The latest At last! A INSIDE arts and healthy media in salt to use, review, p15 p14

THE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 No: 6195 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER opens door to women SUPPORTERS OF WOMEN provide a welcome boost for the morale of women bishops without first making Rt Rev Jonathan Baker, of Fulham. in the Church of England were delight- female clergy well beyond the Welsh bor- arrangements for those who, for reasons of “Experience in Wales and elsewhere ed and encouraged by the decision of ders and help to set a positive context for theology, could not accept episcopal min- does not give us the confidence that the the Governing Body of the Church in our own ongoing legislative process in the istry from them. promised ‘code of practice’ could offer the Wales to approve the consecration of Church of England,” she said. “We cannot see how a female bishop level of assurance that would encourage women to the episcopate by a single The vote was decisive in all three houses could be what a diocesan bishop should be growth and flourishing – so sorely needed bill. of the Governing Body with the House of – a Father in God and focus for unity for all in Wales - or the degree of certainty that Clergy voting in favour by 37 to 10, the within his ,” said a statement signed would remove the possibility of damaging Laity by 57 to 14 with two abstentions and by the Chairman of Forward in Faith, the and distracting disputes.” the Bishops voting for the measure unani- mously. The of Wales, the Most Rev Dr , said the bish- ops would consult widely about a code of New named practice and that there would be discus- sions about it at the Governing Body meet- ing next April. In 2008 the Governing Body narrowly voted down a measure to allow women bishops and it had been thought that it would be difficult to gain assent to a single bill. In the event the supporters of women bishops carried the day after a debate last- ing several hours. Highlights of the debate were relayed worldwide on Twitter and The Bill was proposed at the Governing comments came from people outside and Council meeting at Lampeter by the Bishop inside the meeting in English and Welsh. of Asaph, the Rt Rev and Dr Morgan, who said the vote in 2008 seconded by the , the Rt was one of the most disappointing Rev Andy John. moments in his time as Archbishop, hailed The original intention was to proceed to the new vote although he admitted he had the ordination of women bishops in two not taken it for granted. stages. The passing of the first measure The Bishops had backed a two-stage was to have been followed by a second process with a first vote to establish the measure outlining provision for conscien- principle and a second bill to amend the tious objectors but an amendment passed constitution to make provision for tradition- after passionate debate means that the ordi- alists. When an amendment allowing nation of women bishops will go ahead with women bishops to be appointed one year a code of practice to be written by the bish- after a single bill was proposed by Archdea- ops. con Peggy Jackson the bishops made it The new Anglican Bishop of Durham-Designate has been named as the Rt Rev The Rev Rachel Weir, Chair of WATCH, clear that they would not regard a vote in Paul Butler, currently Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham. hailed the result as ‘fantastic news’ and favour of the amendment as ‘disloyal’. Bishop Paul was introduced to his new Diocese last Thursday during a day of expressed delight that the Responding to the news, a statement events across the area, that included viewing the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition has opted for simple legislation to enable from Forward in Faith expressed regret being held in the city. Full story: page 3. women to become bishops. “The vote will that a decision had been taken to authorise Pictures By: Keith Blundy/Aegies Associates

LETTERS 8, 16 • PETER MULLEN 9 • COMMENT 9 • ANDREW CAREY 12 • CLERGY MOVES 17 • ANGLICAN LIFE 18 • PAUL RICHARDSON 20 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday September 20, 2013 News Inside... IVF stalwart Oliver Barclay dies The original Church newspaper A LEADING FIGURE in the IVF/UCCF In 1953 Barclay became the first IVF uni- Belief’ and wrote several books, editing a died in Leicester on 12 September. versities secretary, supporting IVF secre- series called ‘When Christians Disagree’. Oliver Barclay was known to genera- taries around the UK. In 1964 he followed Paying tribute to him, Richard Cunning- tions of students through his writings IVF founder Douglas Johnson as General ham, UCCF Director, said: “Oliver was an and through the decades he spent with Secretary. At a time when new universities able academic, author, mentor and leader, IVF. were being founded, he launched IVF on a and a great friend to many. He always kept a He first joined the team after graduating phase of expansion and moved the head- loving eye on UCCF. When I began as inex- from Cambridge, where he had served as quarters from London to Leicester. In 1975 perienced leader of the work he had nur- the President of the Cambridge Intercolle- Inter Varsity Fellowship changed its name tured for some 40 years I greatly looked giate Christian Union and as chair of the stu- to Universities and Colleges Christian Fel- forward to my termly meal with him and the dents national IVF Executive Committee. lowship to reflect increased work in educa- wise letter that always followed.” At Cambridge, where he gained a PhD in tion colleges and polytechnics. Inter-Varsity Barclay came from the banking family and zoology, he also began a life-long friendship Press retained its name. his great grandfather Thomas Fowell was with John Stott. While at Cambridge Barclay Barclay retired in 1980 but continued to an MP who campaigned with William had played a role in securing a home for serve on IVP’s long-term planning group Wilberforce and was part of the Clapham Tyndale House, which opened in 1945 as a and to support Tyndale House. He also Sect. centre for evangelical Bible study. founded a journal, ‘Science and Christian

News ...... 1-6 Your Church ...... 2 UK News ...... 1-4 New World News ...... 6 Comment instituted in Letters ...... 8, 16 Leader ...... 9 Peter Mullen ...... 9 Hazel Southam ...... 10 Morpeth Andrew Carey ...... 12 Whispering Gallery ...... 12 Books ...... 13 THE REV SIMON WHITE (centre) was Arts and Media ...... 14 instituted as Rector of Morpeth on Saturday Janey Lee Grace ...... 15 by the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Crossword ...... 15 Rev Frank White (left), and the Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, the Ven Peter Robinson The Record (right). Classifieds ...... 16 St James’ Church was full to capacity for a Clergy Moves ...... 17 service which included singing by pupils from Anglican Life ...... 18 All Saints’ Church of England First School, and Sunday Service ...... 19 the music group from Simon’s former parish of Henry Whyte ...... 19 Felton. Paul Richardson ...... 20 Clergy and ministers from the Church of Eng- People ...... 20 land and other churches across the area were Milestones ...... 20 joined by representatives of many community Next week’s news ...... 20 groups, led by the Mayor of Morpeth, Councillor Joan Tebbutt. News from Your Church your diocese

Liverpool: The national campaign ‘Inclusive Church’ cele- pletion mid-Novem- Dominic Heneghan, will speak at the service which begins brated its tenth anniversary last weekend with a day of ber. A further £5 mil- at 10.30am. special events in Liverpool. The Rev Bob Callaghan, the lion is needed to From 20-29 September a range of displays for the Harvest National Coordinator of Inclusive Church, led a pro- ensure its final com- Festival will be on show in the Crossing of the Minster pro- gramme at St Bride’s Anglican Church on Sunday 15 Sep- pletion, for which the vided by Brackenhurst, County Show, Royal Agricultural tember, known in the Church of England as ‘Inclusive Cathedral is depend- Benevolent Institution and Carr Banks Farm. Following on Church Sunday’. He celebrated the Holy Communion ent upon successful the harvest theme, Southwell’s links to the famous Bram- Service at 10am with special prayers and hymns to mark fundraising by its ley Apple will be celebrated at the Bramley Apple Festival the occasion. There was an afternoon workshop called Development of Food and Drink in the Minster and around the town on ‘What does it really mean to be inclusive and welcoming?’. Department. Clerk 26 October, between 10am and 4pm. Inclusive Church raises awareness about the ways that of Works, Gary people feel excluded by the Church, especially because of Price, said: “This is Winchester: The online shop of the Winchester Cathe- their gender, race, sexual orientation, disability or mental the last of the four cloister sides to be restored … Two of dral was officially launched last week. The Cathedral has wellbeing. Mr Callaghan said: “I am really excited about the masons have worked on all the bays and one of them, been already offering a limited range of gifts, but now they being in Liverpool to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Gerry Wilson, was due to retire in August. I’m so pleased are able to offer a wider selection through the website, Inclusive Church. St Bride’s is one of our 200 registered that he agreed to defer his retirement date so we can ben- which was built by working in conjunction with the agency inclusive churches and is a brilliant example of what an efit from his huge experience to complete this, the final ‘Creative Steam’. The new shop displays mementoes and inclusive church should be like.” part of the cloister project, 17 years after it began.” souvenirs as well as jewellery, stationery, music and CDs from the Cathedral’s choir and organists. In addition, Salisbury: The single largest re-plastering works of any Southwell & Nottingham: At the annual Thanksgiving items for the home and garden, Christian books and titles cathedral cloisters in the country is currently being car- Service on Sunday 22 September Southwell Minster con- about Winchester and its Cathedral have been introduced. ried out at Salisbury Cathedral in preparation for the 800th gregations will give special thanks for their local agricul- The aspiration for the online shop is that it will both pro- anniversary celebrations of 1215 Magna Carta in 2015. tural and farming connections. Andrew Guy, who formerly vide an enhanced service to its visitors and generate addi- With 85 per cent of the Major Repair Programme done, the ran a local dairy farm and now teaches the BTEC in Agri- tional income for the Cathedral itself. current primary focus is on the entire north cloister of the culture at Nottingham Trent University’s School of Ani- For more information, please visit: Cathedral, with work started in mid-July and due for com- mal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, and course leader, www.winchestercathedralshop.com.

[email protected]/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Friday September 20, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 3 NEWS IN BRIEF Insurance site boosts charities New Durham A new website and service ‘Care2Save’, set to transform the way people shop and support their favourite charities, has been launched across the UK. Cus- tomers can now buy insurance via a pioneering service offering buildings and contents insurance at a competitive price, which also allows giving a gift to a charity. It will then have a new source of crucial funds that will continue year Bishop named on year as long as one chooses to renew the policy through ‘Care2Save’ (www.Care2Save.co.uk). DOWNING STREET announced last Thursday The Leprosy Mission is calling for the Responding to the Depart- that the new Bishop of ❏voices of 5,000 of the world’s poorest ment for Education’s publi- Durham is to be the Rt and most marginalised people to be heard cation of data on children’s Rev Paul Butler, Bishop and help shape the Post-2015 development homes in England, Ellen of Southwell since 2010. goals. Broome, Policy Director at The bishop-designate From 16-19 September more than 800 peo- The Children’s Society, said: spent the day touring the dio- ple from around the globe who work with or “We are delighted that the cese including visits to a represent people affected by leprosy joined government has made this church school in South together in Brussels for the 18th Internation- information public, and wel- Shields, where he met mem- al Leprosy Congress. come Michael Gove’s strong bers of the breakfast club People affected by leprosy face a triple commitment to improving and took part in the morning blow of disease, disability and discrimination the lives of these children. assembly, the cathedral and for tens of thousands, the Millennium “As shown by the parlia- where he met dignitaries and Development Goals (MDGs), launched at mentary inquiry we support- members of the congrega- Bishop Paul Butler and Wife Rosemary the UN General Assembly in 2001, have had ed last year many parts of tion, and a project in a little impact on their lives. the system are simply not Methodist Church in Easing- Head of Programmes Coordination at The working. Children are being ton which supplies meals to local people. At Easington Colliery he signed up as a member of the Leprosy Mission England and Wales, Sian placed miles from home into Credit Union. Arulanantham, acted as a voice for the voice- run-down areas, the quality Later he spent time at the exhibition of the Lindisfarne gospels in Durham. less at the 18th International Leprosy Con- of some care homes is unac- Bishop Butler described his new appointment as ‘a big surprise but a huge privilege for many gress by addressing what leprosy-affected ceptable, and children who reasons’. He said he was ‘delighted to be part of the continuing renewal of the ministry in the Dio- people think should replace the current run away from care are not cese of Durham and to join those who are strong advocates of the North East.’ MDGs, which expire in 2015. kept safe.” Bishop Butler was born in 1955 and studied at Nottingham University before training for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall. After a curacy at Holy Trinity, Wandsworth, in the Diocese of Southwark, he worked for Scripture Union, first as a London evangelist and then as Deputy Head of Mission. The CSAN’s new Criminal Justice Forum, which will meet four times a After leaving Scripture Union, he served in the Diocese of before being appointed year to share the experiences of Catholics working in the Criminal Jus- as of Southampton. As a bishop he has had a national role as the ‘Advocate for tice Sector and give a stronger and more powerful voice to victims of Children’ among the bishops and he has served as chairman of the Churches’ National Safe- crime, offenders, prisoners and their families, was launched on 10 Sep- guarding Committee. He is a trustee of CMS and was President from 2008 to 2010. He is currently tember. Over 20 Catholic charities and community projects attended President of Scripture Union. the event to discuss the role of the Church within the Criminal Justice Since becoming a bishop, Paul Butler has spent a week every year walking around the diocese system. and praying with the people. In Durham he faces the challenge of succeeding Archbishop , who made a strong start in the diocese but in the end was only able to stay 10 months The Charles Plater Trust is inviting bids before being called to Canterbury. ❏for grants from organisations working In a statement the bishop said that he will go to Durham with a priority ‘to renew and grow the with the disadvantaged. Grants will be award- church’. He said that tackling poverty ‘must also be a priority’ and promised to speak up strongly ed for projects that empower people from the for the North East in the House of Lords. most marginalised sectors of society. He said he would continue the work he has been doing as an Advocate for Children and in Safe- This year’s theme for grant aid is Imagina- guarding and will take up the reins as patron of the Darlington Foundation for Jobs started by tive projects providing education for people Archbishop Welby. from the most marginalised sectors of society. The Darlington Echo described the appointment as a ‘surprise choice’ but it was warmly wel- This theme focuses on that element of comed by the , the Rt Rev , who said he was excited to welcome Nominations close shortly for Catholic Social Teaching which is about the Bishop Butler to the diocese. the 2013 Christian Youth “preferential option for the poor” and builds on Work Awards, ahead of a pres- the role that the former Plater College played entation ceremony in Novem- in providing learning opportunities for those ber. Now in their third year, who, through necessity or circumstance, had the awards recognise excel- not previously been able to reach their full Us launches new Syria appeals lence in Christian youth work potential. in a range of categories The Trust will judge bids on how they will The Christian charity ‘Us’ (formerly viding food and help for vulnerable families including volunteering, inno- empower those who have suffered disadvan- ❏USPG) has launched two appeals to while the Us Syrian Appeal is being run in col- vation and resourcing. Win- tages that have limited their ability to get the encourage people to reach out to Syrian laboration with Embrace the Middle East and ners receive prizes worth up best out of the education system, build their refugees and families in crisis in Egypt. The will support an ecumenical network of church- to £800, and will be presented own self-esteem and make a meaningful con- Us Egypt Appeal is raising money to support es giving food and other essential items to the with their awards at a special tribution to contemporary society. the work of the Anglican Church in Egypt pro- refugees. dinner at the London School of Theology. The awards are presented across five categories: Youth Worker of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Best Youth Work Employer, Most Innovative Youth Work and Best Youth Work Resource. Nominations for each award have been col- lated through the website www.youthworkawards.co.uk, and are shortlisted by the awards organisers. The final winners are then chosen by a judging panel of youth work practitioners and experts.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 4 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday September 20, 2013 News Britain’s changing attitudes revealed in new survey

