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THE FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 No: 6190 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Three into One EASTER 2014 is the Appointed ary, 2014 and appointed on Easter gave ‘wel- over Lent and Holy Week next need to be both diligent and Day Archbishop John Sentamu Day. Confirmation and enthrone- come clarity to planning for the year to mark the end of the dio- patient as we now proceed in the has set for the start of the new ment will take place in the sum- new diocese, and will enable cese. months ahead.” diocese of West Yorkshire and the mer of 2014. This will be followed parishes, individuals and organi- In a statement, the of If all goes to plan, arrangements Dales agreed by General Synod at by the appointment of Area Bish- sations to better understand the Bradford, the Rt Rev , put in place for the transition peri- its meeting in July. ops and the meeting of the first process’. said: “I’m pleased to see publica- od should mean that the Appoint- In a message from his office, synod in the autumn. Elections “By concentrating our efforts tion of a clear timeline for the cre- ed Day will not bring any instant Archbishop Sentamu said: “This for a new synod will take place in on the efficient handover of ation of the new diocese. I am changes. These will be gradual, is quite a tight timescale but, if we 2015 and the Area system should responsibilities we can all ensure confident that this gives the exist- over a period of about a year but can achieve it, this will mean that become operational in 2016. that the new diocese is given the ing dioceses time to prepare prop- for staff working for the three the plans for setting up the admin- Appointment of a new bishop is best possible start,” he said. erly, but also that there is clear existing dioceses these will be istration of the new Diocese will key to the creation of a new dio- The Diocese of has process for setting up this new anxious months as they wait for be realized with as little interrup- cese and the process of consulta- said there will be celebrations and exciting venture. We will news of their future. tion as possible.” tion begins this month in the The Archbishop has appointed three dioceses. It is believed that the current Project Manager, the CNC will meet for the first John Tuckett, as Acting Diocesan time to discuss the appointment Historic changes for three dioceses Secretary to take the process on 12 November. through and to ensure that there Other transitional appointments is clarity about the jobs of employ- include an Acting Chancellor, ees of the three dioceses in com- Registrar, and Diocesan Director pliance with the legal of Education.

requirements under Transfer of According to the roadmap, all Undertakings Regulations, widely assets and liabilities will be trans- known as TUPE. Mr Tuckett will ferred to the new diocese on East- serve until the first meeting of the er Day. A new Board of Finance Synod of the new diocese. and associated company will be in Wakefield Bradford Ripon and Leeds A Chair and Secretary of the place by then. Founded: 1888 Founded: 1919 Founded: 1836 Transitional Vacancy in See Com- The Inauguration Ceremony Bishop: The Rt Rev Stephen Bishop: The Rt Rev Bishop: The Rt Rev John mittee have also been appointed will take place on Pentecost Sun- Platten Nicholas Baines Packer so that the process of finding a day. Suffragan: Bishop of Suffragan: n/a Suffragan: Bishop of new bishop can begin as soon as The , the Rt Population: 689,000 Knaresborough possible. Rev , who voted Population: 1,123,000 Parishes: 128 Population: 850,000 According to the Archbishop’s against the proposed new dio- Parishes: 183 Churches: 164 Parishes: 166 roadmap a new bishop will be cese, issued a statement saying Churches: 239 Churches: 260 nominated to the Queen in Febru- the documents issued by the

ALAN STORKEY 7 • COMMENT 7 • LETTERS 8 • ANDREW CAREY 9 • ANGLICAN LIFE 13 • CLERGY MOVES 14 • PAUL RICHARDSON 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday August 16, 2013 Inside... The original Church newspaper Double celebration for northern parish

By Christina Dierschke Jarrow Team, re-opening St years. His parish has eventually John the Baptist Church and been expanded to take in Holy ST LUKE’S in Ferryhill will cel- building the congregation up. Trinity at neighbouring Corn- ebrate its 160th anniversary in After 14 years in Jarrow, he forth. September. Its vicar, the Rev moved to St Luke’s at Ferryhill, “The job has constantly Keith Lumsdon, has himself just where he has been ever since. changed and evolved. Over the completed 42 years as a clergy- Keith, who also does some years, we have developed the man with 25 at his current teaching at local school Broom parish, including the idea of lay parish. Cottage Primary, said: “When I leadership, which is important News ...... 1-6 Born in Cramlington, came to Ferryhill, the pits had to us as it supports the work we Your Church ...... 2 Northumberland, and trained as long gone. The last closure was do”, explained Mr Lumsdon. UK News ...... 1-4 a teacher, Keith Lumsdon first in 1966 and people tended to “[…] We continue to develop World News ...... 6 worked as a clergyman at St look to Newton Aycliffe and the parish, which is exciting. Michael’s in South Westoe, Spennymoor for work.” The celebrations in September Comment South Shields. who worked in the yards at Jar- Although there are new peo- will pay tribute to that work.” Leader ...... 7 He said: “It was the days of row. We also had 120 Sea ple coming in they are losing the St Luke’s itself had been dis- Alan Storkey ...... 7 the shipyards and there were Scouts.” older people quicker, which mantled and moved brick by Letters ...... 8 four priests at the church, In time, he moved to work in leads to a slow decline in con- brick to its current site between Andrew Carey ...... 9 including an industrial chaplain Jarrow himself as part of Curate gregation numbers down the 1849 and 1853. Whispering Gallery ...... 9

9-a-day ...... 10 Arts and Media ...... 11 Books and Media ...... 11 Janey Lee Grace ...... 12 Charity toys bring joy to Syria Crossword ...... 12 ON SUNDAY4August, a charity effort set children’s everyday life in Syria. Sharen Ravat said: “I pay tribute to the up by Sharen Ravat, a Leicestershire resi- Many people from the Christian, Muslim, wonderfully generous people including The Record dent, collected 10,000 toys from members of Sikh, Hindu and Jewish communities want- many children who donated toys for this Anglican Life ...... 13 the public for children affected by the con- ed to help and donate their toys. The focal vital cause. What was particularly heart- Clergy Moves ...... 14 flict in Syria. This initiative will help to bring point for the drop-in session was St Philip’s warming was that so many of Leicester- Sunday Service ...... 15 some joy back to the families living in the Church in Leicester. After the day the seven shire’s different faith communities came Alan Edwards ...... 15 midst of civil war there. van-loads of toys were given to the UK- together. Collectively they demonstrated Paul Richardson ...... 16 According to the United Nations, the con- based charity, Hand in Hand for Syria, who their shared values of compassion and love People ...... 16 flict has led to the worst humanitarian crisis will shortly transport the items for distribu- for children who they will never know. I Milestones ...... 16 since Rwanda two decades ago. Death, tion to children in hospitals and refugee hope that these toys will bring a smile to Next week’s news ...... 16 injuries and homelessness are now part of camps in Syria. their faces”. News from Your Church your diocese

Derby: This Saturday, 17 August, Tower is £3 for adults and £2 for tle of Bosworth and the death of is taking place at the Clinical Sci- and, in the most appropriate way, Derby Cathedral will be holding children (only children aged 8 King Richard III. At 5.30pm a spe- ences Centre, Aintree University both bring God’s loving care its annual Bell Ringers open day. and over are admitted). cial service of Choral Evensong Hospital in Liverpool to inspire through their actions and also be Visitors who always wanted to will follow. and support all Christians work- able to listen to those in need and ring the bells will then get the Doncaster: On Friday 30 August The afternoon’s activities ing for the NHS. give a sensitive reply.” chance doing it under careful children from the Sunday Club include the interactive puppeteer The event is hosted by an ecu- For more information and to supervision. They can also visit (aged 6-14) of Holy Trinity and St Bill Brookman who will be telling menical group of Christians work- book, go to www.godlovesnhs.org the Cathedral Tower and listen to Oswald’s Church in Finningley the story of Richard III with the ing in the NHS and supported by ringing demonstrations. On dis- and the children’s group leaders help of some willing volunteers. the Diocese of Liverpool. Salisbury: From 25 September play will be an exhibition of photo- are having a sponsored sleepover There will also be medieval danc- Keynote speaker will be Kevin until 27 October a major exhibi- graphs of the bells. Visitors will in church. ing, the impressive musical Vaughan, General Secretary of tion of works from the world- also have the opportunity to All money raised is going styling of Triton E, crafting activi- the International Christian Med- famous Methodist Collection of watch and hear the mechanism towards the church Restoration ties suitable for all ages and a quiz ical and Dental Association, with Modern Christian Art comes to that uses levers and hammers to Fund, which is spent on the gen- about Richard III and the Battle of the event also providing the Salisbury. It is regarded as the play tunes on the Cathedral’s eral upkeep of the Grade 1 listed Bosworth, to which the answers opportunity to attend workshops, most prestigious collection of bells and carillon. With one of 10 building and also particularly will be spread around the Cathe- to worship, receive prayer and modern Christian art outside the bells cast in 1520, during the towards the cost of investigating a dral and Precinct during the after- network with other Christians in Vatican and will be presented in reign of Henry VIII, the Cathedral possible Death Watch Beetle noon. There will be the the NHS. two locations, one secular – the holds one of the oldest working Infestation which costs £2,700 for opportunity to talk to experts on Commenting on the forthcom- Young Gallery at Salisbury objects in Derby. Developed in the investigation alone, excluding the medieval period. The latest ing conference The Venerable Library, and one religious – Salis- England in the 17th Century, the any possible treatment. information on the Greyfriars John Hawley, Archdeacon of bury Cathedral. ‘Faith in Focus’ system of change ringing is a Dig, and what has been found is Blackburn, said: “I hope [the con- comprises around thirty artworks form of music-making, which Leicester: Leicester Cathedral is also presented there. ference] will help those who work by significant 20th century artists forms a significant part of English having a family fun afternoon as Christians in the NHS and in including Elizabeth Frink, Gra- culture. from 3pm to 5pm on Thursday 22 Liverpool: On 28 September a Hospices to have an understand- ham Sutherland, Maggie Ham- Admission to the Cathedral August commemorating the Bat- ‘God Loves the NHS’ conference ing of their caring environments bling and Norman Adams.

[email protected]/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Friday August 16, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 3 NEWS IN BRIEF Appeal for evidence RBS decision could

