2002

Bishops' office and working costs published
19 December 2002

The 2001 office and working costs of bishops in the Church of England are published today. Figures for individual bishops were first published, for the year 2000, last December. Bishops' office and working costs were previously published as a total figure.

Licensing Bill
17 December 2002

During the Committee Stage of the Licensing Bill in the House of Lords on Thursday 12 December, the Government acknowledged the need to consider exempting altogether 'bona fide places of worship' from the provisions of the Licensing Bill.

Provisional 2001 Church of England attendance figures
16 December 2002

More than 2.6 million people attended church or cathedral worship on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve 2001, down from 2.8 million the previous year when Christmas Eve was a Sunday. Over the last three years, Christmas attendance levels have been static overall, the number of communicants in 2001 being slightly greater than in 1999.

Membership of Clergy Employment Arrangements review announced
16 December 2002

The Archbishops' Council has published the membership and terms of reference of the McClean Review on Clergy Employment Arrangements announced last week.

Unpacking the Gift - Anglican resources for theological reflection on The Gift of Authority
13 December 2002

A wide-ranging collection of essays and comment sheds fresh and often unexpected light on questions of authority and the whole search for Christian unity in today's world. Contributors to Unpacking the Gift look closely at the text of The Gift of Authority, the 1999 report of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), and state personal views and interpretations to help readers explore the issues involved.

Response to the First Report of the Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform
11 December 2002

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform published its First Report at 11.00am today, 11 December 2002. A Church of England spokesman said: "We will study the initial report of the Joint Committee carefully and participate as appropriate in the continuing debate on the future of the Second Chamber, with regard both to its overall reform and to the faith dimension.

Council accepts need to change clergy employment arrangements
10 December 2002

The Archbishops' Council is establishing a working group to identify ways of amending the employment arrangements of Church of England clergy with a view to enhancing safeguards against injustice and ensuring a proper balance between rights and responsibilities.

Consultation on Criminal Justice
4 December 2002

A private and possibly unique consultation today involved a Government Minister, the Church of England Board for Social Responsibility, the Prison Reform Trust and contributors to a new book of essays, The Future of Criminal Justice.

European Parliament
8 November 2002

Unfortunately it appears that none of the six MEPs taking part in the debate were aware of a fundamental error in the report they were debating concerning Church of England legislation, despite efforts to bring this to their attention before the debate.

Hope for the Church - contemporary strategies for growth
29 October 2002

In this his latest book, Bob Jackson, a government economic adviser before spending 20 years in parish ministry and now Research Missioner for the Archbishops' evangelism initiative Springboard, finds many signs of hope for future growth in the Church. By analysing reasons for the growth and decline of individual churches, he builds a menu of practical strategies for national church growth.

Officers appointed to lead new Education and Mission and Public Affairs divisions
22 October 2002

Mr John Clark and Canon John Hall have been appointed to head up, respectively, the Mission and Public Affairs Division and the Education Division of the Archbishops' Council.

Synod focuses on Iraq, parliamentary democracy and abortion, as well as youth strategy, mission theology and the effective use of the Church's resources.
21 October 2002

The agenda for the November Synod ranges widely, from the international situation and constitutional and social policy issues, to the Church's mission and stewardship of its resources. Several items take forward work that the Synod has previously debated, such as the Crown Appointments Commission Review and marriage in church after divorce.

House of Bishops congratulates Archbishop-designate
17 October 2002

The House of Bishops, at its recent meeting, asked the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, to convey to Archbishop Rowan Williams their unanimous congratulations and good wishes on his nomination as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

New Chairman for Church of England Board of Education and National Society
16 October 2002

The Rt Revd Dr Kenneth Stevenson, Bishop of Portsmouth, has accepted the invitation of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to chair the Church of England Board of Education and the National Society Council, with effect from 1 April 2003.