ATTITUDES TO personal relationships cans thought people should marry before gious decline. are changing both within society and in having children, this figure had dropped to The number of people who describe the churches, according to the latest 54 per cent in 2012. The figure for Roman themselves as Anglican has gone down British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA), Catholics (43 per cent) was significantly from 40 per cent in 1983 to just 20 per cent which is available to read online. more liberal than for Anglicans. today. Those who identify themselves as The report attracted headlines in the Only 22 per cent of the general popula- Roman Catholic has stayed stable at nine mainstream media for its finding that 47 tion now regard homosexual relationships per cent, slightly down from 10 per cent in per cent of the population say cutting wel- as always wrong. For Anglicans the figure 1983. It is likely that immigration and a fare benefits would damage too many lives is 40 per cent and for Roman Catholics 35 higher than average birth rate has benefit- but church leaders will be interested to per cent. Surprisingly 39 per cent of Roman ted Catholics. The number of Christians learn that the same percentage think that Catholics think a woman should be allowed who are members of other denominations homosexuality is not wrong. to have an abortion if she does not want the has also stayed stable at 17 per cent. The National Centre for Social Research child even if her life is not in danger. This Linda Woodhead, Director of Religion has been producing the survey for the past view is held by 56 per cent of Anglicans. and Society at Lancaster University, said 30 years. It is based on detailed interviews The BSA survey cautions against that the number of 20-year-olds who identi- with a representative sample of 3,000 peo- attributing a general liberalisation of views fied themselves as Anglican was 11 per cent ple. on matters to do with personal relation- compared to 50 per cent of those over 60 so In the latest survey carried out in 2012 ships to a decline in religious influence the total figure is set to continue to fall. only 11 per cent of those surveyed thought than the general population with only 10 ‘because this does not account for the fact She added that the number of atheists that premarital sex was always wrong while per cent of them thinking pre-marital sex that most religious groups have become has not increased a great deal. “People are 65 per cent thought it was ‘not wrong at all’. was always wrong. more accepting over the past 30 years’ but just less likely to associate with, or relate Anglicans were more liberal on this subject While back in 1983, 78 per cent of Angli- it does provide evidence that points to reli- to, a particular religion.” Legal action Students happy to threatened believe, in private CHRISTIAN ORGANISATIONS are planning action following the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer LARGE NUMBERS of Chris- Derby and Kingston (London). It QC, not to prosecute two doctors who arranged illegal abortions tian students are affirming was led by Dr Matthew Guest of on the basis of the sex of the baby, claiming that such a prosecu- their faith in private but stay- Durham’s Department of Theol- tion would not be in public interest. ing away from church servic- ogy and Religion. Andrea Minichiello Williams CEO of the Christian Legal Centre es, according to research led The researchers said that (CLC) said she was expecting a further statement from the Crown Pros- by Durham University. most Christian students were ecution Service (CPS) but that the CLC was prepared to launch a private A study led by Durham that ‘far closer to the social main- prosecution or judicial review or both if necessary. looked at religion among under- stream than the evangelical Dr Peter Saunders of the Christian Medical Centre commented: “If graduates at 13 different univer- groups that often speak loudest the CPS won’t do its job then concerned citizens will step in. The CPS is sities found that liberal among Christians in public giving the message that people wanting sex-selection abortions should Christians outnumbered evan- debates’. They found that while come to Britain. If the law is not upheld it will be flouted by unscrupu- gelicals by 10 to one on campus. 60 per cent of students who are lous people.” The researchers found that members of Christian Unions Cross-bench peer Lord Alton has accused the CPS of double stan- Christianity attracts more stu- think that homosexual relations dards after it approved charges against pro-life campaigners but refused dents than any other tradition Bloomsbury is to publish a book are always wrong, this view was to prosecute the two doctors. but that more than half had based on the survey. held by only 20 per cent of other “It is worthy of Alice in Wonderland,” he claimed, “that, on one hand, begun to detach themselves As a result of their findings, Christian students. the CPS will prosecute a pensioner who shows a graphic image depict- from the church by the time they the researchers concluded that Less than 10 per cent of stu- ing the heart-breaking reality of what occurs in an abortion whilst, on reached university. Half of Chris- the churches need to consider dents believe the Bible dis- the other hand, declines to take an action against a doctor who is willing tian students never attend how best to engage ‘with the proves evolution and the only to flout the law by undertaking gender abortions with the justification church in term time. interests and enthusiasms of this same number think that women and sole objective of taking the life of a little girl.” A total of 4,500 undergraduate generation’. As well as Durham, should not be admitted to the In 2007 Veronica Connolly (56) was convicted under the 1988 Mali- students were surveyed and 100 the team included researchers same leadership positions in the cious Communications Act after sending pictures of aborted babies to interviews were carried out. from the universities of Chester, Church as men. pharmacies in the West Midlands. In 2012 Edward Atkinson (83) was given a suspended jail sentence for sending similar pictures to his local hospital in Norfolk. The CPS went ahead with the prosecution of two pro-life campaigners who held a demonstration outside an abortion clinic in 2011. The case Conference call for Christians was thrown out by the magistrates. A GROUP MADE UP OF senior leaders from the Baptist, Methodist, and United Reform Churches and from the Quakers and the Salvation Army is touring the three party confer- ences. Members of the group hope to discuss a range of issues with politicians including poverty, climate change and the IF Campaign. P$41 AA7 A2 A99A@ They will emphasise the importance of Christians engaging with politics and take part in meetings !C'I1C 5D &AFC 1C5E'31Q with Christian groups within the political parties: the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum, the Christian Socialist Movement and the Conservative Christian Fellowship. 18B FD C1E'5@5ED )A@E5@F10 FD12AC 2FEFC1 Fringe meetings including breakfast, discussion and prayer have been organised for the Tuesday 31@1C'E5A@D*A5@ E41 !C'I1CAA7 #A)51EI* morning of each conference. $A 25@0 AFE 9AC1'(AFEE41 HAC7 A2 ' Dr Daleep Mukarji, Vice-President of the Methodist Church, has been invited to be in the audience #A)51EI E4'E '0G'@)1D ' )1@EFC51D,A80 when Ed Miliband delivers his party speech. DBC5EF'8319* “This is an opportunity for us to build relationships with MPs and talk about issues of common con- A@E')E '@ %AA041'0 A@ '%!' ' !T cern,” he said. “We may not always agree with politicians, but we still want to talk and pray with them. AC 6A5@ A@85@1 HHH*B(DH*AC3*F7 “The welcome we receive from Christians and non-Christians alike, and their willingness to talk about $41 !C'I1C AA7 #A)51EI "135DE1C10 4'C5EI A* %'#R* A* 595E10 (I F'C'@E11 A*TP! the issues that impact the Churches, demonstrates that not only do we have faith in politics but that politi- cians have faith in faith communities.”

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Friday September 20, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 5 Thatcher ‘based her policies on the Bible,’ says biographer

By Amaris Cole “Her religion was to do with the the deterioration in her health. idea of law and the idea of truth- “I noticed at the funeral although MARGARET THATCHER based telling and moral precepts,” Mr she was very confused she could sing her ideas of social ordering on Moore said. all the hymns without looking at the biblical values, despite not being Her view of society was ‘romantic’, hymn sheet.” a ‘spiritual’ person, her biogra- believing the Christian attitudes held Even during her illness, it was ‘still pher said. in the Victorian era were right, with there’, he said. Charles Moore, speaking at a lec- families looking after one another She had read the Bible a great deal ture organised by The Council of rather the state intervening. and the essential narrative and words Christians and Jews, said that the late This ‘social order’ came from ‘Bib- of scripture were in her head. Prime Minister was religious and lical rights’, he said. Her Christianity was based on the there are echoes of her father’s ser- Mr Moore commented that even as ‘dignity and decorum of worship’, and mons, who was a Methodist minister, she became ill, she still showed her her doctrines derived from it. in many of her political speeches. commitment to her faith. Mrs Thatcher was known to pray Lady Thatcher was ‘assiduous’ in “When Dennis died in 2003 Mar- often. attending church, he went on, but gret Thatcher was not only distressed “In principal terms Mrs Thatcher that she had little interest in the but also confused,” he said, speaking was religious and felt passionately Church itself, or church order. of the Alzheimer’s that contributed to about it.” New Archdeacons for Chelsmford THREE NEW Archdeacons were installed in by the , the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell at Choral Evensong on Sunday 15 September 2013. The new Archdeacon roles have been filled by Mina Smallman, Southend, , Stansted and , Barking. They will complement the daily work of the present four Archdeacons covering Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow and West Ham. Bishop Stephen said: “Without incurring additional costs or taking posts away from parishes, here in the our three new Archdeacons will bring effective leadership closer to the ground and enable all our churches to flourish. They will help us become a more outward-focused servant church with good news to share with everyone.” Kirk wedding worry

A MINISTER who convenes the Church of new law, some members of the Kirk felt that if all Scotland legal questions committee has marriages were civil ceremonies with the option of warned that the Kirk may not continue to cele- a religious blessing afterwards it might encourage brate marriages after same-sex marriage couples to make a more positive decision for a becomes legal. Christian ceremony rather than treat the church as The Rev Alan Hamilton has told MSPs that once it a ‘nice place to marry’. What can a becomes legal, ministers who refuse to celebrate The Scottish Government has promised that the gay marriages could find themselves in court. He Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill contains red ribbon said his committee had been asked to assess ‘unequivocal protection’ for those who refuse to ‘whether it’s worth the Church of Scotland continu- conduct gay marriages. The Faculty of Advocates do for children ing to offer marriages’. has warned that this does not mean that the Euro- In a statement issued later the Church of Scotland pean Court of Human Rights may not in future rule in poverty? said it had no current plans to stop marriages but that safeguards discriminate against homosexuals. that it was examining whether it should continue to There is strong support for same-sex marriage in offer them ‘in the way it does now’. the Scottish Parliament but MSPs are being allowed Find out at: The General Assembly has asked Mr Hamilton to vote according to their consciences. The first gay www.christingle.org and his committee to look at ‘the possibility of min- marriages are expected to take place in 2015. Charity Registration No. 221124 | Photograph modelled for isters and ceasing to act as civil registrars Ministers of the Church of Scotland perform TheChildren’sSociety |©Jon Snedden for marriages’. 5,500 wedding ceremonies a year, more than any As well as concerns about the implications of the other organisation. A better childhood. For every child. www.christingle.org

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 6 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday September 20, 2013 News Lincoln diocese CEO US can secede, pleads guilty to fraud

THE FORMER chief ed to the diocesan post, executive officer of the court was told the the Diocese of Lin- defendant confessed coln has pleaded his criminal past to the Illinois court rules guilty to defrauding then , the diocese by falsify- the Rt Rev John By George Conger ing his resume in Saxbee. However , the order to gain the top bishop decided in a THE CONSTITUTION of the Episco- Katharine Jefferts administrative post “spirit of Christian for- pal Church of the USA does not for- Schori in the diocese. giveness” not to dis- bid the secession of its dioceses, an Maximilian Manin miss him. Illinois court ruled last week, (54) last week pleaded In May 2012 he left upholding the legality of the 2008 guilty to obtaining a the position after a secession of the Diocese of Quincy. pecuniary advantage diocesan review com- The court ruled the Episcopal Church by deception before the mittee recommended is not a “hierarchical church” under Nottingham Crown his post be eliminated American law, and its disputes over Court by making the after a building project property and the rights to its symbols false claim that he held he headed went over and names of its dioceses must be adju- a first class honours budget by £300,000. On dicated under the “neutral principles of degree in English Liter- 14 June 2012, the cur- law doctrine”. ature and Art History rent Bishop of Lincoln, On 7 November 2008 delegates to the from the University of the Rt Rev Christopher Quincy diocesan synod approved the Sheffield when he was Lawson released a final reading of an amendment with- appointed to the statement saying that drawing from the Episcopal Church and £45,000-a-year job. after Mr Manin’s resig- affiliating with the Province of the He was sentenced to nation “new informa- Southern Cone, pending the creation of 12 months imprison- tion has come to light what is now called the Anglican Church ment suspended for 18 which today has been in North America. months and ordered to handed to the Police. The national Church responded in carry out 200 hours of In a statement given January 2009 by writing to the bank that unpaid work in the to the court, Bishop managed the diocese’s endowment community. Saxbee said: “Had we funds, stating that the officers of the Mr Manin also hid known it was false that breakaway diocese no longer had a the fact that he had he had this degree he claim on the funds. US Presiding Bish- been jailed in 1993 by would not even have op Katharine Jefferts Schori wrote to the Wood Green Crown been interviewed. the members of the Standing Commit- Court in 1993 for three “I believe a great tee in February informing them that charges of theft and breach of trust has she no longer “recognized” them as offi- The Supreme Court held in that case not ecclesiastical deference. three charges of false been committed ir re- cers of the diocese nor recognized the “the religious congregation or ecclesias- After the verdict was announced, the accounting relating to spective of the fact diocese’s purported secession. tical body holding the property is but a Rt Rev Jeffrey Lee, Bishop of Chicago stealing money from an Manin carried out the The diocese responded by filing suit subordinate member of some general said: “We are now considering all of our NHS medical practice role satisfactorily. in March against the national church, church organization in which there are options for moving forward, and you where he worked and “He has betrayed the seeking a declaratory judgment that it superior ecclesiastical tribunals with a will hear more from us soon about this then attempting to trust of fellow Chris- had the legal right to the name and general and ultimate power of control matter.” cover up what he had tians who appointed assets of the diocese. more or less complete, in some Quincy diocesan spokesman the Rev done. him and worked with The national Church filed a counter supreme judicatory over the whole Canon Frank Dunaway said: “We are The court heard that him as a friend and col- claim against the officers of the diocese membership of that general organiza- grateful that Judge Ortbal invested hun- after his release from league,” the bishop and asked the court to declare the rump tion.” dreds of hours to review all the argu- prison in 1994 he said. group within the diocese that had However, attorneys for the diocese ments and case law in this matter, and changed his name and In his remarks from remained loyal to the national church to argued the relationship of a parish to a that he determined that the members of enrolled at Sheffield the bench, Judge be the true diocese. However, earlier diocese was not comparable to that of a the Diocese of Quincy have a right to University, but dropped Michael Stokes brand- this year the loyalist faction voted to diocese to the national church – and the worship in the churches they have built out towards the end of ed Mr Manin a “hyp- merge with the neighbouring Diocese diocese, not the General Convention of and maintained.” his third year without ocrite”. of Chicago. the Episcopal Church — was the superi- The Episcopal Church’s view “was taking his final exams. “He who exalts him- The legal issue before Judge Thomas or ecclesiastical body. Attorneys for the that we gave up our rights when we He had been deputy self shall be humbled. J Ortbal of the Eighth Judicial Circuit diocese asked Judge Ortbal to examine joined The Episcopal Church. We are director of the gay He who humbles him- Court in Adams County, Illinois, was the facts and issues in dispute through thrilled that the court protected those rights group Stonewall self shall be exalted,” whether the Episcopal Church was a Illinois law and judge the matter under rights. And we look forward to using when he applied for the the judge said, adding “hierarchical church”, as described in the doctrine of neutral principles of law the diocesan endowment as it was position with the dio- “You are now humbled the 1872 US Supreme Court decision – the standard set in 1984 for church intended – to defend our faith and per- cese in 2004. because you have to Watson v. Jones. property disputes by the Illinois courts, form good works,” he said. After he was appoint- plead guilty.” Nigerian Archbishop is freed by his kidnappers THE DEAN of the Church of Nigeria has been freed police spokesman told the News Agency of Nigeria the On 24 January 2010 the Rt Rev Peter Imasuen, Bishop of unharmed by his kidnappers. kidnappers forced the car from the road, and abandoned Benin, was also kidnapped at his home in Benin City, the The Most Rev Archbishop Ignatius Kattey was released the vehicle and Mrs Kattey but fled into the bush with the capital of Edo State in Southern Nigeria. on 14 September near the city of Port Harcourt, nine days archbishop. The Justin Welby greeted the after bandits stopped him in his car as he was driving to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria told the Church news with joy and relief. Last week he stated the kidnap- Port Harcourt to attend a meeting of the standing commit- of Nigeria Standing Committee last week his government ping was “deeply shocking for all those who pray for and tee of the Church of Nigeria. would not rest until the archbishop was freed. love the people and country of Nigeria.” He prayed God A spokesman for the Rivers State Police said no ransom Kidnapping for ransom has reached epidemic propor- “uphold [the archbishop] in courage and faith” and “bring had been paid to secure the archbishop’s release, and that tions in southern Nigeria in recent years. In September him again to be with his family and friends in joy and free- the identity of his captors was so far unknown. 2010, the Bishop of Ngbo, the Rt Rev Christian Ebisike dom.” Archbishop Kattey – the Archbishop of the Province of was stopped at a roadblock as he was driving to Owerri. The kidnapping had also sparked outrage from the the Niger Delta and Bishop of Niger Delta North — and The next day the bishop was released by his abductors on Nigerian newspapers, who saw it as a symbol of the col- his wife Beatrice were seized near their home in Eleme on the Ontisha – Owerri road. It is not known if a ransom was lapse of law and order in the oil-rich but politically unstable 6 September at approximately 10:30 pm. A Rivers State paid. Niger Delta.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper News Friday September 20, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 7 Now a priest is targeted in new Zanzibar acid attack

