E I D S Morality in the IN financial world explored E6

THE SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2013 No: 6167 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 CHURCH OF ENGLAND THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Wakefield rebuffs plan for merger of dioceses FOLLOWING the failure of the Diocese of changed by the proposal. Blackburn will burn has voted. He can allow the plan to go Speaking after votes, Professor Michael Wakefield to approve the plan to replace receive six parishes and Sheffield will to General Synod if he is satisfied that the Clark, chair of the commission that pro- three Yorkshire dioceses with one it falls to receive two parishes if the plan goes ahead. interest of the diocese withholding consent duced the plan said: “It is good to know that the Archbishop of York to decide whether Sheffield Diocese has already signified is so small that it should not prevent the the dioceses of Bradford and Ripon and the proposal should go to General Synod, its agreement and Blackburn Diocese is scheme being referred to General Synod or Leeds support the Commission’s propos- possibly in July. due to vote on 13 April. if he feels there are wider factors affecting als. Looking at the voting in Wakefield, In voting last Saturday both the Diocese The Archbishop of York will not be able the Province or the Church of England as a there is significant support there although of Ripon and Leeds and the Diocese of to announce his decision until after Black- whole that need to be considered. the vote was lost.” Bradford approved the plan but in Wake- field it failed by 76 votes to 40 with four abstentions. In Bradford the vote was 90 to four in favour with no abstentions and in Ripon and Leeds it was approved by a vote of 70 to 18 with two abstentions. TV presenter launches lily appeal Under the plan the three dioceses will be united in a single diocese of Leeds with five TV presenter Jules areas: Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Hudson visited Ripon, and Wakefield. Informally it will be Hereford Cathedral known as the Diocese of West Yorkshire last week to launch and the Dales. the 2013 Easter lily The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev appeal. ‘Throughout Stephen Patten, who voted against the plan, the year so many draw said that there was a need for change ‘but pleasure from the not this change’. Critics argue that the new beauty of the diocese will be dominated by Leeds and cathedral being claim the scheme is financially driven. It is decorated with estimated that a single diocese would save flowers,’ said Jules. £800,000 a year. ‘When the building is The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev Nick left bare of Baines, described the result as ‘encourag- arrangements during ing and not entirely a surprise’. Lent, it only heightens He added: “I hope that when the Arch- the sensation when on bishop of York makes his decision on a Easter Day hundreds referral to the General Synod in July he will of lilies seemingly bear in mind all the factors that have led to appear from nowhere this particular result. We look forward to and the air is filled how this will develop in the next few with their wonderful months.” scent.’ The annual lily The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt campaign is an Rev John Packer, welcomed the clear opportunity for approval of the diocesan synod for the supporters to scheme and said that he hoped the Arch- remember loved ones bishop of York would present the scheme who have died or to to General Synod. He warned that further give thanks for a delay and indecision would be damaging to special event that has the mission of the church in the region. happened during the Two other dioceses have a say in the past year. scheme because their boundaries will be

LETTERS 8 • PETER MULLEN 9 • COMMENT 9 • CLERGY MOVES 12 • ANGLICAN LIFE 13 • SUNDAY 15 • PAUL RICHARDSON 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 10, 2013 News Inside... Bishop Priddis Police chaplain Britain’ s leading evangelical newspaper stands down By Amaris Cole

A POLICEchaplain has been forced to stand down after set to retire expressing his views on same-sex marriage. The Rev Brian Ross made the comments about the Gov- ernment’s plans to introduce gay marriage on his person- By Amaris Cole al blog, saying there was no mandate for the change and describing marriage as a ‘God-ordained institution THE BISHOP of Hereford has between a man and a women’. announced his early retirement later The volunteer claims he was then told by a senior offi- this year, saying the failed women cer that ‘his remarks were not representative of the News ...... 1-7 bishop vote ‘had a bearing’ on his force’s views on the issue and violated it equality and Your Church ...... 2 decision. diversity policy’. UK News ...... 1-5 Speaking at the Diocesan Synod A spokeswomen said: “Whilst the force wholly respects World News ...... 6-7 meeting last Saturday, the Rt Rev the Rev Ross’s and, indeed any employees’ personally Anthony Priddis told delegates he will held political and religious beliefs, such views cannot be Comment be leaving in September. expressed publicly if representing the force, as it is by law Letters ...... 8, 11 The Bishop has been in the post for an apolitical organisation with firmly embedded policies Leader ...... 9 nine years. which embrace diversity and equality.” Peter Mullen ...... 9 At the meeting, he said: “In many Colin Hart, campaign director for the Coalition For ways I would be happy to stay, but I Marriage said: “This is just the start of things to come. England on Sunday think it’s a bit like a party, you should “We have this appalling case of Mr Ross, Chaplain to Faith in Syria ...... E1 leave while you are still enjoying it. It Strathclyde Police, being forced out because he backs the Andrew Carey ...... E2 has been a huge privilege to serve the traditional definition of marriage. Whispering Gallery ...... E2 people of the diocese, and to be able “We have consistently warned that ripping up the cur- Hazel Southam ...... E3 to do so with such excellent clergy, rent definition would lead to all sorts of consequences Judy West ...... E3 lay leaders and colleagues.” including people getting sacked and forced out of their Theological colleges . . . . .E4, E5 Bishop Anthony has been a Bishop it’s now rather uncertain what the jobs because of their beliefs.” Arts & Media ...... E6 for 17 years, beginning in Warwick as timing will be,” he said. Books ...... E7 a Suffragan before moving to Here- The Bishop’s last day will be 24 Sep- Janey Lee Grace ...... E8 ford. tember, the 41st anniversary of his Crossword ...... E8 “As I say to people, it’s been joyfully ordination as Deacon and the day relentless,” he said. “We have been after the 40th anniversary of his The Record happier here than we have been any- Priesthood. Lent series ...... 10 where.” The Bishop and his wife, Kathy, will Classifieds ...... 11 In his speech, he revealed he hoped continue to live in the Diocese, Clergy Moves ...... 12 to stay long enough that a woman though he will become an Assistant Jeremy Moodey ...... 13 might be appointed to replace him, Bishop in Gloucester. Pensions ...... 14 but given the failure of the vote in the Although he is said to crave more Spiritual Director ...... 15 General Synod on Women Bishops, time to enjoy his passion for fly-fish- Sunday Service ...... 15 the ‘prospect of this happening is fur- ing, he plans to renew his work with Peter Brierley ...... 15 ther away than he wished’. the College of Emergency Medicine, Paul Richardson ...... 16 “I would have waited longer if the of which he is an Honorary Fellow. People ...... 16 decision of our General Synod had A farewell service is being planned Milestones ...... 16 been different last November. for Hereford Cathedral on 7 Septem- Next week’s news ...... 16 “With our General Synod decision ber at 3:30pm. News from Your Church your diocese

Canterbury: The Kent regional body of the ecumenical wood, the Rev Annette Love, said: “This award is in recog- don and Newlon Fusion, the Community Regeneration organisation, Churches Together in England, met for its nition of the service we provide to the community, offering arm of Newlon Housing Trust. A Memorandum of Under- annual Forum on Saturday 23 February at Kent College, a warm safe place where people can come for a nutritious standing has been signed by the Ven Luke Miller, Pembury. Church leaders signed a covenant, committing meal and some social interaction.” She added: “Our ‘team’ Archdeacon of Hampstead, and Viv Nichols, Chief Officer them to work together and encourage others to do the of helpers are volunteers, giving local people a chance to for Newlon Fusion, underpinning plans to conduct a signif- same to further the life, mission, work and worship of the be involved in whatever way they want, and the judging icant community audit of assets and needs in the Totten- churches and congregations in their care. It is the first panel were extremely impressed with the commitment, ham Hale area. Commenting on the agreement, Fr Luke time such an agreement has been signed and it will be enthusiasm and dedication of the volunteers that support Miller, Archdeacon of Hampstead, said: “We are grateful to renewed each year at the annual Forum. The theme of the the Lunch Club in engaging with the wider community.” Newlon Fusion for the support and partnership we have Forum was the Family: God’s family and our family. Emma forged at Tottenham Hale. Together, we want to build, not Kevan, Christian Aid Regional Coordinator for Kent, said Derby: Derby Cathedral’s latest exhibition, by artist Mark just homes, but a community in which high quality materi- the support of the people in the area for the global family Cazalet, opened last Friday in the Sir Richard Morris al surroundings coupled with careful thought for the intan- can make a huge difference to those thousands of miles Lounge entitled ‘The Path to Calvary’. The March exhibi- gible but crucially important things of heart and soul will away. She highlighted the major multi-agency campaign tion is a repeat of last year’s, which had to close early for enable people truly to thrive. “ launched earlier this year, ‘Enough Food for Everyone IF’, the refurbishment of the Cathedral Centre so the cathe- which is seeking to bring an end to global hunger. dral thought it was worthwhile to give it another showing York: York Minster has announced details of the launch of until Maundy Thursday as the Centre will be closed on the 2013 programme of concerts and performances, which Derby: A weekly lunch club held at the St Alban’s Centre, Good Friday. Born in London and trained at Chelsea includes a new Festival of the Passions in March, partici- Holmewood has been successful in gaining a “Healthy School of Art, Falmouth, Paris and Baroda (India) Mark pation in York’s Early Music Festival, a Summer of Music Place Award” from NHS Derbyshire County. The lunch Cazalet (www.markcazalet.co.uk) is a versatile artist and rounding the year off with a performance of Handel’s club provides healthy, freshly cooked lunches, principally whose Christian faith has been expressed in some notable Messiah in December. At the heart of the programme are but not exclusively for older people. It has been selected as commissions. the York Minster Choir and resident musicians, all per- one of the top three projects submitted and will receive a forming within the acoustically celebrated cathedral. The prize according to the votes received (1st Prize is £3,500, London: A new partnership for community development York Minster Choir will perform JS Bach’s sacred Orato- 2nd is £2,500 and 3rd is £1,500). Vicar of Heath & Holme- in Tottenham Hale has been signed by the Diocese of Lon- rio, the St John Passion on Saturday 23 March.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Sunday March 10, 3012 www.churchnewspaper.com 2 NEWS IN BRIEF Funding boost for young carers Young carers from across England are celebrating news of a £1.2 million funding boost to improve local support for Cardinal faces new young carers and their families. Last week’s announcement by Edward Timpson MP, Minister for Children and Families, comes as 30 children, whose daily lives are dramatically affected by caring for family members, met with professionals to celebrate the achievements of an innovative young carer project. Vatican inquiry The ‘Prevention Through Partnership’ (PTP) pro- gramme was developed by The Children’s Society for CARDINAL O’BRIEN faces a Vatican moral authority. “The Church is com- young carers who are affected by parental substance mis- inquiry after an admission that his posed of saints and sinners,” he said. use and mental ill health. It brings together local authori- conduct had fallen ‘below the stan- “Sometimes the institution bears ties and voluntary sector organisations to share good dards expected of me as a priest, responsibility, sometimes it is just the practice to improve the lives of children at risk of becom- archbishop and cardinal’. The admis- weakness of individuals. The vast ing young carers, and this new funding from the Depart- sion, which implied improper behav- majority of priests are good and faith- ment for Education means that the next phase of work can iour had continued after he became a ful men.” now go ahead. cardinal in 2003, stunned the Catholic Writing in The Tablet, John Hal- Church in Scotland. dane, a prominent Scottish Catholic Modern values in question The inquiry into his conduct will be layman who is Professor of Philoso- A series of debates under the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral an internal Church inquiry and will phy in the University of St Andrews will look at the financial heart of the UK and ask, ‘The City not necessarily be made public. and a consultant to the Pontifical and the Common Good: What kind of City do we want?’. There are no allegations that Cardi- Council for Culture, claimed there Following a widely discussed 2011 report ‘Value and Val- nal O’Brien has broken the law by were a large number of Scottish ues: Perceptions of Ethics in the City Today’ which sur- engaging in sexual activity with a Catholic clergy who struggled with veyed over 500 financial sector professionals, the three minor. sions. He once called a senior Italian their sexuality and who had relatively debates in April, May and June will explore the theme Although Cardinal O’Brien Cardinal a ‘wee fat guy’ and 24 hours little in the way of intellectual forma- under the headings: Good People, Good Money and Good resigned very quickly there are ques- after he was appointed as a Cardinal tion. He called for priests to renew Banks. Organised by St Paul’s Institute with CCLA, the tions about how the Catholic Church he told an impromptu press confer- their vows of celibacy and for the debates will be chaired by BBC Economics Editor has handled the issue. ence that female priests, married abandonment of the present diocesan Stephanie Flanders, on Thursday 11 April at 6.30pm, According to Catherine Deveney, priests and contraception should all system and its replacement by ‘two or Tuesday 7 May at 6.30pm and Wednesday 12 June at the journalist who first broke the be up for discussion. He was immedi- at the most four apostolic territories’. 6.00pm. story, three priests and a former ately instructed by the nuncio to “Homosexuality per se is not the priest made allegations against Cardi- make a public statement of his fidelity problem,” he wrote. “It is the exis-
The Home Affairs
A sculpture of St Paul’s nal O’Brien a few days before the to the teaching of the Catholic tence of large numbers of gays in an Select Committee inquiry Cathedral made entirely of Pope announced his resignation. The Church. institution which regards this condi- into asylum has received a Fairtrade products has been four men were told that the Cardinal O’Brien complied the following day tion as intrinsically disordered and welcome. Ellen Broome, unveiled, as the Diocese of would still go to Rome for the con- and the experience may explain why pretends that its priesthood is not The Children’s Society’s London celebrated the first clave. Then on 22 February the Car- he became so outspoken, describing subject to that very condition.” policy director, said: “The anniversary of its accredita- dinal made his controversial abortion in Scotland as equivalent to Another Scottish Catholic layman, Home Affairs Select Com- tion as a Fairtrade Diocese. comments about celibacy and the ‘two Dunblane massacres a day’ and the historian Tom Devine, has mittee’s decision to exam- Designed and created by four men heard informally that talking of ‘Frankenstein’ experiments described the O’Brien affair as the ine the asylum process is Amanda Hughes, Children’s O’Brien would not go to Rome. on human embryos. Another expla- worst disaster for Scottish Catholi- very welcome. It provides Church Co-ordinator of St “So did the church act because it nation for his behaviour was that the cism since the Reformation. an important opportunity Mary’s, Finchley, the sculp- was shocked by the claims against felt compelled to match the rhetoric to further examine asylum ture celebrates the Diocese’s the cardinal or were they angry he of Cardinal Tom Winning. support for the thousands support for the Fairtrade ini- had broken ranks on celibacy?” Ms Cardinal O’Brien was a forceful of children who depend on tiative and is on display by Deveney asked. Her article breaking opponent of equal marriage in Scot- it and help improve their the west doors of St Paul’s the news appeared two days later. land and the revelations about his pri- CHURCH TEXTILES lives.” Cathedral. A former priest, who said he was vate life are seen as damaging to the the subject of unwanted attention by case against gay marriage in the UK 4321023/.-1,.+2.3*)3((32)3.'2 O’Brien, told The Observer that he as a whole. Last year he was chosen &3,%')3$.#"+('! .+2/. ,1/")! had experienced the ‘cold disap- by Stonewall as ‘Bigot of the Year’ but ,+23.(3+&3.%'&'!.1",.03 London’s housing boost proval of the Church hierarchy for Evan Davies, presenter of the BBC &'!3.!1.&33.&13.1-.1", daring to break ranks’. It is under- Today programme, has expressed 3*)'!'2./3&'2& The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, and the Bishop stood that the four men who made sympathy for the fallen Cardinal. “I
3.& 3)'+('&3.'2 of Stepney, Adrian Newman, joined with representatives the allegations against O’Brien only think people who struggle to sup- )1'&&'123/. '3)3&.+2/ of Affordable Christian Housing, The Contextual Theolo- felt confident to do so when they dis- press their homosexual urges find +(&1.1--3,.&!+2/+,/./3&'2&.12 gy Centre and Eden Network to launch an innovative new covered each other and each one that expressing anti-gay views gives '!3&.&") .+& housing bond last week. realised that he was not the only per- them fortitude in their torment,” he The new London Missional Housing Bond will see the son to have suffered unwanted sexual wrote on his blog. Banners, stoles, Diocese of London working in partnership with these advances. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Con- organisations to raise £2 million of investment to provide Cardinal O’Brien has been called to nor told the BBC he did not think that altar frontals housing for Christian community workers in some of the order by the Vatican on past occa- the Catholic Church had lost its and pulpit falls. most deprived 10 per cent of estates in the capital, where high rental prices in the private sector mean that it has not been possible for community workers to live on site previ- ously. New app measures carbon footprint One of the new initiatives that the bond could contribute to is the new Stepney Area intern scheme, due to begin in SMARTPHONE users have been given help by the Church of England to meas- September. The interns will be linked to parishes in areas ure and reduce their carbon footprint. of deprivation in East London. Shrinking the Footprint, the national environment campaign of the Church of The Bishop of Stepney, Adrian Newman, commented: England, has produced an app that can be downloaded free from the Apple App “The Diocese of London is working with many partner and Google Play stores. It focuses on energy use at home, in the office and by organisations in the capital to inspire a new generation of travel and provides useful tips and information on how to reduce impact on the young people to experience, understand and serve local environment. There is a ‘thought for the day’ from the Christian Ecology Unit communities in the inner city. In East London, we are and the users can share their progress through Facebook and Twitter. launching a Stepney Area intern scheme for young people Shrinking the Footprint is an official supporter of ‘Climate Week’ which began     who are called to this mission. A vital key to the success of on 4 March and runs to 10 March.  
this scheme is being able to provide affordable housing, The app is being trialled by the eco-congregation at Chelmsford Cathedral, .3,032!."&'23&&.32!,3$ (+,3.!,33!$. so I welcome the launch of this initiative that will help us which was the first Cathedral to be award ‘eco-congregation status’ in 2009. 3, $.. find a long-term solution and enable more young Chris- “The Shrinking the Footprint app allows everyone in the Church of England to .3(3 123 .  .  . tians, like those joining our scheme in Stepney, to pursue get involved in reducing their carbon footprint,” says David Shreeve, the Nation- .+* .  .. their vocation for the benefit of local communities in the al Environmental Adviser. “We hope people will download it and give us feedback .+'( . )!) ",) !3*!'(3&)1" most deprived parts of London.” to help us fine tune what we believe will become THE Christian calculator.” www.church-textiles.co.uk

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 4 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 10, 2013 News Bishops challenge Cameron over the aid budget distribution

