Sharing the Good News in the Decade of Evangelism
ft
rE D Issue Number 46
The Diocese of Oxford Reporter: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
For alithe sai nts!
October 1993
Inside the DOOR FAMILY MATTERS page 5 onwards 1994 is the UN Year of the Family. But family life has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. How are Christians coping with the changes? What are they doing to support the family? The Mothers' Union in the Year of the Family (page 5), stories from family life (page 10 -11), and the reflections of a Christian Relate counsellor (page 13) are just some of the family matters we touch on in this issue.
JOURNEY TO ORDINATION page 6 The extraordinary journey of one woman's journey to ordination is the subject-of our God in the Life of feature.
First new Church Aided School in the Diocese forfifty years It really was back to school with a smile for 70 Didcot primary children on September 7 when All Saints, the first new Church Aided School in the Diocese for more than 50 years opened its doors. The school will build up to a role of 300 children over three years. It includes a nursery class with 56 part - time places. The building have been designed by Michael Gotch of Woodstock so that part of it can be used by the community out of school hours. One school hall for instance, will be used on Sundays as an ecumenical worship centre for a new Church of England / Baptist congregation. The new school on Didcot's rapidly expanding Ladygrove estate was orginally scheduled to open in 1988. However, the governors were concerned that the original site, beneath a major power cable, might affect the children's health so a new site was found. The recession slowed down the development of the area causing further delays. Michael Walker, the new chairman of the Governors has been involved with the school's progress for eight years as a temporary governor. "The day those children walked up to the new school I could hardly believe it. But this is not just for the children of Didcot but for the whole community", he said. All Saints School cost £1,500,000 to build. Funding came from four sources: the Oxford Diocese from school closures, the Department of Education, Oxfordshire County Council and South Oxfordshire District Council. "The Diocese welcomed this opportunity in expanding Didcot in order to ensure that Church schools continue for the future" ,said the Revd Tony Williamson, Diocesan Director ofducation (Schools) The school has a staff of five teachers and five non-teaching staff. Its headteacher, M/s Sue Mantell ,formerly head of Stockwell School, Wantage, was appointed in June 1992 so that she could supervise the completion of the building, the puchase of equipment and the'planning of the curriculum. Philip Dalloway, Priest in Charge of All Saints Church, Didcot is delighted at the 'tremendous challenge' both the new school and the new Ladygrove worship centre provide. The Revd Joan Impey,
Curate of All Saint's will be in charge of the worship centre together with her Baptist colleague, the Revd Keith Nichol. On October 21 the Bishop of Reading for the Anglicans and the Southern Area Superintendent for the Baptists will jointly conduct a dedication service there. The Bishop will also spend the afternoon meeting children, parents and staff and blessing the new school.
And at Didcot's Northbourne School... Not to be left out, Didcot's Northborne CE Primary School has also some changes to report. They have a new head, Mrs Kathleen Cook who replaced Di Steel who was so tragically killed last year in a gliding accident. They also have some new buildings which replace old terrapin huts. For the children, there was another unexpected cause for celebration. When the old buildings were demolished, the new ones failed to arrive on time so the three classes affected had to add another week to their holiday!
one village
Between High Street & Oriel Square Oxford Also Woodstock and Cheltenham
"We're all new together" said Head teacher, Sue Mantell outside All Saints School. With her (left to right) are: Natalie Brome, Charlotte Kirsty Jarvis, O'Donnell, Jamie Betteridge, Richard Hilton and Martin Davenport. They were photographed by Frank Blackwell.
HALLOWEEN page 15 It's time to face the truth about Halloween, writes Richard Miller. Plus: more photos from the Bishop's Pilgrimage toTaizé,something for children to make for a church bazaar and books about womens' role in Christian history(page 14) are all in this DOOR.
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The DOOR, October 1993
Page
NEWS r
-i
KNOW YOUR FAITH A pocket-guide to the basics of the Christian faith
2. Who am I? Jesus looked at a huge crowd who had come to hear him preach - poor people, most of them, living under enemy occupation, crushed and oppressed, 'nobodies' as we might say. "Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies?" he asked them. "Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are numbered - don't be afraid, you're worth more than many sparrows." I can imagine them feeling better at once - valuable, watched over, cared about. The Romans might despise them and the authorities might ignore them, but God in heaven counted the hairs on their heads and remembered who they were. It's a lovely answer to one of the most important questions we can ask: Who am I? Do! have any value? Or am Ijust a bit of random biology, a cosmic accident, a statistic in the population totals and the minutest speck on a tiny planet? God's answer on the lips of Jesus is that! am of infinite value because lam valued by God. The one who made me loves me and cares about what happens to me. And that's consistent with everything the Bible tells us about human beings. The first great statement of the Old Testament is that God made everything that exists. The second is that he made men and women 'in his own image' not looking like him of course (God is spirit) but sharing those characteristics that we call 'personal'. God loves making things: so do we. God expresses himself in relafionships ('mine', 'his') and so do we. God loves: and so do we. And God speaks, communicates: and so do we. In some strange way human beings are images of God, like his 'icons', showing us what he is like - not in our sin and evil of course, but when we reflect our Maker - when we 'look like our father'. The image of God in us may be damaged and distofted, but it can't be completely erased. The coin of my character still bears his image stamped on it, and that is why no human being is ever without value. David Winter
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40 YEARS OF LISTENING On 2nd November this year, something like 9,219 people all over the country will call The Samaritans, as they do every day, looking for the time and space to talk about their problems, or just a little bit of sympathy. The Samaritans will listen, and offer confidential emotional support, as they do every day, and it will be easy to forget that The Samaritans have been doing this for the last forty years - that's 10 million hours of listening. Throughout Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, Samaritan Branches will be celebrating. In the area of the Oxford diocese, branches at Amersham, Banbury, Samaritan volunteers prepare for Bracknell, Milton Keynes, Newbury, Oxford, Reading and Slough plan a variety of their Sponsored Motorbike Run. events. The oldest of these is Reading, where Volunteers have given thirty-one years of service to the community. Last July they moved into larger premises to cope with enc £ the 26,000 calls they receive annually. FUNERAL riIRECTORS liii cut ii. Icli,,I rule,,,. Ii! Over the last 30 years, the number of new callers have increased nationally from Mr 'l. ( 'tirrall 12,355 to 436,200, the number of branches from 4110 187, the number of Volunteers ('I. Ilicligal from 6,537 to 22,900. The number of callers is increasing at a greater rate than the 'the ltr,,jrls, as .1 t,Jteluatu number of volunteers, so they are always looking to recruit new volunteers.
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The Dean of Lusaka Cathedral in Zambia the Very Revd Pierre Dii and his wife, Wenda were guests of honour at a lunch in Dorchester Abbey Guest House on August 29. The Dean, who is Dutch, is also Director of Zambia's Makeni Ecumenical Centre. He and his wife have been USPG missionaries for 26 years and during their long leave this summer have been fundraising for the Centre visiting congregations in Holland, Canada and England. Dorchester has supported the Makeni Centre for many years thanks to the involvement of two Dorchester residents, Margaret MacMullen and Margot Metcalf. Margaret did some community work at Makeni when her husband's work took him to Zambia and Margot's sister is married to the Ugandan Minister of Transport. Pierre Dil said that when they first went to Zambia in 1967 they discovered desparate poverty and it had been felt that the church should have a full-time priest involved in the community work. Now the Centre had 44 community projects in operation. "There is terrible shortage of places in our schools, so only five percent of our young people can continue their education to even a limited level. It is because of this that the primary purpose of the centre, apart from its spiritual witness, is to offer education and skills", he said.
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XFORDSHIRE COUNTY VCOUNCILV OXFORD CHILDREN NEED NEW FAMILIES Oxford City Division of Oxfordshire Social Services Department "Wires I was a child I talked like a child, 1 thought like a child and I reacted Ii chid. But now I am a man I have put away childish things behind lire Ilave you thought about your childhood recently? Many children are permitted the experience of childhood, they pass through period of their lives happily, with a few ups and downs and hecorr,e healthy a, who marry and have children of their own and tire pattern cOntinues. 'lire children for whom we are seeking foster and adoptive (arrrihies dnrrr'l als have the luxury of such envious happiness; it is torn front them by abusing adults iris never given back. They become children with adult experiences bug before time. Physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children as vou:rg as three or years leases them desperately damaged little people who shriek will, nighrtnrrarr night and who can't bring themselves to get physically or emotionally close tot people. Tire memories are too horrific and their behaviour hecorn,es irrtolerr Nonetheless. they do need families. And allhougli we often ask ourselves "Whatever kind of a foster larrinly c cope with eight year olds who punish every mother figure wit h the anger than want to veal onto tie natural mothers who sever protected ttrennn front harm?". believe dial such, families exist and if you are out there, we want to rear you TODAY. If you have already raised children of your own and you have the space patience go get no know another child very slowly over a period of lime, gradi
building up confidence and not feeling abashed by hurtful words and actions. It can rnrake a real commitment to working with tire Social Services Department don't mind going llrrougtr an approval and preparation procedure tIres we r' would like you 10 ring up or attend one of our monthly inforutralion sessions fish our advert on page 11. Don't wait, do it now and you'll he sent all the irifornr, yourequire. Wherever you live, we want to hear front you. I'ho,,e nice Charlotte Greenwood, Fanilly Placement (:o.or,Ijnatc,r. or men,hcr of niy tear,,: Anna, lane, Helen, Sheila, Gill or Christine. Oxford Division, Oxfordshire Social Services Department 0865 815036 or 0865 81 or 11865 8153-17.
The DOOR, October 1993
Page 3
NEWS
Women of God rise up! Child care facilities at synods, inclusive language and training in public speaking were some of the points raised when women members of Diocesan and deanery synods, boards and committees met at Diocesan Church House recently. They came. to discuss the Ecumenical Decade of the Churches in Solidarity with Women, a World Council of Churches (WCC) initiative. The evening was arranged by a working party recently set up in this Diocese to consider the aims of the Solidarity with Women Decade.These are to empower women, to affirm women and to give visibility to women's perspectives. The Revd Jean Mayland, a member of the WCC group who set up
the Decade, spoke about its progress. "Listening to women talking about their experiences in the Church, their feelings about being ignored, their frustration about being put down or labelled strident, has made me realise the importance of changing attitudes," said Jean Beresford, of the Diocesan Working Party. "Many people are increasingly aware of feeling excluded by the language we use. Singing 'Rise up 0 men of God' in church recently was a reminder to me!" she said. The priorities of the Working party, said Mrs Beresford, will be: to increase the number and effectiveness of women on synods, committees and work-
Oxford Diocese gives the most
Thrilling end to Oxford's aidceting wins
ing as Church officers; to build up women's courage and confidence in expressing their views and their distinct gifts of spirituality and, where necessary, to challenge traditional practice and to increase awareness and sensitivity in the use of language in liturgy and communication. After the meeting at Church House she said: "We hope to pursue the issues raised and to hold further meetings to consider how to increase awareness of language and to promote women's contribution to spirituality and theology". If you are interested in finding out more or would like to be involved Jean Beresford would like to hear from you. A book list is also available. Write to her at: Merlin House, Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks SL 2HJ.
Service of remembrance
Wycombe's record-breaking gift
Thanks to a remarkable increase in giving from groups and parishes in the Oxford Diocese, contributions to the Church Missionary Society (CMS) increased by 26.5% in the year ending January 31, 1993. Coming two years after a financial crisis for the Society, CMS sees this as a firm expression of confidence in their continuing work with partner churches around the world. Along with Southwark Diocese, the total giving from parishes, groups and individuals in this Diocese was the highest in Britain. "Giving like this encourages us to redouble our efforts on behalf of the Church here and our partner Churches. Our task is to help everyone to see and develop their part in mission and world partnership; to keep it as an integral part of their ministry", said Gill Poole, CMS Area Secretary for the Oxford Diocese. 'The Oxford Diocese has also contributed more than any other diocese in the country to the work of USPG. Donations from colleges and other institutions has gone up from £91,297 in 1990 to £118,204 in 1992, while private donations have increased from £5,716 to £13,209 over the same period.
People who have been bereaved in the last year in Chalfont St Giles are being invited to a special Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving on All Souls Day, November 2 at 8pm. The service is the idea of the Vicar, the Revd Peter Poole who hopes to make the service an annual event if there is an obvious need for it. "Having a set day each year to bring to mind those who have died can often be a help and bring comfort and healing," he says.
Wycombe District Council's grant of £50,000 towards a new church/community hail for St Francis Terriers Church in High Wycombe has broken all records for a district council grant to a church project in Buckinghamshire. The first bricks of the hail, which will be ownedjointly by St Francis and the High Wycombe DeafAssociation, were laid on September 6 by the Archbishop of Buckingham, the Venerable John Morrison and Councillor Mrs Val Lethe ran, Leader of Wycombe District Council. The project came about when both St Francis Church and the local Deaf Association applied to the Council for grants. The two appeals merged and the hail is the result. Pictured above are The Venerable John Morrison and Mrs Val Letheran watched by (left to right): Keith Walter and Peter Lovelock (Churchwardens at St Francis'Church) and CounciliorMrs Kathleen Preedy, President of the High Wycombe DeafAssociation. Photo: Frank Blackwell.
Tear Fund celebrates
Radio Station says thanks
Rising from the ashes
Tear Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a presentationof music and words called 'God's Love in Action' at Westminster Central Hall on October 30 at 2.30pm and
Two years after a major fire separated pupils at the CE School of SS Mary and John, East Oxford, they are back together again. After the fire some children were able to remain in the school but 180 six to eight year-olds moved to a temporary building in Cricket Road. The refurbished building was officially opened by the Archdeacon of Oxford on September 17. Before the fire, classrooms led off a gloomy central corridor. Now they have been moved to one side to provide more light and space for a hall.
Marianne Le Prevost who spent two years in Cricket Road is delighted with the new classrooms. "The main problem with the split site was communication", she said. However there were regular staff and parents' meetings, explained the Headmaster, Tony Eaued. "Although it has gone well there has been an enormous disruption to the school, but the staff have been very supportive and the parents very patient. One of the nicest things somebody said to me was that the education of the children doesn't seem to have suffered."
The word 'euthanasia' comesfromtheGreek for good, easy, or happy death. Nowadays it has come to refer to the means of achieving such an end. The word is sometimes quite wrongly taken to mean 'mercy killing'. What it really means is the termination of human life voluntarily, or by consent. Voluntary euthanasia refers to cases where an adult of sound mind wishes to die in order to save himself or herself further suffering, or before suffering and senility remove all traces of their former personality. Today, through the use of drugs and other medk5al care, it is possible to prolong human life far beyond the biblical three score years and ten. But problems can arise when life is prolonged without reference to the wishes or condition of the. individual, and where undue suffering is involved. Some people feel strongly that the law should allow them a freedom of choice, but at the moment Holland is the only western
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The development and relief work of Tear Fund in over 100 countries is funded largely by evangelical churches and Christians in this country. In 25 years it has become the sixth largest voluntary-aided organisation in Britain supporting a wide range of projects, many of them centred on health care, water improvement and training as well as emergency relief, education and evangelism.
country where a form of voluntary euthanasia is legally permitted. The religious case against euthanasia is important, if hard to summarise. Basic to it is the conviction that human life is sacred and no Christian would wish to dispute that. But we have to face the question as to what life is:, there is life as shown by purely physical signs, such as the beating of the heart; and there is life seen as consciousness where the individual can respond to the world around and still have a meaningful existence. Sadly, there are now many cases of people who retain the physical appearance of life while being unable to take a meaningful part in it. We have to consider if this is truly life. There is also the question of whether it is ever right to interfere with God's will. As Christians it is instinctive to say it can never be right, but the trouble with this argument is that every effort we make to prolong life is a kind of interference. The Christian may also
Jeff Curtis, a director of Radio e1evenSEVENTY, is delighted with the response to the station's appeal for funds (see September DOOR). Over £1,500 has been raised so far, with donations coming in from all over the Diocese. "We are delighted with the response," said Jeff. "I am trying to acknowledge all those who have given an address and do apologise to those I may have
missed. Some of the doners are obviously elderly and we are very grateful to all the people who have contributed." A radio mast has already been erected and the transmittor will soon be installed so that test transmissions can begin. For more information about Britain's first Christian-run radio station, write to eIevenSEVENTY AM, 11 Duke Street, High Wycombe, Bucks HP13 6EE.
