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SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013 No: 6183
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Archbishop says action is needed on payday lenders THE PROBLEM of payday lenders charging “usurious” interest rates has grown so large it can no longer be ignored, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said. Archbishop Justin Welby also called for the Church to take a key role in the credit union movement, helping to provide people with alternative sources of finance. In a House of Lords debate, he said: “The payday lending industry has grown at a vast speed, as we all know, and alternative sources of credit are few and far between, particularly for those who have had their applications for credit turned down by a high-street bank. “Payday lenders lead to people being assured, through impressively slick marketing campaigns and targeted advertisements, that the process of taking out a loan is quick, simple and safe. “However, once the loan has been taken out, it is difficult
to get out of the cycle. With the rates offered, simply paying off the interest becomes a struggle.” He said interest rate caps were needed “at a sensible level that does not choke off supply and send people into the hands of loan sharks”. He said interest rates were “typically more than 2,500 per cent on an annual basis”. “We need to look at reasonable limits that cut out legal usury from our high streets,” he added. Archbishop Welby said that the problem was not only faced by the very poor as five million people in the country used payday loans. “The situation is becoming too big to ignore,” he added. He said the Church was in a “unique position” to help with credit unions. “For the credit union movement to be successful and
sustainable, and other forms of local finance to develop, we need a bottom-up movement of local organisations working to change the sources of supply,” he said. “It will take many years - 10 to 15 years - but it must start now. The new institutions must develop flexibility in order to demonstrate their ability to meet the new needs.” He added: “We can use local institutions that have places of work and skills that can be brought in through volunteers. Church members - not just those in the Church of England - give more than 23 million hours of volunteer time every month outside the regular work of the church. Volunteering comes naturally to us. “Unlike some other things, it is something that we are very good at. Many who sit on the pews each Sunday have expert knowledge in finance, human resources, communications, marketing, debt counselling and all sorts of areas.”
Anger over Guiding decision to drop God ‘EVEN THOSE who are glad to see God go must be embarrassed by what has replaced him’ was the verdict of the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, on the decision to take God out of the Girl Guide Promise and replace it by a promise that the Guide will be ‘true to myself and develop my beliefs’. The Bishop was writing on his blog, ‘Musings of a Restless Bishop’. He commented that the new Promise “will please anyone who thinks there is such a thing as ‘neutral’, or content-free or assumptionless language or worldview. It beggars belief.” He warned that the new oath ‘opens the door to little Hitlers’. Gill Slocombe, the Chief Guide, has defended her organisation’s decision to drop God from the Promise but keep the Queen. In a newspaper interview she said that ‘all the essence of what we do is still in the Promise. It has just been reworded to make it more easily understood by the girls of today’. She claimed the move was designed to make it possible for girls of any faith or none to be members of the Guides with-
Letters 8 • david aLton 9 • comment 9 • cLergy moves 12 • angLican Life 13
out having to take a promise in which they did not believe. Dismissing fears that Guides could be ‘true to themselves’ and go and rob the Post Office she said that the Promise has to be read in conjunction with the Guide Laws and everything else the organisation is trying to do ‘which clearly do not say its OK to rob the Post Office’. Alternative versions of the Promise taken by Hindus, Muslims and people of other faiths will go when the vow changes. The Scouts are to retain alternative vows and add one for atheists. According to the Chief Guide: “If people believe in God, within the new wording there is still plenty of space for them to continue to worship God and develop their beliefs.” The new Guide Promise has been widely mocked in the media, even by those with no commitment to Christian belief. In his ‘Sunday Times’ column Rod Liddle mused whether the new words are ‘sufficiently meaningless, emetic and narcissistic for today’s young people?’ At present the Girl Guides claim half a million members.
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News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 Your Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 UK News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 World News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7 Comment Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 David Alton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 England on Sunday Man of Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E1 Andrew Carey . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E2 Whispering Gallery . . . . . . . . .E2 Hazel Southam . . . . . . . . . . . . .E3 Judy West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E3 Send a Cow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E4 Men, motors and God . . . . . . .E5 Arts and Media . . . . . . . . . . . . .E6 Books and Media . . . . . . . . . . .E7 Janey Lee Grace . . . . . . . . . . . .E8 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E8
Sunday June 30, 2013
News
New Church Commissioner a NeW chUrch cOMMIssIONer has been appointed at a time that the church of england’s ethical Investment advisory Group (eIaG) describes as ‘a vital moment for reflection on the ethical conduct of investments’. simon Picken Qc is an experienced advocate whose extensive practice has covered a wide spectrum of commercial law, involving all types of commercial disputes. he is the author of a leading insurance law textbook ‘Good Faith and Insurance contracts’ and acts as Qc to the Welsh assembly for commercial matters. he also sits as a recorder (part-time judge) in
the crown court and the county court as well as a Deputy high court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division. eIaG’s latest review highlights its involvement with Barclays Bank since June, 2012, when the bank was fined for seeking to manipulate the benchmark lending rate known as LIBOr. “We have been encouraged,” the review states, “by the determination of the bank’s new leadership to turn a corner and to foster a more ethical culture. however ethical conduct cannot simply be enforced. We will know that Barclays has truly transformed when it inspires its
staff to make sustainable profits through serving its customers and fulfilling its fundamental role in society.” eIaG and its staff conducted engagements with 50 companies in face-to-face meetings or by video- or tele-conference in 2012-13. In april 2013 eIaG published a detailed policy paper on executive remuneration in april 2013, and the review reveals that none of the c of e’s three national investing bodies supported more than a third of the UK company remuneration reports they voted on in 2012-13 in the so-called ‘shareholder spring’.
The review states that a major piece of policy work in 2013-14 will be the development of updated and more detailed advice for the church’s investing bodies on climate change. clear ethical investment policies, rigorous engagement with companies, and transparency, helped gain the church of england a nomination in the inaugural responsible Investor awards for best responsible investment report by a medium or small fund. Of the 1,000 funds surveyed, only three UK asset owners were nominated and the c of e was the only church investor nominated worldwide.
Honorary doctorate for Barbra Streisand
The Record Nazareth training . . . . . . . . . . .10 New Wine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Clergy Moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Anglican Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 G8 response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Spiritual Director . . . . . . . . . . .15 Sunday Service . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Who let the Dads out . . . . . . . .15 Paul Richardson . . . . . . . . . . . .16 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
The acTress, director, singer and producer, Barbra streisand, received an honorary doctor of philosophy degree from the hebrew University of Jerusalem last week, using the event to speak out about the exclusion of women in Israel. at the 76th International Board of Governors Meeting, Ms streisand said: “One of the things I’ve always admired about this university is the fact that here, women and men, Jews and arabs, christians and Muslims, native-born and immigrants, sit together in classes, share the same cafeterias, learn from the same professors, and dream together of a good and meaningful life. “I wish the world were more
like the hallways of the hebrew University,” she added. she condemned the exclusion of women in society, with examples of women being made to sit at the back of buses, women being banned from singing at public ceremonies and Women of the Wall, who pray for peace at the border, having metal chairs hurled at them. In her comments after receiving the award, Ms streisand said: “For close to 30 years, I’ve had a deep connection to the hebrew University. It’s not only home to a diverse population of some of Israel’s best and brightest students, but it also houses the emanuel streisand Building for Jewish
News from your diocese
Your Church Derby: The Bishop of Derby has said the Government deserves credit for what it achieved at the G8 summit at Lough erne but voiced disappointment at the lack of any political breakthrough on the conflict in syria. commenting following the end of the G8 summit, the rt rev alastair redfern said: “The Government deserves huge credit for its efforts in using its Presidency of the G8 to prioritise trade, tax and transparency. The summit outcomes fall short of what many had hoped and campaigned for, but there has been progress nonetheless that needs to be celebrated. The Government’s announcement that all crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories are ready to sign the Multilateral convention on Tax Matters is a significant step forward and will help developing countries access more information and retain more of the money they are owed in order to combat endemic problems to their own development such as hunger and child malnutrition.” Hereford: In a tradition that goes back to the 16th century, a portrait of the Bishop of hereford has been commissioned and painted ready to hang on the walls of The Palace when he retires later this year. It is the first time a Bishop has been painted by his wife. Bishop anthony Priddis has been painted by his wife Kathy after she was com-
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missioned by the Lords-Lieutenant of herefordshire and shropshire. Mrs Priddis is an established portrait painter. The painting took more than 300 hours to complete. “everyone said I must paint him smiling, because that’s how they think of him. But to paint a smile is unusual and it presents an extra challenge,” said Kathy. The Great hall at the Palace and the committee room next door contain paintings of Bishops going back to herbert Westfaling, who became the 75th Bishop in the year 1586. The men are painted mainly in traditional portrait pose but also demonstrate the changing clerical fashions over the years. The new portrait is not a traditional head and shoulders but a three-quarter length picture set in the Garden chapel. The couple said all decisions about the painting were taken together. “We wanted that setting because he’s by nature an outdoor man, but also the restoration of that garden as a chapel dates from when we arrived,” added Kathy. London: artist clare abbatt is bringing seven life-size figurative sculptures and setting up The seven sleepers as part of the art exhibition ‘War & communities’ for the third Waterloo Festival of arts, music and history, which
studies.” In 1984 Ms streisand established the emanuel streisand Building in memory of her beloved father, whom she praised at the time as “a teacher, scholar and religious man who devoted himself to education.” “I think he would be very proud to know that this esteemed institution is honouring his daughter,” she said today. Ms streisand was honoured for her civic activism and philanthropic leadership. she concluded by quoting albert einstein, one of the founders of the hebrew University: “example isn’t another way to teach, it’s the only way to teach.”
opened to the public on Thursday 27 June and runs until Tuesday 2 July 2013. Modelled on seven members of the congregation, clare abbatt has been inspired by st John’s crypt, which was a bomb shelter during World War II, the legend of the seven sleepers of ephesus (the young men who hid in a cave and slept there for 200 years around 250aD to escape persecution of christians, referred to by poet John Donne in ‘The Good-Morrow’), the disciples sleeping at Gethsemane, and the fact that there are homeless people sleeping rough in Waterloo. Ms abbatt has worked with local people to create a display of words and images by people who have experienced conflict in their communities. During the Festival, she will give a talk about her work on saturday 29 June (2pm start), as part of a free art workshop to be held in the crypt at st John’s. Winchester: The Winchester Dialogues is a new series of conversations with leading figures from the church, the arts and politics, taking place in Winchester Guildhall in the autumn and, in the first series of four dialogues, the speakers will be Lord hurd on 13 september, Frank Field MP on 20 september, Maria Miller MP, The culture secretary on 8 November and on 29 November, The rt rev Timothy Dakin, the Bishop of Winchester.
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Tearfund helps in India Severe floods in the Indian state of Uttarakhand have swept away buildings and triggered landslides, leaving over 50,000 people stranded and over 500 already feared dead, and Tearfund has made an immediate response through two of its partner organisations in northern India, Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA) and Eficor. Sudarshan Sathianathan, Tearfund’s Head of Asia, said: “Many of the areas Celebrated British author â??and religious commenta-
tor Karen Armstrong has won the inaugural British Academy Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize for Transcultural Understanding. The jury awarded the ÂŁ25,000 prize in recognition of her body of work that has made a significant contribution to understanding the elements of overlap and commonality in different cultures and religions. Responding to the award, Karen Armstrong said: “I am so honoured to receive this prize. I am also most grateful to Dr Nayef Al-Rodhan and the British Academy for drawing attention in this way to the need for transcultural understanding. One of the chief tasks of our time must surely be to build a global community where people of all ethnicities and ideologies can live together in harmony and mutual respect: if we do not achieve this, it is unlikely that we will have a viable world to hand on to the next generation. “Religion should be making a contribution to this endeavour but, sadly, for obvious reasons, it is often seen as part of the problem. Yet I have been enriched and enlightened by my study of other faith traditions because I am convinced that they have much of value to teach us about our predicament in our tragically polarized world.â€?
affected are very remote and the full scale of need will only become apparent as flood waters recede and weather conditions improve.� The impact of floods is thought to be much more severe than expected and it is feared casualties may run into thousands. Tearfund is urging its supporters to pray for those affected, their families and our partners as they respond to this difficult situation.
Manchester debut for film
Manchester writer Simon Cookson, 35, debuts his first film ‘The Light’ in Manchester this week. Crowned winner of The Pitch film competition in January he’s spent the last four days shooting his 1950sstyle American film. Using Northwest locations to replicate the McCarthyite era the shoot began on disused Lancashire rail tracks and concluded at Matt and Phreds city centre Manchester jazz bar, incorporating the Manchester city library and a private period home. The script sourced the biblical story of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. The drama involves the main character suddenly rejecting his former oppressive ways, but realised the biggest struggle was to convince everyone else that was truly a changed man, as a childhood fascination with this story sparked the idea for his film. A new Masters course designed to help media professionals think and reflect theologically on the role of the media in a global society, has been launched at the University of Chester, with development input from the Church of England. This will be introduced this September and aims to provide those working in PR or communications, or those looking to make a career in some aspect of religion and media, with the necessary skills to reflect ethically and theologically on their own practice. The course, which has been developed in close collaboration with faith-based media professionals, also draws on the international departmental expertise in research, in aspects of religion, media and culture. With opportunities for part-time, full-time, Chesterbased or distance learning study, the flexible structure of the programme will cater for all needs. Elaine Graham, Grosvenor Research Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Chester, said: “This programme offers a vital opportunity for the Church to reflect on its understanding of the media in all its forms and the influence of the media on everyday life.�
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Join us at Lee Abbey this October Two inspiring events hosted by Bible Society, in partnership with RenovarĂŠ and Lee Abbey.
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Exodus says sorry to homosexuals EXODUS INTERNATIONAL, an organisation that claimed to be ‘the oldest and largest Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality’, has announced it is closing down. Exodus president, Alan Chambers, has released a statement apologising to the gay community for many of his actions, including promotion of efforts to change a person’s sexual orientation. In his apology Chambers says that he has heard ‘many firsthand stories from people called ex-gay survivors’ who ‘went to Exodus-affiliated ministries or ministers for help only to experience more trauma’. He admits that ‘there were several years that I conveniently omitted my ongoing same-sex attractions. I was afraid to share them as readily and as easily as I do today’. Exodus functioned as a support group for men and women struggling with their sexual orientation and promoted the idea that they could become straight through prayer and counselling. In an interview Chambers admitted that belief in ‘reparative therapy was one of the things that led to the downfall of this organisation’, adding that in recent years the emphasis had changed to helping men and women work through their
sexual identity. Chambers disavowed reparative therapy at the Gay Christian Network conference in 2012. Married to his wife, Leslie, Chambers says that his beliefs about sexuality have not changed and that he still battles his own same-sex attraction. Exodus began in 1976 and came to prominence when it was endorsed by James Dobson. A recent Gallup Poll showed 59 per cent of Americans now view gay or lesbian relations as ‘morally acceptable’, a swing of 19 per cent since 2001, the biggest change in so short a period ever seen in the US on attitudes to a moral or social question. In statement the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement welcomed the announcement from Exodus but said that ‘rather than simply closing down they should now work with the same enthusiasm and dedication to repair some of the damage and encourage other organisations to follow in their footsteps’. The Rev Sharon Ferguson, CEO of LGCM said there were still too many organisations promoting restorative therapy for homosexuality. “The reality is that reparative therapy tries to convince people that they are truly a duck and accept that they are an ugly one at that, when in reality they are a beautiful swan.�
Free Church celebrates 150th anniversary MEMBERS OF the Free Church of England (FCE) celebrated the 150th anniversary of their church on 23 June. Individual congregations of ‘free’ Anglicans, concerned at what they saw as ‘unscriptural developments’ in the established church, were formed in 1844 but they did not come together under the oversight of a single bishop until 1863. The Church of England acknowledged the FCE as a church with valid orders
in a decision endorsed by the standing committee of the House of Bishops. The canons permit a range of shared liturgical and ministerial activities. FCE clergy can be licenced to minister in the Church of England in the same way as clergy from overseas Anglican provinces. FCE bishops can perform episcopal functions at the request of a diocesan bishop with the permission of the Archbishop of the Province.
