THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 Finding your purpose in life THE P8 CHURCHOF ENGLAND Newspaper Prison week: how you can help, NOW AVAILABLE ON  NEWSSTAND p10,11 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014 No: 6255 Anger over Christian holiday company By Kelsey Mangan Search begins for CUSTOMERS looking forward to a Bible Lands Cruise scheduled for October were sur- prised to find their cruise cancelled at the last minute – their money nowhere to be found. LivingSun Holidays advertised a Christian cruise on the MS Thompson Spirit cruise ship first woman bishop travelling from Turkey to Israel from 13-22 October. AFTER GENERAL SYNOD gave final harder to change it,” she said. “It is The brochures advertised an “excellent holi- approval to the ordination of women not just about women wearing purple, day” that was an “opportunity for fun, learning, bishops, speculation turned to which it is about changing the culture of the discovery, and Christian fellowship.” diocese would be the first to select a Church to be more equal. It is very Travellers paid upwards of £700 each for woman as its diocesan. The Bishop of exciting but I hope that in a few years flights and accommodation, not including Rochester, the Rt Rev James it will be more normal for women to extra on-land excursions. Langstaff, revealed that women candi- be appointed bishops.” There was no sign of tumult until 12 days dates who are likely to be considered Just before the vote in General before the cruise was due to depart. Managing have been given special training to Synod, Ladbrokes had the Dean of Director Bob Fleming announced that Living- help them with the process. Norwich, the Very Rev Jane Hedges, Sun Holidays had “reluctantly taken the diffi- Under the new rules, candidates are The Very Rev as the favourite to become the first cult decision” to cancel the October cruise in a now interviewed and required to give Vivienne Faull woman bishop with odds of three to letter postmarked 1 October. a presentation, preach a sermon and one. Fleming claimed that the cancellation was in answer questions. According to Bish- Other names being mentioned were response to Thompson cruise ship’s decision op Langstaff, potential male candi- There are three dioceses where the the Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivi- to reroute the cruise from Israel and due to dates have been able to prepare for selection process has either just got enne Faull, and the Dean of Salisbury, disorganization within the ship’s booking the selection process for some time. underway or is about to start. They the Very Rev June Osborne. The Rev branch. “What we are doing is some affirma- are Southwell and Nottingham (where Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the He said that the employees he had booked tive action rather than discrimination the Crown Nomination Commission Speaker, also appeared on some lists. with Thompson’s Groups Department had in that some real efforts have been has already met), Oxford and Newcas- She is married to Ken, chaplain at Hol- been relocated to a different department, and made and are being made to ensure tle. loway Prison, who comes originally all of their bookings had been lost in the that those women who now may be Oxford vies with London for the from the Diocese of Newcastle and process. candidates are able to be, as it were, position of biggest diocese in the she might be thought a strong candi- Fleming offered two options: transfer the on the level with their male colleagues Church of England and appointment date for the North East. funds for the October cruise to a cruise with who have been looking at this for of a female bishop there would be But as well as those in the media the same ship in April 2015 or receive a full some time,” the Bishop said. regarded as a major victory by many spotlight as a result of holding senior refund. “Therefore developing women for women. But Hilary Cotton, Chair- positions there are a number of Traveller Mr Gospatric Home responded senior leadership has been a strand woman of Woman and the Church women in parish appointments who requesting a full refund. He didn’t feel any sus- which has been given attention for (WATCH) has told The Guardian that may also attract the attention of the picion about the circumstances of the cancella- some months now, indeed for longer. women will need to make up a third of CNC. Among them is the Rev Miranda tion until a few days later. He started to “It is important that women who are bishops, about 40 in total, to make a Threlfall-Holmes, a vicar in the Dio- question why Fleming would book another interviewed for these posts are able to difference. cese of Durham, author of a short his- be considered absolutely on the level “Until we get around a third it does- tory of the church, mother of three Continued on page 4 with their male colleagues.” n’t change the culture or it is much children and a popular blogger.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper THE 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 21, 2014 News

Diocese of Sheffield THE The Diocese of Sheffield’s centenary year will draw to a close DIARY CHURCHIN with a service held by the Archbishop of York at Sheffield Cathedral on 23 November. Send your events to The Diocese has celebrated 100 years with a year-long tour [email protected] involving towns and cities across the country. The Archbishop of or Tweet @churchnewspaper York said: “The closing service offers an opportunity to ENGLAND recommit to all that God is calling the Diocese to do. To 22 November celebrate the centenary together is a joyous occasion but also one that allows a reflection on what the next 100 years might bring. With the Holy Spirit at your side, everything is possible!” 11am The British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) is organising Diocese of Blackburn a rally outside 10 A church in Leyland, Lancashire, is about to Downing Street after practice some new ministry that is sure to put a the burning to death smile on the faces of the congregation. of a Christian couple For they are about the play host to a visitor from in Pakistan. South Africa whose ministry is literally just 1.30pm St Paul’s Cathedral - clowning around! Art in a Sacred Space. The Rev Michael Fourie, together with his wife Private tour on behalf Dr Elaine Fourie, are visiting St Ambrose Church of Burrswood Hospi- in Leyland from the church’s link parish of St John tal, Tunbridge Wells. the Baptist in Harrismith which is part of the Tickets £35 includes Lancashire Diocese’s link Diocese of Free State, tour, workshop, South Africa. cream tea and Michael is known in South Africa for his ‘clown reserved seats for ministry’ and ran a free clown workshop during his Evensong. To buy time here. tickets call 01892 Meanwhile, Dr Elaine Fourie ran an 865982. interpretive sign language and communication 2.00pm Living in Babylon: course. Patrick Sookhdeo and Caroline Kerslake speak about the per- Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham secuted church, Duke Street Baptist A special service of thanksgiving, when loved ones Church, Richmond. who have died in the last 12 months are remembered, was held in Southwell Minster last 24 November Sunday. Diocese of Durham The service included music, readings and prayers Remembrance Sunday saw a remarkable exercise in reconciliation when and the names of loved ones were read aloud. The 7.00pm Living without ene- German preacher the Rev Christa Hunzinger preached at St Luke’s, in opportunity was then offered for individual candles mies: Christian Ferryhill. to be lit with the light taken from the annual Paschal responses to war and St Luke’s has been part of a partnership between the Anglican Diocese of Candle first lit on the morning of Easter Day. violence. Richard Durham and a Lutheran church in Northern Germany, since the late 1980s. Acting Dean of the Cathedral, the Rev Canon Nigel Harries: the Christian Christa said: “We decided that we would like to focus on reconciliation for Coates, said: “It is a powerful and moving way of concept of peace, St our partnership work, particularly given the events of 2014-2018. giving thanks for those loved ones who have gone Martin-in-the-Fields, “I was thankful to be invited to preach at St Luke’s in Ferryhill - it is not before and reminds us that they are held in the love London WC2, free. taken for granted that a German should be able to preach, someone from a of God revealed to us in the risen Christ.” former enemy.” 28 November St Luke’s Vicar Keith Lumsdon said that the church had a long relationship with churches in Germany and said of the Remembrance Day service: “I see Diocese of Liverpool this as a wonderful act of reconciliation.” A Liverpool church hosted a Remembrance 7.00pm Bradford Cathedral: service with a difference, when they invited a Assistant Director of leading campaigner to lead a service Music, Jonathan remembering those who have died because of Eyre, provides the Diocese of Hereford Diocese of Southwark violent transphobic hate crime. live organ improvisa- The new Bishop of Hereford, The Diocese of Southwark has received Jenny-Anne Bishop, the Trans Ministry Co- tion for The Wizard of Richard Frith visited the Cards accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation as a ordinator of the Metropolitan Church in Oz. for Good Causes shop in Living Wage employer. This means that everyone Manchester, led a programme of three events 7.30pm New movie Stations Widemarsh Street in Hereford who regularly works in the Diocesan offices at St Bride’s Anglican Church, Percy Street. of the Cross opens at in support of Charity Christmas receives the Living Wage, which is £9.15 per hour The Rev Guy Elsmore, Rector of St Bride’s cinemas (Times Card Week, which runs from within Greater London and £7.85 per hour in the Church, said: “The heart of Christianity is vary). 16-24 November. The week is rest of the UK. welcome for everyone, and a celebration of dedicated to boosting the Simon Parton, Diocesan Secretary, said: “The the rich diversity and giftedness of all God’s 30 November number of people sending real Diocese of Southwark is proud to join more than people. We are honoured to welcome Jenny- cards to their relatives, friends 1,000 employers nationwide who are determined to Anne to St Bride’s, and for those of us who and neighbours this Christmas. help people earn enough to provide their family live in relative security and privilege, 3.00pm Advent Carol Service, “I feel quite strongly about with the essentials of life by paying the Living Transgender Day Of Remembrance is an Canterbury Cathe- this and we always send real Wage, which more accurately reflects the real cost opportunity to reach out to those who are dral. Christmas cards,” said Bishop of living”. most impacted by transphobia in solidarity Richard. “Charity cards raise and understanding.” 4 December lots of funds for good causes, which is one good reason for Diocese of Coventry buying them, but more A leading Midlands Adoption Agency is looking to raise awareness of adoption in faith communities 7pm ‘Tackling Youth Men- importantly is that physical by holding a free conference in Coventry this month. Adoption Focus will be hosting the ‘Adopters of tal Health’ conference presence on the mantelpiece, a Faith Conference’ at The Welcome Centre in Coventry on Saturday 29 November from 9.30am- hosted by XLP and real sign of friendship and 12.30pm in conjunction with Radio Plus, the Coventry community radio station. The event will be a CSJ at All Hallows on care.” celebration of the value and support that faith brings to adoptive families and aims to encourage the Wall, 83 London The new Bishop has already more people to consider adoption. Wall. Introduced by chosen as his ‘official’ card, one The Conference is free to attend and is aimed at people who are considering adoption and people Nina Hossain with from the charity Embrace the within faith communities who want to find out more about adoption. It will see the launch of a Patrick Regan OBE Middle East, an organisation specially commissioned short film featuring a number of adopters discussing their experiences of and an expert panel. that partners with local becoming parents in and around their faith communities. Christians to support the most Adoptive parents will also be speaking at the event and Social Workers from the Ofsted vulnerable people in that ‘Outstanding’ rated Agency will be on hand to talk privately with attendees who are interested in unsettled region of the world. starting the adoption process.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 21, 2014 News 3 New Safeguarding Education chief’s Debate deepens Officer named over latest A FULL-TIME Safeguarding Officer has warning on ‘British been appointed by the Church of Eng- statistics land. The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Paul Butler, has announced the appoint- values’ PUBLICATION of the latest attendance sta- ment of Mr Graham Tilby, currently tistics from the Church of England is contin- employed as an Inspector (Social Care) ‘BRITISH VALUES’ cannot be neighbour’, the importance of dis- uing to provoke debate and discussion. by Ofsted. allowed to become a test or an assess- sent, and a commitment to the com- Most commentators point to encouraging He has over 23 years’ experience in ment of whether somebody in a com- mon good as values overlooked by signs as well as an overall pattern of slow children’s social care and has worked for munity is ‘safe’ or ‘loyal’, the Rev the Department for Education. decline. three local authorities in the West Mid- Nigel Genders, Chief Education Offi- The National Society stresses that The Rev David Keen, Vicar of Yeovil in lands. He attends Chawn Hill Church in cer of the Church of England, has any statement of British values Somerset, has published an analysis of how Stourbridge and lists ‘leading worship’ warned in response to the Education should ‘emanate from a broad public each diocese has performed between 2009 as one of his interests. He is co-founder Secretary’s call for schools to teach conversation and not from the Secre- and 2013 on his ‘Opinionated Vicar’ blog. and Director of the Black Country Food ‘British values’. tary of State’. Keen’s analysis shows nine dioceses Bank which works with local churches. Mr Genders said the National Soci- In its submission the National Soci- growing and 33 declining with one, Sodor Mr Tilby hopes to take up his new ety supported schools being required ety calls for a greater emphasis on and Man, remaining stable. The biggest appointment in January after an to teach the values of tolerance and spiritual development, stronger growing diocese is London (10.2 per cent) enhanced DBS check. It comes at a time respect but that these values would resourcing of Religious Education, with Guildford not far behind (8.0 per cent) when the Church of England is under not be encouraged by ‘policing’ improved training and resources for while the biggest loser is Lincoln (down by pressure after the report of the Cahill through an ‘ever-increasing inspec- governors and the promotion of inter- 18.2 per cent) with Chester (down 10.9 per Inquiry to adopt a national approach to tion regime’ and has argued on his dependence between schools and cent) and Bradford (down 11.0 per cent) safeguarding. blog that the nature of British values between schools and the community. both in double digits. Welcoming the new appointment, ‘requires a much deeper conversation As the National Society points out, It is hard to see a pattern to the figures. Bishop Butler said that the new safe- around the country than has been the Church of England is in a strong Immigration is often credited for growth in guarding officer had ‘an impressive possible over the summer’. position to call for a national conver- London but the nearby dioceses of South- track record’ as well as ‘considerable In a submission document on pro- sation. With devolution of education to wark and Chelmsford also have large immi- experience in developing policies and posed new independent school stan- Scotland and Wales, the Department grant populations and Southwark is down by advising on the changing context of safe- dards, the National Society states that for Education is now chiefly responsi- 8.1 per cent and Chelmsford by 3.3 per cent. guarding’. values in Britain’s ‘distinctive national ble for England where the Church of In the North East the Diocese of Newcas- Mr Tilby said he was excited by his culture’ are ‘all underpinned by our England is the largest single provider tle has grown by 4.1 per cent but the neigh- new appointment and looked forward to Christian heritage, which provides a of schools with 4,500 primary schools bouring diocese of Durham is down by 1.8 working in partnership with parishes, strong starting point for the discus- and over 200 secondary schools educat- per cent and across the Pennines Carlisle dioceses and other organisations, sion of values’. It adds that ‘many of ing over a million children. has seen a drop of 3.1 per cent. including the Methodist Church. those values cannot be defined as A feature of the National Society In some cases population growth or “It is a privilege to bring together my uniquely British’. submission is the stress on training decline may be a factor but this doesn’t professional safeguarding knowledge Rather than concentrate on inde- for governors. As the ‘Trojan horse’ apply in Newcastle. As Keen points out, and my faith as a Christian to support pendent schools, the National Society affair highlighted, this is one area Leicester, Southwell and Liverpool have the mission of the Church and its com- believes a ‘statement of entitlement where local authorities can struggle. seen quite a turn around in recent years. mitment to help transform communities for English education would be more A strength of Anglican schools is the Growth is not restricted to London or the and people’s lives,” he said. valuable’. attention they pay to recruiting suit- South but the factors making for growth are In its submission it lists ‘loving your able governors. not well understood. How far is diocesan culture a factor? Do ways of calculating parish share, the promotion of mission action plans, or the priority given in the dio- Honorary doctorate for Ar chbishop Welby cese to evangelism and church growth make a difference? THE MOST Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, spent 15 years serving the Diocese of Coventry, and Some commentators have highlighted the will receive an honorary doctorate of letters from Coventry between 2000 and 2002 he also chaired an NHS hospital importance of large evangelical parishes as University next week in recognition of his longstanding trust in South Warwickshire. a reason for growth but this does not apply commitment to peace and reconciliation – particularly the While he was a canon of Coventry Cathedral he worked in all the growing dioceses (Newcastle, strong collaborations developed with African churches to extensively in the field in Africa and the Middle East, and he Leicester). support them in dealing with inter-ethnic violence. has a particular interest in Nigeria where he was – and On his blog Keen also highlights the fact Archbishop Welby will be presented with the doctorate on remains – involved in work with groups involved in conflict that 40,000 people joined the Church of Eng- Friday 21 November in a ceremony at Coventry Cathedral transformation. In the Niger Delta, he has worked on recon- land in 2013 in addition to the 27,000 who – which he served as canon between 2002 and 2007 – in ciliation with armed groups. joined new parishes after moving. He points the same week that the late charity activist Stephen Sut- The honorary degree will be made alongside around 7,000 out this is not far off the total membership of ton and film director Ken Loach also receive honorary graduands of Coventry University who will be presented Ukip and only slightly lower than that of the degrees. with their degree certificates in the cathedral, watched by Liberal Democrats. After being ordained deacon in 1992, Archbishop Welby their families.

