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THE CHURCHOF ENGLAND Newspaper The devastating Tackling the life of a slave, obesity crisis, p8 NOW AVAILABLE ON  NEWSSTAND p15 FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2014 No: 6212 Charities concerned over soap storyline By Amaris Cole ing with illnesses or disabilities. people have to fear their loved ones Nola Leach, Chief Executive of being prosecuted simply for helping MONDAY NIGHT saw the death of CARE, said: “Each person and their them have control over the end of one of Soap’s best-loved characters, family going through a terminal ill- their own life. It is about a dying per- Hayley Cropper, who decided to end ness will experience different levels son making their own decision and her battle with cancer. of pain, support, emotions and com- we should respect their wishes,” While many felt Coronation Street plications. It is important to remem- she said. dealt with the contentious issue sen- ber that one television drama “This storyline has come at a time sitively, others question whether portrayal will not be able to reflect when Lord Falconer will be intro- such a programme should tackle a all these experiences, but it is criti- ducing an assisted dying Bill in the topic of this scale. cal that the issue of suicide is dealt House of Lords that would allow ter- Some campaign groups also with sensitively to protect vulnera- minally ill, mentally competent peo- raised concerns about the message ble people and minimise the risk of ple to have an assisted death. We this plotline sent out to the terminal- imitating suicidal behaviour.” need to reframe this debate. The ly ill. However, the Rev Canon Rosie question is not around the choice to CARE, a Christian charity that Harper, who is a member of the live or die. works in public policy areas, group Interfaith Leaders for Dignity “With or without assistance the believes life should be valued by in Dying, said that Coronation Street terminally ill person will of course society regardless of any illness or has highlighted what some people die. disability that a person may have. in Britain have to go through in the “The choice is about the manner The group worries that a change in absence of an assisted dying law, of our death. This is what Hayley Hayley and the law to permit assisted suicide and credits ITV for the ‘immense made clear and why I am glad that Roy in would threaten that and could lead care’ in handling the issue. people from all different walks of life Coronation to discrimination against people liv- “It is not right that terminally ill can discuss this important issue.” Street New report reveals key priorities for church growth By Amaris Cole attendance from 13.8 per cent of those cerned Fresh Expressions. For every one person sent to start a aged 80 and above. These relatively new worshipping and Fresh Expression, 2.6 more people join, KEEPING YOUNG people in England’s Dr David Voas, Professor of Population witnessing communities, that are reach- the report says. churches could be the answer to the Studies at the University of Essex, who ing those who may have been previously Researchers measured growth over ‘very lengthy period of slow decline’, carried out part of the study, undertook unreached by the church, were where the lifetime of the group, ranging from new research published last week sug- the data analysis strand of the research. growth is found today. 20 years to three, and found that in 66 gests. Dr Voas explained last week that if peo- Leaders of Fresh Expressions were per cent of cases, the Fresh Expression Findings from the Church Growth ple belong to the church in their 20s, interviewed by telephone using a pre-set carried on growing or maintained research programme were released last they will probably stay in Church for the questionnaire. growth. week at a conference held in London, rest of their lives. “The religious practice Dr George Lings of Church Army led Only 10 per cent of Fresh Expressions attended by Diocesan representatives and identities people have in their mid- this strand of the research, reporting died. and the report’s authors. 20s tend to stay with them through the back that in seven of the 11 Dioceses The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke Only 1.4 per cent of 20 – 24-year-olds rest of their lives. If you lose them in they looked at, the increase of Fresh to delegates via a video message, saying attend church once a month. their early 20s, it can be very difficult to Expressions congregations was greater the Church had to ‘face the fact that in The percentage increases as the age get them back.” than the overall decline of churches as a the last century numbers have fallen by bands increase, with churches enjoying The good news story of the report con- whole. one per cent a year’.

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YORK WAKEFIELD SALISBURY CHURCHIN A communion service set Salisbury Cathedral, home to the to the music of Les Wakefield Cathedral is named finest of the four surviving Miserables was held at “as a relaxed place to worship, original Magna Carta 1215 has York Minster at 7.30pm with positive contemplative been awarded initial support on Sunday 19 January. atmosphere, and friendly and from the Heritage Lottery Fund ENGLAND Led by Transcendence, a supportive staff” in the latest (HLF) to help prepare for the team that holds a regular report on church growth in the UNESCO listed document’s Multimedia Eucharist at Church of England. The report 800th anniversary celebrations in York Minster, this finds Wakefield as a shining 2015. Plans are being advanced service featured prayers example with a 20 per cent to re-display and re-present the and hymns set to the increase in the last five years Cathedral’s Magna Carta in the tunes from the famous and highlights its Chapter House alongside other BRISTOL musical. The Rev Sue refurbishment, fresh documents from the Cathedral’s St Mary Redcliffe Church has become the Wallace, who preached at expressions of church, warmth extensive archive. Martin Field, latest to open its doors for foodbank the service, helped found of ministry and welcome and Deputy Chapter Clerk and donations. The vicar, the Rev Dan Transcendence with the wide-reaching education Development Director said: “The Tyndall, pictured, said his church was Rev Jeremy Fletcher and programme as contributory ‘Great Charter’ has inspired and collecting food for them once a month a group from the Visions factors. The Dean of Wakefield, influenced people to stand up for but, in view of the growing need, multimedia arts the Very Rev Jonathan Greener, justice and freedom around the collections are now every Sunday. “We are collective. Sue was a said: “The cathedral has been globe and across the ages. looking beyond ourselves as a church vicar in York from 2006 working hard in recent years to People will be able to come to community and seeking to address the to 2010, and will soon be reach out to new people, and it Salisbury and experience for very real issues on our doorstep,” he said. leaving her post at Leeds is great that this has been themselves the extraordinary “St Mary Redcliffe sits on the edge. On Minster to become recognized by the wider sway the ideas expressed in this the one hand we gather people from Canon Precentor at Church.” document continue to hold.” across the city for worship – but generally Winchester Cathedral. from the more well-off end!” St Mary Redcliffe Church is open to receive donations of non-perishable, in-date food between 8am and 8pm on Sundays. ELY A special service to pray for farmers in the area and for farming communities around CAMBRIDGE of Trinity Hall, as he the world was held in St Nicolas Church, Hail Weston in the Diocese. The Bishop of held the position of Ely, the Rt Rev Stephen Conway, joined by farmers and their families, blessed an The Rev Dr Jeremy Dean at the College early 20th century plough that had been brought into the church. Bishop Stephen Morris MA DPhil from 2001-2010. said: “Plough Sunday is a welcome opportunity to give thanks to God for our farmers FRHistS has been Amongst his Church of and their vocation to provide our food. It is also exciting to celebrate the development elected to succeed England commitments, of farming technology from the horse-drawn plough to GPS-guided machinery.” Professor Martin he is deputy chair of Daunton as the 44th the Church of Master of Trinity Hall. England’s Faith and Dr Morris will take up Order Commission, his role in October and Director of the 2014. Dr Morris is Archbishop’s currently Dean, Examination in Fellow, and Director of Theology. Studies in Theology at Commenting on his King’s College, election Dr Morris Cambridge. He has said he is ‘delighted already been a Fellow and deeply honoured’.

DURHAM The Rt Rev Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow, has been honoured with an ‘Award for Meritorious Service’ for his service to Chaplaincy in the North East of England. The award was presented by Wing Commander Dave Harrison in a short ceremony at the Blaydon headquarters of 1509 squadron on Thursday 9 January. The Rev Captain Simon Cake, ATC chaplain and a clergyman in the Diocese of Durham, said: “Bishop Mark was given this award for the fantastic work he has done in the Durham and Northumberland wing in support of helping us find chaplains for the units within the wing and also for his support of youth work in the ATC.”

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INBRIEF A woman bishop Boost for Church’s credit union plans before Christmas? CHURCH OF ENG- The Archbishop sat on more competitive and LAND support for the Parliamentary community-based By Amaris Cole “The draft Declaration has allocated most of the credit unions has Banking Commission financial service sec- now contains transitional Tuesday for the various received an important that called Sants as a tor. The main item of business at provisions, and the House of pieces of business to be boost with the appoint- witness last year and Members will next month’s General Synod Bishops’ Standing Orders completed, giving the Synod ment of Sir Hector he appears to have include the Bishops of will be women bishops, will provide that the Declara- their first chance to engage Sants, former Chief developed a good rela- Hull and Stepney. Sir which could see women on tion cannot be amended with the details of the legis- Executive of the tionship with Barclays’ Hector will work in a track for ordination to the unless two-thirds majorities lation. Financial Services CEO, Antony Jenkins, voluntary capacity for episcopate by Christmas. in each House of General Firstly, the Draft Declara- Authority and Head of appearing on a New approximately one day Members will meet for a Synod support the amend- tion on the Ministry of Bish- Compliance at Bar- Year edition of the a month. three-day session from 10 ment,” Bishop of Fulham, ops and Priests, which clays Bank, to head a Today programme Commenting on his February to discuss the the Rt Rev Jonathan Baker, builds on the Standing Com- Task Group to help Jenkins edited. Inter- appointment he said next stage of the journey commented. mittee’s report, needs to be foster their growth. viewed by Jenkins on that he had ‘long towards women bishops. However, the group is con- welcomed by Synod. The move comes the programme, the recognised that the Journalists were told at a cerned that as yet, there is These remain largely only three months Archbishop admitted banking sector briefing last week that this no ‘agreed way of proceed- unchanged from the Com- after Sants resigned the Church of England requires cultural was an ‘intermediate stage’ ing’ with regard to ‘issues mittee’s recommendations, from Barclays, where stake in Wonga has change’ and he of the process, with five that will arise in relation to apart from a ‘transitional he had been hired to still not been sold. described Archbishop pieces of business to consecration services for period’ for parishes that clean up the scandal- The new Task Welby’s work on the address to send the legisla- Traditional catholic bish- voted for Resolutions A or B. ridden bank, saying he Group will start work Banking Commission tion forward to July, where ops’. The Measure can then be was suffering from this month to develop and in mobilising the Final Approval could take “It is essential that an debated. exhaustion and stress. the Church of Eng- Church of England’s place. acceptable way of proceed- Mr Fittall classed it as a Archbishop Justin land’s ongoing sup- commitment to the William Fittall, Secretary ing is agreed before the leg- ‘simple piece of legislation’, Welby invited Sants to port for credit unions common good as ‘an General of the Synod, islation is referred to the but there is the potential for take up his new role. and to help promote a inspiration’. warned against banking on a dioceses. Resolution of this substantial amendment. woman in the episcopate outstanding matter is crucial As the Revision Stage was before the year is over, for the acceptability of the unusually omitted from the Church counters ‘blue Monday’ feeling though. package as a whole,” the process, to accelerate its leg- “The big moment will be Bishop added. islative passage, Synod A POLL commissioned by the Monday. The Archbishop Cranmer at Final Approval when we If it does go through to members can submit an Church of England shows that nine blog said the music on the video need to have a two-thirds Final Approval in July, unlimited number of amend- out of 10 people count their bless- was ‘enough to drive one to the den- majority in each House. though, it will need to be ments, and all of these must ings and the Church encouraged tist’s waiting room’. The blog criti- “I think when you are deal- voted through Parliament be debated in the Chamber. them to do this on ‘blue Monday’ cised the video for not mentioning ing with a difficult and sensi- and receive Royal Assent, While some of these (20 January), the day that is sup- Jesus and only obliquely alluding to tive subject ... you can never before the Canon is given a might be important points to posed to be the most depressing God. “This isn’t even milk: it is a wholly predict what will hap- Royal License. consider, if any are small day of the year, as the bills for watery brain science video-therapy: pen.” Once this has been matters, Mr Fittall hoped Christmas roll in and the weather a Christian reflection devoid of Forward in Faith has com- obtained, the canon will the Synod would have ‘the remains bleak and cold. Christ and scriptures.” mented on the Draft House need to go back to the good sense to move quite In a video released on Monday by Describing ‘blue Monday’ as a of Bishops’ Declaration, wel- Synod to be Promulged, so swiftly for closure’. the C of E media office, Christian ‘Sky Travel marketing ploy’, the coming the publication and the earliest women could be “There’s strong hope that writer and broadcaster, Brian Drap- blog thought it was a ‘mystery’ why the way in which it has ordained to the episcopate we have turned the corner,” er, urged people to make the most the Church had ‘invested (?) funds addressed two of the would be after November’s he said. “On all the sides of of this time of year, by giving some- in this project’. group’s concerns expressed Synod. the argument there is a cer- one a hug or a helping hand or a in November. The Business Committee tain weariness.” random act of kindness for a stranger, like buying a cup of coffee. The C of E media office asked its Twitter followers +3 23#2'+'2:3 ': 411' '51 '1+4 to tweet their blessings on Monday. The Bishop of :!UH!D'M,H6H$0<> ,"< J(<)U1NUJ, )1! JM((NU .UNN *< 1=<4?U4C ,"< B"!UJ$14T ,"< :!UH!D ,<16 .HMN? NH0< happiness comes when ‘we DHM,H)H6< H0JH,"UJ UJ 1 The YouGov poll commis- C!<1, H((H!,M4U,D ,H !<4<.14HN? 1)%M1U4,14)<; sioned by the C of E shows that the proportion of peo- :!UH!D"1J 1 *1,)"HO9TVV -LBIV-P ,H CU0<1.1D OH! ,"< BTV ple counting their blessings every day increases with V1J,>14? DHM?H47, <0<4 "10< ,H *< 1)MJ,H6 SMJ, CU0<,"<61%MU)R )1NN> H! N<10< DHM! ?<,1UNJ0U1 aged over 55 counting their ,"< T )H6< more likely to feel tired, 14? "10< 1 )"1, .U," ," depressed and overweight DHM.UNN *< 161+ than men in January but they are also more likely UO DHM "10< 1 !<%MU!<6<4, * CU0< ,"<6 1 )1NN> than men to count their OH!,"< 0%8;.(.69,0/.(

