground to win conflicts taking place in the world that are pri- after the Christian activist and lawyer was tried in encourage more allies and prevent marily local. If the US gets involved by using 2011 and sentenced in 2012 to two years and eight attacks on terrorists are used, not lead to fighters in local drones it will quickly cause local groups to months in prison for “fraud” and “creating a dis- in Yemen or Pakistan their complete conflicts aligning widen their focus and align themselves with al- turbance”... The Chaplain to the Speaker of the this is bound to mean with al-Qaeda, Qaeda. House of Commons, the Rev Rose Hudson- more civilians dying. abandonment drones can be Concerns about the impact of drones on the Wilkin, was a guest at a lunch celebrating This is bound to pro- directed against pilots who operate them are real and this is an Women of the Year on Monday, invited in recogni- voke a backlash anyone who makes area where military chaplains should exercise tion of her personal contribution to society... against America, especially when the US feel nervous. vigilance. According to a Methodist report al-Qaeda is quick to use civilian The case against drones is pow- pilots report that although they may be 12,000 deaths in drone strikes as propa- erful but it should determine how miles away from the strike they actually have Next Week’s News ganda. Already one man who they are used, not lead to their more capacity to see the results than the pilot attempted to ignite a bomb in complete abandonment. According of a fast jet. Troops on the ground take photos In Bristol on 19 October, around 60 delegates Times Square has said he was moti- to one estimate, 50 senior al-Qaeda and these have to be examined for feedback. from South Korea, New Zealand, Canada, the vated by the use of drones against and Taliban leaders and over 3,000 Drone pilots do have to face the consequences USA, the UK, France, Holland will come to the Muslim countries. operatives have been killed by of their actions but the physical, emotional and UK for a two-day conference in Bristol’s Victoria Among military experts there drones since Obama became Presi- psychological consequences of their work Rooms marking publication by the Canterbury are worries that the use of drones dent. Drones are very effective. have yet to be properly examined. Chaplains Press of the Canterbury Dictionary of Hym- to kill terrorists leads to a loss of But the US military has now should monitor this very carefully. nology. The conference will open with a service the valuable intelligence obtained replaced the term ‘Global War The genie cannot be put back in the bottle. at the New Room – the chapel built by John Wes- when such people are killed by Against Terror’ with ‘Global Coun- Drones are here to stay but we need a legal ley in what is now Bristol’s Broadmead – led by operatives on the ground or taken terinsurgency’ and in any coun- framework for their use. the Rev Ward A Jones... © Copyright 2013, The Church of England Newspaper. Registered as a newspaper by Royal Mail. Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX, Telephone: 020 7222 8700. Imagesetting by Classified Central Media Limited, 4th Floor, Central House, 142 Central Street, London, EC1V 8AR, 020 7216 6400. Print- ed by Mortons Media Group Ltd, Newspaper House, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR. Tel: 01507 523456. 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