By Amaris Cole Salaam where I am going to meet him.” The President of Zanzibar has con- AN ELDERLY priest is in hospital after demned the spate of attacks, promising to being attacked with acid in Zanzibar in do anything possible to find the ‘criminal the latest assault against Christians on network’ responsible for the assaults. the island. Ali Mohammed Shein, while visiting the Joseph Anselmo Mwagambwa had acid priest in hospital, said: “We cannot live in thrown at him as he left an internet cafe in constant fear of individuals out of control a predominantly Muslim area on 13 Sep- that use acid as a weapon.” tember, and was seriously injured by a In February, Fr Evarist Mushi was killed group of men, who have not yet been iden- in Zanzibar, while at Christmas another tified. Catholic priest, Ambrose Mkenda, was This acid attack comes just weeks after seriously wounded in an ambush. two British teenage volunteers suffered a Reports suggest that some churches similar assault. have also been burned down. Tensions between Muslims and Chris- The Catholic Church has repeatedly tians have increased in recent years, and denounced the climate of intimidation this was the fifth acid attack on the small against Christians and propaganda of those island since November. who incite religious clashes, but tensions The Roman Catholic Bishop of Zanzibar, seem to increase with every attack. Augustine Shao, said: “The acid hit him in Police say no suspects have been arrest- Joseph Anselmo Mwagambwa the face, arms and chest. Fr Anselmo was ed as yet, despite a $4,000 reward for infor- admitted to the National Hospital in Dar Es mation. ‘Doctors must be heard on euthanasia’ CLAIMS that the views of being proposed isn’t just assist- doctors in the debate about ed suicide; it is physician-assist- assisted suicide should be ed suicide.” disregarded have been That is why in her opinion the attacked. views of medical practitioners The issue has been reintro- are important since they are the duced to Parliament, but advo- ones who would be at the “front- cates have argued that doctors line of any such law”, and who should stand aside from this would be responsible for mak- issue. ing the decision as to whether There have also been sugges- or not a patient was eligible for a tions that the Royal College of physician-assisted suicide. General Practitioners (RCGP) Therefore Baroness Finlay should stand back and not encouraged General Practition- express a view on whether the ers to make their views known law should be changed. to the RCGP, for it was vital for But Baroness Finlay, Co- the body to take a stance on the Chair of the All Party Parlia- issue, preferably via a ballot of mentary Group Dying Well, the membership. described these claims as ‘non- sense’. “I am sorry, but this is non- sense. As long as we are talking . 9'7.) );=7 )D 4>.<97 *D"' 4.'8 about physician assisted sui- cide, the views of the medical '2H9EE ADG/!9 D29 DI +"9HG)JA (9D(H9 94*9!E: )/26?"9!!AC7M)J5 +"ME E+D)J 2/$D2-M<98 >DE+ Baroness Finlay. The suggestion emerged in )/!E +"9AEG((HA"/.9LGE+D29 D-29! /2< )D49 -M+" /IGHH the British Journal of General E9!.M)9 "ME+D!A: %G/HM+A /2<(!9(/!/$D2 /!9(/!/4DG2+ +D +"948 Practice in the wake of a private KDG)DGH< LDM2 +"9HD2@ HME+DIE/$E;9< )GE+D49!E-"D "/.9 H9+ member’s bill presented by 7!MD!AHD)/+9+"9 (9!I9)+ )/!ID! +"94: +"9M! +9/4 "/E D.9! 13 Lord Falconer to introduce A9/!E9B(9!M92)9 /2< /!99B(9!+E M2 +"ME ;9H<8 physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients in Eng- >DE+ DI +"9M! *GEM29EE )D49E I!D4 (!9.MDGE )GE+D49!E /2< land and Wales. !9I9!!/HE: -M+" /I9- E4/HH /<.9!+E (H/)9

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2) Bush has given us one Exhibition idea of how chalk can be Sir, I have been staying with a Kairos and Israel explained. For fuller details of friend in Prague and yesterday Sir, As signatories of the Kairos Britain statement launched at the how chalk, and other thick joined crowds touring the sites Greenbelt Festival, and as people who were also involved in the doc- sediments can be formed in celebrating the very large and ument’s drafting, we should like to respond to Frances Waddams of days, see my articles on chalk Your Tweets prestigious Jewish community Anglican Friends of Israel (Letters, 23 August). and oil on the Answers in Gene- that existed here for many cen- She asserts that it “seeks to undermine the legitimacy of Israel”. sis website (March 09 and Dec turies and, indeed, is re-forming. This is simply not true. The full title of the British document, pro- 08). In this way we can explain all God and Politics UK In one of the old synagogues was duced by a committee of Christians from a wide range of traditions, the major sediments within the @GodandPolitics laid out an exhibition of Jewish is “Time for Action: a British Christian response to A Moment of one-year that Noah was living in Latest blog: 36 per cent of life, the traditions and customs of Truth, the Kairos Palestine document”. Issued by Palestinian Chris- the ark. I’m still awaiting the children don’t know whose its religion and the ways in which tians in December 2009, and endorsed by all the Patriarchs and promised debate on the subjects birthday is celebrated at it led to a special way of living. heads of Churches in Jerusalem, including the Anglican Bishop of by those who disagree, such as Christmas - time for an Each showcase of illustrations Jerusalem, Kairos Palestine was, in its own words, “a word of faith, the anti-Genesis group BCSE. advertising campaign? had simple explanations in vari- hope, and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering”. It was the 3) The issue of star-light is ous languages. authentic voice of Palestine’s small Christian community, who have more complex. Scientists who Sisters of Bethany I thought how much Christiani- borne the brunt of the oppression and dispossession resulting from want to study ‘blue-shift’, and @bethanysister ty needs to do the same! How Israel’s 46-year occupation of their land. other phenomenon which point Remembering St Ninian, Bishop. many churches are there, that They described the occupation as “a sin against God and humani- to contradictions in the big-bang God wants you to come to know schools and others can visit and ty because it deprives the Palestinians of their basic human rights, model of the universe are rou- him rather than know about him read, and see illustrated, what bestowed by God”, and called on fellow Christians around the world tinely denied time for their obser- the faith is, and its practices, that, to respond in love and compassion to their plight, and to work for vations. That is a blinkered Kate Bottley @revkatebottley in the case of Europe, was an justice. approach to science, which Right Clergy Leadership essential factor in turning a We strongly reject any allegation that Kairos Palestine or the should look for truth wherever Programme all week *repeats to bunch of warlords into a civilisa- Kairos Britain response delegitimises the State of Israel. But what the evidence takes it (Rom 1:20). self* must behave, be good, must tion and continues to have an Kairos does represent is a growing realisation by Christians around At the heart of the matter is the not be silly or torment impact on the world. Unlike the world that, for the chains of injustice in the Land of the Holy One reluctance of secular scientists to learning about it from lectures to be truly loosened, the illegal settlements and separation barrier discuss the evidence for a young Dan Hodges @DPJHodges and books, people would be free must be dismantled, the occupation must come to an end, and Israel earth. Its “professionally taboo” The debate on “Muslim veils” is to wander around in their own must start engaging with the Palestinians with a true vision for as Bush says, rather than actually a very simple one. This way, and learn what they can and peace. untruthful. Anglicans generally is Britain. You can wear what you know that, in some cases, they This is the only sure route to giving the Jewish State the security seem reluctant to open the door want. can return later or visit a similar and stability that it seeks. to such discussions. For that rea- one. Jeremy Moodey, son, a group of us are trying to Nicky Gumbel @nickygumbel Having such an exhibition Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East, develop an Anglican Creation Opportunity is missed by most inside a church – even if it is dis- Amersham, Bucks Forum where the different ideas people because it is dressed in used one (especially if it a dis- Chris Rose, of what science and scripture overalls and looks like work. - used one?) - could surely help the Director, Amos Trust, London EC2A point to can be discussed with Thomas Edison learner immensely and counter openness rather than obfusca- the dangers of children being tion, avoidance and vilification. Katharine Welby taught, just as part of a syllabus, Dr J Matthews @KatharineWelby by someone who cannot, or dare be, prima facie, incomprehensi- Young Earth Retired chartered geologist, ‘Put your hope in God, for I will not, be seen to be ‘promoting’ it. ble. So please don’t find it infra Wareham yet praise him, my saviour and More and more people today dignitatem. Deo volente, we Sir, The individual letters (13 my God’ psalm 43:5b regardless have to go from a standing start should be allowed to sing both September) from Messrs Bush of where I am at, he is always in their understanding of Christi- old and new, both simple and and Gierth make useful points Equality worthy. #hope anity. Are we helping them as well-crafted. and invite a response. Some clues Sir, I support the letter from much as we should – and helping Your non-sequiturs caused me to Derrick Gierth’s questions as Eunice Owens of Liverpool in 13 MichaelWhite @MichaelWhite ourselves, as we plan such exhi- a great deal of amusement. May to why, apparently, God’s direct September edition. She spoke Ten years jail for benefit fraud? bitions, to pick out the essentials your witty letters continue sine evidence of a young earth is often wisely. We might be more impressed if that need to be communicated die. See you in Brill some time in short supply are provided by My own concern is that we are bankers occasionally went to jail and the ecumenical contacts that maybe. Anthony Bush, but obviously in a society that worships equali- for even costlier banking fraud this would surely inspire? Faith Bricher, Gierth will not have seen that let- ty. I would ask you as a newspa- The Rev Mrs Angela Robin- Northampton NN3 2QZ ter before he submitted his script per to hold to the Christian and son, to CEN. biblical view that homosexual @Bishop_S_Conway Southport God has provided enormous practice is clearly against the Looking forward to College of Animal rights amounts of evidence that the wishes of God. I know this will be Bishops. Opportunity to Sir, We are writing in support of world is young. But obfuscation very difficult for you. I speak as celebrate our shared ministry as Nota bene the article you published by and deliberate avoidance, mostly someone who faces great pres- leaders in mission, apologetics Sir, QED, John Humphrey [CEN, Barry Miles entitled “Why ani- by secular geologists and sure to bow the knee to the god and local service. 6 September] – you are tired of mal charities deserve the sup- astronomers, is responsible for of equalities. singing songs ad nauseam. I too port of Christians.” many Christians feeling that the I know it is very hard to go the Catherine Fox @FictionFox dislike the debased version of The article is an important Biblical dating of the world to opposite way to public opinion I’m thinking of banning the English represented by “gonna” reminder to us that God com- about 6,000 years old is in direct and to the way the media is press- phrase ‘thinking to myself’. I and “wanna” and I detest the mis- mands our care for all of creation contradiction to science. Here ing. I give some examples to thought to myself, grumpily. use of “wicked”. I love the meaty, and that our Christian compas- are three examples. show the folly of public opinion. articulate and thought-provoking sion must extend to both human 1) Carbon-14 has been found in For instance, a great mass of peo- Miranda T-Holmes Wesley, Townend, et cetera. and animal need. The Bible is dinosaur fossils. It should not be ple drive while using their mobile @MirandaTHolmes However, colloquialism is not clear that it is not a matter of there if the dinosaurs died out 70 phones – and I do not mean with Why am I writing a new book per se irreverent. Often it is either/or but of both/and. As million years ago. The results hands-free. Many others no proposal?! Maybe Im mad.... [inter alia] a bona fide [and some- John Stott stated ‘“God intends were presented at a recent con- longer use seat belts. Popularity times ad libitum] expression of our care of the creation to reflect ference by secular geologists. does not mean wise. Changing follow us joy and sincerity. It is accessible our love for the Creator.” The promoters of the conference the law to make such practices @churchnewspaper on Twitter to the unchurched, where some Jill and Peter Winslow refused to publish the paper. of the traditional hymns would Via email That is dishonesty. Letters continue on page 16

[email protected]/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper Leader & Comment Friday September 20, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 9 Comment Facing up to the veil Pope Francis on