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THE FORMER Bishop of Oxford has achieved signifi- would normally be 12 months - will start on September going to assess on hiring a hall for a public rally cant Government concessions on the lobbying legisla- 19 2014, the day after the Scottish referendum. because you get an invoice for that. tion dubbed the “gagging bill” by some charities. But Lord Harries argued during report stage debate “You don’t get an invoice for a member of staff who Lord Harries of Pentregarth introduced a key amend- on the Bill that further concessions were needed and he spends 10 per cent of their time over four weeks doing ment to the legislation that resulted in a Government put forward an amendment, which was passed by 237 to that.” defeat in the House of Lords as ministers brought in 194, majority 43, exempting some charity staff costs For the Government, Lord Wallace of Tankerness other measures aimed at allaying the concerns of chari- from the new spending limits. said under existing legislation third parties were ties and voluntary bodies that they will face additional Lord Harries, who chairs the Commission on Civil required to account for staff costs. red tape and costs if they want to campaign in the run- Society and Democratic Engagement representing He said experience from the last two general elec- up to a general election. more than 100 organisations fighting against the legis- tions had shown such costs could be accounted for Under the original terms of the Transparency of Lob- lation, put forward an amendment that would remove “without becoming overly burdensome”. bying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union “background staff costs” associated with holding events “With the increases in the registration threshold, Administration Bill, the amount charities in England such as press conferences and rallies from the spend- smaller organisations will not be subject to regulation could spend on campaigning deemed to be party politi- ing thresholds. and the need to calculate staff costs,” he said. cal during the “regulated” period leading up to a gener- Lord Harries told peers: “This is not primarily on cost He said the Government had brought in amendments al election before they have to register with the grounds but because of the additional bureaucracy it to exclude volunteer costs. Electoral Commission would have been cut from would involve. “There is a world of a difference between volunteer £10,000 to £5,000. “How do you delineate the amount of time the staff costs - which will be excluded - and the great advantage But ministers introduced a string of amendments that members spend on mounting a public rally from the that there can be to candidates of political parties of will instead raise the limit to £20,000. They have also amount of time they spend on their campaigning work third parties putting paid staff into campaigning activi- conceded that for the next general election in May anyway? ties, into constituencies, to run media events, to run 2015, the regulated period for third parties - which “It is easy to assess the amount of money you are press conferences, to run rallies,” he said.

Call for European action on Middle East crisis The internet’s ‘dark side’ THE BISHOP of Worcester has tionship of the EU to the called for the European Union State of Israel, as has THERE IS a “dark side” to the inter- see, appreciate and interpret. to do more to try to help bring been claimed by some; net and people need to learn to inter- “The marvel of this world wide about a peace settlement in the they simply draw practi- pret the vast swathes of information web is that you can now hold it in the Middle East. cal, if uncomfortable, available to them on it, the Bishop of palm of your hand, and, with one fin- Bishop John Inge highlighted conclusions from long- Derby has said. ger—or two thumbs, if you are more the role the EU could play in standing EU policy. Bishop Alastair Redfern made his dextrous than me—control the web trying to stop further Israeli “With this in mind, I comments in a House of Lords and have the information come to settlements in the occupied ter- was pleased to read of debate initiated by lastminute.com you. ritories. the agreement reached founder Baroness Lane-Fox to mark That raises huge questions about He said that in a visit to the between the Israeli Jus- the 25th anniversary of the founding how we help people interpret all the region last year at the time of tice Minister and the EU of the World Wide Web. information, temptation and possibil- the Israeli election he had been High Representative While praising the transformative ities. “saddened” by the way a two- Baroness Ashton, on the effect of the internet, he pointed to “My simple question is: what is the state solution “seemed to be EU Horizon 2020 pro- issues such as “online pornography, role of a Government concerned more remote than ever” with gramme.” the objectification of women and the about human rights and human wel- the prospect of new settlements He added: “Although bullying of young people”. fare in trying to give people a hinter- that would “render a contigu- the EU has not been He told peers: “There is a dark land and some tools, with allies - ous Palestinian state well nigh involved to date in the side to the internet and we should which allies the Government would impossible”. settlement negotiations, I hope that more not be surprised at that, given that recognise is another question - so In a House of Lords debate on the Middle will be made of the promise, which has this is human nature engaging with a that there is a big picture to help peo- East, Bishop Inge said: “The EU can bring already been mentioned this evening, of wonderful invention with all kinds of ple interpret? great influence to bear. One example of the financial and other incentives in the event of dark possibilities.” “People talk about giving parental influence that it can bring to bear is in the the reaching of a peace settlement. And he added: “The information control. That is a technical solution, new EU guidelines on Israeli settlements in “In short, as a pro-Palestinian Zionist, I that the web is so wonderful at mak- but parents and others need a kind the West Bank. I believe that they are a hope that the EU will do everything in its ing available needs interpretation. of hinterland; a wider vision with good development. power to enable a just and lasting settle- Wisdom is interpretation on a very which all this information can be “I do not believe that they change the rela- ment for the Middle East in general.” wide scale - a big picture - and the processed, evaluated and deployed bigger the picture, the more you can creatively.” Archbishop’s African Union worry THE AFRICAN Union may tribes against each other. ensure that whatever is not have the capacity to pre- Dr John Sentamu said at needed is provided”. vent a genocide in the Cen- question time in the House He added: “Otherwise, tral African Republic, the of Lords: “I am grateful for we will end up with geno- Archbishop of York has what the Government are cide and pictures on our tel- warned. doing in response to this evision screens that will More than 1,000 people particular crisis, but will make all our stomachs have died since December they use their offices in the churn day by day.” and around 1 million have European Union to make Baroness Warsi said she been forced from their sure that all nations take took on board the worries homes since a rebel leader part in dealing with this and the European Union backed by Muslim insur- rather appalling situation? would be discussing what gents seized power last “I am not confident that more could be done. year. the African Union actually She said: “At this stage, Michel Djotodia stepped has the capacity to deal with however, we are going back down this month as interna- the situation, much as it is to the UN Security Council tional criticism mounted on the ground.” Resolution 2127 from over his inability to halt He called for Foreign December, which agreed killings. Office minister Baroness that it was appropriate for Christian and Muslim mil- Warsi to “give us some com- the African Union to lead on itants have both been fort by confirming that the this and for the French accused of atrocities in a Government are talking to troops to carry on with You can read the Church of England Newspaper on any Android, conflict that has pitted rival our European allies to their deployment.” Blackberry, Windows or Apple device by simply installing the free PressReader app from the appstore. Single issue costs just 69p

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 24, 2014 News 5 New leadership for India Church Bishop hails Egypt A NEW MODERATOR, deputy moderator and general secretary have been elected by the 34th meeting of the Church of South India’s (CSI) Gen- eral Synod. Meeting from 11-14 January in Vijayawada, Andrah Pradesh the 22 bishops from the four referendum turnout South Indian states and Jaffna in Sri Lanka, 135 presbyters and 275 lay members elected new the LAST WEEK’S referendum on a new constitution was the Bishop said. Bishop in the Diocese of Krishna-Godavari, the Rt marked by joy and dancing in the street, the Bishop of “The new Constitution affirms equality and the rights Rev Govada Dyvasirvadam, to a two-year term as Egypt reports, as the country showed its support for the of women within Egyptian society,” the Bishop said, and moderator. ousting of former President Mohammad Mursi. was the product of a popular front government that The Bishop in Madhya Kerala Diocese, the Rt “I can see my beloved country standing on the included “representatives of all sectors of the society” Rev Thomas K Oommen was elected Deputy doorstep of a new day,” Dr Mouneer Anis said on 15 Jan- including Christians. Moderator and Dr Rathnakara Sadananda, Profes- uary 2014. “It was a phenomenon to see crowds of women at each sor of Theology at the Karnataka Theological Col- Approximately 39 per cent of Egypt’s 53 million eligible poll, many of whom queued for hours to vote. Some of lege, was elected general secretary. voters turned out to vote on 15-16 January 2014, the them were singing and rejoicing, and even dancing, Sources in the Church of South India tell CEN country’s election committee reported, with the new con- before and after they cast their vote. There was a general the election marks a change in the Church’s polit- stitution receiving 98.1 per cent approval. spirit of joy among the people of Egypt who voted, in a ical power structure, with an “insider” elected Dr Anis reported the Muslim Brotherhood has urged way that never happened before,” Dr Anis said. moderator and “outsiders” untainted by the its followers to boycott the referendum. “Going to the Under the draft constitution, Islam remains the state Church’s past corruption scandals elected as polls was risky because of those who were trying to use religion, but freedom of belief is absolute. The state guar- deputy moderator and general secretary. violence to scare people from voting, but the army and antees “equality between men and women” and forbids Ordained in 1978, the new moderator Bishop the police exerted a great effort to protect the polls and political parties based on “religion, race, gender or geog- Dyvasirvadam was a lecturer then warden of to give assurance to the people who would like to vote,” raphy”. Andrah Pradesh Theological College. From 1998 to 2001 he served as General Secretary of the CSI before his election as Bishop of Krishna-Godavari. At the 2012 meeting of synod he was elected ACNA priest gets Canterbury honour deputy moderator of the CSI. Bishop Oommen was elected Bishop in Madhya THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury priest. Archbishop Robert Duncan of reached.” Kerala Diocese in 2011, and has gained the sup- has appointed a priest of the Angli- the ACNA noted the appointment Archbishop Welby stated: “The port of lay activists and reformers within the can Church in North America was “historically significant.” close friendship [Baucum] has church. (ACNA) to serve as one of the Six Dr Baucum “is known to be a gift- forged with Bishop Shannon John- Preachers of Canterbury Cathedral. ed teacher and preacher who is com- ston, despite their immensely differ- The appointment of Dr Tory Bau- mitted to the present day ent views, sets a pattern of Court ruling cum, rector of Truro Parish in the reformation out of which the Angli- reconciliation based on integrity and ACNA’s Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic can Church in North America was transparency. Such patterns of life marks the first official recognition or born,” he said. are essential to the future of the over California honour by Canterbury of an ACNA In the statement released on 16 Communion. I hope and pray that January, the Lambeth Palace press Tory’s presence as one of the Six office noted the political symbolism Preachers will play a part in promot- secession of the appointment. ing reconciliation and unity amongst “While Dr Baucum has extensive us.” THE LEGALITY of the secession of a California experience of preaching, evangelism diocese from the Episcopal Church is in the hands and peace-making, his appointment of California Judge Donald Black following the is also recognition of his commit- closing arguments presented to the Fresno Superi- ment to reconciliation, which is one or Court last week. of Archbishop Justin’s ministry pri- 3/567;40 On 13 January the videotaped testimony of the Rt orities. Truro Church seceded from Rev John-David Schofield, who presided over the the Diocese of Virginia and the Epis- 27<

