THE ORIGINAL CHURCH NEWSPAPER. ESTABLISHED IN 1828 A THE reminder CHURCH of how OF fun Lego ENGLAND can be, p15 Lent books Newspaper to inspire your spiritual journey p10,11 NOW AVAILABLE ON NEWSSTAND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014 No: 6216 Ban on clergy same-sex marriages CLERGY WILL not be allowed to enter clergy should not offer any service of remind clergy that at ordination they content, and will further damage the into same-sex marriages and there will blessing for those who have entered into undertook to ‘accept and minister the Church’s mission, not only to LGB+TI be no services of blessing for such mar- a same-sex marriage but, as is already discipline of this Church and respect people but to all people who respect riages, the House of Bishops decided at a the case with civil partnerships, the bish- authority duly exercised in it’. truth and justice. It may seek to carry meeting held after General Synod. ops say that they do not wish to interfere Reaction in the Church was mixed. disciplinary authority, but it has no moral Pastoral guidance on same-sex mar- with the clergy’s pastoral discretion to The Rev Simon Vibert, Vice Principal of authority and cannot command respect,” riage came as an appendix to a letter to offer the couple informal prayer ‘on the Wycliffe Hall, welcomed the statement the Coalition concluded in its own state- the clergy and people of the Church of assumption that any prayer will be as a clear articulation of traditional ment. England from the Archbishops of Can- accompanied by a discussion of the Church teaching and called for ‘engag- Although traditionalists and evangeli- terbury and York. Church’s pastoral teaching and their rea- ing, winsome and articulate evangelical cals welcomed the statement by the In their letter, the two Archbishops sons for departing from it’. voices who celebrate the goodness of House of Bishops there were some ques- concede that the Bishops are not ‘all in On the subject of clergy entering into God’s design for marriage’. tions about the Archbishop of Canter- agreement’ about the Church’s response same-sex marriage, the Bishops are The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans- bury’s call in his Presidential address for to introduction of same-sex marriage but quite clear. They say that they are not gender Anglican Coalition (LGB+TI) a ‘massive cultural change’ to enable peo- they go on to affirm that the Bishops are ‘willing for those who are in a same-sex said it was ‘appalled’ by the Bishops’ ple to flourish together despite deeply in agreement ‘that the Christian under- marriage to be ordained to any of the statement and described it as a ‘heavy- held differences on such questions as standing and doctrine of marriage as a three orders of ministry.’ They also state handed and legalistic imposition of disci- sexuality and women bishops. lifelong union between one man and one quite unequivocally that ‘it would not be pline’. Lee Gatiss, Director of the Church woman remains unchanged’. appropriate conduct for someone in holy LGB+TI described talk of the Church Society, said that for evangelicals to The Archbishops say they remain com- orders to enter into a same-sex marriage, ‘welcoming’ lesbian and gay people as flourish in the Church of England there mitted to a process of facilitated conver- given the need for clergy to model the ‘ludicrous’ in the light of the Bishops’ would need to be real and serious dia- sations across the Church of England as Church’s teaching in their lives’. statement which it also described as logue with conservative evangelicals and recommended by the Pilling Report. No doubt aware of the disagreement ‘cruel and unjust’ to clergy. the appointment of 12 conservative evan- The pastoral guidelines are clear that their statement will provoke, the Bishops “The guidance is wrong in tone and gelical bishops. Guiding UK backs down over wording of Promise CHRISTIANS wel- been lifted. Last week the General comed a climbdown Mrs Glynis Mackie, Synod voted over- by the Girl Guide a 55-year-old solicitor whelmingly to ask movement that will who has led the Jes- GuidingUK to allow allow Guides to make mond troop for 25 women and girls to a reference to God in years, welcomed the promise to love God their Promise. news. when they enrolled. Although the organi- Although the The Moderator of sation stood by its Guides are keen to the General Assembly commitment to ‘one stress that everyone of the Church of Scot- Promise for all’ it will make the same land, the Rt Rev Lorna agreed that Guides Promise which has no Hood, welcomed the would be able to add reference to God, the decision to allow a ref- the words ‘in the pres- permission to add erence to God in the ence of God I make another