AN INQUIRY INTO THE conduct of a former Dean of Man- chester and General Secretary of the Church of England’s Board of Education, the late Robert Waddington, is now underway and anyone with information is asked to contact help Church bid the Clerk to the Inquiry, Mrs Nicola Harding at Cathedral Chambers, 4, Kirkgate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4. The inquiry has been set up by Archbishop John Sentamu FOLLOWING PRESS reports of the their consortium had signed up to pay a levy to help credit unions and and is being chaired by Her Honour Judge Sally Cahill QC. involvement of the Church Commis- the ethical investment advisory that councils, housing associations, Complaints have been made about acts of abuse carried out sioners in a group seeking to gain group policy but added that it was rail and bus companies be required by Waddington involving young men and the failure of control of the Royal Bank of Scot- early days and details would have to to support them. Labour is also pro- Church authorities, including the former Archbishop of land, business secretary Vince Cable be worked out if the bid was success- posing curbs on advertising by pay- York, Lord Hope, to deal with allegations. announced that the bank will not be ful. day loan companies. Waddington was ordained deacon in 1953 and served at St returned to the private sector for Archbishop Welby met with Mr The Business Department has John’s, Bethnal Green. From 1956-9 he was chaplain at the another five years. Cable last week. The main focus of promised £35 million over a decade Slade School in Queensland. After 18 months as a curate at At the same time Archbishop the meeting was on the excesses of to help expand credit unions and is St Luke’s, Chesterton, in the Diocese of Ely, he returned to Welby’s campaign against excesses the payday lending industry and on lifting the cap on interest rates they Australia as Headmaster of St Barnabas School, Ravenshoe, by payday lending companies is making banks safe. Lib Dem whip in can charge from 2 per cent a month where he remained until 1971. gathering political support. the House of Lords, Lord Newby, to 3 per cent. From 1972 -77 he was canon residentiary at Carlisle Cathe- The Business Secretary’s stand is who is married to an Anglican priest, The Government is opposed to dral and Bishop’s Adviser for Education. He became Secre- at odds with the desire of both the and Jo Swinson, Minister of Con- capping payday lenders’ rates in case tary of the General Synod Board of Education in 1977 and Chancellor and the Prime Minister sumer Affairs, were also present at this drives borrowers to use illegal remained there until he became Dean of Manchester in to see RBS privatised before the the meeting. lenders. For this reasons the Arch- 1984. He retired to York in 1993 and he moved to Box Hill in 2015 election. Financial commenta- Mr Cable told The Independent on bishop has also said it is better to Sussex before he died in 2007. tors suggested that Mr Cable’s pre- Sunday that he was a great admirer compete against payday lenders that diction increases the likelihood of of the way the Archbishop ‘had com- to try to restrict the rates they can FOLLOWING riots last more situations which will the bank being broken up. The bined his moral and spiritual leader- charge. ❏Friday in the centre of result in predictable conflict. Chancellor opposes such a move, ship role with practical initiatives on Labour has forced amendments to Belfast after a controversial Our thoughts and prayers believing it would be too complex banking’. the Financial Services Bill to give Republican march, the Bish- are with the members of the and costly but the Business Secre- The Labour Party is proposing powers to the Financial Conduct op of Down and Dromore, Police Service for Northern tary wants to split RBS and turn it that payday loan companies would Authority to cap the cost of credit. the Rt Rev Harold Miller, Ireland (PSNI) who find into a business bank issued a strong condemna- themselves dealing with lending to struggling tion of the violence. these situation and particu- firms. “I totally condemn the vio- larly with those who have Last Thursday it lence which took place in been injured.” was announced that Belfast,” he said. “There is Bishop Miller stopped the consortium seek- no basis on which it can be short of calling for a ban on ing to buy RBS, in justified. All are agreed on all marches and parades. which the Church the right to peaceful protest, The head of the Police Fed- Commissioners are re but our community now eration for Northern Ire- involved, had lined up nnfffaaare needs a period of restraint land, Terry Spence, has the ex-United Utilities FaFaan while we redouble our taken this step and called boss Philip Green to raall lowers efforts to build a shared for a six-month ban on front its bid. He FlFllooor tivalofF future. Orange and Republican replaces John Tiner, AFes Hall “We must not create any marches. former chief execu- tCentral Methodis tive of the financial ster services industry, Westmin who stepped down on,SW1H 9NH .org.uk Lond ntral-hall because of a contro- thodist-ce Barbados welcome .me ions (2012-13) versy over HBOS. www lebrat yYear Ce Two other groups Centenar ARCHBISHOP has visited Barbados as have shown interest part of a series of visits he is making to Anglican primates in in bidding for RBS. his first 18 months of office. The Archbishop and Mrs All the bidders have Welby arrived in Barbados last Friday and spent two days expressed in inten- there before visiting Mexico and Guatemala. tion of reviving the HuHursrsdadaayy 5th During his time in Barbados the Archbishop met the Williams and Glynn 10.30 am - 6.30pm Governor General and the Prime Minister as well as clergy brand that disap- of the diocese. He visited St James Church, close to the site peared in 1986. The FriddriF ayay6th of the first Anglican church built in Barbados in 1627, and Church bid is in likely 10.30 am - 9.00pm Codrington College, the oldest theological college in the to be line with the Western hemisphere. hopes of the Business SatuurtaS rddayay7th Welcoming the Archbishop, the Most Rev John Holder, Secretary if it follows 10.30 am - 6.30pm er Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies and Bishop the views of Archbish- SeSepepteptemberemmb of Barbados, said: “We are very, very pleased to have him op Justin Welby. tth dby:y th 8 20132 StS:tageage with us at this time, their first visit to the Caribbean, and The Archbishop SuSundndayay8th 5 -8 09.00 am - 10.30am erevrsseasase we’re sure they will come again.” has frequently naaannd OOv 11.00 am WoWorshiprship oonnddoo The Archbishop praised the Anglican church in the West expressed the desire bersso o fHeL Indies for its ‘imaginative’ contributions to the ‘unity and to see banks helping 12.30 am - 2.00pm MeMeMmbermmb fNAFASASS& & AAreeraofNao aalllll well-being’ of the Anglican Communion. He said the industry and con- entrenntttrralalHHa thodisthodistC Province set an example of being a ‘bridge’ province with demned the payment TiiT cketsckets £5 MeMe er esstttmminssttert people around the Communion. of large bonuses. The InIndividualdividual tickets WeW The Archbishop also thanked God for the tradition of Church of England boughtbought on the day.y. excellence in theological education to be found in the has expressed the Province of the West Indies. “We are proud of the church’s view that no bonuses CoCoachach partiesparties only faithfulness to Christ in this place and its witness to justice should be paid that can be pre-e-bookedbooked for all God’s children,” he said. are 100 per cent in on 020 7654 3809. Before leaving Barbados, the Archbishop celebrated the excess of salary. Eucharist and preached in Christ Church parish church at The Church Com- a service attended by Archbishop Holder and people from missioners said that across the diocese. other members of

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 4 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday August 16, 2013 News Dinosaurs make it a Human rights Night in the Nave issues highlighted

AUGUST 9 marked the United nately, reportedly into areas Originally from Panama, they Nations Day of Indigenous peo- where there were no illicit have lived in the forest for cen- ples – this year’s theme was crops but only food crops. turies, but now their very exis- “Indigenous peoples building After the spraying the com- tence is threatened. Colombia’s alliances: Honouring treaties, munity wrote to the Colombian Constitution recognises the agreements and other con- authorities denouncing the rights of ethnic minorities like structive arrangements.” events. In their letter they the Embera but mining compa- Although there have been demanded respect for their nies and armed groups often several agreements between rights and requested urgent disregard them. governments and indigenous health support, emergency However, the Embera com- people, there are still many food and clean water supplies. munity of Alto Guayabal have problems. Mr Mortensen said the previously defended their terri- On 22 July the Colombian Air Colombian government must tory, opposing a mining compa- Force began a process of spray- respect indigenous people’s ny who entered their land in ing of illicit crops in Alto Guaya- rights and abide by Colombian 2009. Twelve indigenous com- bal, in Chocó region, Constitution and ILO Conven- munities affected by the project north-western Colombia. Now tion 169 on Indigenous and stated that prior consultation an indigenous community, sub- Tribal Peoples, which both was not adequately carried out, jected to controversial aerial grant the right of prior consul- and rejected all mining in their spraying of coca crops, is tation to indigenous people for territory. demanding that the govern- activities on their land. Christian Aid partner organi- ment respect their rights, land “If these agreements were sation, the Inter-Church Com- and their lives. upheld, the Colombian authori- mission for Justice and Peace, Thomas Mortensen, Chris- ties could have worked with the filed a lawsuit on behalf of these tian Aid Country Manager of indigenous community to man- communities to stop the project Christian Aid in Colombia, said: ually eradicate the coca in the and obtained a ruling in favour “The local Embera community area and protect the Embera of the communities by the has reported that the aerial community from outsiders,” he Colombian Constitutional spraying has contaminated said. Court. their water and crops and is The Embera do not oppose This decision established a causing community members, the eradication of coca, indeed precedent regarding the right including children, to fall sick. in 2012 they approached the of indigenous and tribal com- Visitors to Trinity Church, Ossett, Wakefield, are being warned not to get This is a clear violation of their government asking for help to munities to free, prior and frightened when they see a life-sized T-Rex standing in the nave. rights.” eradicate it, whilst expressing informed consent as well as to Until 17 August there will be a display from 10am–6pm every day, except Colombia is the only country total rejection of aerial spray- carry out consultation process- Sundays, of full-sized dinosaurs. in the world that permits aerial ing. es using their own traditional Vicar, the Rev Canon Paul Maybury, said: “It’s not often you get chance to spraying of drug-producing Colombia has over 100 mechanisms. give house room to dinosaurs. But this is us working alongside and sup- crops. The practice has been indigenous groups, many of As the peace talks between porting our local businesses and a different take on celebrating heritage.” repeatedly condemned by whom are struggling to retain the Colombia government and Local dinosaur costume maker, Christian Christobal, has asked to borrow human rights and environmen- their traditional culture on ter- the FARC guerrilla group con- the great space of Trinity Ossett, because his dinosaurs were taking over his tal activists because of its effect ritory that is legally theirs, in tinue in Havana, Christian Aid garden and house. He had just secured a contract to supply his dinosaurs to on humans and local soil and the face of outside threats. The urge that the final peace agree- Tong Garden Centre, between Bradford and Leeds, but until he could deliv- water systems. Embera are one of the 34 ment takes into account land er them he needed some room. But still the spraying contin- indigenous peoples in Colom- issues and special protection of All families are welcome to have a look at this unusual display in the ues and this time the aircraft bia identified as at risk of physi- indigenous people. church, where the small entry charge will be shared between the church sprayed herbicide indiscrimi- cal or cultural extinction. and the dinosaur maker. Cathedrals continue to attract visitors CATHEDRAL CONGREGATIONS continued to grow in growth. Attendance at midweek serv- Cathedrals continue to attract 2012, continuing a trend that has been seen since 2002. ices has grown from 8,900 in 2002 to large numbers of visitors. Total weekly attendance at 42 cathedrals grew to 35,900 16,800 last year while Sunday atten- Research commissioned by last year, an increase of 35 per cent since 2002. dance figures have gone up from Theos has revealed that many Last year 54,700 people attended Easter services in Cathe- 17,500 to 19,100. visitors report a spiritual drals, the highest attendance of the last decade, but atten- The number of children and young aspect to their time inside a dance at weekday services has also registered strong people attending educational events cathedral. (306,800) last year repre- Commenting on the latest sents a 10-year high. statistics, Dr Bev Botting, Volunteers helping in Head of Research for the Arch- P$41 AA7 A2 A99A@ Cathedrals are up 30 per ’ Council, said: “Cathe- !C'I1C 5D &AFC 1C5E'31Q cent on the 2002 figures. drals continue to flourish as Around one million people worshipping communities 18B FD C1E'5@ 5ED )A@E5@F10 FD1 2AC2FEFC1 attended public/civil while offering a valuable 31@1C'E5A@D*A5@ E41 !C'I1CAA7 #A)51EI* events in cathedrals in insight into our nation’s her- $A 25@0 AFE 9AC1'(AFE E41 HAC7 A2 ' 2012, down on a peak itage. The statistics show peo- #A)51EI E4'E '0G'@)1D ' )1@EFC51D,A80 achieved in 2010 but still ple of all ages are increasingly DBC5EF'8319* twice as many as in 2002. In addition, a further drawn to cathedral worship, to attend educational and civic A@E')E '@ %AA041'0 A@ '%!' ' !T 930,000 attended such special services as annu- events, and to volunteer to ensure that our cathedrals are AC 6A5@ A@85@1 HHH*B(DH*AC3*F7 al festivals and school leavers’ services. open to all those who are drawn to visit and worship in $41 !C'I1C AA7 #A)51EI "135DE1C10 4'C5EI A* %'#R* A* 595E10 (I F'C'@E11 A*TP! In addition to people who attend services, these wonderful buildings.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Friday August 16, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 5 Sydney elects Bishop Glenn Davies as its new Archbishop By George Conger a comfortable majority amongst the lay delegates. lum seekers to the role of the Anglican Church in contem- At the start of the evening session Canon Smith pro- porary Australia. He told reporters he hoped to be able to THE SYDNEY Diocesan Synod has elected the Rt Rev posed Dr Davies’ name alone be moved to the final list – “facilitate as many grass-roots ministries as possible. Glenn Davies to be the next Archbishop of Sydney. Dr and by a show of hands the new archbishop was elected by We’ve not only got parishes, we’ve got schools, we’ve got Davies (62), who currently serves as Bishop of North Syd- what observer tell The Church of England Newspaper was organisations like Anglicare and Moore College, Youth- ney, will be installed as archbishop on 23 August 2013 at St a unanimous vote. works and retirement villages” that are lay led. “They all Andrew’s Cathedral in succession to the Most Rev Peter A native of Sydney, Dr Davies was educated at Sydney reflect different aspects of our society where they are Jensen. Church of England Grammar School and the University of bringing the love of God and the saving message of Jesus In addition to assuming the leadership of Australia’s Sydney. He trained for the ministry at Moore Theological to bear in their particular context.” largest diocese, Dr Davies’ appointment as archbishop will College and Westminster Theological Seminary in The archbishop-elect dismissed claims made by some propel him to the centre of the evangelical movement with- Philadelphia and earned a PhD from Sheffield University newspapers that his election was a rebuke to the current in the Anglican world. Although he is not the primate of in 1988. Dr Davies served as a parish priest in the diocese archbishop and signalled a shift away from the diocese’s the Anglican Church of Australia – as archbishop he will and as a lecturer in Old and New Testament at Moore Col- evangelical roots. “I can’t imagine there would be a lot of be metropolitan of New South Wales – Dr Davies will like- lege before being appointed assistant Bishop of North Syd- difference” between his priorities and those of his prede- ly be the one of the most influential archbishops in the ney in 2001. cessor Dr Peter Jensen. Communion – second only to the Archbishop of Canter- Dr Davies has served as a member of General Synod The two shared the “same theological framework and bury in spiritual authority among the church’s “white” Doctrine Commission for 20 years and as a member of the passion about God’s word and the Gospel being brought archbishops. General Synod since 1996 and its standing committee into the lives of people around us, and we’ve got the same On 6 August 2013 over 800 clergy and lay delegates since 2007. passion with regard to justice and injustice and the desire began voting in a series of elimination ballots to elect the From 2002 to 2012 he was chairman of EFAC (Evangeli- for people to be treated with dignity and respect. At that new archbishop from among the two candidates: Dr cal Fellowship in the Anglican Communion) Australia and level, as issues come up, I will seek to address them with Davies and the Rev Canon Rick Smith (49), rector of was one of the authors of the 2008 Jerusalem Statement of as much wisdom and grace as I have,” the new Archbishop Naremburn/Cammeray on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. the GAFCON conference. A father of two and grandfather said. After the first round an error in the vote tally gave Canon of three, Dr Davies has been married to his wife Dianne A spokesman for the diocese told CEN that while he was Smith the lead, but it was found that approximately 170 since 1979. stepping down as archbishop of Sydney, Dr Jensen was not votes had been miscounted. After the recount, Dr Davies In a flurry of interviews with the secular press, Dr stepping down as secretary of the Fellowship of Confess- was found to hold a strong majority among the clergy and Davies fielded questions ranging from refugees and asy- ing Anglicans (FCA). Bishop apologises for Franklin Graham mission THE BISHOP of Iceland the Rt Rev Agnes launched to encourage gay activists to All of the tickets for the festival have Approximately 90 per cent of the popula- M Sigurðardóttir, has apologized to the book tickets for the event and then not been reserved, its website reports. But tion belong to the Þjóðkirkjan, the state island’s gay community for the participa- show up. One activist claimed he had Festival director Ragnar Gunnarsson told Lutheran Church — a partner of the tion of the Church of Iceland in next reserved 500 free tickets for the Festival, reporters the meeting was not an anti-gay Church of England under the Porvoo month’s Festival of Hope meeting in Reyk- censoring Graham by preventing those marriage rally but a call to evangelism. He Agreement. However, a 2011 Gallup Poll javík due to the presence of US evangelist who wanted to hear him preach from the said the Festival organizers were reviewing found Iceland to be one of the world’s most and missionary Franklin Graham. Gospel from attending. their options. irreligious nations. Anna Pála Sverris- dóttir, chair of Samtökin 78, an Ice- landic gay activist WHEN ONLYTHE BEST WILL DO organization, told the news website Ruv.is she was angered by the When you are lookingto change your motor car,why not try a state Lutheran friendly and professional team who only supply vehicles to Clergy and Churchmembers? The team at Priory Automotive Church’s participation have over 35 years experience in this field, and offer you a in the Christian rally as ‘tailor made’ top quality service, whilst also promising to obtain Graham opposes gay the very best car for you. marriage. Bishop Sigurðardót- Over theyears they have supplied quality cars up and down tir told Ruv.is she was the country, and withtheir “No Hassle” policy they do all the hard work, just give them abrief of your requirements, and then rethinking her promise leave it all to them. Part exchanging your old car is no problem, to preach at the festi- and every car Priory supply is thoroughly history checked and val, but added that it prepared before being delivered to your front door ( Free of might be an opportuni- Charge). Don’t just take their word for it, have a look at what ty to offer a contrary their customers say on the ‘Testimonials’ page on their website: view to balance Gra- www.prioryautomotive.com ham’s. The bishop said Join the growing band of satisfied customers. Priory won’t the Icelandic Church pressure you and they won’tsell acar to you, but they will let had dropped its moral you buy one, and they only supply the very best. So why not and theological objec- give them acall and put them to the test? You will never want tions to homosexual to trail around the car dealerships again. conduct in 2010 and Don’t forget if you are Clergy, Priory can help with the Church now was a wholeheart- Commissioners loan too. ed supporter of gay rights. Gay activists have sought to disrupt the For anyfurtherinformation, please Festival in protest to call 0114 2559696 or visit Graham’s presence. A social media campaign was www.prioryautomotive.com

