Archbishop of Canterbury rebukes claims of ‘persecuted’ Christians in UK; Traditionalist Anglican leaders to meet over homosexual bishops ‘crisis’ Ministers sound retreat in charity tax row; George Osborne’s charity tax plan is unfair, says Church of England; In praise of … Pamela Greener; Fish bunting fit for a Queen; Giles Fraser: The cross is a symbol of cruelty, not a club badge; Lord Carey is a bigger problem for British Christians than any secularist; Evangelicals in uproar over Southwark liberal appointments
Archbishop of Canterbury rebukes claims of ‘persecuted’ Christians in UK
Telegraph – The Archbishop of Canterbury has rebuked clergy who claim Christians are being persecuted in Britain, pointing out that churchgoers suffer far worse treatment abroad.
Dr Rowan Williams called on those who live in “comfortable environments” to keep their fears “in perspective” and not become obsessed by “the future of Church and society”.
He reminded them that Christians in countries such as Nigeria, Iraq, Egypt and Zimbabwe are facing “butchery and intimidation”, and are in desperate need of support.
His comments will be interpreted as a pointed rebuke to senior figures in the Church of England who believe Christianity is being driven out of public life in Britain.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/7541467/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-rebukes-claims-of-persecuted-Christians-in-UK.html
Traditionalist Anglican leaders to meet over homosexual bishops ‘crisis’
Telegraph – A high-powered group of traditionalist Anglican church leaders are to gather in London to address a growing “crisis” over openly homosexual bishops. They want to restore “orthodox” values to the worldwide Anglican Communion and outlaw liberal church leaders who have rejected traditional teaching.
They will meet for the first time since more than 200 bishops boycotted an official summit for Anglican leaders in 2008 in protest at the presence of bishops from the US Episcopal Church, which consecrated the first openly homosexual Anglican bishop.
The decision by the leaders to hold talks in Britain is likely to increase tensions between the traditionalists and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who will this year step down amid criticism he has failed to heal divisions over sexuality.
Its timing means that it will provide traditionalists with an opportunity to call for Dr Williams’s successor to be sympathetic to traditionalists.
The gathering of 200 clergy and laity will be led by Dr Peter Jensen, the Archbishop of Sidney, who is General Secretary of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA), the body set up by traditionalists at their 2008 “alternative” Lambeth Conference in Jerusalem.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9204853/Traditionalist-Anglican-leaders-to-meet-over-homosexual-bishops-crisis.html
Ministers sound retreat in charity tax row
Telegraph – UK Government Ministers are preparing a climbdown in the face of intense pressure over plans to cut tax relief on charitable donations, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9204963/Ministers-sound-retreat-in-charity-tax-row.html
Petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/32056
George Osborne’s charity tax plan is unfair, says Church of England
Telegraph – Ian Theodoreson, the chief finance officer of the Church, called on the Coalition to reconsider its plans, which he said were unfair and “not acceptable”. He said Mr Osborne’s plan is too broad and will end up penalising legitimate philanthropists and their causes.The intervention of the Church, which relies on donations to maintain many of its cathedrals and other historic buildings, will add to the mounting pressure on the Chancellor to rethink a move to cut tax relief on charitable giving.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/9203736/George-Osbornes-charity-tax-plan-is-unfair-says-Church-of-England.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17713370
http://presstv.com/detail/236296.html
In praise of … Pamela Greener
The Guardian – Her YouTube protest ditty against the VAT hike is central casting Church of England. In a style somewhere between Richard Stilgoe and the Women’s Institute, Mrs Greener lays into the chancellor. “This charge is anti-community, unlikely to build big …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEWgVkBKpeI
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/12/in-praise-of-pamela-greener
Fish bunting fit for a Queen
Christian Today – You may be more familiar with the little Union Jack triangles stringed up for royal celebrations but St Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle decided to do something a bit different with their bunting for the Queens Diamond Jubilee this year
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/fish.bunting.fit.for.a.queen/29677.htm
Giles Fraser: The cross is a symbol of cruelty, not a club badge
Independent – How did an instrument of Roman torture end up becoming a club badge for pious Christians? The cross was supposed to inspire terror, and those crucified made into a public spectacle of Roman imperial power. Crucifixion sent a message: we, the Romans, are in control. Defy us and die a horrible death.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/giles-fraser-the-cross-is-a-symbol-of-cruelty-not-a-club-badge-7626854.html
Lord Carey is a bigger problem for British Christians than any secularist
Guardian – The Lay scientist blog – Out of touch with his flock, apparently ignorant of basic theological concepts, and dragging the image of Christianity through the mud; leaders like George Carey pose a far greater threat to the future of Christianity in Britain than any secularist
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/the-lay-scientist/2012/apr/14/1?newsfeed=true
Evangelicals in uproar over Southwark liberal appointments
Church of England Newspaper April 14 – Summit with evangelicals backfires as Bishop Christopher Chessun faces call for him to resign.
The numerous liberal Catholic appointments in the diocese of Southwark are causing increasing concern for evangelicals, in a row that is threatening to split the diocese. The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, has appointed liberals to the last seven senior vacancies in the diocese, including the Cathedral Dean and Bishop’s Chaplain.
Attending a meeting of the Southwark Diocesan Evangelical Union (DEU) last Monday, many felt he failed to satisfy the concerns of the 100 people in attendance. The Rev Stephen Kuhrt later said: “He has been politically naïve,” and called the situation an ‘absolute gaffe’. The vicar, who chairs Fulcrum, did not doubt Bishop Christopher’s integrity, but claimed he had been very badly advised. Fulcrum, while a more moderate evangelical Anglican group, joined Reform in the condemnation of the appointments, claiming the views of evangelicals were not being heard.
Mr Kuhrt still affirmed their hope for unity, which is central to Fulcrum’s aims, but called the shift ‘just a recipe for chaos’. Speaking following the Monday meeting, many highlighted the money that evangelical churches bring into the diocese with their thriving congregations. While mainstream evangelicals – like Fulcrum – see the benefit of what their Bishop calls ‘an immense spectrum’, there is a group who are beginning to resent funding it, as they feel they are being sidelined. Speaking at the meeting a layman, Peter Gowland, predicted a withdrawal of funding – ‘this is not a threat, just a prophecy’. Concerned evangelicals have stressed were the situation the other way around – that evangelicals had been continually appointed – the liberal Catholics would be rightly frustrated.
The group also fear the effects this imbalance will cause in terms of homosexuality, as the diocese is working more and more with those who seek to alter the church’s traditional stance on the issue. Reform member Jonathan Fletcher said he was distraught for the Church of England, but acknowledged the bravery of the Bishop for attending. He said the situation was ‘very sad indeed’.
During the meeting, the Bishop claimed he wanted to work more closely with the DEU. He said there was a difference between the perception and reality of not being heard. “His response was unsatisfactory,” one attendee said. “He just spoke generally.” Some members of the diocese, including prominent clergy, are now calling for the resignation of the Bishop of Southwark, despite having been in the post for only a year. “I think they have got to have a creative solution,” Mr Kuhrt said. “It would not do any harm to just say ‘yes, we have made a real blunder.’” Because of Easter the Bishop was unavailable to comment further.