The British preference to face issues as they arise in practice, rather than have philosophical debates beforehand, has strengths and weak- nesses. It can help broker compromises and advance sensible accom- modation to new developments. Or it can allow causes to build up piecemeal, which gain power despite being negative to the common non-believers good. Some Muslim women wearing full face veils in all dimensions of British society is now becoming an issue pressing itself against much cultural and legal practice. Peter Mullen It is a new issue, fully covered faces in society, in court rooms, in educational establishments, in hospitals, have been unknown, hence no legal decisions have been needed. Nuns’ habits have not covered When it comes to the succeeding of Pope Benedict the face, the nearest analogy we have in the West. Now a woman has by Pope Francis, it is becoming clearer by the refused to obey a judge when pleading in court, and a decision has yet minute that what we have gained in image-presen- to be reached whether she can wear her full covering, or whether she tation and sound-bites we have lost in mental acuity has a basic human right to be covered. The issue is now pressing up and theological clarity. Pope Francis’ recent pro- against our cultural norms in educational establishments, and no doubt nouncement about God, non-believers and their in hospitals: should a patient accept treatment from a person whose consciences is, to say the least, a confused mess. face is covered up, or indeed who chooses garb indicating a radical He said: “The question for those who do not allegiance to a certain religion? Staff at airports, banks, and all manner believe in God is to follow their own conscience. To of public places are part of this rising discussion. listen and to follow your conscience means that you As usual, there is a deep lack of informed research shown by our understand the difference between good and evil. politicians in such a discussion, notably about the practices in Islamic God will forgive non-believers if they behave moral- nations. Turkey famously banned the veil, and now is rowing back on ly and live according to their consciences.” that under the Erdogan Islamicising regime. Do we know whether in What would Tertullian have said? What would Egypt, Syria, Lebanon or Indonesia, for example, women can appear in Athanasius have said? In the first place the Pope’s his hand. This is the venture of faith. court with faces veiled, or work in hospitals, the armed forces, schools statement is merely banal. Of course God will for- In other words we affirm the existence of God in and universities? Turkey is certainly a possible template for the UK. give non-believers – as he will forgive thieves, adul- the words of the Creed: “I believe in God…” In In principle the woman demanding to wear the full veil in court is terers and murderers if they repent for, “If we say Collingwood’s terms, “We absolutely presuppose appealing to Sharia law over British law and custom: Sharia law we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth the truth of God’s existence.” accords the testimony of a woman half the reliability of a man’s – is the is not in us. But if we confess our sins God is faith- This is not a bare intellectual thing but to enter a woman also demanding that in her trial? It is an issue an intelligent bar- ful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us world – a whole world of theological truth and spir- rister could exploit. The core issue in court is openness: seeing the from all unrighteousness.” itual significance. Having absolutely presupposed face by the jurors is vital, and indeed the faces of the jurors and lawyers God, being pure love and nothing else, forgives the reality of God, we discover that his existence and judges. penitent sinners. It is his metier. So it was quite and his presence are verified for us in subsequent Dr Sarah Wollaston MP speaks for many in regarding the veil as unnecessary for the Pope to tell us that God will for- cumulative experiences: such as by praying, attend- offensive in making women invisible and segregating society. Jeremy give non-believers. He forgave even those who ing Mass, reading the Bible, confessing our sins Browne, Home Office Minister, speaks of protecting young Muslim nailed him to the cross. and praying as well for others as for ourselves. women from having the veil ‘imposed’ on them. This is a tricky argu- But after the banality, the confusion: “God will This method is often criticised by those who ment, similar to that of ‘grooming’ girls: they are likely to be powerful- forgive non-believers if they behave morally and claim that the step in the dark is unjustified and ly enculturated and grow to love the veil ‘freely’. And of course the UK live according to their consciences.” The confusion unreasonable. But in fact – unless you are a posi- youth culture of the present day, characterised by sex, drugs and drink here arises because Christian doctrine says that tivist or a logical positivist – that is how the whole of can be offered as the other alternative. our consciences may be in error and that they are our systematic thought proceeds: on the basis of Islam in the UK has been accorded every accommodation and help, trustworthy only when guided by God. If someone absolute presuppositions that are then confirmed in turn it needs to show that it can itself exist as a western, liberal, tol- denies the existence of God, his conscience is by actual experience. The mathematician, for exam- erant, integrated presence in society. thereby bound to be in error. ple, must absolutely presuppose that the symbols “To listen and to follow your conscience means and operations of maths are not just a noetic diver- that you understand the difference between good sion but actually refer to realities in the world. and evil.” No it doesn’t – not if your conscience is in Most of the conceptual confusion that arises in error because of your unbelief. I am afraid that the philosophical analysis comes about because The Church of England Newspaper Pope’s statement only reinforces my depressing philosophers have failed to distinguish between with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week suspicion that, after the gift and blessing of two propositions and presuppositions. We do not, as Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. great Popes in John Paul II and Benedict XVI, it is first the positivists and then the logical positivists Company Number: 3176742 back to business as usual. 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We do not know by the answered that he knew this already - and didn’t Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd unaided reason that God exists, still less what sort care! Such understanding as we achieve is always 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX of God he is – until he discloses himself to us by his based on experience interpreted in the light of the Editorial e-mail: [email protected] prevenient grace which enables us to respond in absolute presuppositions we make. Non-believers Advertising e-mail: [email protected] faith: that is which generates belief and turns our should start by becoming explorers. Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] human conscience into a reliable guide. So what we Or as the giving me my Confirmation have to do is to take a step into the dark, reach out classes once said, “When it comes to the Christian Website: www.churchnewspaper.com and hope that our hand will be taken by God in faith, you’ve got to suck it and see.”

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England spokesperson saying that could you? But it would have been fun if they had. Let’s move on from arms to the risk of child abuse. The Guardian and The Independent reported that 40 children were taken from a Christian sect in Hazel Southam Bavaria following police raids at a monastery and neighbouring farm, fol- lowing accusations of child abuse. The children, aged from seven months to 17 years, were members of the Twelve Tribes sect, which practices corporal punishment. View from Fleet Street “According to initial reports,” The Guardian said, “the disciplinary rods were soaked in oil to make them more pliable during a beating, when chil- dren were allegedly struck on their bare feet.” Back in the UK, we have exorcism, unveiled in an EXCLUSIVE in The Sunday Mirror. The paper claims that exorcists are charging ‘vulnerable people as much as £250 a session to rid them of their “demons”.’ Pastor Vincent ten Bouwhuis of the Amazing Grace Church in East Lon- Positive news? don is the man unmasked by the paper. They have him saying, ‘Get up you spirit, get up in Jesus’ name,’ whilst pushing a Bible on a woman’s head. And it says that American preacher, the Rev Bob Larson, is running three- day exorcism courses in London. Here, the paper says, you can ‘qualify’ as ‘Honestly,’ a friend said to me recently, ‘we need If you’re thinking I have little truck with this an exorcist for the price of £1,600. newspapers to be so much more positive about idea, you’re right. So my selection of stories this And, as if all of this wasn’t bad enough, in Syria, forces led by President the Church. Everything they write is always so week highlight just why a positive spin will not do. Assad have said that they mean ‘Christians no harm’ according to The Inter- negative. We need more Christian journalists and First, The Independent on Sunday reported that national Herald Tribune. a campaign to get the Church covered more posi- the Church of England ‘has invested up to £10 This, the paper says, gives President Obama a problem, as he can’t be tively.’ million in one of the world’s major arms firms, seen to bomb Assad if Assad is the supposed protector of Christians. Or it was something like this. I’ve heard this which supplies unmanned drones and jets to con- But, the Herald Tribune’s journalists were reporting from Maaloula, an kind of comment so many times over the last 25 flicts around the world’. ancient Christian town in Syria. Assad’s troops’ sentiments didn’t mean years that I tend to glaze over early on and the This was, the paper said, ‘a discovery’. Not real- much there clearly, as the paper reported, ‘Most of the town’s residents exact words pass me by. ly, but nonetheless hooking it onto the DSEi (the have fled.’ And, if I’m truthful, I haven’t heard it for a UK’s leading arms fair) makes it worth its place in I know there have been interesting stories this week about women bish- while, so thought that Christians had realized the the paper. ops in Wales. And The Times’ leader writer praised the Pope as a man absolute nonsense of this position. Stories get The paper reports that the Church of England’s ‘becoming a commanding voice in temporal affairs’. into newspapers on their merit. So a religion story spokesperson said that General Electric (the com- But the overall view is negative. Is my friend right to be indignant? No. A has to be as strong as a science or a business pany concerned) also made other products such journalist’s job is to look under beds for bones, to ask questions, to search story, say. as dishwashers, lighting and power plants. out the acts that happen behind the scenes and bring them to the fore- Also, why exactly should the Church get a posi- That seems a bit of a thin response. My father ground. tive spin when nothing else does? God can stand used to work for GEC (as it was then) back in the If The Sunday Mirror, Independent on Sunday, Guardian and Independent up for himself, one imagines. And the failings of day. He remembers the staff singing the following have done that this week, good for them. It’s up to all of us, collectively as the Church, if such there are, shouldn’t be ditty on group outings, ‘Oh you’ll never go to the Church, to clean up our act sufficiently that these kind of stories can’t be glossed over. Look where that got the Church heaven with the GEC, ’cos the GEC is NBG’. written any longer, because they’re just not happening anymore. with child abuse. Though of course, you couldn’t have a Church of And I also believe in fairies at the end of the garden. Doing Theology as a Bishop: Tradition

image of the face of Christ, and George Herbert was Rector relationship of primal religion to was discovered by accident in of Bemerton, 1630-33. Christianity is deeply embedded 1963 by a Baptist blacksmith, The bishop who has influenced in the numerous ancient Briton Walter White, and is now a me most concerning the impor- fortified hills and nearby Saxon, centrepiece in the British tance of mission and tradition is Norman and medieval village Museum. John V Taylor, Bishop of Win- churches. In Lent 2012, I Other ‘rocks’ we look back chester 1975-85. The Primal arranged with Durweston church to, and draw inspiration from, Vision, on African traditional reli- primary school a ‘wellie walk with By Graham Kings, post of Bishop. In preparation, I are: St , Bishop of Sher- gion, and The Go-Between God, the Bishop’. Children and teach- visited the British Library in Lon- borne 705-709 AD; St Cuthburga, on the Holy Spirit and mission, ers from the school walked with don to view The Sherborne founder of Wimborne Minster in have become classics. me up and around Hod Hill. The prophet in Babylon encour- Missal. 705 AD and leader of the two The key theologian who has Beginning on the outer rings, we aged the exiles: ‘Look to the rock This service book, the weight monasteries of monks and nuns shaped my thinking on Tradition moved to the inner rings and then from which you were hewn, to the of a six-year-old child, is one of there; St Leoba, a nun from Wim- is Kwame Bediako (1945-2008). the centre, reflecting on the histo- quarry from which you were the best preserved illuminated borne who was sent with 20 oth- He was Director of the Akrofi- ry of our county and on Jesus dug,’ (Isaiah 51:1). He continued: manuscripts in England. It was ers to help her relative St Christaller Centre, Akropong, walking around Galilee. ‘Look to Abraham your father and commissioned by Abbot Robert Boniface (Wynfrith) from Credi- Ghana, and visiting lecturer at Anniversaries are key to ‘tradi- to Sarah who bore you, for he was Bruyning at the beginning of the ton, Devon, to be the ‘Apostle of New College, University of Edin- tion’. 2012 was the bicentenary of but one when I called him, but I 15th century, for use at Sher- Germany’ in Bavaria; Aethelgifu, burgh. His personally invigorat- the death of the Bible translator blessed him and made him many,’ borne Abbey. daughter of King Alfred the Great ing joy in African perspectives on Henry Martyn and was also the (Isaiah 51:2). The rocks from which the and first Abbess of Shaftesbury the gospel remain with me 450th anniversary of the publica- Names, as well as movements, church in is hewn, and to Abbey in 888 AD. always. His two major works, tion of Bishop John Jewel’s Apolo- are central to the concept of Tra- which we look, include the com- In Wiltshire, we look back with Theology and Identity and Chris- gia Ecclesiae Anglicanae in 1562. dition and to the study of Church munity that created the famous joy to two of the finest writers of tianity in Africa, reflect on the sig- Preparing to give lectures in Cam- History. The name Sherborne Roman mosaic of the face of English prose and poetry and nificance of tradition, continuity bridge, on Martyn, and in Salis- meant a lot to me, when I was Christ in the 370s AD, at Hinton Anglican : Richard Hooker and inculturation. bury, on Jewel, helped bring invited to be interviewed for the St Mary. It is the earliest known was Rector of Boscombe, 1591-95, In Dorset, the interweaving ‘Tradition’ alive for me.

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THANKSGIVING FOR horses, donkeys, polar bears; CREATION For all fish within the sea, for the chicken, cow and bee, The challenge of 1. God, creation comes from for the eagle, sparrow, dove, you, for the dogs and cats we love. praise and glory are your due; through your Son all things 5. You created humankind were made gave us body, spirit, mind and your splendour is breathed in us your living displayed. breath hymn-writing thank you for the nights and promised life instead of death; days when we sinned, you came to for the stars on which we gaze save; By Bishop Michael Baughen space to make new ones or die, that (guide and sheep dogs) and our sun to warm and give us light Jesus Christ, your Son, you they would really form a whole the- home pets. moon to keep earth’s rhythms gave; “Please write a hymn for my sis!’ Praise and thanks that Jesus was right dying for us on the cross funeral... thanking God for plants Then came the list of what the the one through whom God created bringing victory out of loss. and animals and...” hymn should summarise and I have the universe, sustaining it through 2. Earth proclaims your just selected from the lists! his powerful word… suffering, the mighty hand 6.We have harmed the world The request was fired at me across Praise God for his whole dynamic cross, resurrection, redemption of in the air and sea and land - we’re in, the breakfast table at a Greek East- creation... the heavens, our own us and the whole creation... deserts, forests, rivers, lakes Lord, forgive us for our sin; er week I was leading. The impres- home solar system, sun, moon, our need to repent for our sin and fertile plains and mountain teach us all your gifts to share sive lady, Sylvia Sikes, held a light, tides, gravity, technology to faulty stewardship of the planet. ‘quakes; that the poor may not despair. responsible position in the realms explore the heavens and the earth. Her passion for the whole cre- for the life-forms that abound then, as children of new birth of health and ecology. She Praise God for the variety and ation was glorious and utterly stim- for the joys of light and sound in new heavens and new earth explained that she could not find a challenges of earth’s environ- ulating but a hymn that included all for the wonders that amaze we will worship, hearts ablaze, hymn to celebrate her huge appre- ment... the list included deserts, she suggested would have gone to we now bring our heartfelt joining in creation’s praise. ciation of creation apart from ‘All savannahs, ice fields, jungles... some 40 verses, I guess! praise. things bright and beautiful’ but it reproduction and adaptation, I endeavoured to do a first draft would need extra verses and she colourful beauty or drab camou- and with her comments back we 3. For the trees that clean our Copyright Words: Michael wanted a hymn with a grander flage... hundreds of thousands of eventually settled on the attached air Baughen. 2005.Jubilate tune. life forms... hymn, sung first with enthusiasm at give the nest, the perch, the Hymns. My first inclination was to say ‘no Praise God for all plants that her church’s harvest ... and in vari- lair Tune: St George’s Windsor way!’ but then I thought about it shape the environment for other liv- ous places since to celebrate God’s flowers of beauty, nectar sweet. (Come you thankful people and asked her to put down on paper ing things... creation. The verse about yaks and fruit and vegetables to eat. come) . what she would like included. providing oxygen, protecting other creatures was meant for chil- For all animals, our friends, So I received three typed pages against sun and storm, food, nests, dren but adults wanted to sing it on whom much of life depends Or, as originally intended, to of A4! She began by writing: “I tend perches, timber, medicines, fruit... too. giving friendship, transport, the tune Glorious Coming to have enough thoughts about Praise God for the myriads of ani- This year this great servant of food (tune of “When the glory praising God for the whole creation mals that serve us indirectly, eg God died. Of course, the hymn was working with us for our good. comes” Hymns for Today’s and the life forms with which he butterflies, fireflies, frogs, hares, sung at her funeral! I am sure she Church 201) adding as the has stocked our own unstable plan- hedgehogs, ants, sea mammals; would rejoice if it was used by many 4.For the frogs and butterflies, refrain: et, for the amazing freedom which and which serve us directly, eg for other churches to enable many birds of beauty in our skies, “Let the whole creation raise he gave to them to evolve as suc- food, for transport (including believers to rejoice in the glorious ants and apes and yaks and Songs of everlasting praise” cesses or failures, and for the free- camels, yaks donkeys...), for breadth of our God’s amazing cre- hares (repeat) dom he gave to the astral bodies in warmth, as working associates ation. CCooookk tthhiiss!! WWiinnee ooff tthhee WWeeeekk First Cape President’s Selection Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Waitrose £5.79 (offer, until 8 October) Goat’s cheese and broccoli pasta www.waitrose.com/wine Made to be drunk young, this South African You can vary the greens in this dish – Ingredients red, a blend of two standard international use griddled courgettes or curly kale. (Shiraz is France’s Syrah) grapes, was to Serves 2 2 garlic cloves me an unexpected pleasure. Earlier in the Ready in 15 minutes 1 red chilli week friends had offered me an over- poweringly rich, yet tannic Cabernet 300g penne 4 tbsp dried breadcrumbs Sauvignon from that country which I 250g tenderstem broccoli 150g soft goat’s cheese could not enjoy. Here was very differ- 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts ent. 2 tbsp olive oil The nose gave a coy hint of dark fruits. Then, on the palate, held in an enjoyable fresh light body which I Method had not anticipated (only 12.5% by Vol. in alcohol — expect 14% or more 1. Cook 300g penne in a large pan of salted boiling water for with South African reds) there were 5-6 minutes, until al dente. Meanwhile, toss 250g tenderstem no aggressive tannins. It was soft, broccoli in 1 tbsp olive oil and some seasoning. easy-drinking, and out came fruit, purple plum and ripe raspberries. 2. Heat a griddle pan until hot and add the broccoli and There was a very faint touch of spice. griddle for 6 minutes, until charred, then add a splash of Was there something unusual about water and cook for 1-2 minutes or until tender. Heat 2 tbsp my bottle? (“There’s no such thing as olive oil in a pan and fry 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, and 1 a good wine, only a good bottle of red chilli, finely sliced, for 1 minute. wine.”) Waitrose themselves rate it rich, going well with hearty foods. I 3. Add 4 tbsp dried breadcrumbs and fry for a further 3 found it good just drunk by itself: it minutes, until golden and crisp. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 tbsp cooking water, and would be a versatile companion to toss both with the broccoli and chilli breadcrumbs. meat, or cheese-flavoured pasta. It had a pleasant finish too, with a bit of 4. Add 150g soft goat’s cheese, cut into chunks, and 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts. a “zing” at the ending. Drizzle over a little olive oil to serve. Graham Gendall Norton