House of Bishops sets high threshold for Iraqi war
9 October 2002

The Church of England's House of Bishops has urged the British Government and the international community to continue to pursue all available peaceful means towards resolving the crisis with Iraq. In a submission to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee's ongoing inquiry into the foreign policy aspects of the war against terrorism, the House of Bishops has said that conclusive evidence is lacking of an imminent and specific threat from Iraq to international peace and security. In such circumstances, it contends, military action cannot be justified at this time.

Ecumenical group says mission is at the heart of theological education
8 October 2002

Churches throughout Britain and Ireland are asked to look harder at how they communicate the Christian message in a changing world in a new report published today. Presence and Prophecy: a heart for mission in theological education is the work of the ecumenical Mission Theological Advisory Group (MTAG) chaired by the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, Anglican Bishop of Rochester. It says that re-examining the way lay people, ordinands and clergy are taught is vital if the Gospel is to connect with everyday life.

Adviser for Minority Ethnic Anglican concerns announced
16 September 2002

Simon Bell, a former lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Cape Town, has been appointed as the Church's national Adviser for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns.

First Mission and Public Affairs chairman appointed
29 July 2002

Dr Philip Giddings has been appointed Chairman-designate of the Archbishops' Council's new Division of Mission and Public Affairs.

Bishops secure assurances on any future action against Iraq
24 July 2002

Three senior Anglican bishops met with Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Mike O'Brien on Wednesday, 24 July, to discuss continuing concerns surrounding the perceived threat of any future military action against Iraq. There was general agreement during the meeting that the most desirable outcome to the current political stalemate was for President Saddam Hussein to allow United Nations weapons inspectors immediate and unhindered access to Iraq.

Announcement of the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury
23 July 2002

The Queen has nominated Dr Rowan Williams to be the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury.

National Child Protection Adviser appointed
22 July 2002

Janet Hind is to be the Church of England's first National Child Protection Adviser. The half-time post has been created to co-ordinate the development of policy and best practice in child protection and to provide advice to the House of Bishops, Archbishops' Council and dioceses in support of the network of diocesan child protection staff.

Church statistics booklet now published
19 July 2002

Church Statistics, incorporating the first set of national attendance and membership figures to come out of the new, more rigorous data collection introduced in 2000, has been published in booklet form, as well as on the Church of England website.

Church of England signs aerial deal with Quintel S4
25 June 2002

After an extensive consultation project, the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England and Quintel S4 today, 25 June 2002, announce that an agreement has been signed granting Quintel S4 approved status for telecommunications installations in churches. This is intended to put Quintel in a position to develop a network of multi-user mobile telecoms base stations in the spires and towers of suitable parish churches which have registered their interest and satisfied the relevant legal requirements.

Synod's consent sought on new Secretary General
21 June 2002

The General Synod will be asked to give its consent to the appointment of William Fittall as its next Secretary General when it meets in York on July 5-9.

Marriage issues, urban strategy, regionalisation, Israel/Palestine and Anglican/Methodist relations, to be major features of the Synod agenda.
18 June 2002

Engagement between Church and society features strongly in a packed agenda for the July Sessions of the General Synod, meeting from Friday, 5 July, to Tuesday, 9 July. Major subjects include marriage law and marriage in church after divorce, urban strategy and the Church Urban Fund, regionalisation and the situation in Israel/Palestine. Relations with other Churches are reflected in a major debate on the Anglican/Methodist Covenant.

Church denies plans to abolish dioceses
5 June 2002

The Church of England has categorically denied that there are any plans to abolish a number of its dioceses.

Church of England franchises Culham on RE
30 May 2002

The Culham College Institute is to act for the Church of England Board of Education on a range of Religious Education policy issues under a new franchise agreement between the two bodies.

Resourcing Archbishops
28 May 2002

"It is remarkable what the Archbishops are able to achieve with the limited resources available to them," says a report published today.

Church's Board for Social Responsibility responds to drugs policy report
22 May 2002

The Church of England Board for Social Responsibility made a submission to the Home Affairs Select Committee's inquiry on Government drugs policy in 2001 and has now responded to the Committee's report, published today.