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* Examples from a sur y bev y online retailer woolw thsor .co.uk – 2011. Names have been changed

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 4 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 21, 2014 News

Continued from page one Social action enterprises awarded cruise through Thompson cruise ship THE FIRST ever Christian Social Action with a proportionately large number of vation and joblessness. The community despite their alleged problems with the Awards Ceremony was introduced by black people in the prisons and around feel hope and appreciation with the company. Matt Bird, founder of The Cinnamon 50 per cent or more prisoners who are building designed by Ian, and they see it Mr Home contacted the MS Thomp- Network, at Lambeth Palace last not of the Christian faith. We work with as a welcome community hub. son Spirit and found that the company Wednesday (12 November). these people in the best way we know to Winner of the award for pioneering had never heard of LivingSun Holidays. The event drew people from all over help them and give them guidance.” work with children and young people A secretary for the company informed the UK from the “Christian Funders There was also a silver and bronze was Youthscape, Luton, who have five him that no one who paid for the trip Forum.” They have all put in long hours award in this category each with a cash national projects, which includes chan- through Fleming’s company had ever and determined service into their local prize. nelling the Christian message through been booked onto the cruise. Further communities wherever help is most Best Community Project for vulnera- broadcasts in countries who need to be investigation revealed that LivingSun needed. ble young people was won by Willow- educated about the Bible. had also plagiarised their entire The CFF awarded prizes of trophies, field PCA Belfast, who say they What drives them is connecting the brochure from the MS Thompson Spirit. in some cases with cheques towards fur- regularly see young people giving their word of the gospel to young people Home, who has known Mr Fleming for ther work, to those representing the var- lives to Christ through their mission. everywhere. over 30 years, said “that’s when it trig- ious enterprises nominated. Best New Replicable Project was won Charlie Laing is one of the funders gered. I was so convinced that Bob is a A group of executives and trustees of by MakeLunch. Representatives from who came up with the idea of the good guy.” grant-making foundations who favour Aylesbury, Rachel Warwick and Elinor awards. He urged people at the event to Home didn’t receive a response to his Christian work that was formed two Knight, discussed their work helping “go out and tell the stories of hope you request for a refund until a letter from years ago includes The Cinnamon families on low incomes feed their chil- have heard” and to mention ‘Excellence’ Fleming postmarked 24 October. Trust, Hinchley Trust and The Joseph dren in school holidays. They quoted a as often as possible. The letter said: “We have considerable Rank Trust who, among others, make lady who now helps out who says she One last important note was made:- costs which are irrevocable for us and up the CFF. was rescued by them and described buildings for Christian gatherings in his- while we fully accept that this is our prob- There were five categories for the them as an “oasis in a desert.” tory don’t all have conveniences for visi- lem to resolve, it means we simply do not awards with three groups nominated for Longton Community Church in Pre- tors and worshippers – around 50 per have enough cash at the moment to start each and they chose one group as win- ston, whose representatives said they cent of older churches don’t cater for the refund process.” ner of each category. “have the privilege of going into around this. New buildings – and old ones, need Fleming continued that the company The final award was the Mustard Seed 400 houses per year preaching the to be “fit for purpose”. was “working on this constantly.” Award with a cheque included – the win- gospel and transforming lives”, won the Volunteers were warned that if they The discrepancies with LivingSun also ner receiving £15,000, being Way4ward. Best Church-Based Social Action Proj- want to have mothers and toddlers’ included those who were set to perform Represented by Angela Bacon, of ect represented by Ron Farringdon and lunches, meetings and dinners, tea par- on the cruise. The company advertised Raleigh Park Baptist Church, and Steve Jackie Garcia-Sanchez. ties, or communal events that last a few that Roger Jones of Christian Music Min- Rawlings – Chief Executive — Best Church Building Project was hours, they must make sure the planned istries was set to both take care of music Way4ward is a London mission that won by Architect Ian Burleigh who with venue provides for worshippers and all for the cruise and lead a special new pro- mentors prisoners before release and his wife Rhonda collected the award. your guests to spend a penny! gramme in which cruisegoers would be helps to re-integrate them into the com- Hailing from Glasgow, they have put 14 coached to be in a musical play onboard. munity. years’ work into the Parkhead project in When contacted, Mr Jones had never Steve said: “We now have a situation an area that has huge problems of depri- heard of LivingSun and had never been contacted about being a part of the Welcome for new caps on payday lenders cruise. This is not the first time Mr Fleming NEW PRICE caps on pay- sands of families into a Arafat ‘may have has demonstrated suspicious activity. day lenders were destructive debt trap, with The Surrey Comet published an article announced this week by the very damaging conse- titled “Crooked trader sold holy holidays Financial Conduct Authority quences for their children. illegally” in 2010. It revealed that Flem- and were immediately wel- Problem debt leads to fami- converted to ing founded two former companies comed by campaigning lies cutting back on basic called MasterSun and Crimson Holidays. groups. essentials – such as food for In 2010 he pleaded guilty to two counts of The FCA said that follow- their children and heating Christianity’ breaking the Insolvency Act. ing a consultation last sum- for their home. It also puts a Under section 216 of the Insolvency act mer, the new rules would strain on family relation- of 1986, it is illegal to trade under a simi- come into force on 2 Janu- ships and can lead to chil- A PROMINENT EVANGELI- lar name of a bankrupt company. ary 2015. dren being bullied at school. CAL pastor, the Rev RT Fleming was charged due to his deci- There will be three new “The FCA’s new price cap Kendall, former minister of sion to change the name of his company rules: interest and fees for on lending is therefore Westminster Chapel, has Mastersun to Mastersun PLC after Mas- all high-cost short-term extremely welcome. Howev- claimed that the controversial tersun was forced to stop trading in 2006 loans will be capped at 0.8 er, it’s important to remem- Palestinian leader Yasser due to financial instability. per cent per day; there will ber that, even after the new Arafat may have converted to A recent letter from Fleming dated 11 be a cap on default fees of rules come into force, low- Christianity. November restated his intention to pay £15 and there will be a total income families still face Dr Kendall told Premier back the money. He stated that the com- cap on the cost of borrowing paying back as much as dou- Christian Radio that on one pany’s main task was to refinance the limited at 100 per cent of the ble what they originally bor- occasion he watched The Pas- company, but they “do not yet have suffi- total borrowed. rowed. As the FCA has sion of The Christ with Arafat cient funds to begin refunding.” Martin Wheatley, the recognised, there must be who wept during the film and It goes on to say that “in the meantime FCA’s chief executive offi- alternatives to high-cost asked to hear more about we have effectively ceased trading tem- cer, said: “I am confident short-term credit, including Jesus. Kendall visited Arafat porarily while we make these refunds that the new rules strike the investment in credit unions. five times, prayed with him and the refinancing a priority.” right balance for firms and The Government should and anointed him with oil. This halt in trading is made more sus- consumers. If the price cap also bring together local “I gave him a salvation picious by a stamp on the letter that was any lower, then we risk welfare assistance schemes prayer,” said the pastor. “I’m states the name “Kyrilios Ltd.” Fleming not having a viable market, and high street banks, to not saying I know he’s saved. I’m saying I wouldn’t be sur- is suspected of a repeated instance of ille- any higher and there would improve access to afford- prised.” gal trading. not be adequate protection able credit for low-income Arafat married Suha Tawil, 27, a Palestine Christian, when Fleming is now under investigation by for borrowers. families. he was 61. In 1995 Suha gave birth to a daughter but she has the Fraud Squad and the Trading Stan- “For people who struggle “We also need to shift atti- described her marriage to Arafat as a mistake and said that dards Authority. to repay, we believe the new tudes to debt and money given the choice again she would not marry him. The Church of England Newspaper rules will put an end to spi- management. Children In 1994 Arafat won the Nobel Peace Prize together with reached out to LivingSun Holidays for ralling payday debts. For should be receiving their Yitzhak Rabin and Simon Peres for the role they all played in Fleming’s comment, but were told he most of the borrowers who financial education from the peace negotiations at Oslo. A terrorist in the eyes of many would “not be available for two weeks.” do pay back their loans on school and their parents, Israelis and a hero to many Palestinians, Arafat’s position in Mr Home, who founded the Christian time, the cap on fees and and not from payday loan his later years was undermined by the rise of Hamas. Resources Exhibition, said: “Heaven charges represents substan- advertising. That’s why Critics have accused him of amassing a large personal for- knows how many people were affected. tial protections.” we’re calling on Parliament tune of $1.3 billion by 2003 and his death was shrouded in I’m absolutely horrified.” Matthew Reed, Chief to ban TV and radio adverts mystery with some claiming he had been poisoned by poloni- He continued: “He knows his audience Executive of The Children’s for payday loans before the um, while others claimed he died of AIDS. and he knows they forgive. I will not Society, welcomed the new 9pm watershed. No child It will be interesting to see if the revelations by RT Kendall allow him to continue to do this.” caps: “Payday loans have should pay the price of have any impact on Arafat’s reputation in the Arab world. pushed hundreds of thou- debt.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday Novermber 21, 2014 News 5 Finns go to polls Islamic prayer service in to elect parish councillors National Cathedral WASHINGTON’S National Cathedral played host to a media event last week, holding its first Islamic THOUSANDS of followers of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran prayer service in cooperation with Washington-area Muslim groups. Church went to the polls on Sunday to elect 9,300 trustees and The invitation-only Friday prayer service was held in the Cathedral’s north transept, a part of the parish councillors. cathedral where there are no Christian symbols. A potential vote on gay marriage in future sessions of the Gener- Following the recitation of the prayers, the audience, segre- al Synod of the Church of Finland has enlivened elections for gated into areas for men and women, listened to Ebrahim trustees and parish councillors held on 9 Nov 2014 for the state Rasool, a Muslim who serves as South Africa’s ambassador to Lutheran Church. the United States. Approximately 19,300 candidates contested 9,300 seats for elec- Rasool stated Muslims “come to this cathedral with sensitivi- tion. Parish councillors and trustees have powers to set church tax ty and humility but keenly aware that it is not a time for plati- rates, which vary between one and two per cent, as well as dictate tudes, because mischief is threatening the world. The CHURCH TEXTILES parish financial matters, and decide on construction projects and challenge for us today is to reconstitute a middle ground of !09@H90) 1@C &9 0I(07709(0 49 humanitarian activities. good people ... whose very existence threatens extremism.” D0CG4(0, BF&74EP &9) AC@)F(E Parish councillors also elect delegates to the Church’s general The cathedral was closed to visitors on Friday morning save C&920' 70&D0 G4D4E @FC H0' synod and should a law permitting homosexual marriage be for the press and Muslim invitees, but one woman stood during D4E0 E@ D00 D@80 @1 @FC adopted by parliament during the next term, synod members will the service and objected to the proceedings, stating “America 0I(4E492 )0D429D' decide whether to allow church unions between same-sex couples. was founded on Christian principles ... Leave our church In 2010 17 per cent of the church’s 3.5 million registered mem- alone!” She was escorted from the building and the service con- %0 DA0(4&74D0 49 bers turned out to vote, the highest turnout in almost 30 years. tinued. (@884DD4@90) A40(0D &9) Conservative groups have sought to mobilize lay members of the Since 1980 the cathedral has played host to inter-faith servic- &7D@ @110C DE&9)&C) )0D429D @9 Church to block calls made by some bishops to support gay mar- es, but Friday’s 11:30 service was the first Muslim ceremony 4E08D DF(3 &D riage, and hope to achieve a majority to block proposals to follow held in the cathedral, which prides itself on its avant garde the Church of Sweden in solemnizing gay marriages. approach to religious and social issues. Banners, stoles, altar frontals Archbishop disputes Times claims andpulpit falls.