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been to introduce a cultural relativisim that battle against Islam. Many Islamic religious inhibits proper debate about the limitations authorities do not prescribe full face-cover- of tolerance. We shouldn’t tolerate cultural ings. Many Muslim women do not wear any expressions that are visibly demeaning to form of religious dress, and others merely women. This is not to say that we should cover their hair with veils rather than their AndrewCarey: ever seek to ban anything lawful, such as the faces. We must give greater support to these right of women to wear burqas or niqabs as expressions of moderate Islam and consis- they go about their business, but we can tently argue against more conservative and insist that in certain types of public employ- fundamentalist prescriptions of Islam. ViewfromthePew ment people have a right to deal with the I have no doubt that the churches will face of a person rather than a face-covering argue against any national banning of burqas and a muffled voice. This applies especially or niqabs but should favour laws that protect in schools where teachers have to establish schools and local authorities in devising relationships with pupils to aid their learn- their own guidelines. We must resist any Debating the veil ing. Full-face coverings inhibit education. attempts to drive faith out of the public Furthermore, in some communities girls square by advocating racially, culturally and This week’s newly revived debate on doctrinaire secularism that banned the come under pressure to wear the veils from religiously sensitive practices. But we must whether Muslim girls and women should veil entirely from the public sphere in both their peers and their families. We also be strong advocates for the personal be allowed to wear full face coverings in France. should stand up for individual freedom of freedom of young women from any peer schools and courts should not be left to It is right therefore that the govern- expression against those strong cultural pressure that seeks to take away their indi- secularists. ment is resisting national guidelines on influences. viduality and make them invisible in wider The Churches, though understandably face-coverings, instead upholding the However this must not be presented as a society. wary of pronouncing on matters to do right of schools to impose their own uni- with other faiths, should be able to form policy. We live in an age of litigation express strong views in a national conver- and it is highly unlikely that individual A vote to heighten resistance to change sation about the issue. Church leaders schools that ban the niqab or full-length will, of course, defend the right of believ- burqa will have the resources or inclina- The decision by the Church in Wales to vote for a single-clause measure for women bishops ers to manifest their faith visibly and pub- tion to resist court cases aimed at chal- with no provision for those opposed will have consequences for the Church of England’s own licly. We do not live in a secular society, lenging their policy. This is why decision on the matter in the next few years. we live in one where cultural politicians from across the parties are Firstly, bishops of the Church in Wales will have to come up with a strong ‘code of practice’ still has a strong hold. This heritage calling for national guidelines. for traditionalists. An inadequate code of practice will send a negative signal to opponents in tends to uphold freedom of conscience in And they are probably right to do so. the Church of England that they are likely to be short-changed in any comparable English matters of religion rather than the kind of One of the effects of multiculturalism has provision. This will heighten resistance to the change.

Scandals rock Scotland Atheist Advance

Sex scandals are rocking Scottish churches. Catholics in one parish in Ayr- There is a joke about a man stopped by terrorists in Belfast. ‘Are you a Catholic shire are so angry with the bishop for removing their priest after he com- or a Protestant?’ they ask him. ‘I’m a Buddhist’, he replies. ‘Yes, but are you a plained about another priest who made advances to him that they are Catholic or a Protestant Buddhist?’ they respond. Many of the New Atheists boycotting mass and withholding their donations. Fr Patrick Lawson, who is claim to be Anglican Atheists. Richard Dawkins has just published volume one suffering from cancer, claims he has lost his job because he complained that of his autobiography and has been talking to the media. In The Spectator he con- the bishops had covered up allegations that Fr Paul Moore had abused altar fessed that he has a certain love for evensong in a village church and would actu- servers for two decades. The diocese says Lawson has been stood down ally feel deprived if there weren’t any churches. He wants people to continue to because he refused to retire early on grounds of ill health. Meanwhile Protes- learn about the Bible and seems ready to accept C of E schools just as long as we tants are stunned by the news that the Rev Professor Bernd Wannenwetsch don’t have Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu faith schools as well. In An Appetite for of Aberdeen University, President of the Society for the Study of Christian Wonder he records a religious experience at school, a moment of soul-filled joy Ethics, has been charged with touching a woman’s breasts and thighs on a listening to Elvis Presley sing ‘I believe’ and realising the words summed up his flight from Amsterdam to Aberdeen. A 26-year-old woman told the Aberdeen feeling that a universe as wonderful as this required a creator. Later he came to Sheriff’s Court that the Professor started making small talk to her at the air- see this only raised the issue of who created the creator and began his life of port. She went to sleep in the plane and when she woke up she found one of atheist rebellion by refusing to kneel in Oundle Chapel. What is so strange about his hands was running up her thigh and the other was placed on her breast. Dawkins is that a man who says he is attracted to the tolerant ethos of Anglican- She pulled away from Wannenwetsch and huddled in a corner. He asked her ism is so fervently evangelical in his atheism. Anglicanism is also an influence if she had enjoyed what he had done. The woman was very upset and broke behind the Atheist Sunday Assembly that attracts 400 a month in London. into tears when she met her boyfriend at Aberdeen. Wannenwetsch is an Assemblies are set to spread to 40 other centres. The organisers claim to be ordained Lutheran minister who previously taught at Oxford. He denies the ‘copying a familiar Church of England format’ but clearly in their case they are charge of assault and the case has been deferred to later in the year. so successful that it must be the evangelical wing they are following rather than the country evensong beloved of Dawkins. The Whispering Gallery Illiberal Lib Dems Fighting Poverty Together

Sarah Teather says she is stepping down as MP at the next election Pope Francis continues to surprise Catholics. He has accepted the gift of an because she disagrees with Nick Clegg on immigration and capping old Renault car that has done 120,000 kilometres and attracted headlines for benefits. Cynics say she was set to lose her seat any way but some are his habit of telephoning people in trouble who write to him. There is excite- asking whether she was influenced by the torrent of criticism she received ment among those who worry about such matters that he has not bestowed on Lib Dem blogs after she was one of only four party MPs to vote against the honorary title on ‘Monsignor’ on anyone since he was appointed. It may be the Gay Marriage Bill. What upset critics was that she voted in favour on on the way out, at least for non-diplomats. Monsignors Newton, Broadhurst the second reading but swung against on the third. The Catholic MP says and Burnham got in just in time. Is there any hope that the C of E will follow she expected that the bill would have been amended before the third suit and stop handing out honorary canonries? It seems one joint Anglican- reading. Another Catholic Lib Dem MP, Greg Mulholland, who has written Catholic initiative is in the offing. Justin Welby is hoping to discuss a joint anti- about ‘a dangerous drift’ in the party towards intolerance in his poverty initiative when he meets the Pope in December. His representative to contribution to the recently published ‘Liberal Democrats Do God,’ the Holy See, Archbishop David Moxon, told the Together for the Common returned to the topic on the website ‘Liberal Democrat Voice’ and argued it Good Conference in Liverpool that the two Church leaders discussed poverty is ‘time to put freedom of conscience back where it should be – and has for four hours when they met in July. Subsequently Archbishop Moxon has historically been – at the centre of liberalism’. He warned that if things revealed Lambeth Palace is working on proposals to put to the Pope at the continue as they are at present people of faith will not feel comfortable in December meeting although the actual date has yet to be fixed and depends being members of the party. Mulholland’s views gave rise to debate when on the Pope’s calendar. The Pope is said to be working on an encyclical on Liberal Democrats Do God was officially launched at a meeting of the Lib poverty. It would be an unparalleled ecumenical initiative if this was made a Dem Christian Forum at the Party Conference. One LDCF member at joint encyclical from the two leaders. Ecumenists are making comparisons least is riding high. Tim Farron has proclaimed his admiration for Ed with the partnership between David Shepherd and Derek Worlock and saying Miliband, leaving some of his colleagues dismayed at the thought of a new the Welby-Francis relationship could develop into something similar. Rowan coalition in 2015 with Ed as PM and Tim as Deputy PM. Williams and Benedict XVI probably didn’t talk much about poverty but they had a very warm relationship based on common theological interests. The ecumenical fruits were not very great. Books Friday September 20, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 13 The pick of the new paperbacks Faith on the front

The Greening (published by Hay House) is a remarkable novel by Margaret Coles, a former Fleet Street and BBC journalist who now line in times of war writes for the theatre. The novel tells the story of Joanna, a journal- Woodbine Willie, deserves to be read as the story of a man ist, who finds the journal of a myste- Bob Holman the Church should celebrate as a 20th cen- rious woman called Anna Leigh. It Lion, pb; tury saint and evangelist. Sadly too few in tells of Anna’s life-changing the Church of England were able to follow encounter with Julian of Norwich Military Chaplaincy in him in reaching out to ordinary working and leads Joanna to become fasci- Contention, people and his beloved St Paul’s in Worces- nated with the life of the medieval Andrew Todd (ed) ter is now a Pentecostal church. anchoress. Is Julian a figure from Ashgate, pb. Modern chaplaincy is very different an alien world or does she have the from the days of Studdert Kennedy. key for finding peace and happiness With the hundredth anniversary of Andrew Todd has edited an excellent col- through pain and suffering? A its start coming up next year the lection of essays that will both stimulate dilemma in Joanna’s own life forces impact of the First World War on the those engaged in military chaplaincy and her to make a clear choice. Mar- Christian Church and on the Church open the eyes of those who have little expe- garet Coles confesses to a fascina- of England in particular is likely to rience of the tasks undertaken by present- tion with Julian. “I tried to imagine receive some attention. Did what many saw as the day padres. what it must be like to risk your life pointless carnage in the trenches and the readiness As a chapter by Peter Howson shows, there is to tell a story – it’s more than most of such church leaders as the , often a large gap in understanding between the journalists are expected to do – and I was amazed by her courage,” Arthur Winnington-Ingram, to act as recruiting ser- chaplains and the churches they represent. Church she writes. “Then I came to admire her integrity. I perceived the geants undermine Christian faith? Were Church of bodies might talk more sense about military conflict links between Julian and her book and ethical journalism. Since I England padres ineffective figures who stayed away if they listened to the chaplains. consider myself to be an ethical journalist that link was important to from danger and doled out pious platitudes to the As the essays in this book make clear, the days me.” troops? are long gone when chaplains were enthusiastic Alan Wilkinson’s classic study The Church of cheerleaders whose main task was to motivate the How much do we know about North Korea? Is there any hope for England and the First World War is essential read- soldiers (if this ever really was the role of any but a this isolated nation? David Alton is Chair of the All-Party Parliamen- ing for understanding not only the role of the small minority). As Andrew Totten points out, you tary Group on North Korea and has visited the country a number of Church during the war but the religious history of do not improve morale by stifling moral reflection times. He has teamed up with Rob Chidley to write Building Britain during the 20th century. He gives a mixed and an important part of a chaplain’s job is to help report. The initial refusal to allow chaplains to go to solders wrestle with moral issues, especially the the front was a mistake but many of them served question of what is right conduct in war. The army is with great bravery and many clergy lost sons in the well supplied with legal advisers but moral ques- conflict. Roman Catholic chaplains had the advan- tions cut deeper than legal issues. tage of being closer in class and background to the Moral issues have become more complicated now troops and of having a clear role as providers of the that the nature of warfare has changed. Philip sacraments. Many Anglican chaplains had difficulty McCormack makes us aware of the problems of in getting across to ordinary soldiers who, if they fighting in new types of war in which the opponent were religious, were often believers in folk religion. is not another state but ‘barbarous non-state actors’. Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, ‘Woodbine Willie’, Very often these opponents seek to lure British was one of the chaplains who did communicate with troops into shooting at innocent civilians used as the men. Bob Holman is good at showing us just cover as a means of securing a propaganda victory, why Kennedy was able to do this. He had a strong, a tactic the Western media often fails to understand. but not dogmatic faith, saying he was certain of only The First World War disclosed a gap between the two things, ‘Christ and his sacraments, apart from faith of the public school officers and padres on the these I am not sure of anything,’ and he was ready to one side and the ordinary soldiers on the other. spend time with the soldiers, sharing their experi- Today Christianity is no longer the common curren- ences and giving out Woodbines as a mark of his cy among soldiers. Welfare organisations have concern for them. No one could accuse him of stay- taken over many of the tasks chaplains performed. Bridges (Lion) that claims there is hope for a better future if only ing behind the lines in safety and in 1917 he won the The army has retained more of its Christian tradi- we have the chance to seize it. Baroness Cox contributes a fore- MC for gallantry. tions than most other British institutions but chap- word. Holman’s book is not an original work of lains need to be professional at their work. This research. It leans heavily on previous books, espe- book shows just the kind of professionalism that is Readings for Weddings is a collection compiled by Mark Oaten, cially the biography by William Purcell, and there is required. Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, that was first published in room for a new study of Kennedy. But this book Paul Richardson 2004 and has now been reissued by SPCK. Many clergy have found this to be a valuable help when preparing couples for marriage. There are readings from scripture and from other writers such as Bob Holman with his WH Auden, Sylvia Plath, Ogden Nash and Robert Louis Stevenson biography of Woodbine Willie as well as a collection of hymns. There is a new introduction in which the compiler says: “I am very clear that this book is for all couples who love each other and want to celebrate that love in a public act of commitment …Where mutual love is, God is. It is as simple, beautiful and miraculous as that.”

Over the past 150 years St John’s College, Nottingham, has gone through different incarnations in different locations. Colin Buchanan, a former Principal, has written a history of the past 50 years, which all former students and anyone interested in theologi- cal education in the Church of England will want to read. St John’s College, Nottingham: From Northwood to Nottingham is pub- lished by the college.

