Organ donation a Christian duty – C of E; No place for homophobia in the church, anywhere in the world – Bishop; World record attempt to get churches carolling; Church ‘losing trust’ over ‘cloak and dagger’ Archbishop of Canterbury selection; Only a free market in religion will save Anglicanism
Organ donation a Christian duty – C of E
A Church of England response to a national consultation says people should make it their “Christian duty” to register as an organ donor – and suggests that they should take the time to tell their loved ones of their wishes.
A response by the Mission and Public Affairs (MPA) Council of the Church of England to the National Health Service Blood and Transplant Consultation on Organ Donation Post 2013 Strategy says: “The Church of England affirms that ‘giving one’s self and one’s possessions voluntarily for the well being of others and without compulsion is a Christian duty of which organ donation is a striking example.'” *
It is available here: The MPA Council response reports that whilst “there are 18.9m people on the Organ Donor Register”, “there are 1,000 people dying each year while on the transplant list”. It notes that in 2011/12 “37 per cent of eligible donors resulted in transplants” with “the wishes of relatives often over-riding individual consent”. By recommending a ‘hard opt-in’ donation policy “where consent given on the Organ Donor Register is treated in the same way as an Advanced Decision or clause in a Will”, it rejects other options, such as ‘opt-out’ and ‘mandated choice’.
The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, said: “Christians have a mandate to heal, motivated by compassion, mercy, knowledge and ability – and this extends to organ donation. The Christian tradition both affirms the God-given value of human bodily life, and the principle of putting the needs of others before one’s own needs.”
No place for homophobia in the church, anywhere in the world – Bishop
Bishop Tim Stevens writes in The Guardian – Gay and lesbian people are still criminalised in many countries but the church must welcome all regardless of sexuality.n 1967 it was the then archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, who spoke in the House of Lords to support the decriminalisation of homosexuality in this country, thus making a clear distinction in British law between a moral and a criminal issue.
In 1967 it was the then archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, who spoke in the House of Lords to support the decriminalisation of homosexuality in this country, thus making a clear distinction in British law between a moral and a criminal issue. More at –
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/oct/29/no-place-homophobia-church
World record attempt to get churches carolling
Churches are being invited to take part once again in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of Christmas carol singers singing together at the same time.
Premier Christian Radio is organising the attempt to smash the record set last year by 18,114 singers in multiple locations. Last year’s effort was enough to beat the previous record of 14,100 held by Disney.
Now Premier want to go even further and are looking for more than 300 churches to take part.
Plans for this year’s attempt were unveiled as a new survey revealed that less than a quarter (22%) of the nation plan to attend a church carol service this year.
The poll, carried out by ComRes, found that among churchgoers, 61% said they were likely to attend a carol service. More at:
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/3/guinness.world.record.attempt.to.get.churches.carolling/30927.htm
Church ‘losing trust’ over ‘cloak and dagger’ Archbishop of Canterbury selection
Telegraph – The Church of England is in danger of losing the trust of millions of worshippers because of “ridiculous” secrecy over the choice of the next Archbishop of Canterbury, clergy have warned. More at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9643791/Church-losing-trust-over-cloak-and-dagger-Archbishop-of-Canterbury-selection.html
Only a free market in religion will save Anglicanism
Telegraph – As Rowan Williams retires as Archbishop of Canterbury Martin Bashir in the Mail pays tribute to his work:
His has been a miserable tenure marked by the sharpest theological divisions within the worldwide Anglican Church, the deepest entrenchment and animosity between evangelical and liberal clergy and, worst of all, the most foggy and frustrating presentation of the Christian faith we’ve probably ever heard from such a senior cleric.More at:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100187113/only-a-free-market-in-religion-will-save-anglicanism/