Christians get behind Fairtrade Fortnight; A Fairtrade St Paul’s; Archbishop’s Support for Fairtrade Fortnight; Christ comes to Trafalgar Square; Episcopal Statement on Pope Benedict’s resignation; Girlguiding Promise; Media review
Christians get behind Fairtrade Fortnight
Christians are holding special events and taking part in campaigns spread the word about fairly traded goods this week.
Birmingham curate the Reverend David Edgerton has launched a Twitter campaign to share his different fairtrade discoveries with his followers throughout Lent.
He is sharing a different product each day via @knowlecurate and encouraging other Twitter users to post their finds using the hashtag #fairtrade fortnight.
“I’ve been working in partnership with local shops to encourage them to offer a wider choice of Fairtrade products. If we all started tweeting during Fairtrade Fortnight when we spotted fairtrade goods, this would encourage more goods on the shelves,” he said.
Rev Edgerton has invited representatives of Cadbury to speak at Knowle parish church and explain why the company supports fairtrade and what it means in practice.
The events are part of Fairtrade Fortnight, which got underway today, and churches across the country will be taking part.
The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu expressed his support for the Fairtrade Foundation’s campaign launched today calling for urgent action to support the 500 million smallholder farmers who produce most of the world’s food despite accounting for half of the world’s undernourished people.
Until June, Fairtrade Foundation will be running a virtual campaign in which people can log onto its website to turn themselves into foldable ‘mini-marchers’. These will appear in paper form in Parliament Square on 4 March, with the final petition being delivered to David Cameron on World Fair Trade Day in May.
“I’m proud to be supporting this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight to plead with the government to do more for small hold farmers,” the Archbishop said.
“I’m delighted to be sending my paper avatar to join thousands of others for Fairtrade’s march on Parliament during Fairtrade Fortnight.”
At St Paul’s Cathedral in London, a model made from Fairtrade products and packaging will be on display at the west end of the building throughout Fairtrade Fortnight. See report below
Exeter Diocese is launching Heavenly Recipes, an ebook of fairtrade recipes from Devon using locally produced food to celebrate the fortnight.
Manchester Diocese’s Sustainability Exhibition will host stalls, seminars, networking and other events, while churches in Oxford Diocese are being invited to sign a parish pledge to become a fairtrade church.
The Bishop of Burnley and Acting Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Reverend John Goddard, is using the fortnight to encourage support across Lancashire for The Real Easter Egg campaign.
A Fairtrade St Paul’s
A model of St Paul’s made entirely from the packaging of fairtrade products was unveiled in the famous cathedral on Monday for Fairtrade Fortnight.
The unveiling was joined by Fairtrade sugar producer Henry Matenga, from Malawi, and Sophi Tranchell, managing director of Divine Chocolate company.
It comes as the Diocese of London celebrates its first anniversary as an accredited Fairtrade Diocese.
The model was designed and created by Amanda Hughes, Children’s Church Co-ordinator of St Mary’s, Finchley, to celebrate the London Diocese’s support for fairtrade.
“I’m thrilled to see the model in St Paul’s Cathedral and feel very happy to do my small part in showing how we can help reduce poverty in the world with our shopping habits,” she said.
The eight-feet long structure is made up of fairtrade chocolate wrappers, tea boxes, and even banana stickers.
It symbolises the unity of the Diocese in its fairtrade mission, with the model railings surrounding the Cathedral highlighting the names of all 237 Anglican churches within the Diocese of London that have a Fairtrade certificate.
Canon Precentor of St Paul’s Cathedral, Michael Hampel, said: “St Paul’s are very happy to provide a temporary home for this wonderful sculpture during Fairtrade Fortnight.”
The sculpture will be on display by the west doors of St Paul’s Cathedral for public viewing until 10 March.
Archbishop’s Support for Fairtrade Fortnight
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, today encouraged people to buy fairly-traded produce as the Fairtrade Foundation launched its 2013 Fairtrade Fortnight campaign calling for action to end trade injustice around the world.
The Archbishop of York has agreed for a paper avatar to be made of him to join a march on Parliament, along with other well-known public figures, during Fairtrade Fortnight (25th Feb-10th March).
The march on Parliament is to show support for a fairer deal for small farmers. Estimates show that small farmers grow around 70% of the world’s food, yet only receive an average of 3% of the retail price once their produce hits the supermarket shelves. The Fairtrade system helps provide these farmers with a fairer price for their produce, and a chance for a better livelihood for themselves and their families.
Dr John Sentamu said: “I’m proud to be supporting this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight to plead with the government to do more for small hold farmers wherever they live in the world. I’m delighted to be sending my paper avatar to join thousands of others for Fairtrade’s march on Parliament during Fairtrade Fortnight”.