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 6 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday August 16, 2013 News Bishop backs plan Islamists suspected to save Rose Castle By George Conger

THE , the Rt Rev James Newcome, has taken the helm of a charitable foundation that is hoping to buy Rose Castle, the historic home of the bishops of Carlisle in girls’ acid attack near Dalston in Cumbria. On 9 August the Cumberland News reported Bishop Newcome was one of three trustees of the new group, SUSPECTED ISLAMIST which hopes to carry on the work of the former Friends of terrorists have attacked Rose Castle society, which had hoped to raise money to pre- two British teenagers in vent the sale of the medieval palace. Zanzibar, throwing acid on “I feel a certain responsibility towards it as a Bishop of the two girls as they were Carlisle, given that all my predecessors lived there and oper- walking in the Shangani ated from there,” the bishop said, noting “it is one of our section of Stone Town, the heritage buildings and I want to see it used in the best pos- island’s capital. sible way and, if possible, for some kind of religious pur- Speculations as to the pose.” motive for the attack are In January 2011 the Church Commissioners deemed rife. The girls are mem- Rose Castle and Hartlebury Castle in Worcestershire, the bers of a Zionist youth home to the Bishops of Worcester and Carlisle, were “no group and may have been longer suitable” to house the senior members of the clergy. targeted for being Jewish, The two palaces would be sold and the profits reinvested to or the assault may have support the Church’s ministries, a spokesman said. arisen due to their work at The Commissioners agreed to delay the sale of Hartle- an Anglican school on the bury to allow the Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust time island, or could have arisen to raise the estimated £2.25m needed to purchase the prop- from their breach of the erty. In April 2013 the Trust announced “the success of our prohibitions of Ramadan round one Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) application. We practised in the majority are currently working towards a round two HLF application, Muslim country. this means lots of work on our plans for the Castle and rais- Sheikh Issa Ponda, a driver in Zanzibar.” members of the Federation had several altercations in ing a minimum of £250,000.” leader of an Islamist On the evening of 7 for Zionist Youth, prompt- Stone Town before this In 2011 Trust chairman Alison Brimelow said they “envis- extremist group in Zanz- August at the end of the ing speculation they were incident. They got them- age a partnership with the County Museum and income ibar, has been detained by Muslim month of attacked for being Jews. selves on the radar screen” generation from a variety of uses of the site, consistent with police for questioning. Ramadan, and as Muslims However, the girls were of the island’s Islamist its heritage”. On 8 August the Zanz- began to celebrate the Eid also volunteers at St Moni- extremists. They had an Jane Hasell-McCosh, a member of the Rose Castle steer- ibari government released holiday, Kirstie Trup and ca’s Anglican school on the argument with a shopkeep- ing committee, told the Art Newspaper they hoped to be a statement denouncing Katie Gee of Hampstead, precincts of Christ Church er and were “slapped” by a able to save the Cumbria landmark also. “It’s unique the attack and offering a were walking in an area Cathedral and could have Muslim woman for singing because the whole of our Border history is reflected in the reward for information. popular with tourists, when been singled out as Chris- during Ramadan. number of times the castle has burnt down and been rebuilt “The event is a great two men on a motorbike tians. Our source stated: “The over the centuries,” she said. tragedy, and an attack of road up beside them. The vicar-general of the problem was coming on However the Friends of Rose Castle campaign has failed this nature against a for- The passenger on the Anglican Diocese of Zanz- their own and not being to make headway in its campaign to raise funds for the build- eign citizen, has never hap- motor bike threw acid on ibar told The Church of with a team of locals. Bad ing’s preservation, and the committee asked Bishop New- pened here before,” it said, the girls, severely burning England Newspaper the idea. While Stone Town is come to form a new group to take over. adding this was a “serious their faces, arms and girls were not sponsored ‘touristy’ it is, ironically, The bishop told the Cumberland News the “Rose Castle incident” that had “dam- shoulders. The girls were by the diocese or a mission the headquarters for the Foundation has been established, and we are exploring a aged the reputation of a airlifted to Dar es Salaam agency. A missionary in radical/separatist move- centre of reconciliation as an option.” peaceful and stable Zanz- for medical treatment and Zanzibar told CEN the ment and opposition party. The Foundation had embarked on a fundraising cam- ibar. The attack is unac- have since returned to attack was likely due to the So it’s not a good place to paign, but the Church Commissioners had extended the ceptable and could affect England. girl’s violation of the stric- be hanging if you don’t “time limit” to “next June, so the urgency is not as it was,” he our tourism industry - The Jewish Chronicle tures of Ramadan. have friends and don’t said, but added, “If we don’t raise the money, it will be sold which is a major economic reports the two girls are “Apparently the two girls know what you’re doing.” in June.” Nigerian Mothers’ Union opposes child marriage THE PRESIDENT of the Mothers’ Union of The Review Committee recommend- has been part of the constitution since 1979, and its scope Nigeria has joined civil and women’s rights ed striking the latter clause as discrimi- has always been limited to the question of renunciation of activists in the West African nation in natory against women and the measure citizenship. denouncing the country’s senate for block- was approved by a vote of 75 to 14, “However, the senators’ decision to retain the clause, ing a bill that would have banned child mar- receiving the necessary two-thirds particularly in view of the arguments that convinced them riages. majority. to do so, has been considered by many as an implicit legit- On 6 August Mrs Nkasiobi Okoh, presi- However on 28 July the Sunday Trust imization of child marriage.” dent of the MU and wife of the primate reported that Deputy Minority Leader The Child Rights Act adopted by the Senate in 2003 sets Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, told a women’s Ahmed Sani Yerima objected to the the minimum age of marriage at 18. However only two- Christian conference in Abuja Anglican removal of the clause as it implied that thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states have endorsed it, and in some women were “categorically” opposed to 18 years was the minimum age for mar- Muslim-majority states girls may be married as young as allowing child marriage. riage. 12 years of age, “Girls not Brides” reports. And according The question of child marriage was He told the senate “under Islamic law, to a UNICEF report, 39 per cent of Nigerian brides in brought before the legislature this month any woman who is married is of age, 2000-2008 were under 18. when the senate debated a series of consti- and if you say 18 years is the minimum Mrs Okoh said Anglican women were opposed to child tutional amendments proposed by the Constitution Review age for marriage, then you are going against Islamic law.” marriages, as they fostered the oppression of women and Committee. A proposed amendment to Section 29 of the The senate voted to reconsider the amendment, which robbed girls of their future. “We have always been empha- constitution states that a citizen must be of full age in order received only 60 votes in its second reading – 14 short of sising that girls should be trained, when they are trained, to renounce his or her citizenship, and clause 29(4)(a) the two-thirds majority. we are influencing not only their home, but the wider com- clarifies that “full age” means 18 years or above; however, In a statement following the vote the NGO “Girls not munity, that is my belief and I know that, that is what our clause 29(4)(b) adds that “any woman who is married shall Brides” said: “This does not mean that senators voted to women believed,” she said, according to the Vanguard be deemed to be of full age.” legalize child marriage in Nigeria. The contentious clause Newspaper.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Leader & Comment Friday August 16, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 7 Comment Murder most foul: a comment on society Post-liberal