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Reconciling views have rarely darkened the In the case of believers’ bap- Sir, Unfortunately, this is the Confused thinking doors of the church! tism promises are generally second time that I have been Sir, Your editorial observations on anti-Semitism in Europe It is also important for fami- made with sincerity; family, prompted to plead that corre- (Comment, 17 January) betray some confused thinking. lies to be able to build up a friends and neighbours can spondents to your paper take Any manifestation of anti-Semitism should be deplored, relationship with the one per- still be invited and hopefully a moment to check the actual and people like the French ‘comic’ Dieudonné who appear forming the ceremony, and hear a thoughtful and chal- words used and sentiments to promote hatred of Jews should of course be vigorously ideally with the person in lenging word of testimony; expressed by those whose challenged. But you also raise the boycott campaign charge of the Sunday school, and on a practical level there views differ from their own, against Israel and the ‘Bethlehem Unwrapped’ event at St and that cannot be done in one will be less conflict of con- before launching a personal James’ Piccadilly and imply that these too are somehow cursory meeting. science for the minister. attack which impugns the making hatred of Jews ‘fashionable’ again. Just as bad, I have attended Whether or not baptism is a other’s intelligence, integrity Legitimate criticism of the State of Israel for its 46-year services of baptism in differ- sacrament for infants or con- and, worst of all, the sincerity occupation of the Palestinian territories and its ongoing vio- ent parts of the country where fessing believers, it should of their commitment to God lation of Palestinian human rights should not be equated the congregation which is also not, except in very rare the Father, Son and Holy Spir- with ant-Semitism, and it is mischievous of you to connect making promises, knows instances be a private ceremo- it, through Jesus Christ. the non-violent boycott campaign, St James’s and the nothing and has been told ny but rather one involving as In the opening sentence of admirable Lucy Winkett with such a vile prejudice. You cite nothing about the family! How large a representation of the my letter (13 January) which the definition of anti-Semitism prepared by the EU Monitor- in these instances can mem- local church as practical. started the present controver- ing Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) in 2005, bers of such a congregation John Wainwright, sy, I expressed my genuine and this does indeed suggest that certain types of criticism pray intelligently and minister Potters Bar sympathy with Peter and of Israel may be anti-Semitic. But this definition was only in an appropriate manner? Hazel-Mary Bull and the posi- ever a draft document, and it has never been formally Again, to the shame of many tion in which their loyalty to accepted by the EU. Moreover, the EUMC was replaced in clergy, I have observed cases Belief their Christian belief had land- 2007 by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, a body which where the family of a baptised Sir, Conservative evangelicals ed them. I did then go on to has distanced itself from the draft definition of 2005. Nor child have not been followed should walk very carefully query the conclusion that had has the UK government accepted the EUMC definition. up with pastoral visiting: a when they criticise the pro- been drawn from this event. The focus at St James’ over Christmas was on justice, and dirty word seemingly in the posed revisions in the bap- Also, I have never suggest- how the separation barrier, a construction that has been vocabulary of some clergy; tismal service. For years ed that love of neighbour has deemed to be illegal under international law (International and even where babies have many evangelicals have done any priority over love of God, Court of Justice opinion, July 2004), is impacting the lives of been baptised who do not live everything to undermine the but quoted the first letter of St millions of Palestinians. These include many indigenous in the area, with no attempt teaching of baptismal regener- John, which alerts us to the Christians in Bethlehem, whose historic lands have been being made to link the family ation, often leaving out the impossibility of separating the confiscated for the barrier. You cite Alan Johnson of the pro- to a live church where they phrase, “and seeing this child two Great Commandments, Israel NGO BICOM as claiming that the event at St James’s do. is now regenerate”. which are two sides of the decontextualized the barrier, by paying insufficient atten- Of course the church must Indeed in their revisions of same coin. tion to its security rationale. Yet Mr Johnson himself decon- be welcoming to all comers, the Prayer Book, Church Soci- Mr Colin Bricher speaks of textualized the barrier by not referring once to occupation especially to sincere seekers ety, Sydney Anglicanism and “reconciling the differing or Israel’s illegal settlements in East Jerusalem and the and to those who may cause others have expunged this views” on the matter being West Bank, 80 per cent of which are conveniently annexed us to feel uncomfortable, but clause, which affirms the debated. I am not sure that by the route of the wall deep into Palestinian territory. How baptism is not about re-enforc- regeneration of a child in bap- views can be reconciled. can it possibly be anti-Semitic to highlight such an injus- ing a superstition, just having tism. A perusal of both the Should we be seeking a recon- tice? an excuse for a party or fash- writings of John Stott, James ciliation which could be only The battle against genuine anti-Semitism is devalued ion parade, or about ‘getting Packer and that 19th century the imposition of one view on when it is widened to include non-violent campaigns to per- the baby done.’ Not that there doyen of low Churchmen JC those who honestly hold suade the State of Israel to comply with its obligations is anything intrinsically wrong Ryle reveal their disbelief in another, as at the time of the under international law. with parties or fashion, there infant baptism regeneration. Spanish Inquisition or at the Jeremy Moodey is nothing especially saintly in Something which even Martin height of John Calvin’s influ- Chief Executive - Embrace the Middle East, being dull or staid; but bap- Luther never rejected. ence? Reconciliation between Amersham, Bucks tism is about a serious public However the most disturb- individuals who hold differing commitment, whether it be of ing aspect of this underlying views should not be necessary infants or adults. theology can be seen in the within the Christian communi- right to ask parents to make We do well to remember fact, that there are over 4,000 ty, but when, as a result of frail Baptismal views promises about nurturing that in history baptism has so-called “thanksgivings” human nature, the need does Sir, At a time when the their child in the Christian often been the precursor of given every year. These are appear to arise, the desired Church is going to experi- faith if they have no serious active persecution and this is testimony that even within the reconciliation will not be ment with a revised form of intent of doing so. Again there still true in many parts of the evangelical constituency there helped by misrepresenting wording for services of bap- are times when, in spite of the world, especially in Muslim or are those who have no real the words, motives and char- tism, particularly for the bene- name, godparents are no Communist countries. We belief in infant baptism at all. acters of the proponents of fit of those unfamiliar with more committed than are the show no respect or solidarity That the bishops can allow either view. traditional language, I feel it is parents! with our fellow brothers and this cancer to spread, to what As is so often the case, we time to look at this sacrament Of course all of us at times sisters in these situations if we in effect is a substitute for bap- are divided by semantics: Mr from a much broader perspec- break our promises to God treat baptism in a trivial or far- tism is really sad. Ecumenical Bricher condemns my theo- tive than simply that of vocab- and other people and are con- cical manner. commissions may have come logical approach as “anthro- ulary. stantly in need of forgiveness, Although I appreciate the to joint understandings on pocentric”, whereas I hope it I rejoice when unchurched but it surely cannot be right to doctrine of prevenient Grace, baptism, but are ecumenists is “Incarnational” and is what people come into our services ask people to make promises which lies behind infant bap- aware of this new emerging distinguishes Christian theol- for celebratory events, espe- if they have not had, or cer- tism, I feel that the case for “Anglican sacrament”? Truly ogy which honours God cially if the Gospel is preached tainly been unwilling to have, believers’ baptism is stronger, there is nothing so fearfully become Human, from that of in a sensitive as well as a chal- any proper instruction over at even if the bad practices allud- comprehensive as the Church Judaism or Islam. lenging manner. Nonetheless least a period of months as to ed to already are avoided. of England. Mary P Roe, I am one of those who cannot what those promises involve, Indeed I find little Scriptural Robert Ian Williams, Bicester help wondering whether it is especially if previously they warrant for baptising infants. Bangor