THE ARCHBISHOP of Jos, the Most Rev Benjamin Kwashi, has said, nor does it explain “the abduction, forced conversion, and written to The Times stating that claims the insurgency in North- forced marriage of some 200 girls in Chibok. ern Nigeria “ is fuelled more by poverty than by Islamic extrem- “To say that this is the result of poverty and corruption is to ism” were naive. play down the evil of Boko Haram, and their form of Islam.” Those who peddle this myth, the archbishop wrote, were blind- Archbishop Kwashi acknowledged the “poverty and corrup- ed by political correctness that was “unwilling to face the con- tion” plaguing was “real”, “but so is the global terror ideology of nected and organized global jihadist network we face today. which Boko Haram is a practitioner, and the global terror net- “Poverty does not explain the death by suicide bomb of 40 work of which it is a part. It is both untrue and unhelpful to con- school children - Muslim children - in Potiksum yesterday,” he flate and confuse these issues.” . ' 0' &* 3%(% ,' ' !R 0CH09E FD490DD 09EC0, 7&C60 "EC00E, 0C'P, # !$' Q #070A3@90 %#TT! TPPR% Sultan returns Bibles Q &I %#TT! !!# Q 8&47 53(E(3FC(3*E0IE470D'(@'F6 www.church-textiles.co.uk

THE SULTAN of Selangor has returned Bibles and reli- gious literature confiscated by the State Islamic Affairs BELIEVE IT OR NOT ...... Department on 2 January for Some people really love buying a used car, no honest they actually using the world “Allah” in do! Cleaning their old car up to get the best price, visiting all the Malay and Iban language dealers in the town, writing all the various offers down, listening versions of Scripture to the about each salesman’s dream car of the week, being offered another Archbishop of South East £100 “If you do the deal here and now”, and if not, the endless follow Asia, the Most Rev Bolly up telephone calls! However, most do not like this process at all. If Lapok, Bishop of Kuching. you are one of these people, breathe a sigh of relief, because help is On 14 November, on at hand in the form of Priory Automotive. behalf of the government, the Sultan returned the This Sheffield based company will take all the hassle and pressure Bibles to Archbishop Lapok, away, simply give them your criteria, your desired budget, and they who is also chairman of the do all the work for you, searching national databases, contacting the Christian Association of dealers’ head buyers, to find you the very best car currently available Sarawak, on the condition out there. Once you are happy, every car is fully prepared, delivered that they be distributed in to your door, and of course they will take your old one away at the Borneo, not in Malaya. very best price. A statement released by the Selangor Islamic Reli- Priory was founded by former managers from Autosave UK and they gious Council this week said have been looking after Clergy and Church members for many years the Sultan had ordered the now. With prices starting around £3000, there is something for every- Bibles be returned to the one; trust the experts, there is no obligation but we feel that you too Church after state prosecu- will find that their service saves you both time and money. Just take tors declined to release a look at the testimonials on their web page and you can see why Bible Society officials arrest- people keep coming back to them, time after time. ed in the January raid on charges of proselytising Please call 0114 2559696 or visit www.prioryautomotive.com Muslims.

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Write to The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX. or you can send an E-mail to [email protected]. Tweet at @churchnewspaper If you are sending letters by e-mail, please include a street address. NB: Letters may be edited

unlikely, when one considers the politicians had to attend – two of Brand identity complex chromosomes, hormones, whom are reported to be avowed Sir, I felt I had to write a rebuttal to the hugely misguided article by etc., involved. atheists. The programme contained Andrew Carey about Russell Brand (31 October). Andrew states that In past times, people were aware many elements that are not Russell “has no platform, no constituency and no support for his views”. only of what they could see, emphasised today, such as faith, self- Really? I would suggest that the author maybe wishes that this were the describing a child as having sacrifice, duty, respect and courage. I case, but it certainly is not correct. Russell Brand has a huge platform, “ambiguous” sexual organs even hope even the atheists politicians he transcends all the channels, taking part in light entertainment shows when the internal female organs may benefitted from attending. as well as some of the flagship news and discussion programmes, I’ve yet have been near to normal. A Wills, to see any members of the clergy appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show Add to that, the fact that such Ruislip or Alan Carr: Chatty Man. Indeed Russell has a larger platform than the intimate abnormalities could not be church could dream of. exploited for gain in a fairground, and Ethical debate As for Russell’s ‘constituency’ of which again the author claims he has I think we can assume that a wide Sir, I agree with Lord Carey’s none, on Twitter alone Russell has 8.5 million followers compared to the variety of differences in both suggestion to MPs that they should 67,000 of Justin Welby (I follow both, by the way!). Looking at the appearance and behaviour would have speak more often to their constituents number of people on the electoral roll of the Church of England, figures remained concealed as far as possible. on ethical and moral issues. All too just published this week by the Church of England show it sits at just I do, however, know of a clearly often I do not get replies from my MP over 1 million, with average attendance being the same number. Add unhappy male kitten whose owners when I have taken the initiative to those two numbers together and even on this crude piece of mathematics hoped that “the operation” would communicate my views on such you can see that Russell’s constituency is more than seven times that of benefit him, only to be asked by the matters, which are after all more the Church of England. Hmmm, it seems that Andrew’s claims about vet whether he should remove both important than economic ones. I am Russell Brand are falling apart. sets of reproductive organs or only aware I am not the only person who Then we come on to Andrew’s claims that Russell has “no support for one, and if the latter, which, while his suffers this experience. How on earth his views”, well, just because Andrew doesn’t support his views, it doesn’t professional advice would be to he expects his party to get any vote mean that no one agrees with Russell Brand. I am not sure whether I do neuter the cat completely, which was from me, my family or my friends I do or not, if I’m being honest, I need to read more about what is being said the course of action agreed. This cat not know. and the debates that are going on around this issue of political never became the most affectionate or J Longstaff, engagement. sociable of his species, but he Woodford Green It is fair to say though that on the surface there are many people who certainly had a better life than he had do agree with, at least, part of Russell’s argument. We have become experienced before. disillusioned by politics and politicians, Westminster has lost touch with The aspect of Mr Streets’ letter that Statistical analysis the public, there can be no argument there, many people who don’t want disturbs me most is the implication Sir, I read recently that all voters will to vote for the three main parties are moving to Ukip because they don’t that a person who is born with this soon receive a letter giving a pie chart feel there is another option. I’ve not heard any politicians address this complication or “ambiguity” is not of how our taxation revenues are issue at all: they keep spilling out meaningless, self-serving election created by God: “God made male and spent. While 20 per cent goes on promises, which no one believes and they don’t seem to notice that no female with clear distinction” he says Health, 25 per cent goes on Welfare. one believes a word they say. and goes on to cite the discovery of It would be easy to assume that this Russell is simply using his platform to voice his thoughts, if I were in chromosomes as proof of this fact, mainly goes on Unemployment his position I would probably do the same. The thing that Andrew Carey whereas we have also discovered that Benefits. In fact, so I am told, the seems to not have noticed is that Russell is actually voicing the thoughts intersex/hermaphrodite people figure covers a whole gamut of topics, of many people, to a large point, myself included. So what are my options usually possess a random and such as nurses’ and teachers’ when the next general election rolls around? Vote for one of three parties arbitrary set of chromosomes pensions, children in care, nursing I don’t believe are capable of running the country, vote for Ukip - especially with regard to the Xs and homes and child benefit. The figure definitely not, I’d rather not vote at all, and there in lies Russell’s Ys, and research is no nearer finding for the item of finance for unemployed argument, there is no one to vote for, so why bother? a definitive reason for these people is actually 5 per cent. To end, let me ask; if The Church of England Newspaper agrees with variations. Little has changed since the days of Andrew’s comments, which publication of such implies an agreement, If God did not create these human Disraeli, and it seems we all still have that Russell Brand has “no platform, no beings, who does Mr Streets suggest to look out for the manipulation of constituency and no support” why on is their creator? statistics. earth is there a picture of a Mary P Roe, Tony Cullingford, smouldering Russell Brand on the Bicester, Oxon Tewkesbury cover of the paper? Let me answer, because you know it will sell copies, Inspiring because actually if we step away from Remembrance Andrew’s imagined world and step into Sir, I’d like to thank BBC the actual world I think you’ll find that television for the beautiful Russell does have a very large platform, ‘Festival of Remembrance’ an engaged and astute constituency and service broadcast from more supporters than the politicians and the Royal Albert Hall on 8 Andrew Carey would like to acknowledge. November. It contained a Lisa Lewis, great deal of Christian Lower Oddington content - Christian songs Nr. Stow-on-the-Wold and hymns including Russell Brand Abide with Me, inspiring Christian readings, and stories of soldiers’ Creator question that the answer to his question may widows and children. Sir, Mr Geoffrey Streets asks if be quite close to what he assumes it The Queen and most of anyone ever discovered a human will be: the development of such the Royal Family were being with “complete and fully organs to maturity, in the people who there - and because it functioning male and female used to be described as was World War One reproductive organs” and I imagine hermaphrodites would surely be Centenary Year, leading

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Women bishops: a challenge to their male brothers?