In Using the Bible in Practical Theology (Ashgate) Zoe Bennett, a Church of England Reader who teaches in the Cambridge Theo- logical Federation, looks at the public theology of John Ruskin and uses it to cast light on the way the Bible can be used in practical the- ology today. Ruskin had an enormous influence on the Labour Party in Britain and this work illuminates his thinking and skilfully uses historical study to develop critical reflection on the Bible and practi- cal theology. In the words of Christopher Rowland, ‘the study of John Ruskin, the Bible and theology will never be the same again’. 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday September 20, 2013 Arts & Media Celebrating the work of Lowry

By Brian Cooper thronging to a mission hall and hurrying to and from factories - but also his rich Lowry and the painting of modern life sources: the symbolist townscapes of at Tate Britain until 20 October Adolphe Valette, his French-born tutor at Manchester School of Art, and even Pissar- ro’s Paris visions. (Pieter Bruegel, 16th- LS Lowry (1887-1976), the Salford rent-col- century Netherlandish painter in whose lector who devoted his solitary evenings to tradition of imaging everyday life Lowry creating a unique vision of the industrial saw himself, is not referenced.) North, for the general public was probably Arranged thematically rather than the most famous, and certainly the most chronologically, the show lacks signposts popular, British painter of the mid-20th cen- of the artist’s stylistic development, but key tury, a reality affirmed by special commis- features readily emerge: generally, earlier sions for the 1951 Festival of Britain. works are grimmer, darker in tone and His often bleak but always fascinating often atmospheri- urban landscapes, crowded scenes of city cally claustropho- life, and hallmark ‘matchstick’ people, mass bic, whereas later reproduced as prints, posters and greet- ones tend to be ings cards, became a familiar element in lighter, more open British popular culture. Always accessible, in mood, even belonging to no trendy ‘school’ or ‘ism’, upbeat rather than hugely appealing because celebrating - and sombre. The affirming the worth of - ordinary everyday smoky Wigan life, and always offering readily compre- Industrial Land- hensible scenes, Lowry’s art won the heart scape (1925) and 1930s mass unemployment, poor housing of the British public. bleak River Scene and ill health, their resilience shines Despite early recognition in France, UK (1935) clearly con- through in such busy scenes as Excavating exhibitions being crowd-pullers, and trast with the in Manchester (1935). respect from royals and prime ministers, brighter Industrial Wartime works reveal this contrast: the for decades Lowry’s work was disdained by Landscape of 1955 dramatic Blitzed Site (1942), its figures the metropolitan art establishment as and the joyful Pic- stark amid charred ruins, preludes the repetitive and drab (though he became a cadilly Circus scene vibrant Britain at Play (1943) and joyful VE Royal Academician in 1962): oddly, only of 1960, while the Day (1945) visions, such Northern scenes one work of Tate’s large Lowry holding is wretched post-World emblematic of the nation’s experience. permanently on show! Yet the dedicated War One image of ments dwarfing dark figures shriek prole- This enthralling show fittingly concludes Salford centre, primary showcase of his Cripples is finally redeemed by the hopeful tarian misery. “I only deal with poverty, with his final major works - the 1950s paintings, attracts visitors worldwide. new NHS in Ancoats Hospital Outpatients’ always with gloom,” Lowry once declared, Industrial Landscape panoramas, brightly Now Tate Britain’s comprehensive 90- Hall (1952). and Manufacturing Town (1922), its chim- multi-coloured with green horizontals work review of Lowry’s distinctive vision The poverty and tragedy of Northern neys belching black smoke over shabby rather than dark, and 1960s South Wales seems set to secure his enduring place in working-class life were manifest in Lowry crowds, seems to say it all. Yet church valleys landscapes, big-scale visual tributes the pantheon of British artists no less than from the first. Ten dark-clad figures, the spires pierce the dark with hint of redemp- to their mining communities. in popular affection. Lowry and the Painting women in rough shawls, grimly huddle in tion: art historian Sir John Rothstein’s view of Modern Life reveals not only the breadth Pit Tragedy (1919) like Old Master mourn- ‘a kind of gloomy lyricism’ marks Lowry’s Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life is at of his subjects - cityscapes and scenes of ers at the foot of the Cross; two years later paintings, is only partly true. Tate Britain until 20 October 2013. football matches, protest marches, people in The Lodging House, blackened tene- If his people often seem crushed by Admission £15; Concessions. Making drama on the racetrack You can forgive Ron Howard for Hunt’s particular party may be available in some cinemas for an extra fiver. It’s the making movies of Dan Brown’s style reflected the upper interaction between the two principals that makes the film, books, so long as he makes ones like class backing of Lord Hes- plus a lot of the side-issues have their own frissons, such Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind and keth (Christian McKay), as when Lauda first drives for Ferrari and tells their engi- now Rush. Motor racing movies have portrayed not quite as a twit, neer how bad the car is. usually invented storylines (Grand but careless about the Their other relationships are covered sensitively – Prix, Days of Thunder) and 2011’s financing of Formula One Hunt’s marriage to model Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde), who Senna constructed its real-life drama racing, spurning sponsor- left him for Richard Burton, and Lauda’s to Marlene Knaus from archive footage, but Peter Mor- ship by tobacco and condom (Alexandra Maria Lara) - though it’s probably the nudity gan’s screenplay dramatises the firms as vulgar. Without rather than the strong language and the “bloody injury 1970s rivalry between James Hunt sponsorship, even inherited detail” that get the film a 15 certificate. There is one scene (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda wealth was not enough, at between Lauda and Marlene that centres on his idea that (Daniel Brühl). least not without selling the “happiness is the enemy” but it is the on-track rivalry, cap- It’s a good choice of subject, as stately pile, and Hunt moved tured so brilliantly by Brühl and Hemsworth, that really they were chalk and cheese. Hunt to the McLaren team for the holds the attention. had a reputation as a womanising 1976 season. Lauda is now 64, advised the filmmakers, and is able to playboy – rather underplayed here if he really slept with The film begins with a first person voiceover by Lauda joke about it all, quipping when asked who might play him, 5,000 women – while Lauda was the serious technician, about his crash in Germany in 1976 when he was badly “Everyone who has had his right ear burnt off can already both in racing and engineering, and the differences come burned, skips back to a start six years before, and eventu- start making plans.” Hunt died from a heart attack aged out in their driving styles and philosophy. ally overtakes that event. Lauda had tried to get the Ger- 45. Hunt is the aggressive, risk-taking “charger”, while man Grand Prix at the Nürburgring cancelled, believing My favourite scene was when Lauda and Marlene meet, Lauda calculates his every move. That’s seen early on in the circuit to be too dangerous – and not just because of leave a party in her car and he identifies its faults, and they the film at a Formula Three race: Hunt prepares by his the rain as the film suggests. end up getting a lift from two guys who recognise him, and usual vomiting, followed by champagne and a quick toke His burns, external and internal – the vacuuming of his demand he drives their car. Marlene is sceptical that he is of pot, when Lauda has been out walking the racetrack to lungs is a fairly unpleasant scene – were life-threatening, who they say, so he shifts gear – literally and literally * - to learn its every bump. but he returned to the track six weeks later and, despite demonstrate his skills round the country roads in a real The personal antagonism may be overplayed. Lauda has having missed two races, led Hunt by three points. The joyride. reportedly said that he and Hunt were more friendly than Japanese Grand Prix, in torrential rain, would decide who Steve Parish depicted, and hinted that they, and two women, had once would be World Champion. spent the night at Hunt’s London flat. It was, says Howard, The race scenes are well done – you can almost feel the * This is my little protest at the Oxford English Dictionary’s “when the sex was safe and driving dangerous”. g-force in an ordinary seat, but the moving D-Box seats defining “literally” to mean either literally or not literally. Comment Friday September 20, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 15 Janey Lee Grace Live Healthy! Live Happy! At last! A salt that is safe to use

On what turned out to be one of the last really sunny by people who have been trading in it for generations. days we liberally shook salt over our fish and chips The fine mineral dust content gives Himalayan Salt its and prayed hard that the seagulls wouldn’t swoop varied pinkish hue. The compression of the tectonic down and grab them, but of course I told the kids – go plates beneath the mountains has made it hard and easy on the salt! crystalline, which means that when it is granulated, As a nation we’re told salt is bad for us, too much the individual grains are less likely to clump so it is salt can cause high blood pressure and lead to heart ideal in Salt Mills. What’s fascinating is that it comes disease but in fact it’s the kind of salt that’s all-impor- out of the earth in a state which is already of food tant. An interest in using natural salt has developed grade for humans, and it therefore needs no cleaning recently in many people wanting the flavour but not or refining. the negative health issues connected with modern So you really can make your chips healthy! Sprinkle refined salt. Without doubt the white stuff in the sea- some on salads, fish, and all grains – the Russians side chippy wouldn’t make the grade! have a saying “Salt and grain will never argue” which Fortunately there is a salt that’s actually good for is why it brings out the best in rice, pasta and all bak- you. Himalayan Salt is a lovely pinky orange colour ery recipes. and is unprocessed, though you can buy it as granulat- My favourite is the Whole Pink Himalayan Food Salt ed or coarse rock salt. It’s naturally deposited and by British businesswoman Lenni Smith, who calls her- compressed salt. self ‘The Salt Seller’. She also has four varieties of bath Much of the world’s pink salt comes from moun- salts and some beautiful Tea Light holders . tains, from the foothills of the Himalayas, it is mined www.thesaltseller.co.uk

PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 866 by Axe

Across despair' [Ps/NIV] (5) 3'...the ------of Days came and pro- 1Town where Jehoahaz was taken nounced judgement in favour of the prisoner – the Syrian HQ of Neb- holy people...' [Dan/NIV] (7) uchadnezzar [2 Kgs] (6) 5'Is it ----- for you to flog a Roman citi- 4Prophet, disciple and successor of zen who hasn't even been found Elijah [1&2 Kgs] (6) guilty?' [Acts/NIV] (5) 9First city taken by the Israelites as 6Usurper King of Israel, son of they entered the Promised Land Jabesh, king for only a month [2 [Josh] (7) Kgs] (7) 10 Abundant and unmerited love, freely 7'"It is mine to ------; I will repay", says given by God to humanity (5) the Lord' [Rom/NIV] (6) 11 Where Paul left Titus to help the 8Union of the Father, Son and Spirit in newly-formed church (5) one Godhead (4,7) 12 Feature of the Christmas table 14 Missionary letter of the NT, as per which pre-dates the Christian era the KJV (7) (4,3) 15 '[They] have grown fat and sleek. 13 Book of the Pentateuch (11) Their evil deeds have ------...' 18 Commonly, the Feast of the descent [Jer/NIV] (2,5) of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles 16 'Beat your ploughshares into ------and (7) your pruning hooks into spears' 20 Common feature of King Azariah [2 [Joel/NIV] (6) Kgs] and Simon [Matt; Mark] (5) 17 Addressed a deity, prophet, saint, 22 'When the time came for the purifica- etc, in worship (6) tion -----...Joseph and Mary took him 19 Inhabitant of the Elamite capital – in to Jerusalem...' [Luke/NIV] (5) some bibles, an alternative name for 23 Fellow missionary and companion of the capital itself [Ezra; Neh; Esther] Paul (7) (5) 24 Hezekiah's secretary who talked 21 Apostle, leader of the early Church with Sennacherib's Assyrians [2 (5) Kgs; Isa] (6) The first correct entry drawn will win a book of the Editor’s choice. Send your 25 'King Darius then issued an order, Solution to last weeks crossword entry to Crossword Number 866, The Church of England Newspaper, and they searched in the archives ---- 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX by next Friday -- in the treasury at Babylon' Across: 3 Communicant, 7 Ararat, 8 Impart, 9 [Ezra/NIV] (6) Nearer, 10 Odin, 11 Host, 13 Milcah, 17 Jairus, Name 18 Sharon, 19 Supreme Head. Down Address Down: 1 Smyrna, 2 Camped, 3 Corinthians, 4 1'Surely God does not ------one who is Untie, 5 Isis, 6 Turin Shroud, 12 Seraph, 14 blameless' [Job/NIV] (6) Issue, 15 Chapel, 16 Isle. 2'I have ----- your terrors and am in

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Letters to the Editor: Continued

legal would not does not make them safer. Or again where we live many cyclists drive fast on pavements and motorists behave dangerously on the road. Accepting these practices by changing the law would not make them safe for pedestrians or other road users. Or again millions cohabit without marrying. Cohabitation is very popular. Does popularity determine what we say God thinks of it? To quote the drift of media thinking a recent Front Row programme on BBC Radio 4 showcased a speaker from the world of entertainment. He quoted in passing that a huge number of children in the States are being brought up by homosexuals/lesbian couples. He was not chal- lenged on this massive number or asked to verify it. I argue many staff of the BBC have a bias to support such societal changes. It illustrates that the gay agenda is to create a radical and enormous shift in how children are brought up. This shows how Stonewall is so effective at lobbying and the changes so far are very much just the beginning. Graham WJ Ball, Bristol Indigation Sir, Permit me please to express my indignation at the way in which the so-called ‘gay brigade’, a small minority of no more than five per cent of the population, has managed over the past two or three decades to manoeuvre not only a change in public consciousness but also in the meaning of some of the very words of our common language. Take the word ‘gay’: les than 50 years ago it meant ‘care-

free and light-hearted’; so why has it been commandeered to mean something completely different? Likewise the word ‘pink’: ‘...to make the boys wink’, as we used to say, meaning a colour favoured by females; but now we hear talk of the ‘pink pound’ or the ‘pink vote’. Even the appella- tion ‘homo-sexual’ is not entirely correct, being more accurately rendered as ‘homoerotic’. As for the term ‘sexual orientation’, this is merely a myth, representative of a confusion of categories. As Dr Peter May pointed out in your pages several years ago, there is no such category: only sexual behaviour can be observed and quantified (vide Masters and Johnson), from which data personal preferences may perhaps be inferred; though these are by no means stable, as the instance of the former Bishop of New Hampshire illus- trates, who, previous to his sexual ‘conversion’, had a wife and family. Then what is the word ‘homophobia’ supposed to mean? Clearly a fear of something - either ‘man’ (as in ‘homo sapi- ens’) or ‘the same’ (as in ‘homologous’). But what is there to be afraid of, in those people (and their activities) who call themselves ‘gay’? To label someone or some action as ‘homophobic’ is both misleading and demeaning, as it is very unlikely to be true. Lastly, there is the time-honoured word ‘marriage’, which for centuries past the world over has meant just one thing: the authorised sexual partnership of a man and a woman, usually with intent to have children. Yet our pres- ent government has recently seen fit to redefine the word, without consultation, in such a way that any single person may marry any other such, regardless of gender or pur- pose. By what ‘authority’ has the ‘gay brigade’ brought about such unnecessary and unwelcome changes, so as to impose them on the remaining ninety five percent of the population? This seems to me like ‘democracy’ turned upside down. John M Hughes, Heaton Mersey, Stockport Register Friday September 20, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 17