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 24, 2014 Leader & Comment 7 The reasonableness of the Christian worldview Churches today in the West are faced with an increasingly aggressive atheist minority, which seems to dogmatically assume that their assumptions are correct and that Chris- tian assumptions are a form of private taste, rather like God’s storm knitting or playing cricket. The claim is that the public forum belongs to the secularist presuppositional base, and that religious people cannot bring their worldview to the table for policy debate. The extraordinarily arrogant exclusion of God from the Girl Guides’ promise is defended as being more ‘inclusive’, by imposing a secular humanist promise against the protests of many, and denying the choice to those who desire the old version. Even to offer a choice is deemed to troopers be imposing a dogma on young minds, whereas to impose the promise ‘to be true to myself’ is not. This is plainly dic- probably not too wide of the mark. But, after a tatorial dogmatism but also philosophically banal. In the Peter Mullen lifetime’s reflection, I think I now understand old Soviet Union children were dogmatically schooled in why I couldn’t adjust to being twice born. This I atheism as the one worldview, excluding the idea of God should like to discuss with you… as mythical and absurd. This was indoctrination of the All the Bible-bashers and the holy rollers used most powerful kind, and yet the Brave New World supre- Confessions of a dyed-in-the wool High Church- to ram down our throats the message: “You can’t mos of the new Girl Guides are clearly totally unaware of man coming up. That’s me. But let’s get one do anything towards your own salvation. So go their own dogmatic indoctrination. Atheism is not the nat- thing clear: by High Churchman, I don’t mean down on your knees and say the following…” As ural state of affairs for humanity, contrary to these Ama- the frilly cotta, lacenick and old arse, incense if saying something were not doing something! zon warriors of the cultural revolution. To believe that the sniffing, gin-soaked, chain-smoking Anglo-papist Indeed, as sentient creatures, homo sapiens, we universe has meaning and value woven through it by a band of the ultramontane who troll around Wals- might conclude that what we say is precisely one benign creator is not at all irrational, it makes sense – cer- ingham hoping to come across a stray member of the most important of the things we do. Words tainly as much sense as the bleak secularist worldviews on of the Protestant Truth Society so that they are deeds. For instance, if I say to you, “I prom- offer. Perhaps a better term than ‘rational’ might be ‘rea- might throw stones at him. I mean the religion of ise,” those words are the deed or act of promis- sonable’, a word with a great breadth of meaning, taking in John Donne, Lancelot Andrewes, Archbishop ing, what John Searle calls logical perfomatives. the moral and aesthetic dimension of human experience Laud, Richard Hooker, Samuel Coleridge, TS So already the supposed distinction between and of the objective universe. Eliot and CS Lewis. I mean what used to be faith and works becomes blurred. Christianity makes sense of our experience of good and described as Prayer Book Catholic. That’s not all. If we can’t do anything towards evil, of how we feel we should conduct our physical selves Well, now that I’ve got that off my chest let me our salvation – if we really have no power of our- in the world, and for young children especially Christiani- add that, in these days of the aggressive secular- selves to help ourselves – how can we turn to ty offers a really deep self valuation as a person made in ism that seeks to exclude Christianity from pub- God in order to ask his help in the first place? If I the image and likeness of God, beloved and precious, lic life, I’m delighted to meet a Christian from am a sinner and as such alienated from God by holding their personhood as a gift. Children are ‘special’, any denomination or party. Admittedly some- my corrupt will, how can I turn to God, how can and should know they are, as sons and daughters of God. times one has to hold one’s nose – for instance I desire him, how can I pray sincerely? This is a healthy and reasonable worldview, from which when wondering how to greet a member of the There’s more. I can’t abide the numbskull liter- our law, education and health services have grown. pizza-and-Chianti Alpha Course Marriage al-mindedness which says, “You must be born It is not difficult to show that many phenomena of Bureau Sect. But I do appreciate the real religion again” and thereby imagines that this means human existence point beyond us to a giver of life: of the spirit and indeed some of being born again on 25 April thinkers such as sociologist Peter Berger, whose A my best mates are Pentecostals. 1955 or whenever. Being born Rumour of Angels struck a chord in the 1970s, show how When I was Rector of St The miracles again surely means daily ‘signals of transcendence’ such as hope, the sense of order Michael’s, Cornhill, I regularly renewal, openness to the Spirit, and trust in things, the demands of justice for real evil, surprised the High Churchmen and the new every morning? such ‘prototypical human gestures’ herald the beyond. there by my choosing of the old resurrection Of course, evangelical piety is Berger argues that secular sociology and psychology evangelical hymns for the Parish deeper than these childish have no rational account for this human universal trait, it is Eucharist. They are heartfelt. are not for objections. My abiding affec- a signal of transcendence – and an apt one for our bleak “Thou didst leave thy throne and evangelicals tion for that old time religion is utilitarians now revolutionising the Guides! thy kingly crown when thou derived from such as the won- camest to earth for me…” And “acted derfully encouraging words of Comment “O love that wilt not let me go…” John Wesley who spoke of his Or, to the little sub-Mozartian parables” heart being “strangely The Church of England Newspaper tune, “Take my life and let it con- warmed” in that Moravian with Celebrate magazine incorporating The Record and Christian Week secrated Lord to thee…” chapel. Evangelical piety is heartfelt. It was there Published by Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd. In fact I have form when it comes to evangeli- in the Wesleys and in the ineffable hymns of Company Number: 3176742 cal spirituality. I was brung up at a Sunday school Isaac Watts, in Charles Simeon. And to meet Jim Publisher: Keith Young MBE in downtown Leeds where the fear of hell was Packer and John Stott (which I had the privilege put into us young urchins by our regular teacher to do) was to know that you were meeting godly whose day job was undertaker’s assistant. men. Publishing Director & Editor: CM BLAKELY020 7222 8004 “Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye Luther was a rabble-rouser and a German Chief Correspondent: The Rev Canon GEORGE CONGER 00 1 0772 332 2604 shall see him…” That was the second coming of nationalist, a transcendental egoist, a bigot; and Reporter: AMARIS COLE 020 7222 8700 Christ, which, he insisted, was imminent. (It’s yet he was also, in Coleridge’s words, a man who always imminent for the evos, isn’t it?) And sure- felt the truth of religion and didn’t merely think Advertising: CHRIS TURNER 020 7222 2018 ly we would be dangled over the pit of the fires of it. Luther the passionate. Appassionata. The Advertising & Editorial Assistant: PENNY NAIR PRICE 020 7222 2018 hell. Every time it clouded over during the crick- Beethoven of Protestant spirituality. Subscriptions & Finance: DELIA ROBINSON 020 7222 2018 et at Headingley, I thought my time had come. And let us be thankful for that true evangelical You could just imagine the report in the York- piety that is the demeanour of men and women Graphic Designer: PETER MAY020 7222 8700 shire Post: APOCALYPSE STOPS PLAY. YORK- who actually believe the truths of the Christian The acceptance of advertising does not necessarily indicate SHIRE SCRAPE A DRAW. faith. The miracles and the resurrection are not endorsement. Photographs and other material sent for publication Things went from bad to worse. On 25 April for evangelicals “acted parables” and things we are submitted at the owner’s risk. The Church of England Newspaper does 1955 I attended a Billy Graham crusade radio can’t believe; mere metaphors to be put to use in not accept responsibility for any material lost or damaged. relay at Leeds Town Hall, dashed through the the horrible secularised social-gospelling which latrine-like green corridors of that municipal in my worst moments I fear is all that’s left of the Christian Weekly Newspapers Trustees: Robert Leach (020 8224 5696), mausoleum and, as they say, gave my life to the good old C of E. Lord Carey of Clifton, The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, Lord. We all did. Me and half the middle school Evangelicals are still God’s storm troopers, his Dr Elaine Storkey, The Rev Peter Brown, The Rev Cindy Kent at West Leeds (boys) High. These converts were praetorian guard, his warrior angels in the flesh. all obviously very sincere but I confess I felt a Though I know of course that all the secularised, The Church of England Newspaper, fraud from the start. I tried, really I tried. Lying politicised liberals who run today’s church will Political and Religious Intelligence Ltd in bed night after night in Armley memorising hate those titles too. For me? Well… 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX the texts on the little plastic cards with which we O Thou who camest from above Editorial e-mail: [email protected] were issued: “Wherewithal shall a young man The pure, celestial fire to impart Advertising e-mail: [email protected] cleanse his way…”; “God so loved the world that Kindle a flame of sacred love Subscriptions e-mail: [email protected] he gave his only begotten Son…” And so on. I On the mean altar of my heart don’t know why it didn’t quite gel with me. I put There let it for thy glory burn Website: www.churchnewspaper.com it down to my especial perversity – which was With inextinguishable blaze…

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The answer surely lies in going back to basics and eating real food, fish, meat (unless you are vegetari- an), eggs, grains, pulses, fruit, veg and nuts. If everyone ditched the junk and ate proper meals – we’d probably be sorted. Sounds too simplistic? Check out The Harcombe Diet. www.theharcombe- Janey Lee Grace diet.com Live Healthy! Live Happy! Tackling obesity today

The obesity crisis looms, according to all the national station on the day the obesity news broke said she had newspapers this week. We are being warned that more evidence that it is common practice to add the highest than half of Britons will be obese by 2050. The report by levels of hydrogenated fats and sugars as possible to the National Obesity Forum blames junk food firms for confectionary aimed at children (aged between nine and confusing people about healthy eating. It also criticises 10) in order to cause them to crave more – and yet not the government for not doing enough with trying to make them sick. encourage people to be more active and eat more Now before you ask me for the proof, I haven’t seen it healthily. This comes just a few months after the World and of course it hasn’t been verified but I do believe Health Organisation’s report last October that warned these foods are addictive and all of us mere mortals that the UK had the worst obesity rate in Europe. have a tendency to crave more, once we start down the So is this an issue for government and the NHS to road of junk food. tackle? Does the responsibility lie with the food manu- ‘But that’s just the addictive personality’, I hear you facturers, or is it solely down to the individual to take cry, well I’ve never met anyone, addictive nature or not, personal responsibility? who craved raw vegetables, no one has a ‘broccoli’ The answer is perhaps a mixture of all three but addiction do they? I would suggest that it’s the highly importantly the first two are unlikely to really make a processed foods with sugar, fats and salts that we end up difference any time soon. A caller to a BBC local radio craving. Down but not out What would Jesus Tweet?

Paul Flowers has been bailed again after being interviewed by Tweets are all the rage. C of E media director, Arun Arora, is making a determined bid to put the the police in Leeds but the disgraced Methodist minister is not Church at the heart of the twittersphere. Not everyone is impressed. Writing in The Spectator diary letting his problems cramp his style. He continues to tweet just after Christmas James Bartholomew claimed serious journalists, tweeting under orders from their regularly at @PaulFlowersRVD and the site is believed to be newspapers, lose their dignity by condensing great thoughts into 140 words. Imagine Jesus tweeting, genuine. In a recent tweet he promised a ‘no holds barred he commented. ‘Might be a bit short on the loaves and fishes on the mt today. Take a miracle to feed book’ about his exploits. He has also said he is seeking everyone!’ ‘Great supper with the lads tonight – worried that tomoro might not go so well professional help and ‘looking at rehab’. A Facebook entry #nastyfeeling’. Now a reader has replied with tweets Jesus could have sent. How about: ‘It is easier for showed him standing beside his Christmas tree and carried a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’ or the message ‘I’m the fairy who just jumped off the top of it’. ‘Come unto me all that labour and I will give you rest’ or ‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion The Evening Standard has described him as ‘the nation’s and prayer and intelligence. Love others as you love yourself’? The suggestion comes from Bridget favourite bon viveur and Methodist’. Although he has been Mayes, who argues Jesus’ sayings have survived because of their brevity. ‘Ahead of his time rather suspended as a Minister, the Methodist Church has confirmed than behind ours’, she comments. it is continuing to pay him and that he is living in a Manse. It says it cannot carry out its own investigation until the police investigation is complete. Stay tuned. This is a story that looks set to run for a long time. Flowers is well connected in the Labour Party and if he does write his memoirs they could be Two stories you may have missed quite revealing.

The January issue of New Directions does a good job in outlining what the Society of St Wilfred and St Hilda is all about. It aims to be an ecclesial body Travelling a long road with faith for those who share its views, not a club with a membership Writing in The Living Church the distinguished South African subscription. The magazine prints a list of Bishops who are theologian, John W de Gruchy, sheds more light on Nelson members of the society, including four former English diocesan Mandela’s religious views, a topic the secular media has chosen to bishops – Nicholas Reade (Blackburn), Geoffrey Rowell ignore. According to de Gruchy, Mandela regularly received holy (Gibraltar) Michael Langrish (Exeter) and John Hind communion from a visiting Methodist chaplain during his time on (Chichester). The only current diocesan is Bishop Martin Robben Island. Among his close friends in prison was a lay Warner of Chichester but a surprise omission is the former preacher. After his release from prison he deliberately chose not Archbishop of York, David Hope. Whether the Society to associate with any one denomination but went to services in a will be able to steady the Anglo-Catholics and help variety of churches as well as to mosques and synagogues. their churches start to grow remains to be seen. If Attendance at St Mary’s RC Cathedral drew comments from research from the Diocese of Manchester is to be the Vatican about him receiving communion there. The believed, there is a very good, secular reason for reply was simple. ‘Would you have turned Nelson hoping that all churches grow. The research Mandela away from the altar?’ Although he is aware of showed a high correlation between higher the danger of such language, de Gruchy hails Mandela Whispering number of visits to religious places and low crime as ‘an icon of what it means to be human, opposing evil, figures. The study covered those aged between 18

enduring suffering, overcoming bitterness, expressing The Gallery and 34 and discovered that the more they went to forgiveness’. The recent film about Mandela makes no church or the mosque the less likely they were to mention of the religious influence in his life. The young commit a crime. This applied especially to Mandela is depicted as saying God will not help his shoplifting, drug taking and music piracy. Good people and Winnie Mandela announces Africans have reason for even Richard Dawkins to hope that to save themselves. It is FW de Klerk who is shown Anglicans can make peace among themselves and as a man of faith, acting on the Calvinist belief that it start to grow their congregations. is his appointed destiny to bring peace to his country.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 24, 2014 Comment 9 Why David Cameron shouldn’t ‘do God’ Andrew Carey