The Church of England has taken the final step towards consecrat- ing bishops who are women, a logical consequence of the ordina- The First World tion of women. This is indeed an historic change in the life of the Church, and it is surely vital that the basis of the change is careful- ly set out. This is because the Church must not be taken to have simply ‘caught up’ with secular western cultural opinion, but to have been guided by the Spirit into the change at this time, noting War: the Numbers that the Spirit has been guiding the Church in England then as much as now. And we must reject the fashionable language of the business world about ‘breaking the glass ceiling’, as if human rights at last have been gained, a right to work as a bishop. Tacked on to such a deeply secular rationale would be quotas of women as bishops being demanded and enforced in the fashion of governmental diversity and equality law – perhaps a version of Ofsted, say Churchsted, could be set up to monitor the figures and report back to the Ministry of Culture Media and Sport, or to the secularised Charity Commission. We need a theological underpinning for the change, not a casual aping of the ever more chaotic cultural changes imposed by government. Bishops are ‘shepherds, watchmen, stewards of the Lord’, says the Book of Common Prayer. They are Christian leaders first and foremost and not be tempted into the role of civic celebrities or chaplains of multi-culturalism. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, 130-200, is well known for his emphasis on the role of bishop as a public teacher of the gospel, the person who declared the faith to every- one openly and clearly. He lived in an age of gnostic syncretism, a religious culture surprisingly like our own with all kinds of mix and match religious interchange. The great danger identified by Ire- naeus was that Jesus would be patched into other mystical religious systems, and removed from his Hebraic biblical context of salva- tion as the second Adam. To be a bishop today requires the courage to declare Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, openly as the way, the truth and the life. This was and is ‘foolishness to the Greeks’, effects of gas, deafness and what came to be as St Paul said, and we shy away from politically incor- ALANSTORKEY called shell-shock. Recently, a friend was recall- rect truths, and so do too many bishops. Women bish- ing a member of the family who in her lifetime ops must be primarily bishops, and not primarily had been really confined to a listless life in an women speaking up for the sisterhood. One deep irony One of the obvious responses to the artwork - the armchair. The estimate of the military wounded is that Una Kroll, a famous campaigner for the ordina- field of poppies situated around the Tower of Lon- is some 22 million, and that probably excludes tion and consecration of women in Synod, was herself don — is the sheer number of poppies. Each one many who were mentally scarred. So we have ordained, then resigned her orders to join the Roman represents a British person killed in military another vast tranche of people impaired in the Catholic Church, which does not ordain women! Ruth action during the Great War, perhaps a total of lives they would live in the 20s, 30s and later. Gledhill wrote up the ‘runners and riders’ for The 888,246 people. There is some dispute about the They included Hitler, probably suffering from Tablet, but omitted to say that at least one she tipped work of art, but the representation of numbers in post-traumatic stress. would also be breaking the ‘pink’ ceiling as an openly this way, based in fact, is unequivocally a truth. Nor have we mentioned the colonies and other gay woman, http://nyti.ms/1EQnysK. The War records were meticulous. areas where the War was also fought, Japan wag- We need gospel-centred bishops in a time of cultural Yet, we obviously cannot stop at British deaths. ing a colonial war in China and conflicts else- relativism, uncertainty and hostility. Perhaps the new France suffered more directly with so much where. women can raise the bar in line with the sacrificial mis- fighting on its land. Its fatalities were some There is yet a further dimension to this world-

Comment sionary women of church history? 1,375,000 military deaths, but also perhaps wide tragedy. In January, 1918, a flu pandemic 340,000 civilian deaths. As a proportion of the broke out which turned out to be one of the dead- French population this was a level twice that of liest in human history. Half a billion people con- the British experience. tracted it, and between 50 million and 100 million Germany suffered at a similar level, losing per- of those died. It was intimately related with the The Church of England Newspaper haps 2,750,000 people in military and civilian Great War, possibly caused within it, and certain- with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week deaths. Already, this bigger field of poppies can- ly spread by it in the camps and then by return- Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. not be borne. Yet the heaviest carnage was in the ing soldiers to every quarter of the globe. It Company Number: 3176742 East. Italy had a dreadful war, though it entered especially attacked the young, and another Publisher: Keith Young MBE late, losing 1,200,000 in heavy, bloody fighting tranche of the young of the world were gone. with Austria. So the pall of this event hung over the world. It The Austro-Hungarian Empire lost over was the War to end all wars, and the merchants of Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY020 7222 8004 2,000,000 in fierce fighting with Serbia, whom it death who stirred up enmity in the decade up to Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 thought would be an easy enemy, and with Rus- 1914 to get their way were rightly seen as dan- Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 sia and Italy. gerous. At Versailles their business was to be Russia suffered most losing some 3,200,000 of closed down in disarmament and peace. Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 its people in fighting Germany until Lenin and The biggest champion of disarmament and Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 2018 Trotsky refused to continue the war on 26 Octo- peace was President Wilson, who saw the spiritu- Graphic Designer: PETER MAY020 7222 8700 ber, 1917. al battle with clarity, but soon he was defeated by The intensity of deaths in relation to the popu- the war-rich munitions people and bankers and The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate lation was greatest in Rumania and Serbia; the was dead. Gradually, the arms people insinuated endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication latter lost one in seven of its population. There themselves back into governments, and the les- are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper does were also acts of barbaric killing throughout all son that had been learned was forgotten. not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. countries, and especially in Belgium, Russia, Ser- The Tower of London field of poppies partly bia and Armenia where perhaps one and a half depends on those who view it as a work of art. We Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, million were killed by the Ottoman Empire, should know, and see, that it is a far bigger field Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Cindy Kent which also lost a million or more in the War. that stretches as far as the eye could see and last- In all some 16 million people died in the mili- ed for decades, a horror of blood and destruc- The Church of England Newspaper, tary activities of the War. They were, of course, tion. There was no glory attached to it. These Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd mainly young and male, removing many of their were not “casualties”; they were deliberately 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX generation from decades of work. All we nations shot. The irony was that God’s beautiful flowers Editorial e-mail: [email protected] of Europe took the sword, and we perished by came from the earth in which so many were Advertising e-mail: [email protected] the sword. We were persuaded to act as though buried with millions of shells and weapons. Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] Jesus did not mean what he said. The tragedy of this work of art may be that But that is less than the full picture. The spectators see, and go away, still accepting com- Website: www.churchnewspaper.com wounded also came back from the War disabled. petitive arming and militarism, stoked by the There were amputations, deformed limbs, the arms companies towards yet more wars.

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John Robbins, which looks at why some people age in failing health and sadness, while others grow old with vitality and joy. The book looks at different cul- tures where people often live to 100 or more. Inter- estingly the diets vary: it’s not as simple as saying all healthy ageing people are vegan, or eat mostly seafood, etc. Janey Lee Grace There’s a whole variety of diets (though mostly unprocessed), differing amounts of exercise, differ- ent approaches to illness and medical intervention, but a sense of well-being is key across all the cul- Live Healthy! Live Happy! tures. He found that the effects of our interaction are profound, in fact loneliness has more impact on lifes- pan than known vices such as smoking. It’s well documented that a healthy diet and regular How to find your purpose in life exercise will extend your life but happiness and a sense of purpose also plays an important part. Have you found your purpose? Are you doing what you Another study from the University of California refers Reporting the findings of the Lancet research the love? Do you feel that you are contributing to the world to the difference between ‘hedonic’ wellbeing, which Daily Mail quoted Professor Andrew Steptoe from and that what you do is worthwhile? Hope so, because represents pleasurable experiences, and a deeper UCL who said: “We cannot be sure that higher well- in addition to increasing your happiness levels a sense ‘eudaimonic’ (yes that study spelt the word differently) being necessarily causes lower risk of death, since of purpose could extend your life by two years. form, which results from striving toward meaning and the relationship may not be causal,” but he added I’m sure keeping the brain active is hugely important purpose. They found that hedonic ‘happiness’ is the that the findings raise the ‘intriguing’ possibility that too and reading this study published in The Lancet Med- equivalent of empty calories, while our bodies appear to better well-being could improve physical health. ical Journal I learnt a new word – Eudemonic – appar- respond better to the ‘eudaimonic’ — a different kind of “There are several biological mechanisms that may ently ‘eudemonic wellbeing’ relates to a sense of well-being, one based on a sense of connectedness and link well-being to improved health, for example control, of purpose and the feeling that what you do is purpose. through hormonal changes or reduced blood pres- worthwhile. I’m reminded of the excellent book Healthy at 100 by sure.” Good week for Welby Unfair to Dr Williams

It has been a good week for Archbishop Welby. The right-wing weekly The The same Spectator editorial that praised Archbishop Welby had some harsh Spectator poured praise on his head for inspiring reform of the pay-day loan criticism of his predecessor. He was criticised for making pronouncements on industry in an editorial headed ‘Thank heaven for Justin Welby’. It likened him current affairs that ‘so often came across as those of a lofty professor who found to Pope Francis and described both men as “modernisers who have ended the himself in the wrong lecture hall’ and described as behaving ‘more like an carping about their respective institutions being out of touch with the real world interfaith outreach worker than an Archbishop’. The Sharia law affair was and yet who have done so much without compromising the values upon which brought up again and the magazine joined the chorus of criticism for the former their Churches are founded”. It praised the Archbishop’s ‘independence of mind’ Archbishop for suggesting that anxiety about teachers wearing full-faced veils and revealed Downing Street complained about not being given advance was ‘misplaced’. Fortunately The Guardian has stepped forward with an editorial warning of speeches although it also credited the Archbishop with giving both to defend Dr Williams (here one detects the hand of Giles Fraser). As the major parties the impression he is on their side. ‘Once again Lambeth Palace newspaper pointed out, all Dr Williams was saying in an interview with Nick has become worth listening to’ the magazine announced. Is it possible this Spencer of Theos about his new book on language was that when a child learns editorial was penned by Damian Thompson? As well as praise from this language gestures, facial expressions and coding and decoding are important to surprising source, the Archbishop is also to receive an honorary doctorate from interact with the other speaker. “We all know what happens when people don’t Coventry University on 21 November. So, apart for those who do not use the learn that,” he went on, “when they speak without a sense of the codes that are title for those with an honorary degree, he will at last become ‘Dr Welby’. Just to operating – the tone, the timbre, etc. I suppose that’s what panics people about, add to the Archbishop’s joy, there has been positive coverage for the let’s say, a primary school teacher wearing the full face veil.” Those remarks led appointment of photogenic young Swedish priest, Anders Litzell, as Prior of the to headlines such as ‘Let Muslim primary school teachers wear full-face veil says new community of St Anselm at Lambeth Palace. former Archbishop’. As The Guardian commented, it doesn’t encourage philosophical reflection by public figures. What a pity a weekly review doesn’t offer more balance reflection than the daily press. Yet another Failed prophecy ‘lost gospel’ Several years ago in a public lecture in Norwich Cathedral, later published in a book, AN Wilson prophesied that the days of serious novels that gave attention to religious themes were over. The Crack-pot speculation about Jesus, usually involving chorus of praise that has greeted the appearance of Marilynne Robinson’s fourth novel, and third to Mary Magdalene, is all too common but not everyone deal with the small community of Gilead in Iowa proves Wilson wrong. Lila has won praise from all with a new theory to propose is allowed to do so at the the critics, including James Wood (not noted for sympathy for religion) British Library. Sir Diarmaid McCulloch was not alone and Colm Toibin. Robinson is self-proclaimed admirer of Calvin who is in questioning the British Library’s decision to allow a well-read in theology. In addition to her novels, she has written essays film-maker and an American academic a platform to air on a variety of topics, many of them theological. She has criticised the their theory that Mary Magdalene was regarded as a modern age of succeeding ‘much too well in putting aside goddess after she married Jesus and had two children metaphysics’. One of the fans of her slow, meditative works which by him. This speculation is based on a highly one critic called ‘more Ralph Waldo Emerson than Zadie Smith’ is questionable interpretation of a text held by the British President Barack Obama. In 2012 when the President awarded Library. Most scholars think that the text is merely a Robinson the National Medal of Arts and Humanities Medal fanciful interpretation of a well-known Old Testament he told her he hoped she would soon produce another story of Joseph and his wife but the two Americans think work for him to read. Although she is very much a it is a coded history of Jesus and Mary Magdalene that mainline Protestant and not an evangelical, Robinson is has been misinterpreted by scholars ever since it was clear about her admiration for Calvin, even his doctrine of acquired by the British Museum in 1847. Dan Brown has total depravity. It shows that God loves us despite our stimulated a market for such speculation but it is an weakness and sinfulness, she likes to point out. As she encouraging sign of increasing sophistication in the comments in an introduction to Calvin’s writings, the Whispering media that most reporters took their lead from

doctrine is really about God’s unfathomable The Gallery McCulloch who dismissed the claims in forthright terms condescension. as ‘bilge’.

