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.