Leadership from the Inside Out
FCE has two dioceses, 29 ordained ministers, and 1,155 communicant members. A traditional centre of strength is in Lancashire. The current Presiding Bishop, the Rt Rev Dr John Fenwick, was formerly a priest in the Church of England and taught Worship and Church History at Trinity College, Bristol, before working at Lambeth for Archbishops Runcie and Carey. He lives in Ulverston, Cumbria.
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Gear Change Are you hungry for a deeper life with God? A unique RETREAT EXPERIENCE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REmECT ON RETREAT EXPERIENCE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REmECT ON your own personal journey of faith. 10-13 October 4O lND OUT MORE TO BOOK 4O lND OUT MORE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE VISIT Leadership from inside out: www.biblesociety.org.uk/insideout
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Bishops continue gay marriage fight BISHOPS in the House of Lords have continued to raise a series of objections to the Government’s gay marriage proposals as the legislation is given detailed scrutiny by peers. The Archbishop of York described the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill as an “exercise in ideological redefinition”. But Dr John Sentamu did hold out the prospect that the Church could conduct marriage-type services for same-sex couples. He spoke up in favour of a move that would differentiate between opposite sex and same-sex marriage. The traditional form would simply be called marriage while for gay or lesbian people it would be called “marriage (same sex couples)”. Dr Sentamu said allowing same-sex couples to get married was “not an extension of something that already exists but the creation of a new institution, under the aegis of existing marriage law, which is in fact quite different from it”. He said: “The unamended legislation uses the term ‘marriage’ to describe a new entity. For me this entity is worthy in itself, but it is not equivalent to marriage as hitherto described. I have argued that this is not an area for state intervention. The work of government does not lie in teaching us how to interpret and think about reality. Yet we are here.” And he added: “A responsible Government must prevent, as far as they can, the judgment that the law is an ass. I believe that fracturing the law of marriage into two alternative concepts of marriage inevitably inflicts damage of very serious proportions on English law, weakening the authority of the law as a whole.” Asked whether the Church of England would allow same-sex couples to marry in church under the definition he had proposed, he said it was a matter for the General Synod. But he added: “What do you do with people in same-sex relationships that are committed, loving and Christian? Would you rather bless a sheep and a
tree, and not them?” The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, called for civil registrars to be allowed to opt out of performing same-sex marriages. He said it would a “natural development of other legislation, other exemptions and other conscience clauses, and provides protection that I, along with others, think would be helpful and an improvement to the Bill”. The Bishop of Guildford, Christopher Hill, raised concerns about the parenthood of children born to samesex couples. “Currently and in future, in a marriage between a man and a woman any child born to the woman is presumed to be the child of her husband,” he said. “As her husband, he bears a respon-
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sibility for that child, not least if something should happen to its mother. I am concerned that in the Bill there is no equivalent or automatic provision made for children brought up by a married couple of the same sex.” In the case of IVF conception, the other party to a marriage will be treated as the child’s parent, he said, but that was not automatically the case when a child was conceived in the conventional manner. He called for the Government to consider the matter “very carefully indeed”. Bishop Hill also said on the issue of fidelity the Bill created a “very important inequality”. Under the legislation both gay and straight couples can divorce on the grounds of adultery if one partner has a relationship with a person of the opposite sex, but not with a person of the same sex. Although the Government says in such cases one party can divorce the other on grounds of unreasonable behaviour. “I feel very strongly that this House must find some way of including faithfulness equally for all married couples, if we are looking to something that has been described as equal marriage,” Bishop Hill said. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton brought forward amendments to the Bill that would provide explicit protection to prevent ministers of religion having to give blessings to same-sex marriages. “A blessing ceremony may sound less weighty than a marriage ceremony but the Government must understand that officiating at a blessing would be just as problematic for a faith community whose celebrants could not officiate at a same-sex marriage ceremony without violating their conscience as would officiating at a marriage ceremony,” he said. But he withdrew his amendments following Government reassurances that he had nothing to fear. Votes on many of the issues raised by bishops are expected to be held when the legislation reaches its report stage next month.
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Bishop backs bullied children Bishop Tim Thornton
THE BISHOP of Truro has used his maiden speech in the House of Lords to speak up for children who are bullied because they are poor. Bishop Tim Thornton said in a debate on bullying that it was essential to provide advocates for “those who are often unable to advocate for themselves”. “Children who are either affected by mental health conditions or are being bullied are not in a good place to have their voice heard. It is important that we find ways to do just that,” he said. He said that children living in poverty could be particularly at risk of bullying. “This can be due to lacking things that their peers may have, such as not being able to go to the cinema, or to a friend’s birthday party because they cannot afford a present,” he said. “Children can miss out on school trips, or not have the same basic material goods that other children have. This will have an impact on a child’s sense of self-worth. They are therefore more vulnerable to bullying and socialised isolation than their peers.”
Fifth birthday for Christian Concern CHRISTIAN CONCERN celebrated its fifth birthday on Monday with a service and reception at the Emmanuel Centre in London. The event occurred closely after the organisation brought to an end its dispute with the Law Society following a decision to cancel a Christian Concern conference in May, 2012. The sudden decision by the Law Society attracted a good deal of hostile comment in the secular media, including The Economist. In the agreement the Law Society undertakes to organise a full debate on the issue of same-sex marriage ‘in which a number of eminent speakers will attend, including a speaker from Christian Concern’. Both parties to the agreement announced that they respect the fact that differing views on marriage are held in society and the Law Society ‘without endorsing the views of Christian Concern’, accepts that these views are sincerely held and that the organisation ‘is entitled to hold and express those views’. The Law Society also says that it ‘welcomes bookings from Christian Concern in the future’. The agreement is a victory for Christian Concern and for its CEO, Andrea Williams. Observers are now waiting to see the outcome of Christian Concern’s campaign to make Transport for London reveal what role Mayor Boris Johnson played in its decision to ban Anglican Mainstream advertising on London buses.
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Roy McCloughry to be adviser on disability ROY MCCLOUGHRY has been appointed parttime National Disability Adviser to the Archbishops’ Council. He is a part-time tutor in ethics at St John’s College, Nottingham, and is also well known as a speaker and writer on disability issues. In his new position he will work with a network of Disability Advisers in dioceses and provide advice to bishops and diocesan staff on awareness of disability and disability people in the life of the church to enable them to contribute to mission and growth. “This is a very exciting opportunity to work with disabled people and enable them to participate fully in the life of the church and the wider society,” McCloughry said about his new appointment. “We live in a world which frequently disables people with impairments through its attitudes, behaviours and structures and this prevents them from participating fully in society. It should be a priority for us to become and enabling church in a disabling world.” Roy McCloughry has written ‘The Enabled Life: Christianity in a Disabling World’, which is to be published by SPCK in September. He is a Reader, VicePresident of Livability, a disability charity, and a non-executive chair of Lion Hudson, the Christian publisher. “Roy comes to this role with a wealth of experience, insight and understanding of disability,” said the Ven Julian Hubbard, Director of Ministry. “We look forward to working with him in the tasks of encouraging inclusion of disabled people through good practice and awareness across the Church of England on the basis of profound theological questioning.”
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Synod to debate welfare cuts LABOUR MAY have reversed its opposition to the Government’s welfare cuts, realising that they are popular with voters, but the General Synod in York is to debate a motion that calls for ‘close attention to the impact of welfare cuts on the most vulnerable, and for support for those not in a position to help themselves’. The motion, proposed by Philip Fletcher on behalf of the Mission and Public Affairs Council of the Archbishops’ Council also decries ‘the misleading characterisation of all welfare recipients as scroungers’ and ‘commends those across the churches who are working to support those in need’. A paper, ‘Welfare Reform and the Church’ (GS 107), has been sent to members as background. The paper suggests that the poor and vulnerable are being asked to bear a ‘disproportionate share for the burden’ while the rich are being allowed to escape ‘largely unscathed’. A letter from 43 bishops to the ‘Sunday Telegraph’ has already stated the Church’s anxieties about welfare reform. The number of churches operating food banks has shot up in the past couple of years.
The General Synod paper accepts that there are good reasons to reform the welfare system and that the Government’s policy is not just driven by a desire to save money but criticises the cap on housing benefits and the ‘bedroom’ tax among other measures, saying that they will drive people away from their roots. It criticises politicians for trying to make political capital by talking about ‘scroungers’, which it blames for encouraging harsh attitudes towards the people dependent on benefits.
Feeding the 5,000 was amazing You’ll be amazed what your collections can start Send a Cow transforms the lives of Africa’s poorest families. We bring about real and lasting change, because we don’t give short-term aid – we give people the resources and the knowledge so they can feed themselves. Right now, in the countries we work in there are thousands of families that desperately need our help. We have a proven solution - and every family we help to feed themselves means another nine go on to do the same - but without vital funds we can’t put it into action.
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Sunday June 30, 2013
New Archbishops for the Anglican world The aNGLICaN Churches in Mexico and Papua New Guinea have elected new primates, while the primate of the hong Kong sheng Kung hui has been re-elected to a second term. The anglican Communion News service reports that on 14 June the provincial Council of the anglican Church of Papua New Guinea elected the rt rev Clyde Igara, Bishop of the Dogura, to serve as primate and archbishop of the province. he succeeds archbishop Joseph Kopapa, who retired last year. as metropolitan of the church archbishop Igara will not have diocesan responsibilities and a new Bishop of the Dogura is expected to be elected shortly. The website of La Iglesia anglicana de México last week announced that on 14 June the VII General synod meeting in Mexico City elected the rt rev Francisco Manuel Moreno as primate and archbishop of the province. Bishop Moreno will continue to serve as Bishop of the Diócesis del Norte de México and succeeds archbishop Carlos Touche-Porter of Mexico City whose term of office
expired. The VI General synod of the hong Kong sheng Kung hui, the anglican Church in hong Kong and Macao, meeting on 2-5 June re-elected archbishop Paul Kwong to a second six-year term. aCNs reports that in other business the synod endorsed the anglican Covenant — a document championed by former archbishop rowan Williams to set the bounds of anglican doctrine and discipline, but received with little enthusiasm by large parts of the communion. On 19 May the anglican Church of Tanzania enthroned archbishop Jacob Chimeledya as archbishop and primate of the east african Church after a fierce internal dispute. On 21 February 2013 archbishop Chimeledya defeated the incumbent archbishop Valentino Mokiwa in an election for a five-year term as primate. supporters of archbishop Mokiwa charged the new archbishop’s election have been fraudulently obtained and claimed that american money had been used to bribe some bishops and diocesan deputations. Members of the elec-
CAPA Treasurer is murdered The Treasurer of CaPa — the Council of anglican Provinces of africa — was murdered last week at her home outside of Nairobi. The CaPa website reports that on 8 June 2013, Grace Wambua (51) was hacked to death by a farmhand at her Kinaanie farm in Machakos. Local press reports state Ms Wambua was slashed across her neck and her hands were nearly severed as she sought to ward off the blows. her neighbour, elizabeth Miller, found Ms Wambua near-death and drove her to a Nairobi hospital where she was pronounced dead. The CaPa statement said Ms Wambua “was the Manager of aCK Guest house Nairobi and a dedicated CaPa Treasurer since February 2012.” her funeral was held on 18 June at all saints Cathedral in Nairobi. her killer remains at large.
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tion synod filed a complaint with the Church, but the canons of the anglican Church of Tanzania did not foresee this situation and no legal remedy was available to the Mokiwa camp. Both sides in the dispute engaged attorneys and archbishop Mokiwa’s camp were prepared to file a civil lawsuit and seek an injunction blocking the installation. however the archbishop’s indecision over which firm of attorneys to use in the lawsuit, the cost of pursuing the lawsuit, and his reluctance to state publicly what he was saying privately to his supporters led to a collapse in his support. The faction that opposed archbishop Mokiwa, drawn primarily from members of the Gogo tribe, declined to support financially the national Church under his tenure as archbishop. With power shifting to the Gogo tribe, whose members include the archbishop, dean, general secretary, and registrar of the province, Mokiwa supporters tell The Church of England Newspaper they expect the province will remain paralyzed.
News
Vatican bestows honour on Richard Burridge a ChurCh of england clergyman is the first nonroman Catholic to be awarded the ratzinger Prize by the Joseph ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation. On 21 June 2013 Vatican Information service announced that the rev Dr richard Burridge, Dean of King’s College London and Prof Christian schaller of regensburg were this year’s winners. Cardinal Camillo ruini, president of the Foundation’s academic committee, stated Dr Burridge “is definitely an eminent figure in the field of Biblical studies and not only of the english language. In particular, he has made a great contribution in that decisive area of the historical and theological recognition of the Gospels’ inseparable connection to Jesus of Nazareth.” Prof schaller, deputy director of the Pope Benedict XVI Institute of regensburg, was honoured “not only for his contribution to theological studies but also in recognition of the role he is carrying out in the publication of Joseph ratzinger’s complete works.” “The Foundation’s aim is to place the question of God at the heart of academic reflection,” according to the VIs report. “Its two principal activities are awarding scholarships to those pursuing doctorates in Theology and organizing conferences of high academic standard.” This year’s conference sponsored by the foundation will be held at the Pontifical Lateran university in October and will be titled, “The Gospels: history and Christology.”
Call to end Welsh Church establishment The WeLsh assembly’s Constitutional and Legislative affairs Committee has recommended the state cut all ties with the Church in Wales. In a paper released last week entitled report on the Inquiry into Law-making and the Church in Wales the committee recommended “that the Church in Wales should be fully disestablished”, either by an act of Parliament or “by a Welsh Government Bill in the event of a reserved powers model being introduced in Wales and relevant subjects, including, marriage policy, being devolved as part of that process”. The Welsh Church act 1914 disestablished the Church in Wales in part, ending the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts and severing ecclesiastical law from civil law in Wales. however, Parliament left intact the duty of a Welsh incumbent to marry residents of the parish and, if the church had a graveyard, preserved the right of every member of the parish to burial. The coalition government’s proposed legislation creating gay marriage exempted the Church in Wales from its duty to marry same-sex parishioners but prompted the Constitutional and Legislative affairs Committee to review church-state ties. David Melding, chairman of the committee, told the BBC he was “astonished that an act of Parliament from the edwardian era had come back to haunt us.” “I certainly had assumed that the Church in Wales was disestablished – that’s an axiom of modern Welsh history. But apparently not. In two important areas – there
may be more that we don’t know about – disestablishment is far from complete in Wales…” The committee report stated the government’s “equal marriage proposal was drawn up without consultation with the Church in Wales but we are satisfied that the uK Government has taken steps to rectify that since. “however, the Committee also believes that the amendment proposed by the uK Government is a short-term fix and that a wider issue exists which needs a more permanent solution, including considering the option of the Church in Wales becoming a fully disestablished body.” a statement from the Church in Wales press office said it was “effectively in legislative limbo because its disestablished position is incomplete.” It noted the “committee’s conclusions are not unexpected.” “Certainly our position as a disestablished church which retains certain legal responsibilities to the community is unusual. however, in spite of that, we believe that we have a ministry to all in the people in Wales, regardless of whether they are members of the Church. “The Church in Wales has not considered the issue of whether it should seek to change its status in relation to the marriage law. “however, it would welcome any assistance the Welsh Government is able to provide in easing the burden on our parishes of maintaining our burial grounds, which are open to all in the community, and to disused burial grounds that cannot be handed over to local authorities as in england”.