Murdering a child who trusts in the murderers as his parents comes close to an unforgiveable evil, adding systematic torture and starvation takes us beyond words and moral categories. The Bible’s message on evil and sin is deeply unfashionable, and yet alone goes deep enough to describe human wickedness, actual and potential. The murder of Christianity Daniel Pelka at the hands of his mother and stepfather goes way beyond ‘tragedy’, a little boy starved, beaten, emaciated, tortured, finally battered to death: ‘the voice of his blood cries from the ground’ [Genesis 4.11]. Indeed Scripture is utterly realistic about our propensi- ty not only to do wrong, but to act with unspeakable wickedness, and it matches precisely what we see in the news and in our history books. No, Christianity is not simply doom-laden, but it alone gives us the rad- Alan ical diagnosis of our problem, and offers us the message of divine redemption and restoration through the costly love of Christ crucified and risen. Storkey Daniel joins Baby P and Victoria Climbie as a child tortured and mur- dered by his parental carers. We are also reminded of the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence by racist thugs, as his mother is to be made a Peer. Telegraph blogger Sean Thomas reminded his readers that children and teenagers such as Charlene Downes, Richard Whe- lan, Mary Ann Leneghan and Gavin Hopley were savagely murdered but their cases have been removed from Wikipedia as being politically incorrect and no big deal, the wrong sort of victims to expect any offi- Cultural transitions are important. They reflect the cial or media sympathy. Casual police attitudes to the victims of groom- ways in which millions of people think and ing and murder testify to a strong culture of ‘fear and favour’ by our approach issues, including issues of faith. For authorities, skewing the older tradition of justice of all backgrounds decades many, if not most, western cultural without prejudice. The terrible case of the murder of Jamie Bulger by thought and comment has been liberal in its older boys aping a violent video they had seen on TV shows how our assumptions and viewpoint. The root commitment, society, by its ‘liberal’ choices as to violent, pornographic and cruel or religion it could be called, is to the supremacy of material open to all age groups soaks into hearts and minds and can the individual. The individual is autonomous – a law promote dehumanising attitudes and crime. unto himself or herself. Individual pleasure is the Teenagers, we are told, are increasingly using Apps to hook up with highest good. The individual is the focus of rela- strangers in their area for casual sex: however freeing this is deemed tionships, of economic life, of consumption and of by our liberated middle classes, it can only coarsen and cheapen the morality. preciousness of the human body as personal rather than being detach- In the name of this religion Christianity has been able object for moments of orgasmic pleasure. The ‘I-Thou’ is turned presumed wrong. The prior relationship of God into an ‘I-it’ objectification, using Martin Buber’s categories. with us has been ignored, and the truth that our We exist in society, we can choose to strengthen or weaken the good relationships, economic life and morality have their in society by our personal decisions and actions, and in turn social meaning from God has been pushed to the edge by pressures will influence how we act individually. This could be at least liberal culture. Many Christians are used to being an analogy for the reality of what the Church calls ‘original sin’. The marginalised while consumption rewards, individ- Prime Minister is to be congratulated on his intent to bear down on ual sexual gratification, my morality, my success internet porn. But he would be doing far more to protect the vulnera- and my choice hold the stage. The few are in ble and promote virtue if he were to support Christianity as a social church while the masses are in the shopping mall. good in the hearts and minds of people, inner moral goodness is the Yet beneath the drunken kids on a Saturday tural power. They talk their own language and ultimate protection against radical wrong. night or the celebrity looking for self-affirmation on remain out of touch by focussing on marginal television, this faith in the individual has been slow- issues. As a sociologist trained to hear sub-cultural ly dying. The process is slow, especially because isolation, I’m afraid I hear Christians repeatedly companies are prepared to promise individuals any- insisting that the faith must be in a ghetto. The Church of England Newspaper thing as long as they will spend, but all the promis- But, of course, the right answer is much easier with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week es come home empty. Beauty products and clothes than the wrong, and it is found most directly in Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. leave me the same person. Relationships centred Jesus’ invitation to die to self. The egocentric self, Company Number: 3176742 on me are just selfish. Self-gratifying sex hurts oth- because it has lost its response to God, to God’s Publisher: Keith Young MBE ers, and riches for capitalists and tax evaders lead love and to the egalitarian relationships we all have to the collapse of the economy for the rest of us. with one another, is a problem. With even a little bit Beneath it all, our gratification and self-indul- of insight we all know we are a problem. Self-fulfil- Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY020 7222 8004 gence is destroying the planet through global ment, self-right-ness and self-ishness are empty. Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 warming. Anyone who thinks a bit knows that the They cut us off from one another. The self destroys Reporter: AMARIS COLE 020 7222 8700 supposed self-centred individual screws up families sensitivity, love, trust, service, sex and truth, and and the economy. The person enjoying themselves Jesus insists we die to self and put God the Father Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 in the 1970s is the sex offender today, facing the back at the centre of life and relationships. Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 results of the earlier belief in the self-centred indi- Thus, we should realise that we are no longer vidual. marginal. Our culture sees through self-centred Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 8663 This transition involves some cultural humility. relationships and thirsts for 1 Corinthians 13. Graphic Designer: PETER MAY020 7222 8700 We realise that what we want is often not good for Rather than self-gratification and over-eating, it us, that we may have things to learn which might longs for joy and the deeper blessing of God. It The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate make us wise, that thinking of others is important implicitly knows that we are members one of anoth- endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication and that a bike might be better than a fast car. We er. These are the directions in which millions of are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper are beginning to realise that building marriages lives are walking, and the Bible’s signposts are does not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. and families requires depth, commitment, love and already there, pointing away from those who are Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), a perspective beyond the individual, and that look- lost by doing what is right in their own eyes. Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, ing after number one is not a good guide to choice. We need, clearly stated, in the public cultural Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Peter Brown, The Rev Cindy Kent There are millions of transitions that reflect this arena, the Christian understanding of personhood kind of change, and they leave people more open to – of our created identity before God, the forms of The Church of England Newspaper, Christianity, to consider the possibility that God sin which harm the lives of all of us and the Good Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd might be central to our existence and daily life. News of living on Jesus’ terms, dead to self and 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX How should Christians handle this cultural tran- alive to God. And we need to live without self-grati- Editorial e-mail: [email protected] sition? Clearly, saying “I told you so” is not very fication, self-promotion and self-ishness in the open Advertising e-mail: [email protected] helpful. 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Jewish Christians who demanded gentile Opt-out? circumcision, with a letter that said that it Sir, Does not the fact that the Queen who is Issues in safeguarding wasn’t necessary! the ‘Supreme Governor of the Church of Sir, Andrew Carey’s View from the Pew (11 August) gives a depressing picture of John Hazlehurst, England’ and Parliament, which has the safeguarding in the UK in his comments about the murder of Daniel Pelka. Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria final say in matters of major doctrinal He argues that mild neglect and parental ignorance should not be ‘on the same change, have both signed their agreement level as physical abuse and sexual abuse’, describing this as ‘mission creep’. Having to the re-definition of marriage, imply that met many survivors of abuse who have suffered appalling emotional abuse and neg- Medical issues this is now official doctrine to be approved lect, I disagree with his position in the strongest possible terms. Sir, Under the tile “Royal Circumcision” by all congregations or is there an opt out? Clearly, children may be subjected to differing degrees of harm, whether it be (11th August), Roy Hollands seems to Even if there is, so long as the Church of physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or neglect. The statutory safeguarding agen- assume that circumcision is always done England remains the Established Church cies have the responsibility to intervene in order to protect children from harm. for religious or cultural reasons, and of the nation under the authority of Parlia- Such decisions are never easy, nor are they made in isolation. That he uses one of equates it to female genital mutilation. ment, it will forever be the compromising the most appalling recent cases of abuse to question the system now in place and to This is not always the case; often circum- church that surrendered its foundational criticise some situations he considers minor is - at best – unhelpful. cision is done for medical reasons. I was belief in the authority and ‘sufficiency of And whilst Andrew is entirely right to say that we live in a fallen world, nobody medically circumcised as a baby and have Holy Scripture’ (see Article 6). should use human sinfulness as an excuse for not safeguarding our children to the always assumed that this was done The Rev Dr Nigel Scotland, very best of our ability. In practice, the statutory authorities will undoubtedly learn because the doctor foresaw possible future Bristol lessons from the forthcoming Serious Case Review into Daniel Pelka. But we as problems (no religious or cultural factors Christians must show some humility here. We need to recognise that mistakes and were involved). I have no memory of the misjudgements will only be minimised when everyone takes responsibility for pro- procedure and assume that it was reason- London census tecting children. ably painless. Sir, Thank you for giving details of the Simon Bass, When my son was born he was not cir- results of the London Church Census in Chief Executive cumcised; in his 20s he developed prob- your issue dated 28 July. Unfortunately the CCPAS, Swanley, Kent lems and had to be circumcised in hospital; very last statistic given is not quite correct. the operation was extremely painful and You state that including those attending the pain lasted for several weeks. He knew midweek in London brings total church Modern Christian thinking suggests that have to accept and thus we can remain true that I had been circumcised as a baby and attendance to 840,000, “over half the total the Bible is open to interpretation that to God’s revealed Word and will. reproached me for not doing the same for population”. The numerical figure is cor- explains why it is now acceptable to have If Marcus Ramshaw wishes to view a pos- him. rect but it represents just over one tenth of gay relationships and gay marriages. sible future of the Church of England that To suggest that circumcision of Prince the population, by today’s general propor- As a Christian I maintain that the Bible could result from his (and those of like- George should be left “until he is old tions still the highest in the country. was inspired by God (1 Tim 3:16) and God- mind) present activities and attitudes, then enough to make his own decision” is a Peter Brierley given scriptures should not be challenged look toward the chaos, hatreds, divisions great unkindness if there is a possibility of Via email by mere mortals. and apostate teachings that are now The his needing the operation after puberty. So can anyone explain to me why they Episcopal Church of the USA. Anyone who doubts the seriousness of believe that God has changed his mind? Alan Minchin, the operation after puberty might like to There are no passages in the Bible that Stratford upon Avon read the account of Simeon and Levi’s Oil and creation indicate such behaviour. Most importantly attack on the Shechemites in revenge for Sir, Christians will always face cynical inter- the Bible gives us some insight into the the rape of their sister Dinah; after tricking views and loaded questions. So no wonder nature of an almighty unchanging God. He Circumcision them into accepting adult circumcision we Hazel Southam (11 August) reports that is Alpha and the Omega, the first and the Sir, Roy Hollands mentions ‘St Paul’s warn- are told “ three days later, while all of them ex-oil company worker Archbishop Justin last, the beginning and the end, and take ings against circumcision’ (Letters, 11 were still in pain, ... Simeon and Levi ... was tackled by Bill Leckie, asking if the ori- fair warning he is capable of rendering to August), but I’m not sure that Paul was attacked ... killing every male.” (Genesis gin of oil is consistent with God’s creative each of us according to what we have done against circumcision per se. In his letter to 34:25). fiats over six natural days listed in Genesis. (Rev 22:13). the Galatians, he counselled Gentile con- Name and address supplied But so often the answers are already there. Mrs Katherine M Brettell, verts to resist Jewish Christian demands In December 2008, Answers in Genesis Thirsk that they be circumcised, not because of published a full technical report of mine, the physical mutilation involved, but A second Adam available on-line, and checked by other because of its close identity with the Sir, I enjoyed the comment of Mr. John qualified Christians under a peer-review demands of the Law. Luke tells us that at Hughes in your paper this week and agree process. It showed total disarray amongst Wisdom the Council at Jerusalem, ‘some believers that such meditations have led to some many scientists on the origin of oil because Sir, Marcus Ramshaw’s letter (CEN 4/8) who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees interesting theological insights as we see they have left God, and the history of our confirms for me the long held suspicion stood up and said, “It is necessary for them in Newman’s hymn, “.... a second Adam to earth up to the year of the global flood that academic education does not automat- [Gentile believers] to be circumcised and the fight... “ I also feel, though, that we (Gen 7 and 8), out. ically confer common sense or a lack of ordered to keep the law of Moses”‘ (Acts need to be careful when we appear to com- Within hours of that article going on-line, naivety. 15: 5). pare Jesus and Mary, who are real life, his- the British Centre for Science Education Though not from a university back- Paul’s point was that the Gospel had torical figures, accepted as such by (which is quite deliberately anti-Genesis) ground myself, a lengthy life of interacting set them free, in a way which the Jewish everyone, regardless of whether they criticised the article and said that they with God-centred Bible-believing people Law could never have done, and to require believe, as Christians, in the divine nature would take up my offer of debate on the has given to me enough wisdom to recog- circumcision would be tantamount to say- of Jesus, with the “types” or symbols of subject. After 50 months of silence on their nise the voices of false shepherds. ing that the Gospel, by itself, was not suffi- basic human nature, created in God’s part, isn’t it time to say that was a bluff and Mr Ramshaw will have to live with his cient for salvation. The Council image, represented by Adam and Eve. The that the origin of oil is consistent with God rejection of the unambiguous teaching of subsequently (verses 28 & 29) supported risk lies in the implicit playing down of the creating with six days of fiats around 6,000 the Holy Bible concerning homosexual Paul’s stance, and sent out a letter to that incomprehensible mystery of the Incarna- years ago? practice, but his naïve idea that “love” and effect. In different circumstances though tion and the reduction of Jesus and Mary Dr J Matthews - retired oil geologist, “biology” are not both required for authen- (Acts 16: 1-5), we later find that Paul took also to mere symbols. Wareham tic marriage was fully exposed in the Timothy ‘and had him circumcised’, on the I’m not sure I quite understand his recent CEN article entitled “Why Gay Mar- rather pragmatic grounds that it increased (tongue-in-cheek?) observation that riage is not Marriage” by Prof. Gordon his credibility with the Jewish faction, as women now have spiritual precedence and Wenham. the pair of them went around delivering the authority over men. Where is this happen- Biblical teaching Yes, homosexual “marriage” will be council’s decision. ing? Such a society would be an interesting Sir, Recently the Government has legalised enacted next year - a situation we will have We thus have the rather delicious subject of study for anthropologists and gay marriage. Church and State seem to be to live with but, under the leadership of irony of a part gentile man, circumcised at theologians alike. in one accord but the Bible’s teaching is Archbishop Welby and Pope Francis, our the behest of a Jewish apostle in order to Mary P Roe, diametrically opposed to this legal action. Churches of England and Rome will not allay Jewish sensitivities, going among Bicester, Oxon

