Rapid reading summary with links: C of E apologizes for child abuse cases; Diocesan revisions; Witchcraft a growing threat to children in GB; Catholic midwives lose abortion battle
Commons clears the way for women bishops by 2014
Telegraph – The first Church of England women bishops could be ordained by 2014 after the Church secured parliamentary time to speed the measure through.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9114445/Commons-clears-the-way-for-women-bishops-by-2014.html
Church of England apologizes for child abuse cases
WGM — The Church of England has offered an apology for failures to act to prevent child sexual abuse within the church. Bishop Paul Butler, who heads the church’s safeguarding effort, issued the apology Wednesday following the release of a …
http://www.wgme.com/template/inews_wire/wires.international/33411a42-www.wgme.com.shtml
Witchcraft is growing threat to children in Britain, warn police
Daily Telegraph – Children in Britain are being abused and murdered in increasing numbers because the belief in witchcraft is rife in some African communities, police said. The warning was issued as a couple from the Democratic Republic of Congo were found guilty of murdering the woman’s 15-year-old brother during an “exorcism ceremony”.
Beaten, starved and burnt — the children accused of witchcraft
Independent.ie – While Kristy Bamu met his brutal end in a run-down tower block in east London, his murder had its origins in Central Africa, where witchcraft is widely practised.
In his homeland of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 20,000 children are forced to live homeless on the streets of the capital Kinshasa because they have been accused of sorcery. But after the conviction yesterday of his sister Magalie Bamu (29) and her boyfriend Eric Bikubi (28) for the 15-year-old’s murder, experts warned that misguided belief in witchcraft now posed a greater threat to children in Britain than those in Africa.
Manchester civil partnership service hits back at Tory MP claims…
Mancunian Matters – A Manchester civil partnership service is hitting back at a Tory MP’s claims that gay marriage is ‘completely nuts’. The controversial statement came from the House of Commons as Baldry stated: “So far as the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church and many other faith groups are concerned, marriage is a union between one man and one woman.
Anglican Covenant: another result
The Diocese of Sodor and Man voted yesterday against the Anglican Covenant. The voting was as follows:
Bishops: 1 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions
Clergy: 5 for, 12 against, 0 abstentions
Laity: 21 for, 15 against, 1 abstention
This means that 11 dioceses (25%) have now voted against the covenant, and 7 dioceses (16%) have voted in favour of it.
http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/005393.html
Postgraduate course developed for Church communicators
C of E media – In a first for the UK, a professional qualification in Theology and Communication is in development by the University of Chester, in partnership with the Church of England.
Launching in the autumn of 2013, this postgraduate qualification will be aimed at Church communication professionals, clergy and others, including those working for religious charities, NGOs and faith-based schools. The project is being directed by Elaine Graham, Grosvenor Research Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Chester. Joining Professor Graham is Liz Hudson-Oliff, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Leicester, who has been seconded part-time to the institution by the Church of England, to provide practical support for its development.
“Research into the relationship between religion, media and culture is a growing field and one in which the University of Chester has a leading reputation,” says Professor Graham.
“This new initiative in Theology and Communication represents an exciting opportunity to put that expertise to work in partnership with a whole range of media professionals in the churches and beyond.”
In addition to those working in the field, the qualification will also be aimed at theology students requiring a greater understanding of how the media works and would also be promoted to members of the wider Anglican Communion and ecumenical partners.
“This new course offers communication professionals a theological basis for their work,” says Liz Hudson-Oliff. “The course will be unique in looking at the needs of people who are called upon to communicate the Christian Faith. Theology will shape practice.”
Church leaders gather to discuss church planting in Wales
Christian Today – Over 200 church leaders from a range of Welsh churches met recently in Newtown to collaborate on evangelising the nation. The gathering was hosted by Waleswide, a network of evangelical churches which works with leaders to see churches established especially where there is no evangelical church presence, and where churches need to be strengthened in their effectiveness. During the day, the results of a survey commissioned by Waleswide in 2011 were released. The poll of over 260 Welsh church leaders found that during the first decade of this millennium 5,728 people became Christians in their churches. However in 2010 alone, 1,642 became Christians.
According to survey of UK church attendance published by Tearfund in 2007, Wales has the least number of regular church goers (12%) and the highest number of closed de-churched – people who once had some church contact and are resistant to any further engagement (46%).
Controversy over Church of England plans for Bradford diocese
Bradford Telegraph and Argus – Church of England proposals to make the Bradford Diocese part of an enlarged Leeds Diocese have met with a largely frosty reception. The future of the diocese, which stretches from the border with Cumbria to Otley, is part of a bigger process being …
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/9558814.Controversy_over_Church_of_England_plans_for_Bradford_diocese/
Number of vicars in East Lancashire could be cut
Blackburn Citizen – Leaders of the Church of England’s Blackburn Diocese, which covers parts of Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cumbria, will discuss plans next month in a bid to make the organisation “fit for purpose”. Since 2000, the diocese has cut the …
http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/news/9558669.Number_of_vicars_in_East_Lancashire_could_be_cut/
Catholic midwives lose abortion battle
Scotsman – Two Catholic midwives have lost a legal bid to be classed as conscientious objectors and avoid any involvement in abortions.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/catholic_midwives_lose_abortion_battle_1_2146036
Gay wedding plans ‘nuts’, says MP
BBC – The Home Office defends plans to allow gay marriages after a Conservative MP describes them as “completely nuts”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17221312