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Archbishop Welby visits the Middle East The LamBeTh palace press office reports the archbishop of Canterbury will make his first visit egypt, Jordan, israel and the palestinian Territories this week. archbishop Justin Welby will meet with Christian, Jewish and muslim leaders, tour biblical sites and meet with government and civil society figures. The press statement said the archbishop was “making this trip early in his ministry because of the significance of the region, the importance of the relationships that his office has there, and because
he is keenly aware of the particular pressures on the region at the moment – not least the devastating conflict in Syria, and its impact more widely.� accompanied by the most rev mouneer anis, the Bishop of egypt and primate of the province, and the Bishop in Jerusalem the rt rev Suheil Dawani, archbishop Welby is scheduled to meet the Coptic patriarch, pope Tawadros ii and the Grand imam of alazhar Sheikh mohamed ahmed el-Tayeb. in Jerusalem, the archbishop will meet the patriarchs and head of Churches in
Jerusalem and representatives of the Chief rabbinate of israel. he had been scheduled to meet Chief rabbi Yona metzger, but the ashkenazi chief rabbi has suspended himself from ministry and will refrain from carrying out any official roles during a police inquiry into charges of fraud and bribery allegations. police raided his home and office last week following an undercover investigation into his financial dealings. The Chief rabbi denies the allegations. archbishop Welby will visit the Church of the resurrec-
tion, the Western Wall, and Yad Vashem as well as the church hospital in ramallah. The israeli press has welcomed the new archbishop’s visit. an editorial in arutz Sheva noted: “archbishop Welby’s visit is highly symbolic. it is a sign that he is willing to embrace Christianity’s (and his own) Jewish roots, which is particularly important at a time when many in the Church – especially on the Left – are distancing themselves from the biblical concept of the Jews as the people destined to reside in the land of israel.�
Pagan-style services set to attract more By Amaris Cole The Summer solstice was used by Church of england clergy last week to recruit new Christians to ‘pagan’ churches. Through the Fresh expressions initiative, the Church is reacting to the growing interest in mysticism, the natural world and New age spiritualities, encouraging congregations to meet outdoors and use pagan-style rituals as a means to evangelise more people. The rev Steve hollinghurst, who trains evangelists for the Church army, said: “There is a growing interest in spirituality outside religion, and with that, paganism and the New age.� There are five forest churches already in existence, in the West midlands, Stock-
port, the New Forest, east midlands and mid Wales. mystic Christ, in Stockport, says of itself: “Forest Church is a fresh expression of church drawing on much older traditions when sacred places and practices were outside – but it is also drawing on contemporary research that highlights the benefits of spending time with nature in wild places.� But even those promoting this new form of church admitted there is room for bad teaching and heresy. mr hollinghurst said that focussing on God could avoid this, though: “it is all part of trying to find ways to connect with people in a pagan culture in a relevant way.� a record 21,000 people gathered at
Australian Church braced for Royal Commission findings The primaTe of the anglican Church of australia, the most rev phillip aspinall, archbishop of Brisbane, has warned the Church will come under heavy criticism when The royal Commission into institutional responses to Child Sexual abuse publishes its findings. in his address to the 22 June 2013 meeting of Brisbane Synod Dr aspinall said the “truth will come out�. “it will. and we want it to, even though there will be times when we will feel ashamed and sickened at that truth,� he said. Dioceses across australia have been stung by revelations that some clergy and church workers abused young people and that a culture of silence once governed the Church’s response. however child safeguarding reforms and an aggressive policy in combating and reporting abuse to police has been in place for over 10 years. Nevertheless the Church’s current policies are “not going to stop us from copping heavy criticism in the years ahead,� Dr aspinall told reporters at the end of the meeting. “people ought not to be discouraged by the criticism.� “Yes we have to face squarely and cop criticism where it is deserved we have to face the fact that abused happened and fix it,� he said, according to press accounts from australia.
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Stonehenge to see the sun rise at 4.52am, proving the interest of modern society in the natural world.
This new form of anglicanism is now being largely accepted by ministers, in a drive to retain congregation numbers.
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CHURCH OF ENGLAND
Sunday June 30, 2013
Letters
NEWSPAPER
Write to The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX. or you can send an E-mail to letters@churchnewspaper.com. Tweet at @churchnewspaper If you are sending letters by e-mail, please include a street address. NB: Letters may be edited Gay marriage Sir, The bishops who spoke against samesex marriage discounted compatibility because of their traditional, hard-wired understanding of gender complementarity, for which Brownson (‘Bible, Gender, Sexuality’) does not find biblical support. We can over-emphasise that ‘Men are from Mars, Women from Venus’ and so assume that women per se will bring special qualities to the public square, instead of welcoming them as individuals, also made in the image of God, and joint stewards of his creation. There is no original unity of genders to be recovered, so we can only refer jokingly to having a ‘better half’: to think otherwise would be to disparage singletons, from Jesus to Bridget Jones. Society is enriched and stabilised when men and women work together pragmatically, as intended, (Gen. 1). They are to be fruitful and multiply, like the animals, but the primary purpose of Eve’s creation (Gen.2) is unitive, not procreative. Adam was lonely and recognised her as ‘bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh’. They were compatible because of their similarity, not because of a biological fit. Eve was Adam’s ‘helper’, in the same sense as the Lord God could be said to be Israel’s ‘helper’. She was not Adam’s subordinate but the one designed for him to ‘cling to’, as Ruth clung to Naomi, in order to form a new, kinship group, based on intimacy, shared experience and a shared purpose to serve God in others. So, if kinship marks the heart of the ‘oneflesh’ union, as Brownson argues it does, does this necessarily rule out ‘marriage’ as a covenant between same-sex couples, who have found their particular ‘helper’ in each other? David Hockney’s painting ‘Two Boys Clinging Together’ pleads the case for allowing for compatibility, which includes a complementarity that is not tied to biology. ‘The general social good’ would, arguably, be increased once we accept the biblically-based, moral logic behind samesex marriage. Serena Lancaster, Moreton- in-Marsh, Glos
Points of agreement Sir, The wide-ranging and sometimes vitriolic discussions concerning the Same-Sex Marriage Bill have shown that the deeply held views of both sides of the argument are unlikely to find any genuine points of agreement. Equally, the progress of the Bill through Parliament means that in a year’s time, we shall enter a new reality. It is my belief that those of us who seek to welcome those of all sexual orientations into the life of our Church communities but maintain a traditional understanding of marriage and sexual ethics now need to accept the prospect of this new reality and adapt accordingly. This does not mean adapting our hermeneutical, theological, ethical or sociological viewpoint on the matter, but accepting the reality that we have been unable to persuade the majority of the validity of the traditional argument in the
The Queen’s constitutional position Sir, Robert Ian Williams (letters, 23 June) critiques Bishop Nazir-Ali’s analysis of our Queen’s invidious constitutional position concerning her Coronation Oath and the projection that she may soon have to sign into law the so-called “Gay Marriage” legislation. While by current secular thinking of the political class about our constitution, Mr Williams is undoubtedly correct – he is missing the fundamental debate - as to whether “what are these current assumptions” are “what ought to be”. As soon as we removed the bar to non-Christians sitting in our legislature in the 19th century, constitutional lawyers immediately grasped the conclusion that we could no longer presume that our laws would be in harmony with Christian revelation, and courts ceased to annul any legislative implication incompatible with Christian values. Allow all this, and our Queen can only influence, not block legislation and there is no inconsistency should our Queen give Royal Assent to radical laws that replace the historic definition of marriage with one that undermines and replaces it completely – so as to in effect abolish it. If, as I hope, your readers are horrified as how Christian values are being ousted by radical values more in harmony with Marx, Engels and the Communist Manifesto than Christ, then what are we to do? Politics is the art of the possible, and assuming we remain a democracy, then we cannot expect media-savvy politicians to legislate for Christian values so long as they and the electorate hold to other values. Of course the best way to change this is not the gut reaction of political protest agitating for Christian values, but by changing the fundamental values held by the electorate so that they will not tolerate a political class who treat Christian values with contempt. In other words the solution is doing what ought to come naturally to evangelicals: through conversions, bringing our nation back under discipleship to Christ’s values. Yet we are both failing to win sufficient converts to alter the current bias in favour of secularism and also failing bring home among ourselves the necessity of “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:4,5) and banishing secular assumptions from our thinking and also from the public square (v. 6). Speaking generally, as evangelicals we have one of two failings: either we piously live in a bubble of spirituality that has limited impact on our secular worldview, this being compounded by our use of the language of Zion that the many outside the Church no longer understand. Or, alternatively, we have so relativised Christian values as to adopt Christianised secular ones. Thoughtlessly, we use “come and see” evangelism - inviting people to convert themselves by coming and experiencing Christian piety, not the older “go and tell” people they are sinners destined for Hell. We invite people to choose Christianity as one lifestyle choice among many, while God commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Is our lack of blessing indicative that God does not endorse our new ways? Alan Bartley, Greenford, Middlesex secular liberal Britain of 2013. In a democratic society, we may not like the views of the majority but we have a Biblical imperative to accept the law accordingly. The so-called ”quadruple lock” is yet to be tested – and if it fails to meet the tests of Strasbourg, then another, changed, reality will result. In the meantime, the current energy being engaged in the battle to defeat the inevitability of the Bill becoming law should be redirected towards ensuring that the new reality is engaged with and the Church sends out a clear and positive message of maintaining its traditional position on marriage, yet within the context of the new law. If those with within the Church who support the Bill, especially those in senior clerical posts, are willing to embrace and rejoice in the validity of the majority views in the nation, then they should also embrace the majority views within the Synod and the wider Church that oppose the Bill, and adapt their stance and statements accordingly. Forging a way forward requires all parties, both “victors” and “losers” to embrace the new reality and the Church’s stance and responsibilities within the new law, and seek unity with Grace.
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The Rev Tim Storey, Blandford Forum
Church House Sir, I was surprised to read your front page story on the proposed changes to the communications unit for the Archbishops’ Council. In a week where the G8 met in Northern Ireland, when the Archbishop of Canterbury met Pope Francis, when the #IF campaign reached a crescendo and the Archbishop of York argued for the Government to be wary of arming Syrian rebels, it was remarkable that you chose to lead with the review of the functions of the communications office. I was also surprised to read the story because of the number of serious inaccuracies and misplaced comment in what purported to be a news story. One of the reasons for the review of the communications office is a need to reassess our capabilities and priorities. Your report makes it abundantly clear we are not alone in the need to do this. The Rev Arun Arora, Director of Communications Archbishops’ Council, London
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Your Tweets John Sentamu @JohnSentamu Please join me in praying for Nelson Mandela and everyone in South Africa today. ow.ly/mjFkC Nick Baines @nickbaines Mandela near end. Let him go now. In peace. Easy to praise, but so hard to emulate. Unique. #mandela Jordan Luke @jordanluke1 “Changing an answer is evolution, Replacing the question is revolution.” Love this quote What type of change do you need? Rosie Bates @godinthis @vickybeeching I’m still raging about Women Representatives in House of Bishop’s delay. I thought they viewed this as urgent?#foolforChrist George Pitcher @GeorgePitcher Just left @NewStatesman party. All the snappers were papping me. Honestly, don’t they know I’m nobody, I asked Bianca Jagger behind me Diocese of Exeter @CofEDevon Name of Devon’s next bishop should be announced before Christmas #newbishop Diocese of Exeter @CofEDevon David Cameron very interested in Devon and what Bishop it needs, his Appointment Sec says #newbishop Diane McCarthy @dianeemccarthy John Timpson has agreed to be the keynote speaker at the St Asaph Diocesan Conference this year! He will challenge and inspire - fantastic! Tony Higton @TonyHigton Archbishop asks: would you rather bless a sheep & not committed, Christian gay couple? We can’t bless sexual activity God doesn’t approve of Archbishop Cranmer @His_Grace Jeremy Forrest gets 5.5yrs for abducting and sex with a 15yr-old girl, but Stuart Hall got 15 months for 13 assaults on girls as young as 9. Graham Kings @BishopSherborne ‘I see it as a gift from #God & I can use it to help other people.’ Israel Folau, Aussie try scorer @robkitson #rugby bit.ly/172sImG
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SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013
God and the Man of Steel By Amaris Cole
S
tarring some of the biggest names in Hollywood, with a $225 million budget and backed by Warner Brothers, the new Superman film was never going to be a flop. But having already taken over $235,000,000 at the Box Office, there’s more to the success of Man of Steel than meets the eye. “We are coming alongside a cultural conversation where people are going to see the film and there are very obvious [religious] parallels,” Professor Craig Detweiler of Pepperdine University, said. “I mean, there is a scene in the film where Superman is sitting in a church in front of a stained glass window, and Jesus is literally behind him. So we are kind of leaning into that conversation that the film is going to start.” Professor Detweiler, a film maker and theologian, is one of
thousands in the States who is penning sermons around the blockbuster and encouraging his congregation to go and see the movie. But are these pastors just being used by the promoters as a free way to push the film? “Some are worried about being co-opted in some way,” he admits.
He believes the message is worth pushing, though. “It is very overt in the film,” Professor Detweiler says of the connection between Superman and the Gospel: “He stretches out his arms in a crucifixion kind of way, and he goes about rescuing humanity as Superman is always fighting for truth and justice.” Because of this, Christians across the US are hearing sermons praising the superhero in this latest interpretation of the story. Do not expect to see another remake of this classic tale if you venture to the cinema to watch it, though. There is no kryptonite and no red pants over the tights in this film. All the reviews seem to think it is still worth a watch, though. And Christians are stressing the message it tells. “We are saying there’s significant parallels in the two lives. You know Jesus doesn’t fly, and I don’t think he destroys the metropolis in a big battle. But Superman is sent there by his father to bring hope to the earth, in the same way Jesus’ father sent him on a mission.” There’s no denying the film is fiction, but in the words of Professor Detweiler, “this is a kind of contemporary fiction story that is rooted in an ancient and enduring truth.” What these churches are trying to work out is how the box office connects to the pews. So, perhaps the big budget, big names and big backing aren’t the only reason this film is a Box Office blockbuster. “It could have something to do with the clergymen,” the theologian pondered. I think he might just be right.
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Andrew Carey: View from the Pew Christian organisations?
I
t has been said nauseatingly often by defenders of the controversial Girl Guiding ‘promise’ change that Scouts and Guides have never been Christian organisations. This claim flies in the face of the facts. Though Baden-Powell took a pluralist approach as the Scouting movement developed in other countries both organisations were ‘Christian’ in the UK and both had a commitment to religious development more broadly. The better approach to the need for new promises to serve a society where increasing numbers do not believe in God is the one taken by Scouts, which is to allow a range of promises, including the traditional one. If only Girl Guiding had realised that to
remove ‘God’ from the promise will not create a panacea, in fact it creates a new privilege for secularism. The Bishop of Bradford, Nick Baines, puts it well when he refers to the new promise as “vacuous nonsense” (www.nickbaines.wordpress.com). He writes of the new promise to ‘be true to myself and develop my beliefs’ that it “will please anyone who thinks there is such a thing as a ‘neutral’, content-free or assumptionless language or worldview.” He wisely points out that the Guides’ approach is to empty all language of meaning. Graham Archer at the Telegraph mocks the new promise: “It doesn’t appear to have caught anyone’s attention ... that promising that one be true to oneself isn’t exactly a ‘stretch target’.
Reassurance? Pete Broadbent this week pointed out that traditionalists and conservative evangelicals opposed to women bishops will now have to accept non-statutory provision (www.bishopofwillesden.blogspot.co.uk). I find his argument persuasive given he has for long supported greater conscientious provision than General Synod has been prepared to offer. He argues that the vote to defeat the legislation was a tactical mistake because the legislation on offer in November was the most generous that opponents were ever likely to get. While I think it is wholly wrong that
Sunday June 30, 2013 there is now not going to be proper and generous provision for opponents of women priests and bishops, it is clear that there is a mean-spirited mood in the Church of England. What I find most worrying is Bishop Broadbent’s view that Parliament will not pass legislation in which ‘there is overt discrimination against women priests and bishops on the face of a Measure’. The fact that Parliament is in a mood to interfere with the Church of England’s freedom to determine its own beliefs creates significant doubt about the reassurances Parliament has sought to give on protecting religious freedom when it comes to gay marriage.
A change of tone It is most interesting to see Lord Deben cheerleading for the cause of gay marriage in last week’s committee debates in the House of Lords. In his former life as a government minister in the 1980s and 1990s John Selwyn-Gummer was best known for his passionate opposition to the ordination of women. He was one of the most high-profile defections to the Roman Catholic Church and he used his position on the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament to insist on greater provision for traditionalists opposed to women’s ordination. In contrast, in the House of Lords committee he opposed each and every amendment seeking to offer greater security and protection to believers, churches and religious groups.