After five years of success, the Oxford Diocese cricket team has lost the Church Times Cup, but only by one wicket. The match between Oxford and Liverpool took place on September 2. Oxford started well, reaching 116 for 2, when they suddenly lost six senior batsmen for only eight runs. Fennemore, Samways and Bentley gave respectability to the score with some defiante stroke play and the innings ended on 168. For 32 of their 50 overs, Liverpool looked as if they would win easily, despite a briiliant spell of seam bowling from However Fennemore. Samways, returning for his second spell, clean-bowled four players and had a fifth well caught by Tomlin low down. With eight wickets down and seven runs needed to win at the start of the final over, the game could have gone either way. One further batsman was run out leaving number 11 to score two runs off the last ball. He was struck on the pads and and as he tried to score the first run, a fielder hared in to prevent the second. The throw came in over the head of the wicketkeeper resulting in an overthrow. Thus scores were level and Liverpool, having lost one less wicket, was declared the winner. The final scores were: Oxford 168 all out (49 overs): Mitra 53, Wingfield-Digby 34, Winn 5 for 29. Liverpool 168 for 9: Moffatt 42, Macauly 41, Nicholls 33, Samways 5 for 32.
Rural Berkshire RuralLiving is a pilot newsletter for rural parishes in the Archdeaconry of Berkshire. The editorial board includes the Revd Jacob Lewis, the Berkshire Rural Chaplain, and Celia Learn, the Parish Development Adviser. The newsletter is being backed by the Community Council for Berkshire.
Bishop Appleton The Most Reverend George Appleton died in Oxford on August 28 aged 91. A requiem service was held at St Stephen's House. We hope to include an appreciation next time.
believe that suffering is in itself of value to God and inspiring to those who witness it bravely borne. Although this may be true, unnecessary suffering can surely never be the will of God. "There is much uncomfortable dying," a medical Commentator has said. The noble work of the Hospice Movement has done much to help, but most people, unfortunately, remain beyond its reach. So the debate continues. A recent contribution has been Life's Dominion by Ronald Dworkin. In a recent review of the book, Dr Caroline Berry suggests what the real Christian attitude should be: "We should rise to the challenge of this book by putting forward a Christian perspective of dying well." William Purcell Canon William Purcell is a former canon of Worcester Cathedral and former head of religious broadcasting in the West Midlands.
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The DOOR, October 1993
Page 4
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Money-Saving Tips Hot Water: Don't wash up under a running tap. One bath uses the sante amount as five showers. So if you have a shower, use it rather than a bail,. If there is a thermostat on your hot water cylinder try turning it down to tOTor 140F. Most people find this given them hot enough
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Cooking: Boil only the amount of water you need - don't fill the pan or kettle every time. Keep gas flames under pans at moderate heat. If they are turned up to high, they Bare op the side of pans and the heat is wasted. If practical, plan means that can be cooked at once in the oven to save gas. You needn't pre-heat gas ovens for most recipes. lrssulattun: Proper insolation can save gaffs. You can buy a special jacket to pat round your hot water cylinder for less than £10- and it can cut your hot water costs in half. Between four and sin inches of insulating material in your loft can help stop your heating bill going through the roof. literally! You can fit tow.cost strips of dtaugtitsproofing round windows and doors, but remember: gas appliances need a good supply of fresh air to work safely. Independent free help and advice on any flutter related to gas. Central Heating: Use your timer. Try having heating on for shorter periods without letting it get too cold. Makesure the thermostat isn't up too high. The ideal temperature for rooms is rerv much a matter of taste. Wearing waru:o, clothes indoors means you need less heating on. But remember: young children, the elderly and anyone who can't move around a lot titay need more heating on to keep warm. Age Concern recommends a minimum lining room temperature of 20CC or 701Don't heat roortus you don't use. Most radiators can be turned off by tnieansofa valve. Try putting a layer of alominiuttt foil behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room. Thick or lined curtains can help stop heal loss through windows. Always draw them at night and make sure they don't hand in frost or radiators - or they'll block out heat, not draughts.
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The DOOR, October 1993
Page 5
FEATURE Family Matters 1994 is the United Nations International Year of the Family. The Mothers Union will also focus on the family next year and family life is currently the subject of a General Synod Working Party. Our Diocesan Synod will also debate support for the family at their November meeting. How are Christians coping with the changes in family patterns and what is the Church doing to support broken families? In this issue The DOOR looks at some family matters which concern us all.
God's love is for us all Anyone playing the card game 'Happy Families' for the first time today might be surprised to find Mother, Father and two children every time; most families are not like that now. Our own picture of 'the family' will be formed by our experiences, and by what we have learned from others over the years. Families are shaped by the culture and society in which they belong. The media project powerful images of the family today, and may appear to mock those families which do not fit their stereotypes. We may be influenced by the media, and reject those families which are different from our own. Family life can give us so much happines, but it can be the source of much pain too. When it works, a family enables all those who are joined together, whether by blood ties or by promises, to grow to their fullest maturity. Family life can provide love, acceptance and encouragement, and a place where we can admit our failures. We can be challenged, frustrated and feel put-down by each other; but we still have a haven where we can retreat, and find physical, spiritual and emotional fulfilment. Christians believe that God's love is for us all. We need to find ways to encourage and treasure what is good in family life, and to prevent the disintegration of marriages and families at times of stress. In this country more remarriages and the new families so formed have added to the complexity of family life today. Ibelieve that we must find ways to make some kind of supportive family for everyone, whatever their circumstances. This edition of The DOOR looks at families and different ways they support each other. It also encourages us to pray and work forjustice, peace and fulfilment for all God's children. Rosemary Peirce Rosemary Peirce is President of the Oxford Diocesan Mothers' Union.
b.
A YEAR FOR THE FAMILY
Initiated by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the International Year of the Family (IYF) is a worldwide campaign to stimulate international, national and local action that will make a difference to families in the future. The basis of their discussion during the year will be 'Families: roles, resources and responsibilities in a changing world'. The IYF Council in the United Kingdom is made up of representatives from the voluntary sector in partnership with central and local government, educational and community groups, private and public sector employers and trade unions. It aims to celebrate both family and family life, with all its strengths, complexity and diversity; and will look at what families need in order to cope in our changing society. They hope to generate ideas and actions which provide long term change in attitude and practice - making Britain a more family-friendly place in which to live and work. To focus activities four themes have been been identified: families and work; families and poverty; families and relationships; families and celebration. It is hoped that 1994 will be the beginning of a continuing process of consultation and achievement in family matters. An ecumenical group with representatives from 23 Christian
organisations has been set up within the UK International Year of the Family association. They have produced an attractive leaflet outlining a variety of discussion points and suggestions for action which might be undertaken by local churches and Christian groups. Copies are available from : the Secretary, Family Life Ecumenical Project, do Free Church Federal Council, 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH.
95
The IYF Emblem The official emblem has been designed by Swiss artist, Catherine Littasy-Rollier. It represents a heart sheltered by a roof linked together with another heart, thus symbolising not just life and love but also home, warmth, caring, security, togetherness and tolerance. The brush stroke, which in fact makes the design an open one, also indicates individuality as well as continuity and a hint of uncertainty. The emblem may be used freely for information purposes. However its use for fund-raising must be authorised by the IYF national coordinating committee. More information about the MU events mentioned right, especially 'Ark in the Park' from the MU Office, Priory Room, Christ Church, Oxford OX1 1DP.
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As a worldwide organisation concerned with Christian family life, the Mothers' Union welcomes the Year of the Family and plans to fulfil the United Nations ideal of international, national and local action. 1994 will be devoted to initiatives in support of families wherever there are MU members. At the Provincial Presidents' Conference in Canada this year, all delegates welcomed plans for 24 hours of prayer from noon of January 16 1994. During that period members will be part of a worldwide chain of prayer for families. Nationally, April 16 will see members gathered for a special service in Coventry Cathedral. The major event will be 'Ark in the Park', a service and celebration at London Zoo on May 21. There will also be an open day
conference at Mary Sumner House in London, and a prayer bookmark for the year. In the Oxford Diocese, the Mothers' Union, in partnership with the Family Life and Education Group (FLAME), has organised a day when Michael Quinn of the Family Caring Trust will continue his Parenting Programme (March 15 at St Michael's, Easthampstead). On Septmber 24 the MU is sponsoring an informative day in Reading for anyone concerned with, or about, stepfamilies - an important and emotive topic today. Many deaneries will host 'Prayers and Bears' services and picnics during June - inviting families with their children from neighbouring churches to be part of a month of celebrations. In parishes, members will mark 1994 as a special year for families in whatever seems the most appropriate way. Ideas from our local initiative leaflet include Babysitting, a family theme for Mothering Sunday, involvement in children's school holiday clubs and joint pensioner/toddler group tea parties. The emphasis is on all-age (and all circumstance) events to avoid exclusive and painful situations. Whilst acknowledging that the traditional family is no longer a reality for many, and can be an uneasy place for some, there is much good to celebrate in a wider interpretation of 'Family' and the Mothers' Union will be prominent in those celebrations during 1994. Felicity Randall is MU Diocesan Education Chairman.
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The DOOR, October 1993
PROFILE everyone in the congregation could hear my knees knocking. One day I had to take a memorial service for a young girl who had died, and beforehand I was reading out my talk to my husband. I cried every time I read it, and I said that it was no good, I couldn't do it. And he said :"Who are you doing it for? It's not for you, it's for Helen and God's called you to do it." I've never forgotten that. But there was a growing sense that God warted me to be more than just a lay person involved occasionally and that He was asking me to really sacrifice something for Him and to be part of his serving heart. It may sound arrogant and I tried very hard to ignore it. I didn't really want to think about sacrificing. By now I was well on my way in my career in aviation, and enjoying quite a free life style and it was hard to contemplate actually putting oneself before the Lord, before a parish, being just part of a serving ministry. By this stage we had moved down to Wooburn Green near High Wycombe. It was an Anglo-Catholic church and although alien to my tradition, we received much during our time there. Richard, the vicar, encouraged me to test Gods call and I felt surrounded by prayers, support and love. When I broached the subject to Gordon there wasn't really any discussion, it was yes, that is right, you must go and test the call. There was no hesitancy either on the part of my sons just sort of "Well, Mum, you've got to do it."
FLYING HIGH VVITH FAITH FOR THE LORD When I was twelve, for some inexplicable reason, I started going to the cathedral in Nairobi by myself.! can remember a great sense of God being very powerful but far removed from me. It was something that kept drawing me back When I came to England to train as an air traffic controller, going to church didn't feature too highly. But when Gordon and I became engaged, even though he wasn't from a Christian home, it seemed very important (again inexplicably) that we should be married in a church. The crucial point came when Jonathan, our youngest son was born. Two years after Dean arrived, we were told we couldn't have any more children. But a very committed Christian friend of mine lent me a book about the power of prayer. It spoke to me so strongly, that I became convinced that God was not only there but very much interested in me as a person, and for the first time I began to pray in a very simplistic way. That prayer went on for eight years and as time passed my faith such as it Was, that God would honour this prayer, got stronger. To begin with! was very depressed at the thought of not having another child but as time went on I recall my husband saying to me "You know, it's good to see you getting over it" and! said "Not a bit,! know we're going to have a baby".
"The night Jonathan was born at the John Radcliffe in Oxford ,l gave my life to Christ." The night Jonathan was born at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, I gave my life to Christ. I had felt felt pretty unwell all over the Christmas of 1975 and eventually went to the doctor. He said: " It's absolutely amazing. You're six months pregnant". So the night Jonathan was born at the John Radcliffe in Oxford I gave my life to Christ because the sense that there was a God who was really interested in our personal lives was just overwhelming. I started to go to a local church near High Wycombe. We received great encouragement from the vicar and within six months of starting to attend regularly (but still on my own) I began to go to confirmation classes and was confirmed the following year. Then I began to pray in earnest for my husband to become a Christian and after about two years that prayer was also answered.
Come carolling with THE LONDON EMMAINIJEL CHOIR Special Guest DAVE POPE
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4 Ann Bush I had been a very insecure, nervous person, mainly I think because of the uncertainty of my life out in Africa. I was six when the MauMau started. And I was left with some psychological scars from some of the horrors of that. But becoming a Christian brought an inner confidence that there was another in charge. About a year after I was confirmed I began to help in the Sunday school and when the lady who ran it had to give up quite suddenly, the vicar asked if! would take on being the co-ordinator. It was rather scarey but to my amazement I felt confident enough to say yes. With his encouragement I also started to do a Chiltern Christian Training Scheme Bible studies course. I wanted to go on and do the full certificate course but Eric, my vicar said he would like to have me in the parish as a Reader. So! went through all the interviews to be accepted and trained as a Reader with the Christian Training Scheme in High Wycombe. Sometimes I had to preach and lead services and I was sure
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When I went to a selection board I was going forward as a deacon but! now hope to be ordained a priest initially in the nonstipendiary ministry but in three years time in full time ministry. I'm still not a hundred per cent certain in my own mind about the whole thing of women being in sole charge of a parish. It is something about headship. But Jam beginning to understand more and more the value that we may have in a team set-up. I feel the focus of my future ministry is going to be healing and renewal. I'm a trained counsellor. I did three years training starting in 1986 through an affiliate of the Westminster Pastoral Foundation and I spent a year doing a placement at Grendon Prison. I find the whole area of psychotherapy and inner healing most exciting. I have also had a personal experience of physical healing. I had what we ,_z thought was Legionnaire's Disease and my husband was told that I would not live through the night. The hospital chaplain was called and by some wonderful divine chance John Hughes, the former Vicar of St Andrew's, High Wycombe was on duty. I knew him and he just laid hands on me very quietly and briefly prayed over me. And it was like an electriccurrent going through me. An hour before he came to pray my liver was failing but they did another liver, function test a little while after he had gone and they just could not believe that everything was normal. I remember there was a young lady houseman standing beside my bed, with a pocket Bible in her white coat pocket and in reponse to the doctor's "It's incredible," she said : "It's not incredible. It's a miracle."