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A message for all ANDREW politicians CAREY

View from the Pew At a literary festival in Gibraltar for a weekend I came You often find that though the soldier takes orders, so quickly forget. We forget that when we are in most across this wonderful inscription on Prince Edward’s those who have known what it is to be in a firefight have need prayer is a comfort and our faith a strength. Peri- Gate: “God and the soldier all men adore in time of trou- no illusions as to the value and efficacy of war. They ods of prosperity and stability produce a lukewarm ble and no more, for when war is over and all things would rather not fight politician’s wars. faith. And we must never become peacetime Christians: righted God is neglected and the old soldier slighted.” Nevertheless there are times to take a stand. The bat- we are always in crisis and in times of trouble. This poignant line should be contemplated at length tle against the so-called Islamic State is one of those In our hymn books we have downgraded military by all politicians. times. It seems impossible that we will commit troops in imagery to the extent that sometimes we sing ‘Onward On one level it merely points to the importance of a ground war yet young men in Iraq and Kurdistan and Christian Pilgrims’ rather than ‘Onward Christian Sol- remembering at all times the contribution of our mili- perhaps, eventually Turkey, will have to pay the price in diers’. Yet that is to miss the point of the image. In all tary forces and not just in periods of national and inter- halting the expansion of these Islamists. They need our sorts of ways we are at war but like the old soldier we national anxiety. But there are deeper pressing support and our prayers as do those wrongheaded must learn to pick our fights very carefully. questions raised by it at the same time and it is here young people who have been seduced by the evil ideol- Military action is not a panacea in international con- that politicians need to take more urgent notice. ogy of Islamism. flict. Neither is it always part of the church’s engage- For it is the politician who sends troops to war and the Finally, if we but remembered God and his ways we ment in the public square. Yet sometimes it is and if we wise soldier who knows the limits of the effectiveness would have no need of war. The neglect of God and the neglect the imagery of the Christian soldier we will of warfare. slighting of the old soldier is to do with the fact that we never know when the time comes to stand and fight. What do the mid-term PAUL RICHARDSON elections really mean? Church and World

Republicans are cock-a-hoop at victory in the tutions that could create a crisis if they were midterm elections and many are seeing the vote to fail can now be put under extra scrutiny. as a rebuke to Barack Obama and a sign he is The government can seize financial institu- now a lame duck. Since America remains the tions in a crisis and there is a Consumer world’s pre-eminent power the result matters to Financial Protection Bureau designed to all of us, particularly if it means more gridlock in protect Americans against predatory lend- Washington with the President weakened by ing. opposition in Congress. Although six years into Obama’s presi- One conclusion that should not be drawn is dency the economy hasn’t fully recovered that this spells doom for Democratic hopes in Krugman judges things could be worse and 2016. President Obama remarked that he was Obama’s stimulus plan averted the worst of interested in the message sent not just by those the slump. The stimulus should have been who voted but by those who didn’t vote. In mid- bigger but Republican opposition in the term elections young people, blacks and Hispan- House was hard to overcome. Obama has ics tend not to vote. If Hillary Clinton is on the made sure that the rich pay higher taxes by ticket in 2016 there is a good chance that she will allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire and energise these voters as well as having more there are special taxes on high incomes to appeal to white males than Obama. At present pay for Obamacare. large parts of the American electorate are fed up Krugman even terms Obama America’s with both parties. Democrats suffered because best president for the environment they are the party of government and people (although he admits that is not high praise don’t think government is working properly. given the record of the others). Supplies of But even if the Democrats win in 2016 whoev- renewable energy have increased and er is elected is still going to have to work with a measures have been taken to encourage House of Representatives that looks set to fuel efficiency. remain Republican for a long time because of the Krugman says he has no special expert- way the boundaries have been fixed. ise in foreign policy but he likes Obama’s There is no doubt that many Democrats felt that According to Krugman Obama has emerged as ‘one reluctance to commit troops overseas. Here foreign Obama’s record was a problem. One candidate for the of the most consequential and, yes, successful, Presi- observers have their reservations. Obama has been too senate even pretended she could not remember if she dents in America’s history’. This is a judgement that concerned not to repeat what he sees as the mistakes of voted for him as President (she still lost). Actually has been endorsed by another former critic of Obama, George W Bush. Troops should have remained in Iraq, Obama’s achievements have been more substantial one of America’s most distinguished historians, Sean red lines in Syria should have been enforced and than he has been given credit for. Wilentz. Obama should have been tougher with Israel over the Part of the problem is that he came to power with Quite rightly, Krugman lists the affordable care act as settlements. such high expectations at a very difficult period in Obama’s major achievement. After the problems of the The crisis that began in 2008 helped bring Obama to America’s history. I heard him speak in New York in roll-out, it is becoming clear that the scheme is a suc- power but it has led to suspicion of governments 2007 and was stunned by his oratory. He is easily the cess with a drop of perhaps 10 million in the number of increasing in both the US and Europe. Right-wing pop- best public speaker (secular or religious) that I have Americans without health insurance. This number is ulism in the shape of Ukip and the Tea Party has grown ever heard. It didn’t help that shortly after coming to likely to grow as more people realise the advantages in strength. Immigration and the rise of new powers in power Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize for no and the penalties increase for failing to sign up. Repub- the world is unsettling for older, white voters. Identity is good reason. licans are unlikely to undo ‘Obama care’ as it becomes replacing class in determining how people vote. Simple But that decision is a reflection on the Nobel Commit- more popular and more people have a stake in it. racism does explain some opposition to Obama but per- tee, not on Obama. Another Nobel Prize winner, the Krugman also gives Obama high marks for handling haps not as much as his supporters think. In time, his economist and New York Times columnist, Paul Krug- the financial crisis. He didn’t hit Wall Street hard achievements will receive recognition. In the meantime man, who was not originally an Obama supporter has writ- enough but the Dodd-Frank Act he signed into law will he needs to work harder on foreign policy for his final ten an essay for Rolling Stone listing his achievements. probably make future crises less severe. Financial insti- two years.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 10 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 21, 2014 Feature Prisons Week: Shedding light on a broken institution

its 40th year of promoting prayer and Friday: for the families prison service has faced cuts of £263 mil- religious support for the dismal prison Saturday: for our communities lion in three years and 12,500 staff mem- conditions that have become a reality in bers since 2010, all while the prison England and Wales. The previous Sunday – designated population has continued to rise. It is supported and run by many differ- Prisoners’ Sunday – starts the week. Spe- Independent research published by ent Christian denominations and faith- cial services will take place on this day and the charity reveals the raw details of this based charities. throughout the week – including a service system. Their research extends from the A Prisons Week spokesperson said: last Sunday at Rochester Cathedral. mental health and treatment of female “The Prison Service is facing huge chal- The Prisons Week Committee also prisoners to the anguish that prison lenges with record populations of more focuses on distributing a year’s worth of workers and families of prisoners experi- than 85,000 and many prisons suffering prayers and informational leaflets to pris- ence. from overcrowding. The figures speak oners. Its ultimate aim is to bring a A significant emphasis is put on the for themselves and we need to reduce greater awareness to the needs of prison- mental health of prisoners. Their recent the levels of distress and despair within ers and their families, including those study Too Little Too Late: An Independent the system by building hope.” who work within the prison system. Review of Unmet Mental Health in Prison Each of the seven days is assigned a This week of prayer for prisoners and a reveals that many people in need of men- specific prayer to support those affected greater sense of justice also sheds light tal health or social care were often by the prison system: on a relevant cause: the Prison Reform instead diverted into prisons, then Trust. released without any sort of treatment. This week is Prisons Week in England Monday: for those who work in prisons The PRT is an independent UK charity Prison staffs often do not receive ade- and Wales, in response to a fact that is Tuesday: for those who are prisoners that devotes itself to reforming the UK quate training to deal with inmates with becoming more and more apparent Wednesday: for those who are victims of prison domain into a more humane, fair, significant mental health problems. That every third week of November: the crime and ultimately effective system. factor, combined with less supervision prison system is broken. Thursday: for all working in the criminal The charity utilises their findings to due to reduced prison staff, results in The week, from 16-22 November, is in justice system raise awareness, inform the public, and danger. Ministry of Justice statistics even inform parliamentarians to influ- revealed that there has been a 52 per ence legislation. cent increase in prison suicides since They state that their main objectives 2011-12. are “reducing unnecessary imprison- The Prison Reform Trust hopes to ment and promoting community solu- reverse these sorts of statistics. They tions to crime, improving treatment promote a higher rate of enactment of and conditions for prisoners and their gradated punishment. This includes families, and promoting equality and enacting community sentences for lower- human rights in the justice system.” level offences, rather than sending most They highlight the parts of the prison offenders – regardless of offence – to system that are not often heard in pub- prison. lic. According to their annual ‘Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile,’ the public Continued on Page 11

“Dignity, Self-respect, Responsibility, Belonging, Community, Love”…

The words of Simon*, graduate of the Kainos Community prison programme ‘Challenge to Change’. Simon describes what the 6-month course has taught him at his graduation ceremony, held in front of fellow prisoners, family, probation officers and Kainos staff and volunteers: “I can now manage the dark days effectively, I know I don’t have to get angry every time someone disagrees with me, I can communicate without using my fists.” The men on the programme are considered medium to high risk of re-offending, often for “On the wing, I was allowed to violent or drug-related offences. Some 45.2 be me. I was treated as a human per cent of adults in the UK prison system are being. reconvicted within one year of being released “I’ve been out three years now at a cost of between £9.5 billion and £13 billion and I’m still in contact with the in 2013-14. The work of Kainos Community is Kainos mentor who met me at invaluable in addressing this worrying trend. the prison gate to take me home. JOIN GIVE PRAY Founded by Christians inspired by the “He still gives me support creation of Christian Communities in Brazilian when I need it, which isn’t so www.kainoscommunity.org twitter:@kainoscommunity prisons, Kainos works in English prisons by often these days. taking over a wing and delivering a 6-month “I’ve been so inspired by him CBT programme, based on biblical principles and the work of Kainos that I’m of forgiveness, community and basic human doing a course to train as a worth. Vital to the work is the support of the mentor.” Church, in particular those local to the Suleman, KAKAINOSINOS prisons (HMP Guys Marsh, HMP Stocken Kainos Graduate FAITH COOMMUNITOMMUNITYMMUNITY and HMP Haverigg). TRANSFORMING CHALLENGE There is a great need for more church communities to get involved with this TO CHANGE work. Prayer, volunteers, staff and financial support are needed urgently. For more information about this work or to get involved, please get in touch by email: LIVES IN PRISON [email protected], or phone 01928 500797. Visit www.kainoscommunity.org for more information. *(name changed to protect identity)

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 21, 2014 Feature 11

ADVERTORIAL Many people have a block about something. It may be emotional, or physical. It may be spiritual. Torture is often a block for many people. “It doesn’t happen here’’ they say, “so I don’t need to think about it.’’ It may be the cause of a block for many, even you as you read this, but torture happens, and is happening right now. An act of torture was in fact at the very heart of the Christian faith. We don’t like to think of it, but it’s there. So, the charity Action by Christians Against Torture (ACAT – UK) was born in 1984 out of a commitment to campaign for the abolition of this world-wide evil. ACAT- UK is one of over 40 ACAT’s worldwide with an umbrella organisation FIACAT based in Paris, some in countries where torture is endemic. So, how does ACAT – UK campaign? Basically, in two ways. First, it tries to go to the heart of the problem, where torture is practised. Members write appeals to Governments, Presidents, Ministers of Justice and others with power in the country where it is known torture is happening. They write about specific people: men, women and children in detention and very often tortured. These letters mean the officials then know that we know what is happening, which they would like to keep secret because in almost every country torture is illegal. Second, members send cards at Christmas, religious or non-religious, to prisoners. These are greatly prized by those in detention and so often facing torture. Details of prisoners can be obtained through the ACAT- UK office, 19 The Square, Knowle Park , Bristol BS4 2ST, or e-mail [email protected]. We know many letters and cards get through and appeals do work. Much is done in faith, with no definite result known to members, but faith is what we are all about. Like and follow us on Facebook Please join us. JOIN GIVE PRAY www.langleyhousetrust.org twitter: @LangleyHseTrust

LANGLEY FAITH HOUSE TRUST REDUCING REOFFENDING HELPING PEOPLE TO IN OUR COMMUNITIES LIVE CRIME-FREE LIVES

ADVERTORIAL 50% of the prison population in England and Wales consider themselves to be Christians, 40% of those are Anglicans (Bromley Briefings, Autumn 2014). John Dodd was a prisoner of war in a Japanese internment camp. One day in a café on the Isle of Wight Action by ChristiansAgainst Torture he saw a man recently released from prison set fire to the café, just so that he could be sent back. c/o 19 TheSquare He rallied a group of passionate Christian businessmen, Knowle Park tel 0117 971 0379 barristers and leaders and they formed themselves into Bristol www.acatuk.org.uk ‘Team K’ with a mission to reduce reoffending by BS4 2ST providing a home for men coming out of prison. In 1958 they formed a charity and prepared to buy a large house to start their dream – ‘Langley House’. The sale fell through but the name stuck, a legacy to those that refused to give up in spite of the obstacles. Continued from page 10 What the Prisons Week and With an exceptionally low 2.6% re-offending rate last the Prison Reform Trust both year, the Trust works with over 1000 particularly difficult The fact that prisons are a pub- come down to is a sense of to manage or difficult to place offenders in hostels and lic, government-funded service social justice. They both pro- community settings. The original vision of providing brings greater ethical concerns to mote that the public as a homes for Christians upon release was quickly overtaken the forefront. whole must become more by the need to support those that no-one wanted, The PRT states: “The state of invested in the justice and fair regardless of their faith. our prisons is a fair measure of the treatment of all members of “I remember my first day. The staff were really friendly state of our society.” society. and made me feel at home. It wasn’t too long before they This quote encapsulates the When it comes down to it, were helping me with my medication and I began to feel magnitude of both the Prison prison reform is a matter for comfortable there - I think that was the first time I felt like Reform Trust and Prisons Week. the public. If we are to believe that in all the time I can remember. They really helped me The state of UK prisons indicates that the quickly degrading get my life in order and now I can see that real change is the quality of society – it is the conditions of prisons has possible. public’s responsibility to get nothing to do with UK society, I haven’t committed one single offence in two years now involved. that only indicates a severe - that’s pretty amazing when you think that that was Janet Crowe, the deputy direc- disconnect in our sense of jus- always the first thing on my mind when I woke up each tor of the Prison Reform Trust, tice and goodwill – essential day - “what am I going to steal from what shop today?” said: “The public needs to demand aims of the Christian faith. Darrell. dignified, respectful prison regime so prisoners get services and educational Further information about Prisons Week can be For more information and inspirational stories of life- work opportunities in order to be able to resettle found at http://www.prisonsweek.org/ transforming work, please visit www.langleyhousetrust.org effectively.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 12 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 21 2014 Classifieds / Feature