Huddleston Dilemma
Reviewers’ verdict
How does the Church of England respond to the allegations that continue to dog the reputation of Bishop Trevor Huddleston? As St Martin-in-the-Fields prepares to host a service to celebrate the anniversary of Huddleston’s birth Private Eye has made public his Scotland Yard file that was supposed to remain closed until 2069. This reveals the police recommended charging him with four counts of gross indecency involving boys at his East London home when he was Bishop of Stepney. The same public prosecutor who decided to take no action against Cyril Smith concluded the evidence was insufficient to prosecute Huddleston after first consulting the Attorney General, Sam Silkin. Silkin feared prosecution would ruin Huddleston’s influence and reputation. As Private Eye comments, ‘it was different then’. Rumours of the allegations circulated in the 1970s but it was left to Piers McGrandle to publicly report them in his biography published in 2004. Huddleston had a breakdown after the police investigation and left Stepney to be Archbishop of the Indian Ocean. Under the editorship of Richard Ingrams Private Eye had a reputation for going after gay clergy and outing them. This is different. The Eye is justified in making public the file on Huddleston. The boys whose parents originally complained about him are probably waiting for closure. It will be wrong if the Church simply praises Huddleston and fails to address the allegations as Bishop Stephen Platten did in The Times last Saturday.
Every author feels nervous about reviews but what is worse that getting bad reviews is writing a book that no one notices. Alistair McGrath must be pleased that his two recent books on CS Lewis are attracting attention in the secular press. Last week there were long reviews by Anthony Kenny in the Times Literary Supplement and Stefan Collini in the London Review of Books. Kenny commends McGrath for being candid about Lewis’ bizarre personal life and describes the biography as ‘meticulous’ but wonders whether it has not committed what Lewis called the ‘Personal Heresy’ by looking at Lewis’ works not for what they say but for what they tell us of his personal life. Collini is more supercilious. He refers to what he calls McGrath’s ‘amiable, slightly didactic tone, reminiscent of the evening class lecturer conscious that his audience want the pleasure of feeling they have been stretched without having to absorb anything taxing’. Collini doesn’t admire Lewis as an apologist for Christianity. He accuses him of ‘using a natty phrase to jolly readers into following him into unjustified logical conclusions’ and of being a ‘pedlar of spiritual quack medicine’ but what is so staggering about his review is the contempt it shows for generations who have attended WEA classes and other evening groups. Once left-wing academics devoted their evenings to lecturing at such events; now they attack them in small-circulation magazines read by the metropolitan elite.
The Whispering Gallery A star is born
Still Making Waves
David Lammy knows how reputations can rise and fall in politics. He has been praised recently for his book on the London riots and denounced for advocating corporal punishment for rioters. At a meeting organised by Theos to launch a new report, ‘Making Multiculturalism Work,’ Lammy praised the author, David Barclay, of the Contextual Theology Centre, as ‘a rising star’, a ‘rising star in relation to religious thought, a rising star in relation to community organising and someone who one day might be a rising star in politics’. Barclay is an impressive speaker and his report, although brief, makes excellent points. Instead of looking at multiculturalism at the level of theory, he argues we should see how it operates in local projects run by Near Neighbours and Citizens UK. These projects create ‘political friendships’ and draw people together across religious and cultural boundaries. But for such projects to work, Barclay warns, it is important to allow people to speak to each other about their deepest beliefs. The liberal, secular establishment’s attempt to confine religion to the mosque or the church is fatal to the creation of real, ongoing relationships. ‘I don’t think you have to agree on things to have relationships with people’, one interviewee tells Barclay, ‘but what you have to do is you have to be prepared to discuss openly your differences’. As Barclay puts it, ‘not discussing certain issues because it is hard to find a consensus may ultimately serve to make them more divisive in the future’.
Katharine Jefferts Schori must be hoping that the uproar that greeted her sermon in Curacao, the Dutch island off the Venezuelan coast will die down. Unfortunately it looks set to run and run. Mark Oppenheimer in the ‘Beliefs’ column of the ‘New York Times’ greeted it as ‘another controversy in what has already been a rocky tenure as the head of a troubled, shrinking church’. It’s not just the conservatives and the usual suspects who are criticising Schori. Many are alarmed by her apparent ignorance of the New Testament. Schori spoke about Paul’s encounter with a slave woman and fortune teller in Philippi who he exorcised of the spirit that possessed her. Schori accused the apostle of not valuing diversity and failing to see the slave girl’s beautiful ‘difference’. The girl puts Paul in his place and he can’t bear to see her exercising spiritual gifts, she claimed. Clearly, as far as Schori is concerned, Paul is a patriarchal oppressor and all his actions have to be interpreted in that light. But what if Paul was actually setting the woman free from being bound to serve the needs of her owners by functioning as fortune teller? Based on this interpretation, one scholar told ‘The New York Times,’ Paul can be seen as the woman’s liberator in a literal as well as a spiritual sense. As a result of the incident Paul was thrown into prison because the girl’s owners have been deprived of the financial reward they made by exploiting her. The poor man has suffered twice over – once by imprisonment in his own lifetime, now by being denounced by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
Sunday June 30, 2013
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Hazel Southam View from Fleet Street
Hats off to Ascot I
have a confession to make. The story that’s most grabbed my attention this week has been the hats worn at Ascot. Yes, I realise that this casts me into the realms of outer darkness for serious journalism, but there it is. How can you not be fascinated, excuse the pun, by women seemingly sporting floral displays on their heads? There were giant, eye-catching concoctions, broad brims, bright colours, vertiginous designs, models-cum-actresses pouting at the cameras and serenely, the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall getting it right with stylish titfers in pink and beige respectively. And then of course there was the national treasure that is Clare Balding wearing an enormous red, feathered hat by the Queen’s milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan. ‘My hats have a life of their own,’ she tweeted. Watching Ascot you could be forgiven for thinking that the world is turning in a familiar pattern and that absolutely nothing has changed. Yet, in the world touched by religious
affairs, it was a week when the tectonic plates were shifting. Bankers were told they may go to jail (and presumably not collect £200 en route); the Archbishop of York spoke about same-sex marriage and the Church of England said that it wanted to avoid a second ‘train crash’ on the issue of women bishops. The Guardian, as ever, set the tone on all three subjects. At the start of the week, Miles Brignall and Jill Treanor reported what was effectively the Archbishop of Canterbury’s shot across the bows for bankers, ahead of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards’ report. Bankers, he said needed to operate with a ‘fear of hell and the hope of heaven’ if they were to restore the City’s reputation and ‘become better citizens in the future’. He called for the banking industry ‘to be good’ rather than concentrating on bonuses and penalties. By mid-week the standards commission, of which he is a notable member, had recommended jail for reckless bankers.
Judy West’s
The BBC’s online coverage outlined the reports findings. Senior bankers, it said, ‘should be assigned clear personal responsibilities, with the legal onus on them to show they have done all that is reasonably required’. And, the report added, ‘recklessly disregarding these responsibilities’ should be made a criminal offence ‘including a possible prison sentence.’ What staggered me, reading this, was not that these suggestions were being made, but that they were only just being suggested. How is it that bankers have worked to such different rules to the rest of us for so long? That same tone of bewilderment marked Andrew Brown’s blog in The Guardian online on John Sentamu’s speech about gay marriage. It marked, said Brown ‘another step in the Church of England’s stumbling retreat’ on the issue. Failures over 20 years, he said, had left the Church with a ‘monumentally stupid position’ on gay relationships and left it looking like ‘a whitewashed tomb.’ Elsewhere in The Guardian, Sam Jones managed to bring himself to write yet another article about women bishops. Good man. After the pre-Synod press conference he quoted the Church of England’s most senior civil servant, William Fittall, saying that the Church could not afford another ‘train crash’ on the issue. “Even those who are against women becoming bishops in principle know that we are in an unsustainable position and know that it’s not terribly helpful to the mission of the church for this debate to roll on and on.” He’s not wrong there. Time was that people looked askance at the Church and wondered what all the fuss was about. Now, I rather suspect, they don’t even look. Of course, it’s fine to claim some kind of moral or spiritual rectitude for your position on things such as women bishops or gay marriage. But in the end, if you alienate ordinary people who no longer think you represent a God of love, I seriously wonder if it’s worth it. Anyhow, it appears that the Church of England is not alone in having image problems. The Daily Telegraph reported that Thailand’s national Buddhism body had said it was ‘monitoring monks’ following the leaking of a video showing Buddhist monks on a private jet. The YouTube video showed a monk – with colleagues – on a plush private jet, wearing ‘stylish aviator sunglasses, carrying a brand name travel bag and sporting a pair of modern-looking wireless headphones,’ The Daily Telegraph said. It added that some 300 of Thailand’s 61,000 Buddhist monks were ‘reprimanded’ last year over cases of misconduct ranging from drinking alcohol to having sex with women and extortion. Ah, that’s what we like, a decent row and whiff of controversy to end the week. It’s familiar turf. And speaking of turf, I’m turning my attention back to Ascot and the hats and working out how I can possibly go to the ball next year. Probably the closest I’m going to get is trying on hats ‘virtually’ online. Lovehats.com gives you the chance to upload a picture of yourself and then try on a range of pricey headgear. Other than the Buddhist monks on the private jet, nothing’s given me a bigger laugh this week.
Church Typos
Notes, Quotes & Anecdotes A matter of grace
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husband and wife didn’t really love each other. The man was very demanding, so much so that he prepared a list of rules and regulations for his wife to fol-
low. He insisted that she read them over every day and obey them to the letter. Among other things, his “do’s and don’ts” indicated such details as what time she had to get up in the morning, when his breakfast should be served, and how the housework should be done. After several long years, the husband died. As time passed, the woman fell in love with another man, one who dearly loved her. Soon they were married. This husband did everything he could to make his new wife happy, continually showering her with tokens of his appreciation. One day as he was cleaning house, she found tucked away in a drawer the list of com-
Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say ‘Hell’ to someone who doesn’t care much about you.
mands her first husband had drawn up for her. As she looked it over, it dawned on her that even though her present husband hadn’t given her any kind of list, she was doing everything her first husband’s list required anyway. She realized she was so devoted to this man that her deepest desire was to please him out of love, not obligation.
God will not turn away from doing you good. He will keep on doing good. He doesn’t do good to his children sometimes and bad to them other times. He keeps on doing good and he never will stop doing good for ten thousand ages of ages. When things are going bad that does not mean God has stopped doing good. It means he is shifting things around to get them in place for more good, if you will go on loving him. John Piper
E3
Getting the message across?
It makes you think A mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson. She gave the little girl a pound coin and a 10p piece for church. “Put whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the other for yourself,” she told the girl. When they were coming out of church, the mother asked her daughter which amount she had given. “Well,” said the little girl, “I was going to give the pound, but just before the collection the man in the pulpit said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I’d be a lot more cheerful if I gave the 10p piece, so I did.”
Urban Myths
Do you have a funny story, quotable quote or sermon illustration? Send them to The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, London, SW1P 3RX or email cen@churchnewspaper.com
A work colleague tells of a household incident of which he had been an innocent but perplexed spectator. Our friend had called a Venetian-blind repairman to come pick up a faulty blind, and the next morning, while the family was seated at the breakfast table, the doorbell rang. Our friend’s wife went to the door, and the man outside said, “I’m here for the Venetian blind.” Excusing herself in a preoccupied way, the wife went to the kitchen, fished some coins from the food money, pressed it into the repairman’s hand, then gently closed the door and returned to the table. “Somebody collecting,” she explained, pouring the coffee.
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Sunday June 30, 2013
Cows change lives T
wenty-five years ago, a plane-load of cows flew to Uganda. This year Send a Cow, a Christian charity based in Bath, is celebrating over a million lives being transformed by our work in rural Africa. It all began in 1988, when a group of dairy farmers heard the news that Uganda was experiencing a serious drought. At the same time, farmers in the UK were facing strict EU quotas and instructed to cull their livestock. A solution to this problem was to send their own cows to Uganda, to help those in need. Although the initial aim was to provide milk to the malnourished, it soon became clear that the manure from the cows was even more beneficial, as it vastly helped to improve land and increase crop yields. Send a Cow grew from there. Now Send a Cow works in seven countries in Africa; Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Lesotho, providing livestock sourced within Africa. Its programmes teach sustainable organic farming techniques such as producing organic fertiliser, effective growing techniques, beekeeping, and building fuel-efficient stoves. The effects of these skills are incredible – for the first time, many will eat three healthy meals a day, can afford to send their children to school, will be food-secure even during droughts and heavy rains, and will have an increase in income. The amazing thing about Send a Cow is how the transformation grows throughout communities. Through the ‘Pass it On’ principle, for every person helped, 10 more go on to benefit. This may be the sharing of livestock, where the first calf is passed on, or the sharing of knowledge and skills. Therefore, the Send a Cow philosophy is passed on through generations, and those who once begged for help, can now give their help to others – an incredibly empowering moment. Some of the first people to receive a cow in 1988 were Justine Kabuye’s parents. “My mum and dad were not that well-off. We lived an average life with minimal beddings. We ate simple foods like bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava and maybe potatoes. Meat was so rare. Once in a while we ate eggs.” Justine recalls the life-changing day that her family received a cow, when she was just six years old: “I remember it very well. It was about 5pm when white men and other officials came with a truck full of huge animals. My eyes of a child convinced me ours was the biggest.
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“We called it ‘Buyinza’ (meaning God is so gracious and all powerful). My mother cried. They told us farmers in the UK gave it to us for free and that Send a Cow would help us to learn to take care of it as the animal takes care of us. I was excited to feed it. Even me, a small girl could touch it, feed it and I also learnt to milk it!” Now the deputy head teacher of a famous school in Kampala, Justine is the first graduate of her family: “If it was not for Send a Cow, I would not have studied beyond senior four (secondary school). I have not met a good teacher like Send a Cow. It teaches you to work hard, it teaches you to earn a living, and to live with purpose. With education, you unlock all the locks of poverty. I wish Send a Cow God’s blessings and may you
touch many more lives like mine.” Send a Cow could not have reached over a million people like Justine, or their 25th anniversary, without the fantastic support of many people here in the UK. Aside from donations, there is a brilliant network of volunteers, local links and church representatives, who give talks about Send a Cow’s work to churches, schools and rotary clubs, etc. Send a Cow cannot thank these volunteers enough; those who give so much of their time to spread the word of Send a Cow. One of the many benefits of being a volunteer with Send a Cow is an annual meet-up, which is taking place in York this year. Audrey, who volunteers in the East Anglia region, has been part of the Send a Cow family for seven years. She said: “I think Send a Cow is a fantastic organisation – it’s a grassroots organisation, and it works. “People are always delighted when I tell them about how we help people in Africa – rather than relying on aid, it’s helping people help themselves and that’s really important.” If you are interested in becoming involved as a volunteer or would like to book a speaker please get in touch on 01225 874222 or via the website: www.sendacow.org.uk There are lots of other ways to get involved too: Send a Cow has a gifts catalogue, which is especially popular at Christmas, where you can send anything from a chicken to providing water! There are also resources available for church use – including the Prayer Lifeline magazine and Harvest packs.
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he Alpha and Omega Christian Motorsport Team have a mission on the fast track. With their 302 bhp Ford Escort RS Cosworth they race to bring the word of the Lord to places where some other ministries just don’t go. They race to win: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Race in such a way as to get the prize,” 1 Corinthians 9:24. Alpha and Omega CMT are one of a select few who use rally as a vessel for outreach into the racing community. “With nearly 25 years under our belt we are determined to make this year a big one: to celebrate a quarter century in the sport; reach more young people than in previous years and see Jesus reign in the lives of others.” Motorsport is a culture of its own. Inside this culture we can meet people whose lives we’re not so familiar with - people we don’t normally interact with. They come from all sorts of backgrounds, situations and difficulties. But if we share no common interests how are we, ambassadors of Jesus Christ, going to reach out into their lives and see God’s transforming love? Alpha and Omega CMT believe they have an answer. With the common interest of racing and racing mechanics the team, driven forward by Paul Harvey (driver), present at exhibitions, men’s presentations and events as well as at rallies displaying an outreaching Christian faith and the slogan “You must be born again” written down the side of the Nclass rally car. The team takes gospel leaflets around to events and rallies as part of their display. These leaflets talk about the parallels between rally racing and the Christian life. It is an effective way of explaining the Way in an understandable and relevant way. The team of three, nicknamed “The three musketeers”, has changed vastly over the years. Paul Harvey said: “Every few months I decide I cannot give any more and throw the towel in. And when I do, Mark is there to support me and keep me going. And then every few months Mark decides to throw the towel in and when he does I’m there to keep him going! We’re a good solid team!” One of the biggest challenges faced by the team is making it feasible to continue the work. These are ordinary Christians with ordinary jobs and not all have special qualifications to carry out this work. The team work by faith and not by sight. “None of our work would be possible if not fuelled by prayer and obedience to God’s guidance.” The Alpha and Omega CMT works by a budget ‘dictated and provided by the Creator God, the team Leader’. Stories of inspiration become more common when a disciple of Jesus Christ learns to lean on him to provide, and small miracles and inspirations can come in all shapes and sizes.