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Residential Conferences leaders Conference Hothorpe Hall, Le,cs September 17-19 1993 "Vision under Pressure" Pilgr,no Hall, Uckfleld, F. Sussex 0—b-15-171993 "Stepping Out" - Day Conference for Wo.nen Cornwli 0ctober23 1993 "Vision under Pressure" Brunel Manor, Torquay December 1993 Primary CaeTeom The Hayes, Swanwjck, Derbys. January 21-23 1994 A. Prayer & Intercession B. Christian Approach to Mental Health Hothnrpe Hail, Leics February 4-6 1994 Adoption & Fostering for Christians The Hayes, Swanwick, Derby,.. February 18-20 1994 Annual Family Conference The Hayes, Swanwick, Derby,. March 31 -6 April 1994
3-5
If you would like to become a member of Christians in Caring Professions, support the work or have more information on any of these conferences, write to: Christians in Caring Professions King's House Wokingham Road Reading, Berks RC.6 ILT Tel: 0734 660515 Fax: 0734 263663
175
The DOOR, October 1993
Page 7
ORDINATION CANDIDATES
PREPARING TO TEACH THE GOOD NEWS The candidates for the Michaelmas Ordination, which takes place at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday October 3 at 10.30am, include an unusual number of teachers and scholars. Professor Michael Screech is a scholar of international standing, Dr Aston is a geology lecturer, Bob Edy taught history, Jane Knowles music and Dee Castle RE, while Richard Smail taught Greek and Latin. The new deacons also include several Readers and a bereavement counsellor. Twelve of the candidates will continue as NSMs (non-stipendiary ministers) in their current jobs, leaving only Tim Perry, Beren Hartless,
Patricia Gillham and Joanna Coney to serve full-time in their parishes. The preacher will be the Revd Canon John Fenton. On the same day at St John, Stratfield Mortimer, the following candidates will be ordained as priests by John, Bishop of Reading: John Cooper (Burghfield) Christopher Lea (Stratfield Mortimer, Mortimer West End with Padworth) Michael Oke (Stratfield Mortimer, Mortimer West End with Padworth) Nigel Sanders (SS Andrew and Mary Magdalene, Maidenhead. The preacher is the Revd Brian Mountford, vicar of St Mary the Virgin Oxford. And at SS Peter and Paul, Buckingham, Simon,
Right: Tim Perry trained for the ministry at Trinity Theological College in Bristol. He has worked in the 'red light' district of Amsterdam for a Christian organisation amongst drug addicts and prostitutes, and then became a full-time youth worker at St Andrews Church in Oxford. Tim goes as curate to Christ Church, Abingdon.
Right: Veronica Beaumont and her husband John live in High Wycombe and have two daughters Ruth and Clare. Veronica works for Midland Bank as a clerk in the securities department. Veronica and John are active members of All Saints Church where they ran a youth group for many years before Veronica was licensed as a Reader in 1987.
Left: Richard Smail read Greats at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Since 1980 he has taught Greek and Latin at Radley College where he was head of department for eight years. He also coaches cricket and fives. His interests include travelling, cooking, wine and music. He will begin his ministry within Radley College.
Left: Dee Castle trained on the Oxford Ministry Course and is head of RE and head of year 7 at the Clere School in Burghclere where she will serve as school chaplain. She will also be honorary curate of St George the Martyr, Wash Common. Dee has a daughter and wo grand-daughters and is honorary secretary of Newbury RSPCA.
Above: Anthony Aston Smith read Natural Sciences at Cambridge and did PhD in physical metallurgy.At King's College, London he lectured on materials science. He trained to be a NSM on the OMC and will serve at St Giles and St Philip & St James in Oxford. He enjoys chamber music, singing, hill walking and gardening.
Right: Erik Fudge is Professor of Linguistic Science at Reading University. He has been a Reader for 32 years and is licensed in the parish of St Sebastian, Wokingham. After ordination he will serve as a NSM in the parish and at the University. He is married with three grown-up children. His interests include classical music and railways.
Right: Jane Knowles trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama then taught music, including seven years in a special school. Jane is now co-director of music at the Marist Convent, Sunninghill. She and her husband Ian have two children: Ben and Johanna. Jane will serve as assistant curate in Sandhurst Parish.
Left: Pat Gillham was a Church Army sister in the 1960s. She has served as a stipendiary accredited lay worker in Kintburysince 1989. She is married to Martin, who is vicar of Kintbury. They have two children, Mary (22) and Peter (20)and enjoy walking, local history and photography. Pat will continue to serve in Kintbury.
Left: Alison Caw is from Rhodesia. She taught maths then worked as a computer programmer until her twin daughters, now aged 24, were born. Alison has worked with mentally handicapped adults and is a bereavement counsellor. She wili serve in the parish of Beacc,nsfiJl and be based at St iiary and All Saints Church.
During the last 20 years both the Oxford Ministry Course and the St Albans Ministerial Training Scheme have presented over 500 people for ordination. It is by building on this tradition that the new course seeks to develop opportunities which will meet the Church's present need. In today's Church, exciting new patterns of ministry are emerging to meet the changing demands of modern life. Many more ordinands are being accepted for ministry who have already reached senior positions in secular employment, and it is not always possible for them to give up their jobs and go back to college for two or three years. So a new course, developed jointly by the Dioceses of Oxford and St Albans, is emerging as a vital new way of training for ministry. Canon Vincent Strudwick is the Principal-designate of this new course. "I'm excited", he told The DOOR. "This new course can be taken part-time by people already working in senior positions in industry and the professions without them having to give up the very experiences which make their contribution to ministry so valuable. We can draw on the richness and variety of the universities and colleges, and equally on the life experiences of the candidates themselves, and because we are not having to support the candidates and their families during three years of full-time training, we can save the Church and the candidates a considerable amount of money." Following the meeting of the July Synod, the Bishops decided to choose two colleges on the advice of the Bishop of Hereford's working group of which Canon Strudwick was a member. The group also recommended 'clusters' of colleges and courses. The new St Albans/ Oxford Course will be part of a cluster with the Oxford theological colleges Wycliffe Hall, Ripon College, Cuddesdon and St Stephen's House. Because many of the candidates will return to minister in the parishes that have sent them, both laity and clergy have a big stake in ensuring that what is provided is what they need."! want to listen hard in both Dioceses so that we are training to enable ministry to develop; but also training missionaries for every situation in the community and at work; missionaries who will present the comfort and the challenge of the gospel for today's generation," said Canon Strudwick. The 'new look' Oxford/St Albans course will be launched in September 1994. During 1993/4 the Oxford Ministry Course, which has trained 200 priests and deacons during the last 20 years, will continue as usual, while together with the St Albans staff, our own colleagues prepare to launch the new course in 1994. If you are thinking about training for the ordained ministry, or would like to comment on the new course, Canon Strudwick would like to hear from you. Why not put your name on the mailing list for information about the course. You can contact Canon Strudwick at Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford 0X2 ONB. Telephone 0865244566.
r
Make the most of Children's, Book Month October 1993.
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DIscoviR 0i รง p0 Above: Michael Screech is married with three sons. He served in the Intelligence Corps,and graduated at University College London in 1950. After lecturing in Birmingham he returned to UCL to be Fielden Professor of French.He is a Fellow of All Souls and from Oct 1993 an Extaordinary Fellow at Wolfson. He will serve at St Giles, Oxford.
Right: Joanna Coney will in Summertown and Wolvercote in Oxford. Besides being a teacher and a Reader, she has travelled in the Holy Land and belongs to the Third Order of the Society of St Francis. She has worked in Papua New Guinea and studied psychology with the Open University. She has three children and one grandson. serve
New ways of training for tomorrow's church
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Left: Dr Tim Astin is married to Moira and lectures in geology at Reading University following degrees at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and a research fellowship in Cambridge. He has a particular interest in the environmental. Tim will serve at St John and St Stephen, Reading where he and Moira run Climbers Sunday School.
Left: Stephen Coe was educated at St Dunstan's College and Cambridge University. In 1977 he joined The Navigators, the Christue trsining and missionary organisation, working in London, Glasgow and Abingdon. He and Elizabeth have two girls Helen (11) and Laura (10). and will be a NSM at Christ Church, Abingdon.
Above: Bob Edy taught history in Taunton and Evesham before moving to the Henry Box School, Witney where he is now deputy head. With his wife Ruth and daughters Rhoda (17) and Charlotte (8) he is looking forward to working as an honorary curate at St Bartholomew Ducklington. Bob enjoys golf and spending time with his family.
Bishop of Buckingham will ordain the following: David Addley (St James the Great Claydon with All Saints Mollington) Christopher Clare (St Leonard Chesham Bois) Timothy Ling (Gerrards Cross and Fulmer) Ian Thomas (St Martin Fenny Stratford) Christopher Turner (Hook Norton with St Andrew, Great Rollnght, St Mary Sweford and St Giles Wiggington. The preacher is Canon Mark Fitzwilliams, Rector of Beaconsfield.
Above: Beren Hartless was a Biology to 'A' level teacher. Since then she has been a housewife, bringing up Katie,12 and her sister Claire, 9. Beren is married to Julian, a civil engineer, and is the third generation of her family to serve this Diocese. Beren will serve her title at St John the Evangelist,High Wycombe. Left: Ann Bush is married to Gordon, with two sons Dean, 25 and Jonathan, 17. Ann began her career in the aviation industry 28 years ago. She is currently in senior management with an aviation group based in Surrey. She will be ordained NSM and will serve as deacon at St Michael, Warfield. For her full story see page 6 0. ..site
Above: Joseph Cotterill attended the Manchester College of Technology and read Chemistry. From 1939 to 1948 he served as a missionary in North China and married a fellow missionary in 1945. On his returnto England he became pastor of a mission church in Kent then worked first with the Atomic Energy Authority and then in 1977 moved to the Scientific Advisory Branch at the Home Office until 1982. He was licensed as a Reader in 1967 and both he and his wife (who died in 1988) were Readers to Christ Church Abingdon after they moved to the town in 1982. Latterly he has been licenced as Reader to All Saints, Marcham. He trained on the OMC and will be a NSM at Marcham.
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Page 8
The DOOR, October 1993
COMMENT EDITORIAL
IS YOUR VOCATION TO SERVE THE FAMILY?
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ent of rnissin•••
caw Yeats. will hold hang on to our away the WY handbook and return In I . The three purposes otmarriage are outlined in the marriage service. These are to have children and h)nng them up in the fear, aithe Lonh to provide a frame. work for our sexuality and to offer mutual eomtwt and support. Has anyone thought of a better recipe for timily lii Perhaps all we need I stop the moral rot is Christian
Perhaps it is not so strange that the word vocation has lost favour in our society as the notion of personal freedom to make life-style choices has gained ascendance. After all "a divine call to" or even "a sense of fitness for" does not sit easily alongside the freedom to do what! want, with my life, when I want to. Today some people choose to opt in and out of bed, in and out of relationships and even in and out of parenting, whilst a body of informed opinion gets increasingly anxious about the long-term effects of this hotchpotch of behaviour and subsequent lack of social cohesiveness. Reports are published to convince us that the breakdown of more traditional family patterns is leading to a variety of ills. We are urged to improve child rearing to prevent delinquency, shown that marital breakdown has an adverse effect on health and that increased mobility prevents the extended family providing a buffer at times of crisis. Professionals, themselves not immune, urge us to re-think family. Some suggest we glue together old concepts such as love, commitment, care of the young and ports in a storm in ways that do not have oppressive overtones of sacrifice and pain. In other words, let's choose what we like when we like and discard the uncomfortable bits! We'll have the rose without thorns and summer without win-
Photo: Christopher Love
Our Christian obligations to the family do not change just because our family does not match up to the Christian ideal, says Jeanne Wesson
it- Yours Archbisho
ter, concentrating on the personal rather than any public dimension. Others, realising that it becomes more difficult to paper over cracks in relationships once they gape, are urging primary care teams to nurture people at significant life-changes.
"We'll have the rose without thorns and summer without winter" The fact is that though we can lament, though we can propose new income policies and though
The DOOR is published 10 times a year by the Diocese of Oxford. Editor: Christine Zwart. Deputy Editor: Venetia Horton. Editorial Support Group: Jane Bugg (Chairman), Frank Blackwell (Dorchester), Catherine Dyer (Wokingham), Richard Hughes (Whitchurch-on-Thames), John Morrison (Aylesbury), William Purcell (Botley), Tim Russian (Long Crendon), Richard Thomas (Communications Officer), John Winnington-Ingram (Cottisford), David Winter (Parish Resources). Editorial Address: Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OX2 ONB. Tel: 0865 244566. Advertising: David Holden, Goodhead Publishing Ltd, 33 Witney Road, Eynsham, Oxon OX8 1PJ. Tel: 0865 880505. The DOOR is published by Oxford Diocesan Publications Ltd (Secretary Mr TC Landsbert) whose registered office is Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OX2 ONB. The deadline for the November issue is: October 7 for features, October 14 for news and What's On and October 25 for advertising.
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we may attempt primary prevention till the cows come home, human beings are stubborn about being changed. It is only when we want something badly enough that we are motivated to choose another way of living and being. The coming International Year of the Family is presenting all of us with the opportunity to respond to the situation as Christian people. My own view is that despite those who would have us identify one family shape and prescriptive behavour as "the Christian Family" this is unhelpful. In real life I find a varied assortment of men, women and young people living together in households. If they are Christian, each individual will be seeking to live in relationship with God and attempting, with great fragility at times, to relate to one another and society in ways compatible with Christ's teaching: sometimes failing miserably and seeking forgiveness. These individuals may be related to one another through legally binding or moral contracts and may also have within their households agnostics, atheists, members of other faiths and the sick in mind or body, new-born
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or the dying. The complex daily process of relating to one another and to the world around will be realised not just in the network of a local church or housegroup where there is the potential to recharge batteries and gain support, but also in the midst of multi-cultural, multiracial Britain where others will see, feel, and hopefully be drawn towards this pattern of living.
"Each individual will be attempting to relate to one another and society in ways compatible with Christ's teaching"
their own experiences and feelings, nothing more. If we are to use this international year creatively it is important that we identify what is actually happening, have some vision about what we wish could happen and consider what practical contributions we can make towards this. No one thing alone is likely to be important but contributions which range from a sensitive understanding of how to nurture children through to adulthood and how to share these insights, the practical provision of credit unions and child-care shops in local community centres to offers of Christian hope, such as the possibility of childhood wounds being healed when two adult partners experience loving positive affirmation from one another, will all have their place. Bit when auld-lang-syne rings out at the end of 1994 men and women will still only be prepared to commit themselves to the way of life that they want. So let us end where we began. If we consider that it is part of God's plan for our well-being that humans should be familied, let us pray that many will receive a vocation to be a Mum or Dad, a daughter, aunt, son, uncle, sister, godparent, putting their heart and soul into it and so be prepared for the sacrifices as well as the enormous potential " satisfaction and the benefits that accrue for society in general.
Jeanne Wesson Mrs Wesson is married to the RectorofStMartin-in-theBullring, Birmingham and is chairman of the Youth and Community Centre there
Households of believers may be the nearest we can come to a notion of Christian family and, since under our Western legal in-law system some individuals relate to more than one household, these households intertwine like Olympic rings. Sadly, some church members seem to think that all families behave like the ones in their own neighbourhood. They get bored by statistics and trends and approach the topic with only
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The DOOR, October 1993
Page 9
WHO WINS WHEN THE CHURCH GOES TO COURT? On one level it is rather amusing to discover that the Diocesan Chancellor and Registrar are on opposite sides in the action brought by the Church Society against the archbishops and general synod (September DOOR). But at a deeper level I am angry. This kind of litigation is fine for the lawyers - it will line their pockets very nicely. But who ultimately foots the bill? We, the ordinary members of the Church. Frankly, I don't want my money spent on splitting ecclesiastical hairs when the Church has far more pressing needs to address. What, I ask, does Jesus ask of us? We Anglicans have synodical government as a sincere, albeit clumsy and imperfect attempt to involve the whole People of God in decision-making. So, when general synod decided, by a substantial majority and after much thought and prayer, to permit the priesting of women, then we should accept it, whether we like it or not. Those who are pouring large amounts of time and money into seeking to delay or overturn the legislation, or to modify it beyond recognition, are not only damaging the Church of England, but are also squandering the means we have been given to bring Christ to the world.
Personally, the people I respect and admire most at this time are those who are unhappy (and some are profoundly so) at the prospect of women priests, but who remain loyal members of the Church of England accepting synod's decision. They are quietly getting on with loving and serving the Lord and their fellow human beings. But we don't hear about them because they will not hurt the Church.
