E I D Ideal places to S IN recharge your spiritual batteries this summer E4, E5, E6 THE SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2013 No: 6166 www.churchnewspaper.com PRICE £1.35 1,70j US$2.20 CHURCH OF ENGLAND THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1828 NEWSPAPER Church U-turn welcomes development of GM crops By Amaris Cole against allowing the trials of GM crops on beings and the environment, a covenant ple they mention – for adverse environ- their farmland. that should mirror God’s creative love’.” mental effects and human mortality pre- THE CHURCH of England has expressed However, the updated policy advises that He went on: “There is not one substanti- vention - would be much more effectively support for the development of genetically the cultivation of these modified crops on ated environmental or human health haz- utilised with organic farming where there modified crops, despite warning against land owned by the national investing bod- ard associated with the use of genetic are issues with both. As Mark Lynas said church land even being used for trials of ies should be limited to ‘well established engineering in crops in 30 years experi- in the 2013 Oxford farming conference: such products in 2000. GMOs that are broadly accepted in the ence. There is more genetic modification ‘You cannot call yourself a humanitarian The national investment bodies of the country concerned’. occurring in many systems used in other and be opposed to GM crops today’.” Church of England say they are beginning The policy states that companies devel- types of crop breeding. And the same tech- Mark Lynas is the environmental cam- to use their position as investors to encour- oping GM crops must monitor the environ- niques are used routinely in making the paigner who was cited as the leader of the age a ‘precautionary approach’ to genetic mental risks of the product, the health enzymes used in beer, wine and cheese anti-GM movement, but this year apolo- modification. impacts and potential problems, with a con- production, and the making of insulin gised for holding such a position. Due to the updated ethical investment tingency plan should any of these areas essential for the treatment of diabetics. He also said: “The first generation of GM policy on genetically modified organisms cause major concern, such as withdrawing “In the light of all the evidence – the crops were suspect, I believed then, but the (GMOs), the Ethical Investment Advisory a GM seed. Church’s Ethical Investment Advisory case for continued opposition to new gener- Group will now allow for investment in The government has expressed a wish to Group’s statement could be seen to be ations – which provide life-saving vitamins companies developing and marketing speed up the introduction of GM farming in extremely tentative, although clearly in the for starving people – is no longer justifi- GMOs, when the group are assured of the the UK, with Owen Paterson, Environment, right direction. The Precautionary Princi- able.” employment of ethical standards. Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, saying For the EAIG to invest, agricultural land such crops should be widely produced and and timberland will have to pass diligence sold. tests. But there are many who are against the James Featherby, Chair of the EIAG, idea of GMOs including Prince Charles Gary Price scales the spire said: “There is no single Christian perspec- who said these crops would ‘cause the tive on genetic modification. The EIAG biggest disaster environmentally of all recognises the potential benefits of respon- time’. Gary Price, Salisbury sibly conducted GM such as pest resist- The Christian Ecology Link warned this Cathedral’s new Clerk of ance, vitamin supply, and improved week of the effects of genetic modification, Works, fulfilled a lifetime’s resilience to drought, frost and saline con- saying not enough is known about the tox- ambition as he made his ditions. ins produced, designed to kill pests and first climb up the 123 “We are also conscious that genetic mod- weeds that limit the growth of traditional metres to the very top of ification represents a paradigm shift in crops. Britain’s tallest spire on a plant and animal breeding and that there But campaigns such as the Golden Rice sunny winter afternoon. remain uncertainties about the effects of Project claim GM crops can help people in His job was to inspect the the application of the technology. the world’s poorest countries. fixings and cable of the This is a rather controversial move, as The Golden Rice Project has developed existing wind speed meter the European Union continues to take a normal rice with added Vitamin A to count- (anemometer) in prepara- restrictive