THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 THE CHURCHOF ENGLAND Newspaper Time to plan an The latest autumn movies retreat?, reviewed, NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND page 15 p11 FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 No: 6230 Every diocese backs Credit women bishop plans Unions unveiled By Amaris Cole Sants, former Chief Exec- had some shares in utive of the Financial Wonga. THE CHURCH of Eng- Services Authority and It is hoped these cen- land has launched the Head of Compliance and tres will offer a real alter- first credit unions this Regulatory Affairs for native to online lenders WATCH has welcomed the overwhelm- Synod cannot turn their backs on this week in response to the Barclays Bank. with extortionate interest ing support from every diocese for legis- again?” Archbishop of Canter- Sir Hector convenes rates, despite Archbishop lation to enable the consecration of Forward in Faith recommended that bury’s ‘war on Wonga’. the Archbishop’s Task Justin Welby admitting women bishops. its members vote against the Measure In this first step Group, and has said the previously that the Chester, Rochester, and Manchester and Canon in diocesan synods in order towards a national net- Church has a role in pro- ‘Church is not an expert were the last dioceses to vote before the to be faithful to their theological convic- work of churches, com- moting responsible lend- in this area’. deadline on 22 May. All three voted in tions but it stressed that in making this munities and credit ing. The sustainability of favour. Only the Diocese in Europe was recommendation it was not seeking to unions, called The The event was chaired the CCCNs has been unable to arrange a vote before the dead- hinder a final resolution of the issue. Church Credit Champi- by the Bishop of Stepney, questioned by some, as line. Meeting at Bishopthorpe Palace, York, ons Network, three pilot the Rt Rev Adrian New- research has shown The dioceses of Chichester and Lon- the House of Bishops voted to explore schemes have been man, who has a long lenders need to charge don, which voted against the proposals with political parties the possibility of launched in the Dioceses track record in advocat- over 80 per cent interest in 2011, have voted in favour of the cur- fast-tracking women bishops into the of Southwark, Liverpool ing credit unions and to make money. rent legislation although the Bishop of Lords. and London. who is leading the cam- The Archbishop hopes Chichester, 22 of his clergy and 20 laity The House also approved the Declara- The launch is support- paign in the Diocese of the partnerships they voted against. Chichester has held a tion on the Ministry of Bishops and ed by the Archbishop of London. have formed will ensure service in the cathedral to mark the 20th Priests, which sets out the arrangements Canterbury’s Task Group The network is the first the scheme works. anniversary of the first women priests. for those parishes who on theological on Responsible Lending. tangible response in the Download our iPad edi- Hilary Cotton, chair of WATCH, hailed grounds are unable to accept the min- The launch took place fight against payday tion of the Church of the diocesan votes in favour of women istry of women priests or bishops. in the St Martin’s Hall at lenders, which the Arch- England Newspaper for a bishops. “This is really, really good news The House voted to amend their own St Martin-in-the-Fields bishop publicly slammed, full report on the event in the lead-up to the Final Approval standing orders to ensure that the Decla- church in Central Lon- before embarrassing rev- and more information vote,” she said. ration cannot be amended without a don, with a keynote elations found that the about The Church Credit “In most dioceses over 90 per cent of majority of two-thirds in each house of address by Sir Hector Church Commissioners Champions Network. votes were cast in favour: surely General General Synod. [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper i2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday May 30, 2014 News Maya Credit networks are Angelou dies ‘to change behaviour’ By Amaris Cole While there is no absolute level of credit that is ethical or unethical, he says the networks seek to offer afford- THE CHURCH’S pilot launch of credit networks is about able loans, supported by those members in the commu- encouraging ‘behavioural change’, Sir Hector Sants of nities who can afford to invest in these schemes and take the Archbishop’s Task Group said. out larger loans. The Church Credit Champions Network (CCCN) aims Churches are uniquely placed to offer this help to com- to create a network of people who will bring together munities, organisers claim, as they are connected with churches, communities and responsible lenders, and local people and trusted by them. was launched in London and Southwark Dioceses on The Rt Rev Adrian Newman, the Bishop of Stepney, an Tuesday. advocate of credit networks, chaired the launch. It will also roll out in Liverpool at a later date, and sup- He said: “The network is about investigating what the porters hope to know ‘whether this works or not’ by Church can offer.” 