OUR NEWS AUGUST 2021 SIGN UP TO OUR MAILINGS HERE WHAT ‘FREEDOM DAY’ MEANS FOR YOU & OUR CHURCHES

The latest guidance on opening and managing church buildings in this new stage of the pandemic has now been released and you can access it here.

Within the Church we believe that • There is no limit on the number everyone is known and loved individually of people who can attend by God and that as many members weddings, funerals and other life within one body we are called to be events (including receptions and responsible to and for one another, celebrations). respecting the more vulnerable whose PICTURED ABOVE: Enzo is confirmed suffering is our suffering(1 Cor 12:12-27). • There are no restrictions on choirs by the Bishop of , the Rt Revd and music groups, whether amateur following his The move to step 4 means we are or professional, or on congregational baptism in the this being asked to take even more personal singing. summer. responsibility around coronavirus than when we were compelled to adhere to • There are no legal restrictions on Government restrictions. children and youth groups, and it is FOUNDATIONS IN no longer required to keep children in While the vaccines are very effective in ‘bubbles’. This applies in all contexts, CHRISTIAN MINISTRY limiting symptomatic infection for those wherever groups are meeting. who are fully vaccinated, vaccination PLACES AVAILABLE cannot be the sole means of containing • There are no restrictions on group the spread of the virus: hand and sizes for attending communal Places are available respiratory hygiene, social distancing, worship. on the Foundations face-coverings and good ventilation in Christian Ministry are also important factors in lessening • The common cup may now be Course beginning the spread of the disease. While these shared, but the Bishops wish to September 2021. are not now mandatory, they are still make clear that, given continued To find out important public health mitigations and potential risks to health, it remains more about the ought to be recognised as such. permissible for the president to be experiences the only person who receives Holy of previous WHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS: Communion in the form of wine. participants watch the video here. • There is no legal requirement to The full guidance is available here. Read wear a face covering, although the Bishop Philip’s own views on the next For more government recommends people page. information or to wear face coverings in crowded and apply, please email: enclosed settings. Ministry@truro. anglican.org

SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH & MISSION: SIGN UP TO PARISH GIVING OUR NEWS AUGUST 2021 2 THE SAINTS’ WAY WELCOME DIRECTORY The Welcome Directory is a multi- faith organisation.

WHAT PRICE FREEDOM? It maintains a directory of registered faith communities who have declared their commitment to welcoming To mask, or not to mask? That’s one of the key prison leavers and providing them questions of our day. with appropriate support beyond the gates.

to eat food sacrificed to idols, but then This directory is used by prison adds, ‘But take care that this liberty chaplains, probation workers and of yours does not somehow become a prison leavers themselves, to identify stumbling-block to the weak’ welcoming communities upon release (1 Corinthians 8:9). from prison.

Thinking how our freedom impacts Courses are available and you can on others is always essential and is a register your faith community. Find Christian obligation. So I will wear a mask out more by downloading the PDF. when I’m out in shops – and probably in church – because I want to stand with the lady in the wheelchair in Dave Walker’s cartoon; I want to stand with those who are clinically vulnerable and for whom our new-found freedom means increased restriction for them.

THE RT REVD PHILIP MOUNSTEPHEN, There’s a deeper issue here too. Freedom is Recently Dave Walker in his excellent never simply an individual Church Times cartoon portrayed a small procession in Church. The person thing. Our actions always at the back in a wheelchair was saying, impinge on other people ‘Freedom for you means isolation for me. I’ll no longer feel safe going out now most in one way or another. It’s people’s masks are off.’ The older woman in front of him is saying, ‘I’m terrified that never about, ‘What’s best my vaccine won’t protect me from the for me?’, but ‘What’s best new variants that will now develop,’ while the person at the front proclaims with for us?’ joy, ‘We can sing again!’ For us in the at the Predictably, sadly, Dave received quite of moment this is a key question we must lot of criticism from people assuming he all ask, not least as we undergo the On was criticising one position or other. But I the Way process. Asking, ‘What’s best think he was just describing the reality of for me?’ is easy. ‘What’s best for us?’ is a how different people are feeling. much harder question, because it might involve sacrifice and loss on our part. But PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY The New Testament has a lot to say it’s much the most important question Almost 60 churches across about freedom. ‘Freedom in Christ’ is a to ask. offer services from the Book of huge, joyful theme. But it is also quite Common Prayer and, through a series clear that ‘may’ does not mean ‘must’. Because in the end we’re not simply freed of informal events, members of the So St Paul says that Christians are free to be free. We’re set free to love. Prayer Book Society serve to foster this well-trodden pathway towards expressing the Christian faith in an inspirational and meaningful way.

This ethos and activity is reflected in the newsletter, Article 40 and visitors to our events are always welcome.

@visuals, Unsplash See the Prayer Society Events here

SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH & MISSION: SIGN UP TO PARISH GIVING OUR NEWS AUGUST 2021 3 CONFIDENCE IN OUR CALLING SECOND HOME NUMBERS ‘DEVASTATING’ COUNTY CLERGY & PARISHES AT THE The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen described as “devastating”, the number of second homes in HEART OF THE CHURCH Cornwall. Speaking in a housing debate at the General Synod, the parliament of Clergy and parishes are at the heart of the Church of the , Bishop Philip England now and in the future the Church’s director outlined “an unregulated market”, caused substantially by the massive sale of of evangelism and discipleship has said. second homes.