Revd Catherine Dyer Wokingham
Parish Share Mark Roach, in his letter 'Ethical Investments' published in the September issue of The DOOR reports that he has been asked the reasons why the parish share appears to be rising "at twice the rate of inflation". How I wish that this figure were true! The figures included with the draft diocesan revenue budget for 1994 published six weeks ago show that in 1993 the Diocese needs £6,809,000 from parishes compared with £5,912,000 actually collected through the parish share in 1992. This is an increase of 15.2 per cent. Inflation so far this year
has been running at well below 1.5 per cent. Thus my arithmetic suggest that, far from rising at twice the rate of inflation, the parish share is èurrently increasing at well over ten times the rate of inflation! Mr Roach points out that 5.11 per cent of the increase results from a reduced allocation to the Diocese by the Church Commissioners "because of the effects of the recession". Let's not mince words, Mr Roach; the report by the eminent accountants Coopers & Lybrand commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury attributes the loss of over a quarter of the Church's assets by the Commissioners not to the recession but, and I quote, to "naive investment policy and incompetent administration". In fact, as Mr Roach points out, over the same recessionary period, the Diocese increased the value of its investments by 27 per cent and could have increased it by 32 per cent. There is no reason why the Church Commissioners couldn't have done the same thing so, please don't let us have any more excuses for them being hard hit by the recession! However, even accepting the 5.11 per cent increase in parish share due to the mismanagement of the Church Commissioners, this still leaves a far greater proportion of the total increase - over 10 per cent which is not due to the Commissioners!
RE Ford Moreton-in-Marsh
Open Churches These days more and more churches seem to be in danger of being closed during the week despite the hankering after beauty, history and spiritualhelp by so many people. Recently I took an hour off to drive round my neighbourhood, stopping at the four churches I passed. To my joy they were all open. Each one was being visited by holiday makers. The parable of the talents tells us of the danger of hiding the talent for safety instead of making good use of it. Are we not in danger of becoming like that servant by shutting so many church doors to those who seek help and comfort and at least a few moments of peace?
Margaret Dickinson Marlow
House in Order? • A Church of England secondary school whose head teacher is not a Christian. • A Bishop who denies the Resurrection. • A priest who denies God, but still takes services and is responsible for a parish. How has the Church of England the arrogance to talk of an Age of Evangelism when it cannot keep its own house in order? I feel that the parable of the house built on sand has a terrible relevance to all this.
Geoffrey Wilkinson Hun gerford
During July and August I exchanged churches, houses and cats with Clark Lowenfield, Rector of the Holy Communion Church in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. I also ministered in Trinity Episcopal Church, Myrtle Beach and attended the Church of the Advent in Boston. It turns out that both Clark and I gained a great deal. I was very proud of the way the people of Headington Quarry took the Lowenfield family to their hearts and equally we were wonderfully received and entertained over there. Alison and I ac companied by our fourth daughter, Hannah, decided we would say yes to every invitation. We can give you a good rundown on the restaurants of Charleston! We also entered the life of the parish, attending groups and healing services and talking to Father Clark's staff. The American ministry is differently based. They live in a market-place ambience.The very big churches, Baptist and Presbyterian, set the style of the enormous premises and large staffs. The Epsicopal Church cannot but be conscious of this and will frequently employ a staff of priest, associate priest, one or
two secretaries, youth minister, musician, education officer, pastoral co-ordinator and others too in the big churches. I spent over an hour talking to the excellent pastoral co-ordinator of Father Clark's church. The membership and the budget are obviously big items as each church is totally selfsufficient. I also spent with time Bishop Ed Salmon whose offices were round the corner. Bearing in mind the steep financial gradients we are all going to have to climb in this country, I met with their Diocesan Stewardship Officer, Howard Peckenpaugh. Americans are very up front about money and we have a lot to learn from them over here. So it was a formative time for me and impossible without the substantial grants I received which enabled the three of us to go, for which we are very grateful. I recommend the experience.
Christopher Hewetson Canon Christopher Hewetson (pictured with his wife Alison) is Priest in Charge ofHeadington Quarry, Oxford and Diocesan Vocations Officer.
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Phone Louise Scott on 0825 769000 for our full colour brochure and booking form or write to Louise Scott, Spring Harvest, 14 Horsted Square, Uckfield, East Sussex 1N22 IQL
The DOOR October 1993
Page 10
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I 1torkes from tam When the General Synod asked the Board for Social Responsibility to set up a working party on the family, it little knew just how the subject would take off. From being a general concern in society, the family has become an issue that has hit the headlines. In newspapers, on television and radio, we have heard politicians, bishops and commentators debating the state of the family in relation to divorce, single-parenthood, and out-of-control children. And all this before we even get into the 'Year of the Family'. Over the last year, the Working Party has been trying to take account of a huge volume of facts and analyses, and we have been consulting with other organisations and denominations working on these issues. We have also sent out well over 15,000 leaflets to churches across the country, asking people their views about families, and including study material for groups.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE IN NEED? Homelfe would like to hearfrom you today. Run by the Distressed Gentlefolk's Aid Association, Homelfe provides help and advice to those who have fallen on hard times. Financial assistance is often given to allow those who are able, to remain independent in their own homes. We also carefor elderly men and women, who can no longer cope by themselves, in our twelve Residential Care and Nursing Homes around the country, like Rush Court in Wallingford. lfyou can support our work in any way or know of someone who needs our help, please contact Mrs David Mackenzie on 099382 2125 or write to: Homelfe DGAA, FREEPOST, London W8 4BR. Tel: 071-229 9341.
.For Separated and DivorcedFamifies Professional mediation in Oxford and Banbury to help parents resolve disagreements and plan together for their children's future. All enquiries and free leaflets from:
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CET is a Registered Charity founded in 1945 which seeks to enable committed carers to offer permanency to children and young people in care. Our Families benefit from a unique and extenssive support network, helping them keep placements intact and maintain links into adult life for children growing up in our care. If you are— an experienced foster carer with an excellent practice record, are Christians with a demonstrable commitment to your faith, and wish to play a full part in the wider life of our organisation, then we shall be pleased to hear from you and welcome your application to join CET as we continued to expand our network of families throughout the country. For further information please contact Mr Granville P Orange, Director of Social Work, Children's Family Trust, 220 West Malvern Road, West Malvern, Worcs WR14 4BA. Tel: 0684 567724. Registered charity 208607 Fax: 0684 568190
The response has been very enthusiastic, and we have had to print another 10,000 leaflets. Many dioceses inluding our own, are focussing on family issues during 1993/4, and have wanted to link in with our work. Fortunately, a retired civil servant is helping to put all the responses together! Members of the working party have also done papers on their 'specialist subjects'. For example Stephen Barton's paper on the 'Theology of the Family' appeared in Crucible, BSR's quarterly magazine, and brought dozens of thoughtful replies. I have been sharing some of my work on Christian family values with the working party - my book about this should be published next year. The working party is aware that many people are looking to the Church to give some clear guidelines about family life, and to hold out a vision for a troubled society. Whether the Church's role is to take a firm moral stand, or to give pastioral care to people
whatever a questio Whateve discussio but a ma issues. TI relevant Copit Webster, SW1P3T postage now Dec Dr Anne member oj
Our church family
He always goes ahead of me When I was younger I used to impress my friends by telling them I had seven grandparents and two birthdays each year. I definitely saw the advantages in my parents having divorced and remarried. As I grew older! considered what it would be like to have just one family as it were, I wondered if I'd be different. I also wondered what it was like to have a family who were all Christians. As if two families weren't enough I began to feel that when going to church I was seeing yet another family. I felt comfortable there, and still do. I like the atmosphere. On reflection, perhaps it's better that only my mother and I are Christians. It means I never feel I can stop being a Christian for an evening or so. That sounds negative but it also means that! know God is there for me personally. I feel it's my place to keep my faith strong as a witness to others but by the same token I know God is with me wherever I go. Now I am a Christian, as long as lam willing, I feel that I'm never alone. God is always there to go through the door first. Being a Christian also provides a constant in my life. Whereas before Ifound it hard adjusting to being a big sister for a weekend and fitting into another family, now if I concentrate on being a Christian, I don't have to worry about how to act. Similarly, when coming home after visiting my Dad, I can now rely on God to smooth the change of place and routine.
Joëlle Kirby-Turner Joëlle is a sixth fomer at Lord Williams's School, Thame.
Church-going has been a regular part of our lives. It fits into a busy family life that revolves around work, home and hobbies. It provides us with friends and the opportunity to get together for services, Sunday school and social events. From church we also get support through the liturgy. It gives us a focus for our thoughts and makes us realise that we can cope with anything life throws at us. Our beliefs also help us to tolerate and forgive others. We try to teach our three children to be aware of other people and to understand how what they do affects others. Being a family connected to the church also helps us to participate in and give back something to the community through such activities as harvest festival distribution and church bazaars. We also run a small children's service once a month which is taken by mothers and children. This encourages confidence and commitment. For us church offers a time for togetherness as a family and a point on which we can focus regularly in an otherwise very busy life.
Greg and Rebecca Smith. Greg and Rebecca live in Long Crendon with Sam(9), Amy (6) and Henny (4).
Home with an open door The brokeness of family life is a part of our life. Our fostering career began nearly twenty years ago at a time when children were placed all too quickly in longterm foster homes. My own fostering 'career' began as a child placed in a long term foster home. Coming from a background of broken family relationships and time spent in residential care I have a deep commitment to the need for children to remain where possible within their natural family. If it becomes necessary for a child to become a
part of our family then we also accept the child's natural family in the hope they may be re-united or, if that is not possible, to work with the pain of letting go. You can take the child out of the family but you cannot take the family out of the child. We have two sons of our own who have known no family life other than the one with an open door. It has not always'been easy for them adjusting to each change within the family as children of all ages come and go with their own hurts. When we speak of the family this must also include the wider family of our church where we receive care and support. To
know it is not possible to take away the pain of loss which comes through the rejection felt in broken relationships can be hard for foster carers to accept, yet the knowledge that the wounded Christ is present in the brokeness of these children's lives gives us the confidence to remain alongside them and perhaps begin the healing process.
Sue Smith To enable us to continue fostering over a long period of time we are members of a foster carers support group, gaining insight through sharing each other's experiences. As foster carers we are sharing the life of someone else's child. To do this means sharing toys, time, friends, attention and of course the extra work involved in the addition of another member to the family. All of this can and does lead to tensions within the home.
The joy received in exchange for this are the whispered words at bedtime from the foster child "can I have a cuddle".
David Smith Sue and David are members of St Michael's Church, Wolvercote with Summertown, Oxford.
Our God is o Seco From a very early age, my only concern as someone to marry. I was excessively worried me attractive; I also lived in a remote village w: I left home for the first time aged 18 to go to was unprepared for all the changes. Even tho adult for the first time in my life, I was not appreciate my-independence, so I said 'yes' t along and said he wanted a 'permanent girlfr I would never get a second chance. I remember that when he said we ought to liv in an empty church - they were always empty through the marriage service. I could find n respond but I did know I did not want to lost We were together for 10 years and had a dau she was five. Iwent through 10 years of utter li husband and felt for the first time in my life th race. I still find it difficult to believe it rei married in my local church which was a won marriage had been in a registry office with nc no presents.) My husband is not a Christian (yet) but he he meant what he said in church - to love me and, keep me in sickness and in health, forsal we both shall live. To me God is the God of second chances.] just begun and each day is an adventure as I faith, more about my purpo.;e in life, but mos of having a husband who loves me and intenc as long as we both shall live.
Page 11
The DOOR October 1993
nilly lif int are ink to eir the ny en the ar. the old s to pie
whatever their situation - or to try and put these two together, is a question we are still discussing. Our final report is due in 1995. Whatever it says, it will be built on the prayers and thoughtful discussions not only of ourselves and the 'specialists' we talk to, but a mass of Christian people who are living daily with family issues. The vision we offer should be both true to the Gospel, and relevant enough to make a difference. Copies of the consultation leaflet are available from Alison Webster, BSR, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW11? 3NZ. Telephone: 071 222 9233. Contributions towards postage are asked for bulk orders. The deadline for replies is now December 31, 1993.
Anne Borrowdale Dr Anne Borrowdale is Diocesan Social Responsibility Officer and a member of the General Synod Working Party on the Family.
1994 is the Year of the Family. But is the traditional family (see left) a thing of the past? Here, Christians tell how their faith has helped them in their different family situations
Coping with singleness Some people are single through choice others through circumstance. Some have lost a partner through death, others through family break-up. But into whatever category we fall, we need to see it in a Christian context. Looking back! see my singleness has been a gift from God bringing fulfilment, friendship and a relationship of love and dependency on Him for all I have needed. Nepal did have a few 'holy women' who had devoted their lives to serving their god. However marriage was the norm and on Indian trains I was always bombarded with questions like "how many children do you have, where is your husband?" but my explanations rarely satisfied them. One of the plusses for me has been the confidence to follow God's call in serving those suffering from leprosy over many years with the blessing of my church and widowed mother. The freedom from family responsibilities made that easier. I see'loneliness' as being alone with oneself. So we need to turn that into 'solitude' which is being
Faith sees us through I have four children now in their twenties but I have always worked full-time. Because of my husband's work we moved often and I changed fields a number of time. I started out as a secretary and then changed to nursing before coming back to office work and then going on to teach. I taught for over 13 years when the children were small because I knew I could be home with them in the holidays. I now work with Crossroads, a voluntary organisation providing respite care for carers of all age groups in the Slough District. It's very difficult to have a family and a full time job although my mother helped us a lot and my husband was very supportive. Being Christians has also helped us to cope. We don't take problems very seriously. In other words we believe that every problem can be solved not by our own power but by the will of God.
Celia Cleeve Celia is married to the Vicar of Christ the Worker Church, Langley, Slough. Besides working for Crossroads, she is doing an Open University degree.
is a God id chances nly concern and ambition was to find ssively worried that nobody would find emote village with no social life, so when ged 18 to go to university in a big city I Inges. Even though I was treated like an life, I was not experienced enough to so I said 'yes' to the first man who came ermanent girlfriend', because I thought Lance. we ought to live together I went to think always empty in those days - and I read I could find no clues on how I should ot want to lose him. s and had a daughter. We divorced when )years of utter hell until met my present me in my life that I had joined the human ) believe it really happened. We were rich was a wonderful blessing. (My first ' office with no guests, no reception and ian (yet) but he keeps reminding me that ch - to love me, comfort me, honour me n health, forsaking all others, as long as cond chances. I feel as if my life has only adventure as I discover more about my in life, but most of all more about the joy me and intends to remain faithful to me
Elizabeth
Just Sasha and Elliot
"I left my husband in May due to domestic violence and now I live in a refuge. Elliot, my little boy, is 19 months old. Twice a week he and I come to the SPHere day centre playgroup. The refuge is nice, comfortable and safe. At the moment I think of it as home. I can't make plans for the future. The worst thing is other people control my life - some judge, the council, the DHSS. I didn't get to make any decisions about me or my child. I'm very proud Elliot is my son. He's wonderful and I want him to grow up with a good moral education. I want to be a good role model for him too. It's hard on my own. You are wrong to be a single parent and wrong to be married to a violent husband. But unless you see the situation coining there is nothing you can do about it. I believe in God. I used to go to a Bible study group and I liked it. When I left him, I only took three carrier bags with me and my Bible was in one of them. But God is so far down the list of priorities. You need time to think about Him and when you are a single parent you only have time to think about things like being upset."
