Archbishop of Canterbury sends greetings on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah 2012; Church structure mustn’t stifle Gospel message – Archbishop of Wales; Next Dean of Coventry; Press coverage
Archbishop of Canterbury sends greetings on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah 2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent a greeting to Jewish communities on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, marking the start of the Jewish New Year. Dr Williams reflects on the relationship between Christian and Jewish communities over the past ten years – recalling events and encounters which brought people together to enrich dialogue. Text at:
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/9/14/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-sends-greetings-on-the-occasion-of-Rosh-Hashanah-2012
Church structure mustn’t stifle Gospel message – Archbishop of Wales
The Church in Wales must be prepared to change if it is to serve God effectively, the
Archbishop of Wales said this week.
In his Presidential Address to members of the Church’s Governing Body, Dr Barry Morgan said the Church needed to be open to God’s spirit and not be a static structure which stifled it.
That message, he said, was at the heart of the report of the Church in Wales Review Group which was presented to the Governing Body at the start of its meeting.
Dr Morgan said, “The purpose of a structure or an institution or church, is to express and embody God’s redeeming love. In other words, the church exists in order to help God bring in His kingdom, not as an end in itself and if it is not doing that as effectively as it might, then there is something amiss.
“And it is precisely that insight which lies at the heart of the Provincial Review and therefore all its recommendations, when it says, ‘Institutions are built to carry the gospel through time to succeeding generations. Yet to do so, they need to change and adapt to the circumstances of each age. The Church in Wales continues to have the structure and organisation appropriate to an established church of 100 years ago but which is stretched beyond what it can or should properly bear now’. Our church needs to express in as effective a way as it can, God’s care and love for His world.”
http://www.churchinwales.org.uk/structure/govbody/sep12/
Next Dean of Coventry
The Right Reverend Doctor Christopher Cocksworth has just announced that The Reverend Canon John Witcombe is to be the next Dean of Coventry. http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/stories/deanofcoventry/
Press coverage
Reports that the Church’s “resistance” to embracing equality for women and homosexuals is “driving away young people”.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article3537870.ece
Reports that the Bishop of Liverpool said he had a series of “robust” meetings with ministers, who were suggesting that the Hillsborough enquiry should be curtailed in the face of spending cuts.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/9540962/The-Bishop-of-Liverpool-had-to-convince-ministers-to-let-him-continue-Hillsborough-work.html
Further commentary on Nick Clegg’s “bigots” speech.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2202886/Hillsborough-disaster-Dont-fooled-cover-happen-again.html
Short item by Fredrick Forsyth on the BBC’s head of ‘religious programming’ on his support of Radio 4’s Thought for the Day.
http://www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/view/345829
Reports that the ‘Eastenders’ series producer Jennifer Robins, has compared the soap’s storylines to Bible stories.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9542015/Would-you-Adam-and-Eve-it-EastEnders-is-inspired-by-Sodom-and-Gomorrah-says-producer.html
Report an increase in the number of ‘hate crimes’ committed against disabled people in 2011.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19589602
Reports that the Chief Rabbi has accused Prof Richard Dawkins of making a “profoundly anti-Semitic” remark by criticising the Old Testament.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9542043/Richard-Dawkins-attacked-for-anti-Semitic-remarks-about-Jewish-God.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/0/19563336
Continuing comment on the Hillsborough report.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/13/hillsborough-scandal-last-23-years?newsfeed=true