In Mali there are similar issues of hierarchy, says Ann-Marie. “A girl cannot stand against the older woman in her family. One woman we met was Ending FGM in a lifetime a nurse and knew FGM was wrong and could be life-threatening. But when her older sister gave her her Almost three years ago this paper ran a feature by Ann-Marie Wilson, the The campaign to end FGM is many niece to hold during the circumcision founder of charity 28 Too Many, in which she made the daring claim that things – a loving family, a vibrant ceremony, she had to go along with it female genital mutilation (FGM) in Africa could be ended in three decades. roadshow, backroom negotiations and because it would have been wrong for Now we catch up with her to hear how the colourful campaign to end FGM is a dogged fight. her to speak against her elder sister.” seizing a great moment of opportunity. This year the subject has made its In the time that Ann-Marie has been way firmly onto the government working on FGM, the problem has agenda and into the media spotlight. risen up in the political and media And Dr Ann-Marie Wilson, a Church agenda. Now there are many CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS Mission Society (CMS) mission opportunities to be seized. partner and founder of FGM research A new African-led media campaign Tel: 020 7222 2018 and campaigning charity 28 Too Many, called The Girl Generation has major Email: [email protected] believes more than ever that the funding from the British government. practice will die out – and within the The Girl Summit in London in July next three generations in Africa. threw a spotlight on the issue. Here APPOINTMENTS Ann-Marie has been part of building Ann-Marie was able to present a a broad coalition of support that now declaration condemning FGM from includes ministers of numerous over 350 UK faith leaders – Christian, governments, UN officials, NHS staff, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish and WiWithth its network of parisparisheshes covering the countryy,, the Church of EnglanEnglandnd playysssana an activective role in cricketing Maasai warriors, Christians, more. national life, bringing an important ChristianChristian dimension to the nation as well as ssttrengtheningrengthening Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and brave And the colourful coalition against community.community.TThhee NNaationaltional Church InsInstitutionstitutions (NCI(NCIs)Iss) support and promote the aims of the Church. young girls and women who refuse to FGM continues to grow. be cut or to cut others. Ann-Marie fondly remembers Yet the scale of the problem remains meeting Pastor Mehdad of World EXECUTIVE OFFICER (SYNOD OFFICE) vast. Shine Ministries from Tanzania at the £23,832 p. p.a.a.. rriisingsing to £25,373 pp..a.a.. after probationprobation periodperiod 28 Too Many’s latest country reports Girl Summit. ChChururrccchhHouse, London focus on Mali and Sierra Leone, “A man campaigning against FGM gripped by the threat of Ebola but can go to places I can’t – and together The primary function of this roleo is too prroovide high level administrraative support to the Head of Events relating to where FGM is an even longer lasting we can make quite a strong team. I can orrgganising meetings of the Generraal Synod and the House of Bishops including diary management, resear ebwh,c epidemic. gather the information and tell the content administrraation and coorrddinatdinating a variety of projects. This will include being the firrsst point of contact Sierra Leone was the land founded stories globally, he can rally his for Bishops’’ enquiries rege arrdding the HHouse and College of Bishops as well as thee GenerraalSy Synod. Dealing with the numerroous queries and requests that come into the Synod Office, both from withinthin and outside the orrgganisation. as a place of freedom for former menfolk to actually stand up and make YYoou will also be in olvv ed in delivering the efficient and cost ef ectivf e running of all meetings, including liaising with slaves, the site of the work of the very this an issue to end in the churches.” external contrraactorrss and venues about technical facilities, accommodation and cater .ing first CMS mission partners in whose One of the most eye-catching stead Ann-Marie now continues her initiatives is the recently announced TToo be considered,e you will need to offer a wide ranga e of orrgganisational experience and skills gained working in a campaign. Yet here 88 per cent of girls partnership between 28 Too Many, similar rroole. This should include strroonong interperrssonal and diplomatic abilityy,, combined with the confidence to deal with people at all le els.v Able to work on your own initiative, both individually and as part of a team, you will also are cut as part of coming-of-age rituals Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) need to be skilled at drraafting and preparing correspondence,, briefs and other material, and cope well with pressure,e that see them inducted into the secret and the Maasai Cricket Warriors – a change and deadlines. Previous experience of diary management and advanced computer/IT, especially MS Office Bondo societies of women. team of elite cricketers who are using (excel and access) skills are essential. Some trraavel and overnight stays will be required. “All women have to be in those their role-model status to campaign societies to be eligible for marriage against FGM and promote female For further information about the Churrcch of England,, please visit www.cwwww..churchofengland.orghofcurh hofengland.orrgg

ToToapply apply visit wwwwww.jobtrain.co.uk/prospectus/vacancies.aspxw..jobtrain.co.uk/prospectus/vacancies.aspx AlternativelyAlternatively call 0844 880 5154 quoting refereerefr ence:nce:C2216-398-1 Closing date ffoorr rreeceiptceipt of applications: WeWednesdadnesday, 3rd3r,y d December 2014 Interviews:Intervie Tws: Tuuesdaesdayy,,16th16th December 2014

MEETINGS

John Bell (Iona) The Search for theCommon Good Ann-Marie (third from left) presenting 350+ empowerment. pledges from faith leaders against FGM and “FGM is a deep rooted, traditional 6.30, Mon 24 Nov, forced marriage to government ministers practice but attitudes towards it are St Marylebone Church, NW1 5LT Lynne Featherstone and Norman Baker. beginning to change,” says Ann-Marie. Guild of Health Photo: 28 Too Many “I honestly think that what I never thought could happen will happen and gohealth.org.uk/events.html 020 7563 1389 I will see FGM end in my lifetime.” and to enter into womanhood,” says Even the deadly Ebola outbreak in Ann-Marie. “This includes having Sierra Leone offers a window of NOTICES FGM in early childhood. In all these possibility for stamping out FGM. countries the age is getting lower: in “Because the government has Sierra Leone it’s puberty; in Mali it’s banned all communal gatherings of five and lower. more than five people, there are no 42/-++-/ )++) /''/&+%- -% ) ) ++ “In Sierra Leone there is no law cutting ceremonies taking place across ++/) ! ++ + + ! /+/+ against FGM so it’s difficult to work the whole country,” explains Ann- with the government towards ending Marie. the practice.” While the ban on communal VACANCYVACANCY ININ THESE EEESE OFOF NENEWCWCASTLEASTLE Power and hierarchy play a huge gathering exists, a whole age bracket role in the society. Often the only may escape FGM. Uncut girls will FoFol l l lo wo wii ng theaahetngnnouncementnnouncement of thhetfoeret irementemrietrheent of thhetfoeRtRevdevRtRMartinWnitraMdevWharton, BishhosiBn,otrhaopp offop power women achieve is with the role marry and this could be the tipping NeNewcastlsacwsme, theeht,eltSSeeeewiwillllbbecomecoevacantonthe 30 03th ehtNoN novembe tnacavr2 e 014. TheCehT .4102 reb m evo roorCwnnw of cutter – or Sowei – as they grow point for FGM in Sierra Leone. NoNominaanmitions CommoCsnoitammiission will memelliwnoissete on 2332noterd Ju -24ne and 2332dnaen-24th JulyJu 2015..5102yl older. They are reluctant to give up The anti-FGM movement is as much Anyperrepysonwishing to comment onn oth tneen meeds m oc of otgnihsiwthedio ncese osr oro esecthew oidid ehtfoer church, sdeen ehtor nwhoo h w ro ,hcruhc rediwthis ehtro status. a family as anything, and in October it wishes totsehswiproposecandidates, sh ouluue odwrdl hs,setahswr setadiditeb didefor nacfoebeit nacreet eso estheh o p p orp o2 rpnd ot otMaaMrch 20155102hcrato::ot Yet there are movements of women lost its mother-figure, Efua Dorkenoo CarolinniloreBoddingtonn otgnid d o B e Mr Edward ChhCdrawdEaplinnilpa standing up against the practice and OBE. ArchbissibhcArhops’ Sec retary forAAprofyraterceS’spohsppointtniopmentsstnemtPrimeMinister’sertsniiMemiPrSecretaryfor ApArofyraetrecSs’erpointmemntippoentntssent celebrating more positive rites of “She talked about the generations TheWashaWeHouseesuoHhsa c/oHonours &A&sruonoHoc/ppointmentsSecretariatatiartecrSestnemtnioppA&passage. standing on each other’s shoulders to LambmLabetethPPahbetalaceecal RooRo mG40 GrrG04GmoounornudFFldloooro “We’re partnering with an end FGM,” says Ann-Marie. “The LondonLondon 1Horse GuarddsruaGesroH1sRoaddaoRds organisation called MEA who are grandmothers have done their part, SE171SE77JJUJU LondoLondonSW1WSn1AA22HHQQ doing Bondo initiation ceremonies now it’s time to work with the without cutting – and so no problems survivors – 14-24-year-olds who will Moreerinformation about theDDiehttuobanoitmarofniioceseeco of NewcNefoeseastle’sVacancyy cin n aSee c a V can s’eltsa be c wfound onl ineaat: eniln:ta o d n u of eb nacare eeS caused ni like fistula, which can make say ‘I will be a mother who will not cut www.newcastle.anglican.orggr o.n a cilg n a.eltsa wc e n childbirth difficult and dangerous in my girls; I will be the generation to later life.” end FGM’.” www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 21, 2014 The Register 13

BIBLECHALLENGE ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER

Day 325: Jonah 1, Psalm 117, Friday 21 November. Psalm 47, Jn 6:1-15. Katanga - (Congo): The Rt Rev Muno Matthew 19 Kasima

Day 326: Jonah 2, Psalm 118, Saturday 22 November. Psalm 48, Jn 6:16-21. Katsina - (Kaduna, Nigeria): The Matthew 20 Rt Rev Jonathan Bamaiyi

Day 327: Enjoy hearing the Scriptures Sunday 23 November. Pentecost 24. Psalm 49, Jn 6:22-40. PRAY for The read aloud in church Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain (E-P to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain - (Spain): The Rt Rev Carlos Lopez-Lozano Day 328: Jonah 3, Psalm 119:1-32, Matthew 21 Monday 24 November. Psalm 50:1-15, Jn 6:41-51. Kebbi - (Kaduna, Nigeria): The Most Rev Edmund Akanya Day 329: Jonah 4, Psalm 119:33-72, Matthew 22 Tuesday 25 November. Psalm 51, Jn 6:52-59. Keewatin - (Rupert’s Land, Canada): The Most Rev David Norman Ashdown; Area Bishop for Northern Day 330: Micah 1, Psalm 119:73-112, Ontario - (Rupert’s Land, Canada): The Rt Rev Lydia Mamakwa Subscribe to the Matthew 23 Wednesday 26 November. Psalm 52, Jn 6:60-71. Kentucky - (IV, The Episcopal CEN in the Day 331: Micah 2, Psalm 119: 113-144, Church): The Rt Rev Terry White Matthew 24 Apple Newsstand Thursday 27 November. Psalm 54, Isa 32:1-8. Kericho - (Kenya): The Rt Rev Jackson Ole Sapit PRICES FROM JUST 69p APPOINTMENTS