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own priorities for mission on a micro-scale. and enable people to lift themselves out of There is rarely talent or time for a venture poverty. The Church of England is present such as a wholly new credit union. in all these communities, unlike any of our So the Archbishop needs to come up with financial services. some positive ideas pretty quickly to roll out The Archbishop recognises that this kind AndrewCarey: to dioceses and parishes in order to build on of initiative is a long-term objective but a the good will there is for his intervention. consultation throughout the Church of Eng- The good news is that in some of the most land is needed badly. Perhaps the time is deprived communities in urban and rural right to set up an Archbishop’s Commission ViewfromthePew Britain there is a striking need and opportu- into the whole area of debt and credit to take nity for loans to finance small businesses forward this idea. An expected legal challenge looms It should come as no sur- the local parish church in domestic courts and the Now to deliver... prise that there is likely to Danbury. I want to go into Strasbourg court will throw be a legal challenge against my church and marry my out any legal challenge. The the government’s so-called husband... The only way for- real danger of the same-sex After the ’s He reveals that a huge volume of let- quadruple lock preventing ward for us now is to make a marriage Act is not that reli- ‘Wonga’ row the pressure is now on him ters to Lambeth Palace have been posi- churches and religious challenge in the courts gious bodies will be forced to deliver. tive about his challenge to put payday groups from being forced to against the Church.” to marry gay couples, but On his blog, he admits that the loans companies out of business by sup- conduct same-sex marriage. It will be interesting to see that it will become increas- prospect of delivering on promises “feels porting credit unions. Yet the biggest dif- A gay couple in a civil what shape the challenge ingly difficult to dissent quite scary” (ww.archbishopofcanter- ficulty the Archbishop faces is partnership has indicated will take. It is difficult to see from the new secular ortho- bury.org). “Putting together the partner- persuading the Church of England, not that they may pursue a legal how churches can be target- doxy on gay marriage. In ships and logistics to have a good least the bench of bishops, that this ini- challenge. Mr Barrie ed for legal action given the future there will be an product, piloting it and learning from the tiative is the right priority. Drewitt-Barlow said: “I am a explicit protection given by increasingly smaller space results, and then turning it into some- There is already so much volunteering Christian – a practising the ‘quadruple lock’. It is for religious voices to thing effective: this needs major skills in the Church of England just to main- Christian – my children likely that legal action will engage in the public square and much time – at least a decade, in tain the fabric and pay the parish share. have all been brought up as be against the government. as a result of the change to fact.” On top of that churches choose their Christians and are part of My suspicion is that both the definition of marriage.

All change in Sydney Scribble, scribble Dr Wright Sydney’s election illustrates the perils of choosing an Archbishop by vote of a synod of 800 members in a digital age. Before the election supporters of both candidates waged a vigorous campaign by blogs and websites, It’s hard to believe, but the move to St Andrews has led to an even greater output of which led one newspaper to worry that people might think the two men books by Tom Wright. Volume Four of his work Christian Origins and the Question were combatants in a title fight. Glenn Davies’ followers cried foul when of God is due to appear in October and this is actually in four parts spread over two supporters of Rick Smith claimed he had the support of 154 synod mem- books. It amounts to a full-length study of Paul that has been eagerly awaited since bers. The Davies camp claimed the true figure was 78. Part of the trouble Wright first gave voice to vigorous criticism of the traditional Protestant interpreta- was that there were only two candidates in this election. In 1993 there were tion that has focussed heavily on Justification by Faith. To accompany his own inter- nine nominees and in 2001 five. It added to the drama that Archbishop pretation, Wright is bringing out Paul and His Recent Interpreters in December in Peter Jensen’s brother, Philip, supported Smith while his son, Michael, which he surveys all the major works on Paul since the Enlightenment. Pauline Per- was a leading supporter of Davies. Actually Davies and Smith have been spectives, a collection of Wright’s essays on Paul is also being published in October. friends for 20 years and can’t be blamed for blogs written by their support- Meanwhile Wright has been visiting Australia where he was interviewed for the ers. Davies said one problem was that at 62 he was probably too old for the Melbourne Anglican. He reveals that he uses the Book of Common Prayer for his job (he will have seven years in office) while Smith was too young (if elect- own private prayers but has a go at translations of the gospels that are on offer for ed would have been Archbishop for 20 years). Outside the diocese, Davies failing to convey the full strength of Jesus’ words. The New Testament, he remarks, has been hailed as the more moderate candidate but the two men say there ‘is written in exciting street-level Greek not highfalutin, classical, sonorous periods’. is no difference in theology between them. No changes are in sight on the There is a lot of quirky humour in the gospels translators don’t always get. When ordination of women or sexuality. No doubt Justin Welby will be looking in Jesus looked at the rich young man, Mark really tells us that ‘he stared deep into his his diary to see when he can manage a meeting with Davies, now set to eyes’ and Christ’s reply to his mother’s worries about the wine running out at Cana become one of the most significant players in the Anglican Communion. is best translated by something like ‘Oh, mother, do we have to?’ Both are evangelicals but Sydney is traditionally suspicious of the charis- matic movement. The Whispering Gallery... ideas and the religious meaning Robert Bellah RIP that can be carried by political ideas. Bellah’s final book Religion Silly season Film stars, celebrities and politi- in Human Evolution traced reli- cians tend to get obituaries fairly gious history down to the Axial Age August is holiday season, traditionally the silly season in the press. Religious news is quickly in the British press but and showed the connections no exception. National newspapers were quick to pick up the story that a Cambridge scholars have to wait much longer, between religions and global fac- vicar was sporting a bumper sticker in her car with letters ‘WTFWJD – which stand especially if they were foreigners. tors that influenced societies every- for ‘What the F### Would Jesus Do?’ The Daily Telegraph reported that the Vicar, At the time of writing no British where. His very first book was on American-born Alice Goodman, refuses to repent, and seemed to think her offence obituary has appeared of Robert Japanese religion and showed the was even greater because she had given a lift to Bishop Rowan Williams in her car. Bellah, a leading sociologist who importance of religious beliefs in Sadly, Matt, the Telegraph cartoonist, was on holiday. Otherwise he would probably changed the study of religion and leading to some kinds of social have provided the best comment on the story. The Archdeacon can see no problem influenced the way Americans see transformation. Bellah was way with the sticker and the Vicar told the Telegraph that ‘F### is not a blasphemy, it’s a themselves. Habits of the Heart, to ahead of his time in understanding vulgarity, an old English word’. People like Alice Goodman are a Godsend to the which he was a major contributor, the important impact religion has press in August. He might not like it but so is Richard Dawkins who gave hacks copy was a significant study of the Amer- on the world. He wrote at a time when he launched an attack on Muslims for producing less Nobel scientists than ican character, that featured a when Marxism had taught many to Trinity College, Cambridge, although they did great things in the Middle Ages. The young nurse who had made up her give chief importance to economics remarks provoked an outcry. No one denied their accuracy but some wondered own religion, ‘Sheilaism’, an early as the motor of historical change. what was so marvellous about Nobel scientists. No one pointed out that the real version of what was later labelled Bellah toyed with Marxism as a threat to science in the world today comes not from Muslims or religious funda- ‘moral therapeutic deism’. An essay young man and he stayed on the mentalists but from the barmy wing of the green movement, intent on stopping published in 1967 on American Civil political left but in his religious fracking, GM foods or animal testing with true religious fanaticism. Meanwhile Religion proved to be groundbreak- views he was a convinced Anglican those growing weary of the silly season can look forward to November when Mari- ing, inspiring a mass of studies on and a convert to the Episcopal lynne Robinson, the American novelist, is to give the Theos Annual Lecture. the political significance of religious Church. 10 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday August 16, 2013 Feature [9-a-day – Becoming like Jesus - fruit of the Spirit] www.9aday.org.uk

