Bishops back NFU Buy British food campaign; Durham Diocese searching for its next bishop; Bishops take up bicycle challenge; Church gives Saturday shoppers food for thought; Media review
Bishops back NFU Buy British food campaign
Buying locally-sourced, locally-grown food is the best way to know what you are eating and to back British farmers, Church of England bishops have said.
“British farmers produce great British food. Everyone knows where it comes from thanks to logos such as the farm assurance Red Tractor. The little Red Tractor stands for traceable and independently inspected food, from farm to pack,” said the Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford. “and with consumer confidence leading the agenda, I’m happy to back the National Farmers’ Union’s new Buy British campaign, supporting local butchers, farm shops and farmers markets, for example.”
“Clear labelling, such as the Union Flag or Red Tractor, is a must but there is more to ensuring we all enjoy good, fresh food that we know and trust,” said the Bishop Anthony.
“We must, for example, make sure schools teach food technology to help their pupils learn how to cook and so that they know where food comes from.
“This breach of trust by suppliers begs a serious consideration of the ethics behind the drive to ever cheaper food. I hope that all involved in the food supply chain will take a long hard look at their actions, procurement processes and decision making in order to stop these sorts of practices. We need there to be proper care in the whole supply chain involving growers, producers, suppliers and retailers.”
The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev Stephen Platten, recently called on people to pray for the whole food production chain from struggling farmers in the UK, to those that do not have enough to eat.
Backing the Enough Food For Everyone #If campaign to reduce the millions currently going hungry and the amount of food wasted, Bishop Stephen added that those who produce food also need prayers.
“The UK, in recent months,” said Bishop Stephen, “has seen dreadful weather that has ruined crops and disrupted harvests. The end result, according to DEFRA, is that many farmers face a cut in income of up to a half. Now we see consumers uncertain about what they are eating and wasted ready meals being thrown away because the labels can’t be trusted.”
Church gives Saturday shoppers food for thought
Christ Church, Woking, is inviting shoppers to take some time out from the stores and consider the issues facing their community.
The church is hosting a series of debates on Saturday mornings as part of a collaboration between Woking Action for Peace, Churches Together, Friends of the Earth, the Quakers and Surrey Faith Links.
The issues range from faith to housing and equality. Guest speakers offer their thoughts for 20 minutes before the subject is opened up for wider discussion with the audience.
Surrey Faith Links Adviser Kauser Akhtar spoke in the first debate in the series on whether faiths strengthen Woking.
He said faith organisations were having a positive impact on society at large and that in Woking, different faiths were starting to interact with each other more, although he added that this needed greater promotion
Durham Diocese searching for its next bishop
The Diocese of Durham is in the process of selecting its next bishop following the departure of Archbishop Justin Welby.
Archbishop Welby left his position as the Bishop of Durham to become the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this month.
A public consultation meeting was held (Saturday 16th) by the Diocese of Durham to help inform the process of selecting the next Bishop of Durham following the departure earlier this month of the then Right Revd Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham to take up position as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury.
The public meeting held at Durham Johnston School, Durham on Saturday 16 February 2013 attracted more than 150 members of the Diocese and general public – all keen to offer their opinion on the next Bishop of Durham.
The meeting was part of the formal process in the selection of the next Bishop. It was arranged by the Diocese of Durham ‘Vacancy In See Committee’ (ViS) on behalf of the Archbishops’ and Prime Minister’s appointments secretaries Caroline Boddington and Sir Paul Britton respectively (both present at the meeting).
Introducing the meeting, chair of the ViS committee and Diocesan chair of the house of laity Dr Jamie Harrison said: “As always, we thank you for coming to this important meeting in such numbers. The meeting is designed for you to inform the process of preparation of a person and role brief that the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) will later use in selecting the next Bishop of Durham from candidates interviewed. Two names will then be submitted to the Prime Minister who would normally accept the first choice and pass it on for approval by the Queen.”
Caroline Boddington – the Archbishops’ appointments secretary said: “Durham Diocese always produces the biggest number of voices at any of the public meeting Sir Paul and I go to, It’s very encouraging and helpful.” She went on to say: “The CNC will meet in May and again in June and we hope to be in a position to announce the next Bishop of Durham during the summer.”
The CNC is made up of; six members from the Diocesan ViS committee (which will be voted on and decided in March), the Archbishop of York and usually the Archbishop of Canterbury as well as six other members drawn from across the national church. The CNC meetings are also attended by the appointments secretaries. As the Archbishop of Canterbury is the retiring Bishop of Durham, that role will be taken by a nominated Bishop on this occasion.
