Diocesan News May 2021 www.leeds.anglican.org

Bishop Nick urges Synod to Vaccination oppose religious persecution session held at Keighley The of Leeds, Nick discrimination. Baines, has told General Synod that “human dignity “In its ultimate form this can church and flourishing is diminished” culminate in genocide, a when religious believers and Keighley Shared Church in atheists are persecuted. the Bradford area has been doing its part in helping deal He also warned the Church with COVID-19 by hosting a of England’s decision-making vaccination drive. Some 120 body that it would be an “act COVID-19 vaccinations were of self-harm” only to speak up given as part of an initiative for persecuted Christians. organised by the Modality Partnership, and involved Speaking in a debate on other partners including Freedom of Religion or Belief Project 6, the Good Shepherd (FoRB), Bishop Nick addressed Centre and the Salvation Army. many abuses including against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, phenomenon that has sadly China, atheists in Saudi Ara- been seen with increasing bia, and Christians in Pakistan. frequency, whether that of Christians and Yazidis at the “If human rights mean any- hands of Isis in Iraq, Rohingya thing, then the freedom to Muslims in Myanmar or Uig- choose our religion or belief, hurs in China. the freedom to change our religion or belief and the “In today’s interconnected freedom to have no religion age it is no longer possible to or stated belief at all is a right claim ignorance of these ter- The Revd Natasha Thomas, we all have by virtue of being rible events. at Keighley Shared human,” Bishop Nick said. Church, said: “It was “To quote William Wilber- wonderful to make our space He continued: “Violations are force: ‘You may choose to look available for people to be increasing and intensifying the other way, but you can vaccinated.” involving not just intoler- never say again that you did ance and exclusion but active not know.’”

I Prayerful Support for hope for the Tanzania from future the diocese

Bishop Tony Robinson During these difficult times we still need to support our sisters and brothers in Christ I live just 100 yards from Sandal around the world, something Castle where the Battle of the Diocese of Leeds Tanzania took place in 1460 on Link Committee has been 30th December. It was a very doing. significant moment in the Battle for new experience which can of the Roses which resulted in engender hope. Reduction in It manages our link with the the death of Richard, Duke of levels of pollution, healthier dioceses of Mara, Rorya and York. You may remember the modes of getting about and Tarime in Tanzania, and has nursery rhyme ‘The Grand Old signs of a more cohesive and worked to improve awareness Duke of York…’ which tells the caring community spirit are well story of the battle. publicised but small changes in our everyday lives are also Each year for some time indicative of hope. In my own Christians in Wakefield have experience, lockdown-related gathered early on Ascension Day telephone conversations have led at the castle for worship as we to a deepening of relationships recalled what happened to Jesus. and immediate neighbours are now looking out for each other Jesus’s followers might as never before. We have more of COVID-19 and promote understandably have reacted time for each other. So, let us preventative measures in with dismay at him leaving them look to the future with hope and churches and schools. forty days after his Resurrection. thankfulness based on the good Funds have been provided Instead, they were filled with experiences from our present for buckets and soap so great joy. They had hope, tribulation rather than dwelling people can wash hands hope based on all they had on its losses and sorrows. before entering churches for experienced with him and had worship, and, most recently, been taught by him, culminating Ascension Day also marks the the diocese has been able in his miraculous transportation beginning of ‘Thy Kingdom to fund some COVID-19 out of their sight. When we Come’. This is the sixth year support training for clergy celebrate the Ascension on where we are encouraged to and diocesan staff in Tarime Thursday, May 13, I encourage pray with our fellow brothers and Diocese. you to reflect on the nature of sisters around the world for more hope. Our current tribulation people to come to know Jesus. Bishop Tony Robinson, said: in the shape of the Coronavirus In Wakefield we are organising “We have feared for our and the consequent lockdown a 24/7 prayer chain. Please do brothers and sisters and want challenges us to be patient and consider joining us. to help them to become embrace change. As with all more aware of the dangers change, even if it springs from +Tony of COVID-19 and try to take suffering, there is the potential preventative measures.”