BISHOPS IN the House of Lords have raised questions especially in fragile and unstable countries”. to be the case,” she said. about David Cameron’s suggestion that more of the aid And the Bishop of Exeter, Michael Langrish, said that She said the Government was committed “to scaling up budget could be spent on work carried out by the armed although peacekeeping was very important so was “peace- their work in fragile and conflict-affected states”. forces. building”. “We have committed to spending 30 per cent of official The Prime Minister said last month that the Govern- “Many of the areas that have traditionally been funded development assistance by 2014-15 to support these coun- ment was ready to consider spending money from the aid by overseas development aid, such as increasing the tries and to tackle the drivers of instability. budget on activities such as peacekeeping. capacity of civil society, advancing women’s rights and “In 2011, £58.7 million of ODA was spent on multilateral His comments were met with a backlash from charities, strengthening and improving governance, are also a really peacekeeping operations. This represented less than one with Oxfam suggesting aid money should be spent on important part of peacebuilding,” he said. per cent of the UK ODA spend in 2011 and we anticipate schools and not soldiers, and Labour said it was mislead- And he called for an assurance programmes traditionally that it will remain at a similar level.” ing to suggest aid money could be plug a gap in the “bent towards those ends will be protected, and that the And she told Bishop Langrish that the focus of the Gov- defence budget. money will not be diverted to these new peacekeeping ele- ernment’s spending was on peacebuilding. At question time in the House of Lords, the Bishop of ments of the programme”. “That is ODA. In providing support in areas such as Liverpool, James Jones, said he could see the virtue of For the Government, Baroness Northover said Bishop Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Pakistan, de-mining in Nepal “closer co-operation between peacekeeping and develop- Jones was right about the risks faced by people working in and humanitarian aid, DfID is following these principles ment programmes” but asked what steps were being taken unstable areas. and this Government will continue to follow them because “to reduce the risk of humanitarian workers and benefici- “However, given that we are acutely aware of that, as are of the importance you rightly ascribes to them,” she said. aries of such aid being seen as agents of a foreign power, the organisations, I can assure him that that will continue Bishop: Bring HS2 to Liverpool Bishop challenges THE BISHOP of Liverpool has called for the HS2 include Liverpool in their plans. There is genuine high-speed train line to include a spur to his city. anxiety that, without an HS2 spur, Liverpool will lose At present the second phase of the scheme will out to other northern cities. The chair of the local build on the London-Birmingham route - due to enterprise partnership, Robert Hough, has said: ‘It open in 2026 - with a service to Manchester and to is a question of the competitiveness of the city benefit changes Sheffield and Leeds. region. It is critical’.” In a House of Lords debate on the proposals, Bish- He said that without an HS2 spur it was “diffi- THE NEW universal credit should rise in line with inflation, the op James Jones welcomed the line but urged the cult to imagine” how Liverpool would be able to Bishop of Leicester has said in a new attack on the Government’s Government not to overlook Liverpool. bid for national and international business in the welfare plans. “Business leaders in the Liverpool city region are future. Bishop Tim Stevens has been a strong critic of the plan to cap very supportive of the Government’s HS2 scheme,” And he said without a Liverpool spur “we fear a benefit rises at one per cent, and urged ministers to think again. he said. downgrading of the city with impacts on inward He said universal credit – a new simpler benefit that is due to “However, they strongly urge the Government to investment and regeneration”. start being rolled out from next month – should be excluded from the cap along with in-work benefits. “The baseline amounts for universal credit have only just been established by the Government,” he said during committee stage Archbishop of Canterbury enters the Lords of the Welfare Benefits Uprating Bill in the House of Lords. “It surely is reasonable that these are now increased with cost of liv- THE NEW Archbishop of Canter- short ceremony of introduction The Archbishop of Canterbury, ing.” bury has officially taken his seat after he was legally confirmed as along with the Archbishop of He said the measure would protect 6.7 million children from in the House of Lords. archbishop last month. York and the Bishops of Durham, “some level of impact once universal credit is fully introduced”. The Most Rev Justin Welby had He was supported by the Bish- London and Winchester, auto- Bishop Stevens told peers: “A number of benefits have been previously sat in the Upper op of London and the Archbishop matically gets a seat in the Lords. substantially revised as part of the introduction of universal cred- House as the Bishop of Durham, of York as he swore an oath of The 21 longest serving diocesan it. but had to go through another allegiance to the Queen. bishops also get places. “For example, the lower disability addition for children, compa- rable to the disability element of child tax credit, has been halved in value. Personal allowances for those aged under 25 have been changed so that lone parents under 25 will no longer receive the Bishop warns of threat of genocide in Sudan same rate of personal allowance as single adults aged over 25. THE INTERNATIONAL community is taking little homes to the safety of South Sudan, are left to for- “The severe and enhanced disability premiums present in the notice of what appears to be a genocide in Sudan age for food and water under cover from the bombs. current benefits system are being removed. These are major and South Sudan, the Bishop of Exeter has said. “It really is a desperate situation and a tragedy changes to the system and, since we have only just established a Bishop Michael Langrish warned of a “grave” sit- that the international community still appears to be new baseline for support provided through the welfare system, it uation in the region and said political deliberations taking little heed of what is looking increasingly like is surely reasonable that that support should be increased to keep appeared to be “little more than a smokescreen” as genocide, or at the very least, yet another major eth- pace with rises in the cost of living to ensure that the situation for the Sudanese Government “clearly have absolutely nic cleansing working itself out. families remains comparable over time. no intention of providing humanitarian access to “Thousands of people have fled and the humani- “Inclusion of universal credit in the Bill amounts to a cut to the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states from the tarian cost is being paid for by neighbouring states new scheme before it is even introduced. This surely cannot north”. which are absorbing them. make sense. At this stage, we do not yet know what the impact of He said the vote in 2011 to create the new state of “Conditions in the refugee camps remain poor but these changes to the structure of support will be. We should at Southern Sudan had led the government of Sudan stable. There are increasing reports of disease out- least wait and see what the implications of these changes are to demand that southerners lived in the new state breaks, and overcrowding is becoming a greater before initiating cuts to them.” with “appalling” human consequences. issue in most locations.” He said the additional cost of his plan would be £90 million in “The overall drive seems to be to create a single Bishop Langrish said churches in Sudan were 2014-15 and £510 million in 2015-16, meaning the Bill would still country with a single culture and a single religion,” doing “an heroic job with limited resources”. make savings of £810 million in 2014-15 and £1.2 billion in 2015- he said in a debate in a grand committee of the “The young and fast-growing Episcopal Church of 16. House of Lords. Sudan is resilient, but it is suffering from the forced Bishop Stevens also called for allowances provided through “We in the church continue to hear from aid agen- departure of southerners, many of whom have exer- working tax credit, personal allowances within housing benefit cies and our fellow bishops in both Sudanese states cised key leadership and responsibility in and through and work allowances in universal credit to be increased in line of continued bombing, targeting civilian homes, the church and its aid programmes,” he said. with inflation. He said the move “explicitly improves work incen- markets, schools, fields and so on. “It is further the case that foreigners with connec- tives and ensures the principle that work pays”. “Those stranded, unable or unwilling to flee their tions to the churches are being told to leave.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Sunday March 10, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 5 York Diocese plants 60 oak trees in Year of the Environment

THE DIOCESE of York has planted over 60 oak trees on the National Trust’s Nostell Priory Estate to offset carbon emis- sions from its Year of the Environment. The Rev Canon Sue Sheriff, Acting Archdeacon of York; the Rev Fran Wakefield, Rector of Stamford Bridge; and Graham Andrews, Diocesan Surveyor and Estates Manager joined Nostell Priory’s Park- land Ranger, Mike Dudding, to plant the oak saplings. Graham Andrews, who is also the Archbishop’s Adviser for the Environment, said: “As Christians, we have a duty to care for our environment. All the churches in the Diocese of York celebrated 2011 as our Year of the Environment, and we promised to offset our carbon emissions produced in that year. We heard that Nostell Priory needed some oaks and were delighted to offer them these saplings.” Mike Dudding, Parkland Ranger at Nostell Priory said: “We really appreciate these oak saplings, which we’re planting in Joiners’ Wood, which is an area really in need of young trees. The existing trees are about 180 years old now, and when they come down through either old age or disease/safety rea- sons, these new trees from the Diocese will take their place giving us an element of longevity. “Joiners’ Wood is an area where our Education team bring children who are visiting Nostell Priory, to build dens and hunt for bugs, and I’m sure these trees will be enjoyed by children for generations to come.” ‘Don’t fear conflict,’ Archbishop tells the Church By Chris Sugden Democrats in the Lords told how Church in North America at a and reconciliation assume that mon ground in the February Dis- he studied medicine and psychia- General Synod Fringe Meeting in issues of principle and truth can cussions of the Women Bishops THE ARCHBISHOP of Canter- try in order to understand why a 2009, was clear that he was not be negotiated away. Reconcilia- issues. bury has said that the Church population with so many Chris- preparing a way to go back to tion, in its biblical sense, may be The Cathedral and local “bud- should not fear conflict. tians and Christian values had TEC. Their two years of conversa- too strong a word for a process get hotels” were used in an imagi- The comments by the Most Rev become self-destructive. Did the tions, he told me, had achieved a whose goal is that people might native way. The 300 participants Justin Welby were made at the answer lie in investigating the longer period for Truro Church live at the highest degree of met in main sessions in the spec- Faith in Conflict Conference, pathology of self-destructive indi- to find and develop a new proper- Christian unity possible given tacular nave. Lunch and dinner which took place at Coventry viduals? People turn to violence ty in which to move. their disagreements. was taken at tables at the “west Cathedral last week. The confer- not because of disagreement but He said that the consecration of The appointment of Justin end”. Sessions were framed in ence offered ways to address dis- because they feel disrespected Gene Robinson was a schismatic Welby to Canterbury and of worship. agreement in the local church and humiliated. Mediation helps act, and that Bishop Johnson was Canon David Porter as Director Senior figures including Gener- and more widely without one to redress the balance and ensure a brother who had taken a wrong of Reconciliation, both with exten- al Synod’s Secretary General party seeking to eliminate the people are listened to. turn and should repent. But is the sive experience of such mediation William Fittall, Bishop Christopher other: to prevent disagreement Interviewed alongside Bishop kindness, not the wrath of God in Nigeria, Burundi and Northern Cocksworth and Archbishop becoming destructive. Shannon Johnson of Virginia, the that leads to repentance, he said. Ireland, shows there is a wind Welby, at his first public church The Archbishop told delegates Rev Tory Baucum, who had pre- The conference addressed the behind this. A mediation process engagement as Archbishop, that conflict was normal but sented the case for the Anglican question of whether mediation sought to establish some com- attended throughout. should not be definitive. This dif- fers somewhat from earlier com- plaints that the roof was falling in on the Anglican Communion.      “Our fear of it [conflict], our sense of it being wasted time and "' ! !2"#,#$'##"# effort, is wrong. So often we seek !!"#!$"##!,#"'.#!.# like-mindedness so that we can get on with the job of worship, of '##%)!',!#"&" making disciples, of serving other !#%"!!- ## !!)!)% human beings.” He also drew on "'!%"%!!"- his experiences in visits to Africa and spoke in personal conversa- )   ' %) ! ', '!   4 )! tions of how he owed his faith to ),#""###!!"'!%, the Kenyan Church. !)%"( "%##!,)%''!# What enables people to be - !!)!#)- !"(  resilient in conflict is to be part of a supportive community said the %"&  %!!! %#)"!) Rev Dr Jo Bailey Wells, #!%"#!"- #!5 "","!#!, announced at the conference as #'##!6!8"#",#  %!" the chaplain to the Archbishop of &!" "#" &! 032,111 ' '- !!) & Canterbury. " &) !/' " ! %"# 07996,  She expounded the twin mes- "#"* sage of Jeremiah that the exiles should seek the good of Babylon, #%"#%#&!)& which at the same time was under and would experience the judg- !# ( ', ') # #!) #+ .# ment of God. She described her !#,#)&&!!#)#)%!# experience at the Anglican Study (#!!- Centre at Duke University, which had students from both ACNA   and TEC.





!%!#!!$ "!""$#%%'&'&, Lord Alderdice from Northern Ireland, the leader of the Liberal !&"#'''- !!)%#$&-

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 6 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 10, 2013 News Court case over Supermarkets stock Real Easter Egg LEADING SUPERMARKETS have agreed to stock the Real Easter Egg, which explains the religious meaning of Easter on the box and banned bus adverts funds charitable projects. Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons, Waitrose and the Co-op have all agreed to stock the egg after pressure from their customers and A CHRISTIAN GROUP has argued that Transport bishops. for London’s decision to pull bus adverts claiming The Archbishop of York has been a strong supporter of the Real gay people could change their sexuality was a ‘deep Easter Egg which was first launched in 2010. All the supermarkets threat’ to democracy. turned down the product at first so the manufacturers, the Mean- The adverts were a response to Stonewall’s own ingful Chocolate Company, sold it by mail order. Last year orders campaign on TfL with slogans saying ‘Some people reached a total of 250,000. are gay. Get over it’. Anglican Mainstream and the This year’s decision by the supermarkets is a reversal of previous Core Issues Trust sought to place adverts on buses policy and represents something of a milestone. which said ‘Not gay, ex-gay, post-gay and Proud. Get The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, wrote to the over it’. companies last year encouraging them to stock the Real Easter Egg. Boris Johnson stepped in last April to ban the He said he was delighted by the response. adverts saying they were ‘clearly offensive’ to “The response from Tesco, Morrisons and the Co-op has been homosexuals. Now Dr Michael Davidson, a former particularly encouraging,” he announced. “I encourage shoppers to homosexual who is the Director of the Core Issues hunt out the Real Easter Egg and complain if they are not being Trust, is suing the mayor, claiming the decision was stocked.” taken for political reasons just before a Stonewall have walked beyond a gay identity. In a statement, David Marshall of the Meaningful Chocolate Com- hustings on the eve of the mayoral election. “In my view Mr Johnson’s actions violate my own pany said: “Our aim is to change the Easter egg market for ever by Dr Davidson described his trust as a ‘charity rights of free speech as an individual who has making it more spiritual, more generous, more faithful. This is a working with men and women who voluntarily seek moved out of homosexuality and wishes to live and real breakthrough – there are Real Easter Eggs available in some assistance and move away from homosexual prac- speak of reclaiming heterosexual identity.” stores but quantities will vary. tice and feelings, where possible and appropriate.’ Paul Diamond QC, appearing for the Trust, said “Tesco has the biggest supply across 450 of their largest stores. He claimed that ‘Mr Johnson moved to ban the this was an important free speech case but TfL said Morrisons and the Co-op have quantities available in selected out- gay bus advert without consulting ourselves and the advert breached their advertising policy lets. Sainsbury and Waitrose have only about 12 eggs available in a without providing reasons why the advert was to be because it contained a publicly controversial mes- small number of stores. We have a Google map showing which banned.’ sage and was likely to cause widespread offence to stores are stocking the egg. It can be seen at He argued that ‘the Trust’s slogan does not imply members of the public. www.realeasteregg.co.uk.” that gay people can be cured, only that there are “This view was born out by the high number of This year the Real Easter Egg expects to raise £60,000 for Traid- those who are not gay by choice or who call them- complaints we received about the ad and large num- craft Exchange from sales made up to Easter. It is a fair-trade egg selves ex gay because they have tried a gay lifestyle ber of negative comments on social media and with a free Easter story activity on the back which appeals to chil- and moved out of it or are post gay because they newspaper websites,” said a spokesman from TfL. dren. Bishop challenges Evangelical appointed as Kenya ordinations new Bishop of Blackburn By Amaris Cole ferences between Christ Church Cen- tral and the Church of England.” IN A BREAK WITH TRADITION an evangeli- THE BISHOP of Sheffield has spoken The Bishop went on to explain how cal has been appointed as the new Bishop of out against the recent ordination in Christ Church, Walkley, was estab- Blackburn. Kenya of Pete Jackson from the Dio- lished with support of Christ Church, The Ven Julian Henderson, Archdeacon of cese, describing the news as a ‘com- Fulwood, without consultation with Dorking, is to succeed the Rt Rev Nicholas plete surprise’. the Diocese or St Mary’s, Walkley, the Reade, who retired in October. Blackburn is The move that took place on 9 Feb- local parish. one of only four dioceses (including Europe) ruary, supported and promoted by The parish, despite since being in where the Diocesan Bishop does not ordain Anglican Mainstream, has shocked contact with the new plant, were said women and Archdeacon Henderson many within the Church of England. to have been given no notification of announced that he intended to break the pres- In his statement, the Rt Rev Steven the plan to ordain Pete Jackson. ent diocesan pattern by ordaining women as Croft described the events that led to The Bishop of Sheffield said he will both deacons and priests. the controversial foreign ordination. be entering into correspondence with Last November he voted against the women “In 2003, Christ Church, Fulwood, the various parties involved to discuss bishops measure in General Synod. In a state- planted a new church, Christ Church the move and ascertain the motives ment on his appointment to Blackburn he Central, in the centre of the city led by behind ‘acting in the way that they announced that he was in favour of women the Rev Tim Davies. Despite extensive have’. serving as bishops but went on to say: “I hope discussions, the plant could not be He also revealed the Archbishop of that my vote at General Synod last November contained within the legal structures Kenya, the Most Revd Eliud will be a reassurance to those opposed to this of the Church of England,” he wrote. Wabukala, will be contacted on the development, that I want to be a figure of unity “The Diocese of Sheffield has a issue. on this matter and will ensure there is an hon- strong commitment to mission, to The statement went on: “As a dio- oured place for both positions within the main- evangelism and to church planting of cese we are particularly concerned to stream of the Church of England. May all kinds. Shortly after I became Bish- offer our support and prayers to the Blackburn be a model for the rest of the op in 2009, I invited the community of parish of St Mary’s, Walkley, who Church of England!” Christ Church Central to explore with quite understandably have found In 2010 Archdeacon Henderson attended the me the possibility of making a Bish- these developments unsettling.” Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangeli- op’s Mission Order to regularize their Bishop Steven concluded: “As a dio- sation in Cape Town, South Africa. He is 58 and life once again within the Diocese of cese we continue in our commitment married to Heather. After an education at Keble became Archdeacon of Dorking in 2005. Sheffield and the Church of England. to mission, to the making of disciples College, Oxford, and training for the ministry The Rt Rev John Goddard, Bishop of Burnley “After careful consideration, this and to joyful and creative church at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, he served a curacy and Acting Bishop of Blackburn, welcomed the offer was declined by Christ Church planting within the order and polity of at St Mary’s, Islington, before going to parishes appointment which he said had the full support Central because of alleged wider dif- the Church of England.” in the dioceses of Chichester and Guildford. He of senior clergy in the diocese.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Sunday March 10, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 7 Government warned over bat conservation costs By Amaris Cole servation to the BCT is bringing the Euro- The health and safety concerns of bats for two years and I am deeply depressed by pean Habitats Directive into disrepute. inhabiting churches were also raised by the lack of progress. THE CHURCH of England is warning the The group argues this has a detriment to The Royal Society, with the role they play “The Minister was clearly sympathetic government that bat conservation in endangered species more generally. in spreading disease. but the challenge is to convert sympathy churches cannot physically or financially The Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of The Ven Paul Ferguson, Archdeacon of into action. There has been over-delegation be sustained. Norwich, said: “I remain puzzled as to why Cleveland, highlighted the problem for one to the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) Environment Minister Richard Benyon our churches are treated as if they were of his parishes, saying that: “£29,000 has which approaches the issue as a bat wel- MP was told last week that the cost of uninhabited barns. They are not.” been spent so far by the congregation of St fare group and not the impartial scientific replacing one small piece of leaded win- The delegation welcomed current Hilda’s, Ellerburn, on two bat problems, organisation that should be giving advice dow, for example, increased from £5 using research by the Department for the Environ- and, although a licence to do something is on how to interpret the law.” plain glass to £140 when fitting a ‘bat flap’, ment, Food and Rural Affairs, saying they now promised, it is by no means certain. Sir Tony Baldry MP said: “We need which is required by the Bat Conservation were looking forward to results that ‘would Meanwhile, the cost in financial and action now. Many of my colleagues in the Trust (BCT). mitigate the impact of bats on buildings’. human terms to those who worship there House of Commons are as frustrated as I A Church of England delegation led by The group was keen to remind the Min- continues.” am by the lack of progress. I’m sure they Second Church Estates Commissioner Sir ister that ‘churches are places of worship, Anne Sloman, Chair of the Church Build- feel, as I do, that we can’t go on, year after Tony Baldry MP, has also warned that leav- centres of communities and heritage sites, ings Council, said: “We have been working year, saying something will be done when ing the interpretation of the law on bat con- not sites of special scientific interest’. on this with DEFRA and Natural England it isn’t.” Church ‘needs to connect’ with people Archbishop: Britain should THE BISHOP of Bradford says the Church having stuff to say if you don’t know how to say must speak in a way that people can understand. it or there is a big ‘clunk’ between the pro- recognise role of Dalai Lama Speaking in a Church of England Podcast, the gramme, which is great, fast-moving fun and CHINA SHOULD be Tibet; he is also recog- ter Baroness Warsi said Rt Rev Nick Baines said theologically deep and ‘the religious bit’.” urged to recognise the nised throughout the the issue of freedom of meaningful subjects can be entertaining, but Elton John, Barry Manilow, Barbara Windsor, Dalai Lama as a spiritu- world.” religion within China the media used need to be right to communicate Peter Kaye and Rick Astley are amongst the al leader, the Archbish- He asked: “Will the and the recognition of with people who do not necessarily share their showbiz names that Bishop Nick has shared a op of York has said. Government neverthe- religious groups and faith. studio with during the three years he’s been on The Buddhist leader less impress upon the leaders had been raised The Bishop praised DJ Chris Evans for build- the show. is no longer head of the Chinese Government with the country in gen- ing his Radio 2 Breakfast Show into Europe’s When Suggs from the band Madness was a exiled Tibetan govern- that they should recog- eral terms. largest radio audience, with latest industry fig- guest on The Chris Evans Show, Bishop Nick ment and at question nise and respect the But the Baroness ures giving the show, which includes Pause for managed to work 16 Madness song titles into time in the House of Dalai Lama as a reli- added: “I cannot cate- Thought, an average of 9.5 million listeners his Pause for Thought script that was broadcast Lords, Dr John Senta- gious leader and not as gorically say whether every day. that day. mu said: “He is certain- a political leader? If the specific issue of Bradford’s Bishop is one of the show’s regular The Bishop speaks on his Pause for Thought ly exiled, but the Dalai they did that, it is possi- recognising the Dalai Pause for Thought contributors. success on the Church of England website: Lama is not only a spiri- ble that they would Lama as a spiritual In the Podcast, Bishop Nick said: “You’ve got www.churchofengland.org/media- tual and religious then have a dialogue.” leader has been to be able to fit in with the medium. It’s no good centre/engage-with-us-online/podcasts.aspx. leader of the people of Foreign Office minis- raised.” Religious guilt levels revealed in new poll By Amaris Cole would feel sorry for having pre-marital sex, compared to traception, despite the strict teachings on this. only five per cent of non-religious people. In total, 4,437 adults were asked to carry out the survey ANGLICANS FEEL just as guilty as the rest of the nation Using pornography caused concern for more than twice carried out in January this year. when having an affair, a new poll shows. the number of people of faith, with 33 per cent responding The Westminster Faith Debates are organised by Dr Commissioned by the Westminster Faith Debates to that they would feel guilty for using this stimulation. Linda Woodhead and supported by the Lancaster Universi- coincide with a talk on sexualisation of society, 60 per cent The poll also suggested there is no evidence for Catholic ty, the Arts and Research Council and the Economic and of all those polled responded that they would experience guilt, with only nine per cent feeling guilty for using con- Social Research Council. guilt for extra-marital sex. The denominations who would feel guiltiest about an affair are Baptists and Pente- costals, with 90 per cent responding they would feel this concern. However, pre-marital sex caused more concern for reli- gious people than the rest of those questioned. Four times as many religious people say they would feel guilty about having sex before they were married than secular society. Of those polled, 20 per cent of those who described them- selves as religious said they