(Gloucester), to be Stipendiary Rector of Honeybourne and Marston Sicca the Benefice of Quinton, Welford, (Gloucester), to be Self-Supporting The Rev Canon David Abraham, Weston and Marston Sicca (same Assistant Curate in the Benefice of the has been appointed to a new (additional) diocese). Vale and Cotswold Edge Team Ministry position as Honorary Priest Vicar, The Rev Dawn Mather, (Gloucester). Norwich Cathedral (Norwich). United Reform Minister for the Isle of The Rev Jonathan James Gerald READERS The Rev Stephen Craig Bishop, Man (Sodor and Man), to be Honorary Wright, Stipendiary Priest in Charge of the Canon of St German’s Cathedral (Sodor Assistant Curate of the Horncastle Benefice of Chipping Campden with and Man). Group (Lincoln) has been appointed as Ebrington (Gloucester) to be The Rev Sally Jane Morris, Vicar of the Benefice of Hedon, Paull, Michael Bailey - Parish of All Saints, Stipendiary Team Rector of the Benefice Self-Supporting Associate Priest in the Sproatley and Preston in Holderness Shiptonthorpe; Elaine Bannister - of the Vale and Cotswold Edge Team Benefice of Chipping Campden with (Lincoln). Parish of Christ Church, Bridlington Ministry (Gloucester). Ebrington (Gloucester), to be Self- Quay; Judith Dean - Benefice of Seamer The Rev Clive Brian Burgess, Supporting Associate Priest in the with East Ayton; Sylvia Eadington - Rector of Onchan, Lonan and Laxey Benefice of the Vale and Cotswold Edge Parish of St Mary, Scarborough; Jean (Sodor and Man), to be Honorary Team Ministry (Gloucester). Fowler - Parish of Bridlington Priory Canon of St German’s Cathedral (Sodor The Rev Greg Price RETIREMENTS & RESIGNATIONS Church (St Mary), Jill Gillanders - and Man). to become Priest in Charge of the Deanery of Mowbray; Dot Hicks - The Rev Corin Child, Tuxford with Weston and Markham Parish of St Mary, Strensall; Carol has been appointed to a new (additional) Clinton Benefice (Southwell and Holdsworth - To be licensed position as Honorary Priest Vicar, Nottingham). The Rev John Joseph Hasler, subsequently in Durham diocese David Norwich Cathedral (Norwich). The Rev Steven Price Vicar of the Benefice and Parish of St. Hobman - Parish of All Saints, The Rev John Philip Coldwell, currently Priest-in-Charge will be Mary Magdalene with St Francis Pavement, York; Elizabeth Moreland - Vicar of St Ninian, Douglas (Sodor and instituted and admitted as Incumbent Lockleaze, (Bristol), with effect from Deanery of Scarborough; Jane Robson - Man) to be Honorary Canon of St (Vicar) of Loose (Canterbury). 11th January 2015. Parishes of Christ Church, Eston and St German’s Cathedral (Sodor and Man). The Rev Keith Rengert, The Rev Andrew Steven Hawkins, George, Normanby; Keith Shaw - The Rev Dana Lurkse Delap, has been appointed to a new (additional) Vicar of the Benefice and Parish of St. Benefice of Sherburn in Elmet w Stipendiary Priest in Charge of the position as Honorary Priest Vicar, Martin’s Knowle, (Bristol), to resign Saxton; Susi Strang Wood - Benefice of Benefice of Blockley with Aston Magna Norwich Cathedral (Norwich). with effect from 31st March 2015. Easington w Liverton; Stephen West – and Bourton-on-the-Hill (Gloucester), to The Rev Angela Reynolds, The Rev Richard (Rick) Stordy, Tadcaster United Benefice; Graeme be Stipendiary Team Vicar of the has been appointed to a new (additional) Vicar of Chapeltown St John and Area Wrightson - Benefice of Riccall, Barlby Benefice of the Vale and Cotswold Edge position as Honorary Priest Vicar, Dean of Ecclesfield (Sheffield), to resign and Hemingbrough Team Ministry (Gloucester). Norwich Cathedral (Norwich). as Area Dean of Ecclesfield, but Kenneth Whiteway - Parish of St The Rev Christopher Chris Ellis, The Rev Andrew Sangster, remaining Vicar of Chapeltown St John Barnabas, Linthorpe having transferred has been appointed to a new (additional) has been appointed to a new (additional) (Sheffield). from Connections international group position as Honorary Priest Vicar, position as Honorary Priest Vicar, of churches affiliated to the Evangelical Norwich Cathedral (Norwich). Norwich Cathedral (Norwich). Alliance (All York Diocese unless The Rev Deborah Jayne Forman, The Rev James Stewart, otherwise stated). Stipendiary Priest in Charge of the has been appointed to a new (additional) Benefice of Pebworth, Dorsington, position as Coordinating Chaplain, Honeybourne and Marston Sicca; University of East Anglia (Norwich). Associate Priest in the Benefice of The Rev Philip John Thomas, WINE OF THE WEEK Quinton and Welford with Weston; and Vicar of St Mark, Woodthorpe Acting Area Dean of the North Cotswold (Southwell and Nottingham), to become Natale Verga Deanery (Gloucester), to be Stipendiary Vicar of Christ Church, Cinderhill in the Primitivo Puglia 2013 Team Vicar of the Benefice of the Vale same Diocese. Majestic £8.99 (£6.74, each, buy 2) and Cotswold Edge Team Ministry; The Rev Captain Darren Thornton remaining Acting Area Dean of the has been appointed to a new (additional) Primitivo is a hearty, early-ripening grape for red wine, mostly North Cotswold Deanery (Gloucester). position as Coordinating Chaplain, from the “heel” of Italy the region of Apulia (or Puglia), think east of The Rev Canon Philip Scott Frear, University of East Anglia (Norwich). Taranto to the Adriatic coast. It is usually thought that California’s Canon of St Maughold, St German’s The Rev Clare Tyack, Zinfandel is descended from it. Open, and, on the nose, encounter Cathedral (Sodor and Man), to be SSM Assistant Curate at St Mary, dark fruit aromas, damsons I’d say. Then, held in a medium body, it Canon Emeritus (Sodor and Man. Blidworth, and St Simon and St Jude, is immediately enjoyable, opening up quickly to become more The Rev Alice Moira (Tirsh) Grigor, Rainworth (Southwell and Nottingham) complex. More tannic notes follow, but the good fruit is still present. Stipendiary Priest in Charge of the to become SSM Associate Priest in the The finish is weighty and complex. A good wine to serve a glass of Benefice of Quinton and Welford with Hucknall Team in the same Diocese. just before a meal; then, after, it needs a meal to accompany it. Weston; and Associate Priest in the The Rev Celia Mary Woodruff, Ideal would be a tomato-sauced dish — so what could be more Benefice of Pebworth, Dorsington, Self-Supporting Assistant Curate in the appropriate than Italy’s national carbohydrate, pasta? Honeybourne and Marston Sicca Benefice of Pebworth, Dorsington, Graham Gendall Norton

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspa- per @churchnewspaper 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday November 21, 2014 Sunday

The challenges of parish leadership SUNDAY SERVICE (1988) calls a people culture. A peo- Richard Higginson runs Faith in 1st Sunday of Advent - Sunday 30 November BOB MAYO ple culture depends on trust and Business 2014 empathy for its effectiveness and (www.ridley.cam.ac.uk/centres/fait personal conversation for communi- h-in-business). He talks of servant Isaiah 64:1-9 Management is the art of working cation. It is a good structure for peo- (Luke 22:27), steward (Luke 12:42) 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 with people to get things done. It is ple who know each other already and shepherd (John 10:11) as differ- Mark 13:24-37 core business for the parish priest. but it is divisive in a parish because ent three Gospel models of manage- Without retired clergy, self-support- it leaves some as knowledge holders ment. These chime with the work I This week sees the start of a new church year, Year ing ministers (SSM), clergy part- and others not knowing what is do in the parish. Serving the needs B according to our lectionary. And the theme of our ners and an army of volunteers the expected of them. of others is management by another readings for this first Sunday in Advent is waiting Church of England Parish Structure A church that is ready to grow and name. I manage people as their ser- for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, as the would grind to a halt. In the parish willing to welcome new people vant; I manage resources as a stew- world gears up for Christmas festivities, it is not the there are always sermons to be needs Handy’s (1988) role culture ard; I manage events as a shepherd. first coming of Christ in his lowliness and humility preached, bills to be paid and hous- so that people know where they The different roles coalesce on a that we are anticipating, but his revelation in glory es to be visited. At Stephen’s we are stand and the variety of tasks need- Sunday morning as I welcome the at the last day. acting out the nightmare scenario ing to be completed gets done. people who have come to church. As Isaiah 64 looks forward longingly to the arrival of for a parish priest. We have needed There will always be someone need- a steward-minister I have made sure God, the anointed conqueror. Isaiah calls for God to to launch a Roof Appeal. When it ed to process the DBS checks, pre- that people are gathering in a build- tear the heavens open and come down, as he came rains four buckets are set out to pare the Sunday school teaching ing where the bills have been paid, down in the past to do “awesome deeds” and shake catch the water dripping through material or count the collection after the lights are on and the heating is the mountains. There has never been a God like the roof. the Service. working. As a relationship-focused him, “who works for those who wait for him”, Good management enables the Parish life functions on an axis of servant-minister I know people’s sto- rewarding the patient faith of those who remember flourishing and well-being of others. people, time and resources. In clas- ries. I have visited people in their him and gladly do what is right. This reminds us of I will willingly spend time organizing sic management theory these are homes, cared for them in their grief the stunning basis of our faith - it is God who works a committee if it creates a context done effectively, efficiently and eco- and celebrated birthdays and for us in salvation, not we who work to earn his where people can have their say and nomically. Time is dealt with effi- anniversaries in the parish. As shep- favour. be heard. It takes preparation to ciently, relationships effectively and herd-minister I will lead the congre- Our works themselves, apart from faith, are enable people to feel confident resources economically. Vicars and gation through the service drawing worse than nothing; they are unclean in his sight. enough to be spontaneous. curates are generally strong at one them into the process of worship. So his judgment is always justified, even when he Jesus’ management style was deep of these but rarely at all three. Either It is one of the privileges of church hides his fatherly face from us for a time. Yet even and narrow and not obviously suc- they are good with people but are ministry that I can say to people so, we can appeal to him on the basis of his cessful during the three-year period disorganized or they are well organ- ‘This is the body of Christ broken covenant with us: we are his people, whom he can- from his baptism to his death on the ized but not so easily approachable. for you’ and at the same time I know not forget. cross. Jesus spent a lot of time with a Debretts have published a guide to the broken stories of the lives of the 1 Corinthians begins with thanksgiving, despite small group of people, one of whom mobile manners – never send a text people who come forward to receive the fact that Paul has many difficult and piercing betrayed him and some of whom message or check your phone dur- the sacrament. The ultimate pur- things to say to this seemingly successful but still doubted him when it came to ing a meeting. It is good advice for pose of parish management is evan- deeply worldly church. The centre of his thanksgiv- the Ascension (Matt 28:17). Parish all. gelism, enabling people to come ing for them is that they are “not lacking in any spir- management is wide and shallow, If I am overly task-focused and face to face with the living God. itual gift as [they] wait for the revealing of our Lord less time spent with more people. determined to get things done I will Jesus Christ.” They are enriched and blessed in him The more successful the church is, be efficient in my use of time but not The Rev Dr Bob Mayo is Vicar of St and there remains a strong testimony to his grace the greater numbers of people effective in building relationships. If Stephen and St Thomas, Shepherds amongst them, despite their waywardness. appear; the greater number of peo- I spend inordinate amounts of time Bush, with St Michael and St So Paul is prayerfully confident that God will ple who appear the less one has to in conversation with people then I George, White City strengthen them further, with grace to persevere in spend time with people individually. will be effective in building relation- ([email protected] / blameless discipleship until the day Christ returns. Jesus’ itinerant group of disciples ships but I will not be using my time @RevBobMayo / God called them into fellowship with his holy Son, was an example of what Handy efficiently. www.ststephensw12.org) and will faithfully keep them in that sanctifying rela- tionship. Paul’s words of warning and exhortation and correction are, of course, godly instruments to ensure their spiritual preservation “to the end.” REVIEW young student at school gles continue – Mother chokes on it and the nurse Much has been written on Mark 13, and some who invites her to sing and Daughter, and singu- has to extricate it from her have suggested that it refers not to the final coming The Stations of the with his choir she larly Maria, with her reli- throat, at which point she is of Christ in glory but to his impending crucifixion Cross changes his name from gious pressures whilst unable to be resuscitated. (when the sun was darkened in the middle of the In cinemas 28 November Christian to Rebecca to maturing into adulthood. The mother is in the day, and the powers of heaven were shaken). Verse get her mother’s blessing Is the purpose of the story room with the young boy 26 seems, however, to fix our eyes on a future day The making of this to go. to portray that religion who has never spoken or when he will come in manifest power and glory, not German-language film A huge power struggle can be bad when it is emitted any sound. As the the hidden power of his cross. and its success carries a ensues, which is the taken to extremes? monitor confirms that On that day, the elect will be gathered in from message to anyone who strongest thread to the Mid-story the 14 Sta- Maria’s heartbeat has around the world by the angels. The day is near, looks for a second saga. Maria is crushed by tions of the Cross are fea- finally ceased, the young says Jesus, but no one can know exactly when it is opinion. Against advice her aggressive and angry tured as the undeniably boy suddenly talks for the going to come. Only the Father has it marked deci- from financing partners, mother and at confession relentlessly negative saga first time – “Where is sively on his calendar. Our task, in the meantime, is producer Jochen Laube – beautifully and sensitive- unfolds, as Maria, taken ill Maria”? to be alert and awake. and his team went on to ly filmed, she tells the at a church event, and The mother’s remorse Jesus’ image of a fig tree teaches us that the time make this award-winning priest about her lie to her rushed to see a doctor, is is alluded to as she and will come and we should watch and wait. His image film (Winner: The mother, but is swayed to admitted to hospital. One her husband choose a cof- of the Master going on a journey teaches us that Student Critics Jury follow religious doctrine of the most powerful fin for the funeral. The our waiting should be active and always alert. When Award Edinburgh and is horrifically con- scenes takes place father actually has no the Master returns we must not be found asleep or International Film sumed with guilt and fear between the doctor and speaking part, thus por- in a selfish stupor (or have lives characterised Festival 2014; Focus on as she tries to find her way the mother: he recognises traying strongly the power thus), but be sober and ready to welcome the happy Germany, and three other forward. in Maria that she is a vic- struggle of female voices day. awards plus a nomination Not only does she ulti- tim of serious bullying and in the story. The mother for Best International mately reject Christian, even makes reference to sobs and cries as they The Rev Dr Lee Gatiss is the editor of the NIV Feature Film). but she also becomes having seen such cases demand a white coffin, the Proclamation Bible and Director of Church Society Based on the Society entrapped in a desire to be before during the war. last scene of the film Sta- (www.churchsociety.org). Saint Pius X and address- with God. A sub-plot is Asking the mother to tion 14 – The holy body of ing Catholic religious fun- that one of Maria’s sib- leave the consulting room Jesus is lad in the tomb – damentalism, the story lings, a young boy, is produces a violent verbal being Maria’s coffin in the looks at a family tied-up unable to speak. Advising outburst from her and she grave and an over-large HYMN SELECTION with Catholic doctrine, her mother that perhaps does not leave. digger ladling earth on to featuring a daughter – she should just let it be, Once in hospital Maria it as Christian hovers Maria, who is about to be the reaction is furious – slips gradually away and is nearby. Clearly it must Creation sings the Father’s song confirmed. She learns that doctors’ advice has been on a monitor and drip. have been a terrible loss Awake, awake: fling off the night modern music, and even sought interminably with The school priest comes for Christian and the Come, thou long expected Jesus soul and gospel are bad no result so far. to deliver the communion agony is tangible. Lo, he comes with clouds descending and when she meets a The two power strug- bread to her but she Penny Nair Price O Come, O come, Emmanuel