Men, motors and God
A recent story of such is that of Stuart Hawkins (Co-Driver), the most recent addition to the team. Working behind the scenes to direct the team to race ahead on the mission, Stuart only heard about the Alpha and Omega CMT at the beginning of the year. “I was listening to a Christian radio station that until recently I hadn’t listened to very often. I happened to tune in at the beginning of the interview between the presenter and Paul. I found their website and asked how I could get into rally with no qualifications or experience. One thing led to another and in the end he offered me a position on his team as CoDriver. “The Co-Driver is the team’s Navigator – and that doesn’t just
mean on the stage! It means also seeing and alerting the team as to what troubles are coming up
ahead in the mission work and keeping the team on track with progress.
E5 “God has played a central role in getting me onto the team, performing many small miracles to facilitate the many events required to get onto the team.” God is very much the essence and sustainer of the work: “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith,” Hebrews 12:2. The team rally all over England, but the bulk of the mission work is done off the super stage; at the exhibitions and events they attend. Here they have more time and freedom to talk about their faith and how it drives them forward. “We do as much work as we can locally; we’re heavily involved in the local Baptist church, as well as hosting mechanics evenings, attending outreach events and all other things possible. We are always looking for the next thing we can do. We want to do more locally in Ipswich.” The team are constantly rallying for support. The work is not possible without help as no Christian was created to work alone. You can support the team in one of the many ways to help. The most important is prayer. Nothing is possible without prayer. The team believes in praying about specifics and will happily provide a prayer list of a few pointers on request. Or you can also help financially. The work is very difficult without financial provision and the more funds the team has the more outreach they can do. For more details regarding the team, to request a booking or to contribute to the work, please visit www.alphaomegacmt.org.uk. You will find there more information about the team and an option to contact them. Also check out the Facebook page Alpha & Omega CMT for latest news and upcoming events.
KE͛d :h^d d < KhZ tKZ &KZ /d ͊ džĐĞůůĞŶƚ ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ^ĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ǁŽƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ŽŌĞŶ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŚŽ ƐĞůů ŵŽƚŽƌ ĐĂƌƐ͕ ƐŽ ŚŽǁ ĚŽ LJŽƵ ŬŶŽǁ ǁŚĞƌĞ LJŽƵ ĐĂŶ ŐĞƚ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ĐĂƌ ĚĞĂů ĨƌŽŵ ƚƌƵƐƚǁŽƌƚŚLJ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͍ DĂŶLJ ƉƌŽŵŝƐĞ ŝƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ďĂĚůLJ ůĞƚ LJŽƵ ĚŽǁŶ͕ ďƵƚ WƌŝŽƌLJ ƵƚŽŵŽƟǀĞ ĂĐƚƵĂůůLJ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ŽĨ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ͘tŚŽ ƐĂLJ͛Ɛ ƐŽ͍ tĞůů ĂĐƚƵĂůůLJ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽǁŶ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĚŽ͘ WƌŝŽƌLJ ŚĂǀĞ ƐŽ ŵĂŶLJ ƐĂƟƐĮĞĚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞLJ ŚĂǀĞ ũƵƐƚ ƌĞͲ ǀĂŵƉĞĚ ƚŚĞ ͚dĞƐƟŵŽŶŝĂůƐ͛ ƉĂŐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞLJ ŝŶǀŝƚĞ LJŽƵ ƚŽ ůŽŐ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚĂŬĞ Ă ůŽŽŬ͘ ĂĐŚ ƚĞƐƟŵŽŶŝĂů ŝƐ Ă ǁŽƌĚ ĨŽƌ ǁŽƌĚ ŐĞŶƵŝŶĞ ƚĞƐƚĂŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ƚŽ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĨĞĞů ĂďŽƵƚ ďŽƚŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŶĞǁ ĐĂƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞLJ ŚĂǀĞ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ͘ WƌŝŽƌLJ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŚŽůĞ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ƐŽ ĞĂƐLJ͕ ƐŝŵƉůLJ ŐŝǀĞ ƚŚĞŵ LJŽƵƌ ůŝƐƚ ŽĨ ŶĞĞĚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞLJ ǁŝůů ĚŽ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌŬ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵ͘ dŚĞLJ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ŚƵŐĞ ŶĂƟŽŶǁŝĚĞ ƐƵƉƉůLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĞƐƚ ƵƐĞĚ ĐĂƌƐ͕ Ăůů Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ǀĞƌLJ ďĞƐƚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĞĂĐŚ ŽŶĞ ŝƐ ĨƵůůLJ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ LJŽƵƌ ĚŽŽƌ͖ ƚŚĞLJ ǁŝůů ĞǀĞŶ ƚĂŬĞ LJŽƵƌ ŽůĚ ĐĂƌ ĂǁĂLJ͕ Ăƚ ĂŶ ĂŐƌĞĞĚ ĨĂŝƌ ƉƌŝĐĞ͘ /Ĩ LJŽƵ ǁŽƌƌLJ ĂďŽƵƚ ďƵLJŝŶŐ Ă ƵƐĞĚ ĐĂƌ͕ ũƵƐƚ ůŽŽŬ Ăƚ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ WƌŝŽƌLJ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ƐĂLJ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŵ͖ LJŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ŶĞǀĞƌ ǁŽƌƌLJ ĂŐĂŝŶ͘
&Žƌ ĂŶLJ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĐĂůů Ϭϭϭϰ Ϯϱϱϵϲϵϲ Žƌ ǀŝƐŝƚ ǁǁǁ͘ƉƌŝŽƌLJĂƵƚŽŵŽƟǀĞ͘ĐŽŵ
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E6
Love story takes us to the period Before Midnight B
efore Midnight (cert. 15) is episode three of the love story between Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke). In Before Sunrise (1995) they met on a train, spent the night walking around and (we suppose) made love before parting, and in Before Sunset (2004) they met again, had a day together, and (we think) stayed together. It seems they did. Here’s Jesse at Kalamata airport in southern Greece, seeing his 13-year-old son Hank (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) back off to Chicago and his mother (Jesse’s ex-wife), while Celine waits in the car with their seven-year-old twin girls (Jennifer and Charlotte Prior), conceived the first time Jesse and Celine had sex without a condom. That sort of intimate detail emerges round the dinner table at the house of writer Patrick (Walter Lassally), with another couple Ariadne (Athina Rachel Tsangari) and Stefanos (Panos Koronis), Patrick’s friend Natalia (Xenia Kalogeropoulou), and a younger couple Achilleas (Yiannis Papadopoulos) and Anna (Ariadne Labed). Talk is of love, and love of life, and also of loss as Natalia shares some of her bereavement. Sometimes there’s a flicker of a bicker in how the couples relate, partly because Celine has had a job offer that conflicts with Jesse’s wish to have more time with Hank. Perhaps against their better judgement, Jesse and Celine accept a gift from the others to spend their last night in Greece in a smart seaside hotel, with the others looking after the twins. They’re already into foreplay when the phone rings; it’s Hank, and Celine takes the call, fits in a barb about Hank’s mother, and the simmering passion suddenly becomes a simmering row. It’s pre-coitus interruptus on a scale that puts a question mark over whether we’ll get a fourth in the series. Like the other films, this is almost all dialogue, even if the background (villages, churches, sunsets, harbours)
has a travelogue element. Music by Graham Reynolds and cinematography by Christos Voudouris complement the beautiful writing, in which director Richard Linklater shares credit with Delpy and Hawke. The success of the film (and the whole trilogy) rests on
whether the conversation is worth listening to, and how true to life it is, and ultimately whether we care what happens to Jesse and Celine. The simple answer is, “we do”, and roll on 2022. Steve Parish
CD REVIEW Fiction Family Reunion (Rock Ridge Music)
F
iction Family has an energetic acoustic pop sound that sits somewhere between Switchfoot’s quieter material and Jon Foreman’s solo work, but alongside Foreman’s distinctive vocals and tunesmithery, Fiction Family was cofounded with Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins. For this second release, they have also fixed a place for touring bassist Tyler Chester and drummer Aaron Redfield. At only 37 minutes, this is a brief excursion into sound, but it has such strong content that it feels very complete. Utterly filler-free, it manages to pack in a spectrum of matter from confession, through commentary and matters of the heart, to a fun piece. There are strong hints of the Beatles in a
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couple of places: a simple, poppy singability shines through and it almost sounds like one track is a deliberate, affectionate pastiche. Towards the end, Watkins’ bluegrass influence seems to surface. Presumably (info is highly scarce in the digipack and on the website) he is the man behind the clever love song Just Rob Me, which should have most listeners smiling broadly by the end. The old-time jazziness of Reality Calls could also be his. Tucked inside the easy playfulness of the album, God Badge makes a strong point to judgmental Christians, urging, “Put your God badge down and love someone.” It has been a while since I have heard so many songs on one album that make you want to sing. It is hard to imagine many people disliking this set. Recommended. Derek Walker
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E7
A new understanding Jesus the Temple Nicholas Perrin SPCK, pb, £17.99
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very so often a book is published that sheds new light on the New Testament and opens up a fresh perspective to help us understand the historical Jesus. This work by Professor Nicholas Perrin of Wheaton College is just such a book. Perrin is a former student of Bishop Tom Wright and he fully accepts Wright’s thesis that at the time of Jesus the Jewish people thought of themselves as being in exile and were looking for God to act in a decisive way to lead them to liberation and a new Exodus. Perrin shows that a major feature of this sense of exile was dissatisfaction with the Temple in Jerusalem. To have to live under foreign political control was humiliation enough for the Jewish people but it was made worse by the fact that the Temple had been defiled by the Romans and was under the control of a corrupt and treacherous priesthood.
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lexander Ogorodnikov fought for religious freedom in the Soviet Union, now he battles for social rights in postCommunist Russia. He is a hero whose story deserves to be widely known. Belgian journalist Konraad De Wolf has written about his life in Dissident for Life (Eerdmans). There is a foreword by Lord Alton. This book is highly recommended. Many people know the sorrow of seeing a much-loved relative apparently drift away from them when dementia or a similar illness strikes. John Swinton of the University of Aberdeen, who is already well known for his work in practical theology, has written a theological approach to dementia, Dementia: Living in the Memor y of God (SCM) in which he argues that those who have entered into what appears to be the dark-
Perrin opens his study by looking at two anti-Temple movements, the sect who produced the anonymous document known as the ‘Psalms of Solomon’ and the sect at Qumran. He then examines John the Baptist and claims it was not the early church but John himself who saw his ministry as a fulfilment of Isaiah 40 which spoke of a return from exile. John was not as obviously critical of the Temple as the other two movements but Perrin finds indirect evidence that this was the case. He does not discuss the theory that John’s roots were in the lower priesthood that was critical of the Jerusalem establishment but admits that John is a puzzling figure. Next Perrin turns his attention to the early church, drawing evidence from the Johannine literature, Luke/Acts, Matthew and the Epistles to show that the church saw itself as a counter-Temple movement. Perrin argued that the early Christians did not see their movement either as being like the Temple or as usurping it but as being a new, eschatological temple that existed in tandem with the Temple in Jerusalem. John’s reference to there being mansions in the Father’s house, for example, should be interpreted as a description of the eschatological temple. Finally three chapters are devoted to Jesus’ own teaching on the Temple and to his action in driving moneychangers out of the temple. Perrin argues that the healings and the exorcisms as well as the messianic meals should be seen as signs that Jesus believed he had created around himself a new temple. What second-century Jerusalem expected in the future, Jesus symbolically brought into the present by his actions. A short summary cannot do justice to the excitement this book generates. There will be passages where the
ness of dementia are still held in God’s memory. This offers hope based on practical experience, insight and faith. In Help, Thanks, Wow Anne Lamont, a well-known American writer, tells us that there are really only three important types of prayer. This is a brief introduction to prayer and is
published by Hodder. All of us will face illness at one time or another. Nancy Groves, who is a medical
reader finds new light shed on familiar passages from the New Testament; other passages where the reader feels the author has pushed his argument too far. Perrin himself expresses the hope that even if we do not accept all his conclusions we will agree that he has drawn attention to features of the New Testament that deserve more consideration than they have received. He is undoubtedly right in arguing that many scholars from a Protestant background have not given the role of the Temple in the New Testament the attention it deserves. Part of the significance of interpretation of Jesus’ mission Perrin offers is that it makes clear he was not addressing his mission to individuals. He sought to create a new people, a new society where human wealth would no longer be measured by wealth or social position. Over against the old Temple Jesus saw himself as a high priest, constituting a new temple with a new priesthood. Although this was a Temple in which the first were last and the last first, Perrin argues there was in some sense a hierarchy with the disciples exercising a more intensive form of priestly ministry than the others. Egalitarianism and hierarchy co-existed. One omission from the book is any discussion of the significance of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Did this influence the way later New Testament writers saw the Temple or was it seen as confirmation of Jesus’ teaching? Critics will question Perrin’s readiness to accept the historicity of passages open to dispute but few will deny the stimulating way he has opened up a whole new approach to understanding the meaning of Christ’s ministry. Paul Richardson
social worker, wants us to allow Jesus to be our companion on the road we have to travel, no matter how painful it may be. She has written Facing Illness, Finding Peace as a guide to help us find spiritual strength in illness. Published by the Bible Reading Fellowship this is a book for the parish bookstall or for the library of a hospital chaplaincy. As with illness, so with guilt: it troubles all of us in one way or another throughout our lives. Daniel Brown, a pastor from California, has written Embracing Grace (Authentic) to help us when we feel overwhelmed by unworthiness or guilt. Brown shows how grace and law work together. Normally this column notices books not journals but many readers will find articles of interest in the current issue of Church-
man, the journal of the Church Society. David Shaw, who is based in Cambridge and studying for a PhD in the New Testament, looks at Junia in Romans 16:7 and asks if she was an apostle; Professor Noel Cox of Aberystwyth University examines the issue of the ordination of women and the unity of the church; and Canon Ashley Tull writes about Thomas Cranmer and Tudor Evangelicalism. You may not agree with all their conclusions, but these stimulating articles are well worth reading and consideration. With the anniversary of World War I looming, the publication of the diaries of a War Nurse is very timely. In Dorothy’s War (Weidenfield), Richard Crewdson has edited the diary of Dorothy Crewdson, an aunt he never knew in person. Frustrations of work, flirtations with doctors, gossip, the enjoyment of precious days off – reading about all of this helps us to gain insight into what it was like to go through the First World War. This is a book that will fascinate many readers.
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Sunday June 30, 2013
Janey Lee Grace Live Healthy! Live Happy!
Don’t worry be happy… as you age T
here were some interesting statistics in the press this week. A report claims that one in five of us suffers from anxiety and depression, according to the most comprehensive study ever carried out into mental health. High levels of unemployment, relationship breakdowns and poor physical health are the main causes of stress-related illnesses. David Cameron ordered the Survey into the Nations Happiness as part of the Measuring National Wellbeing Programme. It’s thought over 40,000 households were asked some questions that delved into their lives and emotional state. It seems people aged 50-54 are most likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or low selfesteem. Compare that, though, to the response from those who have reached retirement age. Just when you’d think pen-
sioners might be the ones feeling anxious, experiencing health issues and suffering from stress it seems that retiring makes you feel 30 years younger. The official research shows that those aged over 65 are enjoying a new lease of life, they are happier about their health than they were in their 30s. Perhaps because they no longer have the stress of work they are able to have a sense of freedom, and those with their health intact have found a new lease of life. The figures were revealed as part of the Measuring National Wellbeing Programme after David Cameron ordered a report to gauge the nation’s happiness. And the results will be bad reading for the Prime Minister. People aged 50 to 54 are most likely to suffer from depression. It revealed 16 per cent of men and one in five women have suffered from the symptoms of
anxiety, including low self-esteem. The Department of Health has invested £400million to improve mental health care since 2010. But a spokeswoman admitted: “Stigma attached to the illness can play a big part in people not coming forward for early treatment.” I’d love to know where faith and spirituality fit into the findings. Recent research from a hospital in the USA found that faith in a ‘higher being’ has been found to significantly improve treatment for people suffering with a psychiatric illness. Patients with no belief were twice as likely not to respond to treatment. Of course it’s hoped one wouldn’t get to the ‘being hospitalised’ stage and that’s where I wonder how supportive most churches are. Many years ago the church I attended dropped any members of the congregation if it transpired their lives didn’t live up to scrutiny. I remember one poor woman being ‘ex-communicated’ for the breakdown of her marriage. I’m hoping most churches are now more inclusive but it’s a slightly sobering thought that if you take any random five people according to this report, if one of them is around 50, they could be feeling low whilst putting on a brave face. At least we can look forward to feeling happier as we age. Roll on retirement!