PATIENCE ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassion- faith in Jesus. We should be praying regu- ate and gracious God, slow to anger, and larly for them. But we should also pray for Love, joy and peace. Those are the first abounding in love’ (Ex. 34:6). courage that, if it comes our turn to suffer three on Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit. In the history of Israel in Old Testament, in any way because of being Christians in a They trip easily off the tongue and they yes there were times of God’s anger, but world that is hostile to our faith or disap- sound very spiritual. Those are just the overall it is the long story of God’s patience proves of our biblical convictions and con- kind of things every Christian should have over many centuries and generations. A science, then we will be able to be like and should show. Very nice for Sundays. few examples: Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, and show But now we come to ‘patience’, and it gets Hosea says that God had been as patient patient endurance and no retaliation. us more into the area of what we are like to with Israel as parents have to be with chil- live with Monday to Saturday. How do we dren who keep going astray. Forgiveness of one another cope with all that crowds in on us in the When Israel was a child, I loved him, Patience also means forbearance with oth- hustle and hassle of life? and out of Egypt I called my son. ers. That is when you choose to ‘bear with’ The word Paul uses literally means ‘long- But the more they were called, other people, even when they annoy you, tempered’. In our older English transla- the more they went away from me. or worse. It’s when you choose to forgive tions it was translated “long-suffering”. They sacrificed to the Baals somebody, rather than hold a grudge. It’s More recently, you’ll often find “forbear- and they burned incense to images. when you choose to overlook something ance”. Actually both meanings are needed It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, that was hurtful or unkind, rather than to get the full flavour of Paul’s term. taking them by the arms; picking a fight and getting even. It’s when Patience as fruit of the Spirit means: but they did not realize you can be patient with others because you the ability to endure for a long time what- it was I who healed them. are keenly aware of your own shortcom- ever opposition and suffering may come I led them with cords of human kindness, of the cross, in order to ‘bear/carry’ our ings and weaknesses. It’s when you our way, and to show perseverance, without with ties of love. sins – without retaliation, but trusting in remember what Jesus said about the log in wanting retaliation or revenge. To them I was like one who lifts his Father God. Here is how Peter your own eye before jumping to point out the ability to put up with the weaknesses a little child to the cheek, describes how the patient suffering of the speck in someone else’s. and foibles of others (including other and I bent down to feed them (Hos. 11:1- Jesus is a model for our own endurance: That kind of patience is sadly needed believers), and to show forbearance 4). If you suffer for doing good and you more than ever in Christian churches – and towards them, without getting quickly irri- Jeremiah spent 40 years of his life plead- endure it, this is commendable before God. even (maybe especially) among some tated and angry. ing urgently with Israel to turn back to God To this you were called, because Christ suf- famous Christian leaders in the great ‘zoo’ But before we think about these things and change their ways, but they wouldn’t. fered for you, leaving you an example, that of Christian denominations, persuasions, as how we should behave, we should start Isaiah told Israel how God had ‘borne’ you should follow in his steps. “He commit- parties and preferences. by thinking about the patience of God him- (put up with) their sins like a burden that ted no sin, and no deceit was found in his There’s a silly little poem that goes: self. Remember, when we talk about the he had to carry. In fact, he had ‘carried’ the mouth.” When they hurled their insults at “To dwell in love with saints above - fruit of the Spirit, it means that God’s own whole people of Israel from the cradle to him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, Oh that will be glory! character is bearing fruit in ours. the grave, he said (read Isa. 46:1-4). And in he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted But to dwell below with saints we know - Maybe you wouldn’t think of the the Old Testament, the word usually trans- himself to him who judges justly. “He him- Ah! that’s a different story!” patience of God in the Old Testament. Peo- lated ‘forgive’, is actually, ‘to bear’ or self bore our sins” in his body on the cross How much we need patience to put up ple think that the so-called ‘Old Testament ‘carry’. In other words, when God forgives, (1 Pet. 2:20-24). with all the people God has brought us God’ was always angry, or suddenly angry. it is because God chooses to bear our sins So we come back to those two senses of together with in the church - not to men- Well, there are certainly some spectacular himself - which of course is what God did in the word as we think about what patience tion the patience they need to put up with examples of God’s anger against people’s the person of God’s own Son on the cross. means in our Christian living: us in return! It can be very hard to exercise sin or presumption. But in fact the very The New Testament then goes on to this, to be like Christ in this way, to let this first ‘self-definition’ that God himself gave speak of the patience of Jesus, as he Endurance of suffering fruit of the Spirit ripen in our lives. But it to Moses is as follows: endured the violence, cruelty and injustice The Bible teaches us very clearly that does have to be exercised. There is effort God’s people will suffer from the hostility and struggle involved. Especially if you’ve of those who are enemies of God and his been misunderstood, or misinterpreted, or people, enemies that may be human or falsely accused, or if you find out that other satanic. And so Christ’s example becomes people are gossiping about you, or that That’s right, you can crucial for us - not just the fact that he suf- your likes and dislikes are overlooked. subscribe to the print fered, but the way he endured it. Listen to That’s when our patience is really tested. edition and have it sent to you by post Peter again: But that’s also when it counts. every week for three months for just Dear friends, do not be surprised at the Paul knew all about that kind of treat- £17.50. fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, ment. He suffered it himself, even from the Subscribe as though something strange were happening churches he founded and loved so much. Email [email protected] to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you partici- And here’s what he says (my italics): to the print or telephone 020 7222 8663 pate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you We urge you, brothers and sisters, may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. …help the weak, be patient with everyone. edition for In addition to the print If you are insulted because of the name of Make sure nobody pays back wrong for edition you will also get Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory wrong, but always strive to do what is good £17.50 full access to our and of God rests on you. for each other’ (1 Thess. 5:14-15). website at If you suffer as a Christian, do not be I urge you… be completely humble and churchnewspaper.com ashamed, but praise God that you bear that gentle; be patient, bearing with one anoth- name. er in love (Eph. 4:2). those who suffer according to God’s will Bear with each other and forgive one should commit themselves to their faithful another if any of you has a grievance Creator and continue to do good (1 Pet. 4:12- against someone. Forgive as the Lord for- 14 16, 19). gave you (Col. 3:13). The message from these verses, com- We sometimes sing that hymn, ‘There is bined with the ones above, is clear: When a green hill far away’. It has the line, ‘He Christians suffer there should be: died that we might be forgiven.’ Amen! * no surprise That’s true. But it’s also true to say that he * no retaliation, and died that we might be forgivers - forgivers * no quitting of one another. Millions of our Christian sisters and brothers around the world know all about Chris Wright this – suffering hatred, discrimination, Langham Partnership imprisonment, and killing, because of their

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Key Theological Thinkers Staale Johannes Kristiansen and Svein Rise Ashgate, pb, £25.00 Ranger returns

Scandinavian crime novels and TV dramas have enjoyed a justified success in Britain. The Lone Ranger has bombed in This 782-page survey of the key theological America. Disney blames it on thinkers of the 20th century deserves simi- media reviews, with only 29 per lar success. It is edited and largely written cent favourable – though audi- by Scandinavian contributors although ence approval was 60 per cent. there are contributors from other parts of It’s hard to know what’s so the world. Rowan Williams provides a stim- awful about it, except maybe a ulating chapter on Michael Ramsey (origi- glance at the watch at the two- nally given as a lecture at Lambeth Palace), hour mark. Director Gore and among the other British contributors Verbinski obviously tried to cap- Fergus Kerr writes on Henri de Lubac, ture elements of his hugely suc- Aidan Nichols on Danielou, GR Evans on cessful Pirates of the Caribbean Henry Chadwick and Margaret Yee on series, and if he’s failed it’s not Austin Farrer. for want of trying. As this list shows, British theologians are also well represented as It’s rather like a Bond movie subjects. In addition to the ones listed, there are essays on Sarah when they stopped taking it seri- Coakley and Alister McGrath. The book has been well translated with ously and cast Roger Moore – only minor slips (Luther’s doctrine of the ‘two regiments sounds’ a lit- great fun, but with most sense tle peculiar) and once or twice authors show unfamiliarity with a for- of threat diluted for its 12A rat- eign context (unsuspecting readers may think McGrath went to a ing, even though Indians get tionship, and Reid becomes the ceals a gun, and Tom Wilkinson tertiary college in Belfast when Methodist College, Belfast, is in fact a massacred, and the baddie eats Lone Ranger. The name, the plays heartless railroad boss secondary school). a human heart. He’s Butch mask, the white horse, the sil- Cole. Native American Saginaw One of the great strengths of this book is its ecumenical range. Cavendish (William Fichtner), a ver bullet, are all explained, all Grant, aged 73, does a great Inevitably it will be compared with XX The Modern Theologians, edit- criminal being brought to wrapped in the context of a boy cameo as Chief Big Bear, but it’s ed by David Ford. One advantage it has over that work is a much Colby, Texas, to hang. in a Lone Ranger mask visiting a Depp as Tonto that tilts the greater coverage of Orthodox theologians. There is a whole section on On the same train is John Wild West show in 1933 – the film’s genre to comedy, as he Orthodoxy with nine theologians discussed. Reid (Armie Hammer), return- year the radio show first aired – plays to the gallery with a series Another feature of this book is that it devotes a section to people ing to his childhood town to a and finding “the noble savage” of one-liners, though even Silver who can be seen as primarily writers, philosophers and literary critics new job as district attorney, and exhibit coming to life to tell his gets in on the jokes. but who have made a contribution to theology. GK Chesterton, CS to his Texas Ranger brother story. For aficionados, the timeline Lewis and Thomas Merton appear in this section. As Henning Sand- Dan (James Badge Dale) and It’s full of anachronisms of has shifted a bit earlier from strom remarks in his essay on Merton, religious personalities who Dan’s wife Rebecca (Ruth Wil- course - dialogue like “What’s previous incarnations of the have not produced any important systematic theological writings have son) and son Danny (Bryant with the mask?” and a model character, but there are several enriched religious traditions by works similar to those of a creative Prince). electric train set - but latches in plotlines that go back to original artist. Chained up in the boxcar with to historic events like the link- stories from the radio and TV Inevitably there will be argument about who should have been Cavendish is an Indian, who ing of the railroad across Ameri- series. Whether the new defini- included and who should have been left out. All the major Catholic and tries to alert the guards to ca in 1869 at Promontory Point, tion of “kemo sabe” will be Protestant theologians of the last century are here with the puzzling Cavendish’s plans to escape. Utah. Quite how everyone gets accepted is another matter. exception of Reinhold Niebuhr. Some will argue that living figures The winks and points are lost on there so easily from Texas isn’t With a hearty “Hi-Yo, Silver! should have been left out. The article on Sarah Coakley, for example, the guards, but not on the audi- explained, but then the train Away” getting a brilliant riposte tells her that it is difficult to assess her work when we are still waiting ence who recognise the ges- chase that follows – to an from Tonto, some vibrant music for a four-volume systematic theology which is soon to start appearing. tures from Pirates of the extended version of the William from Hans Zimmer, and some But one advantage of looking at contemporary theologians is that this Caribbean – behind the war Tell overture - isn’t likely to be spectacular camera work, it was enables us to see how themes began in the last century are being paint is Johnny Depp and this is taken as remotely possible. a satisfying ending. Curiously, developed in the present. Tracing the appearance of ideas that have Tonto. There’s British interest in the the title credits come at the end, later been taken up in post-modernism is a good example of this. As the escape attempt ends in casting: Helena Bonham Carter with aged Tonto shuffling into Although there are separate sections on Protestant, Catholic, Ortho- a spectacular train wreck, Reid has a nice turn as a brothel the sunset before the end cred- dox and Anglo-American theology it is striking just how ecumenical and Tonto start their odd rela- madam with a false leg that con- its roll. many theologians were, if not in their commitment to church unity then in their readiness to learn from other traditions. Joseph Ratzinger’s interest in Luther, the impact of on Robert Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (dir. Jenson and Regin Prenter, Balthasar’s debt to Barth, Stanley Hauer- Declan Lowney, cert. 15) puts Steve was’ description of himself as a ‘high church Mennonite’ are all exam- Coogan’s chat show host alter ego in a ples of this. hostage situation at his Norwich radio In a section devoted to theological movements there is an essay on station. About-to-be-sacked DJ Pat Far- Ecumenical Theology as well as essays on Feminist Theology, Pente- rell (Colm Meaney) holds his new costal Theology, Liberation Theology, Radical Orthodoxy and Post- bosses and other radio staff hostage, modern Theology. Peter Lodberg makes an important point when he and Alan is roped in as negotiator. remarks that Ecumenical Theology is seen as a Western phenomenon Partridge fans will love the revival, that does not address the issues of importance for Christians of the newcomers may be a bit baffled, but if global South. This ‘geographical unevenness’ is a serious challenge for you can believe the character, the the ecumenical movement. It needs to start taking an interest in the unlikeliness of it matters not a jot. global South or it may find it drifts into irrelevance. Plays on words, some deliberate, It is not hard to predict that any similar work devoted to theological mixed with slapstick brilliance – prov- thinkers of the 21st century is likely to be much less focussed on ing that losing your trousers can still Europe and North America than this book. The chapters on Liberation be funny - are the meat of it, making Theology and Pentecostal Theology could be pointers to the future. the fanciful storyline rather irrelevant. Liberation Theology was originally too indebted to Western influences Hostage taker Pat and negotiator and was effaced by Pentecostalism but it has grown more popular as it Alan end up broadcasting live – it’s has embraced a diversity of interests such as Afro-Caribbean theology, very good for the ratings – but it’s Indian theology, and Latin American feminist theology. gearing up for a slow motion radio van Most people will use this book as a reference book. For review pur- chase. Poignancy and farce come poses I read the whole book over several days. Almost every chapter together in a climactic shoot-out - on gave me some fresh insight. Used in this way it can be a good refresh- Cromer Pier. er course in modern theology. Steve Parish Paul Richardson 12 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday August 16, 2013 Comment

I spent a relaxing few days last week on an organic herb farm in rural Herefordshire and had the pleasure of learning all about organic herbs and plants from Paul Richards, a botanist and something of an alchemist and founder of Herbfarmacy skin care. Janey Lee Grace They lovingly grow, harvest and handcraft the skincare and tinctures that have won awards and been highly acclaimed. It’s the complete process from seed to skin. Live Healthy! Live Happy! It’s been in the press this week about the benefits of herbs, scientists now say that rub-on gels that contain arnica and com- frey can ease the pain of arthritic joints. Most of us remember grabbing a dandelion leaf to ease the pain of a nettle sting and it seems nature really has provided us with everything we need. While GPs can’t prescribe herbal remedies on the NHS, some do recommend them. Dr Sarah Brewer is a nutritionist and pro- Better if its natural... ponent of herbal medicine. She believes that herbs can help the patient suffer fewer side-effects than you might get from drugs. Of course most modern medicines are derived from herbs. We know that Aspirin originates from Willow Bark, Peppermint is great for relieving nausea and digestive problems, St John’s Wort is known to help with depression, and Calendula is sooth- ing for skin conditions. Menopausal women are often helped by Black Cohosh and Feverfew is great for headaches and migraine. Echinacea is good for immunity for colds and flu. Back on the farm I stood marvelling at a field of Echinacea, the gorgeous pink and purple flowers, while Paul explained that they use the whole plant, they chop it up (by hand) and make tinctures or dry the chopped plant to add to creams. Paul showed us the bright gold marigolds that produce soothing cal- endula, the Californian poppy that is great for sleeplessness and bedwetting. Chamomile, which is great for relaxation and teething in babies, and the Burdock (you probably remember drinking dandelion and burdock) is a great liver and kidney tonic. The highlight for me was the pretty lilac and white Marsh- mallows, they produce a kind of gel-like substance that is heal- ing for the skin and is used in most of Herbfarmacy’s skincare products. My kids got excited at this point thinking this could be an easy source of treats to toast on the Barby. Sadly the squishy sweets have never been near the plant but no doubt next time they ask if they can buy a bag they’ll try it on… ’Come on mum, they’re natural!’ www.herbfarmacy.co.uk

PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 861 by Axe

Across claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him' [Acts/NIV] (7) 1Sister of Mary and Lazarus from 4Italian city famed for two contempo- Bethany [Luke; John] (6) raneous saints (6) 5Girl who, astounded to hear Peter's 5Jewish spiritual leader (5) voice at the door, forgot to let him in 6OT book (2): also, name of a stew- [Acts] (5) ard in Ahab's household (7) 9'Do not ------the widow or the father- 7Church part (2) (4) less...' [Zech/NIV] (7) 8Cry of praise or adoration (to God) 10 'We all growl like -----...' [Isa/NIV] (7) (5) 13 Jewish commentary on the Hebrew 11 'So he ran ----- and climbed a ...tree...' Bible; another word for 'annota- [Luke/NIV] (5) tions' in 2 Chron 13:22 [NIV] (7) 12 Third person of the Trinity (6) 15 Apostate (7) 14 Ammonite king, first victim of the 17 Language presumed spoken by united Israelites under Saul [1 Sam; Christ (7) 1 Chron] (6) 18 Evening prayer or hymn (6) 16 'Queen ------also gave a banquet for 20 Sister of Simeon and Levi [Gen] (5) the women in the royal palace of 22 England's westernmost diocese; its King Xerxes' [Esther/NIV] (6) cathedral (1910), the first to be built 19 Alternative use of a manger in on a new site since Salisbury in Luke? (6) 1222 (5) 21 Church part (1) (5) 23 Biblical country east of Babylonia, 24 Language traditionally associated capital Susa [Gen; Isa; Dan; Acts] with the RC Church (5) (4) 25 'I sent ------among you as I did to Egypt' [Amos/NIV] (7) Solution to last weeks crossword 26 OT Book (1); prophet in Isaiah's time (5) Across: 1 Lucifer, 5 Islam, 8 Opening, 9 Leger, 27 Clergyman of a parish where tithes 10 Aleph, 11 Timothy, 12 Dutch Reformed, 16 The first correct entry drawn will win a book of the Editor’s choice. Send your entry were formerly paid to the incum- Prelate, 18 Based, 19 Cloth, 20 Ephraim, 21 to Crossword Number 861, The Church of England Newspaper, bent (6) Sihon, 22 Drivers. 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX by next Friday

Down Down: 1 Leonard, 2 Clement, 3 Faith, 4 Right Name Reverend, 5 In limbo, 6 Light, 7 Mercy, 13 '...the pomegranate, the palm and Heathen, 14 Message, 15 Didymus, 16 Picks, Address the ----- tree...are dried up' 17 Enoch, 18 Baha'i. [Joel/NIV] (5) 3'Some time ago ------appeared,

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THE 2013 ANGLICAN CYCLE Assistant Curate, Oxhey All Saints (St Albans): to be Team BIBLE CHALLENGE Vicar, Melksham (Salisbury). OF PRAYER The Rev Kim Stephens, Team Chaplain, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (Salisbury): is now Chaplaincy Team Leader. Day 228 Isaiah 16-18, Psalm 31, 2 Thessalonians 3 Friday 16 August. Psalm 73:1-14, Jer 23:16-30. Rhode The Rev Simon Stokes, Day 229 Isaiah 19-21, Psalm 32, 1 Timothy 1 Island - (I, The Episcopal Church): The Rt Rev Geralyn NSM, Clarkenwell Holy Redeemer (London): to be NSM Day 230 Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in church Wolf (Assistant Curate), Marylebone St Cyprian (same dio- Day 231 Isaiah 22-24, Psalm 33, 1 Timothy 2 cese). Day 232 Isaiah 25-27, Psalm 34, 1 Timothy 3 Saturday 17 August. Psalm 73:15-28, Jer 24. Rift Valley - The Rev Richard Williams, Day 233 Isaiah 28-30, Psalm 35, 1 Timothy 4 (Tanzania): The Rt Rev John Daudi Lupaa Chaplain, Havens Hospices Westcliffe-on-Sea (Chelms- Day 234 Isaiah 31-33, Psalm 36, 1 Timothy 5 ford): to be Team Vicar (and Missioner), Chalke Valley Sunday 18 August. Pentecost 13. Psalm 119:97-112, Lk (Salisbury). 3:1-14. Rio de Janeiro - (Brazil): The Rt Rev Filadelfo The Rev Andrew Wilson, APPOINTMENTS Oliviera Neto Vicar, Portsdown (Portsmouth): to be also Assistant Curate, Crookhorn; and Assistant Curate, Purbrook (same Monday 19 August. Psalm 72, Lk 3:15-22. Rio Grande - diocese). (VII, The Episcopal Church): The Rt Rev Michael Vono New The Rev Canon , Tuesday 20 August. Psalm 74:1-12, Lk 4:1-13. Riverina - RETIREMENTS & Archbishop’s Personal Chaplain and Ecumenical Secre- (New South Wales, Australia): The Rt Rev Douglas RESIGNATIONS tary (Lambeth Palace); and NSM, Westminster St Stevens Matthew (London); and Priest Vicar, Westminster Abbey: to be Bishop of Ebbsfleet (Canterbury). Wednesday 21 August. Psalm 74:13-23, Lk 4:14-30. The Rev Canon Dr Christopher Burdon, Rochester (USA) - (II, The Episcopal Church): The Rt Canon Theologian and CME Adviser, St Edmundsbury New Rev Dr Prince Singh Cathedral (St Edmundsbury and Ipswich): to retire with The Ven , effect from 31 October 2013 Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham (Sheffield): to be Thursday 22 August. Psalm 75:1-7, 9-10, Lk 4:31-44. The Rev Denise Critchell, Bishop of Tewkesbury (Gloucester). Rockhampton - (Queensland, Australia): The Rt Rev Team Vicar, Risborough (Oxford): has retired with effect Godfrey Fryar from 8 August 2013. The Rev Peter Allen, The Rev Andrew Cullis, Chaplain for Sport (Sheffield): to be Team Vicar, Halstead Rector, Fisherton Anger (Salisbury): to retire with effect Area (Chelmsford). Women’s Ministry (same diocese). from 31 October 2013. The Rev Martin Anderson, The Rev Frances Canham, The Rev Canon David Christopher Davies, Chaplain, Sunderland Minster (Durham): to be Priest-in- Assistant Chaplain, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (Sal- Head of Spiritual and Pastoral Care, North Bristol NHS Charge, Norton St Mary; and Priest-in-Charge, Norton St isbury): is now Team Chaplain. Trust; and Head of Spiritual and Pastoral Care, Univesity Michael (same diocese). The Rev James Cook, Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (Bristol): has The Rev Roy Anetts, NSM (House for Duty Priest), Walbury Beacon (Oxford): resigned with effect from 30 June 2013 from North Bristol NSM (Assistant Curate), Yardley St Cyprian Hay Mill to be NSM (House for Duty Priest), Totland Bay NHS Foundation Trust. Remaining in other post. (Birmingham): to be Priest-in-Charge. (Portsmouth). The Rev Canon Richard Emblin, The Rev Dr Amanda Bloor, The Rev Dr Nicholas Roger (Jack) Dunn, Vicar, Cowes Holy Trinity and St Mary (Portsmouth): to Bishop’s Domestic Chaplain (Oxford): to be Director of Assistant Curate, Chelsea St Luke and Christ Church retire with effect from 31 October 2013. Ordinands, Berkshire Area; and Diocesan Adviser in (London): to be Chaplain, Lincoln College, University of The Rev Canon John Goodall, Oxford (Oxford). Vicar, Colehill (Salisbury): to retire with effect from 9 The Rev Sarah Gower, November 2013. Assistant Curate, St Neots; and Assistant Curate, Eynes- The Rev David Heatley, bury (Ely): to be Curate-in-Charge (Minister), Orton Rector, Greatham with Empshott and Hawkley with Priors Goldhay Conventional District (same diocese). Dean; and Diocesan Rural Officer (Portsmouth): to retire Subscribe The Rev Christopher Green, with effect from 19 October 2013. 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TWEET US The Rev Sally Robertson, NSM (Assistant Curate), Purley (Oxford): to be NSM Subscribe to the (Assistant Curate), Haydon Wick (Bristol). @churchnewspaper.com The Rev Malcolm Rogers, online edition for Vicar, Huyton Quarry (Liverpool): to be also to be Hon just £25 a year Canon, Liverpool Cathedral (same diocese). The Rev Alison Sowton, Sunday Friday August 16, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 15 Vermeer strikes the right notes SUNDAY SERVICE 13th Sunday after Trinity Vermeer and Music Contrastingly, some scenes suggest courtship, emotion- (Sunday 25th August) National Gallery al dynamics between men and women at their instruments, and hints of music linked to prostitution, but all are enig- Jeremiah 1:4-10 The Dutch ‘Golden Age’ was characterised by mercantile matic, their real meaning left to the viewer to interpret. Hebrews 12:18-29 prosperity, colonial expansion, fierce nationalism, devout Pieter de Hooch’s finely composed Musical Party in a Luke 13:10-17 Protestantism, rich achievement in art - and popular Courtyard is a perfect example. On a secluded terrace delight in music. The two latter themes are splendidly guarded by a teenage boy, and with a female musician inter-woven in National Gallery’s very imaginative exhibi- tunefully accompanying, an elegant gentleman chats over This Sunday, our readings teach us that the world-alter- tion Vermeer and Music: The Art of Love and Leisure, cap- wine with a well-dressed young woman: intimacy, but not ing word of God is not to be resisted, but rejoiced in, tivatingly revealing the role of music in 17th century necessarily immorality, is implied. even if others do not like it. Holland. If Dou’s woman at a clavichord seems anxious over an The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, bringing him Five wonderfully atmospheric music-motif paintings by imminent visitor, Molenaer’s couple playing lute and cit- a commission as “prophet to the nations.” Like Moses, Jan Vermeer are showcased with some 20 similarly tern in domestic setting image marital harmony, the dog Jeremiah tries to wriggle out of such a dangerous role themed works by such leading contemporaries as Hen- symbolising their fidelity. Indeed, this genre exalted the by claiming that he has no gift for public speaking and, drick ter Brugghen, Gerrit Dou, Pieter de Hooch, Gabriel ideal Protestant family as much as it hinted dubious indeed, no experience either because he’s so young. Metsu and Jan Steen. Songbooks and instruments of the liaisons - no less than five works feature dogs with music- The Lord patiently reasons with Jeremiah, understand- time - lute, cittern, guitar, viol, violin, and two virginals - making couples - and Metsu’s Man and Woman by a Vir- ing his fears. “You won’t need experience or oratorical enrich understanding of the subject and enable visitors to ginal proclaims ideal harmony, the instrument’s skill. I myself will tell you what to say. My word will be compare originals with their depiction in the artworks. inscription declaring ‘Let every soul praise the Lord.’ sufficient. There’s no need to be afraid that people will Holland’s late 16th century conversion from Catholicism The Vermeers are all permeated by his hallmark deep dismiss your word because of who you are — you will to Calvinist Protestantism meant public worship ceased to stillness, enigmatic and almost uncanny, his invitation into speak my word.” be the centre of musical expression. While church organs a private world - very evident in The Music Lesson, its Just as in Isaiah 6, the prophet’s lips are touched, were played for public concerts, their use in worship itself young woman playing a virginal under her tutor’s watchful though not this time by an intermediary bringing atone- was forbidden as idolatrous, yet curiously, organ recitals eye, the viola on the floor hinting she may try another ment but by the Lord himself in ordination. Jeremiah entertained worshippers before and after services! instrument. Neither distant figure engages our gaze; nor was right to be somewhat nervous — God’s word in his Strict Calvinists deemed popular music worldly and pro- does the close-up young Guitar Player, looking to her left mouth would uproot and destroy whole kingdoms, as fessional musicians morally dubious, but state secretary as she happily plays for someone unseen. well as building and planting new things — but this awe- and composer Constantijn Huygens - superbly portrayed Two of Vermeer’s finest carry unequivocal moral mes- some power and responsibility could not be shirked. by de Keyser - argued for organ music to improve congre- sages. The finely dressed Young Woman standing at a Vir- The potent voice of God filled Moses and the gational singing, church carillons rang out across Dutch ginal is the epitome of bourgeois respectability: behind her Israelites at Sinai with such terror that they couldn’t cities, and traditional psalms joined popular songs as daily a large painting of Cupid holding a single card declares her bear to hear it. But now, Hebrews tells us, we have “a musical fare. commitment to one man. Contrasting this daytime image, better word” through Jesus, the mediator of a new In town halls and taverns, at family celebrations and its companion Young Woman seated at a Virginal is a dark- covenant. The “one who is speaking” remains the same business functions, in streets and squares, music constant- toned evening one, the figure’s inviting look given mean- and is not to be refused, his voice silenced or rejected. If ly featured in Dutch life. Van Elsen’s lively Musical Party ing - or warning - by the background painting of a the word to Jeremiah was to make the nations shudder captures this, yet also carries a moral message: intent on prostitute playing a lute. and tremble, this new word even more so. It will shake their music, the players reject the temptations of tobacco In Calvinist Holland, morality was never far from art - not only the earth but even the heavens, and result in and alcohol. Morality also surfaces in Jan Molenaer’s even about music. both judgment on the unwary and an unshakeable king- scene of children performing around a soldier’s helmet - Brian Cooper dom for believers. How much more seriously, then, ‘make music not war’ is its appeal - and in Jan Treck’s Van- should we take our response to it, not snubbing the God itas Still Life, its violin protruding from a skull and Vermeer and Music is at the National Gallery, London, until who has always been a consuming fire, but offering a recorder jammed in an hourglass, solemnly symbolising 8 September 2013 reverent sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to him for the transience of life. Admission: £7; concessions. his grace. Luke 13 shows us Jesus, as usual, teaching the word in the synagogue. A crippled woman afflicted by a demonic spirit, which prevented her standing up Irregular Rhythms from a Regular Bore straight, enters the scene to disturb the service. The crooked arch of her back compelled her eyes to focus Alan Edwards a shrine to equal Assisi or Lisieux, of icance they did when the BCP or Rit- constantly on her feet, as the curvature of human nature our regular failings to maintain a con- uale Romanum burned more brightly renders us unable to look to God in our own strength. This article was written while spend- sistently Christian pattern, either in than the departed’s fame. Then appears the agent of change, the spoken word of ing a fortnight in hospital. Encoun- devotion or daily life. If numbers attending church regu- God — “Woman, you are set free!” Touched by the tered some chaos, but always Most modern hymns are so exuber- larly are in decline, it is a decline reg- word, and The Word himself, she responds and rejoices. cheerfully delivered, and survived to antly cheerful (to counteract their ularly dismissed by many bishops Notice that the reaction of the synagogue leader, tell the tale and bore my friends and miserable failings in musicality) that along the lines of the popular funeral angry at Jesus’ seeming disregard for customary Sab- family. NHS, of course, as until the they fail to mirror the normal pattern hymn ‘Always Look on the Bright Side bath observance, does not dare to actually criticise Chancellor provides a Summer Fuel of Christian pilgrimage including our of Life’. They cheerfully declare that Jesus himself. His ire is directed at the people, an easier allowance, can’t afford to move up the failings along the way, and rarely, if weekday attendances are rising. Diffi- target. But he, and other unnamed opponents who sat in alphabetic acronyms to BUPA. ever, explore the dark night of the cult to believe that this reverses over- the synagogue that day, are put to shame by the expo- My wife kindly brought in reading soul. Contrast Newman’s desire to be all decline, given the modern fashion sure of their hypocrisy. They treat their donkeys better material. The CEN, of course, and led by a ‘kindly light’ through that of transferring Holy Days which fall than they treat this woman, her long-imprisoned spirit equally naturally ‘Beer’. For teetotal dark night. Or Charlotte Elliott’s on a weekday, to the nearest Sunday. fast-bound in sin and Satan’s night. The Sabbath is not heretics, the latter is the magazine recognition that she was ‘tossed about Turning away from gloom, and for maintenance of our comfort, but for liberty, and for (another acronym) of CAMRA - the with many a conflict, many a doubt, looking on the bright side of life revelling in “the wonderful things” that Jesus has done, Campaign for Real Ale. fightings and fears within, without.’ myself, I am constantly comforted and is doing, through his word. That word brings divi- Hope Kent-based readers enjoyed Now for regularity. Recent statistics that modern Anglicanism has pre- sion, as we also saw last week, both overthrowing those July’s Kent Beer Festival held, where depressingly reveal that the signifi- served at least one ancient tradition, who resist it, and building up those who delight in its else, in Canterbury. Looking back to cant feature of our age is not the regu- whilst generally ‘change and decay in vigorous, life-giving authority. former days, 2008 was an especially larity with which Britons attend all around I see.’ A tradition main- pleasurable year when the presence church, but the regularity with which tained with unflinching regularity. Lee Gatiss is Director of Church Society, and Editor of the of several bishops at the Festival off- a growing number, and particularly The tradition is that of ‘launching a NIV Proclamation Bible. set the gloom of that year’s Lambeth the young, cease to enter a church at new initiative - to use the outdated Conference held a few miles away. all, save as a tourist, wedding guest or marketing speak that dwells at ease in Forward in Faith well represented, mourner. the CofE’s centres of power. The but didn’t spot any leaders of WATCH. All weddings have reduced in num- launch is regularly prefaced by declar- HYMN SUGGESTIONS Hope they weren’t confirming ‘the ber in recent years as cohabitation ing that this will get the worshippers Pub Landlord’s’ sexist view that it’s becomes the norm. When weddings flocking back to parish churches. A ‘white wine for the ladies.’ occur, hotels, imitation Downton similar faith to that espoused by However, like the Pub Landlord, I Abbeys, or faraway sun-kissed places Blessed Mary Portas when seeking to digress. Margaret also brought in are more likely choices than the local save equally floundering High Street And can it be? paper so that I could write as well as parish church. shops. Praise my soul the king of heaven read. No chance of using a laptop Now that most funerals are ‘crem’ ASB for the 80s (the decade, not the because it would interfere with the based, and the event, rather than the age of worshippers); female ordina- Lord we come to ask your healing electronic equipment used to monitor committal of a soul to God, is often tion for the 90s and Common Worship Restore O Lord my irregular heartbeat. more a celebration of the departed’s for the Noughties. Speak O Lord Regularity and irregularity. We’ll be earthly triumphs (cue ‘My Way’ or Regularly the market fails to all conscious, unless we’ve achieved ‘Simply the Best’) one can hardly say respond. the perpetual sanctity that will earn us that funerals have the religious signif- Milestones