For further information about Fairtrade Fortnight please visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/.
Christ comes to Trafalgar Square
A dramatic re-enactment of the Passion of Christ will be staged in London’s Trafalgar Square on Good Friday.
The Passion of Jesus, performed by the Wintershall Players, drew tens of thousands to Trafalgar Square when it was held last year.
This year, you could be among the crowd for this special, Bible Society-sponsored event.
There are two performances, one at noon and one at 3.15pm, though it’s wise to arrive early in order to find somewhere to sit or stand as the Square soon fills up.
James Catford, Bible Society’s Group Chief Executive, said, ‘This performance is a statement of the relevance and credibility of the Christian faith and the Scriptures in public in Trafalgar Square, right at the heart of the capital city.’
The performance is staged by Peter Hutley. He has been hosting performances of The Passion of Jesus on his estate in Wintershall, Surrey, since 1993.
Episcopal Statement on Pope Benedict’s resignation
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrew’s, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church says “Christians of all traditions will have heard of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI with regret.
He has been a distinguished holder of his office, widely respected for his scholarship and his spirituality. Pope Benedict’s visit to Britain was a significant event during his term of office and I was privileged to meet him. His speeches showed his willingness to engage with the issues of faith in a complex and secular society. The challenge of leading a historic faith institution in a time of rapid change is very great. Pope Benedict has made a difficult personal decision which shows the mark of a humble servant of Jesus Christ. We wish him a peaceful and holy retirement.”
Girlguiding Promise
Girlguiding should keep God in its Promise and provide space for young to explore their beliefs
A majority of girls and young women surveyed by Girlguiding UK say they believe in a god. As the organisation’s open consultation on the Promises made by new members draws to a close, a senior Church of England priest says it is important for the promise to “love God”, retains its place.
70% of 7-11 year olds believe in “a god” according to the survey of 1,200 7-21 year olds in the UK, conducted by Girlguiding UK. The figure for 11-21 year olds is 55%, an increase on the same figure from the 2009 poll conducted by the same organisation.
“Girlguiding UK has always been an organisation that has held the spiritual development of girls at the heart of its activities,” says Canon Shelia Bamber of Sunderland Minster and a former Faith Adviser for Girlguiding UK. “In a society where is it increasingly ‘uncool’ for young people to believe in God or any ‘higher power’, it is important that there are still places where they can be encouraged to explore and develop their own beliefs. It is important that Girlguiding offers opportunities for spiritual development,” says Shelia.
The Consultation on the Promise run by Girlguiding UK closes on Sunday 3 March.
Guides, Brownie and Ranger members, their leaders and parents are being encouraged to respond to this important consultation to demonstrate the support, collaboration and goodwill of church communities in their partnership with Girlguiding.
MEDIA REVIEW
Items focusing on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s introduction to the House of Lords and his visit to Buckingham Palace to “acknowledge the Queen as supreme governor of the Church of England”.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2284929/They-listened-happy-puzzlement-terriers-heard-pantry-door-squeak.html
City Diary reports that the Bishop of London is a “non-remunerated endorser” of the London Missional Housing Bond that will be used “to provide cut-price homes for key charity workers operating in deprived areas of the capital”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/citydiary/9896301/City-Diary-Social-returns-for-City-investors-Osborne-and-the-Sword-of-Damocles-and-an-extra-shot-in-the-coffee-tax-row.html
City Diary also notes a humorous exchange between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chancellor at a meeting of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/citydiary/9896301/City-Diary-Social-returns-for-City-investors-Osborne-and-the-Sword-of-Damocles-and-an-extra-shot-in-the-coffee-tax-row.html
Many items relating to recent news stories about the Catholic Church, with reported comments from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, news stories regarding Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s comments, and news that the Pope is to be known as “pope emeritus” on his retirement.
http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/melanie-mcdonagh-the-church-of-sinners-loses-more-authority-on-sex-8511104.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cardinal-keith-obrien-said-vulnerable-1732863
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/380506/Next-Pope-must-put-own-house-in-order
http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/ann-widdecombe/380422/The-pope-is-a-true-role-model
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/benedict-xvi-to-keep-pope-title-and-wear-white-after-his-retirement-8512100.html
Ven David Meara writes about “how Victorian Gothic conquered the world”.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/courtsocial/article3689769.ece
Article looking at how the people of Plockton in Scotland are fighting to save their church.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/26/wicker-man-village-church-sale
Anne Widdecombe writes: “Gay marriage Bill will not give equality.”
http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/ann-widdecombe/380426/Gay-marriage-will-not-give-equality
Obituary
The Ven John Delight
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article3700127.ece