Sasha
alone with God. As we spend time in His presence meditating on His word, He speaks, giving direction and sometimes correction too. For me this has brought security and the opportunity to widen my horizons through reaching out to others. Often single people do feel locked into situations where there is family need and they seem to be the only ones free to take care of it. I didn't find it easy to relinquish what I was doing to be at home for several years looking after my elderly mother. But the Lord was gracious to me and sent me help when Ineeded it and lam left with good memories. Now I am retired and in the words of Elizabeth Elliot: "I do not know the plans for years to come, My spirit finds in Thee its perfect home, Sufficiency. Lord, all my desire is before Thee now, Lead on, no matter where, no matter how I trust in Thee."
Betty Bailey
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Granny to the rescue Rachael started school in September! Nearly five years ago, we were waiting for our first two grandchildren to be born, one on the Isle of Wight and one here in Oxford. They came within two days of one another, two beautiful girls, Hannah and Rachael. Of course, we visited them both as soon as we could and felt so pleased and proud. Little did I think that I was going to be so closely involved with Rachael's first years. Her mother went back to work leaving Rachael with a childminder but when she was about a year old, my daughter-inlaw came to me and broached the subject of my having Rachael. They wanted her to be with the family, and after all it was only for two days a week! Shortly, it became necessary for Deb to take full-time work and of course it depended on my co-operation. As a Christian and a member of the Mothers' Union, my belief in the integrity of the family was paramount and I saw that this was a way I could hold the family together. Joshua, Rachael's brother, arrived nearly two years later and, of course, he came to me as well. I have loved the last four years. There were times when they drove me mad but the pleasures far outweigh those moments and there was a real hole in my life in September. Joshua and l still trot along to mid-week Communion and do the flowers and put the magazine together and see 'our ladies' at MU meetings, and! can only hope that some of the Christian values he and Rachael have met have rubbed off on them for the future.
Joy Brown Joy is a member of Botley, Oxford Mothers' Union.
SOCIAL Svcss DEPARTMENT
FOSTERING AND ADOPTION Information Meetings TO BE HEW AT CITY CHAMBERS TO BE HELD AT MALTFIELD HOUSE QUEEN STREET 12.00- ZOO CHILDREN'S HOME LUNCH TIME DROP IN 10.00 am Monday 27th September Thursday 16th September Monday 18th October Thursday 7th October Monday 15th November Thursday 4th November Monday 13th December Thursday 2nd December Monday 17th January Thursday 13th January Monday 14th February Thursday 3rd February Monday 14th March Thursday 3rd March Monday 18th April Thursday 7th April Monday 16th May Thursday 5th May Thursday 9th June Thursday 7th July Thursday 15th September Also there will be one evening meeting every month please telephone for details of time and venue and for a map of how to get to Maltlield House. We need families for a/I ages of children from 1 year of age to 16 years old to provide: Respite Cars, Relief Care, Short Term Care, Permanency and Fnendty, supportive families for teenagersL children who are disabled and who have very specie) needs. In addition we are particularly looking for families who-would be interested in hearing more about our needs of pairs of children under the age of 5 years as we are In urgent need for families who have the space, commitment & perseverance to offer a home to a number of disturbed children.
TELEPHONE FAMILY PLACEMENT on: 0865-815296 & 0865-815347/815036
CHILDREN IN DISTRESS ALBANIAN
CHILDREN'S
AID
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We have now completed all our negotiations with the Albanian Ministry of Health and are able to announce that construction of the St. Luke's Children's Hospice and Hospital, which has been transferred from Tirana to the town of Saranda, began on 1 July. The first of its type, it is to serve the whole of Albania providing Hospice care for terminally ill children and special recuperation and convalescent care for the long term and chronically, sick. Your Christian prayer and financial support would enable us to share our Lord's love and healing amongst these desperately suffering little teardrops of God. I enclose a donation of: £25 £50 LI or: Please charge my Access/Visa Name Address
£10 El
Any other amount
• 1
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Postcode or: for covenant forms/further information, please contact: Rev Dr John Walnisley ALBANIAN CIIILDREN'S AID Locklield Avenue, Enfield Middlesex EN37PP Telephone: 081 443 4363 Ref Cl' 10/3 Fax: 081 443 3962 Registered Charity No. 1001327 J L
The DOOR, October 1993
Page 12
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Page 13
FEATURE
Reflections on Relate One of the reasons why the former Marriage Guidance Council changed its name to Relate five years ago was to confront the myth that counsellors were there to 'guide' clients to a particular resolution of their difficulties. It is not the job of a professional counsellor to tell clients what to do. As you may have heard through the media, Relate have recently produced a video about divorce. As I was involved both in the production and the launching of the video it seems appropriate to explain what is involved in being a professional marital counsellor as well as a Church of England Reader and Franciscan Tertiary. Many clients come to Relate knowing that they want help with their marriages; others come for help with the management of their separation and divorce, seeking to limit the amount of long-term damage to themselves and their families; others come with conflicting wishes: one wants to stay in the marriage, the other wants it to end. In this case the task of the counsellor is to hold the dilemma while exploring with the clients the present and past causes of conflict. After a while, one of two things usually happens: the one determined to leave the marriage, goes, while the remaining partner may or may not accept the invitation for continuing, supportive counselling while experiencing feelings similar to those of bereavement; if, on the other hand, the one talking about leaving is expressing despair about the relationship, the counselling may enable real change and the marriage is
given another chance. Relate does not encourage divorce. Relate does encourage honesty in relationships, the wish to gain insight into our own behaviour in relationships and the wish to change patterns of behaviour which may once have had their function, perhaps as a matter of survival, but
which are now experienced as destructive. There is an enormous amount known about the practice of making relationships work. Relate has recently published several handbooks written by Sarah Litvinoff. I am committed to education work which seeks to make that knowledge available to everyone. So what helps? The following are a few suggestions: a willingness to listen; an expectation that there is something to learn from every encounter; waiting for the appropriate moment if we need to say something painful to someone we love; a refusal to gossip or to listen to gOssip; the courage to face the realisation that we regularly hurt those close to us; a willingness to say sorry; a readiness to forgive those who want to make it up after hurting us. How does prayer help? It is not my practice to pray with clients. It is my practice to bring
Could Ifit into your family?
all those I see into my own prayers. As a Fransiscan, I value the regular prayer of the Community of St Clare in Freeland and feel upheld by them. Prayer gives me the courage to challenge persecution and cruelty, while remembering that the perpetrators are themselves former victims of the same. Prayer reminds me to look at myself, my own part in causing pain and being judgemental. Prayer reminds me that I can only be a channel for the development of others. Asa parent of teenagers, I know what it costs to let go of them into a dangerous world. As a divorcee, I stand as one who has failed to make a marriage last 'til death do us part'. I know that this informs my wish to understand what goes on in relationships and help others to equip themselves for a lasting commitment. I do believe that Christian communities have a role in supporting the family, but they need to think carefully about how they best fulfil it. Sanctimonious righteousness will continue to driveaway those struggling to make sense of their lives. Anyone could try to develop the core conditions of the counselling setting: warmth, unconditional acceptance and genuineness. The rest can be left to God. Anne Holmes Anne Holmes has worked as a Relate Counsellor for seven years. She is Director of the Oxford Pastoral CounsellingService. The nextOPCS workshop on October 23, will be led by Jessica Rose with the theme 'Prayer and Practice in the Counselling Relationship'. Cost £10 (cheques to 'OPCS') to: OxfordPastoral Counselling Service, do 10 Kingston Road, Oxford 012 6EF. Enquiries: 0865 516894.
How the Diocesan Council for Social Work helps families 1994 is the 'Year of the Family', and the Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work, as one of its basic tenets, is helping to promote family life. This is done in two ways, firstly through the Adoption Service and secondly by helping homeless unsupported parents to gain confidence, independence and, hopefully stability in their role as sole provider for their children. Although the work of the Council has been going on for many years, the current focus enables the agency to update readers of The DOOR on what is being done at this time. Working hand in hand with local deanery associations we are able to offer help to young women throughout the Diocese. In Slough, five women and their babies are currently living in one house; a second house is being refurbished. In Windsor and Maidenhead, two houses can accommodate seven residents. Here we have links with the Toynbee Housing Association to provide 'move-on' housing. In Bracknell and Wokingham there are a further two houses with three residents in each; and in Oxford there is one house with six residents. The house in Amersham has recently closed because of lack of applicants but there are plans underway to consider a house in Milton Keynes, and we have had requests from the Newbury area. The average age of the residents is eighteen. Apart from the houses, we also run 'SPHere' groups or drop-in centres for lone parents. These are expanding rapidly to meet evident demand. There are similar groups running in Reading, Oxford and Bracknell. In Windsor the local association together with Social Services and ODCSW have identified a need for a group and hope to make one available early next year. Just to show how much these groups do, in one year, Oxford Sphere had 63 adults and 85 children attending. Another project which has been made possible thanks to the generous donations of wellwishers is an educational fund which helps unsupported parents undertake vocational training and achieve financial (and emotional) independence. So far the fund has made grants available to those retaking 'A' levels, studying at the Open University, training to be playgroup leaders, or attending adult literacy classes. Besides contributions from companies like Pettits of Wallingford, the Council hopes to raise money at a carol service to be given by the Cantorum Choir in Dorchester Abbey on December 10. For further information about the work of SPHere or if you wish to enquire about working as a volunteer on one of the projects, please write to me: Shirley Kay, 48 Bath Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 6PG or telephone 0734 581861. Shirley Kay, Director ODCSW
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The DOOR, October 1993
iJ ØOOK A Higher Calling: Women in History
THE BIBLE: MEDICINE AND MYTH
As Rowan Williams says in the foreword to Beloved & Chosen. Women of Faith (By Jill Evans. Published by The Canterbury Press £8.95): "On first reading, the history of the Christian Church makes a depressing study for women... we need to learn a new depth of familiarity with women's Christian history - which is by no means the same as the textbook version of the Church's past". This book makes a far-reaching effort to redress the balance. It studies women and their personal contributions to evangelisation, to the Church's service of the world which God loves and to the everyday life of the Christian community. It is factual rather than provocative, and you will not find here the most novel theories about the place of women in the New Testament, but there are discreet notes of the way in which their experience foreshadowed the future. "Anna became the first among many... who had their word doubted and ignored because they were women".
Margaret Lloyd Davies BD BA STh T A Lloyd Davies MD FRCP
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The blurb speaks of some three hundred women (and I was encouraged to see Jane Austen head the sample list). I could have believed that these crowded pages contained more, ranging from the ordinary women such as Helen and Wulfrun to the anything but ordinary Hildegarde, and Sheila Cassidy
and Penelope Jamieson today. The first two chapters cover New Testament times, the third the martyrs and desert mothers, the fourth (Beacons in the Darkness) the dark ages, and the fifth the Middle Ages with an account of many of the mystics. We are then taken from the late Middle Ages through Reforma-
tion and Counter-Reformation. Finaly we come to the late eighteenth century and the early twentieth: the evangelical revival, writers, missionary and educational work, and concern for social problems. As the Epilogue says, the stories are those of individuals but also parts ofawhole. They show the history of Christianity from the woman's side but are also part of the identity of any Christian because we are all one body. As with any part of our identity, this side of the story needs to be recognised and accepted if we are to come to the fullness of Christ. The blurb speaks of acknowledging "in a gentle and spiritual way the witness and contribution of women". I think the book is better - more objective and realistic - than those words suggest. I understand that it is to be a resource for GCSE Church history. It should do quite a lot to redress the balance. Gillian Clare CSCI St Mary's Convent, Freeland, Witney
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Women's role in
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ST VERONICA NURSING WING The Old Vicarage Moulsford, Nr Wallingford A high standard of Nursing Care within a happy atmosphere, rooms overlooking beautiful gardens. Short/long term stay patients
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the
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In 1932, Ella Maillart, the Swiss woman Olympic competitor and adventurer, travelled in Central Asia hoping that among remote and nomadic peoples she might find where Europe had gone so tragically wrong. Her quest was not just geographical, but spiritual. She was looking for 'inspired solutions to the inner and outer chaos disintegrating us'. In her reflective wanderings she discovered that answers to life's dissatisfactions are often close to us and simple, but to be effective they depend on
people listening and making changes. A Woman's Place? Women and Work edited by Elizabeth Templeton and published by St Andrew Press, offers the reflections of 13 women and two men. They are all adventurers - political, sociological, theological, spiritual - seeking answers and changes in community and individual life around them. The book offers stories, statistics and studies which enlighten the work situations in which women are employed not in remote places, but on our own doorsteps and in our own homes and workplaces. They all want to see change: but that will only happen when there is honest listening. This book can help that process and it considers the church's role in it. It looks at the
EDUCATION
problems faced by women at work - equal opportunities, child care, career, homeworking, harassment. There is a chapter by Anne Borrowdale, the Oxford Diocesan Social Responsibility Officer, on sex and sexism in the workplace. The book is edited by Elizabeth Templeton who contributes a theological fantasy about Mary and Martha at the Pearly Gates. The Scottish Churches' Industrial Mission is to be congratulated in commissioning this book as a sequel to New Patterns of Work. Both are bold attempts to address the challenges we face as work and employment go through irretrievable upheaval. David Tonkinson Bracknell Industrial Chaplain
UNIVERSITY DEGREE?
YOUR FOUR PAGES START HERE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY (UK) NEW UK MINISTRY
WESTMINSTER COLLEGE" OXFORD MTh/Diploma in Applied Theology Have you five years work experience in some form of ministry - ordained or lay?
As part of its worldwide ministry, International Bible Society has recently launched a new scheme, aimed at putting as many copies of the Bible as possible into the hands of non-Christians in the U'( - what a mission field! Working with churches and a wide variety of other organisations, IBS is supplying a full edition of the New International Version, in boxes of 24, for just £1.99 per copy. A condition of the sale of this special low-cost edition is that it will not be resold, but will be used for such things as: Readings in church Bible study groups Pastoral work Evangelistic outreach Youth work Prizes and awards Hospitals and prisons Schools and Student outreach Gifts at baptisms, weddings, and other special occasions
Are you interested in reflecting on the nature and practice of your ministry with others? Are you prepared to undertake part-time sustained study at home?
Thousands of copies have been ordered, from every corner of the UK. As well as the Word of God itself, this edition contains notes to help those new to the Bible, and a section entitled "Here's how you can meet the most important person in history - Jesus Christ".
An ecumenical degree course, validated by the University of Oxford Send for details to: The Theology Office, Westminster College, FREEPOST, Oxford 0X2 913R Name
Please pray with us that through this project, many such miraculous meetings will occur. For further information, please contact International Bible Society (UK), Hainble House, Meadrow, Godalmlng, Surrey GU7 3JX. Telephone: 0483 424040 Faz 0483 427636
Address Reach 200,000 readers every month in 'THE DOOR". To advertise telephone: (0865) 880505 I
THERE IS A PLACE... There has never been a better time to take your place at the Buckinghamshire College. Whether your A level grades let you down, or you've just completed a National Diploma or Access course, or you're a mature student returning to study, we could have a place for you. As a college of Brunel University, our extensive portfolio of vocational degrees and Higher National Diplomas is designed to set you on the road to career success. Due to expansion, we want to increase our student numbers and would welcome a call from you to discuss your future with us.
Our diverse range of courses includes degrees in Business Administration (available with a specialism in Environmental Management). Furniture Production, Nursing, Sociology, Psychology and Criminology. We offer other highly specialised courses which instil the knowledge and skills constantly demanded in industry today. So why not consider a degree in Forest Products Technology, Building Processes, Computer Aided Design and Manufacture or Information Systems for Business in Europe, or an HND in Building Computing or Product Design and Manufacture?
For more information contact the Marketing Department at Buckinghamshire College, Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HPJ1 2JZ. THE PLACE IS BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COLLEGE AND THERE COULD BE A COURSE FOR YOU
11
THE BUCI(INGHAMSHIRE COLLEGE BRUNEL UNIVERSITY
The DOOR, October 1993
Page 15
FEATURE
TIME TO FACE THE TRUTH ABOUT HALLOWEEN?
