Kirk maintains its resistance to the unjust bedroom tax; UK Salvation Army welcomes appointment of André Cox as new international leader; C of E Pensions Board publishes 2012 annual results; Fears for future of ‘famous’ organ; Further school abuse claims reported
Kirk maintains its resistance to the unjust bedroom tax
The Church of Scotland has expressed its disappointment at last week’s court ruling in favour of the UK government’s so called bedroom tax.
The Kirk is now urging that no one should lose their home because of it.
Convener of the Presbyterian denomination’s Church and Society Council the Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, said: “We call for the politicians responsible to rethink, revise and review this legislation which is penalising some of the most at risk members of society through no fault of their own.”
She continued: “This benefit cut unfairly targets some of our most vulnerable and asks people already struggling to shoulder an even bigger burden on our behalf. It is a flawed policy whose implementation has already had devastating results for disabled people.”
“At the recent General Assembly of the Church of Scotland we made a plea for local authorities not to evict people who are making a genuine effort to pay yet who have fallen behind in council tax arrears because of the bedroom tax, today we repeat that call,” declared Ms Foster-Fulton.
“In many houses extra bedrooms are not extra as they are used for equipment, for respite or for careers who come in. Additionally, it is important to note that for many households there are no smaller properties available to rent. “We hope that those who took the case to court will be successful if they decide to appeal,” she concluded.
UK Salvation Army welcomes appointment of André Cox as new international leader
André Cox has been appointed as the next international leader and 20th General of The Salvation Army.
His wife, the Argentinean-born Commissioner Silvia Cox is the new World President of Women’s Ministries.
General André Cox is the son of Commissioner Ron A Cox, who served as the Salvation Army Chief of the Staff from 1987 to 1991.
General Cox was born on 12 July 1954 in Harare, Zimbabwe, to an English father and Swiss mother. He spent his childhood between Zimbabwe and the UK, and later moved to Switzerland where he met and married Commissioner Silvia.
They were both ordained as Salvation Army ministers in 1979 and initially served the church in Switzerland, before being appointed as Territorial Leaders in Finland and Estonia in 2005. In October 2008, they assumed leadership of the Southern Africa Territory.
He and his wife then served for six months as the Territorial Leaders of the United Kingdom with Ireland.
C of E Pensions Board publishes 2012 annual results
The Pensions Board has today published its full Annual Report and Accounts for 2012 with investment returns either outperforming or equalling their benchmarks.
The Board manages assets in excess of £1.3 billion and operates two investment pools for its Pension Funds. The “Return Seeking” pool generated a 10.6 per cent return on its investments over 2012 and has outperformed its benchmarks for the past one, three and five years. The “Liability Matching” pool matched its benchmark for 2012, but beat it over the past three, five and 10 years.
The Pensions Board applies all the ethical investment policies recommended by the Church’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group, EIAG. (http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/eiag.aspx).
The Pensions Board provides retirement services set by General Synod for those who have served or worked for the Church; including pensions for 8,612 retired clergy*, 2,498 Church Workers (staff at cathedrals, diocesan and parish offices and mission agencies) and 422 staff of the National Church Institutions (2012 figures). It also assists in providing retirement housing and nursing home support for clergy and their spouses.
In 2013 the Board began a valuation of the Clergy Pension Scheme to make sure that it stays on course to provide the promised benefits over the next 50 years and more. The valuation is nearly complete and we are expecting a small increase in contributions.
During 2012 the Board commissioned research into the future housing needs of retiring clergy; more than 60% of those aged over 53 responded and around one third of retiring clergy say they would need to ask the Board for help with retirement housing. There is currently a consultation on the CHARM rental scheme, where the Pensions Board buy a property and let it to retired clergy (http://charmconsultation.org/)
Dr Jonathan Spencer, Chair of the Pensions Board, said: “It’s been a transitional year for the Board, in which we have started to look at the best way to provide our retirement services to the Church of England in the future. Our investments have performed well, but there are challenges ahead both in the provision of pensions and housing for retiring clergy and other church workers. We aim to continue to work closely and openly with employers, dioceses and all of our partners providing an open and transparent service for our customers who play a vital role in the life of the Church.”
Fears for future of ‘famous’ organ
A 104-year-old organ in North Yorkshire which features on a series of renowned recordings could be unplayable within five years, a charity has warned.
Italian virtuoso Fernando Germani was recorded playing Selby Abbey’s organ on three albums for the HMV label in the 1960s while he was the Pope’s organist.
The organ, which has about 200 pipes and four keyboards, was built specially for Selby Abbey in 1909.
The “famous” organ now “urgently” needs a £500,000 refit, the Abbey Trust says.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-23574268
Further school abuse claims reported
Police have received further reports of alleged abuse by monks at a former Catholic school in the Highlands.
An investigation was launched last week after a BBC programme uncovered evidence of physical and sexual abuse at Fort Augustus Abbey School.
In a statement, Police Scotland said it was liaising with law enforcement agencies in the UK and beyond.
The Church has apologised for what happened at the school, but victims have demanded action rather than words.