phrase with Guide promise. my Guide promise’ religious content rep- “In Scotland, having when taking the new, resents a major con- spoken about this secular promise. cession by the Guides issue in many places I Guides at Jesmond who are clearly keen have visited as Moder- Parish Church in New- to close down a very ator, it became clear to castle were told that damaging public dis- me that those with their membership of pute. faith in the Girl Guides the national organisa- Other troops in are not a minority but tion would end on 31 Northern Ireland in fact make up a sub- December unless they were reported to be stantial number of took the new Promise ready to follow the those in the organisa- but this threat has now lead set by Jesmond. tion,” she said. [email protected] facebook.com/churchnewspaper @churchnewspaper THE 2 www.churchnewspaper.com Friday February 21, 2014 News York CHURCHIN The Bishop of Hull, the Rt Rev Richard Frith, is leading a group of people from across the Diocese of York to the Holy Land, and tweeting about his experiences.From 17-24 February, 50 people have been joining ENGLAND Richard to explore Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem, as well as the West Bank and Palestinian territories. Bishop Richard said: “This pilgrimage will introduce people to the places associated with the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus, and also, equally importantly, to meet members of the various Christian communities in Palestine and Israel today. We will explore the principal sights of Jesus’ ministry around Capernaum and his home town of Nazareth. Bath and Wells Visiting the place of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, or the place of his crucifixion in Bath Abbey has teamed up with the University Of Bath to help with its Jerusalem impresses on us the reality of what we have read in the Bible. In addition to £18 million Footprint Project, which aims to preserve and extend the visiting the sites we hope to meet local Christians, visit a refugee camp and an Abbey. Four final year students replicated a section of the Abbey’s stone international cultural centre that is the pioneering work of a Lutheran Pastor.” floor and new underfloor heating system in laboratory conditions, and conducted a feasibility study into the efficiency of the scheme. In order to do this, the students tested the water temperature against seven different floor types of varying materials and thickness. If successfully applied, the new underfloor heating system will reduce energy costs as Durham well as carbon emissions for the Abbey and surrounding buildings. The Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop Charles Curnock, Footprint Project Director at Bath Abbey, said: “This is of Durham, was taking part in a well managed and well considered project that will be seriously useful a series of events during this in helping us design the new floor at the Abbey.” week, culminating in a service at Durham Cathedral on Saturday 22 February to mark Salisbury Derby his Inauguration of Public Salisbury Cathedral’s Lent programme Sanctuary – Rings, a fancy frock and the most romantic Ministry, Enthronement and finding sanctuary in a noisy world takes place in Trinity day of the year – the wedding taking place at Installation. Ahead of Chapel on five Wednesday evenings from 12 March St Joseph’s RC Church, Staveley on tomorrow’s Inauguration through to 9 April. No tickets are required. Canon Valentine’s Day, had all the features of a real service, Bishop Paul will take Treasurer Sarah Mullally, who has devised the wedding – except the participants were part in the traditional welcome programme, said: “A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is school children. Children from St Joseph’s to the Diocese on Croft Bridge a sacred place - a place used as a safe haven. We all need RC / CofE Junior School in Inkersall took followed by a joint Darlington places that are safe, places where we undertake journeys part in a pretend wedding ceremony as part Deanery and Darlington Civic into ourselves, which are sometimes into dark places, but of their religious education lessons. The Reception today. On Saturday, also outwards to the world and upwards to God. This ‘bride’ arrived at the church in a limousine the service begins at 11am at programme explores ways in which we can explore our and walked down the aisle to meet her Durham Cathedral. Next week, own spirituality and find places of refuge in a noisy ‘groom’ accompanied by traditional music. Bishop Paul will be visiting world.” Full information can be found at The ‘couple’ said their vows, before each of the three www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/events. exchanging rings in front of classmates.