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Austerity worry God is limited to the enscripturated text. The case for paying taxes Likewise he does not venture to show how Sir, Andrew Carey (View from the Pew, 3 the authority of Scripture is established March) is exasperated with bishops oppos- Sir, In response to Andrew Carey’s “Steadfast Against Cuts” on 3 March: I would like to and what or whom determined its canoni- ing government cuts. I share his exaspera- affirm that paying taxes is a good thing; it is the price we pay for living in the relative cal status. tion with those who complain about shelter of civilisation; it is the modern version of the ancient rule of paying taxes to Mr Smith’s whole argument is circular in such-and-such a budget cut without giving enter the safety of the city walls. its reasoning. The fact is that our Blessed any idea of where otherwise the money is I lived in Texas for some years, where there is no state income tax, and saw firsthand going to come from, but I believe he is the wild-west dog-eat-dog lifestyle, fought over by the rich and suffered by the poor. If completely wrong in saying that the Gov- we don’t agree with how our taxes are spent we should engage with politics consis- Continues on page 11 ernment’s ‘austerity’ programme is neces- tently, not just at elections, and if we don’t like how the poorest suffer we should speak sary. and act to make a difference. For there is a massive source of revenue Bishops in the Lords do this well, with opinion formed by their contact with the con- that could be made available. It is becom- cerns of parish ministers and without a party line or populist line to toe. It is sad and ing clearer and clearer that Her Majesty’s somewhat cynical that when they do venture solutions these are often dismissed by Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are failing politicians as idealistic and unworkable. It is up to the well-paid experts to find solu- to bring in billions of pounds’ worth of tax tions that match society’s aspirations. from international companies that it could Telling people who present a problem to be quiet if they can’t also present a solution Your Tweets reasonably expect to get. The House of is a common bullying tactic, but it is as effective as ignoring a warning-light because it Commons Public Accounts Committee doesn’t also provide a “problem solved” light. @giles_fraser have published a report on their website (3 Paying taxes and bringing our concerns to the democratic discussion are both parts Cardinal Cormac trying the “few bad December 2012), whose Summary is well of seeking the common good; I would rather that than live in the wild, where the weak apples” defence. Sorry. This won’t worth a read. International companies ‘are are left to perish. wash. not paying their fair share’; HMRC are not Captain Roy Hollands, taking ‘sufficiently aggressive action’ about Church Army, @RuthieGledhill this; they may not have been given the Whitstable V odd how to be anti-paedophile, anti- resources to take action; and, by their own homophobia, anti-crime, anti-cover estimates, they are missing £32 billion a up, is perceived by some as anti- year (probably a considerable underesti- the evangelical tradition. Yet it appears to ment, where administrative help is provid- Catholic. Sigh. #fb mate). The national deficit is currently me from my limited experience that there ed, the PCC should be able to take the fee £120 billion a year. are also many from across all traditions for approvals for memorials when this is @SallyHitchiner Christian aid charities (eg CAFOD, (evangelicals, Anglo-Catholics and liber- delegated by the incumbent. Goodness I really enjoyed Call The Christian Aid, and Tearfund) have als) who claim “Anglican status” yet who As one who deals with churchyard mat- Midwife this week... lovely writing! launched the ‘IF’ campaign against world “do what they wish” in one regard or anoth- ters, I resent these fees being grabbed poverty, a major plank of which is opposi- er. Furthermore, I would have thought that from us in the parish when the costs and @BpStephenLowe tion to tax avoidance by international com- if ‘playing by every rule’ were of such expenses borne by the parish far exceed New RC pontiff should begin with a panies, avoidance which starves importance to “claiming Anglican status,” any fee income from burials and memorial period of corporate penitence and developing countries of the money due to we may, for example, have found the approvals. Whilst some retired clergy who then radical reform. Time has come them. Several of the most used ‘tax havens’ Church of England itself in an “impaired conducted funerals have exploited their for Vatican III to rethink authority used for this avoidance - and the avoidance relationship” with The Episcopal Church in position in the past, the pendulum has now of our taxes - are British Crown Colonies. the USA for pursuing its revisionist agenda swung too far the other way. @phillipsc Andrew has a good point when he asks of previous years. It seems to me that the Michael DS Gear, Moved to tears by the sound of what is the level we can tax the rich up to. previous Archbishop recognised the com- Hatherton, Nantwich Choral Evensong from @durham- Part of my answer is that these companies plications that diversity brings and sought cathedral on the wireless. aren’t real people! We have constructed to work this through in his own way within artificial people - corporations (idols?) - and the Communion. Marriage questions @blondpidge their real directors are unable to be very Again, in my limited experience I wonder Sir, Having read Andrew Carey’s article Just a reminder that the Catholic generous for the good of humanity if we might best serve and be served by “Theological examination needed” (24 Feb- Church expects the same standards because they are legally required to act for seeking first to try and understand the rea- ruary), I have to admit that I am one of of sexual behaviour from *everyone* the shareholders of their corporations. sons why people believe and act upon the those who wrote to the Bishop of Bucking- clergy, laity, married, single, gay. I’m not fond of overtaxing rich real particular convictions they have, to make ham, Alan Wilson, questioning his stance human beings, but these corporations are charitable assumptions of them where pos- on Same-Sex Marriage. I did this by direct- @wendybeechward often paying tiny amounts of tax compared sible, and then seek to apply the truth of ing him to the words of Jesus on marriage Praying for my Catholic friends. It’s to their profits. If the rest of the world is the Gospel to that situation. None of us are in Matthew 19:4-6. Does the Bishop tar me been a hard week for them. poor and can’t buy their goods/services, perfect and life is indeed complicated. with the brush of homophobia for raising the companies themselves will suffer. (And Ben Thorndike, the question and what then are we to make @deanwestminster may already have. May this be the princi- Ordinand, Oak Hill College of this saying of Jesus? Recently I have Prayers for The Queen: for a rapid pal cause of the credit crunch?) posed the same question to Tim Mont- return to robust health Shouldn’t we be chasing this tax rather gomerie and Steve Chalke. Although I pic.twitter.com/7a7dLDLaOh than cutting vital public services? Clergy fees enclosed an SAE with both these letters I Jonathan Goll Sir, Canon Michael Smout in his letter (3 have yet to have a reply. Will no one @His_Grace Birmingham March) touches on issues with fees that engage with these words of Jesus or do Cardinal O’Brien: “Initially, their need challenging. Is a retired priest who they know in their hearts that they do not anonymous and non-specific nature conducts a crematorium funeral under any backup their own views on Same-Sex Mar- led me to contest them..” ie, he lied; Playing by the obligation to pay the diocese any part of riage? falsely accusing his accusers. that fee? It is not a service in church but David Bousie, rules one undertaken at the request of the funer- Burton-on-Trent @helenmew Sir, I wanted to write in response to a letter al director and the family. What if the Why does Farage/UKIP get so much included in last week’s edition (3 March, deceased was not a member of the C of E? time/exposure on TV/radio com- 2013) titled ‘Playing by the rules,’ making What jurisdiction does a diocese have in Authority pared to Caroline Lucas / Green criticism of those in Sheffield Diocese who this, they can insist that the priest has Per- Sir, Mike Smith lays out the “scriptural” Party who actually *have a sitting “took the highly irregular step of travelling mission to Officiate to conduct a service in authority of the 39 articles. Yet nowhere MP*? to Kenya to be ordained there... [but] still church? What about the priest’s expenses does he show where the doctrine of the insist on claiming Anglican status.” such as car mileage, will they be deductible sole authority of scripture is established or follow us Such ordinations are irregular and from the fee going to the diocese? taught in Scripture! Neither does he estab- @churchnewspaper on Twitter broadly speaking, undertaken by those in On the question of churchyard manage- lish from Holy Scripture where the Word of

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper The latest books and films reviewed: E6,7

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2013 Overcoming hardships

ometimes, you meet someone who them understand how to fill in forms. and grace among the Syrian people whom I children have started sleepwalking. Many seems to have had so much hardship She spent months wandering from place met. I mostly spoke to women because, parents told us of the effect that life in Syria Sin their lives you wonder how they can to place with her five children, living hand- although some men did sit and tell me their and their experiences since have had on carry on. to-mouth and relying on the kindness of stories, it was easier for the women to their children. Nightmares, sleepwalking, Through my work at Tearfund, I’ve met strangers, until she found herself at Zaatri invite me and our female photographer into panic at hearing aeroplanes or loud noises, many such people over the years, but never camp. their homes and their lives. and vacant staring eyes are not uncommon. have I met so many in one day as I did last In the three months that she has been And those women really are incredible. There is already a lot of help for people month. there, it has been very cold with heavy Many of them have health problems them- from Syria, and many charities, govern- I went to Lebanon and Jordan to meet rains. Her ‘street’ – the row of tents where selves, or have recently given birth – I met ments and churches are helping. But in the with people who had travelled there from she and many other families live – was women who had delivered babies within last couple of months, so many more peo- Syria to flee the bombarding, rockets, flooded and they had to go and sleep on the the last few days, and one who had fled ple have fled Syria that the help available is shellings and shootings that had entered floor of the school, which is a large prefab Syria while in labour – and all of them find not enough for all the new people crossing their neighbourhoods. nearby. the practicalities of life difficult. the border. And every single person I met had a trag- She has five children to look after so it’s For those in camps, whether that’s the And the people coming through now are ic story to tell. Not just one bad thing, but difficult for her to find any way to earn big official refugee camp or makeshift those who thought they would never leave. lots of bad things had happened to them. money. She applied to help in the school camps of groups of people who have settled One father, who has serious kidney and In Zaatri camp in Jordan, where 75,000 and has been offered one day’s work a together and between them try to pay rent bladder problems and was receiving inten- people live in a well-organised camp that is month, because there are so many people to the landowner, laundry is a huge prob- sive medical care in Syria, told me he want- more like a town except that everyone lives applying for the same jobs in the camp that lem. ed to stay at home but once his wife and in tents, Hadeel, 41, told me the sad story a day a month is all that’s available. Women told us they feel as though they children started seeing women being of her husband dying in Syria and her hav- And then, as if all that wasn’t enough, two spend all day washing clothes, because it’s raped in the streets he knew he had to ing to leave with her children to find days before I met her, Hadeel’s 11-year-old so muddy underfoot that as soon as they’ve bring them out. refuge. son died. He was disabled and, although washed the clothes they’re dirty again. There is help available for these people Her story didn’t end there. there is a good hospital in the camp, it was They take a while to dry, and get splashed and the thousands of others like them, but Life is very difficult for women without difficult for him to get the care he needed by mud while hanging on the clothesline. it’s not enough and some people don’t find husbands, especially in families where the and he didn’t make it. The food is sparse and very boring. it until it’s too late. men have done all the financial and house- In the midst of all this tragedy and loss, Mums make sure their children are fed To make sure more people get the help hold management. It means that women Hadeel invited me into her home, gracious- before they eat, even those women with they need, go to www.tearfund.org/syria or like Hadeel are thrown into decision-mak- ly hosted me, offered me coffee and shared diabetes or other serious health conditions. call 0845 355 8355 ing that they’ve never had to do before and her story with me. And the nights are cold, noisy and fright- often find difficult unless someone helps There is an immense amount of dignity ening, especially for families where the Names changed for security reasons

ANDREW CAREY E2 • WHISPERING GALLERY E2 • HAZEL SOUTHAM E3 • ARTS E7 • BOOKS E7 • CROSSWORD E8 • JANEY LEE GRACE E8 E2 www.englandonsunday.com Sunday March 10, 2013