PRIZE CROSSWORD No. 854 by Axe
Across 5 7 9 10 12 13 15 17 19 20
Angel of the first order (6) 'No immoral, ------ or greedy person...has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God' [Eph/NIV] (6) Group of people who habitually attend a given church (12) Country, today's Sudan, sometimes called Cush in Hebrew Bible translations [Acts] (8) 'Their ---- of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight' [2 Pet/NIV] (4) 'The King of Israel has come out to look for a ---- – as one hunts a partridge in the mountains' [1 Sam/NIV] (4) 'I will -------- royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms' [Hag/NIV] (8) 'Media lay siege! I will ----- -- -- --- all the groaning she caused' [Isa/NIV] (5,2,2,3) Stiffened linen bib-like attachment worn traditionally by nuns with a coif and wimple (6) Oldest Christian feast (6)
Down 1 'Aren't you the Egyptian who started a ------ and led four thousand terrorists...?' [Acts/NIV] (6) 2 'And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon ---- shall flee from ----...' [Nah/KJV] (4) 3 Home to a C of E parish priest, one who was formerly entitled to a stipend (8) 4 '...cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones...and articles of...costly wood, ------, iron and marble' [Rev/NIV] (6) 6 Principles of the Church of England (11) 8 Biblical peoples from whom the word 'Palestine' is derived (11) 11 '[They] have -------- my back and made their furrows long' [Ps/NIV] (8 14 'My heart took delight in all my ------, and this was the reward for all my toil' [Eccles/NIV] (6) 16 '------ therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things that be God's' [Luke/KJV] (6) 18 'For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road... to seek an ----' [Ezek/NIV] (4)
The first correct entry drawn will win a book of the Editor’s choice. Send your entry to Crossword Number 854, The Church of England Newspaper, 14 Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3RX by next Friday
Solutions to last week’s crossword
Name
Across: 1 Sacrifices, 6 Curtain, 7 Ahead, 9 Roast, 10 Reclaim, 11 Elders, 13 Austin, 16 Ipswich, 18 Tunic, 20 Ekron, 21 Puritan, 22 Beatitudes.
Address
Down: 1 Syria, 2 Chapter, 3 Ignore, 4 Isaac, 5 Elegant, 6 Carmelite, 8 Dominican, 12 Deserve, 14 Uttered, 15 The pit, 17 If not, 19 Notes.
Leader & Comment Sunday June 30, 2013
Comment Keep God in Girl Guiding Displacing God as the moral compass of the Girl Guides in favour of ‘me’ has rightly causing a rumpus. It is another floor tile dug up of the Christian foundations long assumed by society as the invisible social ethic behind our national behaviour and institutions, including very large ones such as the NHS. So Girl Guides are no longer to promise allegiance to God, but to ‘be true to myself’. As Bishop Nick Baines quite rightly has commented, this is in effect another idolatry of the self. The Chief Guide, who has kicked God out, recognises this: ‘Well, to be true to myself I’m going to go and rob a post office’ she admits is quite consistent with the new ‘promise’ – to myself, an odd sort of promise in itself! But her defence is that ‘we are not the sort of organisation that robs post offices’, to which the blindingly obvious reply is ‘that’s because of the century of basic Christian morality inculcated in and by the Guides’. Selfishness, the ‘me’ imperative, was precisely not what Guiding promoted, now it is – in fact it can be anything. The de-Christianisation of society and structures put in place since 1997 proceeds apace, and by ripping up Gospel assumptions our modernisers, including all leaders of our political parties, are removing a great and deep moral tradition that worked to protect the vulnerable and to shape kindly and caring attitudes, to love God and my neighbour as myself. Tom Oden usefully listed the new postmodern assumption as: moral relativism, autonomous individualism, narcissistic hedonism and scientific reductionism: and the Chief Guide, no doubt sincerely thinking she is changing nothing of substance, has taken a long stride into this brave new world. She thinks that the Guides never were a religious organisation, and as in so much else in our culture that was rooted in Christianity, such as Charity Law, education, care of the sick, this was a kind of invisible and untrumpeted reality, not controlled by ‘the Church’ in any way, but still a clearly Christian ethic at work. When asked where religion came into Scouting and Guiding, Baden Powell in an address of 1926 responded: “It does not come in at all. It is already there. It is a fundamental factor underlying Scouting and Guiding.” But it seems that the Christian value system is uniquely to be deemed intolerant of other views – the Chief Guide thinks a secularist basis is fairer than a Christian one: she is cutting down the tree that produced the fruit. This is however a great opportunity to trigger a desperately needed debate about public morality and values, and the place of Christianity in these. Nick Baines has pointed out that ‘being true to myself’ is what Hitler did: the cult of sincerity is not enough and in fact is dangerous. In particular, given the vulnerability of young girls to a host of moral threats now eating into their lives, now is a time to point them to the God of holy love as the core of their existence.
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Standing up to North Korea David Alton Tuesday last, 25 June, marked the anniversary of the outbreak, in 1950, of the Korean War. On 27 July, it will be the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement, signed in 1953. Over those three bloody years around three million people were killed – including 1,000 British servicemen, more than in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Falklands combined. At the end of the war, at the 38th Parallel, a militarised wall was erected, dividing the peninsula. The Communist north became an isolated Stalinist State – replete with its own purges, reign of terror, and gulags — and the south a military dictatorship. Years of dangerous aggression and acts of provocation have followed – and while the south has evolved into a vibrant, thriving, democracy the northern dynastic dictatorship is known for its nuclear tests, a missile launch which cost £500 million, a vast standing army, egregious abuses of human rights and mass starvation. Sixty years after the signing of the Armistice, the north remains formally at war with the south and with the United States. They have even managed to so antagonise their powerful Chinese neighbour that Beijing has taken to casting its Security Council vote with the United States, both censuring Pyongyang and supporting the imposition of further sanctions. For Britain, the war with North Korea ended in 2001 when we created diplomatic relations and exchanged ambassadors. In 2003, after a speech I made in the House of Lords highlighting the degrading conditions in the north’s prison camps - where 200,000 people are held and 400,000 people have died in the past 30 years - the North Korean Ambassador in London called me and protested. This led to Baroness (Caroline) Cox and I travelling to North Korea to see the situation first hand, to the subsequent formation of the Parliamentary Group on North Korea, which I chair, and to the publication of several reports which Lady Cox and I have authored. We have patiently attempted to create dialogue without appeasement; to undertake constructive but critical engagement; and to make human rights abuses a central concern. For the first time in many years the north and south have just held some faceto-face talks. It’s what we have been calling for. I have now been to North Korea on four occasions and also to the River Tumen crossing in northern China where many defectors lose their lives, shot as they try to escape from a country where the 1990s famine took the lives of 2 million and where there are reports of malnutrition and even cannibalism. At Westminster I have chaired regular sessions, taking evidence from escapees. Their accounts are recorded in the book, “Building Bridges – is there hope for North Korea?” – which I have written with Rob Chidley, and which is published by Lion. “Building Bridges” also tells the story of Korea’s 8,000 Christian martyrs and recounts the courageous role that the churches played in leading the south to democracy. It tells the story of Robert Jermyn Thomas who took Bibles to Korea and was executed; how his executioner became a Christian and how, at the place where he died in Pyongyang, there is a new university founded by a South Korean Christian, Dr James Kim – the story of which is nothing short of miraculous.
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Korean War veterans salute during a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in Seoul, South Korea,
It tells the story, too, of another event 60 years ago: the largely forgotten story of a group of Christians seized by the Communists and taken on an epic forced march. Marched from place to place, they were given starvation rations, and frequently left exposed to the elements. They included the Catholic Bishop, Patrick Byrne, and 76-year-old Mother Beatrix, the provincial superior of a community of French Carmelite nuns - who both died on the march; the Anglican Bishop, Cecil Cooper – who survived; the Reverend Charles Hunt; members of the Methodist mission; Herbert Lord, head of the Salvation Army in Korea; and a clutch of South Korean politicians. When Commissioner Lord protested that many of the group were elderly or infirm “…but they will die if they have to march” the Korean major responded “Then let them march until they die.” And most of them did. Fr Philip Crosbie, an Australian priest, one of the few who lived, later wrote: “And so I came to freedom… All this I prize; but I have gained a still greater and more precious freedom. It is the freedom to believe in God and openly profess my faith.” “Building Bridges” was written to ensure that these stories of great sacrifice and suffering are not forgotten but also to inspire and challenge its readers to get involved and to pray and work for much longed for change in North Korea. David Alton is an Independent Crossbench Peer; is Professor of Citizenship at Liverpool John Moores University; was a founder of Jubilee Campaign; and is Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea. Building Bridges is published by Lion, price £9.99
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M
any people, when they think of the work of Gospel in Israel, firstly think about the significance of the return of the Jews from the Diaspora and the growth of the Messianic Movement amongst them. But this has often
obscured the fact that there has been a continuing Christian Church in the Holy Land since the time of the Apostles, and that indigenous Arab Evangelical Protestant Churches have been present and growing for over 100 years. Most of these are Baptist,
with some Brethren, and, more recently Pentecostal fellowships. Out of a population of 150,000 Arab-Israeli Christians, there are about 10,000 evangelicals (about the same number as the Messianic Jews). Most of the evangelical churches are small
Sunday June 30, 2013 and have unpaid and sometimes untrained Pastors. The majority of those making up these congregations are from traditional Christian backgrounds, and have a poor grasp of the Bible. The Christian population here has lived under the shadow of Islam for centuries and therefore lacks the confidence of churches in historic Christendom. In consequence there is much work to be done in the training of Pastors and in developing the growth of spiritually mature congregations. There are three institutes of higher education in Israel seeking to support the work of the Evangelical Churches in Israel. Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS) is one of them. The college provides internationally recognised theological qualifications in both English and Arabic, working in partnership with Hope International University, USA, and Spurgeon’s College, London. The student body is largely indigenous, as the vision of the college is to equip and support the Evangelical Christian community in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Feature
the faculty includes a Messianic Jew. We believe that the relations between Arab and Messianic believers could be better established, and that NETS could play a role in that. The college also provides theological training to churches in Israel whose congregations are made up of foreign workers and refugees. There are two Filipino Baptist churches in Israel and a small number of African Churches as well. Most of the Filipinos work as carers for Israeli Families, and the core members of these churches are also attached to a Baptist church back home. However, many of them are involved in evangelism to other Filipinos working in Israel. The college seeks to support them by equipping them theologically for this work of witness. Lastly, we would value your prayers for all the Christians & Jewish believers in the Holy Land, for the work of the Seminaries and Bible Colleges, and indeed for all the Christians in this region. Arab Israeli Christians are a tiny minority – about two percent of the population and are tempted with emigration. They are sometimes
Something good out of Nazareth
Sabba cal month in Nazareth, Israel, Hometown of Jesus
The work of training Pastors & Leaders in Israel
Azar Ajaj, the acting President of NETS, believes that God is preparing the Arab Churches to reach the Muslims in the land, and part of the work of NETS, along with providing theological training for Pastors & church leaders, is in conducting research into the growth of Christians who come from a Muslim Background and in the recent establishment of Muslim Background congregations in the region. NETS have links with Messianic Congregations, and
rejected by Muslims because they are more educated, prosperous and peacable, yet they are also rejected by much of the Jewish population because they are Arabs. Your prayers and support for ministries like NETS make a crucial contribution to maintaining a Christian presence in the land that Jesus the Messiah knew so well. For more information check our website www.nazarethseminary.org, or our facebook page. Marie Kirk
1st – 27th November
Following the amazing success of our previous sabba cal programmes, NAZARETH EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (NETS) is once again offering our unique Study Programme designed to enhance your life and ministry. You will:
• Par cipate in seminars rela ng to the Holy Land, both past and present
• Enjoy guided tours to the major biblical sites • Hear the stories of both Arab and Jews regarding their own stories of life and faith
• Par cipate in worship with local believers
• Discover the work of the churches in the Holy Land
NETS is offering a complete package which includes flights from London Luton, transfers, bed, breakfast and main meals, and all costs for adver sed tourist visits. You will also spend 4 days in Jerusalem. For more informa on contact Marie Kirk at info@nazarethseminary.org
Come and see…
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Feature Sunday June 30, 2013
Cook this! Salmon & Cream Cheese Mash Ingredients
Method
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Wine of the Week
Prep time: 5 mins Cook in: 10 mins Ser ves: 2
Boil the potatoes for 8-10 minutes until tender, drain and return to the pan. Mash with the soft cheese, adding a dash of milk for a softer consistency. Stir in the remaining ingredients, season to taste. Serve immediately. Instead of smoked salmon try flakes of hot smoked salmon. This dish is suitable for freezing - ideal for making ahead of time.
500g medium smooth potatoes, diced 100g low fat soft cheese 75g smoked salmon, thinly sliced 50g pitted black olives, sliced (optional) 1 tbsp capers (optional) ½ x 15g pack fresh chives, chopped -
Château Cissac Haut-Mèdoc 2009 Berr y Bros. & Rudd £14.10 (case price bottle). www.bbr.com Here’s a claret from Britain’s oldest wine merchant, established 1698. They keep very up-todate, though, beginning their online ordering website in 1994. It’s from the Haut-Mèdoc, to the north of Bordeaux city, on the left bank of the river Gironde. Classified Cru Bourgeois, it is bottled at the Château. The sunny year 2009 gave a superb vintage, and some, like this, are already drinking well. In the glass, glowing deep red. On the nose, enticing ripe blackberries and a hint of cedar. Then, soft and gentle in a good medium body, on the palate come again the blackberries joined by blackcurrants, the fruit well balanced by sharper tannins and a touch of barrel oak. Music in the mouth, changing notes in a delicious chord. The finish is glowing and very long. A wine that is ready now, but which will certainly keep for a year or so. Best to buy by the case of 12 bottles (£169.20): there’s free delivery (bbr@bbr.com, or call 0800 280 2440). You can order a single bottle, but that costs £16.95, plus £7.50 delivery charge. A wine that will add elegance to summer dinners. If you can resist, hold on to some bottles for Christmas roasts. Excellent with French soft cheeses. Graham Gendall Norton
Working in all things for the glory of God By Linda Maslen
I
t was around four years ago that I came back into a proper relationship with Jesus, after a long period of doing my own thing. During that time my career had taken off. I started out handling phones in a call centre and had ended up leading the contact centres within Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, at the peak leading 12,500 people across the UK. After I found the Lord again, one of the earliest questions I had was, ‘What should I be doing with my life now, God?’ When he answered my question, the answer really surprised me; God reassured me I was in the right place for me to begin my ministry for him. I found an amazing church full of fantastic followers of Jesus who really helped and encouraged me. At the time the church was being led to be mission-orientated, and I began to get involved in missional activities. However, despite all my involvement in these ministry areas, I couldn’t get away from what God had said to me about my workplace being the right place to be. There was no teaching from within the church on how to minister in the workplace. In fact, one preacher suggested that if work was impacting on my ability to contribute to mission activities, I should give up my work. But that felt wrong to me, and the more I prayed, the more I knew that God had given me work as a gift and my work colleagues as a mission field. I find it amazing that in Hebrew the word used most commonly for work and worship is the same: ‘avodah’. In Exodus 34:21 Moses, renewing the covenant with God, says, ‘Six days you shall work (avodah).’ And then in Exodus 8:1: ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship (avodah) me.’ I realised that my work was another expression of my worship to God and it was important to him. Once the impact of that had set in, I began to pray over my work – before I started the day, before I started a meeting. God answered my prayers – quietly, in small yet significant ways, I began to see him changing things. I carefully began to share with those with whom I worked closely. I had an easy conversation opener in my work at our local food and support drop-in centre. Helping feed people who are hungry and helping them to find a way forward is something everyone can resonate with. I was able to share stories of what was happening when people asked the inevitable, ‘What did you do at the weekend?’ In turn, that led to questions of why I would want to spend my weekends helping others; that then led to the opportunity to
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share about my faith. I recognised I had a huge opportunity to bring Kingdom values into the workplace. Those who lead organisations often have to make some of the most difficult decisions – of which reducing the number of people who work with you is one of the hardest. The impact of losing a job goes way beyond the people who are directly affected and includes loved ones, friends and family. As Christians, we have the privilege of being able to bring God’s love into these difficult situations, going beyond the bare minimum of simply providing formal discussions by giving time, doing all that is possible to support the person into something different, keeping in contact and continuing to demonstrate God’s love in action. There is no doubt that the workplace mission field is a hard one. Relationships are built up gradually and gently and there are many obstacles and hurdles. But I take great heart that I can see God working in the lives of the people I work with and I know that, at the right time, the seeds he has planted will come to fruition.
