Comms Update May 09

Communications Update – May 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:

• PRAYERS  -  Calm as you cram; Swine ‘flu
• Audited results for 2008 – Church Commissioners
• Half a million to be invited ‘Back to Church’
• ARCHBISHOPS’ Zimbabwe appeal raises nearly £300,000
• Tributes to Bishop of Peterborough
• CofE Environment Adviser on new Government task force
• Top of the Pods
• SCHOOLS – new website pinpointing Christian values
• Come on City! Archbishop of York kicks off
• Teenage vocations on Facebook
• Round up from ACC  
• Recession forces pension contribution increase
• Financial recovery – churches’ key role
• Church House Publishing news
• Use compass of Christ urges new bishop
• Bishop of Ely to retire
• Commissioners quarterly newsletter
• New faces – appointments
• More news from the Archbishop of Canterbury
• More news from the Archbishop of York

PRAYERS

Calm as you cram

School pupils facing exams this month can look to a new source of revision aid this year, with the publication of a set of downloadable prayer cards designed to be included in students’ crib card packs. The brief prayers – written in bullet point style on a postcard-size format – call for God’s help in facing the stressful time and ask for a sense of calm and focus during revision ahead of the big tests. More here

Swine flu

The Church of England has published the following selection of prayers for use in churches, in light of the developing situation regarding swine flu. Swine Flu prayers  more information here

Audited results for 2008 – Church Commissioners

The Church Commissioners intend to continue planned levels of support for Church of England dioceses through to the end of 2010, despite a year of declining asset values. Audited results published today in the 2008 Annual Report show a negative total return of 19.6 per cent in 2008  - an improvement on earlier unaudited figures, released in February that indicated a negative return of around 22 per cent. More details here

Half a million to be invited ‘Back to Church’

Churchgoers across the Church of England are set personally to invite up to half a million people to services on Back to Church Sunday, 27 September 2009 making the event one of the largest co-ordinated evangelism events shared across the Church in recent history. More details here

ARCHBISHOPS                                        

Zimbabweappeal raises almost £300,000

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York say they have been humbled by the response to the appeal launched at the beginning of Lent which highlights the support needed by churches, which are struggling to feed the hungry and provide health care. In a joint statement, the Archbishops said: "The support of the general public has been overwhelming, and we have been humbled by the response so far. We know that rebuilding Zimbabwe is a long-term aim, and this short intervention is still only reaching a small number of the many millions in need. Thank you for enabling us to do this.”  Read the full story here   

Tributes to Bishop of Peterborough

The Bishop of Peterborugh the Rt Revd Ian Cundy, died suddenly this month. He collapsed while travelling to a family event in the West Country, and was taken by ambulance to Swindon General Hospital, but staff were unable to save him. His wife Jo was with him. Tributes and biography here.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his sadness over the death of Bishop Cundy. More details here

CofE Environment Adviser on new Government task force

David Shreeve the Church of England’s Environment Adviser has been selected as one of the 16 members of the new Third Sector Task Force on climate change, the environment and sustainable development. The appointment was made by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and the group meets for the first time this week. Full story here

Top of the Pods

Have you heard the latest from the CofE? Podcast highlights include the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, talking about his new book Hit the Ground Kneeling, which offers a different approach to all types of leadership. Dr John Preston, the Archbishops’ Council’s Resources and Stewardship Officer, offers hope and advice for households and churches in the current financial situation in his podcast, while the Revd Jean Coates talks about her work as a busy Rural Officer for Dorset. Catch up with our top podcasts by clicking here.

SCHOOLS

Pinpointing Christian values at the heart of great education

A new website launched by the Church of England marks a groundbreaking initiative to identify the distinctive values that make Christian schools popular with parents and students, and promote ways of living out those values in the day-to-day activities of a busy school environment. One in four primary schools in England and one in 16 secondary schools are CofE schools. More here

Come on City!

The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, urged the people of York to get behind York City as the team prepared to travel to London for the final of the FA Trophy earlier this month. Despite losing the match 2-0 to Stevenage Borough FC, the team enjoyed its ecclesiastical support.  More here

Teenage vocations on Facebook

Eighteen would-be priests attending the Church of England’s first specially organised vocations conference for young people in more than 30 years are to continue meeting on Facebook as they listen to their calling. The conference was held at Westcott House and Ridley Hall theological colleges in Cambridge on 17-19 April, 2009. More information here

Round up from Anglican Consultative Council, ACC

The Archbishop of Canterbury was the celebrant at a closing Eucharist for the ACC meeting in Kingston Jamaica. The Eucharist was held at The Cathedral of St. James in Spanish Town- the oldest Cathedral in the British Caribbean. The ACC is made up of lay people, clergy and bishops from the 38 Anglican Provinces of the Communion and is meeting in Kingston until May 13. More news here

Recession forces pension contribution increase

Falling share prices and yields on gilt edged securities have forced the Church of England Pensions Board to increase contribution rates from 1 January, 2010.  More information can be found here

Financial recovery - churches’ key role

"It is vital that the European institutions understand that the Churches have a key role to play in assisting recovery from the economic and financial collapse and in relieving suffering caused by it," the Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, Bishop for Urban Life and Faith told the three EU presidents today, May 11. “The lives of people across Europe are affected and as ever the poor are the most vulnerable.” Read the full story here

Church House Publishing news

The Archbishops’ Council is in discussion with Hymns Ancient & Modern with a view to outsourcing the Council’s publishing services. The proposed agreement would maintain the Council’s long-term commitment to publishing liturgy, key reference titles and other resources for the Church. More information here

Use compass of Christ urges new bishop

The Church of England's newest diocesan bishop the Rt Revd Steven Croft has issued a call for churches to refocus on Jesus as the compass to navigate the changing terrain of the world in a new book published this month. Read all about it here          

Bishop of Ely Diocese to retire

The Rt Revd Dr Anthony Russell has announced today that he is to retire as Bishop of Ely on 28 February 2010.  Information about Bishop Anthony here

Commissioner’s quarterly newsletter published – details here,

NEW FACES - appointments

Dean of the Arches and Auditor of the Chancery Court of York

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York were delighted to announce the appointment of Charles George QC as Dean of the Arches and Auditor of the Chancery Court of York, following the retirement of Sheila Cameron CBE in March 2009. More here

New Bishop of Sherborne

The Bishop of Salisbury, Dr. David Stancliffe, announced this month that Dr Graham Kings, Vicar of St Mary’s Islington in the Diocese of London, is to be the next Bishop of Sherborne. Dr. Kings, 55, succeeds Bishop Tim Thornton who became Bishop of Truro last year.

New Secretary General of the Mission to Seafarers

The Mission to Seafarers has announced that the Revd Tom Heffer, currently director of chaplaincy, The Mission to Seafarers, will succeed the Revd Canon Bill Christianson as the society’s Secretary General from July 1 2009.

MORE NEWS from the Archbishop of Canterbury

Sermon celebrating Saint Anselm of Canterbury

A sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a Eucharist held at Canterbury Cathedral, attended by the Abbot and Mother Prioress of the  Abbey of Notre Dame du Bec, to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the death of Saint Anselm of Canterbury, 1109—2009 can be read here

Sermon at the Anglican Consultative Council

The Archbishop of Canterbury gave a sermon in Jamaica at the start of the ACC this month. Read or listen to the sermon here

MORE NEWS from the Archbishop of York

Celebrating St George’s Day with local school children

The Archbishop of York led celebrations to mark St George's Day, calling for the people of England to use the day to serve one another and to be proud of their country. More information here