New diocese for West Yorkshire and the Dales; Value people more than money and materials bishop; C of E General Synod Agenda for November; One in five UK workers paid less than the Living Wage; Media Review
Towards a new diocese for West Yorkshire and the Dales
The Dioceses Commission has today released details of its draft scheme to reorganise Church of England structures in West Yorkshire and the Dales. The overall proposal, approved last month, is to replace the existing three dioceses and create a new single one.
Yesterday’s report explains in more detail how, if approved, that would work.
The draft scheme was drawn up after consultation across the three dioceses; Bradford, Ripon & Leeds and Wakefield. The Commission concluded from this that a new single diocese would be the best way to meet the challenges and opportunities of the region.
The scheme, to be voted on by each diocesan synod in March, provides a legal framework which would enable the following to happen:
• Creating one new diocese of Leeds, also to be known as the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales.
• Appointing the Bishop of Leeds in overall charge of the new diocese (the bishop will also be area bishop for Leeds)
• Having bishops in each of the five areas (Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Ripon and Wakefield), dedicated to the parishes in their area and therefore more closely in touch.
• Retaining the cathedrals on a co-equal basis. Any possible future changes in staffing at the discretion of the diocesan bishop.
• Ensuring that the new Bishop of Leeds has permission if needed, to designate Leeds Parish Church (now known as Leeds Minster) as a pro-cathedral
Professor Michael Clarke chair of the Commission, said “The main concern of the Commission has always been about how to best resource mission in the area and our consultation has shown that a single scheme is the best way forward. We hope that the Diocesan Synods will approve the scheme and take up the challenge of developing their vision for the new diocese. This is a once in a generation opportunity which we believe must not be lost.”
The Bishop of Wakefield the Rt Revd Stephen Platten, said: “The publication of this report ends the uncertainty about the precise recommendations of the Commission and we are very grateful for that. We now look forward to a lively and informed debate within all three dioceses as we prepare for the final vote on these proposals.”
Value people more than money and materials – bishop
The Bishop of Hereford has asked people to think about who and what they value most in the light of recent headlines.
Responding to the abduction of April Jones and reports of large scale abuse by Jimmy Savile, Bishop Anthony Priddis said the terrible headlines underlined the need for people to love and care for each other, particularly the young.
“So often we can give the impression that money or material things or fame come first, rather than people,” he said.
“Few of us really believe that, but we can easily live as though that appears to be the case.”
He urged people to put others first and do everything they can to let them know how valued and loved they are.
“This is the responsibility and joy for all of us as parents and grandparents, but it needs us also to care for those not just in our own families but among our friends and wider community,” the bishop said.
He added: “There is no risk free society or risk free living. There are no perfect lives lived by you and me.
“We all need to let these tragic stories about children and young people help strengthen our loving concern for them and one another.”
C of E General Synod Agenda for November 2012
The General Synod of the Church of England meets in November for a three day meeting to discuss final stages of women bishops’ legislation, with an agenda that also includes the Anglican Communion, the Living Wage and youth unemployment.
The Synod will meet at Church House from 2.15 p.m. on Monday 19 November until 5.30 pm on Wednesday 21 November.
The Agenda provides for the Synod to deal with the final stages of the major legislative process designed to make it possible for women to be bishops in the Church of England while also making some provision for those who, for theological reasons, will not be able to receive their ministry. The Final Approval debates will take place on Tuesday 20 November, after a celebration of Holy Communion at which the Archbishop of Canterbury will preside and preach. The debates are expected to fill the rest of the morning and most, if not all, of the afternoon.
On Monday 19 November there will be a presentation about the meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, which is meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, from 27 October until 7 November, and developments in the life of the Anglican Communion generally. It will also include reflections on the process in other churches of the Communion with regard to the Anglican Communion Covenant. That presentation will be followed by a debate on the reference to the dioceses of the draft Act of Synod adopting the Anglican Communion Covenant. As a majority of diocese voted against adopting the draft legislation it cannot be presented for final approval.
On Wednesday 21 November the Synod will debate a motion from Southwell and Nottingham Diocese which calls for changes in the law to allow children who have been admitted to communion but are not yet confirmed to distribute the consecrated bread and wine at celebrations of Holy Communion.
A Private Member’s Motion from Mr John Freeman (Chester) will be proposed to affirm the Christian values inherent in the concept of the ‘Living Wage’ and strongly encourage all Church of England institutions to pay it.
The Synod will also be invited to decide to meet in November 2013 but not in February.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 21 November the Synod will consider recent research by the Church Urban Fund and the Frontier Youth Trust on youth unemployment and its long-term effects on those concerned. The Synod will be invited to commend church and community initiatives that provide training and other support.
This will be final occasion at which the Archbishop of Canterbury will preside, with the Archbishop of York, at a meeting of the General Synod. The final business for the group of sessions will be a motion, to be moved by the Archbishop of York, expressing the Synod’s gratitude to Dr Williams and offering him and Mrs Williams its best wishes for the future.
One in five UK workers paid less than the Living Wage, report shows
Ekklesia – One in five workers in the UK – some 4.82 million people – are paid less than the ‘Living Wage’, new research from accountancy firm KPMG shows today (29 October 2012).
In a difficult climate of rising prices and increasing costs of living, the impact is falling hardest on these low paid workers with over four in ten saying that their finances are worse now than they were just one month ago.
The Living Wage is a voluntary rate of pay that some employers give their staff, designed to enable workers to afford a basic standard of living. The rate is currently £8.30 an hour in London and £7.20 outside. This compares to the national minimum wage rate of £6.19 an hour.
The research indicates that since 2001, the Living Wage campaign has positively impacted over 10,000 employees and their families, and redistributed over £96 million to some of the lowest paid workers in the UK.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17258
MEDIA REVIEW
Reports of comments by the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Justin Welby “comparing the devastated state of the banking industry after the financial crash to the ruins of Coventry Cathedral after it was bombed in the war” – Times
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3582543.ece
Comment article from Tim Montgomerie suggesting that “the New Archbishop (of Canterbury) must get back to basics” – Times
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/columnists/article3582463.ece
Comment from Charles Moore on the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy – Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/charlesmoore/9639886/A-small-royal-saga-and-a-blow-to-spirituality.html
Comment article on the Liverpool Pathway treatment of the terminally ill – Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/9635842/Families-left-grieving-and-angry-by-the-Liverpool-Care-Pathway.html