He then goes onto suggest that the elec- then to the covering up of the same - be that tion of a new Pope provides an opportunity the police over Hillsborough, the BBC over for real change. The change that is neces- Jimmy Savile and the Houses of Parliament sary, he suggests, is the dismantling of the over expenses. culture of secrecy. This, helpfully, makes it This is not to say that the Churches do not Andrew Carey: possible for him to compare Cardinal have a particular need to repent when things O’Brien’s indiscretions with the abuse of go wrong, but that the case of Cardinal Keith children. “Inappropriate sexual relation- O’Brien, in spite of his failure to keep all his ships, relationships that trade on unequal promises, cannot bear the weight of Giles View from the Pew power and enforced silence, are the product Fraser’s anger towards the theology, gover- of an unwillingness to speak honestly, openly nance, doctrine of the Churches in general. and compassionately about sex in general The priests who have reported him, and homosexuality in particular.” together with Keith O’Brien, need our He added: “The importance of marriage as prayers at a very difficult time. There is no being available to both gay and straight peo- suggestion of law-breaking but there are Unchallenged issues ple – and indeed to priests – is that it allows clearly question marks over a long and dis- sexual desire to be rightly located in loving tinguished ministry. and stable relationships.” Many of us who are also opposed to gay he normally anodyne and uninspir- Cardinal Keith O’Brien. “So why is it that By ranging from Cardinal O’Brien’s sinful marriage believed that the interventions by ing ‘Thought for the Day’ on Mon- all the Churches – and not just the Roman mistakes to child abuse and then to gay mar- O’Brien last year were unhelpful and poorly Tday turned out to be interesting. Catholic Church – seem to attract too riage, Giles Fraser leaves the politics of sexu- expressed. Had I been listening live with my coffee I many gay men who are themselves so vir- al identity unchallenged. He sanctifies and The fact that he has admitted in vague have no doubt I might have spluttered in ulently hostile to homosexuality.” It prioritises modern notions of sexual identity terms his sexual indiscretions tells us noth- astonishment. always aids ‘righteous anger’ to pose a and suggests that embracing them will rid ing at all about the broad debate over gay Giles Fraser’s attack on the Roman rhetorical question like this. It dishonest- the church of sexual sin – denoted as ‘inap- marriage. To say that it does, is merely a Catholic Church, and indeed the Church ly shifts the ground from the question propriate sexual relationships’. form of playing the man rather than the ball. of England, marked a short-lived retire- that should be asked, which is whether it In fact, there is absolutely no evidence at ment from church controversy. Only a is true that the Church is dominated by all that sexual liberation from traditional Eastleigh intentions few weeks ago he resigned his column in self-hating homosexuals? Giles Fraser views of marriage and sexuality results in the Church Times with the words: “Some- gives his own explanation: “Perhaps it has fewer ‘inappropriate sexual relationships’. In There are some indications that disgruntle- times you have to let the anger drop, if to do with a misplaced sense of shame fact the opposite seems to be the case. The ment over gay marriage may have had an only for your own sanity.” about being gay, a sense of shame that Roman Catholic Church may have wide- impact on the result of the Eastleigh by-elec- He was back on ‘Thought for the Day’ they go on to reinforce by being vocal spread difficulties with cover-ups over the tion. I doubt, however, that we’ll ever have frothing with ‘righteous anger’ over supporters of the very theology that they abuse of children but we have found that all much specific evidence that gay marriage Roman Catholic ‘hypocrisy’ in the case of themselves have been the victims of.” human institutions are prone both to sin and played a major role in it. Christian in Politics Too much sex? Ed Miliband may be a self-proclaimed atheist but he is working closely with Christians. Jon Cruddas, a practising Catholic, was appointed by Miliband to A Westminster Faith Debate chaired by Charles Clark on whether we have too coordinate Labour Party policy and another Catholic, Tim Livesey, is much sex today could hardly have been more topical in the wake of the revela- Miliband’s Chief of Staff. Livesey, who worked for Archbishop Rowan tions about Cardinal Keith O’Brien and the allegations against Lord Rennard. Williams for six years and before that for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Con- Maureen Kendler of the London School for Jewish Studies, Catherine Pepinster nor, spoke recently about his Christian faith in the Lent series at St of The Tablet, Donna Freitas, Professor of Religious Studies at New York Uni- Matthew’s, Westminster. His emphasis was more on prayer and discipleship versity, and journalist Jenny Taylor all agreed in condemning the sexualisation than on doctrine, which was not surprising for someone who once tried his of society but Freitas and Taylor were the most outspoken. Freitas condemned vocation as a Benedictine monk. In response to a question, he suggested that the ‘hook up society’ among American students. Only evangelicals were New Labour had been too close to neo-liberalism and that the challenge now exempt, she claimed. Both audience and the panel tried to find reasons for the was to find alternative sources of inspiration in Labour’s own rich tradition or growing emphasis on sex, with some blaming the changes of the 1960s, others elsewhere, such as Catholic social teaching. emphasising a reaction against repression and a changing legal climate, and “What we produce we have to share, otherwise we are not true to the others pointing to the rise of expressive individualism. A YouGov poll taken gospel,” he said, emphasising the importance of solidarity. Politics can be a before the debate showed Catholics feel little guilt at ignoring church teaching tough life, he told an audience that included Jonathan Aitken, author-in-resi- one sex. A widening gap between bishops and the faithful could prove disas- dence at St Mathew’s, but he also argued that politics needs enriching. trous for the Catholic Church, Professor Linda Woodhead suggested. Muslims Working with Rowan Williams was clearly a formative experience for were more reluctant than Catholics to use contraception and when it came to Livesey. One of the aspects of the former Archbishop’s character that had such matters as sex outside marriage and adultery Pentecostals and Baptists struck Livesey very forcibly was his readiness to listen to others. Many politi- were the most ready to express disapproval, followed by Jews and Muslims. On cians go in for surface listening, Livesey commented, deep listening is much many questions Anglicans were slightly less liberal than Catholics. rarer. The Whispering Gallery Scandals uncovered All change in Rome and Canterbury

Robert Beaken managed to challenge suspicions that Cosmo Gordon Lang In 1591 Pope Gregory XIX published a bull excommunicating anyone making a was probably a closet gay in his recent biography of the Archbishop but Diar- bet on a papal election but this hasn’t stopped Paddy Power allowing people to maid MacCulloch has raised questions about another occupant of the See of place votes on who will succeed Benedict XVI. In 2005 Mr Power was ejected Canterbury. In his lifetime, John Whitgift was unpopular because of his high from St Peter’s Square for displaying his betting prices. In that papal election, church views and opposition to the Puritans. He had the confidence of Queen Paddy Power took over $382,000 in bets. Meanwhile there are signs of a new Elizabeth but the Marprelate tracts were written against him and Macaulay broom at work in Lambeth Palace. The Rev Jo Bailey Wells is the first woman to labelled him ‘a narrow, mean, tyrannical priest who gained power by adula- be appointed chaplain to an Archbishop of Canterbury. A former Dean of tion. MacCulloch suggests that Marprelate’s insinuation that one life-long Chapel in Clare College, Cambridge, Ms Wells is married to the Rev Sam friendship was more than just friendship is quite plausible. In his newly-pub- Wells, close associate of American theologian, Stanley Hauerwas and now lished book ‘Silence in Christian History’ double entendres from Marprelate Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Both Jo Bailey and Sam are aged 47, young are quoted that might be thought libellous today. In the same lively volume, enough to stand a chance of being the Church of England’s first married cou- MacCulloch berates Gordon Fallowes, a Bishop of Sheffield, for deliberately ple in which both husband and wife are bishops. Among other signs of the new trying to conceal a diary containing details of an affair with a married woman broom is a smart sign that has appeared to identify Lambeth Palace and warn by the celebrated Victorian preacher FW Robertson. Fallowes abandoned his that the forecourt is private property on which parking is not permitted. Given own biography of Robertson when he found the diary and then tried to pre- that Lambeth Palace is clearly marked as a bus stop, it is doubtful if many peo- vent another biographer finding them. No such attempt to cover up the sins ple need help in identifying the building, although admittedly from the outside of the great was made by Donald Mackinnon who is quoted by approval by it does look more like a prison than a palace. Inside the Palace reports speak of MacCulloch for his attack on Paul Tillich’s promiscuity. MacCulloch won- a certain nervousness as staff wait to see what other changes are in store. ders how anyone can take seriously the work of a theologian who lacked integrity on such a grand scale. He omits to mention that MacKinnon himself fought off the advances of the sexually adventurous Iris Murdoch. Sunday March 10, l 012 www.eng3andonsunday.com E2

help elect the next Pope. The next he propriate behaviour, relating to Lord was newly and swiftly resigned, follow- Rennard. ing allegations of ‘inappropriate’ ‘It is hard to escape the impression,’ behaviour towards junior priests. The Independent’s leader writer said, Within a week he’d released a state- that the announcements about 20-year- ment saying that, ‘There have been old allegations relating to the Cardinal Hazel Southam times that my sexual conduct has fall- ‘were timed to cause maximum dam- en below the standards expected of me age to the Cardinal’s reputation while as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.’ he was still in office and to the Catholic View from Fleet Street He added, ‘To those I have offended, Church when it was in the public eye.’ I apologise and ask for forgiveness.’ It commended the current situation The Times, Telegraph and Sun ran where, we hope, people feel far more this fairly straight, having presumably able to bring forward such allegations had to drop the story in at the last and are more likely than they would minute on Sunday night. But by the have been in the past to be believed. morning the analysis had begun. But, The Independent concluded The intrigue is in the detail ‘Hypocrisy’ was the word most band- there was ‘an unseemly whiff of the ed about. But there was also a sense of witch-hunt’ about the Cardinal’s case. his week has read like a Hilary Mantel been making Benedict’s shoes since he was a sorrow that Cardinal O’Brien had said By the week’s end it was hard to novel: intrigue, accusations of impropri- mere cardinal. So, one may suppose that he’ll one thing about sexuality in many out- know if this really was the case. But Tety, the distant whiff of politicking and go on doing so now, just in another colour. spoken comments and apparently the Cardinal’s announcement stopped some glorious detail. Prizes should be awarded next week to whoev- lived another life. me questioning if a modern-day I love detail. I remember writing a piece from er discovers what this colour is. No one, the commentators said, Thomas Cromwell would emerge to Bosnia, during the war, and the news editor Also joyously reported in The Daily Mail should live like this and perhaps finally defend him. commending the detail. ‘I knew you were there (and elsewhere), were the Pope’s diary entries this will be a wake-up call to the In Hilary Mantel’s portrayal of because you referred to the children’s black- for this week: Tuesday: packing. Wednesday: Church to change it’s teaching on sex- Cromwell in Wolf Hall there is a ened milk teeth,’ he said. final address. Thursday: meet the cardinals uality. Somehow, I doubt it. moment when Cardinal Wolsey, You’d have thought he knew I was there and then fly by helicopter at 5pm to Castel Gan- It had been an unbelievably political Cromwell’s mentor and benefactor, is because he sent me, but you get the point. dolfo, the papal residence south of Rome. week for the Catholic Church. The mocked in a play made up by some Detail, or colour, as journalists refer to it, is the Here, The Daily Mail reported, Benedict Daily Telegraph reported ‘rumours minor aristocracy. very stuff of life and brings articles leaping off would say goodbye to his parishioners and at and counter rumours in the Italian Cromwell says nothing at the time. But the page. 8pm, when he officially retires, the Swiss media suggested cut throat behind- much of the second part of the trilogy, So, first prize this week (and I shall rarely Guard would leave him. the-scenes lobbying’ before the con- Bring up the Bodies, is concerned with a say this) goes to The Daily Mail for its detailed It’s the kind of detail that brightens my week. clave began. dreadful reckoning for this moment. reporting of the Pope’s final days in office. Another detail was also spotted by the Mail’s The Cardinal’s resignation, before Each man is made to pay for his deeds, Pope Benedict, it reported, will henceforward inestimable Steve Doughty. He dug up from his apology, had been everywhere too. and a very high price is exacted. be known as ‘pontiff emeritus’, will continue to some archive a picture of Cardinal Keith The Telegraph added the view of Prof No one will be standing up for Cardi- wear white robes, but will forego his rather O’Brien with Jimmy Savile at a Scottish Tom Devine, a Roman Catholic aca- nal O’Brien. He has said that he will be marvelous, handmade red leather shoes. And fundraiser six years ago. demic, saying that his resignation had playing ‘no further part in the public there was a picture of the shoes. ‘The picture that Cardinal Keith O’Brien propelled the Church into the worst life of the Catholic Church in Scot- The Times, however, can claim a highly satis- probably wishes he had never posed for,’ read crisis to hit it since the Reformation. land’. Retirement from public life may factory pre-piece by James Bone, interviewing the headline. You have to believe it. The Independent’s editorial made not be enough for a bruised Church the Pope’s shoemaker, Antonio Anellaro. ‘The Things moved very quickly for the Cardinal. the obvious connection between this that has yet another reason to question Peruvian immigrant’, The Times reported has One minute he was heading off to Rome to and the week’s other alleged inap- its leaders.

Judy West’s Getting the message across? Notes, Quotes & Anecdotes The need for foundations Ravi Zacharias wrote: “A few weeks ago, I did a lecture- ship at Ohio State University. As I was being driven to the Leave the lecture, we passed the new Wexner Art Center. The driv- broken, irreversible er said, ‘This is a new art building for the university. It is past in God’s hands, and a fascinating building designed in the post-modernist step out into the invincible view of reality.’ The building has no pattern. Staircases go future with him. nowhere. Pillars support nothing. The architect designed Oswald Chambers the building to reflect life. It went nowhere and was mind- less and senseless. I turned to the man describing it and asked, ‘Did they do the same thing with the foundation?’ He laughed. ‘You can’t do that with a foundation.’ Urban Myths “You can get away with the infrastructure. You can get A collector of rare books ran into an away with random thoughts that sound good in defense acquaintance who told him that he had just of a worldview that ultimately doesn’t make sense. Once thrown away an old Bible that he found in a you start tampering with the foundations, you begin to dusty, old box. He happened to mention that Church Typos see the serious effects. Yet the foundations are in jeop- Guten-somebody-or-other had printed it. From the notice sheet of St ardy; the foundations of our culture do not provide coher- “Not Gutenberg?” gasped the collector. Mary the Virgin, Stebbing: ent sets of answers anymore.” “Yes, I think that was it,” the man replied. Offertory hymn: There “Oh no! You’ve thrown away one of the first must be more than this books ever printed. A copy recently sold at an Thanks to David Gregory auction for $2,000,000!” “Oh, I don’t think this book would have been It makes you think… worth anything close to that much,” replied the Albert Einstein was often asked to explain the general theory of relativity. man. “It was scribbled all over in the margins “Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour,” by some guy named Martin Luther.” he once declared. “Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity!” Submitted by Angela Robinson Do you have a funny story, quotable quote or sermon illustration? Send Bangladesh them to The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX or email [email protected] E4 www.englandonsunday.com Sunday March 10, 2013

any fear, even if they do not voice the tures or Theology for Youth and Children. thought, that to study at a Bible Col- With links to Middlesex University, this evan- Mlege would somehow ruin their faith, gelical college offers education for a wide and that asking critical questions of Christian- range of students, from church leaders to uni- ity will somehow undermine their belief. The versity workers. The Postgraduate Diploma Building Colleges argue this is not the case, and that offered at Oak Hill enables students to academic study of faith actually strengthens engage at a high-level with today’s significant it, and allows a deeper understanding. But for theological and pastoral questions. Students those considering this kind of education, take time to reflect and consider in a deeper where to do so can be confusing. way the meaning and application of scripture Oak Hill, in north London, offers a selection in today’s fractured, quickly changing world. your faith at of programmes, ranging from two-year foun- This is a calm and peaceful learning environ- dation degrees to Masters. Specialist training ment, surrounded by 60 acres of greenbelt programmes are integrated into the Oak Hill parkland. Visit www.oakhill.ac.uk or attend courses, including Theology for Crossing Cul- the open morning on 11 May 2013. Bible college

Growing to one of the largest theological colleges in the country, St Mellitus offers not only courses for 500 Bible students, but also trains 100 Church of England ordi- nands a year. The College was founded in 2007 by the Bishops of London and Chelms- ford. “It is dedicated to helping Christians explore their faith more deeply, combining academic excellence, a focus on missional leadership and the flexibility to fit around busy lifestyles,” the website boasts. St Mel- litus offers students degrees, training for youth work, licenses lay readers and trains future priests. The Christian leadership is a broad MA that could appeal, with skills taught that can translate to ‘secular’ posi- tion, the college assure. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, said: “As we seek to train men and women for ministry and mission in a rapidly changing context, St Mellitus College offers the Chelmsford Diocese a flexible and inclusive approach for theological and ministerial education and formation. It is very exciting to be part of this pioneering initiative.” For more information visit www.stmellitus.org. St John’s, Nottingham, offers full-time, part-time, residential and distance- learning for not only theology students but also ordinands and clergy. This flexi- “We try to engage ble college provides critical training for future church leaders and others. The former Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev David James, said: “St John’s prepared specifically with the me well for a fulfilling and varied ministry under God. But it will continue to become a very different college from the one I knew. The Lord is doing a ‘new demanding issues thing’ and there’s no more exciting place of its kind - a pioneering college for people who want to be pioneers for the Gospel.” people are facing in Those with an interest in counselling could find St John’s attractive, with special Oak Hill training in this area, and the chance to gain a Masters in the field. Research can their jobs. Seeing God also be done at this college, in a supervised environment to guide you through to College your PhD. For more information on their degrees, diplomas and masters, visit at work in the heart www.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk. The non-denominational London School of Theology believe in ‘integration of of Westminster is an people equipped rigorous and stimulating academic programmes based upon biblical truth, with personal formation and the development of practical skills for Christian service’. amazing privilege.” for ministry With undergraduate, postgraduate and distance-learning options, LST has a course for all students considering Bible College. Revd Jason Roach, curate in oakhill.ac.uk/jason Their Theology, Music and Worship course is the only one of its kind in workplace ministry, Whitehall Europe, giving a wide choice of modules and options of study. This course is offered at Certificate, Diploma, and Degree level is specifically designed for OPEN MORNING musically gifted students interested in taking a combined and integrated study AT OAK HILL programme in theology, music and worship, who want to advance their music 11 May 2013 skills and understanding to a high level and at the same time wish to be theolog- ically equipped. For more information on this course and the many others offered by the London School of Theology, visit www.lst.ac.uk. Founded in 1877 by a small group of evangelical leaders, Wycliffe Hall is part of the wider University of Oxford, proving the creden- tials of the establishment. But the college can boast far more than history and prestige, with a range of undergraduate and postgrad- uate courses. Specialist programmes include Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford (SCIO) and Christian Apologetics (OCCA). leadership r mission r practical theology r pioneer For centuries Christians have come to Durham to study, pray A wide variety of needs are catered for at this college. ministry r preaching and communication r full and part and worship. Cranmer Hall, the Anglican Theological College at the heart of Durham University and located alongside Cranmer Hall, Durham time courses r theological and practical excellence the Cathedral, has a rich heritage of Mission, Biblical Study, As the national and international centre of prayer, worship and Communication and excellence in theological study. scholarship for over a thousand years, generations of students have chosen to study here to prepare for their future missions and Come and visit this engaging and hospitable community, ministries. For over a century, Cranmer Hall has trained men and rooted in the breadth and wealth of the Anglican tradition. women for Certificate to Doctoral qualifications. A BA or MA can Visit, study, pray, grow, and find a home in the warm heart be attained here in Theology and Ministry, through the teaching of the North. of this world-class university and provision in training with the courses tailored to individual needs. Modules of particular inter- est include Sexuality, Gender and Christian Ministry, Ministry in Cranmer Hall, St John’s College, 3 South Bailey, Durham City, County Durham, DH1 3RJ Secular Employment, Christian Worship, New Testament Greek Telephone: +44(0) 191 334 3894 | Fax: +44(0)191 334 3501 | Email: [email protected] | www.cranmerhall.com and Church History. For more information about the college, visit www.dur.ac.uk/cranmer.hall.

