Comms Update July 09

Communications Update – July 2009

Monthly news bulletin from the Communications Office, Church House, London.

Feel free to forward this to others, or to use in diocesan or parish newsletters, magazines or websites.

This news bulletin is issued to members of General Synod, recipients of the e-mailed daily briefing, within the National Church Institutions’ All Staff bulletin and to parish magazines via the http://www.parishpump.co.uk website.

It can also be subscribed to at no charge for automatic delivery every month to email inboxes via http://www.cofe.anglican.org/commsupdate.html/

Please scroll down to read items. Comments, please, to Peter Crumpler, Director of Communications, at commsupdate@c-of-e.org.uk

Key fingertip facts about the CofE can be found at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/thechurchofenglandtoday/

This month’s contents:

• Bishop’s water warning for Parliament
• Protecting life is the most important thing
• Challenge from Archbishop of York
• Community life debated at General Synod
• Top of the Pods – latest downloads from the CofE
• Archbishop of Canterbury addresses General Convention
• Church calls for sexual health campaigns to take precedence over condom advertising
• Ready, steady, slow – the countdown continues
• Appointment to Chair of Church Buildings Council announced
• Update published on Clergy Pensions Scheme
• The Human Genome Project: investigating identity and history
• Archbishop’s response to DFID white paper
• Appointment to Chair of Church Buildings Council announced
• Next Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham is announced… on a bus
• New Bishop to the Forces
• Church House Publishing – agreement signed
• College inspection report published
• More news from the Archbishop of Canterbury

Bishop’s Water Warning for Parliament
The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, Rt Revd George Cassidy, has joined representatives from the faith, community and voluntary sectors in lobbying Parliament for a fairer deal on water charges. Read the full story here

Protecting life is the most important thing

The Church of England website has published a new easy-to-read section called ‘Protecting Life - Opposing Assisted Suicide’ at www.cofe.anglican.org/protectinglife. It summarises quickly and simply the Church’s position in the sometimes confusing assisted suicide debate, listing key principles behind its position, offering a short guide to terms used in the debate, and providing a downloadable Powerpoint file of key points for use in churches. More here

Community life debated at General Synod
Good Childhood Inquiry, urban life and faith, and ministry with people with learning disabilities all featured in July’s sitting of General Synod along with financial issues, legislation and other governance issues.

• A preview can be found here with voting details on main website www.cofe.anglican.org/news
• What is General Synod? For a helpful background report click here
• A full summary with audio links and a shorter summary with no links (suitable for parish magazines) will be sent out shortly

Challenge from Archbishop of York
Dr Sentamu’s sermon at York Minster during General Synod on the consequences of suffering that arise from deaths caused by violence both at home and abroad and a warning to Synod. Read the full text here

Top of the pods
The Revd Dr Malcolm Brown, the Director of the Archbishops’ Council’s Mission and Public Affairs Division, is a genuine admirer of what Charles Darwin achieved with his writings. Hear what he had to say in a podcast celebrating 150 years of On the Origin of Species at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/podcast. Other recent Church of England podcasts include Father Edward Lewis, Chief Executive of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council, on his passion for hospital chaplaincy. To listen to Edward and other recent podcasts, visit http://www.cofe.anglican.org/podcast/previouspodcasts.html.

Archbishop of Canterbury addresses General Convention
Text of Dr Williams sermon preached during a Eucharist at The Episcopal Church (US) General Convention this month held in the Convention Centre, Anaheim, California

Church calls for sexual health campaigns to take precedence over condom advertising

Advertising standards codes: Church gives view on topics ranging from doctors endorsing products on-air to the use of sacred music in radio adverts

The Church of England has called for greater investment in public health programmes aimed at teenagers, rather than supporting proposals that could see ‘round the clock’ advertising of condoms, in a submission to the committees responsible for regulating the content and scheduling of advertising in the UK. More here

Ready Steady Slow …. the countdown continues

Ponder the planet with the Church of England's 2009 Advent campaign and enjoy some creation time-out. The online Advent calendar www.whywearewaiting.com (from November 29 but take a look now and sign up) will have daily videos, podcasts, thoughts and challenges on environmental issues linking with the vital UN Climate Change talks in Copenhagen this December. Meet the Advent team at the Greenbelt Festival August 28 – 31. More details next month.

Appointment to Chair of Church Buildings Council announced

Anne Sloman has been appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to chair the Church Buildings Council, the new statutory body created last year to succeed the Council for the Care of Churches and the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches. The CBC supports dioceses and parishes in their stewardship of more than 16,000 church buildings. More here

Update published on Clergy Pensions Scheme

The Church of England has published a second and more detailed report on the impact of the credit crunch and recession on the financial position of the Funded Clergy Pension Scheme. The report puts forward various options relating to the future of the scheme. More here

The Human Genome Project: investigating identity and history

A new book, God, ethics and the human genome: theological, legal and scientific perspectives, helps the Church and individual Christians explore the questions raised by advances in genetic science and medicine over the last few decades. How far should we intervene in ‘natural’ processes? How far should we go to alleviate suffering? What constitutes a worthwhile life? Can the human genome be ‘owned’? What does it mean to be made in the image of God? More here

Archbishop of Canterbury’s response to DFID White Paper
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, welcomed the launch this week of the Government White Paper, "Building our Common Future", which commits additional support for the world's poorest people affected by conflict, climate change and the global economic crisis. More details here

Next Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham is announced… on a bus

A University of Nottingham graduate and a ‘children’s advocate’ has been appointed to the top Church of England job in Nottinghamshire. The new Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham is to be the Rt Revd Paul Butler (53) who is currently the Bishop of Southampton – a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester. More here

New Bishop to the Forces announced
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has announced the appointment of the Rt Revd Dr Stephen Venner as Bishop to the Forces. Dr Venner succeeds the Rt Revd David Conner, the Dean of Windsor who has served in this role since 2001. Dr Venner will act on Dr Williams' behalf and carry out Episcopal duties within the UK's Armed Forces. He will have pastoral oversight of Anglican Chaplains and the Anglican Church within the Forces. Full details here

Church House Publishing - agreement signed

The Archbishops’ Council has signed an agreement with Anglican charity Hymns Ancient & Modern to publish liturgy, key reference titles and other resources for the Church. More here

College inspection report published

The Church of England published the inspection report on one of its ministerial training colleges: St Mellitus College and Chelmsford and London Reader training. More here

MORE NEWS from the Archbishop of Canterbury

‘Inspiration, Truth and the Search for Understanding’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, yesterday hosted a seminar at Lambeth Palace entitled "Inspiration, Truth and the Search for Understanding", with the aim of examining how faith and science can contribute to a richer knowledge and a deeper understanding of the nature of truth. The Seminar was chaired by Madeleine Bunting from the Guardian. More details here

Archbishop calls for commitment to sustainable peace in Sudan

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, issued a statement in support of ‘Sudan Day of Action’ which called for a renewed commitment to sustainable peace in Sudan. The Sudan Day of Action, was organised by Baroness Cox and the Sudan Action Group, it aimed to raise awareness for the desperate plight of the people of Sudan. More here

Archbishop in Istanbul

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, spent a week in Istanbul chairing the eighth Building Bridges Seminar and spending three days as guest of His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch. More here

Archbishop of Canterbury: Statement for Armed Forces Day

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, published a statement in support of Armed Forces Day, 27^th June. Read the statement here