Church Times celebrates 150 years; Generous worshippers challenged to act out in love; Consultation document on women bishops legislation; Media review
Church Times celebrates 150 years
The Church Times is celebrating its illustrious 150 year history with a special edition of the paper.
The first edition came out on 7 February 1863 as a voice for the Anglo-Catholic cause at a time when clergy could be imprisoned for lighting candles on altars and wearing vestments.
The paper was founded by printer George Josiah Palmer and would remain in the family for the next three generations, until 1989.
While it has always defended the independence of the Church of England, other causes championed by the paper would raise a few eyebrows among today’s Anglicans.
It describes its early attitude towards other denominations as “caustic” and also opposed women’s suffrage.
When a woman was ordained as a priest under crisis conditions in Hong Kong in 1944, the paper likened her bishop’s actions to those of a “wild man of the woods”.
During World War II, it had some harsh words for conscientious objectors, labelling them “poltroons”.
Today, Church Times is owned by the charity Hymns Ancient & Modern and continues to be independent of the church hierarchy.
Dr Bernard Palmer, proprietor and editor from 1969 to 89, pays tribute to the paper’s heritage in an article for the 150th edition.
The anniversary edition also includes the results of a YouGov poll on Lent carried out as part of the paper’s celebrations.
The poll finds that Lent remains most popular among the under-35s, with 35% of 18 to 24-year-olds saying they intend to give something up, and 30% of 25 to 34-year-olds.
By contrast, only 21% of over-35s said they were planning to observe Lent.
The poll found that, overall, a quarter of adults in Britain (24%) were planning to give something up come Ash Wednesday.
Women were more likely than men to give something up – 27% compared to 21% – and participation is strongest in the Midlands (29%) and London (28%). The least committed region is Scotland, where just 16% plan to observe Lent.
Se also –
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21399715 >
Generous worshippers challenged to act out in love
Parishioners in the Diocese of Portsmouth are not only being challenged to raise funds this Lent, but change their lifestyles to help change the world.
In addition to donating money to the Bishop of Portsmouth’s 2013 Lent Appeal, parishioners will be asked via the web and social media to perform a simple action each day that will show God’s love to others.
Funds raised by the appeal will be split between projects supporting homeless people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and those affected by climate change in Uganda as part of the Church of England’s Climate Justice Fund.
The Climate Justice Fund works in partnership with Tearfund to help Anglican churches around the world equip the poorest communities to respond to the challenges of climate change.
In Uganda, climate change is visible in higher temperatures and torrential rain. Traditional crops are no longer suitable and more than a quarter of the population are not able to access enough food.
The funds are enabling communities to learn news of farming and grow high-yielding crops better suited to the changing environment.
Closer to home, the Lent Appeal will go towards the running of a homeless hostel, a substance misuse hostel, an advice centre and supported lodgings.
Bishop Christopher Foster said: “The annual Lent Appeal has been a fantastic way of helping those in need over many years. Churchgoers in this diocese have been incredibly generous, donating many thousands of pounds on top of their giving to the Church and to other charities.
“The season of Lent is also a time for Christians to reassess their priorities, giving up those things that may not be helpful, and taking on new responsibilities or lifestyle choices.
“We hope to provide some suggestions on small but significant changes individuals and churches can make as part of our ’40 Days of Justice’ campaign during Lent.”
The bishop is hoping to surpass the success of last year’s appeal which raised nearly £19,000.
Consultation document on women bishops legislation
A consultation document, over the signature of the General Synod’s Secretary General, William Fittall, issued to all members of the Synod last week, sets out “ideas and issues that are beginning to emerge” after “facilitated discussions” on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Its first proposition is that the draft Measure that fell at the November General Synod must be abandoned: “it would not be sensible to try to take the rejected draft Measure as a starting point and tweak it. . . Though so narrowly lost, its moment has passed.”
The second proposition is that “any new approach should not seek to reopen questions around jurisdiction and the position of the diocesan bishop, in law, as the ordinary and chief pastor of everyone in the diocese.” Any transfer or sharing of jurisdiction risks “introducing confusion where there needs to be clarity” and “any notion of a two-tier episcopate is anathema.”
The third proposition is that “there needs, so far as possible, to be a complete package of proposals that can be assessed in its entirety before final approval, without the possibility of further amendments to some parts of it between the final approval of the legislation and its coming into force.”
The final proposition, described as “arguably the most important and also the most subtle”, is that “From the recent conversations it is clear that any new package needs to try, so far as possible to achieve two things. While at first sight they appear to be in tension with each other, they may in fact offer a possible way forward.”
The two objectives are: “Produce a shorter, simpler Measure than the one that was defeated; Provide, through the totality of the elements in the package, a greater sense of security for the minority as having an accepted and valued place in the Church of England while not involving the majority in any new element of compromise on matters of principle.”
The consultation document can be read here.
http://churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2013/02/consultation-document-issued-by-working-group-on-women-bishops-legislation.aspx
Media review
Gay marriage: priests to defy Church line with same-sex services
Leading liberal priests in the Church of England are preparing to stage unofficial gay marriage ceremonies despite the Church’s official opposition to same-sex unions.
Campaigners claim that there could be “hundreds” of blessing services, complete with prayers, readings and even a form of vows taking place “under the radar” within the established church from early next year.
They believe a “groundswell” of support from within sections of the Church could eventually open the way for a challenge to the official line on same-sex weddings.
Others, including a handful of well known landmark churches and cathedrals, are planning to openly stage special services of “prayer and dedication” for gay couples, almost identical to blessings already on offer for heterosexual couples who chose to marry in a register office. More at –
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9853688/Gay-marriage-priests-to-defy-Church-line-with-same-sex-services.html
Islamic preachers of hate on UK television channels
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/9859804/Preachers-of-hate-who-spread-their-violent-word-on-British-TV-channels.html