Rowan Williams becomes Christian Aid Chair; Bishop of Peterborough to chair Council for Christian Unity; Bishop unveils UKs largest Christmas ad; Episcopal Response to Scottish Government’s draft Bill on same sex marriage
Rowan Williams becomes Christian Aid Chair
Dr Rowan Williams is to become chairman of the board of trustees at Christian Aid from next year.
Announcing the appointment, Christian Aid director Ms Loretta Minghella said: “Archbishop Rowan brings a passionate interest in tackling the symptoms and causes of poverty, a profound theological understanding and deep experience of addressing issues of environmental, economic and social justice with church and political leaders across the world. This is wonderful news for Christian Aid.”
Dr Williams is stepping down as Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of December to take up a new position as Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.
He succeeds Dame Anne Owers as Chair of the Christian Aid board.
Commenting on his new appointment, Dr Williams said: “I am very honoured indeed to be invited to chair the Board of Christian Aid.
“I had hoped very much to be able to continue some regular involvement in support and advocacy in the area of international justice and development, and this will allow such an involvement to flourish.
“Many years of co-operation with, and support for, Christian Aid have made me familiar with the excellent quality of all that they do, and I am personally very happy indeed to be working with them in this new role at a time when international development issues will need the most dedicated and sustained attention.”
The appointment process was led by Kumar Jacob, Acting Chair of Christian Aid’s board, and culminated in a process of approval this week by Christian Aid’s sponsoring churches.
Bishop of Peterborough to chair Council for Christian Unity
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have appointed the Rt Rev Donald Allister, Bishop of Peterborough to succeed the Rt Rev Christopher Hill, Bishop of Guildford, as Chair of the Council for Christian Unity. Bishop Christopher will be stepping down at the end of June 2013 after a five-year term of office. The Bishop of Peterborough has been a member of the Council since 2006.
Speaking of his role on the Council, Bishop Christopher said:
“I have hugely enjoyed my time as Chairman of the Council for Christian Unity. In fact, I have been associated with the Council and its predecessor, the old Board for Mission and Unity, for many years in different capacities. The Council is a most important instrument for the ecumenical thrust of the Church of England.
“I should also like to express my warmest welcome for the appointment made by the Archbishops in consultation with the Appointments’ Committee of Bishop Donald as my successor. He has been a wonderful colleague on the CCU and in some detailed work we have done together. I shall leave the Chairmanship in the middle of next year with very positive feelings about its direction for the future with Bishop Donald.”
Speaking of his appointment, Bishop Donald said:”I feel deeply honoured to be asked by our Archbishops to follow Bishop Christopher as Chair of CCU. It has been a joy to serve on the Council since 2006 and, through that, to get to know and work with many of our ecumenical partners. Ecumenism properly understood (the sharing of faith, love, worship and witness rather than the bureaucracy) is vital. God is one and calls his people to be one and to love one another so that the world may believe.”
Bishop unveils UKs largest Christmas ad
The Bishop of Bolton has unveiled the UK’s largest Christmas advert in Manchester.
The advert is part of the ‘Christmas Starts with Christ’ campaign and measures the length of three buses.
It shows three contemporary images of the nativity – an atmospheric oil painting by Andrew Gadd of the nativity set at a bus stop, an ultrasound scan of the baby Jesus with the tag line “He is coming”, and a giant plastic doll with the tag line “He cries. He wees. He saves the world”.
The ad appears on scaffolding at the side of St Ann’s Church in the heart of Manchester’s shopping and commercial district.
Members the public are being asked to vote for their favourite image at www.christmasnearyou.com
Bishop Chris Edmondson said: “It is important that the true message of Christmas is not forgotten. The Christmas story is presented in three very different ways by these images.
“But the truth they present is eternal – that at Christmas we celebrate Jesus who, as the Son of God, came in human form.
“He was born in a place of poverty but changed the world through his life, death and resurrection.”
The ad has been sponsored by the Diocese of Manchester in partnership with the Church of England Communications Unit, churchads.net, St Ann’s Church Manchester and Churches Together in Greater Manchester.
Response to Scottish Government’s draft Bill on same sex marriage
The Scottish Episcopal Church notes the Scottish Government’s draft Bill on same sex marriage announced today and will respond to this within the set timeframe. A working group of the Faith and Order Board of our General Synod has been set up to respond to the Government’s consultation and draft Bill; and the College of Bishops recently announced its intention to encourage a measured process of discussion and reflection within the Church on matters of same sex relationships, having regard to the Church’s context in Scotland and as a member of the Anglican Communion. Any such process is likely to take some time. Resources available at –
http://www.scotland.anglican.org/index.php/news/entry/response_to_scottish_governments_draft_bill_on_same_sex_marriage/#When:18:20:30Z