Specialist insurance group Ecclesiastical has been named the 8th biggest donor to charity in the UK... Careers advisers from the Exam Results Helpline (0808 100 8000) have been on-hand since Thursday, the A level results day, to provide careers information and advice... Evi-

dence in relation to what complaints were made about alleged abuse by the late Dean of Man- chester, Robert Waddington, are currently being gathered by an Inquiry... The Heritage Lottery Fund announced more than £12million of Lottery funding to help secure the future of 96 of the UK’s most historic places of worship... Archbishop Justin Welby visited Barbados ‘ learning how Anglicans there live out their faith...

“This is quite a tight al relations did talk about American hegemo- timescale but, if we ny and the world’s only superpower but even can achieve it, this will PAUL when Wright gave the Noble lectures the chaos in Iraq was revealing the limits of mean that the plans for RICHARDSON America’s power. It is now apparent that we setting up the live in a world in which no one nation domi- administration of the nates. In fact the situation is very similar to new Diocese will be Church and World that which obtained before the First World realized with as little War. As Christopher Clark writes in his histo- interruption as possible.” ry of World War I, “since the end of the Cold The Most Rev Dr John War, a system of global, bipolar stability has made way for a more complex and unpre- Sentamu on plans to merge dictable array of forces, including declining three northern dioceses‘ Today’s political empires and rising powers – a state of affairs that invites comparison with Europe of 1914”. China, Russia and other non-Western nations are major players in the world, both diplomatically and economically. When realities Britain defies China over the Dalai Lama it pays the price in trade and is mocked as a In addition to being a leading New (except about links to imperialism) declining power. Events in the Middle East Testament scholar, Tom Wright is but what Wright has to say about are drifting out of anyone’s control. The US also one of Christianity’s most political realities in the world today struggles to exercise influence in Egypt effective apologists. Together with strike me as far off the mark. It is despite massive grants to the military and his formidable intellectual gifts he worth examining his case because neither America nor the EU are able to stop is able to call upon a clear and his views are widely shared. the civil war in Syria. But for the prospect of robust style and has a knack for According to Wright the world shale technology we might be facing the providing telling illustrations. today is dominated by a Western, prospect of massive increases in the price of His latest work of apologetics, particularly American, empire. He oil as Middle Eastern governments seek to Growth, Power and Truth, is based admits that this is different from calm unrest by financial bribes. on the Noble Lectures he gave at past empires. America does not A good case can be made for arguing not Harvard in 2006. They show many exercise direct control over that America exercises too much power but that it has too little. Israel went ahead with building settlements in the face of President Obama’s warnings. The Egyptian military People removed Morsi despite Washington’s opposi- tion. Western powers would like him out but a Tributes are being paid to the former Bishop of defiant Assad remains in Damascus. Remov- Llandaff, the Rt Rev Roy Thomas Davies, ing Gaddafi in Libya has simply plunged the who died aged 79 following a short illness... Dr country into chaos. Empires bring stability to Glenn Davies will be installed as Sydney’s 12th the world and often ensure peace. The Anglican Archbishop in St Andrew’s Cathedral absence of Empire today is making for an on 23 August... The oldest nun at the Sisters of unstable, unpredictable world. St John the Divine convent in Toronto, Sr Con- It is difficult to understand Wright’s argu- stance Elizabeth Murphy, died peacefully at ment that people are turning to Gnosticism the age of 109 on August 2, 2013. She had a long because they feel alienated by Western life of devoted service, both as a teacher to the power. The New Age appeals most strongly in young and as a minister and advocate for the the West; in the rest of the world it is Christi- elderly... Tom Wright anity and Islam that are growing. If anything, Islam is the religion of protest but events in of Wright’s strengths but they also colonies in the way the British once Egypt and Turkey show that political Islam reveal a weakness. The aim is to did but there are still parallels with has limited appeal. bring biblical thinking into dialogue empires of the past, particularly the Far from feeling alienated from the West, with current cultural and political Roman Empire that is criticised in many people in the rest of the world are issues. In doing so Wright admits the New Testament. Empire is attracted by its values and its lifestyle. West- that it is dangerous for specialists to linked with globalisation and we are ern military and financial clout may be limit- venture into areas where they are told the West exercises an ‘econom- ed but its soft power is still strong. Wright unqualified but argues that the ic stranglehold’ over the rest of the plays down the value of democracy but many attempt must be made from time to world. According to Wright, people people still aspire to a combination of demo- time. Unfortunately in making this feel alienated from the Western cratic government with respect for human particular attempt he betrays a Empire and turn to private spiritual- rights. What they do not want is a democratic readiness to swallow political myths ity or Gnosticism as a result. dictatorship. Next Week’s News peddled by certain sections of the To some extent Wright’s account Wright appeals to Niall Ferguson as some- left. of the Western Empire has been one who wrote about the American Empire. He argues that the gospel chal- overtaken by events. He wrote But Fergusson talks of the ‘fall’ of the Ameri- On World Humanitarian Day on Monday, 19 lenges Gnosticism, imperialism and before the financial crash when can Empire and criticises Americans for lack August, those who face danger and adversity will post-modernism, which he sees as America was still deeply involved in of commitment and short attention span. In be recognised under the theme “The World three, interlinked features of the Iraq but he makes clear that he Kipling’s language, he blames Americans for Needs More...” in order to help others… Clare modern world. With what he has to does not think subsequent events failing to take up the white man’s burden, for Balding, Milton Jones, Adrian Plass and Jim Wal- say about Gnosticism and post- have changed his analysis. being less enthusiastic and effective as impe- lis are among those taking part in Greenbelt modernism I have little quarrel For a time experts on internation- rialists than the British. from 23-26 August at Cheltenham Racecourse…

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