approach to GM crops, and er blindness and other illnesses in children tion for installing a new there is no commercial planting of these in the developing world. digital instrument later modified crops yet in the UK. The Philippines have decided to grow the this year. But the Church of England argues this crop, with Bangladesh and Indonesia indi- policy sets down detailed guidelines for cating they too will consider growing the decision-making and judging whether rice to save the lives of their people. organisations are operating ethically in A spokesperson for the Golden Rice Proj- their development of genetic modification. ect told us: “Technology, in this sense, is a In 2000, the EIAG even advised the response to God’s command to till and to Church Commissioners, who own a signifi- keep the land (cf. Gen 2:15) that he has cant amount of land in the UK, and also entrusted to humanity, and it must serve to other Church landowners such a Dioceses, reinforce the covenant between human LETTERS 8 • JAMES CATFORD 9 • COMMENT 9 • CLERGY MOVES 12 • ANGLICAN LIFE 13 • SUNDAY 15 • PAUL RICHARDSON 16 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Sunday March 3, 2013 News Inside... First woman Britain’ s leading evangelical newspaper Priest’s musical Dean installed inspiration in Wales THE PRIEST in whose parish part of the hit movie Les Misérables was filmed, has A FORMER nurse made history yesterday urged people to use it to learn about when she was installed as the first female God’s grace. Dean of Llandaff. The Rev Jonathan Meyer was The Rev Janet Henderson was installed approached a year ago to permit the film- by the Archbishop of Wales after 20 years News . 1-7 ing of part of the movie in his parish, St in the ministry, most recently as Archdea- Your Church . 2 Mary the Virgin, Ewelme, in Oxford- con of Richmond and Canon of Ripon UK News . 1-5 shire. Cathedral in the Diocese of Ripon and World News . 6-7 He commented this week: “It is per- Leeds. haps the most significant part of the story Originally from Neath, Janet, 55, learned Comment that was to be represented at Ewelme. Welsh at secondary school and is a keen Letters . .8 The south porch was transformed into amateur musician. Leader . .9 the residence of the Bishop of Digne. With a first class degree in Theology James Catford . 9 The convict Jean Valjean emerges from from Durham, she was ordained in the that very door, singing the words ‘and Diocese of Ely in 1988. England on Sunday now let the story begin’. Announcing her appointment, the Arch- Holy places in Britain . .E1 “We saw this on a crisp March day bishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, “I Andrew Carey . .E2 repeated over and over again with numer- am delighted to appoint Janet as the new Whispering Gallery . .E2 ous cameras, film crews, lights, gantries Dean of Llandaff. She has a wide experi- Ruth Gledhill . .E3 and a churchyard full of sound techni- ence of city and Cathedral ministry and I Judy West . .E3 cians lurking in temporary shelters. am sure she will make a huge contribution Summer retreats . .E4, E5, E6 “On screen we saw the contorted face God is poured out, in such a way that Val- to the life and society of Llandaff – a place Arts & Media . .E7 of Valjean rushing forward and the cam- jean’s life is transformed and transforms with which she is already very familiar.” Books . .E7 era showing us our church digitised on to others,” he said. Janet said, “The Daily Service on Radio 4 Catherine Fox . .E8 a promontory in Provence. What we saw “There is so much richness, themes of came from the cathedral on the day I Crossword . .E8 was transformed, just as the story itself is grace and redemption and how that can arrived and I’d like to think that symbolis- about transformation.” be truly gained, themes of social justice es the fact we are here to worship God at The Record The film, which this week won three and the overarching and apparent con- all times and in all seasons and everyone is Lent series . .10 Oscars, including a Best Supporting flict between the justice and mercy of always welcome.” Classifieds . .11 Actress award for Anne Hathaway, even God. I await with interest to find out Janet has lectured in liturgy and worship Clergy Moves . .12 led the priest to plan his Lent course this whether people feel that Javert is irre- at St John’s College, Nottingham and for CMS . .13 year on the book and movie. deemable or bound to be damned. the Cambridge Theological Federation Reform . .13 “It was the nature of the film and Victor “Here is a tale that tells of the great and is one of the co-editors of a book of Fresh Expressions . .14 Hugo’s powerful narrative that attracted challenges of life, that speaks of God, infi- Pastoral Prayers.