Linda Maslen has held senior leadership roles in a number of organisations including HMRC, e.on, Thames Water and firstdirect. Since returning to her faith four years ago she has been working to develop Kingdom initiatives within the workplace. She is also a New Wine trustee and will be speaking at this year’s New Wine North & East Summer Conference
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www.churchnewspaper.com APPOINTMENTS
The Rev Susan Allman, Priest-in-Charge, Titchfield St. Peter (Portsmouth): is now also Area Dean, Fareham Deanery (same diocese).
Sunday June 30, 2013
ANGLICAN CYCLE OF PRAYER Sunday 30 June. Pentecost 6. Psalm 119:33-49, Mt 22:23-33. Oklahoma - (VII, The Episcopal Church): The Rt Rev Edward Konieczny Monday 1 July. Psalm 32, Mt 22:34-46. Okrika - (Niger Delta, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Tubokosemie Atere
The Rev Canon Robert Bailey,
Tuesday 2 July. Psalm 33, Jer 6:22-30
Assistant Chaplain, Dorothy House Hospice Winsley (Salisbury): is now Team Vicar, The Cannings and Redhorn (same diocese).
Oleh - (Bendel, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Jonathan Francis Ekokotu Edewor
The Rt Rev Timothy Bavin, Order of St Benedict; and Hon Assistant Bishop (Portsmouth): to be Hon Assistant Bishop (Winchester). The Rev Terence Brown, NSM (Assistant Minister), Great Wakering and Foulness; and NSM (Assistant Minister), Barling with Little Wakering (Chelmsford): to be NSM (Priest-inCharge), Sandon (same diocese). The Rev Helen Bryan, NSM (Associate Minister), Laindon with Dunton (Chelmsford): to be NSM (House for Duty Priest-in-Charge), Horndon East and West Horndon with Little Warley and Childerditch (same diocese). The Rev Michael Bursell, NSM (Assistant Curate), Halstead Area (Chelmsford): is now NSM (Associate Priest). The Rev David Commander, Assistant Curate, Tunbridge Wells St James (Rochester): to be Rector, Benenden and Sandhust (Canterbury). The Rev Ian Cooper, Team Vicar, Marlborough (Salisbury): to be Learning for Discipleship Support Officer (same diocese). The Rev Emma Dinwiddy Smith, Assistant Curate, Hampstead St John (London): to be Assistant Curate (Associate Vicar), Chelsea St Luke and Christ Church (same diocese). The Rev Andrew Edmeads, Chaplain, St Michael’s Hospice Basingstoke (Winchester): is now Chaplain, Naomi House Hospice Sutton Scotney (same diocese). The Rev Dr Colin Greene, NSM (House-for-Duty Priest-in-Charge), Marnhull (Salisbury): is now Rector. The Rev Andrew Griffiths, Vicar, Galleywood Common; and Rural Dean, Chelmsford South Deanery (Chelmsford): to be also Assistant Curate (Associate Priest), Moulsham St John; and Assistant Curate (Associate Priest), Moulsham St Luke; and Assistant Curate (Associate Priest) Widford (same diocese). The Rev Paula Griffiths, NSM (Assistant Curate), Saffron Walden and Villages (Chelmsford): is now NSM (Associate Priest). The Rev James Heard, Assistant Curate, Chelsea St. Luke and Christ Church (London): to be Priest-inCharge, Holland Road (same diocese). The Rev Matthew Hogg, Priest-in-Charge, Fulham St Alban with St Augustine (London): to be Vicar. The Rev Christopher Key,
Wednesday 3 July. Psalm 34:1-10, Jer 7:1-15. Osaka - (Japan): The Rt Rev Samuel Osamu Onishi Thursday 4 July. Psalm 34:11-22, Jer 7:21-28. Omu-Aran - (Kwara, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Philip Adeyemo Friday 5 July. Psalm 35, Jer 8:18-9:3. On the Lake - (Owerri, Nigeria): The Rt Rev Chijioke Oti Saturday 6 July. Psalm 36, Jer 9:17-24. Ottawa - (Ontario, Canada): The Rt Rev John Holland Chapman; Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Armed Forces - (Ontario, Canada): The Rt Rev Peter Robert Coffin Rector, Ore St Helen and St Barnabas; and Rural Dean, Hastings Deanery (Chichester): to be Vicar, Maidstone St Luke (Canterbury). The Rev Canon Alyson Lamb, Vicar, Eastbourne St John (Chichester): to be Chaplain, Paris St Michael (France, Europe). The Rev Peter Micklethwaite, (Portsmouth): to be NSM (Assistant Curate), Sheet (same diocese). The Rev Philip Michell, Assistant Curate, Brailsford with Shirley, Osmaston with Edlaston, and Yeaveley (Derby): to be Rector, Hulland, Atlow, Kniveton, Bradley and Hognaston (same diocese). The Rev Canon Graham Morris, Priest-in-Charge, Ryde All Saints; and Priest-in-Charge, Swanmore St Michael (Portsmouth): to be also Portsmouth Chair, Inter Diocesan West Africa Link (same diocese). The Rev Steven Morris, Assistant Curate, Ealing St Stephen Castle Hill (London): is now Assistant Curate (Interim Priest), Neasden (same diocese). The Very Rev Philip Need, Rector, Bocking St Mary; and Dean of Bocking; and Hon Canon, Chelmsford Cathedral (Chelmsford): to be Diocesan Director of Ordinands (same diocese). Remaining Hon Canon. The Rev Stephen Rae, Assistant Curate, Danehill (Chichester): to be Vicar, Westgate St James (Canterbury). The Rev Diane Roberts, NSM (Associate Priest), Kinson and West Howe (Salisbury): is now NSM (Associate Priest), Salisbury St Mark and Laverstock (same diocese). The Rev David Rogers, Warden, St Peter’s Bourne Centre for Christian Education and Spirituality (London): to resign with effect from 31 August 2013. The Rev George Rogers, Assistant Curate (Associate Vicar), Staines (London): to be Priest-in-Charge, Milton next Sittingbourne (Canterbury). The Rt Rev Henry Scriven, Mission Director, South America Mission Society; and Church Mission Society; and Hon Assistant Bishop (Oxford): to be Hon Assistant Bishop (Winchester).
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The Rev Michael Sinclair, NSM, Upper Rydale (York): to be NSM (Priest-in-Charge), Lastingham with Appleton-le-Moors, Rosedale and Cropton (same diocese). The Rev Carol Smith, Vicar, Moulsham St Luke; and Priest-inCharge, Moulsham St John (Chelmsford): to be also Assistant Curate (Associate Priest), Galleywood Common; and Assistant Curate (Associate Priest), Widford (same diocese). The Rev Lionel Stock, Minor Canon, Winchester Cathedral (Winchester): to be Priest-in-Charge, West Meon and Warnford (Portsmouth). The Rev Jason Taylor, Team Vicar, Drypool; and Chaplain, Archbishop Sentamu Academy Hull (York): to be Priest-in-Charge, Brampton (Ely). The Rev Salvadoe Telen, NSM (House for Duty Associate Priest), Walthamstow St Saviour; and NSM (House for Duty Associate Priest), Walthamstow St Barnabas and St James (Chelmsford): to be Priest-in-Charge, Walthamstow St Saviour (same diocese). The Rev Natasha Woodward, Assistant Curate (Associate Priest), Chingford St Peter and Paul (Chelmsford): to be Vicar, Kingsbury Holy Innocents (London). The Rev Dr Caroline Yandell, Assistant Curate, Henleaze St Peter (Bristol): to be Priest-in-Charge, Bassingbourn; and Priest-in-Charge, Whaddon (Ely).
RETIREMENTS & RESIGNATIONS The Rev Paul Baguley, NSM (Assistant Curate), North Harrow St Alban (London): has resigned with effect from 1 June 2013. The Rev Margaret Engler, NSM (Assistant Curate), Harlesden All Souls (London): has resigned with effect from 10 June 2013. The Rev Preb John Good, NSM (Associate Priest), The Winterbournes and Compton Valence; and NSM (Associate Priest), Dorchester (Salisbury): to retire with effect from 23 September 2013.
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The Rev Canon Terence Louden, Vicar, East Meon; and Vicar, Langrish (Portsmouth): to resign with effect from 31 August 2013. The Rev Patrick Nesbitt, Team Vicar, Kinson and West Howe (Salisbury): to resign with effect from 31 August 2013. The Rev Canon Graham Owen, Rector Framlingham with Saxtead; and Rural Dean, Loes Deanery (St Edmundsbury and Ipswich): to retire with effect from 31 August 2013. Upon retirement he will become Canon Emeritus. The Rev Pamela Pennell, NSM (Priest-in-Charge), East Hanningfield (Chelmsford): to retire with effect from 23 June 2013. The Rev Steven Saxby, Priest-in-Charge, Walthamstow St Barnabas with St James; and Priest-in-Charge, Walthamstow St Saviour (Chelmsford): to resign with effect from 29 June 2013. Remaining Priest-in-Charge, Walthamstow St Barnabas with St James. The Rev Canon Roger Simpson, Assistant Curate (Associate Minister), York St Michael-le-Belfrey; and Archbishop’s Evangelist (York): to resign with effect from 30 September 2013. Remaining Archbishop’s Evangelist. The Rev Philip Welsh, Vicar, Westminster St Stephen with St John (London): to retire with effect from 24 July 2013. The Rev Canon Wendy Wilby, Residentiary Canon, Bristol Cathedral; and Dean of Womens’ Ministry (Bristol): to resign with effect from 31 July 2013.
THE 2013 BIBLE CHALLENGE Day 181 Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in church Day 182 Esther 1-3, Psalm 142, 2 Corinthians 1 Day 183 Esther 4-6, Psalm 143, 2 Corinthians 2 Day 184 Esther 7-8, Psalm 144, 2 Corinthians 3 Day 185 Esther 9-10, Psalm 145, 2 Corinthians 4 Day 186 Job 1-3, Psalm 146, 2 Corinthians 5 Day 187 Job 4-6, Psalm 147, 2 Corinthians 6
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Anglican Life Sunday June 30, 2013 When mission partners David and Gina Hucker went to Arica, in Northern Chile, in 1998 their goal was to “make themselves redundant” – by building a church, creating a stable congregation and paving the way for a Chilean pastor to take up the reins. It sounds a simple strategy on paper but this was no mean feat and for the first 11 years things were, by David and Gina’s own admission, “tough”. San Andres was to be the first-ever Anglican church in Arica and the Huckers sometimes felt lonely and isolated. In the early days, the congregation often comprised just David, Gina and their two young sons Caleb and Wesley. “For the first 11 years we experienced little growth, even negative growth actually. People would come and go,” said David. But they held on, meeting in a series of temporary venues, until at last the church found a permanent home. And David and Gina’s commitment and tenacity finally bore fruit in people’s lives too, as the fragile sapling began to start sprouting small green shoots. Fast forward People would now come to church – and return – often through word of mouth. Once one person saw what a difference becoming a Christian made in their lives, so they encouraged their friends and family to attend. The shoots grew and roots started to take hold. David and Gina’s nurturing was beginning to pay off. Fast forward to 2013 and the church has a growing congregation of more than 80 on a good day and reaches out in the community both in evangelism and social concern. David said: “We are hugely encouraged by how the church has been constantly growing in the last two to three years – not just in numbers. People have been growing within themselves, in their Christian lives. “God really has been touching, restoring and healing lives and people are so excited. They want friends and family to share in what God had done in their lives.” Three big words What God is doing is summed up in the church’s motto: love, acceptance and forgiveness. “It’s a lot to live up to,” says David, “but I really believe God has been creating that kind of environment. If they come to visit, they come to stay.” The strands of love, acceptance and forgiveness run through the stories of the church members. Take the aptly named Christian – who came from the south of Chile – and walked through San Andres’ church doors with his sister. A recovering alcoholic, Christian was prone to flaring up at the slightest things and had big anger management issues. But within a week he had met Jesus and came to faith. David said: “Christian attended a men’s prayer breakfast and when the others at the meeting prayed for him and placed their hands on him, he felt the power of God. Since that day he has never missed a meeting.” Not long after Christian found faith, his elderly parents who live in Southern Chile came to visit him in Arica. His mother was so moved when she saw how much Christian had changed that she and her husband also gave their lives to Christ – there and then at San Andres church.