Cranm [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Teleph Sunday March 10, 2013 www.englandonsunday.com E5

never understood why Christians believed in the Bible. Even after stumbling into my own faith at I15 I still didn’t get it. People used to tell me that the Bible was the “Word of God” and that I simply Building my trust in the Bible needed to believe in it, but for some reason that never sat too well with me. How could I even begin to trust a book that makes claims about the nature more. At LST they strip off all your traditions and of God when I didn’t even know the people who presuppositions and reveal the naked fragile core of wrote it? your faith, and you realize just how weak it is. It frustrated me that none of my churchgoing The challenge then is finding a faith of your own friends had these kinds of concerns. They seemed that is uninfluenced by what you’ve been told to to have all the answers without knowing any of the believe. And the desired end product is a richer, questions that led to their answers. stronger faith; based on an understanding of Scrip- I was 18 when I first heard about the London ture that first appreciates its context and can then School of Theology, and it came as something of a comprehend its function in today’s world. revelation. Here I was, looking for a place to wrestle The process might seem brutal for some, but for with my questions and doubts, and I had found it. me it was the first time in my life that I wasn’t alone gog Three years later, I applied as a mature student and in my thoughts. LST offered me a place where I was accepted into LST. could share my doubts with others who were It’s safe to say I got what I bargained for, and wrestling with similar questions. I’m nearing the end of my degree now and can say with assurance that deeperdeepe er studying at LST has been the most dis- W Y C L I F F E H A L L turbing, inspiring, exhausting and ...deepen...deepen yoyyourour uunderstandingnderstanding tthroughhrough ouourr - O X F O R D - beneficial experi- TheologyTheology WWe eekWeek 15th-19th 15th-19th Jul Julyy ence of my life. It may not be for ...deepenpy yoyouryour visionviision bbyyyy stustudyingdying ffullull ttime,ime, Full & Part Time everyone, but for part-timepart-time oor bbyy distance learlearningning someone who wants to take the ....deepen..deepen yyourouur ministrministryy tthroughhrough ouourr Bible seriously – BBAA top-up and MMAA pprogrammesrogrammes Theological Study & Ministerial Training and all the chal- at lenges that come with such a com- Wycliffe Hall mitment – I can’t [email protected]@stjohns-nottm.ac.uk imagine a more 0115 968 3203 quotequote CEN appropriate place www.stjohns-nottm.ac.ukwww.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk Academic Excellence and Ministry Training at the than LST. University of Oxford

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MA in Theology and Ministry Modules available include: High quality training for clergy and lay ministers r Growth and Decline in British Christianity 1945 - present day Challenging and rigorous postgraduate study that r Biblical Literacy r Preaching from the Synoptic Gospels will practically equip you in reading culture, serving r Psychology and Christian Ministry r Changing Worship the church and proclaiming the gospel afresh in the r How Mission can shape the Church r Leadership twenty first century. r Preaching the Old Testament r Mission and Ministry in Acts Full-time, part-time and single module options are available. r Postgraduate Certificate r
Postgraduate Diploma r MATM r Doctoral Studies in Theology and Ministry mer Hall, St John’s College, 3 South Bailey, Durham City, County Durham, DH1 3RJ hone: +44(0) 191 334 3894 | Fax: +44(0)191 334 3501 | Email: [email protected] | www.cranmerhall.com E6 www.englandonsunday.com Sunday March 10, 2013 Ethics in the financial world examined

the need to conclude a $500 mil- family. Even Robert’s corporate lion deal for his company, when lawyer Syd (Stuart Margolin) and the prospective buyer is proving Earl (Reg E Cathey), the criminal hard to get and Robert has bor- lawyer he engages to help Jimmy, rowed $400 million from a friend may be sailing close to the limits to cover up a loss and the friend of client confidentiality, but it’s in wants it back sooner rather than the father-daughter and husband- later. wife relationships that the ten- His daughter Brooke (Brit Mar- sions are worked out. ling) is the company’s finance offi- A stand-up argument with cer so, if it comes to light, she’s Brooke is one dramatic highlight, duty bound to expose her father’s even if the middle of Central Park fraud, which stems from his los- seems a rather public place for it, ing a pile of money on taking a but it’s an early if unoriginal com- share in a Russian copper mine. ment by Ellen that sets the tone That deal was so sure-fire that when she queries his busy-ness Robert even calls the deal “god” and asks whether he wants to be and, to the question whether he the richest man in the cemetery. thinks money can fix all these The irony at that point is that he’s problems, his response is simply, working hard just to stay out of “What else is there?” jail. Meanwhile, Detective Bryer A crucial meeting with the man (Tim Roth) is trying to find the who’s supposed to be buying the driver who left the scene of a fatal company, James Mayfield (Gray- accident, and thinks he knows don Carter), turns out to be just a who’s responsible. Robert has case of negotiating positions – involved Jimmy Grant (Nate Park- and Robert trying not to show his er) and he’s got prior convictions desperation to do the deal. May- rbitrage (dir. Nicholas Jarec- Robert Miller, an older version of (Susan Sarandon) but content to (and a decent backstory as to why field himself belatedly becomes ki, cert. 15) taps into the his character Edward in Pretty take the paid-for apartment and he’s the only black guy Robert complicit about the gap in the Asense of something rotten Woman (1990), but with time for a the freedom to produce art that knows) so Bryer goes after accounts – no one seems to in the state of financial wheeling wife and a mistress, and not only he buys. Jimmy, with a threat of putting escape the moral ambiguities. and dealing. Jarecki’s screenplay averse to using his cash on philan- One night after a show of her him before a grand jury if he Even the audience is left won- is laced with family loyalty, mari- thropic causes. Actually, his mis- artwork they go for a drive, but it doesn’t admit what he was doing dering whether Robert should get tal infidelity, and all sorts of ethi- tress is one of his causes – she’s ends with the car upside down, on the night of the accident. away with it. An abrupt ending cal dilemmas. Julie (Laetitia Casta), a French Julie dead, and Robert choosing Bryer himself is not averse to means that if he doesn’t, it will be Richard Gere stars (and was artist, apparently upset that he’s whether to do the right thing. “finessing” evidence, so the moral of his own volition. nominated for a Golden Globe) as unlikely to leave his wife Ellen That choice is compromised by dilemmas go beyond the Miller Steve Parish Contradictions and art in the life of Manet Manet: Portraying Life ently spontaneous image; a dedicated studio artist, he also Manet leaves the meaning of both portraits to the viewer. at the Royal Academy until 14 April adopted the Impressionist method of working in the open By contrast the loose brushwork of Mme Manet in the air. Moving steadily from earlier dark-toned compositions Conservatory (1879) manifests his engagement with douard Manet (1832-1883) ranks among the most to later light-suffused ones, he constantly experimented Impressionism, already evident in Music in the Tuileries innovative painters of late 19th century France, one with styles and methods, becoming proficient in pastels Gardens (1862), its studies of Paris intellectuals set in pop- Ewidely influential across Europe: a major force in the and an accomplished lithographer. ular venue. development of Impressionism and Manet exhibitions are Manet’s portrait of the writer Emile Zola (1868), who a significant precursor of Mod- rather rare in Britain (his publicly defended him against Salon insults, is the most ernism, he was a complex charac- most celebrated works are compelling of the portraits of his friends. Presented in ter with a many-sided art. mostly in French institutions three-quarters profile amid his books and references to Contradictions marked his reluctant to lend abroad), so Manet’s works, it strikingly testifies their close friendship. career. Born into a wealthy upper Royal Academy’s showcase of The commanding pose study of Proust is contrastingly middle-class Parisian family, he his achievement in portrai- grand manner, its black costume on dark background a trained under Salon history painter ture, ‘Manet: Portraying Life’, hallmark Manet effect. Thomas Couture and drew deep is very welcome despite the From the black-on-white study of Berthe Morisot, inspiration from Spanish Old Mas- somewhat uneven quality of Impressionist artist and sister-in -law to the curiously fine- ters especially Velazquez and Rib- its 50 works. Its thematic ly dressed Street Singer, Manet’s portraiture frequently era, but rejected Biblical and arrangement setting them in evidenced his independent style, individuality of subject mythological themes for serious context of family, friends and and unconventional composition, in all this heralding Mod- portrayal of everyday life. A much wider circle of French intel- ernism. The works on show, even obviously unfinished admired member of the young lectual and political society, ones, make this clear. Impressionists, he yet refused to exhibit with them, prefer- unfortunately makes tracing the development of his style Nowhere is Manet’s transition to Modernity clearer than ring to seek establishment recognition. rather difficult. in The Railway (1873), its title referenced only by back- However his famous mid-1860s Dejeuner sur l’herbe and Of the family circle, Manet often painted his youngest ground clouds of steam. Two figures, a seated young Olympia - the latter a blatantly erotic reworking of Titian’s brother Gustave, his wife the pianist Suzanne Leenhoff and woman with a small dog on her lap, and a child presumably Venus of Urbino - challenging contemporary conventions her son Leon. Two of the latter mark Manet’s distinctive her daughter standing with her back to us, fill the canvas. of the nude, outraged Salon opinion, which to the end style. In Boy Blowing Bubbles (1867), he is posed with Both are beautifully dressed; frozen in time in a great city, remained divided about Manet. Yet this cultural rebel realism, without sentimentality, with serious rather than they are emotionally separate; the painting’s meaning is always cut an elegant figure in fashionable Parisian society. joyful expression. In The Luncheon (1868), amid Dutch- disturbingly elusive. Tirelessly re-working his pictures, he created an appar- style still life, he stares close-up but into the distance. Brian Cooper

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Sunday March 10, 2013 www.englandonsunday.com E7 A guide to exploring the Bible

enry Wansbrough OSB is a the world in which they were written and of the events to mond buried deep inside us that we need to search out. ‘In monk of Ampleforth who which they refer. a sense True Self must, like Jesus, be resurrected and that Honce taught theology at Alister McGrath begins a new series of five popular, reli- process is not resuscitation but resurrection’. Oxford. He is well known as an able guides to the Christian faith published by SPCK with The Story We Find Ourselves In (SPCK) continues author of books on the Bible and Faith and the Creeds, concentrating on the nature of on from Brian Mclaren’s book A New Kind of Christian. has now written The SPCK Bible faith and the history and relevance of the creeds. Don and Neo and some new characters continue to reflect Guide, a handsomely produced McGrath’s approach is non-denominational in the style of on such issues as death, evolution and the meaning of life. and illustrated survey of all the CS Lewis. Highly recommended. The discussion is wide-ranging and illumination is found in books of the Bible, their contents, Archbishop Desmond Tutu commends Making All a number of different resources. This is the second, themes and teachings. Professor Things Well (Canterbury) a collection of short reflections revised edition of a trilogy that was originally published in RP Nettelhorst has contributed on scripture and the writings of Julian of Norwich by Iso- the US in 2003. McLaren uses fiction to explore some of chapter-by-chapter summaries of bel de Gruchy. Married to a theologian, Isobel de Gruchy the great issues of life. the biblical books and Dom Henry is now retired after involvement in such church activities Bible Reading Fellowship has produced three very use- contributes a brief commentary on each. This is an excel- as writing Sunday school curricula. For de Gruchy Julian’s ful books on pastoral care. Spiritual Care of Dying and lent introduction to the Bible and would make a great Con- writings have been a great source of support during diffi- Bereaved People by Penelope Wilcock is a reprint of a firmation present for an older teenager. cult times. classic work. Living with Infertility: A Christian Per- Also from SPCK comes the superbly produced SPCK Richard Rohr is a Catholic Franciscan priest who serves spective by Rosemary Morgan looks at a major issue for Bible Atlas. This is a hardback but is reasonably priced. It in New Mexico. He has a reputation as a retreat leader and many Christians. Making Church Accessible to All by is written by a team of experts and will be a very valuable spiritual writer. One of his books, Falling Upward, has sold Tony Phelps-Jones looks at how to include people with dis- resource to anyone who would like to have some back- over 100,000 copies. Immortal Diamond (SPCK) is his abilities in the life of the church. All these books should be ground to the books of the Bible and know something of new book. He describes our real self as being like a dia- read by anyone involved in pastoral ministry. Examining a controversial Pope

Soldier of Christ gy that expressed a preference for no one church would have had difficulty shelter- settles it for many is not Pius’ failure to Robert A Ventresca form of government. Pacelli disliked the ing and protecting Jews. speak out during the war but his unwilling- Harvard, hb, £25.00 ‘paganism’ of Nazism and disagreed with Criticism of Pius’ silence began long ness to draw lessons when the war was its teaching on race but he had no commit- before Rolf Hochhuth’s play ‘The Deputy’. over and address the need for atonement ‘The study of the full legacy of Pius XII’s ment to democracy. An early critic was the distinguished and reconciliation. legacy awaits its historian,’ Robert A Ven- Linked to this was a failure to see that the French Catholic philosopher, Jacques Mar- Paul Richardson tresca tells us towards the end of this biog- rights of the Jewish people and their social itain, whose wife was Jewish and who raphy of a controversial pope, before going and economic status in the years before the was appointed ambassador to the Holy on to comment that ‘taken as a whole his war should be a matter of concern to the See by De Gaulle after the war. But, as reign over the church was consistent with Church. Pacelli saw the Jewish question as Ventresca concludes, it is impossible to the moral, pastoral and political leadership a purely political issue. His main worry was say whether forceful and unequivocal Subscribe to expected of the Vicar of Christ’. for the safety of Jewish converts to Catholi- condemnations of the Nazis and their It is a more charitable conclusion than cism. treatment of the Jews would have had the print most of Ventresca’s readers will have Bruning, the leader of the Centre Party any effect. Pius was not heroic but he reached after studying the previous 300 in Germany, and Luigo Sturzo, the Italian did, at least, safeguard the Vatican and edition for pages of his illuminating work. Ventresca priest forced into exile because of his oppo- the papacy and many Catholics quietly has said that his intention in writing the sition to Mussolini, were politically more worked to help the Jews. £17.50 book was to explain what Pius said and did, far-sighted than Pacelli who disagreed with His dealings with the Nazis are always not what he should have said and done but Bruning’s readiness to work with the Social going to dominate accounts of Pius’ it is difficult to separate the two questions. Democrats against Hitler. Fear of commu- reign. Ventresca pays too little attention Eugenio Pacelli came to papacy with nism was always a major factor in Pacelli’s to the proclamation of the Doctrine of many advantages. He was descended from thinking. He was not anti-Semitic but he the Assumption but he does devote a family of ‘black nobility’ that were active did feel that the Jews had done well from space to Pius’ encyclicals and to other in the papal service for many years and he the forces of political liberalism and secu- theological issues. Here Pius’ record is was the first Roman pope for 100 years. At larism which had harmed the church. mixed. The ‘new theology’ in France and school and seminary he was marked out as As pope, Pius expressed his dislike of Germany was condemned but biblical an able pupil and he shot up the papal diplo- Nazism but he did so in language that was studies were encouraged and the way matic service very quickly, became the not clear or direct. He preferred to operate was opened for new ways of thinking nuncio to Bavaria in 1917, when he was through diplomatic channels than to about the liturgy. Ventresca credits Pius That’s right, you can only 43. During his time in Germany he indulge in public denunciation and he put with an interest in reconciling science subscribe to the print edition and have it was able to observe the crisis of the too much faith in treaties and concordats. A and religion and with promoting the sent to you by post every week for three Weimar Republic first hand before going point in his defence is that he believed the Catholic Church as a global organisa- months for just £17.50. back to Rome as Secretary of State. onus of making controversial statements tion. Email [email protected] But he also suffered from a number of should fall on local bishops but when his Was he a saint? Ventresca admits or telephone 020 7222 8663 disadvantages. As Ventresca points out, own diocese saw the deportation of Jews canonisation will upset many Jews (he In addition to the print edition you will also like many other Catholic leaders of the from Rome he was not outspoken although could have added many Catholics as get full access to our period he was steeped in a political theolo- it is likely that if he had spoken out the well) but leaves the question open. What website at www.churchnewspaper.com

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ity to protect future generations.” The counter argument came from The Chemical Indus- try Association, who responded by saying: “It is important to note that naturally occurring substances in beer, choco- late and coffee can have more powerful effects on the body’s hormones than man-made chemicals.” Janey Lee Grace So according to them, we must beware of traditional food and drink. Is it better to be affected by traces of Bisphenol Live Healthy! Live Happy! A, Phlalates in addition to E-numbers, flavourings, preserv- atives and artificial flavourings rather than have a good old square of chocolate? On my fridge I have a veritable array of fridge magnets. ‘I wanted to change the world but I couldn’t find a babysitter’, the kids’ fave: ‘Jesus is coming – look busy’, and the classic: ‘It’s the time of the month - give the dangerous woman her chocolate’! All women know their chocolate factoids, technically chocolate is one of your five a day – it’s a bean after all! The perils of everyday life But that’s actual chocolate – proper raw cocoa – full of antioxidants - NOT confectionary - full of fat, sugar, salt and fillers. Back to the he headline across the Daily Mail last week was Chemical Industry one that my publisher would not allow me to write Association warnings. Tin my book Imperfectly Natural Home in 2009 – I’m guessing your old they claimed that it was inflammatory – but how things grandad downed a turn around! ‘Poisoned by everyday life’ was the head- pint or two of real ale line written by Fiona Macrae, ‘A landmark study by the and it did him no world health organisation warns gender-bending chemi- harm, and surely a cals in your home, food and car ARE linked to a huge shot of decent coffee range of diseases! isn’t hormone-disrupt- Chemicals commonly found in children’s toys, make ing – (laden with half a up, cars and PVC flooring could cause breast cancer, pint of hormone-dis- asthma, infertility and birth defects. The report – State of rupted milk and froth, the Science of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals — evalu- perhaps) -- but the ated all the evidence rather than focusing on one chemi- humble coffee bean? cal or one illness. Recently there have It says: “The diverse systems affected by endocrine- been some fascinating disrupting chemicals likely include all hormonal systems studies around using and range from those controlling development and func- coffee grounds to tion of reproductive organs to the tissues and organs reg- treat cellulite so, if I ulating metabolism and satiety.” can’t drink it, I sure as It is tricky to avoid Phlalates as they’re used to soften heck will rub it on my plastics, found in children’s toys and some cosmetics thighs! including deodorants and furnishings. Bisphenol A is found in common plastics, the lining of tin cans: this real- ly is everyday life. The World Health Organisation’s globe are being exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemi- Chocolate is one of your five a day – it’s a bean after all director for public health said: “Communities around the cals and their associated risks. We all have a responsibil-