'Fanning the FLAME It is a weekday evening and a group of people are listening to a tape about 'parenting'. They have joined a course led by a member of the Oxford Diocese FLAME Group. They are all parents - some couples, some who have come on their own who benefit from sharing their worries: about the toddler's tantrums, the 9 year old accused of stealing, the teenager who comes in late. But they are also discovering that they can acquire practical skills to enable them to cope. The course is helping them to see parenting as a creative job that they can learn to do better. A clergyman is feeling dissatisfied with his customary way of preparing couples for marriage. He suspects that in his busy ministry he does not give adequate time to thinking out what would really be most helpful to couples today. The Diocesan Office gives him a printout of FLAME's list (frequently updated) of resources: books, tapes, courses, experienced peo-
ple and also a 'flier' about the next Day Conference, entitled 'Celebrating Marriage', organised by FLAME (in co-operation with one of the Diocesan Training Schemes), aiming to provide stimulus and ideas for all (clergy and lay) who are involved in marriage preparation. FLAME is a national organisation working through the Dioceses of the Church of England. In this Diocese we have a FLAME Group, of 10 hardworking volunteers, with valued help from the Social Responsibility Officer, Dr Anne Borrowdale. We are concentrating our effort on marriage preparation and training support for parents. We work in three ways: by 'networking' (co-operating with other groups with similar aims); by responding to requests (providing a course here or giving advice to a parish there); and finally by initiating various educational projects. By joining it, as an individual or as a parish for a modest subscription, you
Do we want our children drawn into this profoundly evil festival asks Richard Miller
will receive a regular mailing and invitations to national events. Your parish is probably already doing good things to give families the support of the Church. I hope that some of these will be shared when the subject of The Family is debated in the Diocesan Synod in November. There may be help which the Oxford Diocesan FLAME group can give you, or you may have ideas for new ways in which FLAME might work? As chairman of the FLAME Group, I would be glad to hear of your experience and your suggestions. Penny Nairne
':: GE FAMILIESOP ThE
The DOOR factsheet
Family Life is on the agenda of the Diocesan General Synod. There will be a debate sponsored by the FLAME group of the Board for Social Responsibility which it is hoped will be wide ranging and cover such topics as whether the family is in crisis, the Church's contribution to social policies and the Diocese's contribution to the International Year of the Family. The motion put before Diocesan Synod will urge every Deanery togive attention to the subject of families' during 1994. Deaneries may like to start planning b3 putting this on their agendas in the hope that the motion will be carried. Berkshire Churches Together have already decided to focus on work with families in J993f4.
The Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work, the NSPCC and the Oxfordshire Family Conciliation Service are just three of the organisations which exist to provide help and information. Parents, children, step-families, single parents and divorced fathers are some of the people who can find support with organisations which are specially tailored to their needs. A complete list of these organisations with addresses and telephone numbers is available from The DOOR. Write, enclosing an SAE, to: Families Factsheet, The DOOR, Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford OX2 ONB.
Any research of Halloween will make it quickly clear that its origins go right back to Britain's druidic and pagan past before the Romans came. It was the time when the druids held their great autumn festival, lighting fires in honour of the Sun god in thanksgiving for the harvest. On the eve of this festival, Saman (or Samhain), lord of death, called together wicked souls. Bonfires were also lit to frighten away evil spirits. Sometimes even human sacrifices were offered to appease supernatural powers that controlled the natural processes. Continuing unabated through the centuries from these roots, witchcraft and satanism have used this festival as the highlight of the occult year, working in direct conflict with Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. In order to give Halloween a veneer of respectability, parties, dressing up and 'tricking or treating' have been introduced. But do we really want our children involved in this? Do we want to encourage them to be playing games with the lord of death and his demonic hordes. So many are drawn innocently into this profoundly evil and spiritually dangerous festival. Every Christian denomination recognises the existence of demons and Satan, and the Church of England appoints diocesan exorcists to set people free from these powers; not ignoring them but
actually combating them. Jesus came with good news and hope to "destroy the devil's work" (1 John 3:8). We should oppose Halloween because it is a celebration of evil, but we need to wear the Heavenly Armour, which God has provided for our protection (Ephesians 6). The day after Halloween is All Saint's Day, November 1. That is a completely different matter. Let us arrange our children's and adults') parties then, encouraging them to dress up and rejoice over the generations of faithful Christians who have lived before us. The opportunity may arise to help youngesters realise that Jesus is the light of the world. We must prayerfully carefully consider. how we resent Him as their Saviour and Friend, King of kings and Lord of lords, Ruler of the Kingdom that will never
pass away or be destroyed. I have found the leaflets produced by the Christian Publicity Organisation most helpful. They are ideal for distributing among school teachers and some are particularly suitable for children. When the local paper mentions Halloween, why not write to the editor, sending a leaflet? Why not give a leaflet to your youth leaders and church workers, so that united we understand the truth and enjoy the good things which Jesus has made available to us. Richard Miller The Revd Richard Miller is Vicar of Aldermaston. The illustration above is taken from the CPO leaflet 'Halloween Party Time?'
The address for leaflets is: The Christian Publicity Organisation (CPO), Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 lB. Telephone: 0903 264556 Fax: 0903 830066.
EDUCATION: THE VERY BEST IN EDUCATION, COURSES AND CAREERS HOTEL& CATERING TRAINING COMPANY
the Hotel and Catering Industry With 2.4 million people employed in the hotel and catering industry and with employment forecasts estimating 70,000 new jobs oeing created by 1995, the industry is a major UK employer offering an enormous range of job opportunities to young people. What can It offer?
• Excellent promotion prospects for those prepared to make a commitment • Nationally recognised qualifications (NVQs/SVQs) • Job variety and challenge • The opportunity to learn new skills • The chance to prove initiative • Lack of 9 to 5 regime • Team work The HCTC offers training and work experience with employers for school leavers which pay a training allowance or weekly wage. The training leads to NVQs/SVQs. To find out more about the HCTC's training programmes for school leavers which are operated throughout the UK contact: Geraldine Barker, Hotel & Catering Training Company, Second Floor, Stonebow House, The Stonebow, York VOl 2NP Telephone 0904 626134
A Winner of the 1992 National Training
We are an equal opportunities employer
Awards
m
Page 16
The DOOR, October 1993
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE PERSONAL EVANGELISM TRAINING COURSE October 22nd-27th St Peter's, Bishopsworth, Bristol • • • • •
This Evangelism Explosion residential training course will equip participants to: present the gospel clearly and concisely be more confident in dealing with objections be prepared to lead a person to Christ train others in their church to do the same On-the-job training is included
Cost £95.00 Includes all meals, accommodation and training materials Contact Mrs Sue Seddon EVANGELISM EXPLOSION 228 Shirley Rd, Southampton 801 3HR Tel: 0703 228985
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS - PROVEN EXCELLENCE INDEPENDENT Schools, secondary, preparatory, and pre-prep. have always had to earn their way in the world, and exist only because they find willing buyers for the service they offer. Recently, of course, the state of the nation's economy has made this a tougher decision for parents to take, but with uncertainties and constantly changing landscape of the National Curriculum, and the individual child's educational career at stake, it is one that continues to be taken, despite having to pay twice, once in taxes to the Government and then obviously in fees to the school selected. Why do people do it, is a natural question. The answer is always a composite one, particular emphasis varying family by family. The key elements of the National Curriculum are no big deal for independent schools.
They have had ordered curricula for years; have reported to parents not once a year but at the end of every term; have had their internal assessments not just now and then at certain ages but usually twice a year, more often in some schools. Parents appreciate an orderly environment; comparatively small classes; specialist subject teaching earlier; a goal-directed atmosphere; quality facilities; the width of experience their children encounter. Thus it is not just a matter of class music but of the opportunity to participate in choirs, the orchestra or ensembles; not just drama as part of the English syllabus but the chance to appear, on stage or to contribute vitally backstage; not merely a P.E. lesson now and then, but regular P.E. in addition to well taught team games with match
opportunities against other schools for many. But even all that is not the whole story, for the independent schools have traditionally laid a heavy emphasis on the character of their pupils when they leave. The difference between right and wrong is no revamped buzz phrase but has always been part of the core curriculum. Is the child honest, or not? Is he or she kind, sensitive to the needs of others, or totally selfish? Is the sense of humour wholesome or downright smutty? Have they learnt to operate within a 'team' framework, have they developed a capacity to accept responsibility? Can they conduct themselves effectively on a public platform? Independent Schools would like more - indeed all - parents to have the opportunity for their children that has
tended to be confident to too few. Excellence in any Sphere is clearly costly, but a classless society is no good to any of us if we are all confined to the lowest common denominator of egalitarianism. So why not fees deductible from taxable income or vouchers for parents to dispose as they decide best? Or, again, why not per capital grants to"Independent Schools as is now happening for opt-out and grant maintained schools - but without the attendant bureaucracy? Meanwhile our schools do their beat to help where they can via scholarships, bursaries, bulkbuy discounts even. One way or another it has become a fart that 40% of the parents of those now at our schools did not enjoy this opportunity themselves. This way, excellence.
DUM Dalrymple MA (Oxon) Headmaster, Ashtold School.
SHRRBORNE SCHOOL GF
(Constance Spry Trained) Come and learn the art offlorislry and flower arranging in a relaxed atmosphere. Courses suitable for careers or personal weddings etc... 4 miles from Reading centre, only 1 'dmiles junction 11, M4.
Reading, Berks RG2 9ER Telephone: (0734) 883173— Fax (0734) 883400
BRAZIERS ADULT COLLEGE Ipsden nr Wallingford Peaceful country house weekends with the added stimulus of learning and discussion. Residential courses on many subjects: Art, Crafts, Music, Writing, Languages and Literature, Psychology and Ethics, Social Science, Personal Skills.
0491 680221
You are welcome to visit us and see the school at work at any time. Just telephone for an appointment or come and see us at the National ISIS Exhibition (8. 9, 10 October) at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London (Stand M108).
and
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Sherborne is a Registered Charity
Improved breath control and vocal production Examination work or just for fun
BRADFIELD
Coaching for entrance to choir schools
Dr Judith Wardle
Boys' and Girls' Sixth Form Entrance Scholarships A number of awards (f necessary augmentable up to full fees) will be made
Tel: 0993 881880 6i'Q*S4' e&rweiir
for entrance in September 1994. Admission by interview and competitive examination to be held in November 1993. Further details and a prospectus may be
The Grange, Chalfont St Peter (Bucks) SL9 9D
BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS FROM 5 to 18
obtained from:
Pupils prepared for G. C.S.E. Ordinary and G. CE. Advanced level as well as examinations of the Royal College of Music, and the London Academy of Dramatic Art.
The Sixth Form Admissions Secretary BRADFIELD COLLEGE Reading, Berkshire RG7 6AR Tel: 0734 744203
Apply to the PRINCIPAL
Telephone: GERRARDS CROSS
(0753) 882583
Oxford Road, Thame O9 2AQ SUCCESSFUL 16-19 EDUCATION NO FEES
* Excellent results
* *
*
* Student atmosphere and pastoral care * Ms/Music Scholarships
*
*
* Wide extra-curricular opportunities in sports, as & service * Expanded social and study facilities
An TAPS preparatory school for Boys and Girls: aged 3 to 13+. Weekly boarding and Day. For a prospectus and further details con'tact: The Secretary, Ashford School, Dorton, Aylesbury HP18 9NG. Phone. 0844 238237
*
SOME PLACES AVAILABLE ON SPECIFIC COURSES
Phone now for appointment or information: THAME (0844) 213681
INSTITUTE OF COUNSELLING s COUNSELLING SKILLS CERTIFICATE COURSES. I YEAR DIPLOMA COURSES. 2 YEAR DIPLOMA COURSES. TRAINING RESOURCES. - ALL COURSES OF A HOME S'I'UDY BASIS— SUMMER SCHOOL ACCREDIIF.1) BY TEE COUNCIL OF ACCREDITING CORRESPONDENCE COLLEGES. Forfw.lher daails pk.aw writ,: REGISTRAR, INSTifUYE OF COUNSELLING, DEPT U, 6 DIXON STRFEE, GLASGOW GI 4AX i
ahqc, %%rd CHORISTER VOICE TRIALS FOR BOYS AGED 7-9 WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY 16 OCTOBER 1993 Substantial awards are available and choristers receive full-time education at Magdalen College School. Full details and a prospectus are available from the College Office, Magdalen College, Oxford, OX1 4AU TELEPHONE 0865 276060
MOOR PARK SCHOOL
LORD WILLIAMS'S SCHOOL
* Wide range of A, AS, DVE, GNVG Courses
Convenient for THAME, BICESTER and AYLESBURY areas'
successful Music Department please telephone Patrick Shelley, Director of Music on (0935) 812030- office or (0935) 79297- home. A separate Music School prospectus is available on request.
SINGING TUITION
Thriving Co-Ed Sixth Form of 360
ASHFOLD SCHOOL Dorton
For Information about the above awards, please contact the Registrar on (0935) 813242 or write to him at Sherborne School, Sherborne, Dorset D79 3AP. MAJOR MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS are offered to talented young musicians by examination. Candidates should be under 14 on 1 July 1994. To find out more about Sherborne School's prestigious and
Phone for our brochure now:
*
aged under 17 on July 1994 are invited to apply. Awards will be by examination on 26 and 27 January 1994. ARK WRIGHT DESIGN TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS are also offered for sixth farmers. Sherborne School was one of the first schools to participate in the award of this prestigious national scholarship. ART AND ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS are available for boys under 14 on 1 July 1994. THE JEREMY IRONS AWARD offers a valuable bursary to boys who show outstanding flair in one or more areas of school life. It was named after the distinguished actor, an Old Shirburnian. SIXTH FORM PLACES are available and THIRD FORM ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS are offered by examination in early May 1994.
SIXTH FORM SCHOLARSHIPS: boys
Details SA.E. please PRISCILLA'S FLOWER SCHOOL, Grovelands Garden Centre, 166 Hyde End Road, Sh.ifield,
*
Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 4EA (0584-876061) is a happy, hard-working 'family affair' Co-Educational Catholic Prop School welcoming children from all denominations 3-13i boarders, weekly, day; with our own chapel (and many local non-Catholics). Excellent academic record; dyslexia unit; sports tradition; art, music, drama, including sports hall and girls, boarding house. Enquiries to the Headmaster John Badham BA, BEd. Tel: 0584 876061
ST GEORGE'S SCHOOL ASCOT Tel: (0344) 20273 Fax: (0344) 874213 Boarding and Day Education Ages 11-18 290 girls (VIth form 70) 2/3 Boarding Golden triangle location with excellent facilities Superb academic results (rated in top ten schools 1992) SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Ecumenical ethos ensures caring coininun ity
Page 17
The DOOR, October 1993
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE •.... ... . . . . . .
HELP
Independent Schools Infonnatlon Service 56 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AG (071-630 8793/4) pro v ides
Theological and Pastoral Education In-Service Short Courses for Today's Church
general help and advice, publishes Choosing Your Independent School (f6.95), which gives basic details (including exam results, fees and scholarships) of 1,400
C
I.i%Ools. lris Public Day School Trust: 26 Queen Anne's Gate, London SVr lB 9AN (071-222 9695) Schools Association (for advice on Independent arl Walendlat h, Bug 11111, Warllngh a in 4717) sodatlon c/a Cathedral Choir School, R1pon 6G.I 11111 MACINTYRE & Co.