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FILM OFTHE WEEK

The Imitation Game (dir. Morten Tyl- dum, cert. 12A) brilliantly takes us into the world of wartime code-breaking at Bletchley Park and into the mind of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch). Kept secret for 50 years, the work was said to have shortened the war by two years and saved millions of lives. There’s a brief reference to Polish Intelligence capturing a German Enigma encoding machine but the Poles’ work on a code-breaking machine (a “bombe”) is ignored. This story revolves around a tension between attempts to break each day’s code by mental agility and Turing’s efforts to build a machine that would crunch the possible permutations, put at 159 million million million. The wider social context is set early on, as the main story is flashback from Turing’s arrest and conviction for inde- cency in 1952, and the awful judicial choice of imprisonment or hormone treatment to “cure” his homosexuality. The wartime story itself goes back to his time at Sherborne School where young Alan (Alex Lawther) befriends Christo- pher Morcom (Jack Bannon); Lawther virtually reproduces his repressed gay schoolboy from Benjamin Britten: Peace and Conflict (2013). Morcom died from tuberculosis in 1930, another event underlying the whole story, as Turing develops his Strong). In the film it’s Turing alone, they can read German naval messages, story when in 2009 Gordon Brown machine, while badly managing his rela- rather than really as one of four signato- shipping that could be saved has to be issued an apology for the treatment that tionships with colleagues Hugh Alexan- ries, who writes to Churchill to seek sacrificed so as not to reveal that the led to his suicide. We may be grateful der (Matthew Goode), John Cairncross more resources. unbreakable code is broken. that, unlike in U-571 (2000) where the (Allen Leech), Peter Hilton (Matthew Reservations over historical accuracy Alexandre Desplat’s original music is Americans find an Enigma machine in a Beard) and Joan Clarke (Keira Knight- apart, this is a fine drama about crucial fine, and certainly less intrusive than U-boat and win the war, the only obvious ley), to whom he is briefly engaged. wartime work, about Turing’s envision- many modern scores, but the best of the American influence is in the spelling of Knightley is inevitably very good but, ing of the modern computer, and about technical stuff is how production design- “honor” in the credits. as former Bletchley Park worker the prevailing attitude to homosexuality. er Maria Djurkovic recreates Hut 8 and Earlier films Enigma (2001) – a spy Baroness Trumpington has pointed out, Nock (Rory Kinnear) is the investigating Turing’s machine – made more interest- story - and The Turing Enigma (2011) – rather prettier than Clarke (judge for police officer in Manchester in 1952, con- ing by removing its Bakelite box to see a message from Turing from the past – yourself at www.goo.gl/IODZgx). vinced that he is uncovering a Soviet spy, “its guts and entrails”. Bletchley Park have hardly told the truth. This is a stir- Turing has a sceptical boss at Bletch- and deflated and annoyed to know the itself adds an authentic feel to exterior ring account that perhaps gets quite ley Park in Commander Alastair Dennis- truth, and seemingly against the prose- shots. close to the events, and the people. ton (Charles Dance) but an ally in the cution. It’s an American production – it seems head of MI6, Stewart Menzies (Mark There are other moral dilemmas. Once Hollywood only woke up to Turing’s Steve Parish

the dangerous role gambling plays in our society. For- and some other early works from Christian Ireland BOOK OFTHE WEEK merly Bishop of Worcester, the author is now a mem- and provided notes and commentary to help us appre- ber of the directing team of St Paul’s Institute in the ciate the world in which Patrick lived. A formidable team of writes City of London where he is well placed to study the Stewart Sutherland is a philosopher who has writ- has combined to produce role money plays on our society. ten on literature and religion. In Greed (Haus Curiosi- The Bright Field: Meditations In Surprised by Scripture ties) he has produced an essay of 43 small pages that and Reflections for Ordinary (SPCK) Tom Wright sets out to is packed with wisdom and insight. In the film Wall Time (SCM). There are ser- show the surprising new light Street Gordon Gekko says that greed is good; David mons and mediations by the scriptures can shed on a Hume described it as the most damaging of vices. Martin Percy, Jenny Gaffin, range of subjects. Among other Who is right? Is greed the incentive we need or is it Helen-Ann Hartley, Sam topics he offers a biblical case ‘directly destructive of society’, as Hume argued. Wells and Rowan Williams; for ordaining women, looks at Sutherland looks at how we might approach the sonnets by Malcolm Guite; the relation between science a problem of greed in the modern age. prayers by Jim Cotter; and a religion (the book is dedicated to Oxford’s series of ‘Very Short Introductions’ has collection of readings and the distinguished American sci- examined a whole range of subjects, each in the prayers on a number of entist, Francis Collins), and space of around 120 pages. The editors made an themes by Geoff Miller. examines ‘9/11, tsunamis and the excellent choice when they asked John Bowker to Paula Gooder writes a fore- new problem of evil’. This is Tom write God: A Very Short Introduction. With clarity word and John Pritchard contributes a preface. This Wright the popular theologian at and with economy of words he looks at such ques- is a book that should not be missed. his very best. tions as why some people believe in God and why oth- Peter Selby warned about the dangers of debt in his St Patrick has been hailed as a missionary pioneer, ers do not; at what philosophers, poets and earlier book Grace and Mortgage. Now he reflects on a man ready to leave the security of his own culture theologians have said; and at how the great religions the lessons of the 2008 financial crisis in An Idol and society to proclaim the gospel to people who had approach God. He shows how beliefs have changed Unmasked: A Faith Perspective on Money (DLT). He once held him captive. In The World of St Patrick and explains why they will continue to do so. Every- alleges that money, which today is largely debt, has (OUP) Philip Freeman, a Professor of Classical Lan- one will profit from reading this short, insightful grown into an idol and offers a penetrating critique of guages in the US, has translated Patrick’s Confessions work.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper COLLEGE STREET SW1 Get snapping to CITY OF WESTMINSTER celebrate Advent using your camera phone

Most don’t associate monks with the theme along with the tag Jan Butter, says: “It’s all too easy cell phones, but Anglican Com- #Adventword. for Christians to be consumers in munion churches are encourag- This activity is paired along today’s world.” ing their members worldwide to with the daily email that the They encourage Christians contribute to a global Advent cal- Brothers are also promoting for instead to learn how to give back endar on Instagram. Advent. Anglicans and Episco- in their own way – through shar- Advent, which runs from 30 palians can sign up for the daily ing inspiration and community November to 24 December, is the “Brother, Give Us a Word” 5am spirit through photos. period in which Christians email that offers a daily word, Brother Geoffrey Tristam, observe a time of expectant wait- meditation, and image. SSJE, Superior, said: “During ing for the celebration of the Contrary to popular belief, the Advent, we anticipate the coming Nativity of Jesus on Christmas Brothers encourage the use of of Christ, an event that awakens Day. mobile phones – especially if it our deepest desires and longings. It is tradition to observe this will inspire users to consider the This Advent, we are inviting you period with prayer and medita- broader themes and meanings of to join us in looking clearly and tion, but the Anglican Commun- Advent. honestly at our lives and taking ion Office and the Society of Saint SSJE’s Brother Jim Woodrum action.” John the Evangelist (SSJE) have said: “After reading the medita- To join in this global Advent cal- united to promote mobile phones tion, we’d love for people to snap a endar, please visit: as a way for Church members to picture that reflects the theme or http://www.aco.org/advent- celebrate their individual perspec- their response to it and post it to word.cfm tives of Advent. Instagram.” To sign up for the “Brother, Throughout Advent, the Anglican churches fear that Give Us a Word” daily email “adventword” Instagram account members lose sight of the real (which also extends after will share a word every day – like meaning of Advent and their gen- Advent), please visit: #Thrive or #Imagine – and partici- eral daily worship. http://www.ssje.org/adventword pants are encouraged to snap a Director of Communications at Global Advent calendar Insta- picture of their interpretation of the Anglican Communion Office, gram account: adventword

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PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 926 by Axe of man: the human soul Down 11 Egyptian rulers at the (6) time of the Exodus (8) 12 'They were a ------of grief 1 'Then he went down and 14 '...I would give you to Isaac and Rebekah' stayed in a ---- in the spiced wine to drink, [Gen/NIV] (6) rock of Etam' the ------of my pome- 13 '"Never, Lord!" he said, [Judg/NIV] (4) granates' [S of S/NIV] "This will never ------to 2 Medieval dramas repre- (6) you"' [Matt/NIV] (6) senting episodes from 15 From Job to Song of 15 '------it is yet in his green- the life of Christ (7,5) Songs: the Books of ------ness, and not cut down, 3 'The ------, though it in the Hebrew Bible (6) it withereth before any chews the cud, does not 18 Females in a religious other herb' [Job/KJV] have a divided hoof...' order who have taken (6) [Lev/NIV] (6) their vows (4) 16 City whose destruction 4 'The tongue of the wise - was prophesied, falling ----- knowledge, but the Last week’s solutions: eventually to the Assyri- mouth of the fool gush- Across: 1 Joseph, 5 Eyes, 8 Chapter, 9 ans in 732 BCE [Isa] (8) es folly' [Prov/NIV] (6) Elder, 10 Still, 11 Evil day, 12 Sheba, 14 17 'Then he will turn back 5 'If my falsehood ------Egypt, 18 Trouble, 20 Dream, 21 and ---- his fury against God's Kneel, 22 Readers, 23 Rain, 24 Wealth. the holy covenant' truthfulness...why am I [Dan/NIV] (4) still condemned as a sin- Down: 2 Obadiah, 3 Extol, 4 Harden, 5 19 Recipients of two epis- ner?' [Rom/NIV] (8) Evening, 6 Ended, 7 Pray, 8 Cast, 13 tles from Paul (13) 7 'Unless the Lord builds Babylon, 15 Present, 16 Hebrew, 17 the house, the builders - Amos, 18 Take, 19 Omega, 20 Diana. ------' [Ps/NIV] (6,2,4)

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N am e Across 8Passage from ing to all the the Bible, the Gospels (8) A d d r e s s 6First person to subject of a ser- 10 In Christian the- 9770964 816108 see Jesus after mon (4) ology, the intelli- P o s t C o de his resurrection 9Robber released gent and [John] (4,9) by Pilate accord- immaterial part [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper

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