Across [Rev/NIV] (6) 3 'Nearby stood six water jars, the kind - 6 Mountain where Saul defeated the --- by the Jews for ceremonial wash- PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 839 by Axe Philistines [1 Chr] (6) ing...' [John/NIV] (4) 8 'Take the choice of the flock...make it 4 'I, your father-in-law ------, am coming boil well, and let them ------the bones to you with your wife and and her two of it therein' [Ezek/KJV] (6) sons' [Exod/NIV] (6) 9 One of the two main branches of 5 Outer garment worn by a bishop or Islam (4) priest at the Eucharist (8) 10 Religion founded by Siddartha Gauta- 7 Head of a convent (6) ma in the 5th century BC (8) 12 Wife of Herod Antipas (the tetrarch) 11 'No one from ------or the west or from [Luke] (8) the desert can exalt themselves' 14 Hebrew prophet, successor to Elijah [Ps/NIV] (3,4) [1&2 Kgs] (6) 13 '"You of little faith," he said, "why did 16 Descendant of Noah's eldest son (6) you -----?"' (5) 18 '...I will send you rain in its ------and the 15 Emblem of Christianity (5) ground will yield its crops...' 17 '------are you, Israel! Who is like you, a [Lev/NIV] (6) people saved by the Lord?' 20 'Just as you saw that the feet and ---- [Deut/NIV] (7) were partly of baked clay and partly of 19 Descendants of Esau who settled iron...' [Dan/NIV] (4) south of the Dead Sea [Gen] (8) 22 'Our offences and ---- weigh us down, 21 Recess, often at the eastern end of a and we are wasting away because of church choir (4) them' [Ezek/NIV] (4) 23 'Bow and sword and ------I will abolish Solutions to last week’s crossword from the land...' [Hos/NIV] (6) 24 'Let them call the elders...to pray over Across: 1 Cush, 3 Estimate, 9 Sanballat, 10 Vat, 11 them and ------them with oil...' Scent, 13 Adomnan, 14 Ecclesiastics, 16 [Jam/NIV] (6) Iranian, 18 Roman, 20 Eli, 21 Scripture, 23 To the eye, 24 Deny. Down Down: 1 Casks, 2 Son, 4 Salvation Army, 5 In two, 1 Father of King Saul [1 Sam] (4) 6 Adventism, 7 Extends, 8 Battle, 12 2 '...something like a huge mountain, all Eucharist, 14 Evident, 15 Seraph, 17 ------, was thrown into the sea' Issue, 19 Needy, 22 Use. The first correct entry drawn will win a book of the Editor’s choice. Send your entry to Crossword Number 839, The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX by next Friday SCRIBBLE PAD STAIRLIFTS FROM £995 Name NEW OR REFURBISHED FOR AN INFORMATION PACK CALL Address Telephone FREE on Post Code 0800 007 6959 www.castlecomfortstairlifts.com See our notice on page 11 for Clergy disount Leader & Comment Sunday March 10, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 9 Comment Is democracy in A glimmer of hope danger? The political classes in Europe are not exactly basking in public is dawning... esteem at the moment. Beppe Grillo, an Italian comedian, has just won a quarter of the national vote in the recent Italian election. This could be likened to someone like Harry Hill heading up a web-based move- that central virtue, self-interest which is anathema ment and suddenly attracting a massive vote, on a ticket of ‘a plague on Peter Mullen to the fairyland socialists among our prominent all your houses, we don’t trust a word you politicians say’. Grillo is par- ecclesiarchs and church bureaucrats. If a man ticularly angry at the way Italy has been treated in the Eurozone and at working for his own company makes the wrong technocratic government being installed undemocratically in Rome. Unaccountably, I find myself suddenly full of hope. decisions, he goes out of business. When – I say, He is refusing to do the usual and expected deals with other political Well, let’s not get carried away: if hope came in not if – state enterprises make the wrong decisions, parties, refusing to talk to the press, and threatening to bring down the petrol tanks, mine would be a quarter full. The they merely tax and spend to get themselves out of whole system of the same old politicians dishing out jobs among them- provocation for this small lifting of the spirits is the a mess. Why so many of our leading churchmen selves. If he has a position we could call it ‘nihilistic’ or ‘anarchist’, a appointment of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Can- think this a reasonable and moral way to go on truly radical stance that stuns the political elite, and is meant to do so. terbury, for he shows signs of being wise as a ser- beats me. There is nothing Christian about penalis- When a journalist did reach him on the phone, he is reported to have pent and harmless as a dove. At least I hope so. He ing working men and women through taxation or said, ‘hold the line while I pass you over to my 12-year-old son’! is a man of the world, which is just what we need. impoverishing families and future generations by All this reflects the growing anger at the whole political and constitu- He was for 11 years an oil executive and became excessive borrowing. tional set-up in Italy, and the way it is ignoring the will of the people and group treasurer for FTSE 100 oil exploration group Mrs Thatcher was ridiculed by our high-minded the health of society. Basically Italians believe they are now ruled by Enterprise Oil PLC. This is certainly a better prepa- bishops when she said that the Good Samaritan bureaucrats, and that democracy has been subverted. Voting for Grillo ration for the job of Primate of All England than wouldn’t have been able to provide for him that fell is a way of poking the whole political and media establishment in the having spent epochs in a theological department among thieves unless he had had personal eye for millions of disillusioned Italians. searching for, say, that missing word in Deutero- resources. But the bishops only ridiculed instead of And here in the UK the rise of UKIP from nowhere to push the Con- Isaiah. (It’s still missing, by the way, even after all joining the argument. Mrs Thatcher spoke a true servative Party into third place in the Eastleigh by-election has a simi- the years of travail). parable. The Good Samaritan had his own money. lar resonance. None of the pundits predicted this result. The You simply don’t get to the top of a first rate mod- The state does not have its own money. It has only Conservatives, lacking the grassroots party organisation of the Lib- ern commercial enterprise unless you know how that which it can extort from its citizens by taxation Dems, bussed in professionals from London to deliver leaflets and go the world works. And how does the world work? canvassing. They put Mr Cameron’s visage on their election literature, Oilman-Archbishop Welby would tell us, should we they fielded a candidate towards the right of the party, and yet they ask, that successful worldlings work competitively came third in a by-election crucial to establishing their credentials in in their own interest. This is a virtue. But every the run-up the 2015 General Election. To be pushed down the rankings Archbishop of Canterbury I can remember, and by an amateur party and a candidate who is a councillor from Surrey, nearly all the clergy you meet, believe it to be a vice. was indeed deeply humiliating. And the reason for this poke in the eye Capitalism, Enterprise, Private Property, Profit, of the professional political party elite is without doubt public scepti- Gains, Risk and (especially) Inheritance are the cism that their views matter a whit to the Conservative High Com- church’s new seven deadly sins. It’s not that they mand. Indeed the erstwhile Tory faithful have clearly had enough of despise money – just that they think money a virtu- the patronising contempt visited on them by the ‘modernising’ Mr ous commodity only when it is administered by the Cameron and his chums in cabinet. ‘Gay marriage’ was apparently the big state. Chesterton said – in a remark that would last straw for many. be well-understood by oilman Welby – “Socialism Politicians in a democracy are there to take account of the public. decrees that no man shall own a field; but the state But a deep mistrust of ‘all of them’ has now set in and voters will find can own an oilfield.” ways of trying to hurt those who betray them. This is a dangerous sit- You would have thought our aerated and sublime- uation, and it is time for MPs to start connecting again with their con- ly innocent senior clergy, synods and the like, stituents, urgently. would have learnt at least one fact of life from the or borrow and so further pauperise the people’s terrible history of the 20th century: that the children and grandchildren by the imposition of stronger the state the greater the tyranny. Not just debt. the USSR, where in the interests of equality Stalin It is said, socialism may be imperfect but at least The Church of England Newspaper slaughtered five times the number murdered by its heart is in the right place. We should keep trying with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week Hitler, but in every socialist state there has ever it. Which is like saying that if you have a headache, Published by Religious Intelligence Ltd. been. It’s not the case of communism good in theo- keep banging it against the wall. And let it be said, Company Number: 3176742 ry but bad in practice. If a theory is good – like private enterprise is not a world red in tooth and Publisher: Keith Young MBE gravity for instance – we see instances of its practi- claw. The bishops line up to excoriate capitalism. cal working all over the place. The fault with social- This is some joke actually, since capitalism is non- ism is in its fundamental concept, its ideal and its existent in a country where state spending is nearly Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY 020 7222 8004 vision. Never was vision so myopic. There’s none so 50 per cent of GDP with taxation and business reg- Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 blind as will not see. ulations snuffing out enterprise at birth and so put- Reporter: AMARIS COLE 020 7222 8700 There are particular practical flaws in socialism, ting an end to prosperity. The alternative to such as the belief that a society becomes richer the enterprise is serfdom. Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 more it is taxed or that centrally funded, subsidised, Criticisms of private enterprise arise out of twin Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 loss-making bureaucratic institutions deliver better evils: the politics of envy and sentimentality. It is services than private enterprises. They do not. If unthinkingly supposed that self-interest is not just Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 8663 they did, wouldn’t shoals of folk be bunking off not-nice but not Christian. But in practice self-inter- Graphic Designer: PETER MAY 020 7222 8700 from Eton (Welby’s old school) and enrolling at the est, while it might begin in selfishness, does not local comprehensive? Wouldn’t private medical end there. “Make a better mousetrap and the world The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate treatment be disdained in favour of a stay on a ward will beat a path to your door,” Emerson is reckoned endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication in a hospital in, say, Staffordshire? But bring up par- to have said. By thus improving his own standard of are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper ticular examples and the supporters of the corpo- living, the entrepreneur blesses the lives of his does not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. ratist state will tell you these are singular and neighbours. Wealth creation is just what it says it is. Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), exceptional evils, bad apples in an otherwise Societies that encourage enterprise are unequal Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, healthy barrel. They are not. Our schools and hos- and unfair, but socialist societies produce tiny, Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Peter Brown, The Rev Cindy Kent pitals are failing institutionally, systemically; and wealthy, powerful and corrupt elites who cynically they are doing so because their fundamental, form- equalise the poverty of the majority. The Church of England Newspaper, ative idea is faulty. These state institutions are I don’t expect Archbishop Welby to say these Religious Intelligence Ltd founded on a mistake. things. The corporatist bureaucracy that governs 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX And this mistake is far more deleterious in its the Church of England would never permit anyone Editorial e-mail: [email protected] consequences than any particular or accidental saying a critical word against socialism and raising Advertising e-mail: [email protected] flaws. In the serpentine world of private enterprise even two cheers for initiative and enterprise within Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] there still remains something of the ideas of pru- a Sabbath day’s journey of the Throne of Canter- dence and thrift. And these things are borne out of bury. But then, as I said, I live in hope. Website: www.churchnewspaper.com

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The one who comes to us in the dark with words of com- Week 5: The God who calms our fears fort is not unaware of what fear, pain and suffering entail. Our God is not a remote Cosmic Force, but ‘Abba’, the Father-God who in his Son has shared our pain. GLIMPSES OF GOD – Hope for today’s world So was Jesus unrealistic, or at any rate over-optimistic, This is the God who calms our fears. about the degree of faith humans can be expected to sum- mon up? And was ‘summoning up enough faith’ what Jesus There is a BOOKLET and CD to accompany these notes. A FIVE WEEK COURSE FOR LENT GROUPS was talking about? As someone has said, a little faith in a The CD contains five 14-minute radio-style starters for By Canon David Winter big God is better than a lot of faith in a little one. Jesus him- group discussion featuring Baroness Shirley Williams, self said that faith as small as a grain of mustard seed is Bishop Stephen Cottrell, the Rev Prof David Wilkinson and enough. the Rev Lucy Winkett. Dr David Hope introduces the course. ‘Don’t worry, don’t be afraid,’ sometimes seems the most Booklet: £3.90 (£3.40 each for orders of five or more) pointless piece of advice we can receive. When the consult- Empty comfort? CD: £10.99 (£8.99 each for two or more) ant says, ‘I don’t want to worry you’ the next word is always Fear paralyses. ‘Don’t worry’ seems a puny message in the Transcript of CD/audiotape: £4.99 (£3.10 each for two or ‘but’: ‘but I’d like to run some more tests’, or, ‘but I’d like face of our fears, real and actual -- or imaginary. Yet there it more) you to see the oncologist’. Usually, when someone tells us is on the lips of Jesus, time and again. And because he was TASTER PACK (1 CD, 1 booklet, 1 transcript) £17.65 – not to worry it’s because we are worried, and often with the one who spoke it, because his hearers trusted his secu- saves £2.23 reason. Without action to substantiate the words, the mere rity, strength and experience and knew that he loved them, Free 2nd class p&p in the UK; add £2 for 1st class post. advice is empty comfort. In our scary, chancy world, what they were reassured. Subsidised postage overseas. is more natural than to be anxious about what has not hap- When a child wakes from a nasty dream and cries out in Buy online and save at www.yorkcourses.co.uk pened yet, but well might? the darkness, the arrival of mum or dad has an instantly Credit/debit cards accepted. Tel: 01904 466516. Jesus constantly told his disciples, ‘Fear not’, or ‘Don’t calming effect. The one who knows and loves them has Cheques with order to: ‘York Courses’, PO Box 343 York worry’. They were not to worry when their boat was sink- heard. But it’s more than that. The one now sitting on the YO19 5YB, UK ing; or at the awesome sight of their risen Lord in the bed, or giving the child a cuddle, represents security, Email: [email protected] upper room or … These situations would create anxiety or strength and experience. The dream simply fades away in www.yorkcourses.co.uk outright fear in any normal human being. the light of a familiar and loving presence, someone who Canon David Winter was Head of Religious Broadcasting at knows them - and knows all about nasty dreams! Like the the BBC. He is a prolific author and broadcaster, well known child in the night, the disciples found their fears and anxi- from his contributions to Radio 4’s Thought for the Day. eties banished. Jesus knew what he was talking about, and QUOTATIONS from the course CD they trusted him. That is not to say that the disciples’ fears were not real. There was a storm on the lake and their boat was in danger QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS The Rt Hon Professor of sinking. The sudden appearance of a man whom they SHIRLEY WILLIAMS had seen executed 48 hours earlier was frightening, by any BIBLE READING: Mark 6:45-52 I’ve never worried much. I estimation. When John, the author of Revelation, had a Let’s start on a positive note! Name two things that look sympathetically at vision of the risen Christ, he tells us that he ‘fell at his feet make you happy. people who worry, because as though dead’ (Revelation 1:17). Re-read Mark 6:50-51. Looking back on your I think it’s an awful burden childhood, can you recall moments of fear? And what to carry. But it ain’t mine. Facing our fears about your adult life? Does faith in God diminish fear, We don’t conquer our fears by pretending they don’t exist. in your experience? Unless I’ve completely misunderstood it, that is the heart Read John 10:10. In her Closing Reflection for of the message of that strange book of Revelation. The Session 3, Lucy Winkett speaks of life that is ‘vibrant, BISHOP STEPHEN ‘four horsemen of the apocalypse’ still ride through the imaginative, full of hope and grounded in love’. ‘I saw COTTRELL lands, bringing injustice, war, plague and violent death. God in his/her life’ is a typical testimony. Describe You can never outdo the The beast still rises from the pit to oppose the will of God. someone in whom you have ‘glimpsed’ God? Psalms. If you’re feeling Babylon - the epitome of worldly power, wealth and Read Matthew 6:34. Worrying afflicts most of us angry, you’re never as angry exploitation - still holds sway in the world’s institutions. All (unlike Shirley Williams). Bishop Stephen talks as the Psalms. If you’re of them are part of the world as it is, this strange amalgam about ‘living in the moment’. Did Jesus mean that we feeling joyful, you’re never as of love and hate, beauty and cruelty, generosity and geno- shouldn’t plan or provide for the future? What part joyful as the Psalms. If you’re cide, in which we are called to live the redeemed life. does prayer play in this? racked with doubt, you’re Yet every image of horror in Revelation (and there are Read 1 Peter 5:7. A worried member of your never as filled with doubt as with the Psalms. plenty of them!) is matched by a vision of the heavenly church asks just how (s)he might cast all their cares council chamber, the ‘control centre’ of history. Here the upon God. How would you answer? Do you know purpose of God is revealed: the ‘scroll’, in the visionary lan- what it is to experience ‘the peace of God which The Rev Prof DR DAVID guage, is opened. And here, seated on the throne of power passes all understanding’ for which we pray regularly WILKINSON and judgement, are two awesome figures. One is usually in church in the final Blessing? I have a very strong sense of referred to simply as ‘the One seated on the throne’ - that’s Read Matthew 17:20. A mustard seed is tiny. But it God’s sovereign working out to say, the final Judge and Arbiter of everything. It is clear has great potential for growth. Do you think your his purposes for good. But that he is ‘the Lord God almighty’. faith is still growing? Was there a time in your life when things come closer to The other figure is described as a Lamb ‘bearing the when it grew quickly – or went into decline? Why? home, and on certain issues, I marks of slaughter’. That strange imagery - of innocence What more could you or your church do to help do worry. sacrificed, of suffering transformed - is equally clearly your faith keep growing? revealed as referring to Jesus, ‘the Lamb of God who takes Read John 11:25. ‘Pie in the sky when you die’ is away the sin of the world’. the old Marxist jibe at Christianity: don’t worry about injustice, poverty, oppression, exploitation - it The Rev LUCY WINKETT ‘Meekness and Majesty’ will all be all right in heaven. What does the Christian God doesn’t always calm our So here on the throne of the universe sit two figures: meek- faith have to offer in this life? fears; neither should they be ness and majesty (to take words from Graham Kendrick’s ‘… events are not out of control. There is a hand on calmed. But a re-orientation hymn) -- benevolent power and suffering transformed. The the tiller of history …’ David Winter ends the course of our lives will mean that all world and its events are not out of control. There is a hand by reminding us that God isn’t remote and distant. the trivial things … become on the tiller of history, despite its apparent randomness He is Abba, Father – the Heavenly Father of the gradually more unimportant. and unpredictability. But the hand of power is not arbitrary Lord’s Prayer. What does that mean to you? Fear is slowly replaced with or unfeeling. Far from it. For alongside the majesty is the Bishop Stephen gives thanks for the Psalms deep and lasting trust in the meekness. The awesome figure on the throne is not alone. because they are very practical. Share a favourite one who has loved us from Beside him is the Lamb of God, bearing the marks of our Bible passage that you turn to for comfort and the beginning. pain, failure and sin. strength when you are under pressure. The God of history is also the God of the incarnation.