Chartered Aco,,,ttairis
Have an Education Department providing specialist, financial advice and audit services to many Schools and Associations. For further information contact: Noble Hanlon, John Bamford, David Clark or David Sewell at 28 Ely Place, London EC1N 6RL Tel. No: 071 242 0242 Registered to carry on audit wOt* and autborased to carry on investment business by the Institute of Cbarrered Accountants in England and Wales
students, Academic, leaching ski//s and pastoral.
The Headmaster, St Bede's School, Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Nr. Stafford ST17 OXN. Telephone 0889 881277
LOW COST COMPUTING Day Courses and 1-J customised tuition for
individuals or groups. Topics include MS-DOS, Excel, Windows, Word, WordPerfect. Levels from introductory to advanced. Also find us in Yellow Pages, Training Section. 5JVIJ-[5QLEyJ.3SSOCIi4T'ES
Tel: 0865 777938
XFORDSH1RE COUNTY XCOUNCIA Education Service
• Academic courses can lead to credits towards an st/A, or a Diploma in
LUCKLEY-OAKFIELD SCHOOL
Religrous/Theo/ogica/ Education.
Flexibility is a feature of Luckley-Oakfield School where pupils may be full or weekly boarders or day girls: it is made easy for them to transfer from one mode to another as family circumstances change. Entry is usually at 11 but is possible at other stages, particularly at 13 or 16. The curriculum is geared to the attainment of high academic standards while maintaining a wide breadth of choice. Luckley-Oakfield is proud of its reputation for pastoral care, and because of its relatively small size it offers a special degree of individual attention. There is an extensive recreational and cultural programme including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. The Sixth Form House is designed to accommodate up to 60 girls, and in addition to 'A' level and 'AS' Level, the school offers the Diploma of Vocational Education, with most girls going on to degree courses.
• Ten different courses are available to cater for day, weekend and evening study. • Prices have been kept to a minimum to help self-funded students. Day courses will include lunch, tea and coffee. • Example of courses available: Christianitr' and Culture, Communicating Theology to al/ages and abilities, teaching the Bible, Improving your counselling and communication skills. For a full brochure please contact: his Sara Kelly, In-Service Secretar), Centre for Educational Studies, Cornwall House Annexc, Waterloo Road, London SE 8TX. An early reply will ensure maximum choice.
Eqialiry u10pposuni Gaiiogo policy
LUCKLEY-OAKFLELD SCHOOL Wokingham, Berkshire INDEPENDENT DAY, BOARDING AND WEEKLY BOARDING SCHOOL FOR UP TO 300 GIRLS AGED 11 -18 * High academic standards
Emphasis on individual pastoral care
PREPARATORY SCHOOL, STAFFORD
A BALANCED EDUCATION IN A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT All denominations catered for Boys and girls, day and boarding Strong family spirit Individual attention given to each child Excellent academic record Full complement of sports and extra-mural activities Splendid location, blending traditional charm with modern facilities First class road and rail communications For more infonnation on St Bede 's and the opportunities it affords, please telephone or write for our colour prospectus.
to all those involved in Communicating the Christian Faith in today's world.
• Three types of courses are available for qualified and unqualified
t. 13eL3e' • • • • • • • •
ommencing October 1993 we are able to offers variety of short courses
* Happy boarding environment Wide ranging extra-curricular provision * Various informal Christian groups
Founded 1829
I
Purpose-built Sixth Form accommodation for up to 60 girls
I
An evangelical church of England foundation which welcomes girls of all denominations and seeks to express the Christian faith in all aspects of school life. For
St. Mary's School, Wantage, Oxon 0X12 SBZ Tel. 0235-763571; Fax 0235-760467 C. ofE. school (270 girls aged 11-18) in a small town south of Oxford, with easy arr.wc to M4 *full boarding only with a happy and airing environment • a tutorial system • an excellent academic record • a broad and balanced curriculum • strong art, drama, music and sports departments • a wide range of dubs and other recreational activities • I Sixth-form and I Junior Scholarship awarded annually A prospectus giving fault details Is available from the AdmlJsl. Seatary at the above address. -
ST GEORGE'S CHAPEL WINDSOR CASTLE
further details please telephone the School on:
WOIUNGHAM
ING'S College K LONDON
TRAIL BLAZERS Architecture; Art in wood glass, & embroidery; Christian heritage; Heraldry; History -all this much more on our Trail of Discovery. Valuable background for N National Curriculum Studies in Art. Religious Education, and History (KS2: CSU 2, 3.4, & 6; SSU.A3; and KS3: CU 2, 3, 4, 5; SSU.AI ). Information Packs for snout vials available for teachers, and Activity Questionnaires for age ranges 8-10.10-12, and 12-14 years.
(0734) 784175
For further information contact: Education Officer, The Chapter Office, The Cloisters,
LORD MAYOR TRELOAR COLLEGE
Windsor Castle, Berks SEA 1NJ Tel: (0753) 865538; (0628) 27709
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
ALTON, HAMPSHIRE GU34 4EN (Supported by the Treloar Trust. Reg Charity No. 307103)
Provides Education, Independence and Care for Young people aged 8-19+ with Physical/Learning Disabilities. National Curriculum offered to all up to 16. 'A' levels, GCSE, CGLI, RSA, AEB, Pitmans, Diploma of Vocational Education, NVQs, GNVQs, Wordpower, Numberpower, Youth Award Scheme. A Large Learning Difficulties Department caters for those who cannot follow examination courses. A unique multidisciplinary programme is run by Conductors for younger pupils with motor disabilities. For Prospectus and informal visit, Telephone Secretary on
0420 83508
CJ~
QUALITY TUITION IN 'A' LEVELS AND GCSEs IN OXFORD Re-takes welcome • • • • • • •
Oxiord and Cambridge entrance preparation Tuition tailored to Individual student requirements- re-takes welcomed At boards and combinations of subjects available Extra curricular activities Intensive holiday revision courses Free careers, further and higher education advice Accommodation arranged for all students
FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT: THE DIRECTOR OF STUDIES, THE TUTORIAL ACADEMY, EDEN HOUSE, 2 S ALDATES COURTYARD, 38 ST ALDATES, OXFORD OX1 1BN. TEL: OXFORD (0865) 793232— FAX: (0865) 794614
LEARNING COUNTYWIDE
ARE YOU A QUALIFIED TEACHER, CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED BUT THINKING OF RETURNING? Do you wish to receive information on returning to teaching courses, child care facilities and advice on your future career? If so please send a large sae to:
Nigel Boulter, Teacher Recruitment Officer, Education Department, Macclesfield House, New Road, Oxford OX1 1 NA for our next OXKITT magazines Keeping in Touch with Teaching Newsletter
HMC ROMAN CATHOLIC CO-EDUCATIONAL BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL Assisted Places Available
RATCLIFFE COLLEGE Boys and Girls 11 to 18 Entry 11+ to 14+ and 6th Form
GISRroASAaIrr
* Family school where the individual matters * Spacious grounds * Excellent facilities * Conducted by the Rosminian Fathers * Easy access by road, rail and air Travel escorts to and from UK airports. The pastoral care of our pupils rates as a high priority, school transport from Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham. Discounts for families 10% discount for HM Forces. For prospectus or visit please contact: Fr. Keith Tomlinson, President Ratcliffe College Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester LE7 4SG Tel: 0509 812221/813920 Fax: 0509 812791
KINGHAM HILL SCHOOL A small independent school for girls and boys aged 11-18, offering an excellent education within a Christian environment set in a beautiful 90 acre Cotswold estate.
Are you looking for: /Small classes allowing for individual attention / Excellent scientific, technical and sporting facilities IA very successful dyslexia department /Small, family run boarding houses IA chance to see all this in action If so call us for a prospectus and details of our OPEN DAY on SATURDAY 16th OCTOBER
KINGHAM HILL SCHOOL Kingham, Chipping Norton, Oxon 0X7 6TH Fax: 0608 658658 Tel: 0608 658999 Reg Charity No: 310031
a
Page 18
The DOOR, October 1993
bMk * Children's Church Hello Everyone!
TAIZE.' TREAT FOR OXFORD PARTY Reporting from Taiié: Bishop Richard and some of the 44 young people from Oxford, Newbury and Slough who enjoyed a week with the Taizé community last August.
October already - summer holidays have come and gone and Christmas is too far ahead to think about. But is it? If you belong to a Junior Church group or Sunday School it's more than likely that you are already planning for your church's Christmas fair, bazaar or market. I know we are. Maybe you are helping to run a stall to help raise urgent funds for your parish. Fund raising can be great fun, can't it, especially if you can make articles for sale which catch the customers. With this in mind I thought you would like a few ideas to try out. Pet Stones
To make these you need big pebbles about as big as your fist, the smoother the better, Wash and dry them and paint on your designs. If you are a little unsure you can draw them in first. Readimix paint - like you probably use at school - works well
Above:Leaving Church House. Right :Nallygetsan impromptu shower!Photos rightand below byAbiLee "We have found that nothing is more beautiful nor greater than the deep understanding of one another and most importantly, that God is love and nothing can reach above it - Taizé will change your life." Rachel Mélières and Mark Frost. "Taizé is a place of contrasts which for someone who is visiting for the first time can be overwhelming as well as very inviting. Living in a community like this means that your days are structured and full of activity and yet in all there is an underlying peace because of the emphasis on a personal relationship with God. The true impact of Taizé is only
Above: inside the church. Below left: Taizé chants. Below right: Jenny andLouisa on the campsite realised after arriving home from a brilliant week away, as it is here you must begin to live out all that you have learnt, making it a reality rather than a memory". JaneAmnerand Abi Lee. "After last year's Taizé Pilgrimage with the Archbishop of Canterbury, I was very much looking forward to this year's trip. I feel that I certainly benefitted from the smaller size of the group this year, and I enjoyed the fellowship that we shared together, with the Bishop and his wife, and with people from all over the world." Stephen Hearn.
Sowte.,deo..s V0 3ei- jou.
ithough most paints are alright. If you use a water-based paint you will need to varnish over this once it is dry. Remember to wait for the first coat to dry before you paint in details or you will get a gungey mess! These 'pets' make good paper weights orjust keepsake. I heard of one person who chalks the number of pints of milk she needs each day under her pet and sits him on the doorstep. Little house matchboxes
With lots of candles to light at Christmas-time, you could make 'little house matchboxes' (Make sure you have your parent's permission). Any size matchbox will do but the small every-day size is probably best. Remove the tray of matches and put it to one side (so that little brothers and sisters can help without touching '. the matches!). From scraps c of felt cut two pieces to cover over the front and back of the label. Using any glue which will stick fabric, stick these in place. With thin card cut a little roof and cover MAtc* 09—iV"0- this with another piece of ItJVII.J,J,4r lb IfAft felt. Cut out tiny windows Ike.. and doors and stick these in i-k. bbt+orA "kOU$e" U-b'tOUQ.re4 place. Top with your roof DY. I1Q.V*b)II{ 13€.and asmall chimney. If you ,'owker.. 10 Shikriilt have time you can mark in t-I'€. M"Cke.S. climbing roses or rows of flowers with fibre-tipped pens. When all is dry slide in the tray of matches. When the matches are all used up you can use these houses to make model villages.
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The DOOR, October 1993
Page 19
WHAT'S ON Studay Ovtol nation 10303m, Preacher Canon I Fenton Christmas Carols Regular member-, of thu eoalgregation who wish toanrod the (ro1Sereson23Decat3Ops*sot24 Dec at Ifinishouldwxituto4hè Cathedral Secretary by Friday November. Only three ',cstx per applwant available SPIRIT! I-.% 1/2 .\Cr\ Stindav mormno 9.mi on BBC Rdi Oxford ')S t M
OCTOBER Fri 1. Sun 3 KENNINGTON Harvest Festival of Flowers at St Swithuns Church. Fri: church open 10am-5pm. Choir concert 7pm. Sat: Church open 10am-5pm, art exhibition, crafts, teas and lunches. Cheese and wine 730pm. Sun: Church open 12-5pm. Hand bell-ringers 3-4pm, Songs of Praise 630pm. Details 0865 739229. Fri 1- Sun3 CHORLEYWOOD Flower festival Christ Church. Choral concert Sat 730pm. £4.50. Fri 1 OXFORD New Games: come and have fun at the Ferry Centre, Suminertown coffee. 8-10pm. Cost 50p in Sat 2 WANTAGE Challow Chamber Singers and players, leader and soloist Miranda Wilson. Conductor Graham Blyth. Perform Brandenburg Concerto 730pm at parish church. Tickets £5/0.50 on the door. Sat 2 WESTON UNDERWOOD Service at 12pm to celebrate 40th year of ministry of Revd Douglas DF Smith. Sat 2 SEER GREEN Harvest Fayre and flower festival, Jubilee Hall llam-4pm. Sun 3 HOLTON Taize-style prayers for the family every Sunday 830pm at 3 Barns Close. Details Richard and Christine Bainbridge 0865 872868. All welcome. Mon 4 HIGH WYCOMBE Bishop of Buckingham to speak on 'It's my belief' at All Saints Church 8pm. New churchgoers especially welcome. Free admission. Tues S HIGH WYCOMBE CCTP Course: Windows: The Beauty of Seeing in Stillness. Four-week course on icons at'1 St Mary & St Geroge Church Hall.
Cost £9. Details: 0494 481550. Wed 6 COTFESLOE Talk by Bishop John Yates of Lambeth Palace on what's special about the village church 730pm at Winslow Combined School. Details: 0296 713603. Thurs 7 GERRARDS CROSS CCTP Course: Exploring the Old Testament. Nine-week course at St James'. Cost £23. Details: 0494 481550. Sat9 HIGH WYCOMBEStart0fCCT'P introductory course on nine aspects of Christian faith and living. Some courses also available in Bedgrove. From £23. Full details from Chiltern Christian Training Programme: 0494 481550. Sat 9- Sun 10 GREAT BRICKHILL Flower festival at St Mary's 10am-6pm. Teas at the Manor 2-5pm. Concert Firday evening. Details 0908 642086. Sun 10 BRILL CCTP Course at All Saints Church 2.30-5pm on Leading Village Worship. Cost £2.50. Details 0494 481550. Sun 10 NEWBURY 1993 autumn lectures 8pm at St Nicolas' Church Hall: human sexuality. Also Oct 17, 24, 31. Speakers include: Charles Hampton, Margaret Hebblethwaite, Anne Borrowdale and Martin Wright. Topics include the Church and gender issues, Is Marriage out of date, Christianity and homosexuality. Details: 0635 582006. Tue 12 OXFORD The Dean welcome all clergy to free eight-week course on the early church in lecture room 1, Christ Church Cathedral. Begins 11am. With Canon Professor Hinchliff. Those interested should write to the Dean. Tue 12 OXFORD First in lecture series on theology and mission 5pm at Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. Revd Chris Sugden on A Historical Overview of Mission. Full details: 0865 56071. Wed 13 THAME Hard of hearing Christian Fellowship Chiltern Group meeting in St Mary's Church 3pm. Details: 0844 208323. Thu 14 OXFORD Exhibition for harvest-time by Paul and Nicola Grellier at St Giles Church. 12-2pm weekdays and 2-5pm weekends. Details 0865 372498 Fri 15 - Fri 22 ABINGDON Flower Festival St Nicholas Church l0am530pm. Sat 16 - Thu 4 Nov OXFORD Exhibition of work by five catholic artists 'Ars Gratia Deo'. St Giles Church. Weekdays 12-2pm, weekends 2-5pm. Details 0865 372498.
