Cuts threaten social investment, says Archbishop Sentamu; Archbishop of Wales: ‘Gospel of Jesus is good news for gay people’; Church in Wales gives “amber light” to Anglican Covenant; Methodist Church marks 100 day Olympic Games countdown; Don’t take the faith out of church schools; Backing for Church’s opposition to increased VAT on heritage alterations
Cuts threaten social investment, says Archbishop Sentamu
The promise of a genuine ‘big society’ is being undermined by cuts that threaten the kind of community development needed to address inequality, Anglican Archbishop Dr John Sentamu has said today.
He was speaking at a large ‘Tackling Poverty Together’ conference in Leeds, organised by the Church Urban Fund.
In a passionate address, Dr Sentamu said that he had seen the impact of the cuts on vital services for, and initiatives from, young people in the north of England.
The government has an important role in investment and services, alongside projects and action in civil society and from the church he said.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16547
Archbishop of Wales: ‘Gospel of Jesus is good news for gay people’
Wales Online – The Archbishop of Wales has lent his support to gay marriage today, saying: “All life-long committed relationships deserved the welcome, pastoral care and support of the Church.”
In his presidential address to members of the Church in Wales’ Governing Body in Llandudno, Dr Barry Morgan said Christians “need to show how the Gospel of Jesus is good news for gay people”.
He said the church had to ask itself whether it would “protect and support pastorally, faithful, stable, lifelong relationships of whatever kind in order to encourage human values such as love and fidelity and recognise the need in Christian people for some public religious support for these”.
He said he was concerned about the welfare of gay people whom he feared could feel uncomfortable and unwelcome in churches over the coming months as Government proposals for same-sex marriage are debated nationally.
Church in Wales gives “amber light” to Anglican Covenant
A plan to protect the unity of the worldwide Anglican Communion was given an amber light, rather than a green light, by the Church in Wales(April 18). Members of its Governing Body voted to affirm their commitment to the Communion and the Covenant process, but asked questions of the Anglican Consultative Council which meets in October. They feared the recent rejection of the Covenant by the Church of England jeopardised its future and clarifications about that were now needed before a decision could be made.
The Bishop of St Asaph, Dr Gregory Cameron, who proposed a motion which was amended in the light of the Church of England decision, said, “We have given the Covenant an amber light rather than a green light but in doing so we are being honest about where the Church is today. However, I think we need to reaffirm our strong commitment to each other through the saving power of Christ revealed in the Gospels. That is what I believe the Covenant ultimately calls us to do and I hope one day the Church in Wales will be able to vote for it.”
The amended motion, which was carried overwhelmingly, was that the GB: i) affirm the commitment of the Church in Wales to the life of the Anglican Communion; ii) Affirm its readiness to engage with any ongoing process of consideration of the Anglican Communion Covenant; iii) Request clarification from the 15th meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council as to the status and direction of the Covenant process in the light of the position of the Church of England; iv) Urge upon the Instruments of Communion a course of action which continues to see reconciliation and the preservation of the Communion as a family of interdependent but autonomous Churches.
The published agenda gave this text for the original unamended motion:
That the Governing Body:
i) affirm the commitment of the Church in Wales to the life of the Anglican Communion, and subscribe to the Anglican Communion Covenant;
ii) invite the Standing Committee to monitor the Church in Wales’s participation in the Covenant on an annual basis.
Methodist Church marks 100 day Olympic Games countdown
The Methodist Church in Britain is encouraging people to take part in the Olympic and Paralympic celebrations as the 100 day countdown to the start of the Games begins (17 April 2012).
Preparations for the 2012 Olympics are well under way. A Methodist church in Cornwall is coordinating a nationwide Praise Bus which will travel ahead of the official Olympic procession. Musicians will perform from the top of a half-open double-decker bus as it embarks on a 70 day journey from Lands End to the Olympic Stadium on 19 May 2012.
The Methodist Church has produced a resource to reach out to people aged 65 or older by offering them the chance to enjoy a holiday experience within their own local community.
The resource booklet, priced at £10 (plus postage and packaging), contains the ideas and inspiration for hosting such an event and can be ordered from Methodist Publishing by going to www.methodistpublishing.org.uk.
The Methodist Church is one of the largest Christian churches in Britain, with nearly 241,000 members and regular contact with over 580,000 people. It has 5,237 churches across the country, and also maintains links with other Methodist churches totalling a worldwide membership of 70 million.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16544
Don’t take the faith out of church schools
Telegraph – There’s a risk that institutions will lose their religious ethos in the rush to expand.
On Monday in the House of Commons, Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, said that he was keen to work with John Pritchard, the Bishop of Oxford, on extending the role of the Church of England in schools. His words have been taken to mean that the Government will support the creation of a new generation of state-funded Anglican academies.
In theory, that should please anyone who is concerned about two recent social trends. The first has been a steady decline in the country’s position in international educational league tables. The second has been our drift during the same period towards an all-consuming secularity.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9209039/Dont-take-the-faith-out-of-church-schools.html
http://www.theway.co.uk/news-8796-church-encouraged-to-extend-role-in-education
CLA backs Church’s opposition to increased VAT on heritage alterations
The The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is backing the Church of England’s decision to campaign against increased VAT on alterations to listed buildings. The Association praised the Anglican bishops’ opposition to the five percent tax hike …
http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/50/faith-news-articles/68832/cla-backs-churchs-opposition-to-increased-vat-on-heritage-alterations