II Our gratitude for Prince “From Ark to Philip’s life of devoted service Zion” explores and prayers for the Queen Biblical images

The passing of His Royal behalf of the nation and the One of our priests in the Highness Prince Philip, Duke Commonwealth. Wakefield area hopes to make of Edinburgh was a time for looking though the Bible both prayer and gratitude “So, we remember him with easier with a new book taking for a life of devoted service, gratitude and we pray that us through it from A to Z. said Bishop in a he would rest in peace and sombre reflection. rise in glory.” ‘From Ark to Zion’ has been written by the Revd Rupert “The death of the Duke Martin, Vicar of Sandal of Edinburgh brought Magna, and looks to share great sadness, even a treasure trove of Biblical though it was not entirely images, symbols, metaphors unexpected. and parables.

“He lived to a grand By focussing on how each age and lived an image develops in different extraordinary life in contexts, the book encourages extraordinary times. But us to read the Bible with our first, he was a husband, imaginations fully engaged. a father, a grandfather and A prayer: a great-grandfather and it is the Queen and her family Lord God who has made us that we hold in our thoughts, in your image, we thank you and most particularly, in our for the Duke of Edinburgh, prayers. Prince Philip, for his life and all he has given to his “I speak on behalf of the people. and the parishes and clergy of the Diocese of Leeds We commend him to you in The book, with design work as we continue to send our his death and pray for the by the Revd Bob Bailey, Vicar condolences and promise our Queen and the Royal Family of Kippax, is illustrated with prayers for all of the Royal as they grieve and mourn. the author’s photographs, Family, the nation and the and works of art which Commonwealth, as we move We commend him to your complement and enhance the from one age to another. The love and mercy in sure verbal images. Duke had a remarkable life and certain hope of the in which he devoted himself resurrection ‘til life eternal Revd Rupert said: “I hope to public service. Putting and we pray this in the name that the book will provide himself second, he served of Jesus. food for thought and spiritual his wife, the Queen, and we nourishment, giving a fresh express our gratitude to him Amen insight into the beauty and for the life he has lived on meaning of the Bible.”

III News...... News.....News.....News.....News.....NewsDiocesan News - May 2021 Making time New blog will for ministry highlight daily Kay Brown life with Lay Chaplain, Abbey Grange CofE Academy disabilities

It has just been Vocations In my day job as school chaplain A new online space for people Sunday and I find myself in a large secondary school to share their experiences reflecting on the ministry we in Leeds, the busyness is all of daily life with disabilities all hold, what I like to call the consuming at times and it is ministry of availability. easy to be swept along on the constant wave of demands As we emerge into the new of timetables and emails. Yet reality of our (hopefully) post- I am learning (slowly!!) to pandemic world, the questions be available to those I meet, about how different things will whatever the context. This be are part of the conversations might lead to a conversation we are having, whether real with a colleague who shares or virtual! What will we rush his experiences of migration; back to? What will we keep the chance to pray with a child from our experiences of the worrying about an ill mother; past year? For many there finding a safe place for an seems a reluctance to pick up overwhelmed young person to has been launched on the the busyness of former times. close their eyes and take the diocesan website. The new Some of us have got used to micronap that enables them to Disability Blog can be found being able to talk to neighbours cope for the rest of the day or here and is being run by and share more than a cursory share a word of encouragement Katherine-Alice Grasham, wave. Maybe we’ve had time with someone who is fasting our Disability and Inclusion to notice those who need this Ramadan- my ‘lunchtime’ Officer. a helping hand or to share today. conversation as we negotiate “We’re hoping it will be a the challenges of our daily I find the words of the place for disabled people to lives. In these simple actions Northumbria office helpful as I share their stories, and for we become available to those set out on my daily journey ‘Be people to share thoughts around us, those whom God in the heart of each to whom and wisdom with each other places in our paths, those we I speak; in the mouth of each about disability inclusion, might have been too busy to who speaks unto me.’ May we theology, and what it’s like stop and talk to or even notice seek to be available to those to live with a disability day in the past. we meet and find God in the to day,” said Katherine-Alice, meeting. pictured.

IVFor more news, help and advice for parishes, visit www.leeds.anglican.org