Bishops to visit hidden site - guided tour of St James' will help spread the word of City's latest regeneration initiative
20 May 2002

Church of England bishops from across the country visited one of Liverpool's hidden corners when they took a tour of St James' Cemetery following Evensong at the Anglican Cathedral on Monday (20 May). The tour celebrated the first year of a campaign to regenerate the site in order to provide the city with a recreational and heritage asset for local people and visitors.

Head of cathedral and church buildings appointed
1 May 2002

Paula Griffiths has been appointed as the Church of England's top national official with responsibilities for church buildings. She will become concurrently Secretary of the Council for the Care of Churches and Secretary of the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England.

Church Commissioners' investments steady in 2001's adverse markets
25 April 2002

Despite the generally difficult investment conditions of 2001, the performance of the Church Commissioners'£4 billion investment fund benefited from its significant holdings in property, say the Commissioners' Annual Report and Accounts, published today.

Church Commissioners' investments steady in 2001's adverse markets
22 April 2002

Despite the generally difficult investment conditions of 2001, the performance of the Church Commissioners'£4 billion investment fund benefited from its significant holdings in property, say the Commissioners' Annual Report and Accounts, published today.

Archbishop of Canterbury's Sermon at the Funeral of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
9 April 2002

We gather in this great Abbey to mourn and to give thanks. It is a fitting place to do so. A place where the story of our nation and the story of the woman we now commend to her Heavenly Father are intertwined.

UPDATED NEWS from the Church of England - Services of Thanksgiving
8 April 2002

The following Services of Thanksgiving for the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother have been announced so far. This is a CUMULATIVE list in chronological order to which new information has been added for this circulation. This list is now posted on www.cofe.anglican.org

Prayers for use with and by children during mourning for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
3 April 2002

Children have long been associated with The Queen Mother's birthday celebrations and many may wish to play a part in mourning her death. The following prayers, suggested hymns and reading are offered as resources for those organising services for children during the period of mourning.

Forms of Service for the Commemoration of the Life of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
2 April 2002

Cambridge University Press has today published official Forms of Service for commemorating the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Authorised by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for use in the Church of England, these services are also suitable for ecumenical use and are freely made available.

Prayers at a time of mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
1 April 2002

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued prayers offered for use by individuals and churches during the period of mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Cathedral figures for 2001 confirm upward trend
27 March 2002

Cathedrals attracted more than 700,000 worshippers during Advent 2001, almost 120,000 of them on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Easter day attendance increased in 2001, while Sunday attendance figures show an 8.4% increase over the last seven years.

Next Chief Executive of the Church Urban Fund announced
27 March 2002

Fran Beckett, is to be the next Chief Executive of the Church Urban Fund. The Church Urban Fund was established in 1988 in response to the growing poverty in towns and cities throughout England. Its mission is to be a resource for the Church of England's urban ministry and mission in areas of deprivation.

Canterbury Crown Appointments Commission membership completed
26 March 2002

Number 10 Downing Street announced today that Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss is to chair the Crown Appointments Commission for the forthcoming vacancy in the Archbishopric of Canterbury.

Judgement in the case of Miss B
22 March 2002

The Church of England's Board for Social Responsibility sees the court's decision as respecting Miss B's wish to refuse treatment.

General Synod's Loyal address on the occasion of The Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen
21 March 2002

We, Your Majesty's faithful subjects, the Archbishops, Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Church of England, together with the representatives of other churches assembled in General Synod, assure Your Majesty of our loyalty and devotion to Your Majesty and to Your Throne.

Church of England Board for Social Responsibility welcomes human rights judgment
18 March 2002

The Church of England Board for Social Responsibility welcomes the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of the death of Christopher Edwards. Christopher died in Chelmsford prison in 1994.

Estonian President challenges Church leaders to play an active part in Europe
13 March 2002

More than 50 church leaders from 15 European countries met this week in Tallinn, Estonia to explore together the challenges of "Church leadership in a Changing World".