2016. This includes buildings, volunteers and expertise, By Danika Worthington The former Chief Executive of the Financial Services along with one of the last places in communities where Authority and Head of Compliance and Regulatory people from all walks of life still mix. AFRICAN AMERICAN civil rights activist Maya Affairs for Barclays Bank, Sir Hector, said: “The Church The Bishop said: “This gives us a way of dealing with Angelou died on Wednesday at the age of 86. is not setting itself up to out compete with Wonga. money and debt in a way that is not threatening.” Along with activism, Angelou made a name for “This is about raising awareness of the availability of At the launch, many people who are already offering herself as an author, poet and director. She was low cost finance,” he said at the launch in St-Martin’s-in- these credit unions stressed the stigma surrounding awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the-Field, London. debt and the unwillingness of individuals to admit they President Barack Obama in 2011. “If people realise that there are better alternatives to have financial problems. The civil rights leader cancelled her appearance payday loans then they will use these alternatives and As this network seeks to engage all levels of the com- at the Major League Baseball Beacon Awards that will have an effect on Wonga.” munity, from those with money they are wishing to Luncheon scheduled for 30 May on Friday for There are other credit providers that should be avoid- invest, to those in difficulty, it is hoped everyone will health reasons, according to the Associated Press. ed, Sir Hector said, included rent-to-buy companies like come to hear the money talks and learn about the She also cancelled an event in June in order to Bright House. options available to them. recover from a hospital trip after an “unexpected ailment.” Angelou was born in the South in 1928 and grew up in Arkansas when racism was a daily struggle. She was sexually molested by her mother’s Archbishop boyfriend at the age of seven, according to a biogra- phy by Princeton University. Her uncles killed her Rome summit molester, which led Angelou to remain silent for five years because she believed she led to his in Pakistan THE ARCHBISHOP of Canter- at this time. death. bury Justin Welby will meet He will also see a church- She was nominated for the National Book Award By Amaris Cole Pope Francis in Rome next based refugee project, visit the after she wrote “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” month, Lambeth Palace Sant’Egidio community mission in 1969 that depicts her childhood in the South. She THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury is in Pak- announced this week. and hear about poverty projects. was also a part of the Harlem Writers Guild. She istan to support the country’s persecuted The visit will take place from Archbishop Welby will also was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry Christian minority. 14-16 June, and focus on the joint meet members of the interna- volume “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I The Most Rev Justin Welby is meeting modern slavery and human traf- tional ecumenical Catholic foun- Diiie” in 1971. with faith leaders and politicians, asking that ficking initiative launched by the dation Chemin Neuf, four of Angelou worked with Martin Luther King, Jr and better relations may be built with the Chris- Archbishop and Pope Francis whose members took up resi- Malcolm X during the civil rights movement. She tian minority that has suffered persecution earlier this year. dence at Lambeth Palace earlier was appointed as the northern coordinator for the in recent times. The Archbishop will visit the this year. Southern Christian Leadership Conference by King Last year, churchgoers faced terrorist Anglican Centre in Rome and The Papal meeting will take in 1959. attacks when two suicide bombers detonat- hear about the new international place during the final morning of The novelist spent time in Africa working as a ed explosives inside All Saints Church in Anglican Roman Catholic Com- the visit. Archbishop Justin pre- journalist. She was associate editor of The Arab Peshwar, killing 127 people and leaving 250 mission on Unity and Mission viously met the Pope at a private Observer in Cairo, Egypt and feature editor of injured.