Following a series of recent articles He recognised that second home owners and blogs speculating about the contribute a lot. But said that the sale direction of the Church of England’s of homes to people living outside the ‘Vision and Strategy’ discussions county was “hollowing out town and Dave Male, the Church of England’s village centres, pushing local people to director of evangelism and the edge of town.” discipleship, said: “I am very aware that some recent commentary in 20,000 SECOND HOMES media and social media purporting to set out the future direction of There are now around 20,000 second Church of England has caused real homes in Cornwall, constituting about anxiety, hurt and pain to many. 15 percent of all housing stock. “It’s denying homes to local people, massively “Some of this has been based on a parish system, sideline or even ramping up prices and producing a crisis fundamental confusion between the replace trained clergy, especially in the rental sector. Church of England’s own emerging paid clergy, or to get rid of our Vision and Strategy for the beautiful, historic church buildings. “A housing emergency is very likely to 2020s and beyond, which we will be be declared by the County Council. As “So I want to make it abundantly discussing at the upcoming meeting a church we have a voice and we have clear that the Church of England is of General Synod, and a separate assets and we need to use both to committed, now as always, to the initiative called Myriad to create address this very serious crisis, he said. 10,000 new lay-led churches - which ministry of the whole people of God including to ordained ministry in our is not a national Church of England You can watch Bishop Philip’s parishes.” project. contribution here. Move to 4:50:19 “It has been claimed in some places READ MORE that there is a plan to dissolve the MAKING FRIENDS WITH BATS IS THE ANSWER SAYS LAMORRAN CHURCH Bats are a common ‘problem’ facing Picture credit: Nils Bouillard, Unsplash The team at Lamorran are determined many of our churches but one church to make the most of the opportunity in the diocese says the answer is to they have been given. They are hoping to stop seeing them as something to be re-open the building later this year and eradicated and start looking at how to already have ideas about how to embrace live alongside them. their bat neighbours to help grow their church. St Moran Church at Lamorran closed in 2014 when cleaning became more than Nick says the experience with the project the volunteers could cope with because at Lamorran could also benefit other of the mess left by bats. Nick Jeans, a churches. “Not only have we learnt a thing retired land agent who is acting as Clerk or two that we are happy to share with of Works, says the community ‘just others but through this project and the didn’t know what to do’ but help has consortium formed by English Nature, development of understanding around come via the Bats in Churches project. St the Church of England’s Cathedral the licensing issues, it will hopefully help Moran was one of 120 churches selected & Church Building Division, the Bat to streamline things for other churches.” (including three others in Cornwall) out of Conservation Trust, English Heritage and over 630 that applied. the Churches Conservation Trust and READ THE FULL STORY HERE is fully funded by the Heritage Lottery The Bats-in-Churches Project is run by a Fund.

SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH & MISSION: SIGN UP TO PARISH GIVING OUR NEWS AUGUST 2021 4 CREATION CARE SAVE THE DATE! A Creation Care Service will take place at on October 3. More BECOME A KERNOW GREEN details will be shared on the diocesan website, social media and in next CHURCH & SIGN UP FOR ECO month’s newsletter. CHURCH ACCREDITATION The environment is very much at the top of the world agenda and the issues and efforts around climate change are rapidly developing.

The Diocese of Truro has always been a trailblazer against this backdrop, instrumental in encouraging the Church of England in its environmental work and in setting its 2030 net zero target. Our Join Cornwall Historic Churches Trust churches were eagerly doing their bit to - grants between £250 and £5,000 work towards better care of creation available. Visit www.chct.info through the Green Church Kernow Awards before it became fashionable have already attained awards to engage to do so and for that, the diocese is with and attain the nationally recognised immensely grateful. benchmark of A Rocha Eco Church accreditation. With a new diocesan environment strategy and the diocese’s vision The “By joining with Eco Church, the diocese Saints’ Way now putting a renewed will be standing together with the emphasis on Creation Care, we have national church in our shared goal of updated our awards scheme to help Net Zero by 2030. The well developed churches as they work towards the Net and accessible Eco Church resources Zero 2030 pledge. will help to add focus and pace to our commitment to Cherish Creation, Cut Carbon and KERNOW GREEN CHURCH AWARD Speak up.”

The Kernow Green Church Award The diocesan creation will support parishes as they care for care group are developing creation and will be a stepping stone a range of new resources towards the A Rocha Eco Church awards. aimed to support parishes All of this is part of the process of in becoming Kernow Green becoming an Eco Diocese. Churches and joining the Eco Church accreditation Ben Lillie, diocesan environment officer, scheme. These will says: “We know that so many of our be available in early churches have worked so hard to achieve September to coincide with the bronze, silver and gold Green Church Creation Tide. Kernow Awards and we want to say thank you. We thank you for your continued support in this “The work that has been undertaken to essential work. care for creation is amazing. But as we all know, things move quickly and with If you would like more 2030 only nine years away, it is now time information on becoming to really step it up. a Kernow Green Church contact Ben on ben.lillie@ “The new Kernow Green Church award truro.anglican.org will help those parishes that are in the process of working towards awards or

SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH & MISSION: SIGN UP TO PARISH GIVING