THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 Celebrating Metropolitan THE Anthony P10 CHURCHOF ENGLAND Newspaper NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND Standing together with FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 No: 6250 the persecuted, p11 Traditionalist group reaffirms its commitment to the biblical stance on marriage Reform rethinking planned boycott THE ANGLICAN evangelical In addition, Reform claimed, the shared conversations in the ‘shared disagreement’ on the can respond pastorally to indi- group, Reform, is revising their that the objectives would also Church of England on Sexuality, issue of same-sex relationships, vidual needs. But the scripture’s commitment to the shared con- require participants: “To accept Scripture and Mission states and accepting that there is teachings on sexuality are not versations in the Church of Eng- an outcome in which the that one of the two main objec- every possibility of a shared an abstract concept we’ve land on Sexuality, Scripture and Church moves from its present, tives of the shared conversation conversation being set up, invented. Mission. biblical, understanding of mar- is “clarifying how we (CofE) can whilst conceding to terms of ref- “We are worried that the mes- Reform released a statement riage to one where we accom- most effectively be a missionary erence with predetermined out- sage being sent out in individual arguing that a second revision modate two separate beliefs, church in a changing culture comes. parishes across the UK is that of the objectives of the shared with one part of the Church call- around sexuality” and the other Mr Thomas said: “We accept we can affirm the faith, whilst conversation following the Col- ing for repentance over sexual is “to clarify the implications of the authority of the scripture disagreeing on sexuality,” he lege of Bishops meeting in Sep- sin and another declaring God’s what it means for the Church of and we are looking for ways we told us. tember, have redirected the blessing. England to live with what the course of the conversation. “This is tantamount to asking Archbishop of Canterbury has In a statement, Reform us to accept a redefinition of called “good disagreement” on Sir Joseph Pilling: his review called for ‘facilitat- argued that if the objectives are what will and will not lead to sal- these issues.” ed conversations’ to be met, then participants are vation, as though there could be Chairman, Prebendary Rod required, ‘To reject the current two gospels, equally valid.” Thomas, told The Church of Church of England understand- The Church of England has England Newspaper that Reform ing that all sexual activity out- since released a statement re- has heard the response of the side of heterosexual marriage, identifying the authority of the Church of England but contin- should be met with a call for original objectives. ues to disagree with the implied repentance and the exercise of The General Synod Paper out- premise of the objectives, which compassion.’ lining the mission statement for supports moving forward with Met Police issues guidance on safeguarding THE MET POLICE (MPS) have united with Christian safeguarding charity, has a Christian agency to release a new DVD to welcomed the DVD. educate churches and frontline practitioners Simon Bass, CEO of CCPAS said: “CCPAS on safeguarding children in relation to continues to work with churches to address abuse linked to faith or belief. all aspects of safeguarding, including abuse This has come after the Met have had to deal linked to faith or belief. We are therefore not with a number of high-profile investigations remotely surprised that the MPS alone has related to ritual abuse and witchcraft. already received 27 referrals of this type Speaking ahead of the conference this year – or three a month.” announcing the release, Detective Mor Dioum, Director at the Victoria Superintendent Terry Sharpe, from the Climbié Foundation, and Chair of the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and National Working Group on child abuse Child Abuse Command, said: “Families or linked to faith and belief, is keen to see the carers genuinely believe that the victim has Foundation’s National Action Plan been completely taken over by the devil or implemented across the country. The Action an evil spirit, which is often supported by Plan outlines practical steps in the someone who within the community has encouragement of emotional and intellectual portrayed themselves as an authority on engagement across different belief systems faith and belief. and serves as a link between statutory “Often in the perpetrator’s minds, any agencies, care services and BME abuse is not going to affect the victim communities. because he or she believes the child is Mr Dioum said: “We urge professionals to effectively not there any more and the abuse adopt a more holistic approach with is directed at