Having criticised Tony Blair’s penchant for hiding his faith View from the Pew when in office, I now find myself wishing that David Cameron didn’t ‘do God’ quite so publicly. Every time he does talk about faith there is something badly jarring The battles over screen time about what he says. Yet he can also be searingly honest about what faith means to him and his family. David Cameron has also revealed that his young family are subject to strict rules on the use of computer games In the past, he’s called for the Church of England to ‘get and ‘screen time’. His children, who are all under 10, are not allowed to watch television in the morning and have with the programme’ and he’s publicly admonished Arch- restrictions on the amount of time they can play video games. bishops and Popes over their stance on gay marriage. I hope the practices of the Cameron household inform debate more widely in Britain today. It is however much Last week, he accused anti-fracking campaigners of easier to have rules about screen time and computer games when your children are under 10. None of my chil- being ‘irrational’ and ‘religious’ in their opposition. The dren were allowed to play computer games on school days and we made sure that there were other things going very fact that he uses these two terms together reveals a on to prevent weekends being dominated by games and television screens. great deal about the nature of faith. He doesn’t want Our rules began to fall apart with secondary school when we thought our children would need a mobile phone dogma or doctrine, preferring something undemanding as they became more independent. We also realised that they need computer time to do their homework. Under and ‘a handy guide’ to morality rather than a discipline. He these circumstances it became much more difficult to enforce a completely games-free school night. The advent said in a recent interview: “I’m a classic Church of England of the Kindle reading app also means that it’s not easy to enforce rules when your children have their heads in a member, but part of the church of England’s strength is device upon which they can both read and play games. the fact that it doesn’t ask us to sign up to too much of a Happily, the Cameron approach is probably about right. If you enforce rules and supervision up to the age of canon.” 10 or 11 your children will probably have an active, imaginative life independent of screens and consoles. However, it is clear that his personal faith has meant a great deal to him in coping with the loss of his disabled son, Ivan. He said: “The person who says to you, ‘There’s a An incoherent view from the Ukip councillor silver lining to all this,’ or ‘Some good will come of all this,’ The UKIP Councillor, David Silvester, needs a good Gospel (and in naked breach of a coronation oath) will you actually want to thump.” talking-to from his local minister or pastor, because be beset by natural disasters such as storms, disease, It is here that David Cameron has a classically Anglican though he is totally right to criticise gay marriage, he pestilence and war.” take on loss or grief. For Anglicanism is content to be a is completely theologically incoherent in his reason- Mr Silvester is completely wrong because there is provisional and temporary church pointing towards a ing. no such depiction in scripture of a ‘Christian nation’ future in which all are reconciled. There is considerable In a letter to his local newspaper he writes: “The nor a Christian coronation oath. The covenant of God space for freedom of conscience, for the expression of scriptures make it abundantly clear that a Christian with Israel has nothing to do with the political and his- anger for many unresolved questions while we wait on nation that abandons its faith and acts contrary to the torical accident of an Established Church. God in prayer and silence. The challenges of Paul Richardson economic growth Church and World It has taken time for a pattern to become middle class and inequality is growing. paid to the Daily Mail’s Paul Dacre) or raise protectionist walls against the rest clear but it looks as though the economic Bill de Blasio in New York campaigned the large sums a few people have made of the world. As Robert Reich has crisis that began in 2008 and some think on the existence of two cities, one rich out of welfare but by and large inequality argued, the more money is concentrated is at last coming to an end may have had and one poor, and inequality has moved is an issue that plays best for the left. in hands of a few, the less it is used for a significant impact on politics. to the front line of political debate all Even so there are few quick solutions. consumption and for stimulating the On the right this impact has been across the Western world. One reason Part of the problem is that trends that economy. Raising the minimum wage apparent for some time. The rise of the for the Pope’s popularity is the way he have threatened manufacturing and cler- and reforming welfare so that it provides Tea Party in America and UKIP in has sought to highlight the gap between ical jobs in the West have given work to an adequate safety net for those in need Britain have been signs of the growth of rich and poor and to forego many of the millions in India and China. The people are priorities for Western nations. right wing populism based on fear of privileges of office in his own lifestyle. who have gained have been those with But so, too, is improved education. The globalisation, dislike of immigration, dis- Reasons for the new focus on inequali- skills they can sell in a global market only way workers in Britain or America trust of politicians and dismay at a liberal ty are not hard to seek. such as bankers and will be able to get jobs in the future is if drift in the culture evidenced in such According to a report by lawyers. Capital has also they have the right skills and training. It developments as the acceptance of gay the US Census Bureau, Improved benefitted from the ability is disappointing that the BBC and other marriage. the typical American fami- to move jobs offshore. In media outlets in the UK devoted so much At first right wing populists looked set ly now earns less in real education is the future increased use time to trying to discredit the results of to be the main beneficiaries of the crisis terms than in 1989. In of robots is going to put the Programme for International Student as far right parties increased their vote Britain inflation has the most further pressure on lower Assessment (PISA) released late last across Europe. But now there are signs reduced the value of effective way skilled workers. year. In the US, on CNN and in the New of change and revival on the left. After a wages that have hardly Global inequality is York Times they were treated more seri- false start with the Occupy movement, moved for the past five to tackle being reduced even while ously as a wake-up call. Statistics show- left wing populists are beginning to find years. inequality inequality within Western ing pupils in Shanghai are two-and-a-half their voice. The ‘third way’ promoted by But while the median nations is increasing. As years ahead of pupils in Manhattan were Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, which gave household income has John Gapper pointed out given the attention they deserve. support to business but tried to channel been falling the share of in the Financial Times, The fact that Britain’s private schools some of the profits to help the poor, is wealth going to the top one per cent has the people who are suffering are the very attract students from Asia tells us that giving way to a line pushed by Elizabeth increased. According to one US report, it poor, the bottom five per cent in sub- culture is not the only factor at work. Warren and Bill de Blasio in America and grew by 31 per cent in the three years up Saharan Africa and elsewhere, and the Quality of teaching is crucial. This is why Ed Miliband in Britain that is distrustful to 2012. Western middle class. The forces pro- Finland does well in PISA statistics. The of capitalism and calls for more regula- Wage inequality is a subject right wing ducing disparities in the West are the Finns make it a priority to attract able tion. populists can make use of as well. The forces that have helped the emerging recruits into the teaching profession and The new left wing populism gets popular press has been quick to high- middle classes of Brazil and China. train them well. In the long term, mileage from the fact that economic light the big payoffs to managers at the It is important to tackle inequality in improved education is the most effective upturn shows little sign of helping the BBC (overlooking the massive salary the West but not to do so by seeking to way to tackle inequality.

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper 10 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 24, 2014 Feature How a retreat can make a special 2014

By Amaris Cole situation. Every one of their retreats however, offers the chance to step back from the pressures of daily January is the perfect time to make some plans for the life, to enter a deeper peace with the opportunity to year ahead, including all the trips you will make in pray and experience God. 2014. But while filling your diary, don’t forget to make time for a retreat. ST COLUMBA’S HOUSE Albert Camus wrote: “In order to understand the Woking, Surrey world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.” Do Saint Columba’s House was opened in 1965 as a just that this year, and treat yourself to some time retreat house to provide hospitality and offer a away for some spiritual refreshment. spirituality programme drawing on a variety of Some of us have retreats we have been going to for Christian traditions. Reverend Mother Lucy Clare is years, and others might not have a clue where to an ordained priest and the Mother Superior of the start. Every centre offers a different experience, and Community of Saint Peter, which is now dispersed with our help, perhaps it’s time to try something new around the country. Sister Angela remains in the area, in 2014. sharing the Daily Office with the Chaplain and serving Saint Columba’s House as the Sacristan. The LAUNDE ABBEY Chapel and Oratory are places of Christian worship Leicestershire and rooms are let on the understanding that the Retreats at Launde Abbey come in many forms; Christian ethos of the house is respected. Regular retreats for individuals and groups, those looking for users include groups and individuals from churches, silence and others who are seeking inspiration or charities, schools and businesses. They offer a range creativity. There is also an opportunity to experience a of catering options from bed-and-breakfast to full solitary retreat in their self-catering Oxford and board prepared by their resident chef. Cambridge Hermitage, which is available for Launde Abbey individuals looking to spend time in a more solitary WYDALE HALL Scarborough, North Yorkshire Wydale Hall is a peaceful place to plan a retreat or to visit for a few days’ break either on your own or with friends and family. The centre prides itself on flexible Discover the Breaks & catering facilities, excellent food and hospitality, Retreats which is very important to all the staff. With 28 en- whole mix at CCT suite bedrooms, Wydale Hall has a capacity of 50 beds With three well equipped venues based across Away for groups who are willing to share. Ground floor, the UK, CCT offers flexible conference facilities Days single rooms for guests with special needs are also Church available. It is possible to put a folding bed in this with exceptional levels of service at low prices. Weekends www.cct.org.uk 0300 111 4444 room for use by a carer, too. THE HAYES HIGH LEIGH Residential EPIPHANY HOUSE BELSEY BRIDGE Conferences Business Truro, Cornwall CONFERENCE Epiphany House is an historic building set in peaceful CENTRES Meetings and extensive grounds on the outskirts of Truro. Offering Quiet Days, retreats and a Network dedicated to finding a spiritual companion for those who crave it, the centre could be the answer to your prayers. The Epiphany Trust runs a wide range of events from singing days to study sessions. Have a look at their programme for 2014’s exciting agenda.

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HIGH LEIGH AND THE HAYES CONFERENCE CENTRE Derbyshire and Hertfordshire CCT are renowned for their exceptional Christian welcome at their conference centres. And after seeing the affordable prices and comfortable accommodation, it’s easy to understand why these locations remain as popular as ever. The sites promise to cater for any group size, whether for day conferences or residential events.

High Leigh and the Hayes Conference Centre

Retreats and Holidays 2014

Bishop Gordon Mursell: Living into God’s new future –preparing for retirement: Aretreat for single and married clergy, their spouses and partners (February 17th – 20th)

Lent Retreat: led by Richard Stainer (March 24th – 28th)

‘One is nearer God’sheart in a Garden than anywhereelseon earth’: A part-working gardening holiday (April 22nd – 26th)

Living with God as GrownUp Children: ledbyHelen & David Newman (May 2nd – 5th)

CAPERNWRAY HOLIDAYS John Bell Retreat: Exploring the Languages of Heaven Carnforth, Lancashire (May 5th – 9th) Take the stress out of your family holiday and book with Capernwray. If you like the sound Icon Painting Retreat:led by Peter Murphy of a week away where the food is cooked for you, the plates are cleaned and activities to (May 12th – 16th) keep all ages busy, then this could be the break for you. With special weeks organised for young people, the Hall could be the ideal location for your teenager’s first trip away with Labyrinth Retreat:led by Di Williams (May 26th – 30th) friends or the Church youth group’s holiday. For more information and to book:

RICHMOND HOLIDAYS 01572 717254 Richmond has something to suit every taste, interest and ideal! Whether you go as a solo or visit www.laundeabbey.org.uk traveller, your church or social group, with friends or families, you will be refreshed both Launde Abbey, East Norton, Leicestershire, LE7 9XB physically and spiritually. The packages are suitable for those of all Charity No: 1140918 Christian backgrounds or none at all, for the youngest to the oldest and for those who want an adventure or peaceful getaway. You’ll be welcomed into a friendly, relaxing and safe environment where you can totally unwind and enjoy yourself in fabulous parts of the world, from skiing in the Alps to relaxing in Turkey. A selection of forthcoming Retreats