to be Chaplain to the Sir Robert Woodward Academy, THE 2013 ANGLICAN CYCLE Lancing (Chichester) BIBLE CHALLENGE The Rev Daniel Inman, OF PRAYER Chaplain, Winchester College, to be Chaplain, Queen’s College, Oxford Day 263: Jeremiah 39-41, Psalm 60, James 3 The Rev Duncan Jennings, Day 264: Jeremiah 42-43, Psalm 61, James 4 Friday 20 September. Psalm 102:12-28, Jer 34:8-22. Priest in Charge of Thornhill, has been appointed Assis- Day 265: Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in Southern Highlands - (Tanzania): The Rt Rev John tant Area Dean of Southampton in addition to his other church Mwela duties (Winchester) Day 266: Jeremiah 44-45, Psalm 62, James 5 The Rev Jackie Jones, Day 267: Jeremiah 46-47, Psalm 63, 1 Peter 1 Saturday 21 September. Psalm 103, Jer 35. Southern EPMM, Cowley Deanery and PTO and Hospital Chaplain, Day 268: Jeremiah 48-49, Psalm 64, 1 Peter 2 Malawi - (Central Africa): The Rt Rev Dr James Ten- Dorchester Episcopal Area, to be Assistant Curate, Chip- Day 269: Jeremiah 50-51, Psalm 65, 1 Peter 3 gatenga ping Norton Team Ministry (Oxford) The Rev PM Jones, Sunday 22 September. Pentecost 18, Psalm 119:145- Priest-in-Charge: Heathfield, St Richard - to be Incumbent: APPOINTMENTS 160, Lk 9:1-9. Upper Shire - (Central Africa): The Rt Rev Heathfield, St Richard (Chichester) Brighton Vitta Malasa The Rev PDC Kane, Assistant Curate: Chichester: St Paul with Westhampnett - New Bishop of Durham Monday 23 September. Psalm 104:1-23, Lk 9:10-17. left for Chelmsford Diocese The Rt Rev Paul Roger Butler, BA, Southern Nyanza - (Kenya): The Rt Rev James Ochiel The Rev Susan Ann Loxton, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, has been nominated (Rector of the Benefice of Fressingfield, Mendham, Met- for election as Bishop of Durham in succession to the Rt Tuesday 24 September. Psalm 104:24-35, Lk 9:18-27. field, Stradbroke, Weybread and Withersdale) to be Rural Rev Justin Portal Welby, MA, on his elevation as Archbish- Southern Ohio - (V, The Episcopal Church): The Rt Rev Dean of Hoxne with effect from 4 September 2013 (St op of Canterbury on 4 February 2013. Thomas Breidenthal Edmundsbury and Ipswich) The Rev John Mackenzie, The Rev A Alexander, Wednesday 25 September. Psalm 105:1-15, Jer 36:1- becomes incumbent (Rector) of the benefices of Willes- Associate Vicar, St Nicholas, Chiswick - to be Team Vicar: 8. Southern Philippines - (Philippines): The Rt Rev borough and Sevington (Canterbury) St Albans and The Barn Church, Parish of Ifield (Chich- Danilo Labacanacruz Bustamante The Rev Dr Paul Moore, ester) Vicar St Wilfrid, Cowplain to be also Honorary Canon at St The Rev Jane Bakker, Thursday 26 September. Psalm 106:1-8, 43-48, Jer Thomas’ Cathedral, Portsmouth on 6th October 2013. NSM Assistant Curate at Sholing, has been appointed Area 36:9-26. Southern Virginia - (III, The Episcopal Dean of Southampton in addition to her other duties (Win- Church): The Rt Rev Herman Hollerith chester). RETIREMENTS & The Rev Alastair David Barrett (Al), RESIGNATIONS Priest-in-charge (Hodge Hill, St Philip & St James), Dio- Team Vicar, Kidlington with Hampton Poyle (Oxford), to cese of Birmingham to be Rector (Hodge Hill, St Philip & be Vicar, Deddington (Oxford) St James), Diocese of Birmingham The Rev Fergus Bernard Capie Bishop to retire The Rev Christine Joy Birkett, Retired Priest, holding PtO in the diocese of St Edmunds- Bishop John Packer, Self-Supporting Associate Priest in the Benefice of Rodbor- bury and Ipswich to be Interim Priest-in-Charge of The has announced he will retire in January 2014. In a letter to ough; and in the Benefice of The Stanleys and Selsley to be Bure Valley Benefice for 12 months (Norwich) clergy colleagues today (September 10th, 2013), Half-Time Priest-in-Charge of the Benefice of Upton St The Rev Graham Choldcroft, Bishop Packer says that his retirement will be January Leonards (Gloucester) Curate in training (NSM), Thame Benefice & Chaplain 31st 2014, but his final duties as bishop of the diocese will The Rev Geoffrey Borrowdale, Thames Valley Police, to be Assistant Curate (Assoc be on December 31st. Assistant Curate (Asst Priest), The Church Benefice, Priest, NSM), Aston & Cuddesdon, Thame (Oxford) Wallingford Deanery (Oxford), to be Priest-in-Charge, St The Rev James Cook, Anselm, Hayes (London) Asst Curate, Walbury Beacon, Newbury Deanery, to be The Rev Canon EFP Bryant, The Rev Hilary Campbell, House for Duty, Christ Church Totland Bay, West Wight Rural Dean of Battle & Bexhill (Chichester) - retiring (Portsmouth) The Rev George Dunseth, The Rev Robert Cook, Priest in Charge of the Benefice of the Conventional Dis- Assistant Curate, to be Vicar Iver (St Peter) trict of St Leonard, will be retiring with effect from 15 May Burnham and Slough (Oxford) 2014 (Leicester) The Rev Keith Dally, Assistant Priest in the The Rev Margaret MacLachlan Subscribe Emmanuel Group of Churches has been Self-Supporting Minister (Assistant Priest) (Garretts appointed Priest-in-Charge of the King’s Beck Green & Tile Cross, St Thomas & St Peter), Diocese of United Benefice in the Norwich diocese. Birmingham to resign from 31 October 2013 but remain- today! The Rev P Dixon, ing Chaplain, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Incumbent: Wisborough Green (Chichester) - (part time), Diocese of Birmingham with Bishop’s Permis- to Truro Diocese sion to Officiate in the Diocese of Birmingham from 1 PRICES HELD The Rev John Draper, December 2013 Rector St Mary the Virgin, Rowner and Area The Rev ML Pudney, Annual Subscription rates: Dean, Gosport to be also Honorary Canon at Priest-in-Charge: North Chapel with Ebernoe - Retiring St Thomas’ Cathedral, Portsmouth on 6th (Chichester) UK £65, October 2013. The Rev Canon KD Richards, The Rev Judith Evans, Incumbent: Hove, St Barnabas & Rural Dean - Retiring on Retired: £60 (UK only) Priest in Charge of Kells and Chaplain of Pension (Chichester) including free online edition Cumberland Hospital has been appointed The Rev DM Sawyer, Vicar of St Alban the Martyr Northampton Incumbent: Albourne with Sayers Common & Twineham - Europe: £90 (€140), (Peterborough) Retiring on Pension (Chichester) Rest of World: £110 (US $220), The Rev Michael Grantham, The Rev Brain Shenton, Retired, House for Duty, Albury, HoltonWater- Vicar, Reading St Mary with St Laurence, Area Dean of Online edition: £25 perry and Waterstock, Aston & Cuddesdon Reading, to retire on September 16 (Oxford) The Rev Canon Pauline Cecilia Elizabeth Stentiford, The Rev SJN Gray, Priest-in-Charge Great Bealings and Little Bealings with With an annual subscription you can have full Priest-in-Charge of Graffham, St Giles with Playford and Culpho Honorary Canon of the Cathedral access to our website with regularly Woolavington, St Peter and Chaplain to Church of St James and St Edmund (St Edmundsbury and updated news. Seaford College (Chichester) - moving to Ipswich) to retire with effect from 31 December 2013. Oxford Diocese Upon retirement to become Canon Emeritus of the Cathe- The Rev Marcus Green, dral Church of St James and St Edmund and to have Bish- Visit www.churchnewspaper.com and Development manager, Leeds University, to op’s Permission to Officiate. pay via PayPal be Rector, Steeple Aston with North Aston The Rev Clive Todd, and Tackley, Woodstock (Oxford) resigns as Priest in Charge of Thanington and as Diocesan call 020 7222 8663 The Rev DA Guest, Director of Ordinands with effect from 6 November 2013. Priest-in-Charge: Heathfield, All Saints - to be Clive will also no longer be Marriage Surrogate (Canter- email: [email protected] Incumbent: Heathfield, All Saints (Chich- bury) or Bishops’ Selector (Senior Selector). ester) The Rev Chris Hill, DEATHS Asst Curate (Assoc Priest), Warfield, to be Subscribe to the online Priest-in-Charge, Ely Benefice (Ely) edition for just £25 a year The Rev HJ Hughes, The Rev Margaret Freeman, Team Vicar: St Leonard’s Church, Horsham - died on 7th August 2013 (Portssmouth diocese)

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By Lucy Moore

It’s been a privilege over the last 12 years to have visited churches of many denominations. What is crucial for one church (‘We must have strong teaching!’ ‘Our choral tradition is vital!’) What is church? is often negotiable for another. So I tend to look at church in the light of what might be useful to people to come closer responsibility) to use the two hours as you church is fun. to God together, rather than working want to within the boundaries of the Stories! It’s about stories! Those stories from dictionary definitions. It also makes gathered community. You’re active, not that wriggle into your memory and me very hesitant to say, ‘Church should passive; you’re hands-on (and often feet-, imagination and gradually shape your be...’ All I can do is to suggest some of face-, nose- and taste buds-on too) - the worldview. Sermons don’t work at Messy what we’re seeing in Messy Churches, learning and worship there is holistic and Church. Stories do. Why do we train our and if those insights are helpful to apply involves all the senses. ‘But there’s so ordinands to preach but not how to tell (or elsewhere, all well and good. little time given to teaching!’ bewailed one value) stories? Messy Churches exist for people minister. ‘But two whole hours are given It’s about food! The meal isn’t an outside the church. The team comes, to learning,’ we replied. optional extra, it’s an integral part of the not because they relish getting glitter It’s fun. Watch the hackles go up. liturgy that binds the community together up their fingernails or have the yen to Church isn’t about fun! Maybe it’s not just bite by bite. catapult fruit across the garden, but about fun. But it is about It’s all-age! We don’t for the sake of other people. They celebration, engagement, dismiss a particular people come to listen, love and wrap concentration, grappling with Messy group to be church families round with the existential questions in a safe elsewhere - we try to be warmth of a Christian space in the company of God’s Churches church together with the welcome. Christians people whom you love and who exist for pain and pleasure that this come to church to serve, love you. entails. It’s about not to ‘be fed’. It’s about making the people households of faith and the You ‘do’ at Messy place where a outside the living parable that is family! Church: very little is bereaved child And more than anything ‘done to you’ or ‘for first started to church it’s about mess! Not you’. In the best talk about his messing up our buildings, examples, no one will father’s death. but celebrating the way be telling you the It’s about the Jesus prioritises the people whose lives meaning of a Bible screams of laughter are a mess, how he goes out deliberately story; you’ll be that came from and dangerously to the messy edges of given the tools watching Coke his society to gather in the lost, how he and space to bottles explode. In works unpredictably, alarmingly, messily work it out the faces around with each of us in this messy time before for tables you’ll see an he comes again and before our own yourself. intensity of purpose messy lives are made perfect in him. And You have and a seriousness it’s... Darn, run out of space. So much to the even more than share, so much still to learn. freedom you’ll see grins. If the (or word ‘fun’ is shorthand For further reading: Messy Church for engagement, creative Theology edited by George Lings and play and joyfulness, published by BRF October 2013

I went to a friend’s retirement do tened with half an ear while he (when I used to play the BH just recently. It was a lovely affair talked to me about the Bible and organ) but I am glad I know it on a beautiful day at the end of Jesus, and how Jesus was the Jew- now. It was all because of that August. It was held in Hannington ish messiah. No, I wasn’t convert- retirement party and when my Hall, which is the striking oak- ed on the spot, though years later memory finally was jogged into panelled dining room of St Peter’s God used some of that encounter recognition by the vivid represen- College, Oxford, also distin- Jogging the to move me forward. tation of the God-made-great man guished by a strikingly attractive Despite my frequent visits at in the Townshend and Howson three-light Townshend and How- that time, I never found out who stained glass window. son stained glass window. Back to Bishop Hannington was, except I It’s not just that inner sense of that in a moment. suspected he was quite boring. hurrah at remembering what’s You know how sometimes your But this is how the penny stayed with me. Thinking about it memory gets jogged, and you dropped. As soon as we entered has struck me that now I’d profit if can’t quite work out why. When memory the Hannington Hall dining room, I had more bells ringing in my we received the invitation, that it wasn’t the department store mind about these great examples name Hannington rang a bell, that came to mind, it was the son of faith and determination for though I’d never been to St Oxford Street - though as far as I church, which was called Bishop of one the store’s founder. There Christ and the gospel. The James Peter’s before. So I left the memo- know, unlike Selfridges, they have Hannington Memorial Church. he was, depicted in the stained Hanningtons of today may not yet, ry jogger smouldering in the never made a blockbuster TV The name meant nothing to me, glass window. James Hannington, or ever, find themselves celebrat- recesses of my memory until the series about it. Probably as Han- no more than the activities that born in 1847, just down the road ed in stained glass in an Oxford day of the celebration. When we ningtons never had a founder as went on inside. However, as it from us in Hurstpierpoint. college, but their stories need to entered the Hannington Hall my colourful as Harry Gordon Self- happens that church provided my He was the first Anglican Bish- be told. Why? In the cosy (in memory made no particular con- ridge, the inventor of the phrase, first experience of Christian gen- op in East Africa. So what? some respects) Church of Eng- nection, other than the bell that “The customer is always right.” erosity, and was probably the first Because this man was a Christian land, it’s easy to get sluggish and was quietly rung before. But then, But if they (BBC or ITV or tentative step towards the recog- hero. Inspired by a burning pas- comfortable in our faith, and the as we went up the stairs to the din- another broadcaster) want a fasci- nition of the life-changing gen- sion for the Gospel, and with idea of suffering for the maximum ing hall the penny dropped. It natingly powerful story to erosity of God in Jesus that came inspiring qualities of godly leader- we keep at a safe and healthy dis- wasn’t dramatic. In fact it was recount, maybe it wouldn’t be years later. ship, this man suffered the maxi- tance. quite ordinary, or so it seemed. Hannington’s department store in It was simply that one day this mum for his faith and for the Yet if we jog our mission memo- I was brought up on the South Brighton, but it might be about 11-year-old Jewish lad wandered mission to Buganda (the largest ries and let ourselves be con- Coast, in Brighton. And in North the totally remarkable son of one into the empty church, and start- traditional kingdom in present sciously surrounded by such a Street just down the road from the of its founding fathers. ed looking carefully at the organ day Uganda) to which he was great cloud of witnesses, those famous Clock Tower used to be At this point, I should explain console. To my surprise, the called. like James Hannington, maybe we Hannington’s department store. It quite what was going on with my cheerful kindly verger suddenly He knew it was fraught with will be that much more likely to was famous locally. Hannington’s memory’s ringing bells when we appeared, and after some conver- danger to health and life itself, be inspired “to run with persever- opened in 1808 selling textiles first picked up that Hannington sation, let me try it. For several and with his team, and showing ance the race marked for us.” and hosiery, and as it developed Hall invitation. years, I would go in to BH as it immense God-inspired bravery, in later Victorian England as a It goes back to when I was an was known locally, play the organ, he was murdered, we now say comprehensive department store agnostic Jewish schoolboy. Every and write music for it. martyred, early on in his mission Michael Lawson is Chairman of it was a trailblazer for the more day on my way to school in Hove I The kindly verger – lovely man - in 1885. the Church of England nationally known Selfridges in would pass a big, modern-ish would encourage me, and I lis- I didn’t know all this then Evangelical Council Sunday Friday September 20, 2013 www.churchnewspaper.com 19