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Church planters seek redundancy Life’s no beach in Arica, northern Chile, despite the beautiful coastline. Many have found Good News in the church planted by CMS mission partners David and Gina Hucker. So why are they so pleased they are out of a job? Sarah Holmes found out Portrait of David and Gina Hucker: Jeremy Woodham/CMS
run at the church. And in a very happy ending, she recently got married – to Christian. On the run Jimmy and Nancy are Colombians. They have two teenage children and have now been granted asylum in Chile. In Colombia, Jimmy owned various businesses and petrol stations. He was being forced by paramilitaries to pay huge sums of protection money. When he refused to pay, his life and that of his wife was suddenly placed in jeopardy and at one time a gun was placed at his wife’s head. The Lutheran Church stepped in and continually moved them from city to city, with Jimmy living apart from his family for a year. As a last resort they came to Chile where they have been struggling to make ends meet. It was a long wait for Jimmy’s permanent Chilean visa, which stopped him taking out loans and expanding his new business in Arica. He had got to such a low point in his life that he even contemplated suicide. “Today you only have to look at his face to see what a difference God has made in his life,” says David. In recent months, other business opportunities have enabled him to increase his earning power – and thus provide for his family. At a recent farewell party, Jimmy came and took a seat next to David and said: “I want you to know that it is only because of you that I am here today.” Redundant at last And it’s partly because of these stories that David and Gina know it’s time to move on. They tell of the living, growing congregation they sought to plant, and now a Chilean pastor has arrived in Arica to take the church forward. “Our life in Arica has been one of being made redundant, which we set out to do in the beginning,” says David. They are far from redundant from CMS though. David and Gina are currently in the UK seeking to raise the needed support to return to South America and help replant urban churches in northern Argentina. As part of a larger team including several other CMS mission partners they want to help bring new life just as they have in Chile. For more about the Huckers including how you can support them in their ministry visit www.cmsuk.org/hucker
From abuse to care Nelly was born in Bolivia, abandoned by her mother when she was just two years old. She moved to Chile at just eight years old and started working as a maid, cleaning houses. “One day she just appeared at the church doors,” explains Gina. “We welcomed her. We didn’t ask any questions and accepted her for who she was.” But it emerged that she had been abused many times and her father was a witchdoctor. “She came to us broken and hurting,” said Gina. But through David and Gina’s care, “Nelly has given her life to Jesus and has been changed into a beautiful Christian woman.” She’s now in her mid-40s but sees David and Gina as her parents and calls them ‘mum and dad’. “God has released her from all of her hurt and bitterness,” Gina adds. Nelly grew in her faith through Alpha and other courses
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Beach at Arica, Chile: Hucker/CMS
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Sunday June 30, 2013
Features
G8: why the world’s children are paying a heavy price By David Thomson It was a significant moment during the G8 Summit. World leaders, as they were gathered in Northern Ireland, backed calls for Syrian peace talks to be held in Geneva “as soon as possible”, after overcoming “fundamental differences”. The announcement – delivered by Prime Minister David Cameron during a live broadcast – could finally signal the start of some good news for Syria’s children. The US$1.5billion aid package announced at the same time is also a step forward. The ever-growing scale of this conflict has become so huge that it is hard to comprehend. As I write this, my colleagues are busy at work in Jordan’s north-eastern desert helping to build what will become the country’s largest refugee camp. Our staff are in a race against the clock to lay 12 kilometres of piping and dig in 2,600 septic tanks, each the size of a small car. These pipes will deliver over two Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water every week to 31,000 of the 130,000 refugees who will soon live here. As the director of the World Vision’s Syria Crisis Response puts it: “Azraq will be no great place to raise children. But it will still be better than the bombed-out towns and insecurity families have left behind.” Here in the UK, we get a glimpse of the grim world facing many refugees – who have dodged sniper fire in Syria and fled with nothing, and are now facing destitution in neighbouring countries. My Lebanese colleague Patricia Mouamar, interviewed on BBC Radio Five Live last week from Beirut, painted a picture of how desperate things have become. She spoke of middle class families now huddled in makeshift, insect-infested tents with holes in; an eightyear-old boy who is dangerously ill with kidney problems – but his parents can’t afford the treatment; and a mother who’s considering ‘selling’ her 13-year-old daughter into marriage so she can afford to feed the rest of her family. As the massive task of supporting refugees continues in countries surrounding Syria, we believe talks agreed by the G8 leaders will represent the best chance Syria’s children have had in more than two years for a future free from fear and violence. PRICES HELD
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Including all relevant parties, however, is vital. So the G8 pledge is a welcome step, and we hope they can use their collective influence to bring all parties to the table in Geneva. On the agenda, first and foremost, must be negotiating an immediate end to hostilities and urgent aid. Experience has shown the need for concerted action over time, consistent investment of political will, technical, financial resources, and the desire and commitment on all sides to progress towards sustainable peace and security. This will require compromise. However, what cannot be compromised is the safety and security of children. Violations of children’s rights as a result of this conflict must stop. This can only be meaningfully done by fully
ceasing hostilities and a peaceful resolution to the conflict – as well as immediate help for people who have fled their homes with nothing. Further militarisation of the conflict would pose a heightened risk to children’s lives. More than 93,000 Syrians have died so far and we know that many thousands of children have been killed, maimed, displaced, or forced to fight. We must hold in our prayers the three million children suffering inside Syria, and the million who have escaped the country. And we must pray that world leaders will have the strength to make good on their commitments to address this untold misery and heartbreak. The children of this crisis are going to pay a very heavy price for the failure to negotiate peace, which is why we must welcome these talks as a promising step in that process. David Thomson is Director of Policy and Programmes at World Vision UK. David has worked in international relief and development for 18 years in Afghanistan, Armenia, Kenya, Liberia, Russia, Sudan and Uganda. He holds an MSc in Development Practice from Oxford Brookes University and has been with World Vision since 2002.
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Sunday Sunday June 30, 2013 Come and see a man who told me everything that I have ever done, John 4: 29 When Jesus entered into a conversation with the woman of Samaria he enabled her to gain the self-knowledge she needed to become the person she was meant to be. Like so many people she was at the mercy of circumstances, other peoples’ perceptions of her and her own misconceptions about where truth lay. Jesus helped her to access her thirst for God. She was clearly interested in spiritual matters, like so many people today. She had her opinions and she was eager to tell Jesus what she knew and debate with someone she saw could engage in intellectual debate. One place where such conversation can be entered into safely and legitimately today is through the ministry of spiritual direction. Increasing numbers of seekers make their way to people who offer spiritual direction on behalf of the Church. They
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THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR By the Rev Dr Liz Hoare may bring all kinds of strange and unconventional beliefs and may, like the woman, use these to avoid talking about the real issues at stake. It is tempting to want to put people ‘right’ about the truth of the Gospel as quickly as possible but that may not lead them to a sense of personal need or an encounter with God. What is it underneath that has sparked an interest in spiritual things? The person him or herself may not see it as an underlying thirst. The woman of Samaria began her conversation with Jesus at the practical and intellectual levels. As Jesus talked with the
SUNDAY SERVICE
woman we see how he led her to a place where she could understand and relate her new perceptions about living water and the Spirit to her own life. She came into new knowledge, but she also found a new freedom in being known by someone who didn’t reject her, admonish her or simply correct her. It wasn’t a promising start. As so often in John’s Gospel we see Jesus talking to someone who misunderstands what he says. He is talking about heavenly things, the woman is stuck at the earthly. Jesus offers her living water, she thinks he means ordinary physical water. But he
does it in such a way that she wants to know more. Jesus related spiritual things to earthly ones totally naturally because he naturally inhabited both realms. We have to work a bit harder but if we listen carefully there are many things in ordinary life that offer a way in to spiritual truths. Jesus persisted in what was important despite the woman’s attempts to distract him and so he was able to bring her to the point where he could confront her with the truth about herself. Instead of reacting to his knowledge of her private life as an affront, the woman finds his frankness liberating and goes off to tell her neighbours about her meeting with this man who offers living water. Even today in our privatised world, spiritual direction will have outwardly-bound implications. The Rev Dr Liz Hoare (née Culling) is tutor in prayer, spirituality and mission at Wycliffe Hall
Who Let The Dads Out?
Sixth Sunday after Trinity (Sunday 7 July) 2 Kings 5:1-14, Galatians 6:1-16, Luke 10:1-20 This Sunday’s readings teach us that we should not rejoice in what seems impressive to the eyes of the world and the worldly church. Naaman is a mighty and impressive soldier, but leprous. He is healed because of the kindness of a little girl who really should have hated him for defeating her people and kidnapping her. She has an accepting, evangelistic heart that faithfully points her new master in the direction of the Lord’s servant back in her homeland. He negotiates at the level of worldly magnificence: he gains the favour of his king and his visit to Israel involves international diplomacy; he takes with him a large retinue and a large fee intended for Elisha; he thinks that washing in the mighty waters of the Abana or Pharpar rivers would be more efficacious than the spluttering stream of the Jordan. But see how wrong those at the top can be: The presumptuous king of Aram thinks the king of Israel can secure a healing from a tame religious prophet who will do what he is told; the suspicious king of Israel considers a personal request for medical help to be a sneaky prelude to war; the mighty warrior is humbled and aggrieved by being told to trust in the naked word of God’s prophet rather than enjoying an ostentatious display of pseudo-magical power. The mission of the 70 in the Gospel reading has a similar focus on the word of God and mighty works of healing. The signs and wonders of Elisha’s age returned with the coming of the Messiah’s earthly ministry, yet it is how people hear and receive the message that is ultimately determinative. “Whoever listens to you listens to me,” says the Lord, “and whoever rejects you rejects me.” The word of the Lord goes out with the labourers and how people respond to that word is more important than how they respond to their healing. The 70 are delighted with the authority which being conveyers of God’s kingdom word brings them. The worker is worth his wages and does have the power to do great harm to the enemy. Yet, nevertheless, their joy should not be in the extraordinary position they have, derived from their relationship to the Lord of the harvest, but in their final destiny. “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” In the same way, Paul says in Galatians that “if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.” We hear again that gospel teachers must be supported out of the good things belonging to those they teach. The worker is worth his wages, though it is noteworthy that Elisha in the Old Testament reading (and also Paul himself on occasion) was sometimes willing to forgo his earthly reward as a sign to those who place too much value in the remunerations of this world. The ultimate prize is something that cannot be bought — a harvest of eternal life gained by trusting God’s word, without becoming weary when the results don’t seem to materialise immediately. On the other hand there are those who merely want to make “a good showing in the flesh” and to boast of their converts and followers. Such things are ultimately worth nothing; what counts is a new creation and to have one’s name in heaven, not to gain the whole world, or even — let the workers note— just a big, wealthy congregation. Lee Gatiss is Director of Church Society, and Editor of the NIV Proclamation Bible
HYMN SUGGESTIONS When I survey the wondrous cross A mighty fortress is our God From the squalor of a borrowed stable I am a new creation When we walk with the Lord (Trust and obey)
We know that parent and toddler work can transform relationships and strengthen families. Yet we also know that while many groups set out to be ‘parent and toddler’ rather than ‘mother and toddler’ groups, the reality is that they attract mostly mothers, grandmothers and child-minders: fathers and male carers are a rare sight in the parent and toddler world. What if dad-friendly groups existed that could allow men to spend time with their children, develop parenting confidence, compare notes with other fathers and carry this father–child engagement back into the home? Since 2003, Who Let The Dads Out? has been creating space where dads and their children can have fun together and is founded on the Christian principle of wanting to demonstrate God’s love to communities. Who Let The Dads Out? comprises the Who Let The Dads Out? toddler sessions, plus a number of followon ideas to develop contact with dads and their families further. Ten years on and there are now over 100 groups registered nationwide, with St Mark’s Church in Haydock (near Manchester) being the 100th registered group. Mark Wade, youth pastor at St Mark’s, said: “It is brilliant news to hear that we are the 100th group. We are planning for our launch on Saturday, 20 July, and we are looking forward to seeing new relationships built through Who Let The Dads Out?” In March 2012 Who Let The Dads Out? became a core ministry of BRF (The Bible Reading Fellowship), a registered charity working throughout the UK. The vision is to encourage and support the establishment of Who Let The Dads Out? groups and help churches to support fathers and their children
in their local community. The groups can serve as a catalyst to developing ministry and outreach among dads, and could be part of a church’s wider ministry towards both families and men. Amidst current news stories of absent fathers and fewer positive male role models in schools, a ministry that affirms male parenting provides a breath of fresh air and a sense that all is not lost! A well-run Who Let The Dads Out? group can strengthen families as dads engage in parenting their children and consequently engage better with their partners in the role of parents. Communities are invigorated as men develop a stronger network of friends within that community. Most groups meet monthly on a Saturday morning and provide a huge range of toys for the children, and bacon or breakfast butties to please the dads. With an emphasis on shared activities and fun, dads get to spend quality time with their children carved out of often busy schedules. Many churches also seek to invite dads to think about spiritual issues in a non-threatening way. Discussions on parenting concerns as well as on the relevance of faith are what make Who Let The Dads Out? groups distinctive. The aim of encouraging Christian faith to be passed from one generation to the next will be realised as the church engages with fathers, encourages them to explore faith issues and challenges them to teach their own values and beliefs to their children. To find out more about Who Let The Dads Out? or to find a group near you then visit our website at: www.wholetthedadsout.org.uk
Milestones
Church and World
A Pope that is likely to break the mould Gay marriage and women bishops are the focus of debate in the Church of England. Anglicans are also trying to get the measure of a new Archbishop of Canterbury, a man who shot to Lambeth after only 10 months at Durham, a career trajectory that suggests either he has extraordinary abilities or there is a shortage of talent in the Church. In the light of this it is not surpris-
ing that the activities of Pope Francis have not received the attention they deserve. When the Pope and the Archbishop met Francis suggested that they were practically twins after beginning their new ministries within two days of each other. But although the Archbishop buys his clothes at Oxfam and sometimes travels on buses it is the Pope who seems more likely to break the mould. So far the changes Francis has made are changes in style. His big decision has been to appoint a council of eight advisers. This is not due to meet until October and we are unlikely to see major changes before then but the very appointment of the council signifies commitment to a more collegial style of exercising authority.
The importance of the changes of style Francis has made are not to be underestimated. Taken together they signify the end of a monarchical style of papacy. Francis lives in the St Martha guesthouse along with visitors to Rome rather than in the papal apartments. When people come to see him he doesn’t sit on the papal throne but steps down from the dias to greet his guests. When he was
first appointed, he humbly bowed to the crowds in St Peter’s Square to receive their blessing before he spoke. He has not followed the example of John Paul II and Benedict XVI and appointed priests as secretaries to act as gate keepers but instead often makes telephone calls himself, saying ‘Hello, it’s Jorge’. Francis gave an important clue about how he sees his new ministry on his first Sunday when he went to say mass at a small church where most of the people working in the Vatican worship. After the service he stood outside greeting people, acting just like any parish priest. As far as his own personal spirituality is concerned, Francis appears to be fairly traditional. This is one of the ways in which he resembles John XXIII. He makes frequent references
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PAU L RICHARDSON
to the devil and there are even claims that he has performed an exorcism although it seems more likely he was simply offering a blessing. But with a traditional spirituality goes a readiness to make off-the-cuff radical comments. One conservative Catholic commentator in Britain has labelled him ‘the chatterbox Pope.’ During an audience with religious leaders from Latin America he referred to ‘corruption’ in the Vatican and confirmed the existence of a ‘gay lobby’. The Italian press alleged that such a lobby has been subject to blackmail by outsiders. Amazingly the Pope told the members of religious orders not to worry too much if they get letters from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (the CDF) but to ‘keep moving forward’. When it was led by Cardinal Ratzinger, the CDF kept a close watch on Latin America, issuing two documents on Liberation Theology and imposing a period of silence on the radical theologian Leonardo Boff. According to the religious, Francis said the following: ‘Say you err, or make a blunder – it happens! Maybe you’ll receive a letter from the CDF, saying you were told this or that thing. But don’t let it bother you. Explain what you have to explain but keep going forward... Open doors, do something where life is calling out to you.’ Significantly the Pope told the religious there were two movements in the church that worried him: a restorationist push that wants to go back to 1940 and a Gnostic current that is interested in ‘taking a spiritual bath in the cosmos or such things’ and forgets about the incarnation. “The gospel,” he remarked, “is not the ancient regime nor is it pantheism.” A key question for Anglicans is the impact a new style of papacy is likely to have on ecumenism. Already the Orthodox have shown enthusiasm (with the significant exception of the Russian Orthodox). For the first time in history the Ecumenical Patriarch attended Francis’ inauguration and the gospel at the service was read in Greek. Francis always refers to himself as ‘Bishop of Rome’, indicating he sees his office as part of the church not as something above it. In Argentina Francis had friendly relations with evangelicals and with Anglicans. It is still too early to judge this papacy but what can be said is that Francis has established a new collaborative, humble style of leadership and, given that the old, monarchical style was an important reason why non-Catholics rejected the papacy, this is likely to have ecumenical significance. In his own Church Francis is proving popular with large crowds flocking to see him in Rome. Dissent is likely to come from those Catholics who read the Wall Street Journal and who dislike Francis’ emphasis on the poor. For a change, it is Catholic conservatives who may have to get used to being in opposition.
Girlguiding UK has decided to drop “God” from its Guiding promise in a move that will end 103 years of tradition, replacing the promise to “love my God” with a pledge to “be true to myself and develop my beliefs”... Government ministers are expected to announce new proposals intended to offer more protection in law for those who express the view that marriage can only be between one man and one woman, with an amendment to the Public Order Act meaning people expressing a belief in traditional marriage would not be prosecuted under law... Unite general secretary Len McCluskey became one of the first senior trade union leaders to officially address worshippers at Friday prayers when he visited two mosques in East London last week... CPAS has appointed Tim Friend to a new role responsible for the mission agency’s programme of youth residential holidays, joining CPAS in early July as Ventures and Falcon Camps principal... Mark Russell, leader of Church Army, finds out if he is to become the Labour candidate for Sheffield Hallam to challenge Nick Clegg for the seat...
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“We need to look at reasonable limits that cut out legal usury from our high streets,” Archbishop Justin Welby on payday loans
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Simon Picken QC, who practices at 7 King’s Bench Walk in Temple, has been appointed a Church Commissioner on the nomination of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The Commissioners are required to include a Queen’s Counsel and Simon has been nominated to perform this role... The Rev Rachel Weir has decided not to seek re-election after serving her term of three years as chair of WATCH, and will step down at the end of September... Roy McCloughr y has been appointed as part-time National Disability Adviser in the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Roy is widely known as a speaker and writer on disability issues and inclusion and will continue teaching ethics, part-time, at St John’s College, Nottingham... The Bishop of Doncaster, Peter Burrows, has announced the appointment of the Rev Stephen Hunter, Associate Vicar of Ecclesall, as the new Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO)…
Next Week’s News The General Synod of the Church of England will meet at York University on 5 – 9 July, debating the new women bishops legislation, welfare, the plans to merge three northern dioceses and safeguarding...
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