If you are looking for a retreat in provide the opportunity to join in 2014 there are many and varied with their activities during Holy opportunities on offer across the Week including Whaley Hall length and breadth of the country. Derby, Othona in Dorset, Open The latest edition of the Retreat Gate Holy Island and the Association’s annual Retreats Carmelite Retreat Centre in handbook includes a record Oxford. number of retreat centres listed, Modern life brings its own with a wide range of choices on particular stresses and going on offer. Here is a selection of retreat could be an opportunity to retreats available in the first few receive support and months of the year. understanding from experienced Linger in the peace of the beautiful chapel, take a conton emplative amble The winter can be a helpful time practitioners. The Living Well in around the gardens or unwind in the comfomforort of one our lounges. YYoour to retreat – the long dark evenings Dover offers healing days ensuite bedroom is pleasantly appointed with all modern facilities and relax- bring us to a point of rest from throughout the year, Crowhurst ing ambiance; your lunch/dinner are home c- ooked and prepared from fresh which to reflect in a way that can Christian Healing Centre in East bring inspiration to what many Sussex is organising a healing ingredients and our reading room and book stall have an absorbing range of find the most challenging season. weekend. Minsteracres in Co books. Swathmoor Hall in Cumbria and Durham specialises in the field of The Briery Retreat Centre in West supporting carers and those living Saint Columba’’ss House is a c ton emporary urban Christian retreat house Yorkshire are offering meditation with addiction. retreats in February and March. If Going away for a few days on within near reach of London and the rest of the country via easy road and you are looking for silence, Douai retreat for the first time can be rail routes. A warm welcome awaits you within our peaceful environment in Abbey in Reading, Mill House in daunting so you may want to which to studystudy,, rest or pra .ya Devon and Llangasty Retreat consider the option of a quiet day Centre in Brecon are all holding – which many retreat centres offer Please see our website for our pr grgro amme and for booking information or silent retreats. throughout the year. Hopeweavers onc tact us: Lent is also traditionally a time in Southampton, Abbey House TTeel: 01483 713005 for retreat and reflection. Many Glastonbury, Clare Priory in Email: [email protected] retreat centres offer retreats that Suffolk and St Columba’s House in particularly focus on this Woking are just some of the St Columba’’ss House significant season in the church retreat centres that have a regular aM ybury Hill calendar including the programme of quiet days. Woking Windermere Centre in Cumbria, GU22 8AB the Kairos Centre London, For further information on the Crowhurst Christian Healing retreat centres listed above please Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 240675 Centre in East Sussex and St see the Retreat Association website Oswald’s Pastoral Centre, Whitby. – www.retreats.org.uk, or phone A number of retreat centres also 01494 569056.

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THE 2014 Associate Priest) of Derby St Church Heaton with St Alkmund and St Werburgh, Margaret Halliwell, retires with BIBLE CHALLENGE ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER Diocese of Derby. effect from 27 April 2014 The Rev Ian Naylor, (Manchester). To be Rural Dean for Telford The Rev James (Jim) Lewis Day 24. Exodus 10-12, Psalm Friday 24 January. Psalm 24: 1-6, Eph. 6: 10-24. Amazon - SevernGorge (Hereford). Field, 20, Matthew 21 (Brazil): The Rt Rev Saulo Mauricio de Barros The Rev Dr Martin Naylor, retires as Incumbent of the Day 25. Exodus 13-15, Psalm Saturday 25 January. Psalm 98: 1-4, Isa. 45: 9-13. Amichi - Curate of All Saints, Bedford Benefice of The Romney Marsh 21, Matthew 22 (Niger,Nigeria): The Rt Rev Ephraim Ikeakor (St Albans) to be Priest in with effect from 20 April 2014 Day 26. Enjoy hearing the Sunday 26 January. Epiphany 3. Psalm 34: 4-10, ICor.1:1-9. Charge of the proposed United (Canterbury). Scriptures read aloud in church PRAYfor Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil: The Most Rev Benefice of All Saints’ Batley,St The Rev Canon Helen Hing- Day 27. Exodus 16-18, Psalm Mauricio Jose Araujo De Andrade. Primate of Brazil &Bishop Andrew Purlwell, St Thomas ley, 22, Matthew 23 of Brasilia Batley and St Paul Hanging Vicar (Hamstead, St Bernard) Day 28. Exodus 19-21, Psalm Monday 27 January.Psalm 34: 11-18, ICor.1:10-25. Heaton (Wakefield). and HonoraryCanon of 23, Matthew 24 Amritsar -(North India): The Rt Rev Pradeep Samantaroy The Rev Peter Francis Quin- Birmingham Cathedral, Day 29. Exodus 22-24, Psalm Tuesday 28 January. Psalm 33: 12-14,19-end, ICor.1:26-2:5. nell, Diocese of Birmingham, to 24, Matthew 25 Andaman &Car Nicobar Islands -(North India): The Rt Rev Rector of the Whitewater retirewith effect from 31 Day 30. Exodus 25-27, Psalm Christopher Paul Benefice in the Diocese of March. 25, Matthew 26 Wednesday 29 January.Psalm 145: 10-17, ICor.2:6-16. Winchester,tobeHouse for The Rev Peter Knapper, Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (formerly Cariboo) - Duty Associate Priest in the has resigned from holding APPOINTMENTS (British Columbia &the Yukon, Canada): The Rt Rev Barbara Benefice of Tetbury, Beverston, Permission to Officiate Jean Andrews Long Newnton and Shipton (Southwark). Thursday 30 January. Psalm 62, ICor.3:1-9. Angola Moyne; and Associate Priest in The Rev Pat Lodge, (MissionaryDiocese) -(SouthernAfrica): The Rt Rev Andre the Benefice of Avening with Assistant Curate in The Good Next Bishop of Dudley Soares Cherington (Gloucester). Shepherd, Ashton under Lyne The Rev Canon Graham The Rev Julie Read Team Ministry, retired with Usher, has been appointed as Priest in effect from 31 January2014 Rector of Hexham, McKean Cromarty, Chaplain to the Bishop of Charge of Kingsland with (Manchester). (Newcastle), to be Bishop of Curate of the United Benefice Bristol, to be Principal, Trinity Eardisland, Aymestrey & The Rev Harold Loxley, Dudley (Worcester). of Upper Weardale in the College, Bristol. LeinthallEarles (Hereford). Vicar of Sheffield St Catherine Diocese of Durham, to be Vicar The Rt Rev Dr Michael The Rev Jacqueline Mar- of Siena Richmond Road, The Rev Abigail Adetayo, of the Benefice of Hipswell in Ipgrave OBE, garet Rodwell, Sheffield, to retireon31 To be HonoraryAssistant the Diocese of Ripon and Bishop of Woolwich is to be House for Duty Team Vicar, March. Curate of Peckham, SMary Leeds. commissioned as also Warden South Cheltenham Team The Rev Jenny Penn, Magdalene (Southwark). The Rev TimDean, of Southwark Diocesan Ministry, resigning on 6July currently Team Vicar in the The Rev Nick Armstrong, To be Rural Dean of Sparham Association of Readers by the and relocating to the Diocese in Seven Saints Team To be Rural Dean for (Norwich). Bishop of Southwark. Europe to minister in the (Manchester), resigns with Bridgnorth (Hereford). The Rev GregoryCharles The Rev Kathryn Dianne Chaplaincy of the Midi- effect from 8July 2014, when The Rev John Trevor Bir- Downes, Jackson, Pyrenees and Aude. she will take up apost in the beck, Director,Centrefor Missional Priest-in-Charge at The VenDrBrian Kenneth Diocese of Southwark. Rector of Rawmarsh with Leadership, Watfordhas been Scarborough St Columba Russell The Rev Preb John Reese, Parkgate and Assistant Curate appointed as Associate Minister (York) and Chaplain at St Archdeacon of Aston, Diocese To retireasTeam Rector of of Greasbrough St Mary of the Benefice of York St Catherine’s Hospice (York), of Birmingham, to be Senior South WyeTeam Ministrywith (Sheffield), to be also Assistant Michael le Belfrey (York). has been appointed to the Anglican Chaplain in Norway, effect from 29th April 2014 Curate of Kimberworth and The Rev Christopher RectoryofHaxby and Diocese in Europe. (Hereford). Kimberworth Park (Sheffield). Charles Etherton, Wigginton (York). The Rev James Tebbutt The Rev Jenny Rowland, The Rev Stephen Craig Bish- Priest in Charge of Binstead; The Rev Margaret Jones, Superintendent Minister of the To retireasPriest in Charge of op, and Priest in Charge of To be Rural Dean for GloucestershireCircuit of the Ditton Priors with Neenton, StipendiaryTeam Vicar in the Havenstreet in the Diocese of Pontesbury(Hereford). Methodist Church, to be also Burwarton, CleoburyNorth, Benefice of the South Portsmouth, to be House for The Rev Pauline Jones, Ecumenical Canon of Aston Botterell, Wheathill & Cotswolds Team Ministry, to be Duty Associate Priest in the Assistant Curate OLM has Gloucester Cathedral. Loughton &Chetton with effect StipendiaryPriest in Charge of BeneficeofBourton on the become, in addition, Chaplain The Rev RobertWard, from 28th Feb 2014 (Hereford). the Benefice of Chipping Water with Clapton and The at Fairfield General Hospital To be Rural Dean for Ledbury The Rev Alex Shuttleworth, Campden with Ebrington Rissingtons (Gloucester). (Manchester). (Hereford). currently serving his Title (Gloucester). The Rev RobertEdwardFar- The Rev Barry Kent, The Rev Andy Williams, Curacy at Redhill, Holy Trinity The Rev David Butlin, rell, who holds the Bishop’s currently incumbent of St (Southwark) resigns with effect Chaplain to HeartofKent has been given Permission to Permission to Officiate, has Andrew Radcliffe 26th January2014 to take up a Hospice (Rochester) and also Officiate in the Diocese of been appointed Clergy Widows’ (Manchester), is to be vicar of post as Rector at Christ Church holder of the Bishop of Canterburyfor three years with and Widowers’ Officer for the Brinnington (Chester). in Fox Chapel, PA,USA. Southwark’s Permission to effect from 9January2014. ArchdeaconryofBournemouth The Rev LynSharon Wort- Officiate is to be licensed as The Rev David Head, (Winchester). ley, LAY&OTHER part-time Chaplain to Royal Rural Dean of Sparham, The Rev StuartLeck, Priest in Charge, Greasbrough APPOINTMENTS Marsden Hospital also (Norwich), to be Rector of the presently Assistant Curate in St Maryand Area Dean of continuing as Chaplain to Heart Quintet Benefice,Repps the Catford(Southend) and Rotherham (Sheffield), to be of Kent Hospice. Deanery(Norwich). Downham Team Ministryisto also Assistant Curate of The Rev Dr Tory Baucum, The Rev Katherine Capper, The Rev Canon David Her- be licensed as Team Vicar to Kimberworth and Rector of TruroChurch in presently HonoraryAssistant rick, the benefice (Southwark). Kimberworth Park and Fairfax, Virginia, has been Curate in the Horley Team has been appointed Diocesan The Rev Douglas Tafara Assistant Curate of Rawmarsh appointed as one of the Six Ministryistobelicensed as Warden of Readers and Paul Machiridza, with Parkgate (Sheffield). Preachers of Canterbury HonoraryAssociate Vicar of Licensed Lay Ministers. He will Asst. Curate (St John, Perry Cathedral. Betchworth and Buckland remain Lay MinistryTraining Barrand St Matthew,Perry United Benefice (Southwark). Officer and Canon of the Beeches), (Birmingham), to be RETIREMENTS & DEATHS The Rev Simon Cash, Cathedral Church of St James Vicar,StAndrew,Handsworth RESIGNATIONS Priest in Charge of St Anne’s, and St Edmund (St (Birmingham). Worksop, St Mary’s, Norton Edmundsbury&Ipswich). The Rev Douglas John Low The Rev Canon John Ger- Cuckney &StWinifred’s, The Rev Veronica Jane McHardie, The Rev Michael Buckley, vase Maurice Walker Holbeck, has been made Area (Poppy) Hughes, Curate of Horley (Southwark), will retireon31st July 2014 (Gerry)Murphy. Dean in the Bassetlaw & StipendiaryPriest in Charge of appointed to the Rectoryof (Liverpool). b26. d52p53. Curate, Lurgan BawtryDeanery(Southwell & the Benefice of Tetbury, Woodmansterne (Southwark). The Rev Thomas Hubert Christ the Redeemer Down & Nottingham). Beverston, Long Newnton and The Rev Stephen Mawditt, Caswell, Dromore52-55; Chaplain to the The Rev Paul Anthony Shipton Moyne, to be Minister to the Fountain of Life, Vicar of Masbrough St Paul Forces 55-73; Asst Chaplain Crabb, StipendiaryRector of the to be Minister to the Fountain (Sheffield), has been removed General, 73-77; Vicar,Ranworth Priest in Charge of St Paul Benefice of Tetbury, Beverston, of Life Incorporating the from office under the Clergy wPanxworth Norwich 77-79; Hanging Heaton and St Long Newnton and Shipton Fountain of Life Network Discipline Measure 2003, Rural Dean Blofield 79; Thomas Batley (Wakefield), to Moyne; and Rector of the (Norwich). Section 30. Domestic Chaplain to The be Priest in Charge of Bramley Benefice of Avening with The Rev Ian Mountford, The Rev JeffDavies, Queen 79-87; Chaplain to The and Rodley (Ripon and Leeds). Cherington (Gloucester). will be licensed as Assistant Assistant Curate known as Queen 87-96; Died 8January The Rev Andrew Robert The Rev Dr Emma Ineson, Curate (to be known as Associate Priest in Christ 2014 aged 87.