Lord, you hide your face our rightful minds’ so that when we trust in ourselves; we may ‘in deeper rever- SUNDAY SERVICE strip us of false security and THE SPIRITUAL ence praise, echoed here in re-clothe us in your praise, the prayer. that we may know you as the In the psalm itself the 18th Sunday after Trinity (Sunday 29 September) one who raises us from DIRECTOR writer praises God from his Jeremiah 32:1-15 death, as you raised your heart for raising him up 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Son, our Saviour Jesus from the Pit and restoring Luke 16:19-end Christ, Amen. him to life (v3). He has By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare known the depths of grief in Money is a uniting factor in our readings for this Sun- Rejection, especially from the darkness of the night, day. someone we had trusted death. has somehow slipped from but now joy has come with Jeremiah narrates in great detail an ordinary land and thought loved us, We don’t know the exact our focus. It is then that we the dawning of the new day transaction, with an extraordinary message. His brings on terrible feelings circumstances, though the need this stripping that the (v5). Praise lifts us as noth- prophecy to the King of Judah was that the nation and of desolation and even prayer suggests this kind of prayer talks about. ing else can to see things in the capital city were going to fall to the King of Babylon. despair. For God to turn his situation can arise for us Being stripped and sub- their true perspective. So shocking was this thought that the king had Jeremi- face away from us is a terri- too, even if we never face a sequently re-clothed is a Praise gives no place to cyn- ah locked away for saying it out loud. fying prospect. This prayer literal battlefield. It arises powerful biblical image. In icism, despair or defeat Next to this announcement, the LORD also accompanies Psalm 30, when we trust in ourselves the psalm the writer because it takes the atten- announces to Jeremiah that he is going to be offered a which is mostly full of rather than almighty God describes having put off his tion away from ourselves, parcel of land to buy. We are unsurprised when this thanksgiving for a restored and therefore rest our secu- sackcloth, donned a mourn- our weakness, frailty and word comes true almost immediately (though this only relationship, yet for a while rity on the shifting sands of ing garb and found himself propensity for sin and lifts lends credence to the bigger and more frightening the writer felt that bitter our own resources. It is a girded instead with glad- us up to focus on God. prophecy of Judah’s downfall). But why is the transac- sense of abandonment and lesson we have to learn ness. Paul uses it in Colos- The psalm begins and tion here important, and why does Jeremiah make it cried out that he was utterly over and over again for it is sians where he writes about ends with the declaration clear that he went through with it in a legally binding dismayed (v7). He had so easy to slip into thinking the new life in Christ. The that the writer will exalt way? been as one amongst the we are competent, we can old self has been stripped God for his mercies. Chris- We wait until the last verse to find out — it is because dead and experienced do this in our own strength. off like a used garment and tians can flesh out what that (verse 15) houses and fields shall again be bought in ‘heaviness’ in his soul. It We don’t consciously we are clothed with the new mercy looks like in the face this land. That is, the prophesied exile has a promised sounds as though there has think ‘I don’t need God.’ We self (Col 3:9,10. Cf also of Jesus Christ who has end. It will not last forever. In his anger, God remem- been a battle and alone of just wake up one day and vv12-14). John Greenleaf indeed delivered us from bers mercy, and keeps his covenant promise. his comrades, this man has realise we have been rely- Whittier’s famous hymn death and brought us into Luke 16 contrasts a rich man and a poor man. The been saved from certain ing on ourselves and God begs God to ‘re-clothe us in new life. rich man had not used his wealth wisely, so this poor man was sprawled out on the ground begging for scraps of food at the millionaire’s gate. Uniquely in all of Jesus’ parables, this character is given a name – Lazarus. His name means “the one helped by God”. Two men, and Don’t worry if you are starving? two destinies — one in hell, the other at Abraham’s side in heaven; one in agony and torment who cannot be helped; the other, comforted. Abraham makes it clear By Henry Whyte and for the still surviving members of years of plenty and the people were to that this is a direct reversal of their situation before their families? prepare by storing up sufficient food death, which seals their fate once and for all. It is a grim There has hardly been any rain at all Surely not, and the context in which for the time that it would be needed. picture for those with riches but no conscience or spiri- for months and the harvest has failed. the Sermon on the Mount was So forethought and active prepara- tual eyesight. Tens of thousands of people do not preached is often neglected. It was tion were necessary in the same kind The twist in the tale here is that the rich man tries to have enough to eat and the death toll first spoken to disciples who were liv- of way that the farmer has to sow ask a favour — in essence, “Warn my brothers about from starvation, which includes many ing in a land in which the necessities months in advance if he is to reap a what happens to those who have money but are not rich Christian believers, is rising steadily. of life were available to all. The farm- harvest and to produce the daily towards God!” (see Luke 12:21). It is an implied warning Much-needed money from sympathet- ers of the time were told to leave part bread that will keep people alive. The to all those hearing the parable who may fall into that ic governments and food from the of their crops un-harvested so that farmer’s work in this way is frequently category too. Abraham is stern: “they have Bibles don’t relief agencies are on their way but, those in need could come and help used by Jesus as illustrations of what they? They can read of the dangers for themselves, for an increasing number, it will be too themselves. the Kingdom of Heaven is all about. surely?” But the rich man is not so sure; he hadn’t seen little too late. It is a not uncommon As one commentator says: “There Does this mean that Jesus’ words or heeded the warnings himself, after all. and tragic situation in the struggling was always going to be food lying about worry can now be ignored as He imagines, however, that if the ghost of Lazarus and suffering world. around for people to eat. It may not irrelevant? Not at all, but it can help appeared to his brothers, like the ghosts of Christmas In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus have been what they wanted but there those with questions about famines to appeared to Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s classic tells his disciples not to worry about was something to eat... there would realise that he was speaking, not to Christmas heart-warmer, then they would surely what they will eat or drink or wear always be something to drink and those who were starving, but to those repent. In fairy tales, perhaps, but not in reality. If they because God knows that they need fresh water was always there, and who had access to the basic necessi- do not listen to Moses, they won’t be convinced even these necessities for life here on there were always people to give away ties of life. when Jesus himself rises from the dead. The sheer earth. The priority for his disciples is their clothing when they had done His message for all who are in this word of God has the power to convict and convince, to seek God’s kingdom and righteous- with it...” situation is “don’t get so caught up, even in the absence of further miracles and apparitions. ness and “all these things will be These comments are not a cop-out stressed and concerned about the Paul’s teaching in 1 Timothy 6 follows the same lines given to you as well”. but a recognition of the actual life situ- material things of life that they as Jesus’ teaching on the subject of riches. We brought A difficult question that arises is ation into which Jesus was speaking. become your Number 1 priority and nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it, how these words of Jesus apply to It was not a famine situation nor was it occupy your time and attention before despite the attempt of many Egyptian Pharaohs and oth- Christian believers who are starv- one in which there were no misunder- everything else.” There is no need for ers to do so! The love of money is not “the” root of “all” ing to death. To put it standings about the commandments you to fret continually about these evil but “a” root of “all kinds of evil.” This is not to water bluntly - would Jesus of the Old Testament. things. Seek first God’s Kingdom and it down, of course. However, the evil that Paul seems to say the same things It is clear that, in his most his righteousness and then every- have in mind here is not so much economic injustice in a famine-struck famous sermon, Jesus is thing else will fall into its proper place. and inequality as apostasy. Greed is a form of self-harm, country where hun- addressing current issues in An important part of God’s King- spiritually damaging to the infected heart that should dreds were dying the lives of his hearers with dom and righteousness is love for oth- rather be seeking the kingdom that is not of this world every day from des- great relevance and authority. ers, which includes ongoing concern, (as Jesus confessed to Pilate, John 18:36). Our hopes perate hunger, asso- So his teaching needs to be prayer and action about the great should be set on the coming king and not on making ciated weakness and interpreted accordingly. inequalities in our world. One is that ourselves as comfortable as kings, though all good disease? Would he No doubt he would have while billions have more than enough things are a gift from God to be enjoyed with faith, gen- describe those who are spoken very different to eat and drink there are countless erosity, and love. emaciated from lack of words to those who others who do not and who, in many food as those “of little were starving in a famine situations, are dying because of it. Lee Gatiss is Director of Church Society, and Editor of faith”? Would he say to situation. The Bible’s teaching is clear that the NIV Proclamation Bible (in all good bookshops from those who have Indeed God gave a very those who have are called to share 26th September) already lost loved different message to with those who do not. The collection ones because of that in the Sermon which Paul organised for the hungry the famine that on the Mount people of Judea is just one illustration they should when he of how this can work out in practice. HYMN SUGGESTIONS not be worry- revealed to It is estimated that more than ing about Joseph that 20,000 people around the world die food and seven years of every day from malnutrition. Now Restore O Lord drink but famine were on that is something to be worried about, Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ should trust their way. Such when giving thanks for God’s bless- Is my name written there? God to pro- years would be ings and provision, at this time of Har- Be thou my vision vide for them preceded by seven vest Festivals. Give thanks with a grateful heart Milestones

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, gave thanks this week following the safe release of Nigerian Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, who was freed after being kidnapped more than a week ago... Lord Lawson has called for mar- ried couples to be recognised in the tax system,

saying that the policy was the “most cost-effec- tive” way of helping poor families... The Church in Wales has voted to allow women to be admit- ted to the episcopate... The Leprosy Mission has launched an appeal to bring emergency food aid to a newly discovered leprosy-affected com- munity in South Sudan, who have always lived in

extreme poverty but have survived despite their leprosy-caused disabilities providing an addi- tional obstacle, until two years when the country became independent, when the leprosy commu- nity in Malek is being forced to eat tree leaves in order to stave off hunger pangs… Peter P A U L Berger “The welcome we receive ‘ from Christians and non- R I C H A R D S O N Christians alike, and their willingness to talk about Church and World the issues that impact the Churches, demonstrates that not only do we have faith in politics but that politicians have faith in faith communities.” The ch urches sexual repression’. Dr Daleep Mukarji, The main thrust of Berger’s argument Vice-President of the seems to me to be correct but he fails to make Methodist Church, on some distinctions. Churches have more credi- bility when they talk about faithfulness in rela- visiting the Party and values Conferences tionships and oppose sexual exploitation than ‘ they do when they deny a blessing to people in committed same-sex relationships. Only a A question from a journalist at the Peter Berger is one of the minority of those looking for a faith that dedication of the new headquarters sharpest observers of religious involves belief in the transcendent are interest- People of the Evangelical Alliance prompt- trends. For a long time he has ed in reviving antique liturgical reforms. ed the Archbishop of Canterbury to argued that churches can survive But the general point is surely correct. reveal his thinking on sexuality. He modernisation and flourish in a plu- Churches thrive when they offer people the More than 400 people gathered in Lichfield recognises that the churches may ralist setting. In a recent blog he gospel, not an echo of their own beliefs and Cathedral on Tuesday for the Collation, Induction need to repent for encouraging has commented on the way in opinions. But, as Christian Smith has argued, and Welcome of Matthew Parker, the new homophobia but does not repent of which young people in the Catholic those who proclaim the gospel have to speak a Archdeacon of Stoke-upon-Trent... Three new his own decision to oppose same- Church are attracted by a conser- language people can understand and be ready Archdeacons were installed in Chelmsford Cathe- sex marriage. Admitting that evan- vative liturgy on offer at the Lon- to engage in debate and discussion with those dral on Sunday 15 September, Mina Smallman gelicals are divided on the subject, don Oratory and elsewhere. He outside their ranks. As well as proclamation (Southend), Robin King (Stansted) and John he concedes opinion polls show sees this as one more piece of evi- there has to be dialogue. Perumbalath (Barking), to complement the younger evangelicals adopting a dence of the falsity of the notion In denying the right of gay and lesbian peo- daily work of the present four Archdeacons cover- more liberal attitude than his gen- that to be ‘modern’ means that ple to enter into publicly recognised commit- ing Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow and West eration. every supernatural dimension is ted relationships, the churches are now seen Ham... The founder of the money education chari- All Christians have been sur- eradicated from belief and piety. as taking a cruel stand against people who can- ty Credit Action, Keith Tondeur OBE, has prised by the rapid change in atti- He claims the decline of mainline not change their sexual orientation. They are launched a blog giving an increasing range of arti- tudes to homosexuality and are Protestantism is evidence for his also seen as encouraging homophobic behav- cles on all aspects of Biblical money teaching at divided in their response to this thesis. iour, the kind of behaviour that appears to be http://keithtondeur.wordpress.com, saying: “The change. Some, like conservative “The history of mainline Protes- stirred up by the Orthodox Church in Russia. Bible says more about money and other issues Catholic journalist, Jody Bottum, tantism since the mid-20th century The truth is that evangelicals in the past than virtually any other subject and I also know see the issue as a dis- demonstrates that have changed their stand on a number of there are many thousands of Christians either traction over which it The truth is the excision of the moral issues. There was a time when they saw working in the financial world or engaged in debt is not worth making a supernatural from opposition to divorce as a defining moral issue. counselling or money management through their stand. That appears to that the Christian mes- By the 1970s with many evangelicals having local church. These three initiatives should help be the view to which evangelicals in sage is radically experienced divorce things began to change. many get a better understanding on the Biblical Justin Welby inclines. counter-produc- Today a younger generation is more con- teaching as well as offering practical support and Journalists noticed the past have tive, and in the cerned by world poverty than it is by homo- a place to turn whenever needed.”... Anti-poverty that Pope Francis said long-run disas- sexuality. campaign group the World Development Move- little on the subject changed their trous,” he writes. Catholics change more slowly than evangeli- ment has appointed Nick Dearden, former head when he visited stand on a But Berger cals but Vatican II’s teaching on religious free- of Jubilee Debt Campaign, as its new director, fol- Brazil. Challenged thinks the question dom shows they, too, can change. It is lowing the departure of Deborah Doane, director about his, he replied number of of sexuality is a important, as Vatican II taught, to learn from of the World Development Movement since 2009. that the position of the moral issues very different mat- the ‘signs of the times’ although this does not Nick Dearden said: “I’m incredibly excited to be Catholic Church was ter. If conservative mean jumping on every passing bandwagon. joining the World Development Movement already well known. churches are seen Sometimes cultural change can illuminate new because its work has never been more neces- Other Christians are likely to as wanting to roll back the sexual aspects of gospel teaching. Cultural change sary.” reply that there is nothing to gain revolution that began in the 1960 may even be rooted in gospel values, which in accepting secular values. Liberal this will be a problem for them. Christians have overlooked. Next Week’s News Protestants have done this and still There is, he concedes, a certain In the debate over same-sex marriage the see their numbers decline. Dean attraction in counter-cultural oppo- churches made many important points that Monday 23 September will see the International Inge’s words are often quoted: ‘Any sition to all liberated sexuality and deserved a hearing. But they would have made Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Gover- man who marries the spirit of the he gives the Virginity Clubs in more impact if they had been more positive nors Meeting in Vienna, with Iran’s new envoy age is very soon a widower’. Books which Southern Baptist women about civil partnerships and if they had sought promising a ‘strong will to engage’ with the inter- like Dean Kelly’s Why Conservative renew their vows to remain virgins dialogue with the gay community earlier than national community over the country’s nuclear Churches are Growing or Christian until marriage as an example but they did. In time we may all come to see that programme... Many people around the world will Smith’s work on American evangel- he doesn’t think there is a very big the issue of sexuality is not as crucial for bibli- observe World Rabies Day, which raises aware- icals are cited to show that church- market for this kind of thing. A bet- cal authority as some thought and that the nat- ness about the impact of rabies and how the dis- es benefit from holding to their ter strategy for the churches would ural law is more ambiguous than it once ease can be prevented, held on 28 September beliefs. be ‘more supernaturalism and less seemed. each year

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