Bishop attacks faith broadcasting; Abbey stones to honour former PMs; Is the Church of England extending its mission into higher education? ; Former Bishop of Winchester, The Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt; Rowan Williams on gay rights, welfare handouts and the break-up of Britain
Bishop attacks faith broadcasting
UKPA – A leading Church of England bishop has launched a scathing attack on broadcasters whom he says suffer from a “ideological knee-jerk” response to religious programming. The Rt Rev Nick Baines, Bishop of Bradford, said that beyond the BBC and the “odd bit of Channel 4”, religion had been dropped by broadcasters as if it were a “toxic contaminator of decent culture”. Writing in the Radio Times, the bishop said ITV saw “no need” to consider religion – despite the fact, he said, that more people shape their lives around religious conviction and practice than attend sporting events. “The point is not that religion should be privileged or protected,” he wrote.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jARZyTA2YxL-G_gyLK5EMreHFkwg?docId=N0115331332770545405A
Abbey stones to honour former PMs
BBC – Two former British prime ministers are to be honoured with memorial stones at Westminster Abbey.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17520092
Higher Mission
The Guardian – Is the Church of England extending its mission into higher education? Conventional wisdom has it that there are five private providers that have their own UK degree-awarding powers: the University of Buckingham, the College of Law, the ifs School of Finance, Ashridge Business School and BPP University College. But in fact there is a sixth – as listed on the business department website – namely His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. “Lambeth degrees” are genuine qualifications, based notionally on the assessment of prior learning. The archbishop is a genuine degree-awarding authority, and could in theory franchise out these powers (grounded in the Ecclesiastical Licences Act of 1533) to all and sundry – and, naturally, at a price. What is more, as a private provider, His Grace is not obliged to subscribe to the Quality Assurance Agency or to other meddlesome bureaucracies, such as the Office for Fair Access. An invitation issued by the Church of England last month to universities that might wish to partner it has raised eyebrows, not least in Whitehall, where the long-held assumption that Lambeth degrees are nothing more than an exotic but harmless Tudor anachronism is now being called into question.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/mar/26/news-international-academy-sponsor
Former Bishop of Winchester, The Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt
Bishop Michael was admitted to hospital last Tuesday morning, suffering symptoms affecting the right side of his body. Although he remains in hospital, the Bishop has made significant progress in the last week. At this time he is still unable to walk and his right hand and arm are out of action, but his speech has improved, and he is described as being in good spirits, ‘determined to make a full recovery’. Prayers were said across the diocese for the 96th Bishop, who retired from post in 2011, and who has expressed gratitude for the prayers and messages of support which have been offered.
http://www.winchester.anglican.org/news/story/231/
Rowan Williams on gay rights, welfare handouts and the break-up of Britain
Telegraph – The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that an obsession with identity – ranging from feminism to gay rights – could lead to society “fragmenting”. Dr Rowan Williams said it was time to see the “pendulum swinging back” after decades in which people have insisted on asserting their “right” to be recognised as different.
He also spoke of the possibility that Britain could break apart as Scottish and Welsh nationalism grows in importance.
And he spoke out against relying on the welfare handouts, warning that dependence on the state could be harmful to society
His comments came as he rounded off a three-day visit to Wales with a series of meeting at the Welsh Assembly where he addressed politicians as well as young people.
In a wide ranging speech to the Assembly he criticised both left and right wing thinking and said he believes it is the Church’s role to be a “nuisance” to politicians on both sides.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9168354/Rowan-Williams-on-gay-rights-welfare-handouts-and-the-break-up-of-Britain.html