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Valley,asthis bottle. Now, encounters sophisticatedly under the revised regula- restrained dryness. Then comes Wine tions, aVin de France, fruit, redcherries and ripe rasp- which replaced Vinde berries. As the wine opens out, it OF THE WEEK Table as the lowest clas- becomes smoother still, with a sification, we can at warming that stays on until the least see, which we finish. Alcohol by Vol. 12.5% .It La Grille could not before, the makes amost attractive aperitif. Pinot Noir 2011 grape name and the It has great versatility,as, with Majestic £7.99 (buy 2, vintage on the label. food particularly, it can also be £6.99 each) Light redinthe enjoyed verylightly chilled. glass, on the nose Why not surprise guests by Our last tasting was of aCali- thereare redberry offering both, quite atalking fornian Pinot Noir.The grape is fruits, and ahint too point. Excellent with chicken or increasingly grown worldwide, of autumn ripe peach- trywith awell-flavoured dish of but Burgundy is its heartland. es. Held in the salmon or tuna. In France, it is also esteemed expected light body, when, lighter,fromthe Loire the palate first Graham Gendall Norton 14 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 24, 2014 Sunday

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,/And with Jesus, God took flesh and came near to us. r r fear and trembling stand;/Ponder nothing Yet we worship him in awe and wonder, earthly minded,/For with blessing in his speechless because his majesty goes far

o hand,/Christ our God to earth beyond anything we can say. SUNDAY SERVICE descendeth/Our full homage to demand. We argue about styles of worship that t obscure one or other of these attributes of Presentation of Christ in the Temple - Sunday 2nd This is the first verse of a hymn that many God. Some worship seems to make God too February 2014 c Christians will have sung during the last few distant and remote from anything we can Malachi 3:1-5 weeks. The breathtaking scope of the words relate to. We are given no clue that God Hebrews 2:14-18 e and the grandeur of the music make it espe- understands us and our situation. The other Luke 2:22-40

r cially suitable for Epiphany and the focus on extreme makes God just like one of us; our

i the Incarnation as revealing the glory of best mate and it’s hard to worship with This week, our readings present to us Christ in the Temple, God. The words, originally written in Greek humility, awe and wonder. How may we the glorious saviour and judge of all.

d date back to the 3rd century and was part of learn to live with the paradox that is the God Malachi’s prophecy reveals that God will send his messenger

l an ancient liturgy known as the Liturgy of St of the Bible and Christian experience? It’s (in the Hebrew, Malachi) to prepare the way for him to return

By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare James. not about personality or taste. to his Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple of Solomon had been The idea of keeping silence before God is Perhaps the first thing to do is to acknowl- filled with God’s glory, just as Moses’ Tabernacle had been, a only part of the way we respond to God in edge that God is so much greater than our so the exiles hoped and expected God to show himself and his worship but it is a valid part. The first line limited ideas of him. The hymn goes on to glory in the rebuilt ruins after their return from Babylon. u refers us to Habakkuk 2:20: ‘The Lord is in say: King of kings, yet born of Mary,/As of Indeed, Haggai prophesied greater glory for that place than

t his holy temple; let all the earth keep old on earth he stood. The more we focus ever before (Haggai 2:9). So the LORD (Yahweh) reveals that

i silence before him!’ It follows the prophet’s on the Lord Jesus and how he shows us the the Lord (Adon) will come, as they desired and anticipated,

r mockery of those who manufacture idols Father, the closer we will get to seeing both after the messenger. Yet that divine coming would not herald

i out of wood and stone. These gods are life- sides. glory and salvation immediately, but a winnowing, a division, less, dull images that have no power to Karl Barth said that Christian worship is a purifying judgment. When the Lord appears he will save his speak let alone command worship. The the ‘most momentous, the most urgent, the God-fearing people and purify their hearts and offerings, but p heart of worship rests on the awesome real- most glorious action that can take place in a swiftly judge those who long not for his arrival but for their ity of the living God who is holy. human life.’ Sometimes that action makes own pleasure and gain. s Holiness always moves people to worship us want to clap our hands and shout it to the When, many centuries later, the righteous old man Simeon and gods of wood and stone are devoid of rooftops. Sometimes that action needs to sees the Lord Jesus arrive at the Temple for the purification e anything other than what human beings take the form of patient waiting in silence ritual, he declares him to be a light for revelation to the Gen- ascribe to them in their imaginations. for God to touch us, as he did with Isaiah in tiles and for the glory of God’s people in that place. He has

h This Epiphany carol reminds us that God the temple. Sometimes all we can do is come, a few months after his older cousin, John the Baptiser,

t has revealed himself in such a way as to stand ‘with fear and trembling’ ready to to fulfil all righteousness according to the Law of Moses. make himself known to the whole world. In offer full homage. Mary and Joseph (called in Luke 2:33 “the child’s father”, though we already know that is an honorary title), are amazed at the things they hear. The prophetess Anna has been wait- ing for just this moment, never leaving the Temple but long- ing for the coming of the Lord. When she sees him she I’m a vicar. And I am lucky rejoices in the dawn of redemption. But Simeon, led by the Spirit, also has words of warning. Jesus will bring not only salvation but also divisive judgment. Bob Mayo He is a sign that will be opposed, the rising and falling of many — either the fall and restoration of the same people, or the rise of some and the fall of others. That will be true not I am the Vicar and I am the lucky one. Once a year a least for his own mother, whose heart will be pierced with member of the congregation takes me out for a pain as she one day watches her son die in that very same city. three-and-a-half hour Christmas lunch. I had a Big News of his subsequent resurrection would divide the inhabi- Issue seller tell me that he liked my smile. A man tants of Jerusalem, just as his teaching in the Temple had per- with cancer said that I had put life back into his suaded many to oppose and crucify him. blood. A child of 8 described my sermons as killing- Yet this was why he came, according to Hebrews 2. He took ly funny. A parish priest is unique in being able to on our nature, our blood and flesh, precisely that he might be learn the stories of people’s lives. A lady in the con- able to die. The incarnation made possible his defeat of the gregation started to foster children when she was in devil on the cross, as through death he destroyed the one her 50s. Now in her 70s she has fostered 20 children. with the power of death. Through death he redeems those A 98-year-old who I was visiting wanted to share her who were slaves to fear, and achieves the salvation of his chil- hospital meal with me in case I did not get back dren, those who share the faith of Abraham. He grasps hold home in time for my own dinner. “What are you of humanity (our nature, and us) “so that” he might sacrifice doing out so late?” she said, “You should be at home himself as a wrath-bearing propitiation for the sins of his peo- keeping warm”. parish work. Pastoral is a word used of land used for ple. He was coming to purify the priests that they might “pre- The genius of the parish system is its’ social capital the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle and pas- sent offerings to the LORD in righteousness”, said Malachi. (Putnam 2000:20). Social capital refers to the con- toral land is where things grow. Churches provide Yet he himself is our merciful and faithful high priest, pre- nections among individuals and a church is unique an important incubator for civic skills, civic norms, senting his own tested and genuine perfection to God as a in its ability to bring together people who would oth- community interest and civic recruitment. Religious- pure and holy offering in our place. erwise never have met. This year we provided a ly active men and women learn to give speeches, run Here is a saviour who understands our weaknesses and Christmas dinner for 70 homeless people and Mus- meetings, manage disagreements and bear adminis- struggles from the inside, no distant God who remains aloof lim Aid gave out sleeping bags at the back of the trative responsibility. They are more likely to visit but one who bares his holy arm, rolls up his sleeves, and gets church. In an issue, highlighted repeatedly by Arch- friends, to entertain at home, to attend club meet- his hands dirty, with blood, to help us. Here too, then, is a bishop Welby, it is our working for the common ings and to belong to sports groups; professional God, before whom none can make excuses when he draws good in the society of which we are a part. The core and academic societies, voluntary organizations, self near to us for judgment; a Lord to be both adored and feared idea of social capital theory is that social networks help groups, have hobbies, etc. — but most of all to be trusted, eagerly awaited, and have value in and of themselves. The positive conse- It is not unusual for religious commentators to set embraced. quences of social capital are reciprocity trust and religious activity in contrast to community involve- mutual support, all of which are key characteristics ment, as if one can do one or the other but not both. Lee Gatiss is Director of Church Society and Editor of the NIV of a congregation gathered together in the name of The church should focus on ‘ethical and political Proclamation Bible Christ. engagement, not inward-looking cultic activity’, According to Putnam (2000) a person’s happiness argued Hugh Rayment-Pickard in the Church Times is best predicted by the breadth and depth of their recently. There is a theological naivety to such state- social connections and faith communities are the sin- ments because one cannot have one without the gle most important repositories of social capital. other. It is the revolutionary action of gathering peo- HYMN SUGGESTIONS Working for the common good is of critical concern ple together in the name of Christ that sees lives in the fragmented society of which we are a part. transformed and the outreach to the community People used to go to church to celebrate community begun. We are here to change the world piece by but now they go to church to find one. Regular piece and the humble parish church is where this How deep the Father’s love church attendees reported talking with 40 per cent task begins. Christ, whose glory fills the skies more people in the course of the day. Between 50-60 Hail to the Lord who comes per cent of church members volunteer while only 30- The Rev Dr Bob Mayo is Vicar of St Stephen and St Restore O Lord 35 per cent of non-members do. Thomas Shepherds Bush with St Michael and St With joy we meditate the grace Social capital takes a long time to nurture and the George White City. (Follow Bob on Twitter pastoral work that this entails is the staple diet of @RevBobMayo / www.ststephensw12.org)

[email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper www.churchnewspaper.com Friday January 24, 2014 Reviews 15 Tackling the moral issues of slavery