Next First Church Estates Commissioner announced.
6 March 2002

Andreas Whittam Smith is to be the next First Church Estates Commissioner, Downing Street announced today (Wednesday, 6 March).

Search is online for best church website
1 March 2002

Ecclesiastical Insurance is launching a competition to find the best parish website in England, Scotland and Wales - with the best example scooping £1,000 in prize money.

Response to Stem Cell Research Select Committee Report
27 February 2002

The Church of England's Board for Social Responsibility has expressed appreciation for the work of the House of Lords Select Committee on Stem Cell Research, whose Report was published today. The Board will study the Report's recommendations with care.

Director of Communications moves on to British Red Cross
19 February 2002

The British Red Cross today announced the appointment of the Revd Dr William Beaver as its first director of communications. Bill will be responsible for all corporate and marketing communications for the British Red Cross.

Guidelines for the professional conduct of clergy are published
18 February 2002

Draft Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of Clergy are published for consultation today, Monday 18 February. The guidelines, commissioned by the two Lower Houses of the Convocations of Canterbury and York (clergy), were drafted by clergy for clergy through the work of a working party chaired by Canon Hugh Wilcox, a parish priest, and a member of the General Synod and the Archbishops' Council.

Board concerned about Asylum, Immigration and Citizenship White Paper
13 February 2002

The Church of England's Board for Social Responsibility has expressed concern about the Home Secretary's White paper on Asylum, Immigration and Citizenship, published last Thursday. The White Paper marks the beginning of the fourth attempt in under a decade to reform policy in this area.

Bishop elected to Crown Appointments Commission
12 February 2002

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Timothy Stevens, has been elected by the House of Bishops to serve on the Crown Appointments Commission (CAC) to consider the vacancy in the See of Canterbury.

Church of England Bishops signal progress on Export Control Bill
7 February 2002

Anglican bishops today welcomed the government's decision to offer new amendments to the Export Control Bill. Five pages of amendments were tabled by the government last night (Wednesday), after more than 40 bishops highlighted the lack of any reference to sustainable development criteria in the Bill, in a letter to the Times.

Secretary General nominated as Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
6 February 2002

Mr Philip Mawer, Secretary General of the Archbishops' Council and of the General Synod, has been nominated as Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards by the House of Commons Commission, with the agreement of the Chairman of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

Nearly 3 million Christmas worshippers in new benchmark statistics
4 February 2002

The first set of national Church of England attendance and membership figures to come out of the new, more rigorous data collection introduced in 2000 provide further proof that the Church has been under-counting its worshippers.

Church calls on Government to revise House of Lords proposals
31 January 2002

A call for the Government to revise its proposals on House of Lords reform in favour of greater independence, less political affiliation and a stronger religious presence is made today (1 February) from the Church of England.

Appointment of the next Archbishop of Canterbury
22 January 2002

The Archbishops' Council has called on all members of the Church of England to pray for all those involved in the processes surrounding the selection of the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

Methodist District Chairs and Church of England Bishops joint meeting
18 January 2002

The District Chairs of the Methodist Church in Britain and the Church of England House of Bishops enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Abbot and monks of Ampleforth as they held a joint meeting on Wednesday. This was only the second time that the House of Bishops and the District Chairs have met formally - their first historic gathering was two years ago at the same location.

House of Bishops issues statement on the Afghan conflict
17 January 2002

The House of Bishops of the Church of England today issued a statement of concern on issues arising from the conflict in Afghanistan. The statement covers the status and treatment of prisoners, the rebuilding of Afghan society and the growing number of civilian casualties.

Bishops commit to inclusive church schools
15 January 2002

Church of England schools must be open to the diverse communities they serve, the House of Bishops says in a statement issued today.

Church of England prepares to celebrate Education Sunday, 27 January 2002
3 January 2002

Education Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday, 27 January 2002. This is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone in the world of education. It has been celebrated for well over a hundred years, and is an ecumenical event shared by the Christian Churches.

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