www.yorkcourses.co.uk There is a BOOKLET and CD to accompany these notes Tel: 01904 466516 Classifieds & Letters Sunday March 10, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 11 Letters to the Editor

continued from page 8 jobs, they can be on their own for up to 10 hours a day. Lord did not commission a book before Church holiday clubs for children are his ascension, but a teaching authoritative very successful but involve a great deal of Church, which passes on to the succeed- intensive work, as they last for several con- ing generations the word of God in its full- secutive days. We then thought that ness. As with the Apostolic band, one is set churches could hold clubs for children, aside to confirm the brethren in an unfail- lasting perhaps just an hour, during school ing faith. holidays. There could be a mum & toddler When that divinely commissioned group, a musical praise group for young authority was dismissed by the Reformers, children, craft club and something for the seeds of the present doctrinal crisis teenagers. This would bring many non- within Anglicanism were sown. A crisis Christians into churches, which is what and confusion not restricted to liberals but we want - and there could be some Chris- to those wedded to Mr Smith’s own evan- tian content. This would meet a real need. gelical tradition, who struggle with its To save work, churches in an area could interpretation, whether it comes in the liaise and each agree to hold one or two of meaning of ordination and marriage. the above clubs a week at their church, Robert Ian Williams, during school holidays. Bangor A Wills, Ruislip Gay texts examined Changes in Sir, In an article about same-sex marriage evangelicalism (24 February), the Dean of St Albans, the Sir, The discussion on this page of chang- Very Rev Jeffrey John, is quoted as saying ing views in regard to the male-female “God is infinitely more compassionate and relationship, and the debate being regard- positive about gay [note: a word which ed as between two sorts of fundamental- used to mean joyful until it was taken over ism has reminded me, as one that might by the homosexual community] people be termed a “fundamentalist” Reformed than the Church.” Obviously the Very Rev Evangelical, of what happened to me when Jeffrey has not read Genesis 19 in which it I was saved. is related that God destroyed the cities on The great change I recall is not anything the plain, Sodom and Gomorrah, by fire that has happened to me since being a and brimstone from Heaven, because of Christian, but rather what happened in the depravities that took place in them. 1994 when I became a Christian. Before I wonder why this biblical passage my conversion I was a fundamentalist lib- seems to be ignored in the various discus- eral with all the usual beliefs of modern sions about homosexuals? If it appeared in society. When I became a Christian then the Lectionary to be read on a particular the light came and I saw clearly that God Sunday during the year the reader would had created and redeemed me. It was end by saying ‘This is the Word of the plain to me that I was saved by grace Lord,’ and the response would be ‘Thanks through faith by Christ and not works, that be to God.’ the Bible is the full and sufficient Word of John A Blake, God, that we were created rather than Bodmin, evolved, and also that men are men and Cornwall women are women. Since I have been a Christian I have observed that much of what is called Holiday ministry Christians changing their views would bet- ter be described as backsliding or even opportunity apostasy. That may sound harsh but I am Sir, A young mother told me how difficult persuaded that it is reality. God is not a it can be during the school holidays, when God of confusion. almost all the playgroups, nurseries & The Rev Mr Peter John Ratcliff, kids clubs close, even during half-terms. Minister, St Johns, Merton Abbey Mills, Yet this is the time when children’s clubs Church of England (Continuing) are needed most! www.cofec.org/news It can also be lonely for teenagers, Editor, English Churchman, www.eng- because if both their parents have full-time lishchurchman.com Seeking God’s best for people

Sir, We learn from the Bible that ‘It is not good for man to be alone’ and that Jesus came that we might enjoy ‘life in all its fullness’. Christians differ, however, over what ‘a Christian lifestyle’ entails for people with a fixed, same-sex orientation. What is ‘God’s best for them’? Would a loving and compassionate God expect them to settle for a life-long, involuntary celibacy, when they, too, are capable of intimacy and faithful- ness? Surely, the Church would do well to help them to order their affections aright within the bonds of ‘marriage’, which is an undeniable good. On this matter, ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!’ David Cameron also undoubtedly supports gay marriage out of conviction, not from political expediency. It is ironic that, in an age that is averse to commitment, public opinion has also moved rapidly in favour, especially amongst the young. It is to be regretted that the Church has not given a lead when it comes to the full inclusion of gays but then, its proper concern for the salvation of souls can make it hesitant. In the past, this has sometimes led to its sanctioning barbaric practices and to resisting change. Today, many people are sadly still persuaded that gay couples cannot provide any children with a warm and loving home, despite evidence to the contrary. That they manage to do so, without institutional support, is a matter of considerable wonder. Serena Lancaster, Broadwell, Moreton-in-Marsh 12 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 10, 2013 Register

The Rev John Harris, APPOINTMENTS Priest-in-Charge, Luddenden with Ludden- ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER den Foot (Wakefield): to retire with effect from 31 March 2013. The Rev Canon Hilary Barber, Sunday 10 March. Lent 4. Psalm 131, Job 38:16-24. Medak - (South India): The Rt The Rev Pamela Jane Hayward, Vicar, Halifax Minster (Wakefield): to be Rev Thalari Samuel Kanaka Prasad Vicar, Eastville St Anne with St Mark and also Priest-in-Charge, Siddal (same dio- St Thomas (Bristol): to resign with effect cese). Monday 11 March. Psalm 49:12-20, Jms. 5:1-12. Melbourne - (Victoria, Australia): from 31 March 2013. The Rev Peter Clark, The Most Rev Philip Leslie Freier; Melbourne - Eastern Region: The Rt Rev Barbara The Rev Dr Susan Wilson, (Chelmsford): to be NSM (Associate Darling; Melbourne - Northern & Western Region: The Rt Rev Philip Huggins; Mel- Vicar, Newcastle St Gabriel (Newcastle): to Priest), Thundersley (same diocese). bourne - Southern Region: The Rt Rev Paul White retire with effect from 30 April 2013. The Rev Simon Cutmore, Priest-in-Charge, Mill End and Heronsgate Tuesday 12 March. Psalm 112, Jms 5:13-20. Meru - (Kenya): The Rt Rev Charles with West Hyde (St Albans): to be Vicar. Mwendwa DEATHS The Rev Michael Dent, Vicar, Darlington St John (Durham): to be Wednesday 13 March. Psalm 139:4-12, Job 38:25-33. Michigan - (V, The Episcopal Vicar, Warkworth with Aclington (Newcas- Church): The Rt Rev Wendell Gibbs; Milwaukee: The Rt Rev Steven Miller The Venerable Canon John David tle). Delight, The Rev Canon Judith Glover, Thursday 14 March. Psalm 139:13-18, Job 38:34-41. Minna - (Lokoja, Nigeria): The Born 24 August 1925, died 16 February Rector, Alston Moor (Newcastle): to be Rt Rev Daniel Abu Yisa 2013. Passed away peacefully after a short Vicar, North Sunderland with Beadnell final illness. Dearly loved and sadly missed (same diocese). Friday 15 March. Psalm 73:21-26, Job 39:1-12. Minnesota - (VI, The Episcopal by cherished wife Eileen, six children: The Rev Canon Javaid Iqbal, Church): The Rt Rev Brian Prior Helen, Naomi, Phil, Steve, Tony and Team Vicar, The Fosse Team (Leicester): Richard, sister Mary, grandchildren, to be Rector, Aldenham, Radlett and Shen- Saturday 16 March. Psalm 19:1-6, Job 39:13-30. Missionary District of Oeste-Brasil nephews, nieces, and the wide family in his ley (St Albans). - (Brazil): The Rt Rev Maurício José Araújo Andrade past congregations. Now he is ‘with Christ, The Rev Susan Loxton, which is far better’. Priest-in-Charge, Fressingfield, Mendham, Metfield, Weybread and Withersdale; and The Rev Gregory Platten, (Bristol): to be Priest-in-Charge, Brisling- Assistant Curate, Hoxne with Denham, Chaplain, Lincoln College Oxford; and ton St Christopher (same diocese). THE 2013 Syleham and Wingfield (St Edmundsbury NSM, Oxford St Michael with St Martin Remaining Partnership Priest. BIBLE CHALLENGE and Ipswich diocese): is now Rector, Fress- and All Saints (Oxford): to be Vicar, Friern The Rev Alice Snowden, ingfield, Mendham, Metfield, Stradbroke, Barnet All Saints (London). Team Vicar, Leeds All Souls and St Aidan Weybread and Withersdale (same dio- The Rev Susan Reilly, (Ripon and Leeds): to be also Assistant Day 69 Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read cese). NSM (Associate Team Priest), Knaresbor- Area Dean, Allerton Deanery (same dio- aloud in church The Rev Canon Fiona Newton, ough (Ripon and Leeds): is now NSM cese). Day 70 Deuteronomy 1-3, Psalm 53, Luke Priest-in-Charge, Laxfield, Cratfield, Wilby (Priest-in-Charge), Chevington (Newcas- 11 and Brundish; and Assistant Curate, tle). Day 71 Deuteronomy 4-6, Psalm 54, Luke Hoxne with Denham, Syleham and Wing- The Rev Andrew Rowe, RETIREMENTS & 12 field; and Rector, Worlingham, Southholt, Chaplain, HM Prison Wakefield (Wake- RESIGNATIONS Day 72 Deuteronomy 7-9, Psalm 55, Luke Tannington, Bedfield and Monk Soham; field): to be Managing Chaplain, HM 13 and Rural Dean, Hoxne Deanery (St Young Offenders’ Institution Wetherby Day 73 Deuteronomy 10-12, Psalm 56, Edmundsbury and Ipswich): is now Rector, (Ripon and Leeds). The Rev Linda Gardham, Luke 14 Bedfield, Brundish, Cratfield, Laxifield, The Rev Dr Andrew Schuman, NSM (House for Duty Priest), Cornhill Day 74 Deuteronomy 13-15, Psalm 57, Monk Soham, Tannington, Wilby and Wor- Assistant Curate (Associate Vicar), Bristol with Carham; and NSM (House for Duty Luke 15 lingworth with Southolt (same diocese). Christ the Servant Stockwood; and Part- Priest), Branxton (Newcastle): to retire Day 75 Deuteronomy 16-18, Psalm 58, Remaining Rural Dean. nership Priest, Bristol South Deanery with effect from 31 May 2013. Luke 16

Wine of the Week Knead the egg into the dough slices, leaving a small gap to by pulling in the sides of the slot the lid into. pastry over the eggy surface, Roll out the remaining pastry Eisberg Alcohol Free CCooookk tthhiiss!! pushing down, turning and into a 25cm disc, drape it over Riesling Italico repeating. It will incorporate the top of the filling, dampen Waitrose £3.69 quite quickly so continue the pastry edges and pinch Have you given up drinks containing alcohol for kneading until the dough is together to seal well all around. Lent? Well, there’s a small range of wines which Raised pork and smooth, about 3 minutes. Make a hole in the centre of claim, probably justly, to be completely alcohol Remove a quarter of free—Waitrose sells six, mostly white. All say on the dough, pat it into a the bottle that they are “not more than 0.05% Alco- bramley apple pie disc and set aside to hol by Vol.”: but I’d guess that’s just to cover them- cool. Form the selves, as when a bottle gives, say, 13%abv, the remaining dough into a meaning is not more than that percentage-wise. Prep time: 1 hr Cook time: 1 hr 30 min large disc, place that These wine are very modestly priced, as there’s no Serves:12 into the bottom of a excise duty to pay on beverage 24cm spring form tin alcohol below 1.2%abv. I tried a Ingredients and slowly and white made in Germany, from a carefully work the grape with a curious name, but 500 g lean pork 3 Bramley apples pastry up the sides of which in fact does not come from the pan with your shoulder, diced into 1cm 2 tbsp caster sugar Italy, neither is it a Riesling. In cubes finger tips, making German, it is Welschriesling (not 1 egg, beaten sure there are no holes from Wales, but from a vine grown 375 g minced belly of or gaps. Cover and chill for 2 the pie, brush the top with pork mostly in central and eastern For the pastry hours. some of the egg and put onto a Europe). Chilled, in the glass, 85 g smokedstreaky Preheat the oven to baking tray. Bake for 30 light gold, with a surprisingly bacon, finely sliced 260 g lard 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. Place minutes, then turn the oven powerful aromatic nose, light- 2 blades mace 1 tsp salt the pork, bacon, mace and sage down to 180°C/fan160°/gas 4 bodied, on the palate there’s 12 sage leaves, finely 750 g plain flour into a large bowl, season with a and cook for a further 45 some crispness, balancing good pinches each of sea salt minutes. If the pie begins to sliced 1 egg sweet notes which were and freshly ground black colour too much, cover it with rather anonymous, no identi- pepper and mix together until foil. fiable fruits. (It must be Method it's well combined. Remove from the oven and chilled, otherwise, the sweet- Place half the meat filling into leave for 5 minutes before ness is overwhelming.) The Starting with the completely melted, the pastry shell but don't pack removing the springform ring. finish is modest, but it does pastry, pour 300ml add the flour and mix it in too tightly. Peel, core and Brush the sides of the pie with leave a pleasant slight glow in water into a stainless it in thoroughly. cut the Bramley apples into a little more beaten egg and the mouth. A virtuous aperi- steel saucepan, add Turn the warm 5mm slices. Put into a bowl, return to the oven for 10 tif, try with pork accompa- the lard and salt and dough out onto a sprinkle over the sugar then minutes more. Cool slightly nied by apple sauce, or bring to a simmer clean surface, make a layer half the apple on top of before serving warm or cold, maybe a veggie red onion over a medium heat. well in the centre and the meat. Repeat with the with a sharp chutney or tart. When the lard has break in the egg. remaining meat and apple piccalilli. Graham Gendall Norton Anglican Life Sunday March 10, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 13 Are we any nearer peace in Israel-Palestine?

By Jeremy Moodey Israeli opposition, Prime Minister Menachem Begin intifadas in 1987-93 and 2000-05. But most analysts doubt describing the plan as “national suicide for Israel”. that we will see a “Palestinian Spring” in the near term. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was quoted this week But the UN Secretary-General and US Secretary of Robert Blecher of the Brussels-based International Crisis as saying that 2013 would be “a decisive year” for peace State are right to see the present time as a pivotal moment Group says this about the Palestinians: “You need to between Israel and the Palestinians. John Kerry, the new in the Israel-Palestine conflict. But not because of any distinguish between frustrations and ability to mobilise. US Secretary of State and a foreign policy expert, is said greater enthusiasm for peace in Washington. While There’s a huge degree of frustration, but there’s no to be “obsessed” with reviving Middle East peace talks. President Obama may want his legacy to be an Israeli- political force here to translate frustration into action.” Unlike his predecessor Hillary Clinton, whose need for Palestinian peace settlement (at last he can live up to that One reason for this is the continuing power-struggle Jewish and Christian Zionist votes in any 2016 presidential 2009 Nobel Peace Prize), the US congress, described as between the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and bid made her instinctively cautious on the Israel-Palestine “Israeli-occupied territory” by one American political Hamas. A reconciliation agreement signed between the issue, Kerry is seen as having nothing to lose from such pundit, will never allow the Presidency to extract anything two groups in April 2011 heralded elections and a national an initiative. With President Obama scheduled to visit approaching meaningful concessions from the Israelis. unity government, but two years on and the factions are Israel later this month (a country he declined to visit in After all, it is a bizarre fact that there are more Zionists in still squabbling. Another reason why a third intifada is his first term of office), some analysts are wondering if at the House of Representatives than in the Knesset. The improbable is that Israel has a near monopoly of military last the United States is prepared to perform some only difference is that the Christian Zionists in Congress, force, and will crush any uprising as brutally as it did on emergency resuscitation on the Middle East peace many of them enthusiasts for the dispensationalist the two previous occasions, when thousands of process and its moribund and unloved progeny, the two- theology promoted in Tim LaHaye’s “Left Behind” books, Palestinians were killed. state solution. think that by blocking a meaningful peace initiative in the But even some Israelis are beginning to realise that But there have been moments of optimism before. Ten Middle East they are somehow hastening the Second military hegemony and the warehousing of 3.5 million years ago the world eulogised the Arab League for its Coming. Palestinians under occupation, denying them even basic “courageous” 2002 peace initiative, but this proposal, The reason why we are at a “decisive” moment in Israel- human rights, will not deliver long-term security to the which required Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestine is because 45 years of brutal occupation and Jewish state. There are many revealing quotes in the Palestinian territories, stumbled on Israeli rejectionism. illegal settlements, weak and divided Palestinian Oscar-nominated Israeli documentary “The Gatekeepers”, Just over 20 years ago President Clinton stood on the lawn leadership and the indifference of the international in which six former heads of the Israeli security service at the White House with the Israeli and Palestinian community to their plight have led ordinary Palestinians Shin Bet bare their souls. But the most poignant comes leaders and described the so-called Oslo Accord as “a to the brink. The West Bank has been described as “a from Avi Dichter, who headed Shin Bet during the second great occasion of history and hope”. But Israel has treated ticking time bomb”. intifada: “you can’t make peace using military means”. the Oslo agreement with contempt; since 1993 it has This week has seen mass demonstrations by Until Israel’s politicians realise this, and more importantly encouraged another 300,000 Israeli settlers to seize yet Palestinians following the death in detention, allegedly Israel’s supporters on Capitol Hill, the prospects for peace more Palestinian land in the West Bank and East under Israeli torture, of a 30-year-old father of two, Arafat in the Middle East will be as remote as ever. Jerusalem. As a result, the Oslo agreement, which was Jaradat, who was arrested on suspicion of stone-throwing. only ever intended as an interim measure, stands on the A number of Palestinian political prisoners, detained Jeremy Moodey is Chief Executive of Embrace the Middle verge of collapse. without trial by the Israelis, have been on hunger strike, East, the inter-denominational development charity which Thirty years ago, Ronald Reagan launched his own provoking further popular demonstrations in the streets tackles poverty and injustice in the lands of the Bible. It peace plan for the Middle East with a quote from Romans of the West Bank and Gaza. supports a number of Christian-led social projects in Israel 14:19: the time had come to “follow after the things which Some people are wondering if we are about to see and Palestine. You can find out more by visiting make for peace.” Again, this plan collapsed in the face of another intifada or uprising, to follow the failed Palestinian www.embraceme.org. 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 10, 2013 Feature Protecting the clergy pensions provide the promised benefits over the next 50 years and Louis Armstrong more. The actuary (who is an external professional, appointed by the Board) determines the size of the fund’s expected pension liabilities (the estimated amount of ben- efits it will have to pay), and the extent to which they are covered by its assets. The actuary and the trustees of the pension scheme then work out the level of contributions required so that there will be enough money in the scheme to pay the pensions and other benefits that have been promised. There has been much speculation about what the results will be, given the current financial climate. Despite the Pension Board’s assets having performed well, wider movements in financial markets mean that the deficit will have increased since the last valuation in 2009. It is too early to have an accurate figure, as there is a lot of detailed work to be done on changes in the membership of the pen- sion scheme, projections of life-expectancy, forecasts of future investment performance, etc. But we are on track with all of this, and we shall be working hard to keep dio- ceses informed of progress and developments. We expect to know more in early summer, when we will also be able to start looking at a range of assumptions that affect the level of diocesan contributions and the time peri- od over which the deficit should be paid off. Various options will be considered if – as is likely - somewhat high- er diocesan contributions are needed. We are only too aware of the generosity of parishioners who contribute year on year to the parish share. What does this mean for any individual’s pension? The Pensions Board is responsible for administering the clergy pension scheme rather than deciding the nature of the benefits to be provided. The benefits are a matter for Synod, advised by the Remuneration and Conditions of Service Committee (RACSC) of the Archbishops’ Council, and the Pensions Task Group. But we have already said that we are not expecting there to be a need for any changes to the benefits provided under the scheme. Separately, we are watching closely the development of the Government’s plans on how the State Pension may evolve after 2017, with the proposed replacement of the second state pension by a higher level of the main state pension. It is too soon to tell whether these changes will be beneficial or not for clergy, and whether or not further changes will be needed to the clergy pension scheme. The time to address these issues will in practice be around the time of the 2015 valuation of the clergy scheme, by which time the details of the state pension changes should be set- tled, but still well ahead of the 2017 earliest start date for them. Jazz musician Louis Armstrong said that musicians don’t many activities and services simply would not happen Meanwhile, I and my fellow Trustees of the clergy pen- retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them. The without them. sion scheme remain committed to our duties to act pru- same can be said of clergy. Phrases like “the triennial valu- With that in mind, the job of the Church of England Pen- dently, responsibly and impartially in the best interests of ation of the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme sions Board is to provide retirement services, including current and future beneficiaries of the scheme; and to do (CEFPS)”, “actuarial reviews” and “pensions deficit” can pensions earned since 1998, for those who have served or so in full knowledge and appreciation of the impact of our cloud the fact that retired clergy play a vital role in the min- worked for the Church. Every three years, an actuarial decisions on those who pay the bills, and on the ministry istry and mission of the Church. review of the clergy pension scheme has to be carried out. of the Church of England today and in the future. Around 14,000 clergy are in receipt of pensions, often It was last valued at 31 December 2009, and now it is being having given many years - if not most of their lives - to the valued as at 31 December 2012. Church. Nearly half of them continue to work for the The valuation is a progress report on how the scheme is Dr Jonathan Spencer is Chairman, Church of England Church in their own communities, in a range of ways, and doing, and it is used to make sure that it stays on course to Pensions Board