The meeting lasted just over an hour and heard a range of comments from the floor highlighting areas of strategy, priority and desired person attributes. These comments were on top of a full day of one-to-one interviews the appointments secretaries held on Friday 15th and further supplemented by a volume of written comments received from across the region.
Dr Harrison asked Sir Paul Britton to summarise what had been heard by the secretaries during the two days of their visit:
“‘I think that what I have heard in the last 24 hours is not different from what others have been saying about this vacancy. It is that you recognise the picture of your diocese that has been painted, that Justin had begun to tackle some of the key issues that you feel strongly about, above all; mission, discipleship and growth. Growth in numerical terms – not just in depth but numbers – and, like other dioceses, see an urgency in mission growth, which Justin had brought here and you don’t want to move backwards on.
“That was one key theme, as is reaching out to young people through the schools. Academies – schools for the future – are a ‘bridge asset’ and schools like this were doing a magnificent job.
“These are big things that Justin had started to do here. Another – although people didn’t talk about it so much this morning – was the new approach to dealing with Parish Share, which you appreciated.
“That, whilst a clone of Justin wasn’t appropriate, the person would probably have some of the same characteristics. They would bring some new things as well. You said you don’t want to be comfortable, you want to be challenged and you’re up for change, and that is very refreshing.
“Some talked of things that Justin didn’t get round to tackling – such as the creative use of all resources.
“You also want a Bishop who will continue to ensure that the Church is absolutely at the leading edge in the Northeast, in building a more prosperous, and populous, community here, and who will also speak for the North East in London.”
At the end of the process, the Crown Nominations Committee (CNC) will submit two names to the Prime Minister who will then pass on one candidate for final approval by the Queen.
The CNC will meet in May and again in June with an announcement on the next Bishop of Durham expected during the summer.
The next Bishop of Durham is expected to pick up where his predecessor left off in addressing the urgent need for mission growth and discipleship.
The Prime Minister’s appointments secretary Sir Paul Britton said the people of Durham were looking for a bishop who would “continue to ensure that the Church is absolutely at the leading edge in the Northeast, in building a more prosperous, and populous, community here, and who will also speak for the North East in London”.
Bishops take up bicycle challenge
Two Church of England bishops will be cycling 172 miles in two days for Christian Aid this spring.
The Suffragan Bishop of Swindon, the Right Reverend Lee Rayfield, and the Bishop of Ramsbury, Dr Edward Condry, aim to visit 16 locations across Wiltshire over 12 and 13 April.
The cycle is more than just a test of strength as the pair will be raising awareness of poverty issues and Christian Aid Week.
Bishop Rayfield said: “As well as the physical challenge, we are undertaking a pilgrimage of Wiltshire.
“This is a journey in solidarity with the poor around the world and a way of thanking and encouraging those who volunteer on their behalf every Christian Aid Week.”
The bishops will set off from Trowbridge at 8am on 12 April and visit Christian Aid supporters in Salisbury, Royal Wootton Bassett, Chippenham, Swindon and Bradford on Avon among other towns.
Christian Aid Week takes place this year from 12 to 18 May under the theme of “Bite Back at Hunger”. The countries of focus are Zimbabwe, Bolivia and Kenya.
The bishops can be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/bishopsonbicycles
MEDIA REVIEW
Faith of free school bids revealed
BBC – A quarter of applications to set up free schools in England over the past two years were from faith-based organisations, official data shows.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21520161
Religious TV show ‘risking lives’
BBC – African charities condemn satellite TV programmes filmed in London that encourage viewers to believe they have been cured of life-threatening illnesses through the “miracle” power of prayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21505191
Mail – Ephrain Hardcastle column wonders whether the ‘installation of Rt Rev Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury’ will be ‘overshadowed by the inauguration’ of a new Pope.
Times – Report that ‘a disgraced American Cardinal accused of covering up sex abuse by priests has provoked uproar by insisting that he will vote in the conclave that elects the new pope’.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3692177.ece
Reports that “the cardinal who is favourite to be the first black pope has linked clerical sex abuse with homosexuality”. Telegraph takes a look at Pope Benedict’s retirement home, at “the heart of the Vatican”.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3693010.ece
l http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_inside-the-home-fit-for-a-pope_1802102
Guardian – In his Diary, Hugh Muir repeats online musings from the Bishop of Buckingham regarding conversations on same-sex marriage.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/19/hugh-muir-diary-chris-grayling
Independent – Report that “more than 100 religious groups have applied to the Government to open one of its free schools”.
Guardian – Bob Holman wonders what we can learn from First World War chaplain Woodbine Willie, an “unsung social reformer”.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/19/church-role-society-first-world-war