whatever has possessed the children, young people and families when child. The victim is often convinced that this dealing with abuse that does not fit the is the truth and that the abuse is ‘normal’ norm, as we continue to raise awareness behaviour.” within the community with a view to CCPAS (The Churches’ Child Protection increase the reporting of harmful Advisory Service), the independent practices.” [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper THE 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday October 17, 2014 News THEDIARY CHURCHIN Send your events to [email protected] or Tweet @churchnewspaper ENGLAND 17 October 7.00pm Church of England Youth Council cele- brates 10th Birthday at York Minster. Diocese of Gloucester Diocese of Guildford Party will include live Gloucestershire Credit Union Wines from five Surrey music, inflatables, has been given a boost from vineyards will be sampled at a photo booth, talks the Diocese. The union had unique wine tasting evening in and birthday cake. been struggling but a £4,000 aid of Guildford Cathedral’s donation from the diocese MAKE YOUR MARK earlier this year has turned its Campaign this November. 18 October fortunes around. The Rev Tom Some 15 local wines will be on Wilson, vicar of St James and offer at the new headquarters 2.30pm Tony Collins will be Christ Church, Gloucester, is building of WWF-UK in speaking on the sub- one of the union’s directors. He Woking. Tickets for the ject “A New Strategy said: “Anyone living in the fundraising event cost £25 for Christian Fiction” county is eligible to become a each, to include canapés and at the Christians in member, and once they have wine, and can be obtained from Library and Informa- been saving regularly for three [email protected] tion Services annual months, they can take out a .uk. public lecture at Bed- loan of double those savings.” ford Central Library, Harpur Street, Bed- ford. North West Dioceses Churches in the North West have come together at the Christian 20 October Resources Exhibition in Manchester to promote ministry in the area. 7.30pm Living without ene- The Dioceses of Blackburn, Liverpool and Manchester mies: Christian responded to media coverage earlier in the year suggesting that responses to war and clergy would not readily consider the move north. violence. Shirley Lead cleric for the campaign, the Rt Rev Julian Henderson, said: Williams: what has “It is a fabulous place to live and practice ministry and the our nation learnt from opportunities to make a difference in ways that really matter and war?, St Martin-in- to grow his kingdom are numerous and exciting.” the-Fields, London He added: “I am delighted to be able to support this campaign Diocese of Durham WC2, free. which is a fantastic initiative we hope will encourage people to think about the North West and its opportunities. Churches in the North East are receiving fresh input by way of a new 21 October project to train new vicars in former coalfield communities. The five-year East Durham Mission Project brings together nine 7.00pm Trafalgar Day Diocese of Southwark Anglican Concerns parishes in communities that lost thousands of jobs when the pits fundraising concert, Southwark Diocese celebrates Committees and the closed with the industry collapse during the 1980s. commemorating the Black History Month contribution of Black, Asian The joint venture between the Diocese of Durham and Cranmer anniversary of the tomorroW (Saturday) with and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Hall, the Anglican Theological College, is designed to train clergy to Royal Navy’s historic special events and a people to the life and witness of better understand the social problems within North East victory at the Battle Thanksgiving Service in the Church in the Diocese. communities. of Trafalgar, at St Southwark Cathedral. This The thanksgiving service will Leader of the project, the Rev Dr Michael Volland said: “The idea is Mary Magdalene, annual event recognises the be led by the Bishop of to encourage and enable new growth and flourishing in the churches Paradise Road, Rich- work of Minority Ethnic Southwark. that are there and discern opportunities to expand.” mond, TW9 1SN. He added: “Hopefully, in five years we will have new congregations and the congregations that we have already will have grown 28 October numerically and spiritually.” Pictured: Emma Parker, Associate minister for Easington and Easington Village, with Dr Michael Volland at the Easington Pit 7.00pmCentre for Theology memorial - the only visible sign of the mining heritage. The memorial and Community 10th is the lift gear above the main shaft - a double stacked set of cages anniversary celebra- that took men down into the bowels of the earth and from there five tion with the Rt Rev miles out to sea - where the coal face was last mined. The Pit closed Adrian Newman in 1993 and the winding gear was removed in 1994.