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‘In the temple [Jesus] found people selling who wielded the power through having cattle, sheep and doves, and the money charge over the exchange of money and changers seated at their tables.’ (John 2:14) THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR showed the way for God’s ways to be realised in his world. This meant the inclu- The market place has become one of the sion of the poor and weak in the life of the defining symbols of our age. Buying and By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare temple. selling, profit and loss, and words like con- In a very different setting, the 16th cen- sumerism dominate the news and the lives tury reformer Martin Luther attacked of all of us in the western world. It is easy dwelling place of God himself in all his holi- what they want but at the expense of others those who wielded power and excluded to demonise money and financial issues to ness points up the seriousness of Jesus’ not to mention the environment itself. people from hearing God’s word. the point that Christians regard this area of reaction to what he witnessed. Can this situation be redeemed? There is His aim was to get the word of God out of life as irredeemable. It is certainly true that His anger boiled over into action and he another side to money that challenges us the cloister and into the marketplace in the last part of most of us to be converted overturned the tables of the moneychang- deeply. Money in its right place can make order that people could hear it and be is our wallet and Jesus had a great deal to ers and threw out the coins (v15). People the lives of the poor safer, better, more ful- changed. Here the marketplace is seen in a say about money and its power over us. had replaced the living God with the idol of filling. It means, however, that it must be different light: it was the place where ordi- The scene in John’s Gospel where he money. This particular idol, like all false toppled from its throne and made to serve nary people lived out their lives. Like the drives out the moneychangers from the gods, lures people into slavery. Money is not dominate. Our attitude to money is as market place of the temple courts in Jesus’ temple with such condemnatory words an end in itself and people seem prepared much a part of our spirituality as our time, however, it was also prevented from seems to reinforce all the negative connota- to go to any length to get it. Advertising actions towards others. Jesus wanted being the place where God’s word was tions we have around the market place. seduces us, huge shopping malls persuade everyone to be able to participate in the heard. Both led to darkness and injustice After all, for the temple to be called a mar- us to buy things we don’t need and we also worship of God and no one to be excluded that needed the power of God to release ket-place when it was meant to be the buy the lie that more is better. Some get or exploited. Jesus threw out the people them.

SUNDAYSUNDAY SERVICESERVICE

Sunday Readings for 17 March 2013 Forty Years On Lent 5 - Passion Sunday - Year C church and/or have their baby baptised. Peter Brierley 2) If Muslims continue to increase at their Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:4b – 14 John 12:1-8 present rate, then by 2053 they will be as From age to age, human beings have remodelled the very landscape as we have suc- numerous as Christians in Britain. cessively farmed it and covered it with our cities, and we continue to explore the world The Harrovian school song, “Forty years 3) Church attendance will probably have around us with increasing scientific knowledge from the smallest particles to the fur- on, when afar and asunder, Parted are those dropped to 1½ per cent of the 70 million peo- thest re aches of the universe. The temptation is for us also to domesticate our picture of who are singing today, When you look back, ple then in Britain. God, to re imagine him in our own likeness, and we are shocked when from time to time and forgetfully wonder What you were like 4) The number of congregations (30,000) we are confronted with power far beyond our own, the forces of nature which we will in your work and your play,” has a wonder- will be three-fifths as many as in 2013 never be able to re gulate or control, which God has created and of which he is Lord. We ful timelessness about it. As we welcome a (51,000), and their average size 35 people are re minded by Isaiah that he is not only the Creator of the world, but he is at work new Archbishop it may be relevant to ask instead of the current 70 people. constantly to save his people, parting the sea so that they might cross to safety, and what the church was like 40 years ago and 5) News coverage of Christian activity will sweeping away the puny forces of the pursuing army, the pride of Pharaoh and of Egypt. what it might look like 40 years hence. be minimal, and Christian satellite broad- And now he is preparing an act of liberation even greater than before, a new creation in The Table captures some simple statis- casting larg ely Asian and African. Secular which he will re fresh the desert of this world with flowing, clear water for us to drink, so tics. While church membership has and multi-faith schools will most likely have that we might live to sing his praise. dropped in the UK, the number of congre- re placed Christian schools, and the number Paul is uniquely qualified to challenge those who demanded that the church should gations has not declined in the same propor- of Christian organisations will have declined maintain Israel’s ritual and cere monial law: he had every re ason to boast about his sta- tion. Worldwide the number of perhaps to only a fifth of today’s 5,000. tus as a devout and gifted exponent of the tradition which he had re ceived, with impec- congre gations has almost tripled thanks 6) The then Archbishop of Canterbury cable credentials acquired by birth and by training. But because of his faith in Christ, especially to the explosion of the church in will have lost her seat in the House of Lords, he now understands that these things, which counted for so much in his youth, were Asia. The number of ministers is much the after the Church of England became dises- mere ly outward signs incapable of conveying the very righteousness for which he same, but women play a greater part now tablished. Denominations will have become longed. The righteousness which comes from the law is mere ly his own and there fore than they did – the percentages are the far less important. has no power to transform or to save. But now, having set aside all of the privileges and average across all denominations. 7) On the other hand, immigrant church- status which he once enjoyed he has gained a righteousness which re veals such things We have doubled the number of congre - es will continue to flourish; much of the as rubbish, for it is a righteousness which comes from God through faith in Christ. gations and increased the number of Chris- social work of churches will be done by Accord ing to conventional wisdom he has lost everything: but through faith in Christ tian adherents but not as a proportion of the those of non-British backgrounds. he has gained the hope of sharing with him in his death and in his resurrection. How- world’s population, unlike the Muslims who 8) Perhaps half of today’s larger (500+) ever perfectly he had once observed the re quirements of the law or the rituals of wor- have almost trebled in number. More than churches will have survived, attracting up ship, neither he nor any other human being could do what God has done in Christ, half the world now lives in an urban setting. to 50 per cent of all those going to church. whose righteousness alone has power to save. If that is a glimpse of the past, what about Some 10 per cent of churchgoers will go Unlike the other disciples, who we see in the gospels gradually coming to understand a glimpse of the future ? What might the UK mid-week (as now). the teaching of Jesus and the nature of his ministry, Judas Iscariot re mained uncon- church look like in 2053? Here are some 9) Evangelism will continue as a low prior- verted, and failed to re cognise that the revolution which was coming was not to be a suggestions: ity; Alpha courses will have become obso- re volt like that of the Maccabees, overturning the occupation of Israel by a pagan As the majority of the decline in the num- lete, but perhaps re placed by something empire. Judas is re vealed to be dishonest in small things such as money, and unable to ber of Christian people over the past decade else. The number of leaders will be fewer see beyond his hope of war against the oppressive rule of the Roman govern or. But the was because of deaths, that process is likely than now, but many more will be part- presence of Lazarus at the supper held at Bethany points the way to a change altogeth- to continue as a third of churchgoers today timers. er more radical than even the expulsion of Rome, and now Jesus is anointed in prepara- are 65 or over. The Church of England actu- 10) The Lord will still be building his tion for his death and burial which are soon to take place in Jerusalem. The kings of this arial prediction that its attendance will have church though and the gates of hell will not world prepare for battle very differe ntly, as Judas still hoped Jesus mig ht, and betrayed dropped 58 per cent by 2030 and 90 per cent have conquere d it, even if many of its mem- him seemingly to force his hand. But this king is being consecrated for a spiritual con- by 2057 may have been fulfilled. If so, then bers have “gone to glory. ” flict in which he will defeat a far greater enemy than Rome, who has enslaved human by 2053: The present leadership will have passed beings throughout the millennia, and is now to be brought down not by the force of 1) The number of people ticking the on; what legacy will they have left behind arms but by the blood of Christ shed for sinners on the Cross. “Christian” box on the 2051 Census form them? The Rev Stephen Trott would be just a quarter of the then popula- tion, instead of the three-fifths today, and most will still be elderly. Some younger peo- Dr Peter Brierley is a church consultant who HYMN SELECTION ple, however, will still wish to get married in may be reached on [email protected]

Item 1973 2013 Hymns for Lent 5 - Passion Sunday Lord of all life and power UK church membership 8,600,000 (15% of pop) 5,300,000 (8% of pop) Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle Congregations in the UK 52,000 (3% of world total) 51,000 (1% of world total) We sing the praise of him who died Church ministers in UK 38,000 (of whom 1% are female) 37,000 (of whom 18% are Come and see female) Just as I am, without one plea Christian adherents in the world 1.3 billion (33.2% of pop) 2.4 billion (33.0% of pop) The royal banners forward go Now my soul, thy voice upraising Muslim adherents in the world 0.6 billion (16% of pop) 1.6 billion (23% of pop) And now, O Father, mindful of the love Urban dwelle rs in the world 1.4 billion (37% of world pop) 4.6 billion (52% of world pop) Only by grace Denominations in the world 20,000 44,000 Said Judas to Mary Congregations in the world 1,600,000 4,600,000 Milestones

Pope Benedict XVI sent his final tweet on Thurs- day, saying: “Thank you for your love and support. May you always experi- ence the joy that comes from put-

ting Christ at the (centre) of your lives.”... Since it started just over a month ago, 51,000 people have joined to support the Enough Food If campaign, organised by a coalition of charities including Christian Aid... A year-long ecumenical initiative backed by leading figures from the Catholic, Anglican and Free

churches in the UK launched last week to explore high-speed rail link will help end regional dis- how faiths can work better together for social jus- parities but that is 20 years down the track. tice amidst unprecedented economic crisis and PAUL Meanwhile London benefits from Crossrail inequality, called Together for the Common and the Thameslink upgrade and spending on Good... Campaigners can now change the world RICHARDSON transport for London last year was £644 a per- from the palm of their hand, with the new Nudge son, twice the amount on the West Midlands app launched today by Tearfund, making it easy and City Regions combined. London has a to lobby MPs, petition ‘ governments and share lat- Church and World Mayor to push its interests and powers over est campaign news. It gives users the option to housing and the economy under the 2011 instantly share the issue with friends on Twitter Localism Act. Elsewhere development agen- and Facebook, where the impact is tripled... cies have been scrapped and local enterprise partnerships with no dedicated budgets have failed to fill the gap. “Our fear of it [conflict], The North-South A positive step is that local authorities are our sense of it being being allowed to keep growth in business-rate wasted time and effort, is revenue and granted powers to raise loans wrong. So often we seek against this to fund infrastructure projects. When I served on the North East Assembly it like-mindedness so that divide returns soon became obvious that transport issues we can get on with the could only be decided on a regional basis. A job of worship, of making grouping of 10 local governments with a joint disciples, of serving Bishop James Jones claimed cuts in now out of range of even Premier budget has now emerged to manage transport other human beings.” Government spending are having a league footballers. Not surprisingly in the Manchester region. Birmingham, The Most Rev Justin disproportionate effect on cities in Boris Johnson is asking for a share Sheffield, and Leeds are considering similar Welby, the North of England. In January of the stamp duty, offering to use arrangements. he and the Mayor of Liverpool host- some of it for affordable housing. Some suspicion of local government waste Archbishop of ed a summit for faith and civil lead- The gap between North and is justified. Eric Pickles is right to have Canterbury ers from Northern cities to discuss South, and particularly between the stopped production of local government news- the problem. SE and the rest of the country, Other Church leaders share the works to the advantage of only a Bishop’s concern. In his farewell few people. Many young people in People sermon in Durham, Justin Welby London are resigned to living in spoke of a return to the dark days rented accommodation for the rest ‘The new Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warn- of the 1930s and of children going of their lives. Firms in London er, will be leading a Diocesan Pilgrimage to the hungry in his diocese. He revealed seeking employees know that Middle East in November next year aimed at rais- that churches in the diocese now many talented people cannot afford ing awareness of the ongoing quest for peace in run over 40 food banks. to move into the region. the region... The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev The Dean of Newcastle has writ- As far as Government cuts are Anthony Priddis, has announced his retirement ten to the Chancellor of the concerned, local authorities in the later this year. He said he had earlier hoped to Exchequer complaining about the North are being caught by a double delay his retirement to allow for the possibility of ‘disproportionate cuts in central whammy. On the one hand Eric a woman bishop to succeed him... The new Bish- funding that the North East is Pickles is telling them that locally op of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, has licensed being expected to bear’. He raised money (which includes Canon Julia Peaty as Dean of Women’s Ministry referred to ‘huge reductions’ in council taxes, a share of business at Chichester Cathedral, a new role to ensure public services and job losses as a rates, charges) must provide 70 per women in ordained and lay ministry are recog- result of cuts by Newcastle City cent of their income, a steep rise for nised, valued and increase in numbers... The Council. many Northern councils where the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has Are bishops exaggerating to win figure has been as low as 30/40 per Eric Pickles announced the appointment of the Rev Dr Jo tabloid headlines as alleged in the cent. (By way of contrast, in Rich- Bailey Wells, the wife of Rev Sam Wells of St right-wing press? Anyone who mond in Surrey it stands at 80 per papers that were just propaganda sheets. Martin-in-the-Fields, as his new Chaplain, based doubts that there is a growing divi- cent). Some of the cuts announced in Newcastle to at Lambeth Palace, with a primary focus being sion between North and South But on the other hand, Pickles is the arts and libraries may be designed to with the spiritual life at Lambeth Palace and sup- need look no further than property placing restrictions on increases in score a PR victory over the Government. porting the Archbishop’s pastoral and liturgical prices. The total housing stock of council tax and he requires local Gateshead Council has a much better record ministry... the Surrey borough of Elmbridge referendums for council tax for efficiency and imaginative innovation than is now worth more than the entire increases of two per cent or more. its neighbour across the Tyne. property value of Glasgow. Since Council tax benefit has been Voters need to take more interest in local Next Week’s News 2007 property values in London scrapped and responsibility for dis- issues and local politicians. Manchester has have gone up by 15 per cent, a total counts has been handed over to one of the best councils in the country and it increase of £140billion, greater councils. This is happening when has made a big difference to the city. But in An Interfaith event will be held on 11 March 2013: than the value of all residential an economic downturn means the end the North-South divide will not be the Commonwealth Observance Day Seminar property in the North East of Eng- there are more demands for assis- solved only by better councillors or improved for invited faith leaders will see Bishop Michael land. tance from councils. local government. In the short-term the Gov- Ipgrave consider how well the Church of England The rise in property prices in Labour also capped council tax ernment needs to look again at funding but is meeting the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee chal- London and the South East is being increases and there is a view at long-term planning decisions have to be made lenge, to ‘protect the free practice of all faiths in partly fuelled by wealthy buyers Westminster that local authorities to improve the Northern economy. As a this country’… The Ecclesiastical Law Society from such places as Russia and the are wasteful and spendthrift. MPs columnist put it recently in the Financial London is holding a lecture entitles ‘The Faculty Middle East seeking safe havens fear that if council taxes rise, the Times, why should the main gateways to Jurisdiction and Questions of Theology’ on 13 for their money. Houses in a desir- Government will pay the price at Britain be located in the South East when March, with Rupert Bursell QC, Chancellor of able estate in Elmbridge, known as the polls. ports on the Tyne, the Tees and the Humber Oxford Diocese... The World Day of Action the ‘Beverley Hills’ of Britain, are The Government claims that a have spare capacity? against Seal Hunting will be held on 15 March...

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