Amazing childhood of the future Archbishop of Canterbury; C of E backing a living wage; Brit concern at marriage breakdown; Women bishops – Tablet editorial and other comments; Major report on teaching of Christianity in schools; New resource on Christian – Moslem inter-faith marriage
Bishop Welby – The secret life of my alcoholic father
The amazing childhood experience of the future Archbishop of Canterbury
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9700923/Justin-Welby-Secret-life-of-my-alcohol-dependent-father.html
Church of England ‘back to reality’ in endorsing the Living Wage
An overwhelming vote of the Church of England’s General Synod backed a Living Wage for its own workers and for all others.
The decision followed a debate led by John Freeman, a member of the ecumenical Church Action on Poverty, which has been campaigning since 2002 for churches to set an example to other employers by paying the Living Wage.
The vote also comes after last week’s similar decision by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, and the commitment of other national Christian denominations in Britain.
The motion was carried with no votes against, after an hour-long debate which include contributions from the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.
It was supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury elect, Bishop Justin Welby, who last week reiterated his support for the Living Wage and said it is something “we should be shouting about”.
The Living Wage rates for the UK and London are £7.45 and £8.55 respectively, as announced by the Living Wage Foundation and Mayor of London on 5 November 2012. Previously it was £7.20 and £8.30 respectively.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17447
Brits concerned about marriage breakdown
Christian Today – Most Brits feel that marriage’s fall from grace has not been good for society, a new survey has found.
In a poll of over 1,700 adults by the Centre for Social Justice, 60% agreed that marriage has become less important and that this is a “bad thing” for Britain.
Over half (55%) said there was at least one area close to where they lived that was affected by serious social problems like broken families, poor schools and crime.
Most of those surveyed (85%) felt that family and parenting were key to mending broken society.
When asked what they felt was the most important for children to have when growing up, 46% said a safe community and environment, followed by having two parents at home (31%).
Those surveyed also expressed a preference for work over welfare, with 86% agreeing that people who can work should not be able to choose a life on welfare.
The findings were released as the CSJ prepares to launch Breakthrough Britain II, a major study into the causes of poverty and social breakdown that will run until 2014.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/brits.concerned.about.marriage.breakdown/31136.htm
Measure of Compromise – The Tablet Editorial
The advocates of women bishops rejected the archbishop’s compromise. They saw that the battle for female equality had been won in secular society and they believed the Church of England had to bow to the same logic or appear irrelevant. That may be true, but both the Anglo-Catholics and the Evangelicals anchor their doctrine elsewhere than in the shifting sands of public opinion or the secular equality agenda: in Catholic tradition in one case and Scripture in the other. Neither group minds being thought out of touch. But even if they have good arguments, it was a mistake for the more liberal sections of church opinion to forget that the very basis of the Anglican Settlement is a tacit agreement that no one part of it should ever push its case so far as to drive another part out into the cold. If the Measure could be revised in that spirit, a more acceptable and consensual solution might yet be found.
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/163485
Women bishops rejection has damaged Church, traditionalist bishop admits
Telegraph – One of the leading traditionalists in the Church of England, whose opposition helped kill off plans for women bishops, has admitted the vote had left the Church’s reputation in tatters.
In a sermon at his formal enthronement as Bishop of Chichester, the Rt Rev Dr Martin Warner signalled that an overhaul of the Church’s decision making processes now looks inevitable in the wake of last week’s General Synod decision.
He said the Church’s leadership would have to face up to some very “uncomfortable facts” after the Synod failed to pass the measure despite overwhelming support.
But he urged people not to “apportion blame” for the outcome.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9702076/Women-bishops-rejection-has-damaged-Church-traditionalist-bishop-admits.html
Is the Church of England facing a crisis?
Slugger O’Toole – Following hotly in the footsteps of the BBC, we now have the Church of England facing a crisis with internal strife and problems relating to the issue of women bishops. The departing Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, argued for it as did the …
http://sluggerotoole.com/2012/11/25/visual-comment-of-the-week-is-the-church-of-england-facing-a-crisis/
Mark Austin: Church of England’s rejection of women bishops was an insult to …
Mirror – The rejection of women bishops by the Church of England made news right around the world. In America, Canada and New Zealand, for instance, there was utter bewilderment. These are countries that have already ordained women bishops. And, by the way, …
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mark-austin-church-of-englands-rejection-1456105
Equal in eyes of God but not the C of E
Express – I was born into a deeply religious family of regular churchgoers. However, it was a nonconformist Baptist family so my knowledge of the internal workings of the Church of England is limited. Yet when the Christian faith itself is under pressure it is …
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mark-austin-church-of-englands-rejection-1456105
Christianity lessons ‘incoherent’
The teaching of Christianity “can be incoherent… or too stereotypical” says the academic leading a project to improve lessons in English schools.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20468439
Inter faith marriage
Resource for Christian-Moslem marriage
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/how-christians-and-muslims-can-marry–the-official-guide-8348954.html