Diocesan Sunday Prayer Diary October 1993 o 'day 3 All *1se wlst wt4 with imats.1Jni x' education.Genera'Synod Partnership forWg LIfldU5 10 .kd l'.' c, . or i'. O.L A 1 i}g
rk 'to -'tx (( N1S). Sundas 17 (;tt: Aotld V LL Hospital (hplairts Christian Ci l m: rn I' r One workt 'sluknt1e Ho pal,7 tmht,i. Sunday 24 All those who v,OEk on tradi ng ttdks and to small companies. Local Bible Society reprdscrttatt.cs Sunday 31 Those who work' in publishing. Intercontinental Church Society representatives ~nJkotri es. \4jd \lr
SITUATIONS
SERVICES
Sat 16 OXFORD Summertown Coffee Morning and bring and buy sale Intercontinental Church Society 122 Banbury Road. 1030am. Enquiries 0865 511636. Sat 16 OXFORD Friends Fellowship of Healing (Quakers) 43 5t Giles. 1030am - 4.30pm.Cost £3. Bring lunch. Details: 0865 723650/251406. Sat 16- Sun 17 READING Ellel Weekend for church leaders, both clergy and lay, at St Agnes Church, Northumberland Ave. Teaching on Ministry under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, especially on Deliverance and Healing. Nonresidential, cost £10. Details: Fred Attwood on Reading 876177. Mon 18 AYLESBURY Bishop Simon speaks on 'It's my Belief at Holy Trinity Church 8pm. 'Fringe' church-goers especially welcomed. Free admission. Mon 18 OXFORD The ministry of healing: yen Trevor Nash of the Acorn Healing Trust speaking on The Wounded Healer at SS Peter and Paul Church Hall, Botley 10.30am-3pm. Free tickets from the Mothers' Union, Christ Church, Oxford OX 1DP Tel 0865 726308. Tue 19 HIGH WYCOMBE CCTP Course: HIV/AIDS - Facing the Challenge. A workshop for clergy and pastoral leaders at The Oakley Hall, Castle Street 10am-4pm. Details: 0494481550. Wed 20 MILTON KEYNES At Christ the Cornerstone St Thomas of India Unity lecture 'Local Churches Truly United' with Dr Christopher Duraisingh of World Council of Churches in Bangalore, South India. Details: 0908 677466. Thu 21 MILTON KEYNES Bishop Simon to speak on 'It's my Belief at Christ the Cornerstone 8pm. New or 'not quite' Christians especially welcome. Free admission. Thu 21 OXFORD CMS Supper £2.50 at 6.45 for 8pm St Andrew's, Linton Road. Canon Julius Oyet on Evangelism in Britain, Tel 0865 245509. The 21 BLENHEIM PALACE Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust lecture with Richard Lethbridge 730pm Tickets £13.50.Details 0993 891373. 'Fri 22 -Sun 24 OXFORD Retreat at the Carmelite Priory, Roars Hill organised by the Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer. Led by Canon Martin Tunnicliffe, vicar of Tamworth-in-Arden, Solihull. Details: Nancy Petrie on 0993 868 244. Sat 23 OXFORD Librarian Christian Fellowship lecture 'Christian Faith and Literature' by Bishop Richard Harries at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, SS Philip and James Church, Woodstock Rd, 230pm. Free. Sat 23 OWLSMOOR music and comedy by In Harmony at Sandhurst School, Owsmoor Rd 730pm. Tickets £5. Ring 0344 771668. Sat 23 EAST HAGBOURNE Jazz at St 8pm with four top London An musicians. Details: 0235 850719. Sat 23 OXFORD First of series of workshops by Oxford Pastoral Counselling Service on 'Prayer and Practice in the Counselling Relationship' . Cost £10. Detatils: 0865 516894. Sun 24 KIN'FBURY Focus on Faith fortnight at St Mary's begins with visit of
Bishop Richard at lOam parish communion, and ends on November 7 with visit by Bishop John. Mon 25 BEACONSFIELD Full Gospel Fellowship Men's Business dinner. Speaker Len West, Luton Town footballer. Details: Bob Sutton 0494 874689. Mon 25 OXFORD The Refugee Question: study day at Oxford Centre for Mission Studies St Philip and St James Church, Woodstock Rd, 1030am430pm. Speakers: Bishop Michael Nazir Au, Dr Barbara Harrell-Bond and Dr Chaloka Beyani. Topics cover human rights, the Christian perspective and meeting spiritual needs. Cost £20. Dettails: 0865 56071. Sat 30 CHESIIAM CCTP Course: Creating a Church for the Unchurched. A day on using music and drama led by the UK Co-ordinatorfor Willow Creek Community Church: 9.30am-3.30pm at Emmanuel Church. CostS9. Details: 0494 481550. Sat 30 WADDESDON Handicraft exhibition in village hall plus display of quilts 10.30am-4.30pm in aid of St Michael's church roof repairs. Sat30 OXFORD One-day MCD (Movement for Christian Democracy) seminar at Headington Baptist Church 78 Old High Street 10am-4pm. Tickets £12.50! 0.50. Tel: 0865 249515. Sat 30 OXFORD Struggling for Democracy in South Africa: a one-day conference at the St Clement's Family Centre, Cross Street 10am-4pm. Tickets £2.50 from Christian Aid,55 Rectory Rd, OX4 1BW. Sun 31 OXFORD Day school on Jewish History & Culture with speakers from the Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Hebrew Studies. Contact: ODCE, Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford OX! 2iA.
Art exhibition at St Giles Ars Gratia Dei is an exhibition of works by a group of five members of the Society of Catholic Artists: Margaret Farley, Christina Koenig, Maria Milward, Pauline Sitwell and Helen Stewart. The exhibition is being held at St Giles Church in Oxford and will un from Saturday October 16 to Thursday November 4. It is open weekdays between 12-2pm and weekends 2-5pm. The works are in various media including oil and water-colour paintings, work in mosaic and icons with embossed pewter and copper cladding.
Tue 2 OXFORD Bring and buy sale for Church Missionary Society at St Andrews Church, Linton Road. 1030am12pm. Tue 2 CHALFONT ST GILES Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance for those who have been bereaved in the last 12 months 8pm in the parish church. All welcome. Wed 3 WENDOVER Five-week CCTP course on Apocalypse - Now? The Revelation of St John the Divine. St Mary's Church Centre £12. Details: 0494481550. Thu 4 SLOUGH Bihop Simon speaks on 'It's my Belief at 8pm in St Paul's Church. 'Fringe' church-goers especially welcome. Free admission. Sat 6 OWLSMOOR Open day at new church of St George 10am-6pm. Sat 6 OXFORD Christ Church Cathdral. Presentation of Bishop's Choristers Awards during Evensong. Sat 6TILEHURST Vocations Day at St Mary Magdalen Church 10am-4pm with Bishop John Taylor. Bring lunch. Details: Revd Ray Smith, 0734 427234. Sat 6 OXFORD World Mission Fair Summertown Church Hall, Portland Rd.
lOam-2pm. Sat 6 OXFORD FOCUS (Federation of Christian Caring and Counselling Schemes) at Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey. lOam - 245pm. All welcome to workshop led by Anne Borrowdale, Diocesan Social Responsibility Officer, on 'Attitude to Gender'. Bring lunch, drinks provided. AGM at 3pm chaired by the Bishop of Reading. £l0members/&l2non-members. Details: 0734575120/062836469. Wed 10 - Sat 13 ABINGDON St Michael's Church, Park Road, Miraculous Light presents Godspell.7.30pm Tickets £5/14.50. Details 0235 520297/ 529655. Sat 13 NORTH HINKSEY Day course on exploring lay ministry for all incumbents and priests. 9am-lpm at Church House. Details Revd Martin Gorick 0865 244566. Sat 13 SLOUGH Charities Fair, Slough & Dist Religious Study Centre, Teachers' Centre, Queens Rd. llam-2pm. Details: 0753 522632. Sun 14 BURGHFIELD Concert with the Thames Wind Band in St Mary's Church 7.30pm.Tickets£5 from the Rectory on 0734 834433.
Sun 14 THEALE Fun Eucharist Holy Trinity Church to the setting of Schubert's Mass in G 630pm. Fri 19 STANFORD IN THE VALE Gospel/jazz concert with Lillian Bouette. Details 0367 710267. Sat 20 AYLESBURY CCTP Course on Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges. Cost £9. Details: 0494 481550. Sat 20 OXFORD Christmas Fair, Church Room, St Peters Church, Wolvercote llam-2.30pm. Gifts, lunches. Enquiries 0865 310224. Sat 20 PANGBOURNE Concert at Drake Hall, Pangbourne College with The Badgemore Ensemble playing Bach, Bizet and Rachmaninov. 730pm tickets £7.50. Details: 0635 578651. Sat 20-Sun 21 NEWBURY Youth event for those aged 14+ with rock bands and workshops. 8am-8pm.Details: Rita Ball, St George's Church Office 0635 41249. Sat 27 AMERSHAM CCTP Practical course on preparing for Christmas through art at St John's Methodist Church. £10. Details: 0494481550. Mon 29 BEACONSFIELD Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship dinner. Speakers Bert and Pam Pringle from America. Details: Bob Sutton 0494 874689.
FUNERALS
AUTHORS
FOR SALE
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The DOOR, October 1993
Page 20
CLOSING
For girls who need a Home from ho . e The name of the Girls Friendly Society suggests an old-fashioned institution, founded (as indeed it was) in the Victorian age, and not much changed since then - which it most definitely has. Today, as well as providing hostels for homeless women and girls, the GFS offers Christian-based activities for young girls, and also employs women industrial chaplains like Jo Saunders in Slough and Barbara Hayes in Cowley who play an important role in helping people find a way of reconciling family and work concerns. Jo Saunders says that an understanding of the issues facing women at work is an important aspect of the work, especially when it comes to helping women gain the necessary confidence to seek work or train for employment. Barbara Hayes is also particularly concerned with the pressures women face: "As a GFS Chaplain I have a particular concern for women and work. Things like the abolition of wages councils and changes in Sunday trading laws have a particular effect on women," she says. "The wages councils protected 2.5 million workers, the majority of whom were women who make up the majority of hourly-paid staff in retail. Too often women are in part-time, low-paid jobs with few employment rights. Even women in full-time employment on average receive only 75 per cent of the average male wage for fulltime work. Yet, no matter how small women's incomes are they
are vital contributions to family finance. These issues are important if we claim to have a pastoral concern for people and to believe injustice."
A place of refuge GFS housing schemes offer safe accommodation for young women who cannot live at home and who are looking for work. In some parts of the country, the organisation also provides help for young .single mothers. Townsend House in Reading opened in September 1988 and provides accommodation for about 40 single women between the age of 16 and 30. It does not cater for women with children. Each resident shares a bathroom, kitchen and toilet but have to provide their own crockery and kitchen utensils. There is a communal lounge and laundry facilities and the house is furnished and heated throughout. Residents pay rent of ÂŁ48.71 per week. Staff are on hand to offer advice about housing benefit and other services the women may be entitled to, and Cleo Lee, the local GFS Youth and Community Worker, calls in regularly. Residents are not expected to stay longer than two years in the scheme.
Playing and praying Another aspect of the GFS is the parish-based branch, such as the one in Long Whittenham, where girls aged seven to 15 are encouraged to be self-reliant through games, crafts, community work and spiritual teaching. June Whitehead has recently
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Christ and Politics
June Whitehead (seated centre) runs Long Whittenham GFS With her are Diana Wright, Margaret Bishop and GFS members taken over as the group's leader: "We are the only GFS branch on the Oxford area. We did once manage to get 24 girls into cars and onto the train to a meeting in Francis Street near Victoria,just to let the girls see it was not only a village organisation. "It was started in the village 70 years ago, lapsed for a while and was restarted in the 50s by Mrs Marjorie Edwards. She reintroduced the May Day crowning and May Pole dancing in the 'Plough' garden - it's a delight to see and well-attended by villagers. Posies are taken to the sick and elderly afterwards. "Eighteen months ago Mrs Edwards retired after 30 years and I carried on the work. Two other people help me: Diana Wright, who runs a group of musicians, and Margaret Bishop who helps with whatever is required. We try to keep to the GFS principles of learning, playing and prayer. As the prayer says, "Help us to bear one another's ,, burdens". The girls meet after school at 3pm in the Village Hall. They have a drink and biscuits, then a game and an activity, usually craft-based. We have writing days and more thoughtful sessions. We plan and present a church service each year and the girls put on an annual entertainment for old folk and their own families. When we have services GFS girls play record-
ers, flute and violin for the musical accompaniment. Each year we present the 'Talbot' award to one or two girls who have shown special attributes to others."
A stitch in time The 118-year old Society is now facing financial difficulties and needs to raise ÂŁ50,000. Fundraising efforts include the knitting of the world's longest scarf - the current record is 20 miles 13 feet. Lengths can be sent to the Society at 126 Queens Gate, London SW7 5L. After the competition, the sections will be made into blankets and sent overseas.
I hope our Diocesan Bishop will excuse me if! allude to his article in the national press at the end of July about William Wilberforce, which readers of The DOOR may not otherwise have seen. One of the more positive aspects of liturgical revision in the Church of England has been the addition of modern 'saints to the calendar. Amongst them are teachers, social reformers, evangelists, mystics, missionaries, parish priests and bishops - and one politician, William Wilberforce, Member for Hull from 1784 to 1825. He was of an evangelical persuasion and had many claims to fame, but the most striking and influential achievement was his campaign against the slave trade in our dominions, which culminated in its abolition by an Act of Parliament in 1807, Here indeed was a Christian politician prepared to take on the vested interest ofthe slave-owners, fierce apposition in Parliament itself, and the whole apparatus of political expediency. At this distance in time it is easy to overlook this amazing achievement which overturned world opinion over many centuries, which had accepted slavery as part of the natural order. William Wilberforce remains an example to practising Christians in the Lords and the Commons who struggle often against heavy odds, to maintain their witness and seek to influence legislation in a positive Christian direction. Pray for your MP regularly and make July 29 on which Wilberforce is celebrated a special day in the Church calendar. He did more than any other world figure to influence the society in which we now live by unremitting and sacrificial effort on behalf of a 'neglected' underclass. I end with a quotation from the Bishop's article in The Times (July 31) "Wilberforce knew that his intense personal conviction also needed political expression Slavery was an affront to human beings made in the image of God. and for whom Christ had died." After a summer of somewhat dubious political mayhem, take comfort from the example of the honourable member for Hull.
Stuart Blanch Lord Blanch is the former.4 rchbis/iop of York and author of many books.
DOOR STOP Bishop Winston Ndungane of our companion diocese of Kimberley & Kuruman in South Africa, urgently requires a new Diocesan Secretary/Treasurer to begin work January 1994 for three to five years. Accommodation is provided, and some funding would come from the Bishop of Oxford's Outreach Fund. A retired businessman or clergyman with good human relation skills would be ideal. For details ring Martin Gorick on 0865 244566.
Who's Who in the Diocese THE BISHOP OF OXFORD The Right Revd Richard Harries, Diocesan Church House, North Hinksey, Oxford 0X2 ONB. Tel: 0865 244566.
AREA BISHOPS AND ARCHDEACONS Berkshire Bishop of Reading; The Right Revd John Bone, Greenbanks, Old Bath Road, Sonning, Reading RG1 OSY. Tel: 0734 692187. Archdeacon: The Venerable Michael Hill, Foxglove House, Love Lane,Donnington, Newbury RGI3 2JG. Tel: 0635 552820.
SPACE FOR PRAYER Keep me, 0 Lord, from the little, the interfering and the stupid; From the infection of irritation and anger over nothing; From all the promptings to decry the person or the work of others; From scorn, sarcasm, petty spite, and whisperings behind the back; From the dishonest honesty of frankness meant to hurt; From harsh judgements, cruel judgements, and all pleasure in them; From resentment over disapproval or reproof whether just or unjust. AMEN Found in a family Bible.
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