12 years a Slave (cert. 15) already has taken from her and sold elsewhere. family, but the circumstances of then Golden Globe best drama (American Ford realises Solomon has an uncom- writing his story, and speaking for Hustle got best comedy/musical) and mon previous life, and protects him abolition of slavery, and uncertainty is favourite for the best film Oscar®, from his own foreman Tibeats (Paul about what happened after, are dealt with director Steve McQueen and sev- Dano) but has no interest in helping with but briefly in captions. Having eral actors nominated. Deserved the him, and eventually financial prob- had but a cursory glimpse of his life awards may be, but the claim to be lems lead Ford to sell Solomon on to before his kidnapping, we get little of “one of the best films ever made” Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender). context. The Wolf of Wall Street (dir. Martin Scorsese, depends on how many other best Epps and his wife (Sarah Paulson) A conversation between Epps and cert. 18) is the true story of Jordan Belfort films are counted. treated their slaves Bass is the only verbal challenge to (Leonardo DiCaprio), a downmarket stock- It’s powerful stuff, and cruelly, including Pat- the morality of slavery. The film broker willing to lie to customers to per- pulls no punches when sey (Lupita Nyong’o), reflects the title, and leaves no doubt suade them to buy worthless shares. depicting the brutality of consistently abused by about the degradation suffered, but Recruiting others with a similar lack of slavery. Chiwetel Ejiofor Epps (to the jealousy Northup’s original account runs to morality, his firm of Stratton Oakmont plays Solomon Northup, and disgust of his 80,000 words and includes plenty of became a billion-dollar business scamming whose own story, written wife), ending with background – the scene where he is small investors. in 1853, is the basis for Solomon forced to left on the rope is accompanied by Addicted to drugs, Belfort led a hedonistic this epic tale, adapted by whip her until Epps speculation as to why the overseer lifestyle, extensively shown in this three- John Ridley (another himself takes over. A rescued him then left him (so hour film, based on Belfort’s own memoirs. nominee). shot of her pulped back Solomon could only guess then and so It’s been criticised for its lack of interest in A free man in New draws a collective can the audience now). the victims, but the best argument against York, making a living as a wince from the audi- Some of the dialogue gets almost a seeing it is the likelihood that Belfort, with musician (his main employment in ence – one of several – but the nor- Shakespearean style of delivery, his new career as a motivational speaker, construction not mentioned), mality of slavery is summed up by an which sounds odd. It doesn’t reflect gets a cut of the take. Solomon is duped and kidnapped, and earlier scene at Ford’s where Northup’s more prosaic language in That said, the performances are excellent. shipped to New Orleans. Only when Solomon is saved from a lynching by his memoir. DiCaprio almost has a touch of Orson Welles slave trader Theophilus Freeman overseer Chapin (JD Evermore) who Early in his experiences Northup at times and also has an Oscar nomination (Paul Giamatti) hits him for not then leaves him struggling on the end commended himself “to the God of for best actor, Margot Robbie as his second responding to his new slave name of the rope while everyone else gets the oppressed”, and could afterwards wife (Naomi Lapaglia) seems well content Platt does Solomon realise that rescue about their business around him. write that the system of slavery is with her lot, and Jonah Hill (a best support may be a long time coming. A chance of liberty comes eventual- what made Ford, a “kind, noble, can- nominee) as his right hand man Donnie He’s bought by William Ford (Bene- ly through Bass (Brad Pitt), a carpen- did, Christian man”, blind to its inher- Azoff is desperately sleazy. dict Cumberbatch), a Louisiana cotton ter working for Epps. His obvious ent wrong. Knowing that Epps, his It was on my list to see only because of its planter, relatively benign but distaste for slavery makes Solomon master for 10 years, was more cruel Oscar nominations. The awards are more unmoved as he reads passages of trust him to try and contact his family than most, and almost to excuse than likely to go to the story of those debased by scripture to his household while in New York, who had heard nothing to accuse, he could blame that system slavery than this story of those debased by another slave Eliza (Adepero Oduye) of him for 12 years. for making Epps “brutified and reck- greed. is noisily weeping for her children, He is restored to freedom and his less of human life”. Steve Parish

Seeing the World and Knowing sense of immersion in the world so that the world is his proposals are more convincing than others. I did not God, always given and perception does not isolate the subject find his account of the Trinity particularly convincing. Paul Fiddes from what is seen; and an openness to the sublime Instead of seeing the three persons of the Trinity as OUP, hb, £75.00 which can emerge to challenge conventions and settled being formed by their relationships he would have us structures. think of them as being ‘no more and no less than the Wisdom writings in the Bible have Modern attempts to subjugate the world as an object relations themselves’. Language about God then been less popular with theologians studied by the human mind have led to a sense of alien- becomes language of participation, not observation, so than prophecy. Paul Fiddes ation both from nature and from other persons, Fiddes that to refer to God as ‘Father’ is to address God in this wrote his doctoral thesis at argues. He quotes a striking passage from Hannah way and move into a relationship like that between a Oxford 40 years ago on Old Tes- Arendt in which she wonders whether space explo- father and son. tament wisdom under the ration appeals to a desire to escape from the earth The obvious objection is that if there is a relationship supervision of John Austin because human beings have made the world a place with God as Father, Father is being understood as more Baker, later Bishop of Salisbury. that no longer seems like home. than a relation within the Godhead. In his preface to this work, Wisdom writers fit in with the postmodern mood by More convincing is Fiddes’ proposal to represent which is based on the Bampton stressing the limitation of human knowledge. The Christ as so ‘perfectly attuned to the love, wisdom, of Lectures he delivered at Oxford humility of the Wisdom writers is appealing, as is their God that he can be called wisdom itself’. It is a function- in 2005, Fiddes hails Baker as readiness to see God at work in the world, especially at al Christology (Wisdom does not indwell Christ) but it the author of ‘a truly ground- times when human knowledge falters. To use the lan- is developed in an interesting way and expressed very breaking book of divine wisdom guage of Heidegger and Arendt, they know the world is well. called The Foolishness of God.’ both revealing and self-concealing, open and inex- Fiddes’ discussion of the canon of scripture is particu- In his own book Fiddes aims haustible. It is when human beings attempt to assert larly illuminating. He readily accepts that scripture to develop a wisdom theology control that the world becomes elusive. must be read in relation to other texts but he makes a for the present in dialogue with In arguing for the complexity of the world, Fiddes firm defence of the importance of the canon. It is the both the wisdom literature of Israel and such leading calls on modern science as well as philosophers for sup- canon that helps to form a Christian community by late modern or post-modern thinkers as Jacques Derri- port. He argues that this complexity makes it hard to demanding that we all read and wrestle with these par- da, Jean-Francois Lyotard and Emmanuel Levinas. Hei- talk of God as ‘simple being’. Instead of a God who is ticular texts. We do not have to accept the texts as infal- degger and Hannah Arendt also figure prominently in self-sufficient he wants us to think of God allowing cre- lible but we do have to enter into a relationship with the list of philosophers considered. ation to participate in the causes of the divine self- them. As we do so we gain the impression that ‘the Fiddes highlights four important features of postmod- becoming. He quotes Barth in support of the view that human authors of scripture have been writing not only ern culture. He speaks of a shattering of trust in the God ‘has a freedom to choose to be affected by the as themselves but as an infinitely Other’. capacity of the self to control its destiny; a widespread world and to suffer in sympathy with it’. This is an important book that illuminates every topic acceptance of a ‘hermeneutic of suspicion’ that sees This is one of a number of ways in which Fiddes revis- it discusses and it discusses a great deal. grand narratives and ideologies as a bid for power; a es traditional theological ideas and concepts. Some of Paul Richardson

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COLLEGE STREET -Among the old, 1in2are Church of England. Among the young, 1in20. SW1 -The presence of young people is correlated with all measures of growth, even CITYOFWESTMINSTER growth in adult usual Sunday attendance. -nearly half the congregations in England have fewer than five members under 16

Joe Ware Ruth Bessant

For me church Iwas looking to is about be challenged, community & inspired and service. What equipped to live If you areinyour 20’s and you arestill in Church, you are kept me going distinctively as a bucking the trend. Research released this week shows only 1.4 in my 20s was follower of per cent of 20 -24 year olds areregularly attending and Church knowing my Jesus of England Church. But to slow the trend of the decline of church had a attendance in this country, experts say this needs to change, as relevant vision the average age of an Anglican is 62. Dr David Voas, Professor of to make world Population Studies at the University of Essex, carried out partof abetter place. Joscelyn the study.Henoted that rebellion in teenage years can be to Davies blame for some young people who stop attending on aSunday. “Another key point is when they graduate to young adulthood Christian Cole “The support and leave home. Again, they areconfronted with this choice: of friends and ‘Will Icontinue down this line?’” Professor Voas said: “The “I met God whilst at family kept me religious practice and identities people have in their mid- university and began going through twenties tend to stay with them through the rest of their going to church after difficult times lives. If you lose them in their early twenties, it can be staying away through in my late verydifficult to get them back.” But what do you think? my teens. Belonging to teens when I astudent congregation could have We want to do some research of our own, let us know was agreat help before dropped away. what makes you get up everySunday morning. slotting back into the However my Anglican church of my local CofE Contact [email protected] home town. Helping church has or @AmarisColeCEN. out with Youth kept veryfew has kept up my people in their enthusiasm and 20s so it’s commitment.” difficult to call it home.” FREE CEN ONLINE FOR ALL STUDENTS! Email your course details to [email protected]

9Non-ordained member of achurch (6) 4Follower of Daniel in the book? (5) PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 883 by Axe 10 Saint; foremost scholar of Anglo-Saxon 5Rachel's sister [Gen] (4) England (4) 6RCmendicant preachers, for example 11 River,inthe reeds of which Moses was (11) hidden in abasket (4) 12 Prayer consisting of aseries of invoca- 13 Flock leader? (6) tions by the priest with responses from 17 'The plunder...was 675000 sheep, 72000 the congregation (6) ------,61000 donkeys...' [Num/NIV] (6) 14 '...Cretans and ----- –wehear them 18 Manifestation of aHindu deity in avisi- declaring the wonders of God in our ble form(6) own tongues' [Acts/NIV] (5) 19 OT book: 'Canticles' in some Bibles 15 'Praise be to the LordmyRock, who ----- (4,2,5) -myhands for war...' [Ps/NIV] (6) 16 Moses' viewpoint on the Promised Down Land [Deut] (4)

1'...and all arejustified ------by his grace' Solution to last week’scrossword [Rom/NIV] (6) Across: 7Galatian, 8Xmas, 9Priest, 10 Curate, 11 2'...the appeal we make does not spring In haste, 13 Silas, 15 Weigh, 17 Fattest, 20 Divine, from erroror------motives...' 21 Siloam, 23 Gaza, 24 Rich fool. [1Thess/NIV] (6) 3Inhabitants of an OT empireseized Down: 1Barren, 2Dare, 3Hittite, 4Enoch, 5 from the Assyrians in 612 BC until Per- Exorcist, 6Martha, 12 Anglican, 14 Cassock, 16 sians took its capital in 539 BC (11) Elijah, 18 Season, 19 Pearl, 22 Life.

T h e f i r s t c o r r e c t e n t ry d ra w n w i ll w i n a b o o k o f th e E d it o r’ s c h o i c e . S e n d y o u r e n t r y to C r o s s w o r d PRICE £1.35 / 1,70€ / $2.20 Nu m b e r 8 83 , T h e C h u rc h o f E n g l an d N e w s p ap e r , 14 G r e a t C o ll e g e S t r e e t, W e s tm i n s te r , L o n d o n , S W 1P 3R X b y n e xt F ri d ay

Na m e

A d d re s s Across 7Establishments of monks or nuns (6) P o s t C o d e 3Apostle sometimes identified as 8Egyptian jackal-headed god of Nathaniel [John] (11) the dead (6)

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